The Arlo Pro 5S is so close to being my perfect security camera. Here's why

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Arlo’s flagship Pro 5S 2K camera is battery-powered and features a 2K resolution for $250. 
• The Pro 5S can go anywhere surveillance is needed. It is reliably accurate at detecting motion and has a removable rechargeable battery.
• Arlo requires a subscription to access most of the in-app features, the video quality could be better for 2K resolution, and it’s expensive. 

The Arlo Pro 5S 2K is a completely wireless security camera that can be placed either indoors or outdoors. It’s sleek, compact, and reliable — all qualities you’d expect from a new Arlo camera. Some things left me wanting, though I can’t say for sure if it’s because of Arlo or personal preference.

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First, it’s worth discussing the elephant in the room: the monthly subscription. 

I love a great security system; it’s one of the few things I don’t forget to switch on every night, and, as a diagnosed OCD sufferer, it helps me sleep at night. I have a Eufy Security system in my home because it doesn’t require any subscription or monthly fees, though the startup cost isn’t cheap.

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Arlo cameras are more expensive than the Eufy Security ones throughout my home and still require a subscription after you buy it. I could go on a long rant about why I dislike security camera subscriptions, but I’ll say this: If I buy the camera, I want to own the images. You don’t buy a photography camera to pay the manufacturer for each photo or video you take. 

The Arlo Pro 5S 2K camera isn’t meant to be a standalone product. While it is sold and can be used as one, it’s meant to work best when linked with other Arlo Home Security devices. Users can buy a separate Arlo Ultra SmartHub to elevate their security system and enable local storage. The SmartHub can record onto a micro SD card that’s sold separately. 

Once set up, users can only access the camera recordings when they are in the same network as the SmartHub, as the system works locally. This gives some users a much-needed sense of privacy, but it might give others a headache. 

Arlo consumers can bypass this setup and remotely access the video recordings saved in the SmartHub using port forwarding or a VPN. 

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The company offers different types of Arlo Secure subscriptions to enable cloud storage of up to 30 days, smart interactive and animated notifications, audio detection of alarms, smart activity zones, theft replacement, critical alerts, 24/7 emergency response, and certain AI-powered features. 

The Arlo Secure subscriptions range from $4.99 a month for a single camera up to $25 a month for an unlimited amount of cameras, plus 24/7 professional monitoring services, video verification, Family Safety monitoring for check-ins and location alerts, and crash detection and response via the Arlo Safe App. 

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Monthly fees aside, I’ve found the Arlo Pro 5S 2K to be extremely reliable and responsive, with motion alerts coming in immediately. As soon as there’s movement on the Arlo’s side of the yard, my phone lets me know.

Additionally, the battery life has been outstanding. The Arlo Pro 5S has a removable and rechargeable battery that lasts up to eight months on a single charge. I tested the Pro 5S for about six months and only had to recharge the battery once.

However, the image quality captured by the camera wasn’t great. I’m not sure if the issue lies with the camera or if my backyard isn’t pretty enough, but I was left waiting for the high-quality image from the Arlo Pro 5S. Instead, I was met with overexposed patches of grass in my feed that overpowered much of the image, making it hard to identify people when they walked by that area.

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I’ll admit my backyard gets a lot of sunlight, and overexposure was the only issue I experienced with the Arlo Pro 5S. Through this experience, I determined the Pro 5S is better suited to surveil either the front or side of my home. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

Is the Arlo Pro 5S 2K worth buying? It’s the perfect camera for someone with an existing Arlo subscription or setup or someone interested in it — as long as they don’t mind the monthly fees. It’s an exceptional camera, that’s for sure, but it does not live up to its full potential without a subscription or as part of a bigger Arlo setup.

I don’t believe I’d get the SmartHub to enable local storage, as viewing it remotely seems troublesome, but I can see why people do. If I were to add to my Arlo network, I’d probably get a monthly subscription. But since I’m on the cost-savings side of things, the Pro 5S 2K will be the only Arlo in my home for the time being.