Security Camera: Nest Cam IQ Outdoor vs Arlo Ultra

the Arlo Ultra and the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor are two high end security cameras for the home, by far the most elaborate outdoor DIY models I've tested.

Both cameras are equipped with 8-megapixel image sensors, which allows them to automatically zoom in on a person, a car – or any other activity related to the motions – and track it more accurately than a camera standard. The Ultra and IQ Outdoor models are weather resistant and designed to withstand variations in temperature, rain, snow and more without breaking. They share some other standard home security features, but also have significant differences.

So I figured I would have done a thorough comparison so that you can see where each model stands out and if it makes sense to do it for your home. Let's dive in.

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Performance

The IQ Outdoor has a slight hold on the performance front. This Nest Camera sent me quick alerts, accurately tracked activity in its field of view, and recognized most faces with its optional facial recognition feature "familiar faces".

The Arlo Ultra also did a good job in general, but had some difficulties with some advanced features. For example, the Ultra is supposed to make the difference between people, vehicles and animals. It even has a beta feature to recognize packets when they arrive and send a custom alert.

The Ultra has very well detected a person – he will not tell you who she sees, only that he sees a person.

It has been less successful in correctly identifying vehicles, animals and packages. Since the package feature is in beta testing, I gave it a chance to succeed, but the other two are not, and that was disappointing.

As with most cameras I've tested, Arlo Ultra's ability to identify specific things will likely improve over time, but the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is more consistent today. ; hui.

Characteristics

Both devices have impressive specifications, which makes this section a draw, but some key differences are worth considering. While the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor broadcasts in 1080p high definition, the Arlo Ultra in 4K. The 4K streaming will not work if your Wi-Fi quality does not meet Arlo's minimum requirements, but if that's the case, expect to be able to set more details than with cameras lower resolution.

The Arlo Ultra is also more of a security camera than the Nest model. The Ultra application allows you to arm and disarm the system. The camera itself is equipped with a built-in siren and projector. The movements that occur at night automatically turn on the spotlight, which surprises the person and allows the camera to more easily grasp who she is and what she does. Adjust the application settings to automatically turn on the siren when the system is armed and the camera detects motion – or turn it on manually whenever you want.

At the same time, IQ Outdoor offers free person detection as well as a three hour window of recorded images, taken whenever the camera detects an activity. Nest also offers face recognition and cloud registration services through the optional Nest Aware service, in case you want to access the most advanced features of the camera. the Nest Aware service starts at $ 5 a month. Learn more about Nest Aware.

The Arlo camera is not as advanced – and does not offer as many free features as the Nest IQ Outdoor. Arlo offered 7 days of cloud video storage based on free motion activity. Instead, Arlo gives you one year of free subscription to the Arlo Smart subscription service, which gives you access to Arlo's most advanced features in the hope that you'll continue to pay after the end of this year. 'subscription.

But unlike the Nest Camera, which offers free personal alerts, Arlo Smart's people, vehicles, animals and parcels detection capabilities are reserved for Arlo Smart subscribers. And the Arlo Ultra does not offer facial recognition even with Arlo Smart. Learn more about Arlo Smart. The Arlo Ultra comes with local storage, however, if you want to skip some of these sophisticated Arlo Smart features and use a microSD card for free.

Privacy Note: Nest offers two-factor authentication, learn more. Arlo does not offer this feature.

Look at the table below to see how Ultra and IQ Outdoor compare side by side:

Compare security cameras

	Arlo Ultra	Nest Cam IQ Outdoor
Price	$ 400 (kit of a camera); $ 600 (two camera kit)	$ 349
Finishing color	White	White
Waterproof	Interior Exterior	Outdoors
Connection type	Wireless	Wireless
Source of energy	Rechargeable battery	Plug-in adapter
Resolution	4K	1080p
Image sensor	8 megapixels	8 megapixels
Digital zoom	12x	12x
Live streaming	Yes	Yes
Continuous recording	Yes, with Arlo Smart	Yes, with Nest Aware
Online storage	No free cloud registration; optional Arlo Smart subscription service starting at $ 3 per month	Yes, free three-hour image history; optional Nest Aware subscription service starting at $ 5 per month
Local storage	Yes, via the provided base station (microSD card not included)	No
Mobile app	Yes	Yes
Web application	Yes	Yes
Night vision	Yes	Yes
Alerts	Movement and sound; person, package, vehicle and animal with Arlo Smart	Movement, sound, person; facial recognition with Nest Aware
Zones of activity	Yes, with Arlo Smart	Yes, with Nest Aware
Third-party integrations	Amazon Alexa; Google Assistant	Amazon Alexa; Google Assistant

Design

Arlo is easier to install and configure in the app than the Nest Camera.

The Arlo is battery powered, with a detachable rechargeable battery expected to last between three and six months and whose full recharge takes between two and four hours. Press the button at the bottom of the Arlo camera. The front of the camera will separate from the back, which will facilitate access to the battery, whether you remove it or put it back in place.

The Ultra also features a smart magnetic holder that attaches to the included magnetic holder for a very fast setup. Arlo also includes standard pivot support if you prefer to screw the bracket to the back of the camera for a more permanent and secure installation.

The Nest camera is not difficult install, but it's not as simple by comparison. Specifically, the IQ Outdoor s' presses on an adapter for the power supply, which means that you are somewhat limited with regard to the location and the way of the I & # 39; install, unless you want to use extensions of several meters.

Nest support is not as functional as Arlo media. You really can not install the Nest Camera on a table or on the ramp of your back deck and expect it to stay in place. Instead, this camera really needs to be wall mounted to optimize its positioning.

Last thoughts

It was a very tight call, but the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is overall a little better. It's more affordable, offers more features for free, and if you decide to pay for Nest Aware, you'll also get facial recognition.

The Nest model also worked more reliably, while the Arlo Ultra model struggled to recognize cars, animals and packaging. The lack of facial recognition of the Ultra is also disappointing. Nevertheless, the Arlo Ultra is also a powerful candidate. This is a particularly interesting option if you are interested in a high quality camera with the ability to move without being attached to a power cord.

Think about what makes the most sense in you and go away from there. Still puzzled? There is good news: you really can not go wrong with one or the other if you want a high-end outdoor camera with a clear live broadcast and a variety of advanced features.