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In this review we are going to take a look at the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera and give you our feedback on this camera that will also double up as a compact security solution.
If you are looking for something that will give you a complete solution for security that will not break the bank, then this is well worth looking at.
This is also a great camera in terms of quality as it is the 4th release, and it will give you a decent Spotlight camera that you will be able to use to keep an eye on anything that you need.
We will walk you through exactly what you get with the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera, we will also take a look at the ratings of this particular camera. This will help you to form a better buying decision as you will be able to see exactly what people are saying about the camera and their likes and dislikes.
What we will also do is have a look at the ratings that people have left of this camera on Amazon.com, we will then give you our verdict based on the feedback that it is getting and that will give you a snapshot look at whether you should go for this camera.
Click here to check out the Arlo Pro4 Spotlight Camera at Amazon.com…
The first thing that we will do is have a look at the feedback that the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera is getting from Amazon.com, we have researched the feedback and we will give you some key points that will help you to make a better buying decision.
Amazon have one of the best review systems for an e-commerce site, simply because all of the reviews coming in from people that have actually purchased the product, so you are able to get real feedback based on experience.
We will have a look at 3 sets of reviews, some five-star feedback, some three-star feedback and lastly, we will have a look at one star feedback. This way you are able to get a real insight into what people saying about the product, we will then have a look at the individual feature ratings so you can tell how it performs in each field.
Five-star Feedback: What are they saying?
One of the five-star reviews that stood out to us was someone mentioned that they purchased the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera and they have also tried Ring. This is interesting because you will commonly see that the main brand is Ring but there is definitely a Ring vs Arlo feel to these sorts of cameras.
Interestingly the review mentioned that they ended up returning the Ring and stuck with the Arlo. They also mentioned that the video is clear and crisp, the motion zones work really well.
They did mention as with most online apps, there is no manual, and you will be able to access everything directly from the app. This is not really a problem as you will need to have something to operate the app when you buy. However, as the review mentioned it would be nice to get a printed manual. You instead get a leaflet that tells you to go to the website for setup instructions.
Once you are there you are able to download a manual onto your computer or cell phone. They also mentioned that they found the instructions clear but if you need to know where to put the batteries and really basic stuff it was not covered adequately.
Set up and synching the camera does not take long at all and it will only take a few minutes, you just need to press the sync button on the camera to get them to connected to the app that will be on your phone.
They also mentioned that they purchased the Mount separately, this may be something to think about if you are going to be installing in an area which will work better higher up. One of the key features that this reviewer really liked was the fact that you can give another person full control over the camera, this means that if you want to go on holiday and have someone else view the camera footage for you and manage everything you can set it up like this. You can also limit certain things on what they can do, whether you want them to be able to change the options or whether you want to just have them able to view the feed. You will find that Ring does not have this option, it will allow you to give access to someone but not tailor make what they are able to access.
Interestingly they also mentioned that this is the 3rd camera that they have purchased buy this brand and they love it. The other thing that they recommended is going for the plan that will cover all of the cameras at a property.
3 Star Feedback: What are they saying?
For the 3-star feedback we wanted to give you feedback that was coming from 2 reviews, one of the reviews complained of poor customer service. They mentioned that while they were learning each of the devices there was a lot of static on them, and they were not very happy. They also mentioned that they have a case with Arlo for another support issue and they have not got back to them.
Another review mentioned that it took them a little work to set it up, they did mention that it works very well. Their particular package had a single camera with no base station. They also mentioned that the app was very easy to use and control and they also said that it was better than the simplisafe solution that they were using previously.
The battery has been on for 3 days and is at 89%, the magnetic mount is also weatherproof and is easily adjustable.
They did update their review however, the 3-star feedback was based on that they needed to send the camera back because the speaker didn’t work on either camera, they also mentioned that the replacement that they received was malfunctioning. They concluded that it only seems like they work for a month!
Bear in mind that the majority of reviews are very positive.
1 Star Feedback: What are they saying?
We wanted to give you a quick look at one star feedback, this will give you the worst-case scenario when you are considering buying this camera.
The main issues with one star feedback seem to be that the customer service was not very good, mainly waiting times for them to get back to you. The other thing that they mentioned was the fact that if you are using a VPN, you will have a very hard time connecting, however this would be the case with any Wi-Fi camera or system.
Another review mentioned that they had very bad resolution and that the audio comes with an echo as well is the video response being very slow.
Conclusion:
Bear in mind that 61% of people that purchase this camera are very happy and have given a five-star review, a further 15% of people have left a four-star review as well. So, when you are looking at the feedback above, we are giving you a picture of the worst-case scenario especially if you are looking at the one star and the 3-star reviews.
If you’re looking for a camera with fantastic customer service, you may want to go for a Ring even though it costs you a little bit more. We would say to give this a go if you don’t mind taking a bit of a gamble on the fact that it may not last as long, but it will give you a quality camera with all of the features that you need at less of the price.
Let us have a look at the main features:
Sturdiness: 4.5 out of 5
The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera has been rated very well for how weatherproof it is, so if you’re looking for something that will be able to withstand the elements and also give you something that if it does take a fall of a knock, it will not break.
Night vision: 4.2 out of 5
The night vision feature should be adequate, and it will give you a clear picture if you are looking to use this to see what is going on at night. This is actually quite high when you look at other cameras with a night vision feature because sometimes this is one of the lowest ratings.
If you’re looking for a very cheap camera that will give you features that you need to be able to see at night, then this is a great choice.
Motion detection: 4.2 out of 5
Just like the night vision you should not have any problems with the motion detection, and it will give you a camera that will allow you to keep an eye on whatever is going on. Bear in mind that you can configure the motion detection to your liking and set it up as you wish. This way you do not have to worry about receiving notifications every time the camera detects motion, you can also select different times that you wish to be notified.
Picture quality: 3.2 out of 5
The picture quality is very good however this is one of the lower ratings, we recommend that if you are buying on a very strong picture quality that you look at the Ring as it will give you far more quality in terms of the reviews and the feedback that it has received. That said if you don’t mind going for a gamble you can also see that there is a five-star review above that mentioned the picture quality was adequate for this camera.
We recommend as the overall picture quality is not the highest, to spend the extra money and go for Ring if you’re looking for a better all-rounder.
Let us now take a look at the main product features:
Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera Review:
Here are the main features that you get with this camera:
- Arlo Pro4 Spotlight Camera VMC4050P
- Brand: Arlo Technologies
- Package height: 235.0 centimeters
- Item package weight: 175.0 grams
If you’re looking for a very compact but easy to set up camera then you cannot go wrong with the Arlo Pro4 Spotlight Camera. It will give you something that puts a focus on video quality, despite the reviews that we have had a look at above one of the primary parts of this camera that they have worked on with this particular version is the fact that you will get 2K HDR combined with the convenience of connecting directly to Wi-Fi without a smart hub.
This is a benefit but if you are going to be using the Arlo Pro4 Spotlight Camera we recommend that if you just need one camera in your home, you can also set this up outside and you will find that it is weatherproof as well. We recommend if you are going to do this to pick up the mount and then you know that you have everything that you need to be able to use the camera.
If you are going to be using more than one camera we recommend going for the smart hub, you are better off going for a package deal with the Arlo that will include the smart hub if you are going to be needing more than one camera.
That said if you just want something that will connect directly to Wi-Fi, be mindful of the fact that it will not connect if you are currently using a virtual private network. Most people just use normal Wi-Fi so you should be absolutely fine, the other thing to bear in mind is that you will need to have a strong enough Wi-Fi connection for where you need to have this camera. We highly recommend saving yourself a lot of trouble to check out the Wi-Fi strength of where you need to have this camera.
You can also pick up a Wi-Fi extender relatively cheaply and it will mean that you have a strong enough Wi-Fi connection. Other things to consider is if you have a dual band Wi-Fi connection as this will most likely be able to connect to a 2.4 GHz connection. This is also perfect for protecting medium to larger spaces.
The good side of this product is the fact that the app is very well designed. We will also say to give this a very close look if you want something that you are able to hand over to someone else to give them full control.
With the Ring although you can give control to someone else you are not able to adjust exactly what they are able to configure, with this particular camera you will be able to make them just a viewer, or you can make them able to adjust all of the settings, so this is worth bearing in mind.
Verdict:
The Arlo Pro4 Spotlight Camera is a fantastic camera if you just need one camera to be able to connect to Wi-Fi directly. If you want something that is very easy to use and that will connecting minutes as long as you have strong enough Wi-Fi connection, you will be absolutely fine with this.
A couple things to make your decision, if you want fantastic customer service, we will say to look at the Ring alternative to make sure that you do not run into any problems. The other thing that we would recommend is that you look at Ring if you are going for picture quality. Most people are very pleased with the quality of the Arlo Pro4 Spotlight Camera, although some of the reviews did mention that the picture was not very good.
It is very difficult with Wi-Fi security cameras to make a good assessment on the picture quality and whether it is the camera itself or whether it is the strength of the Wi-Fi connection. So, this is something to be aware of.
We highly recommend that you check out the Arlo Pro4 Spotlight Camera where you will be able to see all of the feedback and what people are saying about this product and then you will be able to make a better buying decision.
Click here to check out the Arlo Pro4 Spotlight Camera at Amazon.com…