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Netgear has an attractive home security system in the Arlo. It offers good picture quality, highly flexible camera positioning and an easy-to-use interface that won't confuse you if you're getting stuck into an internet-connected home security system for the first time. That said, its flexibility can be a doubled-edged sword when it comes to camera placement and battery life.
We liked
Setting up Arlo is quick and painless, and once you're up and running is easy to configure thanks to its rules-based system. Captured camera footage is of decent quality, and the ability to easily move cameras (including outside) means you can capture the area you need with minimal effort. Being able to view the action from a mobile app or desktop browser doubles Arlo up as a handy real-time monitoring system, one that requires minimal maintenance if you get the sensntivity settings right.
We disliked
Because cameras can't record footage through windows at night, Arlo is less suited to buildings that house various flats - unless your neighbours don't mind you nailing cameras to the wall or fence outside. Nor is it a suitable solution if you want to film an area where there'll be constant activity.
If the sensitivity is too high, not only will you receive hundreds of notifications, it'll prove a massive battery drain and you'll have to sift through hundreds (or even thousands) of useless clips. Depending on the shape of your house, Arlo's cameras may not lie in range of your base station, which could prove problematic when wanting to monitor certain parts of your property.
Final verdict
Arlo's flexibility makes it easy to recommend for indoor and outdoor use. The setup has the potential to shine when multiple cameras work together around the home as part of a rules-based system, and the ability to view camera feeds in real-time is a real bonus.
On the other hand, if you're turned off by the idea of potentially having to replace batteries several times throughout the year or would prefer your video clips not to reside in the cloud (without having to buy a separate hard drive), Arlo probably isn't for you.
