The Blink Mini 2 and the Arlo Essential Indoor 2nd Gen are two of the best indoor cameras on the market. Both provide you with an easy way to keep an eye on your home while you’re away, and they both clock in at just $40. That begs the question — which is the better security camera? Before you rush off and buy either product, here’s a closer look at the Blink Mini 2 and Arlo Essential Indoor Cam 2nd Gen to determine which is best for your needs and budget.
Video quality
Both the Arlo Essential Indoor Cam and Blink Mini capture 1080p footage. They both also offer night vision, allowing you to pick up movement in the dark or record video even if the lights are out. In practice, both cameras look great when viewed on a smartphone, regardless of whether the footage was filmed in bright light or pitch black darkness.
However, a 2K version of the Arlo Essential Indoor is available for $80 — giving you added flexibility to find a model that fits your needs.
Winner: Arlo Essential Indoor 2nd Gen
Feature and spec list
Two-way audio, motion detection, and the ability to sync with Amazon Alexa are features found on both Blink and Arlo products. Both products can also be mounted on a wall or ceiling using their included mounting brackets. The biggest difference between the two is the built-in privacy shield on the Arlo Essential Indoor Cam. This allows you to put a physical barrier in front of the camera, ensuring nothing is being recorded without your permission.
Winner: Arlo Essential Indoor Cam 2nd Gen
Monthly fees and what you get
If you want to make the most out of either camera, you’ll need to pick up a monthly subscription. For Arlo, this is Arlo Secure, which starts at $8 per month for a basic plan that offers cloud storage, smart notifications, and other useful features.
For Blink, the entry-level plan is called Blink Basic Plan. This offers support for a single device at $3 per month and provides access to features such as cloud storage, motion-activated notifications, and video sharing.
Essentially, Blink offers a more enticing entry-level plan, while Arlo has a robust premium plan that’s ideal for folks with serious security concerns. So if you’re just sticking the the basics, Blink has you covered. For everything else, Arlo is likely a better choice.
Winner: Tie
Ease of use
Thanks to intuitive smartphone apps, both the Blink Mini 2 and Arlo Essential Indoor 2nd Gen are easy to use. Each app gives you a simple way to check in on your video feed, activate two-way audio, or peruse your footage library. And if you have multiple cameras, both Blink and Arlo give you a way to quickly flip between all your live feeds to get a full picture of what’s going on with your property.
Arlo has also rolled out Apple Home support for the Essential Indoor 2nd Gen, making it easier than ever to check in on its status or a live feed. It also supports Alexa and Google Home. The Blink Mini 2, meanwhile, works with Alexa.
Winner: Arlo Essential Indoor 2nd Gen
Which is best?
Adding either the Blink Mini or Arlo Essential Indoor Cam to your home is a smart decision. Both products are at the top of their class and perform much better than most of the competition. Determining which one is best comes down to what you want out of our indoor security camera.
For most shoppers, the Arlo Essential Indoor 2nd Gen is a great choice. Not only does it come with a built-in privacy shutter, but it’s compatible with a wider range of smart home platforms than the Blink Mini 2. There’s also an option for a 2K version, offering better images than the 1080p found on the Blink Mini 2.
However, the Blink Mini 2 is regularly on sale for well below MSRP. So if you’re patient, you can grab it for around $20. Frugal shoppers will find it to be a great addition to their security system — especially if you just need a cheap way to enjoy the basics.
