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The second-gen Arlo Essential 2K security camera does everything I need, and it’s at an all-time low price for Presidents Day.
Tyler Lacoma Editor / Home Security
For more than 10 years Tyler has used his experience in smart home tech to craft how-to guides, explainers, and recommendations for technology of all kinds. From using his home in beautiful Bend, OR as a testing zone for the latest security products to digging into the nuts and bolts of the best data privacy guidelines, Tyler has experience in all aspects of protecting your home and belongings. With a BA in Writing from George Fox and certification in Technical Writing from Oregon State University, he’s ready to get you the details you need to make the best decisions for your home. On off hours, you can find Tyler exploring the Cascade trails, finding the latest brew in town with some friends, or trying a new recipe in the kitchen!
Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V
In my years of testing security cameras, I’ve found they generally follow a cardinal rule: If you want a cam with higher-end features, it’ll probably cost you extra. This means you can easily wind up spending $200 or more for a single camera. So when I tested the second-gen Arlo Essential 2K cam, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it breaks the mold as a do-it-all battery camera that remains remarkably affordable.
The best part? The Arlo Essential is back down to an all-time low price for Presidents Day weekend and can be found for just $50 today. That’s an amazingly good price considering the camera retains many of the excellent features of Arlo’s highest-end models but in a cheaper package.
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What I like about the Arlo security camera
While testing the Arlo Essential 2K Cam, I found the indoor/outdoor wireless camera performs very well. The 2K resolution helps gather plenty of details, it’s highly weather resistant, and Arlo’s app excels at walk-throughs on how to set up and use the cam. Other common features include two-way audio, color night vision and a built-in siren.
Arlo isn’t done yet. The cam’s integrated spotlight did a great job of lighting up my backyard — and if you prefer other smart home platforms, it plays well with Alexa and Google Home, as well as IFTTT (no Apple HomeKit support at this time, but it’s a future possibility). For more, here are the best home security systems and the best Cyber Monday deals under $50.
Arlo wins at customization in the home security conversation
I liked a lot of what the Arlo Essential does, but it’s not too different from what many other security cameras do — just surprisingly affordable. I really like Arlo’s UI and smart home integration too, with an app that’s easy to understand and pop open for a quick look at your home when you’re out on the town (and that doesn’t even require a subscription). It’s the deeper customization features that really impressed me.
Those who like to tinker with their home security setup will love the beta-version custom detection options that come with higher-tier subscriptions, in addition to facial and vehicle recognition. I haven’t seen custom setups like this on any other security camera before. In my tests, I was able to “teach” the cam AI to recognize when a pet toy appeared on camera or when certain objects were no longer present.
I could also use this feature to tell me when the garage door opened or if something valuable (say, a piece of artwork) disappeared. Likewise, the vehicle detection options can tell if a specific vehicle is pulling up to your home. I’ve never seen anything else like this for those who really want to push their home security to the limits.
Arlo’s Essential cam is a great deal, but keep in mind Arlo’s subscription options.
ArloArlo cams for yourself or others
With Arlo’s easy and informative setup process, the Essential camera is a great choice even if you or your family haven’t tried a security camera before. As long as a user is comfortable trying out a new app and following the instructions, Arlo is an excellent experience. I rate the app and user-friendliness around Blink’s level, another one of my favorite camera apps.
With indoor/outdoor placement, the camera is also versatile, so you don’t have to worry about people not finding a place to use it. You could also spend a bit more to upgrade the camera with an extended battery and a solar panel, an effective combo if you want to avoid manually charging the battery as much as possible. It still needs a Wi-Fi connection, but this combo is great for out-of-the-way spots like above my garage door or a high point on roof eaves.
If you’re thinking about getting this Arlo Essential camera as a gift, keep in mind Arlo locks quite a few important features behind its $8-plus monthly subscription, including smart alerts with object recognition and cloud video storage. So while the camera is usable without fees, there’s a strong incentive to pay.
Arlo does offer a free trial of its services, but that could feel like a bait-and-switch to gift recipients who aren’t expecting a security camera. If you do want to give the cam as a gift, you may want to add some PayPal or Venmo cash to cover at least several months of a subscription.
If you’re looking for more affordable tech, we’ve rounded up all the best deals for Presidents Day. Plus, here’s our full list of the best home security cameras of 2025.
