Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) review: modest upgrades

Best Prices Today: Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Generation) (model AVD4001-100NAS)

The Arlo smart home platform its first video doorbell back in 2019. Five long years later, that product finally gets an update with the Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2^nd Generation), reviewed here.

As a first stop, it probably makes sense to talk about what’s changed since the original. For starters, resolution has been boosted from 1536 x 1536 to 1944 x 1944 pixels. The square aspect ratio remains, but with a 60-percent increase in pixels. (That resolution is for the 2K version—model AVD4001-100NAS—only. The Arlo Video Doorbell HD—model AVD3001-100NAS— has the same 1080p resolution as the original product and is priced at $80.)

And while the original Arlo doorbell came in two versions—one wired, one battery-powered—both of the 2^nd-generation models can operate on either power source. Lastly, while the original Arlo doorbell could connect directly to your Wi-Fi network or to an Arlo Base Station, the 2^nd-generation models have jettisoned the latter option. The two models connect directly to your Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only) whether you have additional Arlo gear in the house or not.

The doorbell of course works much like a standard security camera, with a bevy of motion-detection features built in.

Other than the above changes, you’re getting an incremental upgrade over what was at the time a pretty solid product. In many ways, it still is. The black-on-white design is sleek but sturdy (with unspecified weatherproofing beyond support for operating temperatures between -4 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit), attaching directly to the wall via a removeable back plate if you want the camera lens to face directly forward (or at an angle if you use the included mounting bracket). All hardware and a USB-C charging cable for the battery are included, but you’ll need to supply your own A/C adapter.

Using the Arlo Secure app

The Arlo Secure app setup is fast, but you’ll need to remove the back plate to access a recessed pairing button to finish the job. That button must be pressed with the included pin or a straightened paper clip. The app walks you through a zippy Wi-Fi onboarding process, and after a firmware update, I had the unit up and running.

This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best video doorbells.

As a doorbell, the unit works exceptionally well. A ring of light around the doorbell button brightens when someone approaches, making it easy to see at a distance. The device itself chimes audibly when the button is pressed, sending a push notification to your smartphone, and initiating a one-way video call between your phone and the device. You can speak directly with the visitor through your phone or choose to send one of five canned recordings (“I’m busy,” “Leave the package outside,” etc.) if you don’t want to chat.

Note that no interior chime is included in the box. If you want to audibly hear the doorbell ring inside the house, you’ll either need to connect the device to an existing, traditional doorbell chime through the wired connectors on the device or pair it wirelessly with an Arlo Chime 2.

Image quality

The Arlo Doorbell Camera’s video is extremely wide-angled, with a 180-degree diagonal field of view that distorts the scene rather heavily. If image clarity is critical to you, Arlo won’t be a great choice, as it gives everything a bulbous, distorted appearance. And the resolution upgrades, while appreciated, just don’t do much for overall image quality, which seemed a touch blurry to me. That’s made up for with the expansive view of the lens, which really does show you every corner of the doorway. There’s no hiding just out of view with this camera.

Images recorded at night under standard black-and-white infrared night vision are fine, albeit on the dim side. I also noted that the doorbell button did not automatically illuminate in the dark when someone approached the door.

The doorbell of course works much like a standard security camera, with a bevy of motion-detection features built in, including detection of general motion and people, configurable activity zones, and 100 degrees of motion sensitivity. Oddly, aside from adjusting sensitivity, there’s no way to configure motion/person detection or turn it off. The good news is that motion detection works well, correctly identifying people walking by and avoiding any false alarms from rustling leaves and the like. A built-in siren can be configured to sound manually or via a push notification after motion is detected.

Push notifications arrived promptly during my testing, though clips can take a few seconds to load from cloud storage and begin playback. A few times, clips would not load at all during my testing; I had to force-quit the app and restart it to get things going again. Support for Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT are all available if you want notifications sent to third-party devices.

It’s important to note that many of these features (including 30 days of cloud storage, video previews of notifications, activity zones, object detection, and more) are only available with one of Arlo’s three subscription plans—none of which are cheap. The least expensive, Arlo Secure, is $8/month for one camera or  $13/month for unlimited cameras. A 30-day free trial is included with purchase. Arlo Secure Plus ($18/month) adds “critical alerts” that override an iPhone’s silent and do-not-disturb modes, while Arlo Safe & Secure Pro ($25/month) adds 24/7 professional monitoring and other features that are most relevant if you also own an Arlo Home Security System.

Should you buy an Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Generation)?

Back in 2020, TechHive bestowed a 4.5-star rating on the original Arlo Video Doorbell and called it “our new favorite wired video doorbell.” The market has certainly evolved since then, and while Arlo’s  2^nd-generation product is still plenty capable, there are now doorbells with better image quality, cheaper subscriptions, better apps, or all of the above.

Today, the Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Generation) is probably best suited for users who are entrenched in the Arlo ecosystem and are already paying for one of Arlo’s subscriptions.

Specifications

• Video resolution: 1944 x 1944 pixels with HDR
• Digital zoom: 12x
• Field of view: 180 degrees diagonal
• Night vision: Black & white, 20-foot range  
• Motion detection range: 10 feet
• Illuminated button? Yes
• Two-way audio? Yes
• Onboard siren? Yes
• Indoor chime: Optional
• Onboard siren: Yes
• Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz only
• Power source: Rechargeable battery or low-voltage wiring (between 8- and 24V AC)
• Operating temperature range: -4 to 113 degrees F (-20 to 45 degrees C)

Best Prices Today: Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Generation) (model AVD4001-100NAS)