Both Arlo and Arlo Pro are great cameras. However, the original Arlo camera is missing a few quite important features like sound detection and two-way audio — which is kind of a deal breaker. How will you scare off porch pirates? So, even though the Arlo Pro costs a bit more, it’s definitely worth it. Although, you might not need all that extra bells and whistles.
We’ve put together a list of differences between the two systems accompanied by a comparison chart. You’ll also find additional helpful information in our FAQ section along with a conclusion where we give you our opinion. Is the Pro version worth it? That’s what we’re here to find out, so let’s compare Arlo vs. Arlo Pro to help you find the right security camera system for your home.
Arlo vs. Arlo Pro — Differences
- Difference #1: Two-Way Audio – The Arlo Pro camera has a built-in speaker and mic, so you can listen in and talk back straight from your smartphone. Tell your dog to get off the couch or use it for security purposes. This built-in mic works great and the standard Arlo is definitely missing out on this helpful feature. Unfortunately, original Arlo cameras don’t have a speaker or mic, thus they can only record video without audio.
- Difference # 2: Power Source – The Arlo Pro Camera offers flexible power options. You can use it either wire-free or plugged in. The Arlo Pro is powered by a long-lasting, rechargeable battery. The battery’s life varies based on settings, usage, and temperature. But it’s safe to say that it’ll last for up to four months without a problem. Also, the Arlo Pro camera offers an alternative, eco-friendly power source option. If you don’t want to depend on the battery, you can use an Arlo Solar Panel to power your camera:
The standard Arlo camera doesn’t support a plug-in charger. It uses non-rechargeable batteries, although this difference might be solved by simply getting separately.
- Difference # 3 Advanced Motion Detection – The Arlo Pro cameras feature a wide-angle PIR motion sensor. That’s an important upgrade since Arlo cameras have some issues with in-time motion detection. However, with the Arlo Pro and its improved PIR sensor, not a single movement goes unnoticed.
- Difference # 4: Smart Siren – Arlo Pro offers a 100+ decibel siren. But don’t let this difference trick you. The siren is actually built into the Arlo Pro Base Station, not the camera itself. So in case you already have the Arlo Pro Base Station, then don’t even worry about this difference. You can connect both Arlo and Arlo Pro cameras to the Arlo Pro Base Station. Control the siren remotely, or set up a motion/audio trigger — it’s that simple.The doesn’t support this feature. So you might want to upgrade your original Arlo Base to Arlo Pro Base to get the security benefit. However, if you have a smart home security system already installed, who needs a siren?
- Difference # 5 Local Storage – This is also rather a base station difference than a camera one. Even though the standard Arlo camera base station has two USB ports, it doesn’t support local storage. However, Arlo provides you with free cloud storage for a limited period. And it’s usually more than enough. You can keep all your motion-triggered recordings in the cloud for 7 days. You can also save the recording by downloading them to your computer from the online storage. But what if the Internet goes down? That’s when local storage will come in handy.With the Arlo Pro Base Station, you can use the USB device as a second location to store Arlo and Arlo Pro recordings locally. So, in case your Internet connection goes down, the cameras will continue to record to the USB device, as long as the cameras and base station are powered on. Just note that you can not use the USB local storage on its own. Local storage to a USB is an optional storage whereas cloud storage is the default one.
- Difference # 6 Google Assistant – “Ok, Google. Show Front Door on Living Room TV.” — Unlike the original Arlo, the Arlo Pro supports Google Assistance so you can live stream your Arlo Pro cameras on your Chromecast or NVIDIA Shield TV. With the Google Assistant getting more and more popular this difference might be the deal-breaker. However, if you’re not that much into smart home tech and just want a good-quality camera to watch your front door, the original Arlo will do just fine.
Arlo vs. Arlo Pro — Comparison Chart (VMS3230 vs. VMS4230)
| Arlo (VMS3230) | Arlo Pro (VMS4230) | |
|---|---|---|
| Video resolution | 720p | 720p |
| Frames per Second | ~24 FPS | 30 FPS |
| Video Format | H.264 | H.264 |
| On-Demand Live View | Yes | Yes |
| Record Live View | Yes | Yes |
| Field of View | 110° | 110° |
| Zoom | 8x digital zoom | 8x digital zoom |
| Power | Non-rechargeable Batteries | Rechargeable Battery/AC |
| Optional Power Source | No | Solar Panel |
| Battery Life | N/A | Battery: 3-6 months Solar: indefinitely |
| Two-Way Audio | No | Yes |
| Motion Detection | Up to 23 feet | Up to 23 feet |
| Motion Zones (built-in) | No | No |
| Person Detection | With Subscription | With Subscription |
| Facial Recognition | No | No |
| Sound Detection | No | Yes |
| Night Vision | 850 nm LEDs: illuminates up to 25 feet IR cut-off filter |
850 nm LEDs: illuminates up to 25 feet IR cut-off filter |
| Internet Connection | WiFi: 2.4GHz | WiFi: 2.4GHz |
| Requires a Base Station | Yes | Yes |
| Max # of Cameras per Base Station | 15 | 15 |
| Siren | No/via the Arlo Pro station only | Via the Base |
| 24/7 Recording | No | No |
| Local Backup Storage | No/via the Pro Base Only | Via the Pro Base |
| Cloud Storage | 7-Day Free / Subscription |
7-Day Free / Subscription |
| Review, Share, & Save | Yes | Yes |
| e911 Emergency Call | With Subscription | With Subscription |
| Instant App Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| App Support | Android, iOS, FireOS, Web |
Android, iOS, FireOS, Web |
| Rich Notifications | With Subscription | With Subscription |
| Weather-resistant | IP65 rating | IP65 rating |
| LED Lights | Sold Separately | Sold Separately |
| Smart Music Player | No | No |
| Air Sensors | No | No |
| Amazon Alexa | Echo Show, Echo Spot | Echo Show, Echo Spot |
| Google Assistant | No | Yes |
| Google Home Hub | N/A | Yes |
| IFTTT | Yes | Yes |
| Stringify | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | 14° to 122° F | -4° to 113° F |
| Dimension | 2.8 x 1.7 x 2.6 in | 3.1 x 1.9 x 2.8 in |
| Color | White | White |
Arlo vs. Arlo Pro — FAQs
What’s the difference between Arlo Pro Base Station vs. Arlo Base Station?
The new Arlo Pro base station features local storage via a USB drive and a 100+ db smart siren. Also, not that it really matters, but the two base stations have different designs. Other than that, any assumptions about a faster processor haven’t been proven yet.
Check out our take on Arlo vs. Arlo Pro Base Station for more details.
Can I use Arlo cameras with Arlo Pro base station?
Yes, Arlo cameras have no problem syncing with the Arlo Pro Base Station. Same as Arlo Pro cameras can connect to the Arlo Station. Arlo makes expending of Arlo security system really simple — all Arlo wireless cameras work with all base stations.
Should I upgrade my standard Arlo cameras and base?
If you already have a standard Arlo Wire-Free, you can still add a few Arlo Pro Cameras. Both the Pro and the original Arlo kits work seamlessly together. You can buy cameras separately, like the Arlo Add-on Camera.
Or, if you want to upgrade to a Pro base, you can always buy it separately or part of any Arlo Pro Camera Kit. Once you sync your Arlo Wire-Free cameras with the new Arlo Pro Base Station you’ll be able to take advantage of the new base station features like smart siren and local storage.
Be sure to check out our All Arlo Cameras Comparison Chart & Overview.
Arlo vs. Arlo Pro — Our Thoughts
If you’re choosing between Arlo vs. Arlo Pro, we’d say go with the Pro Version over the Original Arlo. Sometimes Pro versions don’t have much to offer. But when you compare Arlo Pro vs. Arlo, it’s hard to say no to the Pro version. All the new, eco-friendly features like solar panel charging, two-way audio and advanced motion detection are definitely worth the extra cash. Plus, with the Arlo Pro base station, you get a smart siren and local storage.
Find out more about smart, wireless Arlo cameras. Read our Arlo Security Camera Review.
Last update on 2024-04-23 at 08:24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Visitor Rating: 5 Stars