Are Blink cameras any good? Will Amazon Blink camera review XT2 help you? The Blink Home Security Camera System is an affordable connected surveillance solution. It features battery-powered wireless security cameras you can place anywhere in your home. if you only need some light video surveillance, Blink’s basic features perform admirably, so it’s a good choice for basic home security. And it’s pretty cheap. For less than the price of the Apple Pencil, you can get one Blink indoor camera and a sync module (you’ll need this in order to use your camera). Find more in Amazon Blink camera review XT2.
This diminutive 720p or 1080p cameras offer motion detection, push alerts, and relatively good image quality, save for some pincushion distortion around the edges of images (based on camera model). You’ll pay a lot less for a Blink camera than you will for a wired camera like the Icontrol Networks Piper nv or the Zmodo Pivot, but both the Piper nv and Pivot offer home automation capabilities and a better all-around 1080p picture. Reveal more in Amazon Blink camera review XT2.
Amazon Blink camera XT2 specs
- Available colors : Black
- Weight : 3.15 oz or 89 grams
- Size : 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.4 inches or 71 x 71 x 34 mm
- Power : 2 AA 1.5V lithium metal (non rechargeable) batteries
- Smart phone requirements : iOS 10.3, Android 5.0, or Fire OS 5.1
- Blink App : Blink Home Monitor app
- Field of view : 110 degrees diagonal
- CPU : Immedia Proprietary – AC1002B, 4 cores / 200 MHz
- LEDs : One blue LED to help you know when it’s active (optional)
Price and availability
Each Blink kit (starting from $99.99 at Amazon) consists of one or more cameras, a Sync Module that can support up to 10 cameras, and a mounting kit for hanging each camera on a wall. A single-camera kit goes for $99, the two-camera kit (reviewed here) is $159, a three-camera kit is $219, and the five-camera kit is $339. Individual cameras go for $70 a pop, and individual Sync Modules are $50 each. The company says that an add-on siren accessory will be available later this year. (Price may vary based on promotions)
Are Blink cameras any good?
Both the Blink and Blink XT2 use the same sync module. What that means is fewer devices you have to connect to your router. What that really means is that your internet won’t slow down because your security cameras are pulling all the bandwidth. Are Blink cameras any good?
Pros
- No data storage charges or subscription fees
- Infrared night vision (Blink XT2 only)
- Easy DIY setup
Cons
- Only (up to) 60 seconds of recording after motion is detected
- No on-demand recording when in live view mode
Can it withstand with weather?
While we mounted our Blink XT on a covered porch, we like that we could mount it on our garage door, or an exposed side of our house, and not worry about dealing with a dead camera later. We did leave it out uncovered in direct rain for a couple of days, and the camera had no problems.
Is Blink camera wire-free or battery powered?
This is a huge plus if you’re not into having unsightly power cords running down the side of your house. Having the ability to set it up and be wire-free just looks nicer and eliminates any concerns about the camera going black during power outages. We found ourselves admiring how tidy the device looked on its little mount above our front door without any cords connected to it.
Not only is the camera free of anything weighing it down, but it takes AA lithium batteries to power it, which is convenient for obvious reasons. No expensive batteries or battery packs are needed to operate the XT. Blink claims all its cameras have a two-year battery life with regular usage.
Can Blink XT2 detect motion like person, animal or object?
It’s good the motion detection was reliable, because the device only records when it detects movement. Those recordings are called “Motion Clips,” and are viewable via the app. You can customize how long you want the clips to be once motion is detected, and it will continue to record if it continues to detect movement. You can always view live action through the app, but you can’t record live action while watching it.
Is cloud storage free in Blink camera?
Cloud storage is free. Yep, free – though it’s not unlimited storage. The Blink website says you receive 7,200 seconds of storage before new footage records over the old stuff. Not having to pay for access to your own video footage is a great perk for an inexpensive camera. For example, Ring’s cloud storage starts at $3 per month or $30 per year, while Arlo’s premium plans start at $99 per year.
Does Blink camera work with Amazon Alexa?
When we first reviewed the Blink XT camera, Amazon Alexa capabilities were limited to being able to tell Alexa to arm or disarm the camera only, despite the fact that Amazon owns Blink. We’re happy to report that that has changed. If you have an Echo Show or Echo Spot device, you can now view video clips and get a live view from Blink cameras. For example, in our test house we can view live footage from our Blink XT camera on the front porch on our Amazon Show.
Is Blink app user friendly?
Once you connect to the app, control of the camera is simple. The app is laid out in an organized fashion. You can control just about everything – from how sensitive you want the camera’s motion detection sensor to be to whether you want to arm or disarm your camera at certain times. You can name devices, add additional Blink cameras (up to 10), and see low battery warnings. Multiple users can download the app and access information for your camera, so if you want your roommate or partner to have access, you can provide them the camera’s login information.
Downsides – Amazon Blink camera XT2
Manually pan, tilt, or zoom
While you can do a lot with the app, don’t expect to be able to use it as a remote to zoom in on a potential bad guy lurking across the street. Unlike the Arlo Pro 2, which allows you to zoom a live stream using a pinching movement on your phone, there are no zoom capabilities on Blink XT, nor can you pan left or right. The mount has a little bit of flexibility but not much, so if you want to change the angle you’ll have to do it manually. That can be a challenge if you’ve already screwed in the base and find later that you need to move it.
Night vision
If you’re seeking a camera with crystal clear imagery and resolution, this is not the camera for you. Night video, especially, doesn’t offer much clarity. The video is fuzzy even with porch lights on. The daytime image quality of the Blink XT — especially in bright sunlight — will give you what you need. There’s a bit of a keyhole distortion with the image, but it’s still clear enough to see what’s happening outside your home.
Night vision is not spectacular, but good enough to tell you if it’s your mother or a stranger at the door (unless your mother is a stranger to you. In that case, you’re out of luck). If you’re looking for a crisper, clearer image, you might want to look to the Ring Spotlight Cam or the aforementioned Arlo Pro 2 or Nest Cam outdoor instead. Furthermore, the camera does not feature a siren or two-way communication, meaning that you won’t be able to communicate with a porch pirate or sound an alarm if something is wrong.
Amazon Blink camera review XT2
In the box
The Blink XT comes in a simple box with simple packaging. In the box you’ll find the camera, a cloud storage hub called the Sync Module, a USB cable and power adapter for the Sync Module, two AA lithium batteries to power the camera, a security sticker, a user guide, and hardware that includes a mount, screws, and adhesive strips.
Design
The camera is a small square, measuring about three inches by three inches, with the lenses in the middle. It’s very lightweight. It has a resolution of 720p and can capture 7.5 frames per second in low lighting, and up to 35 frames per second in good lighting.
How to setup Blink XT2?
We quickly and easily mounted it above our front door facing the porch, our driveway, and the street. In all, set-up was about as easy as it gets, as it took about 10 minutes to mount and position the camera, and get it connected to the Sync Module. Be sure to connect your camera to the app before you mount it, as you need to input the serial number located on the device before you can connect.
Weatherproof
The camera is built for the outdoors, so it’s supposed to withstand rain, snow, and temperatures ranging from -4 degrees to 113 degree Fahrenheit. We had it in a covered area where rain flew in sideways from time to time, and temperatures dropped into the 20s, yet the camera worked without issue.
Smart Blink app
The Blink XT works with the Blink app for either Android or iOS. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you can name your camera, receive alerts of movement detected, watch videos, and more. You can also watch live footage and customize your configurations in the app, such as how sensitive you want the motion activation to be, or how long you want your video clips to be.
Amazon Blink camera customer review XT2
Good value for the money, not sure about the 2way audio
I have been using Blink since it was a kickstarter company. The evolution of the product has been really solid. However, if your expecting to have real time surveillance this is not your product. First off let say setup is a snap as long as you follow the direction, something to remember the cameras connect to the WiFi and the sync module, the sync module placement is important.
I recognize the camera now supports 2 way audio but I don’t see how that will work since typically you are notified after the video is made. The only way I see the 2 way working is if you had the app open and you were actively looking at the video when the event happened. That said for what it does do in recording events is excellent.
The video looks good, and the night time infrared is good. Also, you can’t beat the free storage, and as for battery life they sure have come a long way that said remember to always use the lithium-ion batteries, they recommend by blink also remember that batteries are at there weakest when it is cold out. So to be clear about battery life, I have yet to have a camera’s batteries last 2 years.
I now have a total of 3 cameras working all XT or XT2 and work they well for for my expectation. I have 3 more XT2 cameras coming I’ll update this review once those have been configured and and if things improve or go bad. I hope that with the 2 way Blink/amazon will have the app notify you as soon as motion is directed so you can take advantage of the mic.
By Amazon Reviewer