Essential Solar Security Camera

No. A subscription is not required for the Essential Solar Security Camera to work after the trial period. Without a subscription, you will continue to receive notifications when motion is detected and be able to view your camera's live video feed. However, a subscription is required to maintain premium features like Video Cloud Storage, Interactive Notifications, Video Object Detection, and more. Visit http://www.arlo.com/arlosecure for a full list of features that require a paid plan.

No. An Arlo SmartHub is optional, and you can connect this camera directly to your Wi-Fi router. 

The Arlo SmartHub increases security by adding a secure, personal network to your router. It also helps to regulate Wi-Fi traffic, can improve battery life, and is compatible with local storage. For more information, visit: Arlo SmartHub Compatibility.

Yes. You can set up this camera using either band.

Yes. The Arlo-certified USB-C and universal solar panel is compatible with the Essential Solar Security Camera.

Yes. You can use the included short mount to mount this camera to the ceiling.

The Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera has three mounting holes to enable a wider range of motion. Screw the mount into whichever hole provides the most range of motion for the location you are mounting the camera in.

Use the center mounting hole to face the camera straight, or at a slight angle. Use the outer mounting holes for a 90° angle range of motion.

Mount your camera at least 7 feet (2 meters) high and aim it slightly downward for the best sensor performance.

To detect motion closer to the camera, aim it so motion appears in the lower two-thirds of the image. To detect motion farther away, aim it a bit higher, so motion still appears in the lower two-thirds of the image.

Tip: The camera’s motion sensor is more sensitive with subjects moving from side-to-side, across its field of view.

Tip: Objects like walls, light fixtures, or eaves should not be within 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) of the sides or front of your camera, as this may cause glare or hazy video.

For optimal performance, avoid mounting the camera in shaded areas, under eaves or roof overhangs, covered porches or patios, under heavy tree shade or branches, or in tight side yards that are between buildings.

The optional Arlo SmartHub (sold separately) extends Wi-Fi range, adds a secure private network, regulates traffic, improves battery life, and supports local storage.

The Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera has a 14,790 mAh battery, so you won't need to take it down to recharge. You only need 2 hours of direct sunlight per day to power 50 10-second recordings, and a full charge lasts up to 6 months without sun.¹

The Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera has a larger battery and therefore takes longer to charge. If the battery is not initially charged via USB-C, it may take 15–25 days of direct sunlight to fully charge.

The Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera has a large 14,790 mAh battery, 1.2W solar panel, Clear Color Night Vision with LED spotlight, and 2.4 & 5 GHz Dual-Band Wi-Fi. All from Arlo, a California company with over 12 years focused on privacy.

The battery is large enough to support 50 alerts with 10-second clips each. If you feel this won’t be enough, you can go to camera settings and choose a power-saving mode to extend battery life.

Reduce excessive motion-triggered notifications with a Secure Plan by filtering alerts based on type (person, package, vehicle, animal) and location within the camera’s view (e.g., driveway vs. public street). Or create Activity Zones to highlight specific areas you want to receive alerts from.

You can also press and hold on Push Notification to snooze alerts for that camera for a set period of time, e.g. when gardening or washing the car.

You can even create your own custom detections for when a particular car or person is in the driveway, or if the gate is open.

Arlo offers a wide range of security solutions for your home and business. This includes Video Doorbells, Floodlight & Security Cameras, Pan & Tilt Security Cameras, Home Security System, which includes the All-in-One Sensor with 8 detection functions.

We support industry standards for data protection designed to keep your personal information private and in your control. We are here to bring you peace of mind and you shouldn’t have to give up your privacy to feel secure. We support industry-leading methods and practices designed to protect your account such as multi-factor authentication, requiring access approval for new devices to verify it’s really you, and utilizing encryption to help protect your videos. For more details, please read our Privacy Pledge.