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If you’re looking for a complete wireless outdoor security camera for under $100, get the Blink XT2.
Blink Xt2 Camera Night Vision
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Blink 5 Outdoor Wireless Security Camera System Set Xt2 Bsm00203u +box
When the Blink XT wireless security camera debuted, we praised it for its low price, ease of use, and free cloud storage. After that, Amazon acquired the company and it came out with a successor: Blink XT2.
This capable little camera works indoors and outdoors, costs less than $100, has full 1080p resolution and twice the battery life of its predecessor. Although it lacks many features found in other security cameras, the Blink XT2 is one of the best outdoor home security cameras, especially for those on a budget.
Unlike most security cameras with rounded designs, the XT2 is square with rounded edges. At 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.4 inches, it’s the size of a coaster and should be inconspicuous wherever you decide to mount it. The XT2’s Blink Sync module, which you need to connect the camera to your Wi-Fi network, is roughly the same size and shape.
The XT2’s flat sides and bottom mean you can easily rest it on a shelf. A mounting kit and screws are included with the camera so you can attach the camera to the side of your house. However, there is no way to secure the XT2 against theft; It is better to mount it higher.
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The XT2 is rated for outdoor use and has an IP65 rating, meaning it should hold up against rain, hail and snow. The camera I set up outside my house survived the most intense thunderstorms without a problem.
Similar to Arlo’s security cameras, the Blink XT doesn’t connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network. Instead, it communicates via a proprietary wireless link to the Blink Sync module, which connects to your Wi-Fi. That way, the Blink XT camera can run on battery power; The sync module needs to be plugged into an outlet.
Powered by two AA batteries, Blink says the XT2 can last up to two years without replacement batteries. This figure assumes you’ll use the camera for about 900 minutes of video events, including Live View, motion-activated recording, and two-way talk. The more video the camera records, the more you use two-way talk and live video, the shorter the camera’s uptime.
Fortunately, the Blink XT2 kit includes a camera and sync module; Additional cameras cost $89 each.
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Setup takes about 20 minutes. You must first connect the sync module to your WiFi and then connect the camera to the sync module. Blink makes it easy. From the Blink app (Android and iOS), scan the QR code on the back of each device to link to your account.
The biggest decision you’ll have to make is where to mount the camera, which you can do with the included mounting bracket and two screws.
The XT2’s 1080p camera has a 110-degree field of view, similar to the Wyze Cam, but narrower than the Samsung SmartThings Cam’s 145-degree FOV and the Arlo Q’s 130-degree. Still, none of those cameras were designed. For outdoor use, when the XT2 was mounted on the side of my house, the field of view was wide enough to see most of my backyard.
While not as good as Arlo’s cameras, the XT2 had good enough quality that I could make out individual faces and details in both day and night videos. The colors of the green shirt and red dog bowl were spot-on, while the Labrador retriever’s yellow fur was popping.
Blink Xt2 Indoor/outdoor Wi Fi Wireless 1080p Hd Security Camera
Also, the Blink XT2’s microphone was sensitive enough to pick up the chirping of crickets at night. In fact, they were surprisingly loud when I reviewed the video.
Blink’s app has some cool-but-not-so-good features, including customizable activity zones, motion sensitivity, and video quality. The app lets you set the duration of each recording (from 15 to 60 seconds), as well as how long to wait before reactivating the camera’s motion sensor.
Action areas are set by selecting squares on a grid. The basic grid is 5 x 5, while an advanced setting divides each square into a 4 x 3 grid, giving you a total of 300 squares. It is very easy to set up.
The camera’s scheduling feature is lacking. You can set the XT2 to arm and disarm multiple times per day, and you can set custom schedules for each day. But the method of adding or changing these settings is confusing, requiring you to go back and forth between two screens, one showing a clock with the days of the week at the bottom, and one showing a grid of the entire week. It will be very easy to pull your finger when you want to arm the camera.
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The camera also has a built-in thermometer, so the device can notify you if the temperature falls below or exceeds a threshold you set. You can also schedule a time to activate motion detection.
Unlike other security cameras, including the $20 Wyze Cam, you can’t set the Blink XT2 to only recognize people, so you’ll get alerts for any motion it senses from any source.
Since Amazon owns Blink and Ring, you can link the XT2 to the Ring app to use its Neighborhood Watch feature. It shows police, fire, and other incidents from ring cameras (and voters) around your area.
The best thing about Blink’s cameras is that there are no fees for storing videos. That means you have limited cloud storage, about 2 hours total, and clip length is limited to 60 seconds.
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The Wyze Cam limits you to 14 days of free cloud storage (and 14-second clips), but you can insert a microSD card into the camera if you want continuous recording and longer clips. However, I wouldn’t expect continuous recording with the XT2, as that feature would drain the camera’s batteries in no time. Blink does not offer any paid storage plans.
Not surprisingly, the Amazon-owned Blink XT2 works with Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa. If you have a Fire TV device or an Alexa-enabled display, you can ask the voice assistant to show you the live view from the camera. You can ask Alexa to arm and disarm the XT2’s watch. However, you can’t currently include the XT2 into any Alexa routines, which is unfortunate.
The XT2 works with IFTTT, which lets you set up functions like geofencing and disarming via Google Home, two features the camera doesn’t support natively.
While many indoor security cameras sell for under $100, there are relatively few that are wireless and rated for outdoor use. Canary Flex ($138) is probably the closest competitor. That camera has a slightly wider field of view, person detection, and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. Flex comes with 24 hours of rolling storage and an option for 30 days of cloud storage. Plus, it connects directly to your WiFi without the need for a bridge.
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But if you’re looking for a truly wireless, weatherproof camera under $100, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one as good as the Blink XT2.
The US Editor in Chief of Tom’s Guide is Michael A. Prospero. He oversees all Evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests the latest drones, electric scooters and smart home gadgets like video doorbells. Prior to her work at Tom’s Guide, she was the reviews editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter for Fast Company and the Times of Trenton, and several years ago she was an intern at George Magazine. He earned a master’s degree from Boston College, where he worked for the campus newspaper, The Heights, and then attended Columbia University’s School of Journalism. When he’s not trying out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably delighting or horrifying his family with the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven. New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where the packaging is … Read more about condition) New: A new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is applicable) as seen in a retail store Must be as-is, unless the item is handmade or packaged by the manufacturer in non-retail packaging such as a non-printed box or plastic bag. See the seller’s listing for full details. View all conditions Definition opens in a new window or tab
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