I have always been a great fan of the video quality of the Arlo cameras. The products from Arlo are simple and easy to install and can be place anywhere in less than 10 minutes. Today, you will find a lot of smart home security systems whose devices doesn’t work with each other but at the same time most of the Arlo devices integrate with most of the them.
All the Arlo smart security devices work great with Google Assistant except Arlo audio doorbell and the Arlo video doorbell that doesn’t integrate with Google Home. However, both the doorbells work with Amazon’s Alexa.
The cameras and doorbells from Arlo may look simple but they provide high quality videos which makes it a standalone in this market.
Arlo provides free basic plan and therefore, you don’t have to sign any long term contract. So, there is no monitoring services provided by them.
If you need monitoring services, then you should go with other brands like Ring and Nest. I know, most of us want a home security system that provides 24/7 monitoring but for Arlo you just need to pay for the equipment and nothing else.
Arlo cameras can be integrated with the third party applications like Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings and Apple HomeKit. Using these application, you can easily control all your Arlo devices with your voice.
How to connect Arlo with Google Home?
Before you start to connect your Arlo cameras to your Google home, you have to download three Apps from Google Play store or Apple Store.
These are Arlo App, Google Assistant and Google Home. Google Home allows you to add your cameras to room and provides Home view to you and your family members connected.
Here’s how to connect Arlo cameras to Google Home
- Open the Google Home App.
- Now, Tap on the “+” icon of the top lest hand side of the screen.
- Click on the first option “Set Up device”.
- Now you have to tap on the “Have something already set up” placed under Works with Google.
- Search for Arlo and select it.
- Now, you have to login to your Arlo account using the email and password associated with your Arlo account.
- Google will ask for the confirmation to access your account. Click on “Allow”.
- The moment you Tap on Allow, google will start synchronising all the devices and sensors connected to your Arlo account.
- Once all the devices are synchronised, you will see the devices and Google will ask to name them.
- Now Tap on a device and select the room for which you are using the camera.
- Tap on “Next” and add the other devices to the rooms they belong.
- Once you name all the devices, return to Home. You will see all your devices here to which room they belong.
Voila! All your Arlo cameras are now connected to your Google Home. You can ask Google to show the live feed of the camera by saying “Ok Google, show [camera name] using your phone, tablet or smart TV.
Google Voice commands for Arlo devices
Turn Off the camera
Ok Google, Turn off the [camera name]
Showing the camera feed
Ok Google, Show [camera name]
Ok Google, Show front door camera on [TV name]
Ok Google, What’s on front door
Turn on the camera
Ok Google, Turn on [camera name]
Ok Google, Turn on hallway camera
Turning on the lights
Ok Google, Are the lights on in the [room name]
Ok Google, Is the light on in [room name]
Turning off the lights
Ok Google, Turn off the [room name] lamps.
Ok Google, Turn off the lights in the [room name]
Ok Google, Dim the lights
Arlo Devices that work with Google Home: My favourite 4
Arlo Ultra
Most of the home security cameras lacks one thing, the clarity of everything in the video. At the same time, we have Arlo Ultra which comes with a cutting edge image quality of 4k HDR. The feeds of this camera is so clear that you can even see the tiniest thing clearly in the video.
Another feature that I like most is the enhanced Night Vision which provides even the colourful images in dark. The camera is integrated with a spotlight that enable users to see the colourful video feed rather than the traditional black and white.
The Auto zoom and tracking feature is the other ability of this camera that attracts me towards it. This feature automatically tracks the motion and zoom it for a better view to the user.
Arlo Ultra is a true wireless camera that you can install anywhere you want to monitor. It is also weather resistant and therefore either it is rain, snow or heat, the camera works normally.
With the two-way audio feature, you can easily talk and listen to anyone near your camera. The camera also has a spotlight to warn off the unwanted guests and pristine audio system also known as noise cancellation microphones to reduce the background noise of wind, rain or street.
Other features include 180 degrees wide angle view and siren triggers that you can set to automatically or even trigger it manually on alerts.
You can get the Arlo Ultra on Amazon.
Arlo Pro 2
The Arlo Pro 2 was released as the successor of Arlo pro, with 1080p video recordings in far better quality than ever before.
The Arlo Pro 2 has many other abilities like motion detection, Smart security siren, 3 second look back and local back up storage which makes this device different from others.
The feature I like most is the in-built smart siren that can be either triggered by the App or can set to automatically. Whenever the device detects the motion it sends an alert to the phone, if you find this alert to be important then you can trigger the siren which is of 90+ decibel.
You can also highlight the places from where you want the motions to be detected. The 3 second look back feature enables cameras to capture activities 3 seconds before it is detected so that you can look back from where it started and what really happened!
The device is also weather resistant and features a two-way audio ability which makes it easy to talk to the guest through your smartphone from anywhere.
You get a flexible powering option with Arlo pro 2 and either use it as wire free as well plug it to the power plug. So, the device gives you both the option depending on the type you prefer to use.
The night vision is clear and automatically turns on when the light becomes low.
You can integrate this device to Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT as well as Srtingify. Check the latest price of Arlo Pro 2 on Amazon here.
Arlo Pro
Arlo pro is the 100% wire free camera from the company. The camera comes with audio and IP65 which makes this camera suitable for monitoring your house in all-weather without any interruption.
The camera has an HD quality video streaming that makes things clear when watching over the recording or the streaming. At the same time, you can have a conversation at the person at your door with its in built speaker and microphone directly from your smartphone.
Another feature that I like on this camera is the option to connect USB drive to the base station as an additional back up storage. So, you don’t have to worry about the storage shortage anytime as you can use your external device for storage.
The device is very flexible with its powering option and you can use it the way you want. You can just install it and use it with the rechargeable battery which lasts long or install it to a power plug.
You would definitely like its wide angle PIR motion sensor that takes care of all the motion that happens around your camera. The moment it detects the activity; you get an alert to your phone.
The device has further other features like free 7-day cloud recordings, smart siren and can be used with Apple Homekit, Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT and Srtingify.
This camera is also awarded at the CES Innovation Award. You can get Arlo Pro on Amazon.
Arlo Security Light
The fact I love this smart light is due to its smart lighting system it provides, when I use it with my camera. I can really watch more areas around my house and clear with its smart light automated technology.
This smart light can be used singly to just fear off the intruders or you can use it with the camera. You don’t have to worry about the wiring as like cameras it is also wire free.
The feature I like most is the presence of 400 lumens which brighten up the areas like the daylight. LED’s are really powerful and works best in outdoor areas. You can even set it up with the Arlo camera and whenever the camera detects any motion the light brightens up.
The light senses the light around it and goes to power saving mode in bright light. So, you don’t have to worry about saving the battery power for dark times.
With the Arlo light you get millions of colors to choose from and even set up you light according to your need. For example, when you are going on a vacation or holiday, you can set up the light to brighten up at 7 P.M and it will automatically turn on at the scheduled time.
Arlo security light integrates with Amazon Alexa and you can use your voice commands to turn On or Off the light. It also integrates with several other devices like Google Assistant, IFTTT and Stringify.
Get the Arlo Smart Security light at $59 on Amazon.
Does Arlo work with Apple Homekit?
Yes, Arlo cameras works well with Apple Homekit. You can use Apple Home App and Siri to voice control your smart home products.
