If you’re looking for a smart security camera, look no further than the Reolink Argus 2 and the Arlo Pro 2 for state of the art technology and features. You’ll find an easy solution that is efficient for any home set up you have.
Reolink offers the Argus camera, the Argus 2, and the Go. They all offer 1080p vision in HD with a microphone and a speaker, and a 140-degree view. Arlo is a leader in smart cameras with wired cameras like the Arlo Q, and the Arlo Q Plus, and wireless cameras like the Arlo the Arlo Pro the Arlo Pro 2 and the Arlo Go.
Arlo cameras come with a heftier price tag than Reolink cameras, but the price comes with enhanced features, so you get to decide which one is right for you. Let’s have a look at the features, pros, and cons of both.
Streams at thirty frames per second with 1080px HD and a 130-degree view. Came with black and white nigth vision only.
Local storage and cloud storage. As a plus you get 24/7 CVR.
Needs a base station to operate.
Streams fifteen frames per second with 1080px HD and a 130-degree view. It has color and black and white night vision.
Local storage with an SD card slot. Doesn’t offer cloud storage, so you won’t pay a subscription fee.
No base station is needed, connects to Wi-Fi via the mobile app.
Contents (Jump to)
Similarities
The Arlo Pro 2 and the Argus 2 both have high definition video resolution in 1080p and a 130-degree view. They feature audio for listening and talking interactively with the built-in microphone and speaker.
They both send emails or push notifications when they sense motion, so you’re always alerted of a visitor. If you arm your cameras with the armed mode, the built-in siren will sound when it detects movement.
With weatherproof and wireless hardware, both cameras are compatible with the outdoors, but you can use them inside as well. Without wires, the location doesn’t matter, because they don’t have to be hard-wired or plugged in.
The rechargeable batteries last up to three months with one charge. The use of your camera will determine how long the battery lasts. Constant live streaming uses more battery than other modes of operation.
You have alternative energy source such as the Arlo or the Reolink solar panels to give your cameras green energy consistently without the need to charge your batteries at all. They also both have an app where you can check in and control your camera.
Differences
The similarities stop there. There are many critical differences between the Reolink Argus 2 and the Arlo Pro 2, and they will help you make your decision.
Frames Per Second
The Arlo Pro 2 streams at thirty frames per second, meaning you get a smoother, crisper video feed than the fifteen frames per second of the Reolink Argus 2. It may make it harder to find quickly moving figures in the feed whereas the Arlo Pro 2 has a better overall image. However, many smart doorbells still use fifteen frames per second.
Motion Zones
You can reduce false alarms by adjusting the sensitivity of each motion sensor using the app. Along with the Arlo Pro 2’s basic motion detection, it also features customizable motion zones and a three-second preview, although you can only use these advanced features if it’s plugged in.
You can identify up to three specific areas in which you want to get alerts and notifications. If you live on a busy street, this feature comes in handy so you’re not constantly annoyed with motion notifications about useless things.
Using the three-second preview, you can see what happened right before your motion alert took place. All of these features are great, but unfortunately, none of these are offered with the Reolink Argus 2 right now.
CVR Storage
In addition to the Arlo Pro 2’s advanced camera features, it also has video recording, but it uses a significant amount of power, so to use it, the camera needs to be plugged in. Because video recording takes up a lot of storage space, this features requires an upgrade at an additional cost.
24/7 CVR can get pricey, but if you’re interested in constant surveillance or the possibility to sell the stream, it could benefit those collecting surveillance data. The Reolink Argus 2 doesn’t have 24/7 CVR.
Base Station
No base station is needed with the Reolink Argus 2. It’s easy to unpack out of the box and set up as a stand-alone camera. Connect it to Wi-Fi via the mobile app, and it’s ready to go.
The Arlo Pro 2 needs a base station for its operation. It comes with the Arlo Pro 2 Kit and gives you the ability to add other cameras like the Arlo and the Arlo Pro. The base station is compatible with all Arlo wireless cameras, so you can use a variety of different ones however it works for you. You’re only limited by which subscription you want and how many cameras it allows.
Siren
The Arlo Pro 2 and the Argus 2 activate a siren if they detect motion in armed mode. For practical application, there’s not much of a difference, except for where the siren is stored. On the Reolink Argus 2, it’s built directly into the camera, and the Arlo Pro 2 saves it in the base station.
The Arlo Pro’s siren is loud, but not enough to hear outside of your house. However, because the Reolink Argus 2 stores its siren inside the camera itself, so your neighbors would definitely hear it if you mounted it outside.
Storage
There is local storage with an SD card slot on the Reolink Argus 2 where you can store your events. You don’t need internet access to capture these videos, but you can look at the clips on the Reolink app if you connect your camera to Wi-Fi.
The Reolink Argus 2 enhances your privacy and allows you to control your security, reducing any breaches that may occur with information in cloud storage. However, without cloud storage, your data is accessible to anyone with access to your cameras because you don’t have backup storage.
The Arlo Pro 2 offers both local storage and cloud storage. The base station provides the local storage, so if someone steals your camera, you can still see your video and know what happened.
The Arlo Pro 2 uses cloud storage by default, and you can’t turn that feature off. The local storage option is a secondary storage option you can turn on and off as desired. However, if your internet goes out, the camera will record directly to the local storage device as long as the camera and the base station are still on.
Subscription Plans
Because the Reolink Argus 2 has no cloud storage, you won’t pay a subscription fee. There are several subscription options for the Arlo Pro 2. The plan you choose is based on how you plan to use the cameras and how long you plan to store your video clips.
Storage for seven days for up to five cameras is always free. After that, you can extend your storage to thirty days for up to ten cameras at less than $100 per year, or store footage for fifteen cameras for sixty days at less than $150 per year.
You also have access to business subscription plans if you want to put smart cameras in your place of business.
Color Night Vision
The Reolink Argus 2 has something called Starlight Night Vision which is colorful and vivid night vision, making it easier to see your video in true color when it’s dark. The improved CMOS sensor picks up color at night, and you can switch between color and black and white from the app.
The Arlo Pro 2 doesn’t have color vision at night, so you can only see in black and white. There are lights available that are compatible with your Arlo Pro 2 camera to provide the light it needs to pick up color in the dark.
The Argus 2 allows you to easily identify specific events in a clip with a darkable line on the track. You can save time as you scan your footage, navigating events easily and simply.
The Arlo Pro 2 doesn’t highlight exactly when a motion event took place in the stored footage, so you have to wade through footage to find what you’re looking for.
Geofencing
The Arlo Pro 2 is the only one with geofencing so you can arm your camera based on the location of your mobile phone. When you leave the radius of your home or business, the Arlo Pro 2 will arm itself, and when you come back, it will disarm again.
Price
The Arlo Pro 2 is more expensive than the Reolink Argus 2, but it offers things like 24/7 CVR and advanced motion detection. The Reolink Argus 2 works right out of the box, or you can get a two-camera kit and a Solar Panel. (Check out the latest rates here!)
The Arlo Pro 2 comes in a variety of starter kits. They vary in price depending on whether you want two cameras or six, and whether or not need a base station or other accessories. (Check out the latest rates here!)
Arlo Pro 2 Pros
- Advanced motion detection
- 24/7 CVR
- Easy starter kit setup
- Geofencing
- Local and cloud storage options
- Siren
- Motion zones
Arlo Pro 2 Cons
- High price
- No color night vision
- Can’t navigate events easily
Reolink Argus 2 Pros
- Affordable
- Color night vision
- Easy video clip navigation
- Siren
- Camera is self-contained, no base station needed
Reolink Argus 2 Cons
- No cloud storage
- No geofencing
Comparison Chart
| Arlo Pro 2 | Argus 2 | |
| 24/7 CVR | With a subscription | No |
| 3rd Party Integration | IFTTT, Google Assistant, Alexa, SmartThings | No |
| Facial Recognition | No | No |
| Field of View | 130-degree | 130-degree |
| Frames per Second | 30 | 15 |
| Free Cloud Storage | Seven days | No |
| Geofencing | Yes | No |
| Local Storage | USB slot | SD slot |
| Motion Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Triggered Live Stream | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Zones | Yes | No |
| Night Vision | Black and white | Color/black and white |
| On-Demand Live Stream | Yes | Yes |
| Power | Rechargeable battery | Rechargeable battery |
| Requires Base Station | Yes | No |
| Siren | In base station | In camera |
| Solar Panel Option | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription Plans | Yes | No |
| Two-Way Audio | Yes | Yes |
| Video Resolution | 1080p | 1080p |
| Weatherproof | Yes | Yes |
Accessories
Both cameras have a lot of accessory options to meet your needs. They both have solar panels, mounting options, and skins. You can customize your camera set up with these accessories to make them more convenient for you, improve their operation, and enhance their design.
The Verdict
Which camera you get depends on your needs. The Reolink Argus 2 is budget friendly and a great option with fantastic features like 1080p video, a 130-degree angle, a siren, a microphone and speaker, color night vision, local storage, and motion alerts.
The Arlo Pro 2 has all of that plus thirty frames per second video, cloud storage, advanced motion detection, geofencing, and CVR. It’s a solid system but costs a bit more to set up and operate.
Both systems are well worth the price you pay, so now you get to choose which one you prefer based on factors like features and price.
Additional Information
Patrick Sinclair is a geek; make no mistake about that. He runs All Home Robotics in his spare time so he doesn’t have to think about his depressing cubicle and it gives him an excuse to buy expensive gadgets to review!
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