Blink Security Camera

Our Verdict

The Blink camera isn't fancy, but it handles the basics well and won't bust your budget.

For

Interesting, compact design
Easy-to-employ mobile-app interface
Gratis deject storage
Inexpensive

Against

Color representation is only so-and then
Built-in light is weak
No nighttime vision

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Blink camera isn't fancy, but information technology handles the nuts well and won't bust your budget.

Pros

+
Interesting, meaty design
+
Like shooting fish in a barrel-to-employ mobile-app interface
+
Free cloud storage
+
Inexpensive

Cons

-
Color representation is merely so-so
-
Built-in calorie-free is weak
-
No dark vision

With every technological advance in gadgetry, the first production out of the sandbox is often the high-finish, sleek, feature-laden production for early adopters. But shortly after that, the affordable, entry-level, elementary gadget makes its mode into the marketplace.

Blink (starting at $99) is in the latter category, offer a limited feature as the merchandise-off for an inexpensive, like shooting fish in a barrel-to-use, webcam-based home-security camera — and with a no-frills app to match. It'south one of the best bare-bones security cameras nosotros've tested — the only existent competition is the Belkin NetCam Hd+, which has to apply wired power — and Blink's gratuitous deject storage is an added bonus.

Blueprint

The blueprint of the Blink camera and its Sync Module (a minor hub) is very Apple-esque. With its eggshell-white color scheme (if you can telephone call monochromatic a scheme), rounded corners and minimalist feel, yous basically end up with minor, foursquare-ish modules that are each 2.eight x 2.8 x 1.2 inches — virtually the size of a drink coaster, and weighing but 3.3 ounces.

The Sync Module, which communicates with the Glimmer cameras via both Wi-Fi and a proprietary low-power, wireless protocol, looks like a large key-finder tag. It is 2.3 x 2.5 10 0.seventy inches and weighs 1.6 ounces.

Blink Specs

The flat coaster shape is counterintuitive if y'all're used to traditional home-security-photographic camera blueprint, but that's likely the point. This isn't your typical domicile-security-camera arrangement. A unmarried Blink camera is $99; two are $170, and three $230, which is about the same cost as a unmarried Netgear Arlo Pro.

Power	5V via microUSB connector
Port	USB port for futurity updates
Operating Temperature	32 to 95 degrees (0 to 35 degrees C)
Dimensions	2.3 x 2.5 x .7 inches
Weight	1.six ounces

Each Blink bundle comes with a Sync Module, and you can connect upward to 10 Blink devices (for now, that's only cameras) to a Sync Module.

Each camera ships with ii AA non-rechargeable, high-capacity lithium batteries, and the app has a handy built-in battery-level indicator. Blink says the batteries themselves terminal two years under normal operation, just be sure not to replace them with regular alkaline AA batteries or with lithium-ion AA batteries.

The Glimmer photographic camera has a built-in microphone and is well-built, but it's recommended for indoor use only. Each unit ships with a mounting bracket and mounting screw.

More than: Best Wireless Security Cameras

Features

The Blink photographic camera records in Hd 720p at 1280 ten 720 resolution. While this is not full 1080p, it is enough sharp for video being viewed on a smartphone, and is consistent with other cameras in this class. Lower resolution also results in smaller files and less bandwidth usage, which makes for easier, smoother viewing on your telephone.

The Blink has built-in white residue and motorcar exposure, which is common for cameras in this class. Information technology uses passive infrared (PIR) motion detection with adaptable sensitivity and detection upward to 20 anxiety from the camera. Its field of view is 110 degrees, and the lens has a fixed focus, providing a clear view of objects as close as iii feet (and equally far to infinity).

The Blink camera has motion detection and an "illuminator" that really amounts to but an LED light, similar in forcefulness to the flash unit on high-end smartphones. The illuminator has iii ability levels, but make no error: It will non lite upwardly a room.

The motion detector takes the grade of a ball-shaped project in the middle of the camera unit of measurement. It lights upward in different colors based on the status of the camera. There's too a tiny LED indicator light adjacent to the motion detector that lights up in different hues based on the condition of the camera.

Functioning

The Blink camera is a basic, entry-level camera — and it performs that way. I found a significant lag fourth dimension after hitting various commands or changing settings, as the mobile app "loaded" not just pages, but likewise commands.

This was despite having four bars of Wi-Fi point, and the maximum five bars of point from the Blink sync unit. This was frustrating, peculiarly afterwards having worked with other cameras in this class.

Glimmer sends alerts to your smartphone when the photographic camera senses motion. You can command the sensitivity of the motion sensor, equally well as a handful of other options — merely not a lot of them. The move detection will non work through glass, so don't put it next to a window and expect to receive alerts when someone walks across the yard.

The Settings screen does tell you lot the room temperature as well every bit bombardment strength and the forcefulness of both your Wi-Fi bespeak and the camera-to-sync signal. The app produces full-screen video when the smartphone screen is turned sideways, but other screens on the app will not go horizontal. The video quality is expert, simply a bit darker than that of other cameras in this grade. Color reproduction is serviceable.

You can easily schedule monitoring times, such as when you're away at piece of work, in the smartphone app. Monitoring schedules can exist temporarily disabled.

Like many inexpensive home-security cameras, the Blink doesn't record continuous video. Instead, it records short clips that are triggered past motion. (The user will also be notified by the smartphone app when motion is detected.)

The default clip length is five seconds, but y'all can suit that in the app to exist up to 60 seconds long, with an option to cut a prune brusque if movement stops. (Glimmer warns that extending the default length of each clip will cut downward on battery life.)

There'south no local storage available, either in the Glimmer camera or in the Sync Module, and each clip is uploaded to Glimmer'southward servers. Storage is gratuitous, but each Blink system gets only seven,200 seconds' worth (20 hours) of footage before old clips are recorded over. Still, that should be enough for many customers' needs. Y'all can download clips to your smartphone through the Glimmer mobile app.

You can't share the live feed from a Blink system with some other user, but you can ship recorded clips to anyone via electronic mail or instant messenger.

MORE: 16 Alexa Skills For Your Smart-Dwelling Devices

Smartphone App

As with just nearly any kind of gadget these days, your smartphone is the linchpin to the whole "system." In other words, functionality and command often depend on the quality, screen size and storage capacity of your smartphone.

With Blink, it'southward no different. Before you can even set up upwardly the camera, you'll need to become familiar with its app, and only then tin can you use the app to control the camera. You'll as well have to create a Blink account. Fortunately, the Blink Home Monitor app had one of the fastest downloads and setups of any app I can remember.

The app itself is spare but incredibly user-friendly. It gives you specific commands with large arrows, directing you to your next motility, whether that's to set up your existing camera or add a new 1.

Smart-Home Integration

Blink is at present compatible with Amazon Alexa, and so you can plow the Blink system on and off, and cheque its status, via vox commands.

Even better, Blink too works with IFTTT, making the organisation compatible with Philips Hue smart lights, Google Home, Belkin Wemo smart plugs, the August Smart Lock and even the Nest Learning Thermostat. There'due south a total list of Blink IFTTT commands hither.

In the near future, the Blink Sync Module will be able to act as a hub for more than Blink devices. The visitor said it plans to addan outdoor camera, a water sensor, an entry keypad and door sensors this year.

MORE: Best Smart Home Hubs

Installation and Setup

To employ the Blink system, you'll demand a mobile device running at least iOS 8.1 or Android iv.4 KitKat, a broadband internet connection with an upload speed of at least ii Mbps (which rules out many residential DSL customers). The Blink is compatible with WEP, WPA and WPA2 Wi-Fi security.

Installation of the Blink system is straightforward and quick, but it does require an extra step. Y'all're not setting upward a camera; you're installing a "organization." The production I reviewed was a system that consisted of three Glimmer cameras and one Blink Sync unit.

Equally such, you'll need to set up the Sync Module first. This is adequately straightforward, just don't throw out the box, equally you'll need the serial number printed on the side to ready your sync module and your cameras.

In one case you've fix upward the Sync Module and connected it to your Wi-Fi network, camera setup can begin. Again, salvage the box, or amend nonetheless, have a photo with your smartphone of the serial number.

Warning: The app does not retrieve any of the serial numbers. You will demand the original number every time you disconnect completely (e.g., when moving, getting a new router, etc.). I found this to exist decidedly inconvenient.

Start, you'll demand to install the two included AA lithium batteries into the unit. Rechargeable batteries are highly discouraged by Blink, but lithium batteries comport more of a charge than regular alkaline batteries, which means you shouldn't need to modify the batteries oft.

Withal, keep an eye on the battery-life indicator in the Glimmer app. You don't want to become on vacation for two weeks to that amazing beach village in southern Thailand and have the camera run out of juice 3 days in.

Once yous install fresh batteries, y'all'll be ready to ready the camera. The app uses text and picture prompts to assistance yous along, and you'll have to give every camera a unique name. It's very piece of cake. Click this, punch in those numbers, enter the Wi-Fi password, and you'll be monitoring your home in a few minutes.

MORE: xiv Coolest Smart Abode Gadgets Yous Can Purchase Soon

Bottom Line

The Glimmer Cam is a solid entry-level dwelling-surveillance option, and an even amend gift due to its low price tag. It's bang-up for your technologically challenged friends who just want to check on Fido while they're on holiday (in the light of mean solar day, of course).

For the same price, the Belkin NetCam HD+ offers night vision, an intercom part and integration with Wemo smart-habitation devices, but you'd have to plug that device into the wall and pay $x monthly for deject storage.

If toll isn't a trouble, you could get for the Netgear Arlo Pro, which is indoor/outdoor, is battery-powered, offers seven days' worth of gratis cloud storage and has an intercom role, merely currently sells for $230.

Just if none of that interests you, the easy-to-use, no-frills Glimmer camera system is a safety bet.