Arlo Essential Indoor

Privacy shutter offers peace of mind ; Crisp and clear night vision ; Intelligent detection with Arlo Smart

Artifacting elements in video quality

More affordable than Arlo Pro models ; Intelligent alerts ; Sharp 1080p video ; Works with numerous third-party devices ; Voice control

Many features require paid subscription ; Hub required for HomeKit support

The relatively affordable Arlo Essential Indoor is a Wi-Fi-enabled smart home security camera that delivers sharp 1080p video and works with lots of other smart devices.

Privacy Shield is actually useful ; Flexible connectivity ; Advanced AI options ; Arlo system

No free cloud storage ; There are cheaper rivals that do much the same ; Cable is a little stiff

This camera has a unique feature - Privacy Shield - to physically block the camera when it's not in use. That will provide ressurance for those worried about being overwatched, adding to the solid feature set of the Arlo system. You do need a...

Multiple types of AI detection ; App enables a lot of customization of security features ; Budget price

Subscription required to unlock its full capabilities ; No local storage option

The second generation of the Arlo Essential Indoor is a great entry-level security camera that makes many of the best features of Arlo’s Pro line available to tighter budgets.

Wire-free indoor/outdoor installation ; Multiple types of AI detection ; Budget price

Requires a subscription to unlock full capabilities ; 1080p resolution ; No local storage option

The second generation of the Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera (model VMC2050-100NAS) is an impressive entry-level device with detection features competitive with pricier cameras, including those in Arlo’s Pro line.

Privacy shield offers peace of mind ; Small dimensions ; Great quality video capture

Expensive for an entry-level product ; Some features locked behind a monthly sub ; Privacy Shield is fiddly in use

The Arlo Essential Indoor camera is well-built, offers great capture quality and boasts a user-friendly app experience, but a high price and hiding features like AI object detection behind a monthly subscription may frustrate some.

The privacy shield offers good peace of mind ; Good video quality ; Wide field of view ; Plenty of customization options in the app

Only works on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi ; No local storage ; On the expensive end of the spectrum

The Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera is a solid performing device that offers a helpful set of features without going overboard with a bunch of extras.

Good design ; High quality video ; Smart home integration options

Expensive ; Most features require monthly subscription ; No support for Apple HomeKit

The Arlo Essential Indoor Camera a well-made indoor camera that is nicely designed, easy to set up, records high-quality HD video and works well. We like how it connects to Alexa and Google Assistant smart displays, and seeing footage on an Apple Watch...