Both Ring and Arlo are big names when it comes to home security cameras and video doorbells. We’ve tested them head-to-head to bring you the key differences.
The best home security cameras and best video doorbells are a great way of keeping an eye on your property when you’re not around, as well as ensuring you never miss a delivery if you’re not at home. So, it’s no surprise they’ve rocketed in popularity – 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. Ring, which is owned by Amazon, and Arlo are two of the biggest names dominating the home security market right now, and if you’re considering kitting your home out with security cameras and doorbells, it makes sense to plump for one of these brands. However, it can be hard to decide which is best suited to 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 wish to buy, check out the best prices right now for home security cameras and video doorbells: When it comes to the number of different cameras and video doorbells available from Ring and Arlo, both brands offer plenty of choice. So buckle up and we’ll give you an overview of what’s available – spoiler alert, the choice is vast. Arlo’s top-of-the-range home security cameras are powered by removable rechargeable batteries and are weather-proof so they can be used indoors or outside, although most of them require a base station. This sits inside your home and connects to the internet over Ethernet, and provides a dedicated Wi-Fi network for the cameras to connect to. The Arlo Pro 2 records in color Full HD during the day and black-and-white Full HD video at night, while the Arlo Pro 3 has a resolution of 2K and a built-in spotlight for color footage both during the day and at night. There’s also the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight, which acts as a security light to illuminate when motion is detected as well as recording footage. The Arlo Pro 4, which is currently only available in the US and Australia, offers all the benefits of the Arlo Pro but doesn’t require a base station to connect to Wi-Fi. The Arlo Ultra records in 4K, and has the same spotlight as the Arlo Pro 3 and 4, while the Arlo Ultra 2 builds on this as it doesn’t require a base station either. You’re still with us right? Good, because we’ve not finished, just yet. Arlo also offers three cameras in its Essential range, which is a more affordable range of FullHD cameras that don’t require a base station. The Arlo Essential Spotlight and Arlo Essential XL Spotlight are battery-powered (the XL version battery lasts up to one year between charges compared to the sim months offered by the Essential Spotlight) and can be used indoors or outside. The Essentials indoor camera is an affordable wired device designed for inside the home, and comes with a privacy shutter to offer peace of mind to those that worry their every move is being watched. On top of that, the Arlo Go is a Full HD battery-powered security camera that connects to mobile data rather than Wi-Fi – making it good for areas your home network doesn’t reach. Arlo also has two video doorbells that records 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 – the only difference between the two is the way they are powered; the Arlo Video Doorbell is wired, while the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire Free uses a rechargeable battery. Ring launched as a video doorbell maker, so its range of doorbells is understandably wider than its line of home security cameras.. Ring offers five video doorbells in total; the Ring Elite (a professionally-installed wired doorbell that uses Ethernet rather than Wi-Fi) and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, is mains powered and records FullHD video, in a 1:1 aspect that’s identical to Arlo’s video doorbells… but doesn’t actually need to be professionally installed. These are joined by the new Ring Video Doorbell 4, which can be battery operated or mains powered. It records in Color Full HD but doesn’t have the 1:1 aspect ratio of the Video Doorbell Pro 2. TheRing Video Doorbell (2nd generation) bringsa slightly narrower field of view than the Video Doorbell 4, so you won’t be able to see as much of the image from the camera, and the battery is built-in rather than removable – meaning you have to remove the doorbell completely to charge it.
