Arlo Pro 3 Review 2022

You’ve heard of the Arlo Pro, but have you heard of the Arlo Pro 3? The third iteration on the popular Pro camera has a spotlight, and it even comes in a floodlight version. And, like the other Arlo Pros, it has 2K video and advanced object detection.

The biggest downside to this home security camera is the cost. You need to pay for the camera, a hub, and a storage plan for complete use of your Arlo Pro 3.

The Arlo Pro 3 has pretty standard features for Arlo cameras. It’s got the company’s advanced object detection and customizable motion zones, among other things.

Arlo Pro 3 camera features:

Sound detection means your home security camera can send you a notification or set off its siren when it hears something, not just sees something.

This is one of Arlo’s less advertised features, maybe because sound detection can be a bit chancy, especially on a camera that’s outdoors. But users can adjust the detection sensitivity or turn it off altogether in the Arlo app.

Arlo cameras don’t come cheap. They’re not the most expensive camera offering, which is a plus. Still, they are pretty darn expensive.

As Arlo releases more standalone, hub-free cameras, the prices are coming down, but not on the Pro 3. You’ll pay close to $200 even if you just get this home security camera on its own.

And, as we mentioned earlier, Arlo’s camera plans are definitely some of the more expensive ones out there. Even before you add continuous recording into the mix, Arlo charges more for cloud storage than Reolink or Ring.

Of course, you’re getting more with Arlo than just storage. You’re also getting access to the camera’s premium features. But on the other hand, Reolink and Ring aren’t charging extra for you to use their top features like Arlo is. They give them to you as part of the camera, which is, in our opinion, how things should be.

One feature this camera doesn’t have: free storage. The Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 came with seven days of rolling cloud storage at no cost. But starting with the Arlo Pro 3, you have to get a paid Arlo Smart plan if you want to store recorded footage.

Happily, you’ll get a three-month free trial to see if the storage is worth the Benjamins. You’ll also have the option for local storage through your base station, but if you don’t have a paid plan, your footage won’t save in 2K. And unfortunately, without the paid plan, your object detection won’t work, which kinda kills the point of going with Arlo.

Just looking at the table, I'm sure you can guess which Arlo Pro 3 plan we'd recommend. 

For $3–$10, the Secure Plan will give you 2K video, cloud storage, and advanced object detection.

Arlo has one more paid plan, the Secure Plus Plan. It’s the same as the Premier plan, but it streams in 4K and costs more. We didn’t include the Elite plan in the table because it isn’t compatible with an Arlo Pro 3.

The Arlo Pro 3 records in five-minute, event-based clips. If you want continuous recording, that’s a separate service altogether. You have to spend $13.99 per month for 14 days of continuous recording. And if you want the whole month, the cost jumps up to $24.99.

Altogether, that makes Arlo’s camera plans rather pricey.

Arlo cameras offer smart home compatibility you don’t usually see with other manufacturers. Most Arlo cameras not only work with Alexa and Google Assistant, they also work with Samsung SmartThings and Apple HomeKit.

That means you can connect your cameras to any of the four major smart hubs for voice control and other automation. Not bad!

You can’t make any direct smart home connections, though. For instance, you can’t connect your Arlo account to any locks or bulbs and then control them from the Arlo app.

Which brings us to …

The Arlo mobile app isn’t difficult to use. We found it’s pretty easy to navigate, for the most part. Also, it’s highly rated on both Google Play and the App Store, which is a positive sign.

This camera is a DIY device. You’ll set it up and mount it on your own.

Arlo Pro 3 installation steps:

• Charge the camera.
• Download the Arlo app.
• Create an Arlo account.
• Log in to your account.
• Select Add New Device.
• Follow the instructions to add the camera.
• Mount the camera.

To give you an idea of what you're paying for, we compared the Arlo Pro 3 to our top three favorite outdoor security cameras.

The cheapest Arlo Pro 3 packages come with two cameras and a base station. If you only need one camera, the Arlo Pro 4 or Google Nest Camera will be a better option for you. If you'd like a well-known and reliable security system, you might like Vivint for a little more cash.

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

To decide which Arlo security camera is the best, we looked at getting the most out of your money, innovative technology, smart home integrations, clear video, and professional monitoring.

We try to be thorough, so if there’s something we missed in the review body, you might find it here.

You can find a camera that’s almost as good as an Arlo Pro 3 for less money. But if you really want Arlo’s one-of-a-kind advanced object detection, the price might be worth it to you.

In our opinion, getting an Arlo Pro 3 makes the most sense when you already have a base station. That way, you just have to get a standalone camera, not the full kit and caboodle.

It depends.

According to our security expert Mindy Woodall, if you love the latest and greatest tech, you’ll prefer the Arlo Pro 3 to the Arlo Pro 2.

We’ve broken out the difference for you, just to make it easy to see.

As we mentioned earlier, the Pro 3 also has some small design improvements for the hardware.

Arlo says you can put its wire-free cameras as far as 300 feet (90 meters) from their hubs or base stations.

It’s both!

Like most Arlo cameras, the Pro 3 camera would work indoors or outdoors. However, with this expensive of a camera, we suggest putting it outside to get your money’s worth.

The best value for your money is probably the Arlo Essential. It’s not as expensive as some of the other Arlo security cameras, and it doesn’t need an Arlo SmartHub or base station to operate.