Is the Arlo Pro 2 worth getting over the plain vanilla Arlo? Let’s find out as we compare them in our detailed head-to-head.
Arlo vs. Arlo Pro 2 – Comparison Table
| Feature | Arlo Pro 2 | Arlo |
|---|---|---|
| Power source | AC / Rechargeable battery (VMA4400) | 4x Lithium CR123 |
| Resolution / Video Format | 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080) / H.264 | 720p HD (1280 x 720) / H.264 |
| Audio support | 2-way audio with speaker and microphone | No |
| Angle of view | 130° | 110° |
| Imaging | Full color CMOS Auto-adaptive white/black balance and exposure | |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4GHz 802.11n, up to 300 feet range | |
| Night Vision | Yes 850 nm LEDs with 25 feet range IR cut-off filter | |
| Geo-fencing | Yes | |
| Motion Detection on battery | PIR sensor, 23 feet range | |
| Alerts | Motion + Audio detection | |
| Person Detection | Yes with paid subscription | |
| Smart Siren | Yes, in base station | |
| Motion Detection plugged in | Software based, up to 3 zones | PIR sensor, 23 feet range |
| Email alerts and push notifications | Motion and Sound | Motion only |
| Record 24/7 | Yes with paid subscription, only when plugged into AC power | No |
| Power adaptor cable model | VMA4700 | No |
| Dimensions | 79.3 x 48.6 x 70.5 mm, 136 g | 72 x 44 x 66 mm, 123 g |
| Operating temperature | -4° to 113° F (-20° C to 45° C) | 32° to 122° F (0° to 50° C) |
| Local Storage | Yes, USB drive can be connected to the base station | No |
| Smart home compatibility | IFTTT, Alexa | |
| Weather-proofing | IP65 | |
| Datasheet Link | View datasheet | View datasheet |
| Where to buy | ||
Video Quality
This is perhaps the single biggest difference between the entry-level Arlo and the range-topping Arlo Pro 2. The baby Arlo has only a 720p max video resolution, but the Arlo Pro 2 does Full HD.
Full HD or 1080p is the minimum resolution you should go for. This is because 720p just doesn’t give you enough detail, especially at night time. So the Arlo Pro 2 has the edge here.
Audio Quality
The Arlo doesn’t have audio support at all. But the Arlo Pro 2 has both a mic and speaker, so it has 2-way audio capability.
But note that the 2-way audio on offer here is only half-duplex, not full-duplex. So you cannot have a natural conversation. Rather you are limited to a walkie-talkie style of taking turns talking and listening.
If you are wondering which cameras do support full-duplex audio, even most wired cameras do not have this feature. But there is one wire-free camera that does have full duplex audio – the Reolink Argus.
Motion Detection
There are a few different ways cameras do motion detection:
- PIR based: Passive Infrared is the most reliable method of motion detection and the only one that the baby Arlo model supports. Its also easier on the camera’s processor.
PIR motion detection works by detecting the warmer parts of a scene such as a moving person or animal. So clouds, shadows or moving vehicles will not trigger the motion detection.While this is typically a more accurate motion detection method, you cannot define zones to restrict motion detection to. So any motion in the whole scene will trigger an alert.
Both the Arlo and the Arlo Pro 2 support PIR motion detection.
- Software based motion detection: While this can lead to false alerts if not properly configured, you do gain the ability to specify motion detection zones. Only the Arlo Pro 2 supports this method.In fact, the Arlo Pro 2 has a smart system. On battery power it uses only PIR based motion detection. But if plugged into AC power, it will use zone-based motion detection.
PIR motion detection works by detecting the warmer parts of a scene such as a moving person or animal. So clouds, shadows or moving vehicles will not trigger the motion detection.httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-7mkPxQ8EQ
Alert Notifications
Since the Arlo Pro 2 has audio capabilities, you can get not just motion but sound triggered alerts also. These alerts can be in the form of emails or push notifications to the mobile app.
The Arlo can do only motion detection alerts.
Weatherproofing
Both the Arlo Pro 2 and the Arlo Pro have an IP65 rating for weatherproofing. So you can use these cameras outdoors with confidence.
Battery life
This is another major difference between the Arlo Pro 2 and the Arlo. The Arlo Pro 2 has a rechargeable battery whereas the Arlo Pro runs on four non-rechargeable CR123A batteries.
Rechargeable batteries are more convenient but do they last longer than the CR123s of the Arlo?
Let’s compare the energy capacities of the two cameras. The Arlo Pro 2’s rechargeable battery has 2440 mAh capacity whereas the Arlo’s four CR123A batteries will give it 6000 mAh (1500 mAh per battery). That is a huge difference in total energy capacity, so definitely something to keep in mind.
Smart Home Compatibility
The Arlos range of cameras are cloud reliant and have little in the way of local processing capabilities. Amazon Alexa, IFTTT and Stringify are supported, but these are all Internet-reliant platforms.
If you want battery powered cameras with local data processing, well we can but hope. At least we have battery powered cameras with local data storage like the Reolink Argus.
Arlo vs. Arlo Pro 2 – The VueVille Verdict
If you need 24/7 recording and are able to keep the camera plugged in, go for the Arlo Pro 2.
Another reason to get the Arlo Pro 2 is for its audio support.
If you don’t need the above features, the Arlo HD will do the job.
