Arlo Go 2 versus Eufy 4G Starlight: LTE digicam head-to-head

The Arlo Go 2 ($249) and the Eufy 4G Starlight ($229) are two new 4G LTE good safety cameras that stream or ship footage over a mobile information connection. They’re among the many few options for monitoring locations the place Wi-Fi could also be unreliable or unavailable: an off-grid cabin within the woods; the far finish of your yard; a development web site; or a storage facility.

They may also be used to regulate your RV, camper van, or tent web site once you’re tenting or watch over your boat whereas docked. A mobile safety digicam can also be possibility should you’d like a digicam at your property that you understand will keep up even when the Wi-Fi and energy are down. Or maybe you journey quite a bit and wish to surveil your Airbnb or lodge room once you’re out and about and never depend on public Wi-Fi.

Overpriced path cams was once the one possibility for a very wi-fi digicam setup like this, and it’s thrilling to see extra choices tailor-made to safety somewhat than simply recognizing animals (though they nonetheless do a terrific job of that). The Arlo and Eufy fashions look and work the identical manner their firm’s normal outside good dwelling safety cameras do — simply with greater batteries and a mobile radio on board. This implies they don’t want a Wi-Fi connection to report or stream video, however you have to to pay for mobile information to make use of the digicam, which may be an costly add-on.

I put these two LTE-connected cameras to the take a look at in several areas: the Eufy at my in-laws’ off-grid cabin in Alaska and the Arlo on the backside of my backyard in South Carolina, the place there’s not a whiff of Wi-Fi available. Each did what they stated on the field, working reliably and impressively on just one to 2 bars of mobile service. However there are some important variations between the 2.

Most notably, the Eufy doesn’t want a cloud subscription to view or save recorded video, whereas the Arlo does. The Eufy makes use of edge computing to course of the information solely on the digicam; all of the footage lives on the digicam’s 8GB of native storage. Whenever you view video within the app, you’re connecting on to the digicam. However should you run out of information or your digicam is destroyed, you gained’t have entry to any footage.

In distinction, the Arlo shops its recordings within the cloud, and also you’ll have to pay for its Arlo Safe service ($3 a month) to view motion-activated recordings within the Arlo app. (There’s the choice of a microSD card, however that may solely be accessed regionally.) The Arlo is the second-gen of the Arlo Go, and it provides Wi-Fi, which the Eufy doesn’t have, plus it helps a wider vary of good alerts.

Eufy 4G Starlight versus Arlo Go 2: specs and setup

The cameras each observe the design language of their respective non-cellular good safety cameras, with glossy white rectangular our bodies and stark black faces. The Arlo has the choice of a black casing, which might be extra discreet in an out of doors setting. Eufy says it has plans to promote a camouflage pores and skin.

Each cameras are totally weatherproof: the Eufy Starlight is rated to IP67, and the Arlo Go 2 is barely decrease at IP65. This implies the Eufy may survive underwater for a bit and in opposition to larger strain water jets, however each will stand as much as heavy rain and thunderstorms. Each additionally work right down to detrimental 4 levels Fahrenheit; the Arlo Go 2 is rated for as much as 113 levels Fahrenheit and the Starlight for a blistering 131 levels Fahrenheit.

The usual safety digicam options are supplied on each: two-way audio; spotlights and sirens to scare away any potential bother; and shade night time imaginative and prescient. (The Eufy has a starlight sensor for improved night time imaginative and prescient in low mild, because the identify signifies, whereas the Arlo doesn’t). Each even have built-in GPS that can assist you find the digicam must you overlook the place you place it.

The Arlo can report and livestream in as much as 1080p HD video, whereas Eufy is able to 2K. The Arlo has 12x digital zoom for getting a greater have a look at any motion in comparison with Eufy’s 4x, however with the upper decision of the Eufy, this distinction isn’t as massive in observe as on paper. The Eufy is barely smaller and lighter, however they each have the identical large 13,000mAh battery capability, and each have elective photo voltaic panels to maintain the batteries topped up.

The Arlo additionally features a Wi-Fi radio, that means it will possibly double as a typical safety digicam if and when you might have entry to Wi-Fi and don’t wish to pay for mobile information. That is additionally helpful as a fail-safe possibility in a house safety digicam setup, that means you’ll nonetheless have no less than one digicam you’ll be able to entry remotely in a Wi-Fi or energy outage. The Eufy solely works on mobile.

Setup for each cameras was simple. It’s precisely like putting in any of their Wi-Fi counterparts, simply with the additional step of inserting a SIM card. Nonetheless, neither of them works with their respective model’s hub (which additionally means no HomeKit compatibility for both). They do each work with Amazon Alexa and Google Dwelling ecosystems, and you’ll livestream footage to a sensible show. Arlo additionally works with IFTTT.

You’ll want a knowledge SIM card and a knowledge plan to get the cameras up and working on a mobile community. Arlo affords the choice of shopping for the digicam direct from suitable carriers by its web site. It really works with Verizon ($20 / month for “limitless” 15GB), US Mobile ($15 / month for 1GB information), or T-Cell ($20 / month for 5GB). For those who go this route, the digicam will include a SIM card, and you may as well select to unfold the price of the machine out over two to 3 years. The Arlo additionally works with European carriers.

Eufy says it contains an IoT-specific Eiotclub SIM with its digicam (in my testing, I used an AT&T SIM). It is a digital operator that makes use of the AT&T and T-Cell networks and affords a $10 / month plan with 2GB of information. You may as well use an AT&T SIM; a pill / hotspot plan begins at $25 month-to-month for 20GB. Eufy recommends the pay as you go $35 for 15GB AT&T information plan. (You possibly can’t use a T-Cell SIM card within the Starlight cam, although it helps T-Cell’s 4G bands.) The Eufy additionally works with these carriers within the UK. For any of those plans for both digicam, you may get a reduction right down to as little as $5 should you’re an current buyer of the service.

Eufy says the Starlight will use 60MB of mobile information to stream 5 minutes of dwell, 2K video or roughly 500MB / month should you entry the dwell view 10 occasions each day for 10 seconds every and report 25 occasions for 10 seconds every. Arlo says the Go 2 will use between 700MB to 2GB month-to-month relying on the variety of movement triggers and size of recordings. The massive distinction right here is as a result of the Arlo uploads routinely to the cloud, whereas the Eufy solely makes use of information once you entry the digicam.

Eufy 4G Starlight versus Arlo Go 2: efficiency and options

The important thing characteristic of any safety digicam is video high quality. The Eufy edges the Arlo right here, delivering a clearer, crisper picture in daylight, with extra element within the background than the Arlo, which loses some readability additional out. The Eufy did a terrific job catching a younger bull moose in all his glory on the Alaska cabin, and the Arlo confirmed my 70-pound canine prowling across the yard clearly, though the rooster coop behind him was barely blown out.

Each cameras have shade night time imaginative and prescient, and the Eufy has starlight night time imaginative and prescient, utilizing a starlight sensor to choose up extra element within the darkness (which might embody shade). The Arlo depends on activating the highlight for any shade night time imaginative and prescient. The Eufy may also be set to activate the highlight at night time based mostly on movement, and each provide infrared black and white night time imaginative and prescient.

Until it is advisable see what shade T-shirt an intruder has on, I discover the infrared night time imaginative and prescient, which each cameras have, to be higher for catching element at night time. In my testing, each cameras carried out high-quality at night time within the two comparable modes, with the Eufy being higher at capturing extra element and respectable distance, aided by its starlight sensor. I did have bother testing the Eufy’s starlight-only night time imaginative and prescient possibility; on this mode (with no infrared LEDs or highlight), the image was very darkish and in no way clear. Nonetheless, there isn’t a full darkness in Alaska in summer time, and in my earlier expertise with starlight night time imaginative and prescient, it labored finest in true darkness.

Each report in 1080p HD, with the Eufy able to going as much as 2K, however you’ll be able to go for decrease within the app. For those who’re on a restricted information plan, you may wish to keep on with 1080p. Arlo has a extra spectacular digital zoom at 12 occasions, however it will get very pixelated in a short time, making that much less helpful than on Arlo’s 4K Wi-Fi cameras. Arlo has a barely wider subject of view at 130 levels in comparison with Eufy’s 120, however this distinction isn’t very noticeable in observe.

The Arlo has significantly better two-way audio, utilizing full-duplex audio, which is like having a cellphone dialog, whereas the Eufy is barely half-duplex, which is like utilizing a walkie-talkie. This may be irritating should you’re making an attempt to have a dialog by the digicam. Each had loud and clear audio whereas speaking or listening.

Each cameras suffered from a standard drawback with motion-activated, battery-powered cameras; they picked up movement late. The battery has to get up the digicam as soon as the movement sensor is triggered. This meant a variety of my take a look at movies have been of the again of my head as I walked away.

However they each delivered alerts of movement promptly, with wealthy notifications (I examined with iOS) that included a snapshot. On the Arlo, you’ll be able to long-press the notification and see a preview of the recording in addition to entry a shortcut to activate the siren or name 911. Eufy doesn’t provide this. However you solely get these options should you pay for the Arlo Safe subscription (for $3 a month with a three-month trial once you purchase the digicam).

With an Arlo Safe subscription, you’ll be able to tailor your alerts to inform you solely about folks, animals, and / or automobiles somewhat than all movement. You may as well add exercise zones to focus the digicam on particular areas. Eufy has folks detection and exercise zones totally free however no animal or automobile alerts. Arlo Safe additionally provides a sensible e911 characteristic (US-only) in order that if you’re calling from one other location, you’ll be linked to emergency dispatch at your digicam’s location — not yours. (You possibly can solely have one deal with per subscription, so should you arrange the LTE digicam someplace apart from your private home, you’ll have to pay for a second Arlo Safe subscription for this characteristic.)

Eufy doesn’t provide any cloud storage service for the Starlight, and it doesn’t cost any charges for entry to its options. As a substitute, the app accesses footage straight from the digicam. Eufy says its 8GB native storage can retailer as much as six months of occasions (based mostly on 15 “motion occasions” per day with every “occasion” lasting 15 seconds). I examined the digicam for a month, and all of the movies have been nonetheless viewable within the app. I used to be additionally impressed with the velocity of notifications for the digicam and the convenience of pulling up the dwell view; there was little to no lag.

Arlo Safe enables you to retailer as much as 30 days’ value of movies within the cloud. Arlo makes use of AES encryption to safe recordings in transit to and from the Arlo digicam, and the app requires two-factor authentication. The Go 2 does have a slot for a microSD card for native storage, so you’ll be able to report movies with out paying for Arlo Safe. However that footage can solely be considered by inserting the SD card into a pc, not within the Arlo app, that means you need to bodily be on the digicam to see any footage it’s captured.

The drawback of no possibility of any cloud storage is that if the Eufy digicam have been destroyed to the purpose it may not obtain an LTE connection, you wouldn’t be capable to view any earlier footage except you had already manually downloaded it to your cellphone’s digicam roll from the Eufy app. At one level throughout testing, all of the clips disappeared from the Eufy app as a result of the preinstalled SIM had run out of information. After I topped up the information and the Starlight digicam reconnected to the web, they reappeared.

Battery life was about the identical. Each cameras have 13,000mAh batteries on board. In three weeks of use, the Eufy was at 65 % — about 11 % per week and on observe for two-ish months. Eufy estimates it can final three months, however the digicam was in a poor service space, which the app warned would scale back battery life. In my one week of testing, the Arlo was at 89 %, additionally 11 % per week. Arlo claims its digicam has 4 months of battery life on 4G, however that didn’t maintain up in my exams.

The Arlo has a detachable battery, so you’ll be able to have a spare readily available (extras price $59.99). However, if you’re putting in a mobile digicam someplace distant, you’ll want to pair it with a photo voltaic panel to maintain it charged. Each corporations promote suitable ones for $59.99. (The Eufy is usually on sale in a bundle for $249.99).

I examined the Eufy photo voltaic panel, which was easy to put in and comes with a weatherproof connector for the USB-C charging port, and it was in a position to hold the digicam near one hundred pc. The Eufy digicam prices utilizing a USB-C cable, whereas the Arlo makes use of the proprietary magnetic cable that its higher-end cameras use. You should purchase an out of doors charging cable and energy adaptor for the Arlo for $49.99, however it makes use of the identical connection because the photo voltaic panel, so you’ll be able to’t use each without delay.

For a digicam you could pass over within the woods, some anti-theft options are necessary. Each have built-in GPS to trace the digicam. The Eufy additionally has an Anti-Theft Detection Mode that may sound the alarm if the digicam is moved, though that’s simply going to provide the thief a headache. Arlo has a Theft Substitute Program that may exchange the digicam if it’s stolen so long as you acquire the digicam new, have an Arlo Safe plan, and file a police report.

One other necessary level of comparability is the apps. Right here, Arlo’s expertise edges Eufy’s, primarily as a result of the Eufy app has one too many pop-up advertisements, plus an entire tab dedicated to promoting you extra merchandise. The Arlo expertise is way cleaner. Nonetheless, each work high-quality for viewing a livestream from the digicam or recorded video. They each pull up the feed promptly after tapping on a notification, with the Eufy being barely sooner — because it doesn’t have to undergo the cloud. Each even have a helpful Occasion (Eufy) / Library (Arlo) view the place you’ll be able to filter recordings by the kind of movement and the date of the recording.

Each apps even have good choices for fine-tuning movement detection and occasion recording lengths, plus choices for tweaking settings to save lots of battery life. An possibility on each cameras enables you to schedule it to activate or off at a set time or based mostly on geo-locating your cellphone.

Eufy 4G Starlight versus Arlo Go 2: which must you purchase?

These are each excellent cameras, and the liberty from hanging on to a weak Wi-Fi connection was liberating. I cherished lastly with the ability to get a dependable digital eye on the rooster coop on the backside of my backyard so I may be careful for the numerous issues that wish to eat my chickens. My in-laws have been very impressed with the standard of the Eufy digicam, particularly in comparison with the mobile path cam they use to maintain tabs on their cabin, which has a slim subject of view and low decision. You probably have a necessity for a non-Wi-Fi-dependent safety digicam, both of those cameras can be a wonderful selection.

The Eufy 4G Starlight is cheaper to purchase and run (mobile information plans apart). There’s additionally no month-to-month price for cloud storage, good alerts, or exercise zones — Arlo prices $3 a month for these. The Eufy additionally has a better video high quality, higher night time imaginative and prescient, native storage, and on-device processing. So, you want this digicam if you’re leery about storing your video on another person’s server. However it comes with the tradeoff that if the digicam is destroyed or loses its information connection, you’ll be able to’t entry any footage you haven’t manually downloaded. If that’s a state of affairs that worries you — say you’re monitoring a cabin in an space with a wildfire threat — the Eufy’s local-only storage could provide you with pause.

The Wi-Fi radio within the Arlo additionally provides you extra flexibility than the Eufy’s cellular-only possibility and means you should use LTE as a fallback. Arlo’s good alerts and interactive notifications present a greater monitoring expertise with fewer false alerts to verify, and e911 assist could possibly be essential relying on the place you propose to make use of the digicam. Arlo’s digital zoom can also be higher, and its two-way audio is way simpler to make use of.

Choices exterior of Eufy and Arlo are restricted. Reolink has a few mobile fashions, together with one which pans and tilts. However I haven’t examined any Reolink cameras, whereas I’ve spent a number of years testing each Arlo and Eufy’s cameras and ecosystems and am snug recommending each.

In case you are already invested in both digicam safety ecosystem, I might undoubtedly go along with the street already traveled. Keep in mind you could have to get a second Arlo Safe subscription for the Go 2 should you’re placing it in a special location. For those who aren’t including this to an current system and aren’t delay by the subscription plan or cloud storage, the Arlo Go 2 is a wonderful selection. If these are deal-breakers for you, the Eufy 4G Starlight will match the invoice very effectively — simply bear in mind to maintain that mobile information topped up.

Pictures by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge