Blink Cameras Review 2022

For the price, Glimmer cameras are good quality. And they have really long battery lives.

Blink Outdoor Camera

3.3 out of 5 stars

3.25

Blink Indoor

3.3 out of 5 stars

3.25

Blink Mini

3.3 out of 5 stars

3.25

Con:

More limited placement

Mindy Woodall

Managing Editor, Dwelling Security & Smart Home

Read More

Blink cameras are for people who want loftier-quality video in an affordable, minimalist package. All iii of Glimmer's electric current camera models are small, powerful, and piece of cake on your wallet. Plus, they accept long battery lives that don't crave much maintenance.

The most expensive Glimmer camera costs less than $100 and lasts ii years on a couple of AA batteries.

SimpliSafe camera comparing

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 06/09/2022 eight:22 PST) Full disclaimer
* For the add together-on model. A camera kit (with the Glimmer Sync Module 2) costs $10 more.

What to look for in a security photographic camera

The best home security cameras are like shooting fish in a barrel to install, affordable, and delivers a clear video flick.

Features to look for in home security cameras:

  • A good residuum of price to features
  • Requires simple and easy installation
  • Provides articulate, high-quality video
  • Has a great battery life

To go the well-nigh out of your coin, the cameras must have features to lucifer the price. If you lot want a "cheap photographic camera", y'all might go 1080p picture and a small storage. But if you become a quality camera, expect to get Hard disk video and fill-in storage.

A good security camera will only crave a simple and easy install. And no matter what video quality resolution your camera might have, it should still provide you with a clear motion-picture show.

Lastly, no ane wants to recharge their camera once per week. At least every other calendar month is manageable, and every few months is even amend.

Blink cameras overview

Blink has three camera models, and they're pretty similar to each other, and all iii work with Amazon Alexa

Glimmer's large claim to fame is its impressively long, ii-yr battery life. With just 2 AA batteries (y'all probably take them somewhere in your house right now), you lot can ability a Glimmer camera till the mid-2020s.

With such a long battery life, yous might wait Blink cameras to be, well, kind of crummy. But, amazingly, they're not!

Despite their long bombardment life and low cost bespeak, Blink cameras produce high-quality video, clear audio, and customizable settings that will brand it easier to watch your holding. Plus, all of Blink'south cameras work with Amazon Alexa (but not much else).

Piece of cake installation

All 3 of Blink's cameras are a piece of cake to set up. The Blink Outdoor and the Blink Indoor don't have any wires or plugs to worry nearly, so y'all can put them just about anywhere. And the Blink Mini uses an optional swivel stand for piece of cake positioning.

Glimmer's cameras are besides uniformly lightweight and pretty small in size, and then you can hide them hands if yous don't desire potential thieves to spot your spy.

Affordable prices

We've spent enough time talking virtually the Blink cameras' battery lives and non enough talking about Glimmer's low cost point. Security cameras are much more affordable than they used to be, but we'd notwithstanding wait to pay more than Blink asks for.

The Blink Outdoor is the highest-priced model at nigh $100 for the starter kit, and the Blink Mini is a wallet-dropping $35.

Glimmer Outdoor camera features

The Blink Outdoor is easy to install, and you don't take to worry nigh wires

Pro Bullet Wireless

Pro Bullet Atmospheric condition-resistant

Pro Bullet Hard disk video

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 06/09/2022 8:22 PST) Full disclaimer
* For the add-on model. A camera kit (with the Blink Sync Module 2) costs $ten more.

The Blink Outdoor is the model yous want for backyard/front g/driveway monitoring. This wire-costless camera tin go on a wall, ceiling, or fifty-fifty in a tree, and so you can get the positioning merely right. The Blink Outdoor comes with a swivel mount you can apply to put the thing on a wall and an extension you can use to hang information technology from a ceiling.

Blink Outdoor cam features:

  • Wire-gratuitous blueprint
  • IP65 conditions rating
  • -4º to 113º F (-20° to 45° C) operating temperature
  • 110º field of vision
  • two-year battery life
  • AA battery-powered
  • Cloud storage and local storage
  • 1080p Hard disk drive resolution with 30 fps
  • Night vision
  • 2-way audio
  • Adjustable motion zones
  • Upward to two privacy zones
  • Amazon Alexa integration
  • 2.iv GHz network compatibility
  • 1-year limited warranty

IP65 weatherproof rating

The Glimmer Outdoor is actually like to Blink'due south indoor camera, except for weatherproofing. While the Blink Indoor doesn't offer much protection from the elements, the Blink Outdoor comes with an IP65 rating that will keep this little beauty rubber from rain, snow, and grit.

While the Blink Outdoor'south operating temperature makes information technology suitable for near snowy or sunny locales, people who live in extreme environments might desire to check the numbers. If your town regularly gets colder than -4º Fahrenheit or hotter than 113º Fahrenheit, so you lot'll demand a hardier outdoor camera.

Megaphone

The Glimmer Outdoor lets you lot ready custom temperature alerts, so information technology tin tell you if the backyard is getting too hot for one piffling cam to accept. Temperature alerts are also handy if y'all accept a pet yous need to bring inside during the oestrus (or cold) of the solar day.

(More often than not) good two-mode audio

2-way audio lets y'all talk to people in your k and hear what they say dorsum to yous. The Glimmer Outdoor's two-way sound is decent—information technology doesn't sound similar a robot is speaking to y'all through a tin tin.

But, if it'southward windy outside, the Blink Outdoor's incoming sound suffers. This camera doesn't take noise cancellation, then yous'll hear every gust of the wind running across the microphone.

(More often than not) skilful paradigm quality

The Blink Outdoor records in 1080p Hd resolution, which is high plenty to show you crisp details on your neighbor'south shirt or the expressions on your kids' faces. Its nighttime vision, on the other hand, is not so bang-up.

This photographic camera has a bad habit of washing out faces in nighttime vision manner, so you tin't tell your spouse from a burglar. The Blink Outdoor's dark vision as well doesn't stretch very far. Everything starts to look extra fuzzy when it's more than virtually 10 feet away from the camera.

Glimmer Indoor camera features

The Blink Indoor cam tin can fit on any shelf in your firm

Pro Bullet Wireless

Pro Bullet Hard disk drive video

Pro Bullet Infrared night vision

Source: Amazon Printing Center

Amazon.com List Prices (as of 06/09/2022 8:22 PST) Full disclaimer
* For the add-on model. A photographic camera kit (with the Blink Sync Module 2) costs $ten more than.

The Glimmer Indoor camera is a lot like the Blink Outdoor but without the weatherproofing. This photographic camera is a flake cheaper than the Outdoor, simply it'south meant to stay inside.

Other than that, you lot'll have a very similar experience with both. Both the Blink Indoor and the Blink Outdoor record in the same resolution, offer the same app settings, and have the same battery life.

Glimmer Indoor camera features:

  • Wire-free design
  • 110º field of vision
  • 2-year-battery life
  • AA battery-powered
  • Cloud storage and local storage
  • 1080p HD resolution with 30 fps
  • Dark vision
  • Two-fashion audio
  • Adjustable movement zones
  • Up to two privacy zones
  • Amazon Alexa integration
  • two.4 GHz network compatibility
  • 1-year limited warranty
  • 32º to 95º F (0º to 35º C)

Wire-free design

Just similar the Blink Outdoor, the Blink Indoor has no wires to speak of. That'due south especially corking for an indoor camera because it means you can put it on any flat surface (or wall or ceiling) you want, without worrying nigh power cords.

Set the Blink Indoor on a bookshelf, mountain it above a doorway, put it in a toy box—take your pick.

Amazon Alexa integration

The Blink Indoor works with your favorite Amazon Repeat device to let you view the arm and disarm the camera, also as view the livestream. If you don't desire to option upwards your phone and open the app, so your Alexa Show can give you an inside view.

Blink Mini camera features

The Blink Mini uses a ability string merely comes in a compact size

Pro Bullet 1080p Hd resolution

Pro Bullet 2-way audio

Pro Bullet Plug-in photographic camera

The Blink Mini uses the same app and recording functionality as the Blink Indoor and Blink Outdoor cameras, but information technology comes in a smaller parcel, and information technology doesn't demand whatsoever batteries.

Blink Mini features:

  • Photographic camera removable from swivel stand
  • 110º field of vision
  • Deject storage and local storage
  • 1080p Hd resolution with 30 fps
  • Night vision
  • 2-style audio
  • Adjustable motion zones
  • Upward to 2 privacy zones
  • Amazon Alexa integration
  • 2.4 GHz network compatibility
  • 1-year limited warranty
  • 32º to 95º F (0º to 35º C)

Uses a power cord

The snack-sized Blink Mini photographic camera has a power cord, which is a plus if y'all don't want to change batteries. Information technology's besides detachable from its included swivel stand, which effectively gives you a mini version of the regular Blink cameras (hence the proper name).

On the flip side, that power cord has some drawbacks. While the string means you don't accept to go searching for extra AA's, it also means you tin can't put this camera anywhere you want. Information technology has to be within reach of a ability outlet, and you might have to awkwardly cord the string upward a bookcase or beyond a room.

Doesn't work with Google Banana or Apple HomeKit

All of Blink'due south cameras work with Amazon Alexa, but none of them work with Google Banana or Apple HomeKit, including the Blink Mini. That's because Amazon owns Blink, and Amazon and Google sometimes pass up to play overnice.

The Glimmer Mini doesn't work with Apple HomeKit either, merely Apple fans are pretty used to that. But if you want a security camera that works with your Google Abode, in that location are tons of other options out at that place. In the meantime, we'll keep pleading with Jeff Bezos and Sundar Pichai to osculation and make upwardly.

Other Blink camera products

Blink has only one other product: the Sync Module 2

Glimmer only has three cameras, simply information technology does take one other device you might want: the Blink Sync Module 2.

Blink Sync Module 2

Pros

  • Supports upwards to 10 cameras

  • Stores footage locally

  • Uses USB flash drive

Cons

  • USB flash bulldoze not included

  • Not compatible with previous Blink XT or XT2

This little square is the affair that lets y'all store footage on a wink bulldoze instead of paying for Blink'due south cloud-subscription plan.

The Sync Module 2 comes included if you buy a Blink "photographic camera kit." Without a kit, you'll pay around $35 to buy the module separately.

Recap: What are the best Blink cameras?

Blink's cameras are the definition of "blindside for your buck"

All three of Blink'southward cameras are pretty good. They're inexpensive and discreet, they don't employ a lot of energy, and they're piece of cake to install. Whichever model you choose, you lot'll get a decent photographic camera for not a lot of money.

  • Blink Outdoor: The Blink Outdoor photographic camera runs for two years off two AA lithium batteries, and you don't accept to string a single wire. This Outdoor camera is weatherproof and like shooting fish in a barrel to position on a wall, ceiling, or apartment surface.
  • Blink Indoor: The Blink Indoor is basically the Outdoor camera minus the weatherproofing. You'll take the same Hard disk drive recording, night vision, and two-style sound, but this model stays inside. Just like the Outdoor, it'south easy to install and has a two-year-long bombardment life.
  • Blink Mini: The Glimmer Mini is the lilliputian sibling of the other 2 cameras. It has most of the same features, including 1080p resolution, night vision, and motion detection—simply the Mini uses a ability string instead of batteries.

If you want a discreet, depression-maintenance security camera that won't cost an arm and a leg, and then it doesn't become much amend than Blink. Blink cameras bring new meaning to the phrase "ready it and forget it."

Methodology

We research, test, and compare habitation security cameras based on these 2 categories: price and features.

To make up one's mind which home security camera is the best, we looked at a balance of cost to features, innovative technology, smart home integrations, reliable video, and professional monitoring.

FAQs

Do Blink cameras piece of work with Ring?

No, Blink cameras are a totally dissever arrangement from Band cameras, and they don't work together. But, the Blink Habitation Monitor App does work with Band'due south Neighbors program, so you can see clips other photographic camera users have captured in your neck of the forest.

Last we checked, y'all couldn't postal service Blink footage directly to the Neighbors app from your phone. You accept to relieve the video beginning so upload it manually.

Are Blink cameras waterproof?

Only one Blink camera is water-resistant: the Glimmer Outdoor, which has an IP65 atmospheric condition rating. Blink's indoor cameras are non waterproof, and we don't recommend leaving them out in a rainstorm or dropping them in a bathtub.

Are Glimmer cameras compatible with Google Home?

Currently, no. Google and Amazon (Blink's parent company) are always squabbling, and their devices don't always work together. Glimmer is currently caught in the tech wars crossfire, and you'll accept to expect elsewhere for a camera that works with your Google Dwelling.

Do Glimmer cameras tape all the fourth dimension?

Because Blink cameras are trigged to plow on using motion detection, the cameras will record curt clips based on motility. Depending on if you take a Glimmer subscription plan, yous tin can choose to have the cameras record while the system is armed, or manually record using the Live View.

Are Blink cameras wireless?

Yes, all three of Blink'due south cameras are technically wireless, but only two of them are wire-free. Camera terminology can exist confusing, and wireless merely means they connect to your internet network "wirelessly."

If you want a "true" wireless camera (a.m.a. wire-complimentary), then you'll want to get the Blink Indoor or Glimmer Outdoor. They run off batteries and don't have any cords. The Blink Mini camera uses a power cord.

Is there a monthly fee for Blink cameras?

Y'all can use your Blink camera without a subscription and go the standard features. But if you want to use cloud storage, then yeah, Blink cameras require a subscription. But you can skip the subscription in favor of local storage if you lot get the Blink Sync Module ii. It stores your footage on a flash drive, and you don't have to pay a monthly fee. (Yous do have to pay for the wink bulldoze, though. It'south not included.)

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon.com. This content is provided "equally is" and is subject to change or removal at any time. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the appointment/time indicated and are subject to modify. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase volition utilize to the purchase of this production. Reviews.org utilizes paid Amazon links.

Mindy Woodall

Written past

Mindy Woodall

Mindy has been writing most technology for seven years. She covers all things smart home for Reviews.org, and keeps runway of the latest robot gadgets. Mindy attended the University of Utah and her work has been featured on the likes of Parents.com, Digital Care, Hostfully, and more.

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