Arlo Essential 2K vs Essential XL 2K vs Essential 2K Indoor: Which is right for you?

Which new Arlo Essential 2K camera should you choose? Here’s how they differ

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Arlo offers a range of smart security solutions within its portfolio, from the Arlo Ultra 2 and Arlo Go 2, to its Essential range. Choosing the right one for your needs can be a little tricky, especially as there are now a couple of generations when it comes to the Essential cameras. 

Don’t worry though, we can help. The latest models within the Essential range all offer up to 2K video recording, but what other features do they share and what are the differences? We have compared the Arlo Essential XL 2K, Essential 2K and the Essential 2K Indoor to help you work out which might be the right Arlo Essential 2K camera for you. 

Arlo Essential 2K v Essential XL 2K vs Essential 2K Indoor: Price

Let’s first start with price. The Arlo Essential 2K Indoor is the cheapest of these three cameras, costing $99.99 / £99.99.

The Essential 2K is slightly more expensive but only slightly, costing $109.99 / £109.99. The Essential XL 2K meanwhile is only available as a two-camera offering in the UK, which costs £259.99. In the US, you can buy one Essential XL 2K for $149.99.

• Buy the Arlo Essential 2K from Arlo now: UK / USA
• Buy the Arlo Essential XL 2K from Amazon now: UK / USA
• Buy the Arlo Essential 2K Indoor from Amazon now: UK / USA

Arlo Essential 2K v Essential XL 2K vs Essential 2K Indoor: Design

The three Arlo Essential cameras being compared within this feature all look pretty similar. That is especially true in the case of the Essential XL 2K and the Essential 2K, with an identical design save for the XL model offering an elongated rear. All three models have white bodies with black fronts, allowing them to blend into their surroundings, and they all have curved edges on their otherwise rectangular shapes. 

The Essential 2K Indoor model has a stand which can be placed on top of a surface, or mounted on a wall. It’s for indoor use only – in case its name didn’t give that away – and it has a built in privacy cover. It is a wired camera rather than battery operated, so you’ll need to keep that in mind when it comes to placement as it will need to be relatively close to a power source.

The Essential 2K and Essential XL 2K are both weatherproof cameras with an IP65 certification, allowing them to be used outdoors, as well as indoors. Neither have a privacy shutter, but they are both battery operated so you can place them wherever you like and they both have a built in spotlight that will illuminate when motion is detected.

Arlo Essential 2K v Essential XL 2K vs Essential 2K Indoor: Features

Many of the features on board the Arlo Essential cameras are similar. The Essential XL 2K, Essential 2K and Essential 2K Indoor all offer compatibility with SmartThings, Alexa, Google and IFTTT smart home platforms. They also all have a single microphone, noise reduction and echo cancellation functionality. 

Elsewhere, the three cameras have two-way audio so you can speak to anyone near your Arlo Essential camera through the Arlo app on your device and the three cameras are also compatible with Arlo’s Live View feature that allows you to see what is going on when you receive a notification. 

All three also offer a built in siren if you need to scare off unwanted visitors, and none of them require a separate Arlo SmartHub, though you can add one if you want to. You will also get a range of advanced AI features, like person detection, if you sign up to an Arlo Secure subscription and that applies for all three models.

Arlo Essential 2K v Essential XL 2K vs Essential 2K Indoor: Performance

The biggest differences therefore, can be found in these three camera’s performances. All three have up to 2K resolution video recording, as mentioned at the beginning and they all offer 130-degree field of view too. 

The Essential XL is the most accomplished of these three cameras however, offering HDR, as well as color night vision. The Essential 2K also has color night vision too but there is no HDR on board, while the Essential 2K Indoor has black and white night vision and no HDR either. All three have 12x digital zoom capabilities from their 4-megapixel image sensors though.

The Essential XL 2K has a battery life of between 16 to 24 months, and a battery charge time of 13 hours. The Essential 2K meanwhile, has a battery life of 4 to 6 months and a battery charging time of 4 hours. 

Arlo Essential 2K v Essential XL 2K vs Essential 2K Indoor: Which one is right for you?

If you want an Arlo Essential camera that can withstand the elements outside, you’ll need to opt for the Essential XL 2K or the Essential 2K. The XL has HDR for better distinction in videos and it has a bigger battery than the Essential 2K too so you should have to charge it less, though it has a bulkier build to account for that. 

If you’re looking for a camera for indoors, the Essential 2K Indoor is a solid option and while it needs to be plugged in, and it only offers black and white night vision, it has a privacy shield that the others don’t offer and it is the cheapest of these three models.

FAQs