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A couple of days ago, we compared the Arlo Pro 5s vs Arlo Pro 4 to see which of the Wireless security cameras is worth getting. Today, we’ll be doing a second part of the review, whereby we’ll compare Arlo Pro 4 vs Arlo Essential.
The two are a few of the Arlo wireless security cameras you can pair directly to WiFi without a hub. But just by their names, it’s easy to tell Arlo Pro 4 and Arlo Essential are different camera series from the local company.
So, you can expect a bit more differences than those we saw between Arlo Pro 4 and Pro 5s.
Verdict: 5 Best Features on Arlo Pro 4 WiFi Camera
- Arlo Pro 4 has an extra-wide field of view
- Arlo Pro 4 has HEVC (H.265) video codec mode
- Arlo Pro 4 has 24/7 continuous video recording
- Arlo Pro 4 has customizable activity zones for free
- Arlo Pro 4 has auto zoom & tracking of the object
Arlo Pro 4 vs Arlo Essential: Summary Specs of the WiFi Security Cameras
Above, the Specs chart of Arlo Essential and Pro 4 has at least five differences between the WiFi security cameras. The video quality is one of the differences, where the Arlo Pro 4 appear to be the winner with a 2K QHD resolution.
Also, the Pro series camera has an extra-wider lens (160 degrees), which will cover more ground in your area. Then again, the 130-degree of the Arlo Essential also covers more grounds than most traditional CCTV systems.
In fact, you’ll notice the 1080p videos of the Arlo Essential security camera are clear enough to identify faces and read license plates. The nighttime videos are also decently clear, thanks to the camera’s ability to continue recording in color.
Arlo Pro 4 vs Arlo Essential: Features & Performance of the WiFi Cameras
In this section, we’ll now walk you through the various crucial features and perks that are different or similar between our two Arlo security cameras.
Best of Budget:
In a nutshell, our two Arlo cameras are cheaper than their sister as they come without a SmartHub/ Home Base Station. But the Arlo Essential camera has a regular price of $130 for one camera, $260 for a two-camera pack, and $350 for a 3-camera bundle.
On the other hand, the Arlo Pro 4 has a regular tag of $200 with a single camera, $380 for a two-camera pack, and $550 for 3-camera kit.
What this means is that you get to save $70 to $200 with the Arlo Essential security system. Is the few savings worth it, though?
Note: If you’d like to save a bit more coins, the limited-time Arlo security camera deals are a great chance. Like now, you can save up to 53% discount on the Arlo Essential and 35% off the Arlo Pro 4 camera.
Best of Build & Design:
Arlo Pro 4 and Essential Camera share the point here. They both look sleek and lovely, you can mount them inside your house without being intrusive.
Secondly, the Arlo security cameras have a rugged polycarbonate build. We still can’t compare the plastic material to a metallic housing, that’s for sure. But it feels strong enough to last a couple of years with proper care.
More on that, Arlo created both WiFi security cameras with high protection against penetration by objects and water. You’ll be able to mount outdoors without having to worry about damage by dust or rainwater.
Best of Video Quality:
On the specs sheet, the Arlo Pro 4 leads on video quality. It has a 4MP image sensor that records in up to 2K QHD- a standard resolution of 2560×1440 pixels.
The video quality of the Arlo Pro 4 appears rich in details, especially for a person coming from the Arlo Pro or Wire-free camera (records up to 720p HD). However, the extra-wide 160° field of view does steal a bit of the picture details.
In the easiest words, this should explain why some owners of the Arlo Essential camera complained of noticing no difference in video quality with Pro 4. When able to look at the videos from the cameras, you’ll also notice no/ very little difference in clarity. And the reason for this is that Arlo Essential has a narrower 130° field of view.
The narrower field of view means at 1080p mode, the Arlo Essential will have clearer videos than Arlo Pro 4. Consequently, you do sacrifice a bit of coverage as the Essential camera doesn’t cover as wide a scene as the Pro 4.
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Best of Night Vision:
Both Arlo Pro 4 and Essential cameras fit the bill if looking for a 2.4GHz WiFi security camera that records color at night. The devices achieve this from the integrated spotlight, which spits out white light when they detect movements or activate manually (from the app).
When we compared the color nighttime footage videos of our two Arlo security cameras, there is still minimal differences. Some people may have a different opinion about this, no doubt. But the important thing is that you can capture important details like vehicle/ clothing color, tattoos, and even the faces of close-by people.
Tip: You can improve the color night vision of your Arlo cameras by adding an outdoor security light around the monitored area. (Make sure the security light isn’t pointing directly at the cameras).
Another thing, the Arlo Essential and Pro 4 cameras still have a built-in 850nm infrared LED for old-school night vision. Then you can turn off the night vision completely from the app.
Best of Audio Quality:
Almost all WiFi security cameras in the market support audio features, and Arlo is no exemption. Both Arlo Pro 4 and Arlo Essential have built-in microphones, making it possible to record videos you can listen to. The mic on either camera has built-in noise and echo cancellation, which should explain why the audio quality is so clear.
In addition to the mic, the two wireless security cameras have a built-in speaker. And this allows you to complete two-way conversations with whoever facing the camera without any difficulty. The two-way audio is a full duplex, where both parties of the conversation can communicate simultaneously.
It’s also worth mentioning Arlo designed the Pro 4 and Essential camera with a siren feature. You can set the feature to activate automatically when the cameras detect activity or manually from the app.
Best of Smart AI Detection
When we compare Arlo Essential vs Pro 4 intelligent surveillance analytics, the pair will be splitting the point again. They support people/ animals/ vehicle/ package detection while ignoring false alerts from irrelevant things like leaves, twigs, and shadows.
The Arlo security cameras also have the option to customize motion activity zones. And this helps focus on high-value points, which can be handy with cameras mounted in high-traffic areas.
Furthermore, the Arlo Essential and Arlo Pro camera supports audio detection, where particular sounds can trigger alerts and recording.
Sadly, however, you require an active Arlo Secure subscription to access all of these features. If you don’t get a subscription, your camera will trigger all motions, without even the option to customize activity zones.
Note: You can set up motion activity zones of an Arlo Pro 4 camera even when without a subscription. However, the requirement is that your Arlo camera must have continuous AC power for the feature to work.
Best of Storage Options
Last but not least, you’ll need an Arlo Secure subscription to make the most of any Arlo security camera. The first reason for this is to access the smart AI detection features, which we’ve seen they’re all behind a paywall.
Second, the Arlo subscription is the key to recording with your Pro 4 or Essential camera to the cloud storage. The cloud storage will hold your recordings for up to 30 days. But do know the recordings are short clips up to 60 seconds (you can decrease the length of the clip under app settings).
If you’d like to see every second of your property, Arlo Pro 4 supports continuous video recording (not available on Arlo Essential). The feature is cloud-based, and the security company charge as a separate subscription.
Note: You can still use your Arlo Pro 4 and Arlo Essential camera without a subscription. The trick here is to sync up with an Arlo SmartHub or Home Base station to take advantage of the local storage onboard.
However, one of the basic rules on how to record Arlo without a subscription is that you can’t access local recordings on the app as easily as with the cloud. In local storage, you must do a few tweaks of the router- with port forwarding or VPN, which is a bit of a hassle for some people.
Key Takeaway:
If you left Arlo three years ago, you’ll notice the company has made a few changes to the subscription prices. In 2020 and before, the cheapest Arlo subscription went by $2.99/ month for a single camera and the highest at $14.99/ month (unlimited cameras).
As for today, the Arlo Secure subscription has the cheapest plan at $4.99 (or $3.99/ mo. when paid annually). Then the premium plan will cost $24.99 monthly (or $19.99/mo. when paid annually).
Also, do remember Continuous video recording (CVR) with an Arlo security camera now requires a separate subscription. The Arlo CVR subscription plans cost $9.99/ month for a single camera on a 14-day history ($4.99 for every additional camera). Then for a 30-day history, a single camera will cost $19.99/ month ($9.99 for every additional camera).
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don’t subscribe to Arlo?
The fact is, you can use Arlo Pro 4 or Essential Camera without a subscription. But what happens if you don’t subscribe to Arlo is that you lose access to advanced object detection and customized activity zones. Also, you won’t be able to record videos in the cloud or enable continuous video recording mode.
Can Arlo Pro 4 go outside?
YES, Arlo Pro 4 can go outside if you’d like to keep an eye on your front yard, backyard, garage area, et cetera. It has a weather-resistant design, with high protection against penetration by foreign objects like dust and water.
Final Thoughts:
If you’d like to keep an eye on your property with a local company, that’s everything relevant you should know between Arlo Pro 4 vs Arlo Essential. They both are good WiFi security cameras, with decent video quality, color night vision, crystal-clear audio, advanced object detection, et cetera.
The Arlo security cameras can also pair directly with WiFi without requiring the SmartHub or Home Base Station. But if you’d like to take advantage of the local storage or Homekit integration, either of the sync hubs is a must to have.
In any case, we’re still recommending Arlo Pro 4 over Essential Camera. YES, you’ll get to pay a little more for the device. But unlike the Arlo Essential, the Arlo Pro 4 has a wider field of view, HEVC compression, and continuous video recording.
