The Arlo security cameras that many people are familiar with include several different products in the Arlo family. In this article, we’ll do a review of the differences between the indoor cameras, Arlo Q, and the Arlo Q Plus security cameras.
Arlo is on a mission to make homes feel more secure. Their smart cameras are designed specifically with the idea of making your home safe and sound in mind, as security has become an increasingly important concern these days.
How do Arlo Q and Arlo Q Plus compare?
There are several differences between these two indoor security cameras and one is not necessarily better than the other. It simply depends on what features you are looking for and what your budget is.
Overall, both of these cameras can provide you with a great home security system that you can access via your smartphone.
With the information in this article, you should be able to make your decision on which one will work best for your needs!
What Is The Difference Between Arlo Q and Arlo Q Plus?
There are two main differences between the Arlo Q and the Arlo Q Plus. One is that the Q Plus model comes with a MicroSD memory slot which gives you local storage for your videos. The second is how each one is powered. The Arlo Q is powered by Wifi ONLY whereas the Arlo Q Plus uses an Ethernet connection.
The full list of differences are…
| Arlo Q Smart Camera | Arlo Q Plus | |
| Powered by | A mini USB cable / power adapter and then connect it to your wi-fi network | Can connect it the same way as the Arlo Q OR use an Ethernet cable (PoE) connection |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Local storage | No | Yes via an SD card |
| Cloud storage | 7 days of cloud storage for free. More available with the subscription plans | 7 days of cloud storage for free. More available with the subscription plans |
| Video quality | 1080p hd video with night vision | 1080p hd video with night vision |
| Night Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Live Video | Yes | Yes |
| Facial Recognition | No | No |
| Motion Sensor | Yes – motion detection sensors range from 1 (low sensitivity) to 9 (highly sensitive) | Yes – motion detection sensors range from 1 (low sensitivity) to 9 (highly sensitive) |
| Sound Detection | Yes | Yes |
| GeoFencing | Yes | Yes |
| Pan Tilt & Digital Zoom | Yes | Yes |
| Field of View | Has a wide field of view of about 130 degrees | Has a wide field of view of about 130 degrees |
| Talk & Listen | Yes via microphone and speaker, with two-way audio | Yes via microphone and speaker, with two-way audio |
| Installation Process | Fairly fast and easy | Fairly fast and easy – very similar to Arlo Q |
| Aesthetics | White square camera that can mount on a wall or on a base | White square camera that can mount on a wall or on a base |
| Waterproof / Weatherproof | No (Arlo’s outdoor camera is the Arlo Ultra) | No |
| Works with Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Google Assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Pricing | Check Price Here | Check Price Here |
This list of features is very impressive considering the low cost of the Arlo Q. products. I especially love the 2-way audio feature which comes in handy if you need to speak to someone in another room in your house.
Does Arlo Q Require A Subscription?
You do not need any sort of subscription plan in order to operate them, and if you use the Arlo Q Plus, it can store footage locally.
Without a monthly subscription, you can still monitor your devices via the Arlo app and tune into any live camera feeds. You can also receive notifications that you can customize and you can store your videos locally.
Arlo offers 2 smart subscription plans. The Arlo Smart Premier can be used for any camera. And the Arlo Smart Elite can only be used with the 4K Arlo cameras.
Here are the features for each of these monthly subscription plans.
| Arlo Smart Premier | Arlo Smart Elite | |
| 2K cloud recording | Yes | No |
| 4K cloud recording | No | Yes |
| Instant intelligent alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced object detection | Yes | Yes |
| Video recordings are stored for 30 days | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud activity zones | Yes | Yes |
| Extended warranty | No | Yes |
You can get more information and pricing information about Arlo’s subscription plans here.
If you do opt for one of the subscription plans, this is what you will get…
- You can record in 2K or 4K video resolution
- Set up an advanced object detection
- Set up Smoke and CO alarm detection
- Create “cloud activity zones”
An additional feature (an add-on to either subscription plan) is the Continuous Video Recording (CVR) feature.
About The Arlo Mobile App
The Arlo mobile app is a versatile and practical tool. Using the mobile download, you can set up your devices from start to finish in just minutes; moreover, with its free features, you’ll be able to create detection zones for each camera- keeping track of those pesky intruders – as well as see a live view of what your camera is seeing.
When you launch the app, you’ll see an icon for the Live Feed which gives you that great live view that is so important with security cameras these days.
Does Arlo Q Need A Base Station?
You do not need a base station with either the Arlo Q or the Arlo Q plus security cameras. Once they are powered up, they connect directly to your Wi-Fi router via an internet connection. But know that other Arlo cameras may need the use of a base station.
Is Arlo Q Waterproof?
The information from the company is that the Arlo Q camera is not waterproof or weatherproof. It’s intended for indoor use only.
So, I would say that if you do want an Arlo security camera for an outdoor space to look at the Arlo Ultra, Arlo Go, and the Arlo Pro 2 models. An additional feature of the Arlo Pro 2 is that it is a wireless camera!
Check out our article on the Best Garage Security Camera.
Is Arlo Better Than Ring?
It’s difficult to assess whether the Arlo cameras are better or worse than the Ring cameras. In my honest opinion, it really all depends on what features you need to make your home safe.
Both companies make excellent products and each one has its own set of pros and cons. I believe that no matter which one you choose, as long as it gives you the specific features that you are looking for, you won’t go wrong.
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