We already know home security systems are expensive, usually require experts to install them, and for the good ones you’ll need to pay a monthly fee starting at $30 to have a company monitor them. While they won’t provide the same level of security as a professionally installed system from ADT or Slomin, the current wave of smart home cameras released by companies such as Nest, Logitech, and even Amazon have made security systems cheaper and easier to install and monitor from your smartphone. But users express concern over how long does Arlo Pro battery last?
Arlo’s lineup has several versions like – Arlo Pro2, Arlo Pro 3, Arlo Go or Arlo Ultra. It has the latest wireless camera that works both indoors and outdoors. Before we even get into the details, the Arlo Pro 2 already checks the three main boxes — no wires, 1080p HD stream, and weatherproof — that you’d be hard-pressed to find in any other security camera. It also features free cloud storage for a week, two-way audio, a rechargeable battery that lasts six months, and a 130-degree field of view (How long does Arlo Pro battery last?).
Setting up the Arlo Pro 2 system is simple. The camera system is sold with two cameras and a base station that plugs into your router to manage the connections. (You can plug in an external hard drive to the base station to back up your recordings locally.) Once you sync the camera with the base station, you can easily mount the camera on any wall with a screwdriver and the included magnetized mount in about five minutes. The included mounts keep the camera close to the wall, but you can buy extended mounts (great for mounting it on the side of your house or on a tree outdoors) for $19.
How long does Arlo Pro battery last?
- Arlo wire-free camera batteries last approximately 3–6 months with average use.
- Arlo Go camera batteries last approximately 2–3 months with average use, depending on mobile signal strength.
- Arlo Q Plus and Arlo Q cameras do not use batteries.
Average use assumes that you are using Optimized or Best Battery Life video settings and that your cameras record for approximately five minutes per day.
Increasing the length or quantity of video recordings in your camera’s modes and rules decreases your battery life.
How to increase Arlo Pro camera’s battery life?
- Only use the rechargeable batteries that were supplied inside you package or replacement batteries from Arlo.
For Arlo Wire-Free cameras, use only non-rechargeable batteries supplied inside your package or non-rechargeable batteries from other high quality, well-known manufacturers such as Panasonic, Energizer, or Duracell. - Ensure that your Arlo system is running the latest firmware.
Use the Optimized or Best Battery Life power setting. - Configure your cameras to record shorter videos.
- Position your Arlo Wire-Free or Arlo Pro Wire-Free camera a maximum of 300 feet (90 meters) from the base station.
- Position your Arlo Go camera in a location with at least three bars of LTE signal strength.
- Do not place your Arlo system near multiple WiFi routers.
Arlo Pro Battery Life Review
The Arlo security cameras that work on a battery without plugging into the wall are Arlo Ultra, Arlo Pro and Pro 2, Arlo Wire-Free, and Arlo Go. They all have different battery life promises from Arlo, so we will provide details on each.
One of the most important things to know is that battery life can vary greatly. Your own set up and environment can drain your Arlo batteries more quickly, so your mileage may vary. Below the different cameras, we also give some important tips that will help you conserve your camera’s battery life.
Arlo Pro battery life comparison
| Arlo Ultra | Arlo Pro | Arlo Pro 2 | Arlo Wire-Free | Arlo Go | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | 3-6 months | 4-6 months | 4-6 months | 3-6 months | 2-3 months |
| Rechargeable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No. Buy third-party rechargeable batteries as a workaround | Yes |
| Type | Not interchangeable. Proprietary. | Interchangeable with Arlo Pro 2. Proprietary. | Interchangeable with Arlo Pro. Proprietary. | 2 CR123 batteries. | Not interchangeable. Proprietary. |
| Summary | Battery life lasts ~3-4 months in our testing. Improved magnetic plug attaches to bottom of camera. | Battery life lasts ~6 months in our testing. | Battery life lasts ~6 months in our testing. | Original Arlo cameras. Weakest battery life and features. | 3G/4G camera that doesn’t require WiFi, but drains battery faster. |
How long does Arlo Ultra battery last?
• 3-6 months
• Proprietary rechargeable batteries
The newest Arlo camera is the Arlo Ultra, which has 4K footage.
When it was first announced, there were some major concerns from Arlo users in regards to battery life due to its ability to record in 4K. However, Arlo Ultra has mostly lived up to its promised battery life in our testing.
In our experience, Arlo Pro and Pro 2 might last 5-6 months, but Arlo Ultra usually needs recharging around 3-4 months. There are other major differences to look at with Arlo Pro vs Arlo Ultra, but we are just focusing on battery life for this article.
Arlo Ultra’s battery is released on the back of the camera.
Unlike the Arlo Pro and Pro 2, the charging cable is magnetic and attaches on the bottom of the camera. This makes it easy to recharge the battery or power the camera without uninstalling it and attaching a cord on the back.
How long does Arlo Pro & Arlo Pro 2 battery last?
• 4-6 months
• Proprietary rechargeable batteries
Arlo Pro, Arlo Pro 2, and the Arlo Light all use the same proprietary rechargeable battery. This is nice for switching out the batteries between cameras.
We’ve used Arlo Pro to monitor our front porch starting in January 2017. Even though it was set at a high sensitivity, endured cold Idaho temperatures, and was triggered often for movement, it still had 30% left near the end of June 2017.
For the sake of this Arlo Pro battery life review, I’d say 5-6 months is a solid estimate of how long the batteries last based on average usage.
How long does Arlo Pro 2 battery last?
As mentioned above, both Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 use the same batteries, which function mostly the same.
Arlo Pro 2 requires outlet power for several features that would normally drain more battery life. Besides its upgraded 1080p footage, there aren’t additional features that will drain the battery more quickly than the Arlo Pro.
In our testing, our Arlo Pro 2 cameras have lasted just as long as the Arlo Pros.
What are the recharging options for Arlo Ultra, Pro, and Pro 2
Once Arlo Pro, Arlo Pro 2, or Arlo Ultra run out of juice, you can simply plug in the camera’s power cable to recharge the camera.
It’s a special quick charge, and I found that it went from 30% to fully charged in just over an hour. It will still function while plugged in, so if you would rather just keep it always plugged in and not worry about batteries then that is also an option.
The other option is to purchase a charging station and extra battery.
Then you can always have one battery charged and swap batteries whenever necessary. This will mean your camera will never be out of commission during charging.
To remove the battery, press the button on the top of the camera, opening the hatch. You’ll then pop the battery out of place and slide it onto the charging station.
Note that since the Arlo Pro/Pro 2 and Ultra take different batteries, you can’t swap the batteries between these cameras and chargers.
How long does Arlo Wire-Free battery last?
• 3-6 months
• 2 CR123 batteries required
• Included batteries are not rechargeable
The original Arlo Wire-Free promises up to 6 months of battery life, but plenty of users have found that the actual battery life of their Arlo Wire-Free cameras is around 3-4 months.
Some users have reported Arlo battery life as short as 2 months.
The four included CR123 batteries are not rechargeable, so you’ll have to replace them after the extra set runs out.
This is a big disadvantage when compared to Arlo Pro (see other differences in our article Arlo vs Arlo Pro).
To get the most out of your battery, you’ll want to follow the battery optimization tips below. By setting your cameras to record longer videos or higher quality footage, you will drain the batteries sooner.
Arlo Wire-Free is designed to work with 2 CR123 batteries. Four batteries are included per camera, giving you a little wiggle room in case the battery dies quickly.
Workaround for Recharging
To save your cash, one option is to buy the rechargeable CR123 batteries by Tenergy, which come with a charger and 4 batteries.
This is the best workaround option to make Arlo Wire-Free’s batteries more useable. Since it comes with four batteries, you could have your camera always working by keeping a set of batteries charged and the other set in your camera.
It will also save you money in the long run, since you won’t be replacing the CR123 batteries all the time.
Since Arlo Wire-Free is known for draining battery life, this could be a huge benefit.
How long does Arlo Go battery last?
• 2-3 months
• Proprietary rechargeable batteries
Arlo Go is similar to Arlo Pro, but its big difference is that it offers 3G and 4G LTE through a mobile network plan. It’s ideal for monitoring areas that don’t have WiFi, like cabins.
Since Arlo Go has the added feature of LTE, it may drain the battery if it’s installed in a place with weak signal.
Arlo recommends installing Arlo Go where it can get at least 3 bars of LTE for optimal battery life performance. Even then, the battery won’t last as long as the other Arlo cameras due to its LTE functionality.
You can expect 2-3 month battery life with Arlo Go.
Recharging Options
Just like the Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2, you can recharge Arlo Go by plugging it in to the wall or using the charging dock.
Note that it uses different batteries from Arlo Pro cameras. Arlo Pro and Pro 2 batteries are not interchangeable with Arlo Go.
Tips for Optimizing Battery Life
No matter which Arlo camera you use, the battery life will vary greatly based on a number of factors.
This is why there are some negative reviews online about Arlo battery life issues, because performance really depends on how you set up and use the cameras.
According to Arlo, there are a few things you can do to get the best battery life possible.
Video settings
- Record shorter videos; 10 seconds is the default, and anything longer will drain battery life quickly. The shorter the video, the less battery you are using.
- Reduce the sensitivity. Arlo cameras have adjustable sensitivity. If you turn the sensitivity all the way up to 100%, you can expect to receive plenty of false alarms every time a tree branch moves in the wind. Of course, this will also drain the camera’s battery for recording. By turning down the sensitivity, you will reduce false alarms so you are only recording when there’s actually movement.
- Reduce the video quality to standard or low quality footage, not HD. Admittedly, this is a big thing to sacrifice. HD footage will help you identify faces much more easily. But if you don’t mind the lower quality footage, then reducing video quality saves your battery life.
- Select the power setting Optimized or Best Battery Life. Arlo cameras offer three different power setting options: Best Video, Optimized, or Best Battery Life. Best Video mode gives you the highest quality video possible, while Best Battery Life preserves your battery life. Optimized is the happy balance between both settings.
Other tips
- Place cameras strategically. Install the camera no further than 300 feet from the base station to preserve battery life. Don’t put it near multiple routers. You will also want to install it in a well-lit location so it doesn’t need to use infrared as often. We put our next to the Arlo Light so it never wastes battery using IR at night.
- Avoid temperatures below freezing (32° F). The cameras are weatherproof, but the low temperatures drain the battery more quickly. If you can temporarily bring them indoors during freezing temperatures, it will help your camera batteries last longer.
- Access the live stream only when necessary. The more frequently that you load up your live feed or library of clips, the more battery you are using. If your camera isn’t plugged into power, it wouldn’t make sense to run the live stream for an extended amount of time.
- Keep Arlo running on the latest firmware. Keeping your cameras up-to-date ensures that they won’t drain the battery and are optimized with the latest software. Arlo cameras should automatically update their firmware between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. local time, but if you want to manually update the firmware, just go to Settings, My Devices, click on your device, then click Device Info, Firmware, and Update. Don’t disconnect your camera or remove the battery during the update.
The battery life details listed for each camera above are for average use.
When Arlo gives specs about battery life, they assume you are only recording 5 minutes of footage per day. If you have your cameras armed and recording significantly more footage, your battery life will likely be less than their estimates and you may experience Arlo battery life issues.
Tracking Battery Life
If you’re concerned about these cameras abruptly dying on you, remember that you can easily monitor your Arlo battery life within the app.
It’s simple to see when the battery is running low and recharge or replace them before your next vacation.
Once you’ve used them for awhile, it’s easier to estimate roughly how long the battery will last based on your home’s conditions.
You should also get an email from alerts@arlo.com notifying you when the battery gets low enough.
As long as you keep an eye on the battery life whenever you use your cameras, there shouldn’t be any surprises.
Solar Panel Charging
In addition, Arlo Pro, Arlo Pro 2, and Arlo Go all work with a compatible solar panel so that you never have to stress about charging your cameras again.
The solar panel is weather-resistant just like Arlo cameras. It only needs a few hours of direct sunlight for your Arlo cameras to stay charged, and comes with a 6 foot power cable, so it doesn’t have to be installed right next to your cameras.
Arlo Ultra also has a compatible solar panel, although it’s different from the one above that works with the other 3 cameras.
The solar panels also come with a mounting kit and other installation tools to make it as easy as setting up your Arlo cameras (in other words: super easy).
One more important thing to know.
Arlo Ultra and Arlo Pro 2 won’t be able to use all of their features with the solar panel.
3-second look back, continuous video recording, and motion zones won’t work on the solar panel. So while the solar panel will keep your Arlo Pro 2 camera charged, it won’t add the additional upgrades that require the camera to be plugged into power.
Is it worth buying?
Overall, we’ve been impressed with Arlo battery life, especially on the Arlo Pro camera.
There are some negative reviews on Amazon about Arlo battery life issues, but it’s likely due to factors like high sensitivity and resolution, recording long clips, triggering the camera more than 5 minutes per day, installing the cameras far from the router, etc.
If you use the cameras carefully, you will likely have a positive experience and find that the battery lasts a long time.
Even when it dies, as long as you have the Arlo Ultra/Arlo Pro/Arlo Pro 2/Arlo Go, you can quickly recharge the camera by plugging it into the wall.
How good is Arlo App available for integrations?
Essentially, the Arlo app gives you instant access to all of your cameras. Any time motion is detected, a short video clip will get uploaded to the cloud, you’ll get an alert on your phone, and then you can watch it with a simple tap of a button. You can also choose to activate a live feed on any of your cameras at any given time, take screenshots, activate your own recording clips or initiate real-time voice communication. This last option was the only feature that was a bit hit and miss for me, as the timing was finicky between pressing the ‘talk’ button and speaking so my phone captured and correctly transmitted my voice. The speakers on the Arlo Pro 2 cameras are okay and get the job done.
My only complaint with the app is something that should come as no surprise to anyone who has used a system like this: Fale notifications. Sure, you can adjust both person and object detection, as well as set motion zones if you have the right subscription plan. But early on when I was just using the Basic plan, I had a bunch of trouble with annoying, excess push notifications. I also kind of wish there was a setting that allowed me to choose a timeframe that I wanted the cameras to be on, so if I’m home and don’t want alerts going off, I could just automate when the system starts and stops monitoring. As far as I know, you have to manually turn the cameras off if you don’t want them recording.
Is there any subscriptions fees?
You don’t need to pay for any kind of service to use the Arlo Pro 2 package on the simplest level (Basic plan), which supports up to 5 cameras and a rolling 7 days of cloud recording storage. It’s completely free, and if you don’t need anything past that, you can use your entire Arlo setup through this Basic plan forever. The next step up is the Arlo Smart Add-On ($30/year) which gives you lock screen notifications, adjustable camera motion zones that help reduce false alerts, and person detection. That last one, while it can be a tad imperfect, is worth the price alone, as it prevents your cameras from sending alerts for stuff like falling leaves or passing cars.
If you really want to up your security game, you can pay for Arlo Smart Premier ($100/year), which adds 30 days of rolling could recordings, support for up to 10 Arlo cameras, everything in the Smart Add-On, as well as an emergency feature that can direct personnel to your house. Arlo Smart Elite ($150/year) is the cream of the crop, with 60 days of cloud recordings and support for 20 Arlo cameras. I think for the average home user, the Basic or Basic plus Smart Add-On will more than suffice, but the bigger options are there should you choose to indulge.
It’s important to note that none of these plans include CVR, or continuous video recording. That’s a luxury that you’ll need to pay for, unfortunately, and it can be purchased in either 14-day or 30-day cloud storage yearly plans. In other words, the previous plans and their cloud storage only hold motion-triggered video clips, not 24/7 video feeds. I tried out the CVR function and it worked just fine, though you do need to keep the assigned camera plugged in via AC so it doesn’t die after a few days.
What batteries should I use?
We recommend that you use one of the following types of batteries:
- The batteries supplied by Arlo with your Arlo Wire-Free camera
- Tenergy Li-Ion RCR123A 3.7V 650mAh rechargeable batteries specifically marked “Works with Arlo”
- Non-rechargeable batteries from other high quality, established, well-known manufacturers such as Panasonic, Energizer, or Duracell
To purchase Tenergy rechargeable batteries for your Arlo Wire-Free camera, visit the following product page: Tenergy Rechargeable CR123 Batteries & Charger.
What do I need to know about how cold weather affects battery life?
Cold temperatures can affect any battery’s capacity because of the chemistry of batteries: the chemical reaction that produces electrical current takes place much more slowly in a cold environment. If you install your Arlo camera outside in cold temperatures, you might notice a shorter battery duration for the camera, or a faster than expected drop in the displayed battery capacity.
Why does one Arlo camera battery drain faster than another Arlo camera battery?
Your Arlo Wire-Free camera is flexible, and you can use it in a wide range of environments. However, the following conditions can affect battery life:
- Low light. Your Arlo Wire-Free camera uses infrared sensors to monitor motion in the dark, which use more battery power than cameras monitoring motion in a well-lit room.
- Poor connection to the base station. Arlo cameras work well when they have a strong WiFi connection to the base station. Cameras positioned far away from the base station, cameras located in a noisy WiFi environment, and cameras whose line of sight to the base station is heavily obstructed have a weaker connection to the base station.
- High video quality settings. Arlo cameras let you choose the quality level of the videos that they record. Cameras set to high quality video recording use more battery power than cameras set to low quality video recording.
Will my WiFi environment affect my Arlo camera battery?
Yes. If you have a noisy WiFi environment, your Arlo camera battery might drain faster because your camera has to work harder to communicate with the base station. For best results, position your Arlo cameras at least 6.5 feet (2 meters) away from each other and from other WiFi-enabled devices. You can also use a WiFi analyzer to test the WiFi noise in your environment.
What do the battery icons in my Devices tab indicate?
The battery icons indicate how much battery capacity is left.