Eufy and Arlo are two of the biggest names in home security cameras and video doorbells. We’ve tested their devices head-to-head to see how they compare.
Creating a network of security cameras that lets you keep an eye on your home even when you’re not around is easier and more affordable than ever before. Once the only option was traditional CCTV systems, which are expensive, need to be professionally installed and leave you with wires trailing all over your home. However, now there’s the option of home security cameras too. According to market research firm Statistica, the global smart home security market is forecast to grow by $5 billion to be worth $7.49 billion by 2025. They’re smart, flexible, and can be installed either wirelessly or with a minimum of wiring – and not surprisingly they’re becoming more and more popular. Arlo and Eufy are two of the biggest names dominating the home security market right now, and it makes sense to opt for a single brand if you’re looking to kit your home out with security cameras and video doorbells. However, with both of these brands featuring cameras with a glossy white finish and seemingly similar features, you may be left confused about which is best for you, so we’ve tested a range of devices from both brands to give you the low-down. Read on to discover how these two home security camera systems compare – or, if you’ve already decided which of the two you prefer, check out the best prices right now for home security cameras and video doorbells: Arlo has a much larger range of home security cameras and video doorbells than Eufy, and they’re available worldwide, so we’ll start with it – and be prepared, because there’s a very large array of products to choose from. Most of Arlo’s home security cameras are powered by rechargeable batteries, and they’re weatherproof, so they can be used both indoors and outside, with the exception of the Arlo Essentials Indoor Camera which is a mains-powered security camera designed for use indoors. The Arlo Ultra and Arlo Ultra 2 are the brand’s top-of-the-range cameras: they record footage in 4K and have a built-in spotlight for color night vision. The Arlo Ultra 2 supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi and has a longer range than the Arlo Ultra, which only works on the 2.4GHz band, which should reduce connectivity issues. Both of these cameras require a base station, which sits inside your home and connects to the internet over a wired Ethernet connection. This creates an individual Wi-Fi connection with each of the Arlo cameras, which is more secure than a direct link between your router and the security camera. It’s also less likely to be intercepted by unauthorized users, and offers local storage, removing the need to subscribe to Arlo Secure, the brand’s online storage service. However, it’s worth noting that videos stored locally can’t be viewed in the Arlo app – you’ll need to remove the microSD card from the base station and insert it into a computer or other device in order to review the footage. Next up is the Arlo Pro range of cameras. The Arlo Pro 4 and Arlo Pro 3 offer the same features as the Arlo Ultra, but only record in 2K rather than the 4K. The Arlo Pro 4 doesn’t come with a base station, as it can connect directly to your home network, but it can be used with one if you’d prefer, whereas the Arlo Pro 3 comes bundled with a base station. There’s also the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight, a variant of the Arlo Pro 3, which can act as a security light to illuminate the area within its field of view when motion is detected as well as recording footage. Then there are the Arlo Pro 2, which records footage in color Full HD during the day and black-and-white Full HD video at night, and the Arlo Go – a Full HD battery-powered security camera that connects over mobile data rather than Wi-Fi, making it a good option for areas your home network doesn’t reach. Arlo’s entry-level cameras are branded as its Essential range, and these don’t require a base station. The Arlo Essential Spotlight and Arlo Essential XL Spotlight record Full HD video in color during the day, and in black-and-white at night. The XL version battery lasts up to one year between charges, compared to the six months offered by the Essential Spotlight. Arlo also offers two video doorbells that record footage in a resolution of 1536p and in a 1:1 aspect ratio, so you can see the full length of someone on your doorstep.
