Arlo Baby Monitor Review (Arlo as baby monitor)

Arlo has a lot of differences with other baby monitors and this article has detailed differentiating and similarities among Arlo’s brands. An understanding of these finer details will get you informed to make a decision of which Arlo camera is the best.

Arlo baby monitor is Netgear’s baby monitor brand that is currently among the top best-selling baby monitors on Amazon (ranked #13 as of this update in September 2019).

Arlo baby monitor has a bunny character and was introduced in March 2017 following the discontinuation of an earlier model which was green. Arlo has the following features that make it stand out and why it made it to the list of best wifi-enabled cameras and best smart-home compatible baby monitors and cameras:

1. It streams high-quality 1080p HD videos
2. Compatible with Google Home Hub, Apple’s Homekit and Alexa Home
3. Uses batteries but can also be plugged to AC power
4. Has air quality sensors and smart temperature and humidity sensors
5. Has nightlights and can play lullabies.

You can read more about Arlo baby monitor (link to the last section of this post) and can check its current price on Amazon.

Netgear has been around since 1996 but the division that designs Arlo cameras (Arlo Technologies) was formed in 2014.

In the next section, we differentiate different Arlo cameras specifically, Arlo, Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2.

1. Arlo Vs Arlo Pro Vs Arlo Pro 2 Vs Arlo Baby

Arlo was released to market before Arlo Pro and is considered the entry-level wifi-enabled camera. Arlo is an outdoor camera, similar to Arlo Pro but can turned into baby monitors.

As baby monitors, Arlo and Arlo Pro will stream directly to Arlo App available for iOS and Android users. You can also connect these Arlo cams with Google Home Hub, Homekit and Alexa Home.

Arlo, Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 are wireless security cameras that come with base stations, unlike Arlo baby monitor. Additionally, Arlo and Arlo Pro records in 720p while Arlo baby monitor and Arlo Pro 2 records in 1080p HD.

Arlo Pro is powered by rechargeable batteries, unlike Arlo which comes with non-rechargeable batteries that required to be replaced about every 4 months. To be on the safe side and to plan accordingly, users of Arlo Pro have found it reliable for only 3 months. Unlike Arlo baby which is rated for indoor use only, Arlo and Arlo Pro are weatherproof and can be mounted outdoors. Arlo Pro comes with an outdoor mount.

Below is a video review of Arlo Pro:

The comprehensive comparison table below highlights all the differences between Arlo cameras from the Arlo released to the market in 2014. Arlo Pro 2 which was released in 2017 is currently the best-selling among the three as it ranks in the top 100 of best-selling surveillance cameras in Amazon (Sept 4, 2019).

2. Arlo vs Nest

3. Arlo Pro 2 Vs Arlo Baby Monitor

Arlo Pro 2 can be used as a baby monitor and it is very similar in design to Arlo Pro. In fact, the only difference in appearance is the white and the black edge as shown in the picture below:

Arlo Pro 2 can be turned into a baby monitor as well although it is fully designed and rated for outdoor use. It is weatherproof/water-resistant and can withstand a temperature of up -4 to 113 F compared to Arlo baby’s 14 to 130 F operating temperature. Arlo Pro has a shorter response time compared to Arlo baby and is entirely wireless with a battery life of up to 3 months. This makes it very ideal baby monitor if you plan to mount it in a location that your cord or AC plug cannot reach.

Below is a picture of the wireless Arlo Pro 2 with its base station:

Below are the differences between Arlo Baby Monitor & Arlo Pro 2.

Below is a video review of Arlo Pro 2:

4. Arlo Q Vs Arlo Baby

Arlo Q was released in 2015 and is Arlo’s security camera that can be turned into a baby monitor. Arlo Q is comparable to Arlo baby monitor as it is not designed for use outdoors. It is not weatherproof and streams quality 1080p HD. It is actually cheaper with its price almost similar to Arlo baby monitor’s price. Unlike Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2, Arlo Q does not have a base station making it quite identical to the Arlo baby monitor which does not have the base station also.

Below is a comparison table of Arlo Baby Monitor vs. Arlo Q

Below is a video review of Arlo Q

5. Arlo Ultra Vs. Arlo Pro

6. Arlo Q Vs. Nest Cam Indoor

Arlo Q Pros:

• Reliable mobile App
• Great night vision images
• 1080p HD recording
• Smart notifications
• Google Assistant for Google Home
• Siri for Apple Homekit
• Alexa for Alexa Home

Arlo Baby Monitor Review and Buyer Guide

Arlo baby monitor is a Google Home, Apple Homekit and Alexa compatible baby monitor that was initially released by Netgear in May 2017. The first Arlo baby monitor brand was green and had bunny ears. When it was released, it sold for $250, almost $100 higher than its current price.

In 2018, the original green bunny Arlo was discontinued and replaced with a grey model which is currently the best-selling baby monitor brand among all Netgear brands (see picture below).

BMC previously ranked and compared Arlo baby monitor with other Google Home baby monitors, wifi baby monitors and overall best baby monitors of 2019. Overall, Arlo is one of our best smart baby monitors that we recommend not just because of it the cutest baby monitor in the market, as Arlo puts it on its website. Below is a picture of Arlo baby monitor.

The monitor itself is pre-assembled so you won’t need to spend time assembling the different units including the bunny ears and bunny feet when you received it. When you purchase it, you receive the following:

• Arlo Baby HD Video Monitoring Camera
• Grey bunny character set
• Power adapter with cable
• Wall mount plate
• 3 mounting screws

For some time Arlo baby monitor took the lead the best baby monitor as it won the hearts of parents because of its bunny/toy-like design. Aside from the aesthetics, Arlo has a high-quality camera that allows you to stream full-HD videos of your baby at 1080p. This feature alone puts Arlo above several top-rated brands such as Infant Optics DXR 8 and Miku which do not stream in 1080p HD.

Arlo baby monitor is designed and manufactured by a security camera brand which manufacturers Arlo cameras. A few other top-rated baby monitors we’ve reviewed are owned by security camera brands such as Eufy Spaceview, Spotcam and Kasa Cam by TP-Link.

Below is a video review of Arlo Baby Monitor

You can mount Arlo on the wall or you can buy its additional mounting accessories. I personally didn’t find the additional accessories necessary.

Why Arlo’s Monitoring is Superior:

The monitor itself is pre-assembled so you won’t need to spend time assembling the different units including the bunny ears and bunny feet

Here are the reasons we think Arlo baby stands out:

1. 1080p video resolution and clear audio quality: 

Arlo baby’s video resolution is really the best, perhaps only challenged by Nest’s camera and the latest Arlo Ultra 4K. The 1080p HD video quality is one of the best features of Arlo as it allows you to see every fine detail in full color with a minimal delay of up to 5 seconds. The sound quality is great to the extent that it captures any sound from your baby’s nursery without interference.

2. Night vision

Arlo baby monitor is considered one of the long-range night-vision baby monitors with coverage of up to 15 feet. You can place your Arlo camera 15 feet away from the baby’s crib and be assured that Arlo’s infrared will illuminate on the baby sufficiently for you to see clear 1080p HD images on your smartphone App or on your smart home tablet. Arlo baby uses 940nm infrared filter that basically means you get color images during the day and black and white images during low light conditions/at night.

3. Field of View 

Arlo baby has an adjustable view coverage which ranges from 90 to 130 degrees.

Arlo baby does not have the ability to pan and tilt. You can however manually adjust the pan and tilt which is not great. A 90 degrees view is a very localized view, may only give you the baby’s crib. On the other hand, a 130 degrees view may have an expanded view but not close to baby monitors that offer up to 330 degrees pan such as Eufy Spaceview baby monitor or iBaby M7 which has full 360 degrees view.

4. White noise, music player and lullabies.

Arlo baby has an in-built white noise remover which allows you to reduce the devices such as white noise devices in your baby’s nursery and free up some space. Fewer devices are great for safety as fewer cords reduce the child’s risk in the nursery. Arlo also has 10 pre-recorded lullabies that you can use to soothe your baby to sleep. You can also access its unlimited library of lullabies online when connected to the internet.

5. 2-way communication

For those who like to talk to the baby, Arlo baby monitor is your type. Arlo allows you to use the app and microphone on your phone to speak directly to the baby using the speaker built into the Arlo camera. Of course, you won’t need this feature if your baby is still an infant (less than 12 months). Toddlers (12 to 36 months) can start hearing voices and may try to decipher what you are saying. If your baby is between 1 and three years, the two-way feature comes in handy. Also, you should note that the parent’s voice has a positive impact on the baby’s development. 

6. Compatibility with Google Home

The grey Arlo baby is compatible with Google Home Hub. This means you can connect Arlo Baby with Google Chromecast including the 7-inch tablet. You can then use Google Assistant and the commands to direct what the camera streams. Please note that only the grey Arlo baby monitor is compatible with Google Home Hub and not the green discontinued Arlo baby monitor. You can read about how to connect your Arlo Baby with Google Home Hub and follow these two Google Home Commands that works with Arlo Baby

Arlo Baby App Feature/Functionalities

• Arlo baby has a built-in white noise eliminator and music player
• Night light with capabilities allowing you to play around with a wide spectrum of colors – The colors can be entertaining to the baby and if you think your baby will like this, then you should try this camera.
• Sensors to monitor temperature, humidity and air quality (volatile organic compounds – carbon monoxide to methane – including farts). Can also sense household perfume such as cologne.
• 2-way talk – This feature is probably not useful at all considering that you’ll be monitoring a baby who is less than 2 years old. There are no two-way communications with a child of that age and this feature is just an add-on.
• Arlo baby monitor also allows recording and playback by storing the data in the cloud.

Arlo Baby Monitor Set up With Google Home

It is possible to Chromecast your video from Arlo

Top Positive Customer Reviews:

• Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home
• Free cloud storage for 7 days
• Great video quality
• Scheduler for notifications – You need to schedule though.

Top Negative Customer Reviews:

• The app constantly crashes. The app interface is also not user-friendly.
• Inconsistent reading/spikes in temperature or humidity that are not accurate but you can get the Nest thermostat if you plan to use your Arlo as a baby monitor with Google Home Hub.
• Video delays
• Locking screen while playing – the audio could be playing in the background while the screen is locked/not playing

Six of Arlo cameras and one baby monitor are now compatible with most Smart Homes ecosystems such as Google Home Hub, Alexa Echo Show and Apple Homekit. This essentially means you can monitor your baby and integrate the monitor with incredible ease using the following features:

Arlo Baby Monitor Screen

After planning to initially release Arlo baby 7 touchscreen display, Arlo announced that they had shelved the plan and would be giving customers a coupon to purchase an alternative to the dedicated display – amazon fire HD tablet.

Arlo Baby Monitor Subscription Plans

1. Arlo Smart – $2.99 per month per camera which gives you 30-days video history, advanced AI detection, custom activity zones, and lock screen notifications.
2. Arlo Smart Premier – $9.99 per month for up to 10 cameras gives you the above features and emergency call service
3. Arlo Smart Elite – $14.99 per month for up to 20 cameras with all the Arlo smart premier features.

The Discontinued Arlo Baby Monitor – Smart HD Surveillance Camera

The Arlo baby monitor camera which was released on May 2017 has been discontinued. It is important to note that only the green color Arlo baby camera was discontinued. The grey Arlo baby monitor is available on Amazon here. As of June 2019, the green older version still had some units on Amazon, (check availability here) but the sales have been dropping since. See the chart below.

Warning about Arlo Cams

WARNING

1. Heed all warnings in this manual and warning labels attached to the camera, cords, and accessories. Failure to do so could result in injury.

2. STRANGULATION HAZARD – Children have STRANGLED in cords. Keep cord out of the reach of children (more than 3ft (0.9m) away).

3. NEVER place the camera or cord in or near crib or playpen. Secure the cord at least three feet away from crib or playpen.

4. NEVER mount the camera directly above crib or playpen to avoid the risk of injury. • NEVER use extension cords with AC adapters. Only use the AC adapters provided.

5. CHOKING HAZARD – This product contains small parts which may cause choking. Keep small parts away from children.

6. ELECTRIC SHOCK WARNING – Never use this device near water, including near a bathtub, sink, laundry tube, wet basement, etc

From Arlo Camera Warnings Sheet.

If you have any questions and want to reach Arlo Support, you can get their contact details here.

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Ashley Davis( Chief Editor/Product Testing Specialist )

Hi there! I am Ashley Davis, a mom of three kids and the editor here at Motherhoodhq.com. I have been a parent since 2011 and have been doing full-time consulting as a baby sleep expert since 2019. When I am not researching or testing the next baby gear hitting the market, you’ll find me teaching my toddlers a trick or two – especially over the last few months with the lockdown. I hope you’ll find my guides and reviews helpful as you make your next purchase decision. If you have any questions, you can reach me at ashley.d@motherhoodhq.com.

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