Blink XT2 Smart Security Cameras
Blink is now owned by Amazon along with a competitor Ring. The Blink XT2 camera is the indoor/outdoor version of their Wire-Free HD smart security camera lineup. Added features include two-way audio communication, day & night HD (up to 1080p) coverage with infrared night vision. The camera can be mounted anywhere within range of your 2.4 GHz 802.11n wireless network and connects via the mobile app. There are no monthly fees, the clips are stored in the cloud for up to a year however each clip is limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. The camera is triggered upon motion which helps save battery because of that you may miss a couple of seconds of action. Blink claims right on the box that the camera has a two-year battery life with the included AA Lithium batteries however based on my experience and what I’ve read from other reviewers online I don’t believe that is true at all. Most users are reporting battery life closer to 4 months, but this all depends on the camera settings and the amount of activity. There is not an option to save the videos locally and it won’t work if your internet goes down. Because of these limitations, I’d consider looking at a more robust system such as Arlo but at $99 for the Blink XT2 it isn’t a bad option.
