Blink Xt2 Review

My Diary Starting July 2019,

I didn’t like the original Blink camera I tested back in 2016. The main problem: It had no features. Although “no functions” might seem fair, the truth is that it was not completely lacking in features. This battery-powered indoor camera from startup Immedia was funded via Kickstarter and featured motion alerts and an app. But, Blink was missing almost everything.

I didn’t know what to expect when the company releases future cams after that first impression.

Amazon bought Blink and Ring in the latter part of 2017. So when Blink announced its latest camera, the XT2, I was eager to give it a second chance.

There were some positive things about the original Blink camera: it had a longer battery life and a lot of video clips stored in the app. It was also very affordable.

CNET Smart Home and Appliances Get smart home reviews and ratings, video reviews, buying guides, prices and comparisons from CNET.

When you sign up for our newsletter, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions of Use. You also acknowledge that we use data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You have the right to unsubscribe at anytime.

The amount of features it offered was not enough to be worth the recommendation. The Blink XT2 is weatherproof and fixes most things that I disliked about the first-gen model. However, it also has a lower price and two-year battery lifetime.

The Things We Do Not Like

Blink Outdoor’s live streaming can be stopped after five minutes.

Unfortunately, night vision is poor. Since there was only one Infrared Sensor on the Blink Outdoor, instead of seeing familiar faces and friends, we saw glowing white blobs.

Blink Outdoor has a narrow field of vision. Although the 110-degree view angle isn’t very impressive, we prefer our cameras to be able to see at least 120 degrees.

The Blink XT2, Blink’s latest indoor/ outdoor camera, didn’t require us to pay any additional monthly fees after we bought the initial equipment. The camera offered us both local storage as well two hours of cloud storage for free, which made it an economical option for anyone on a limited budget.

What’s in the Box Pros and Cons Video Review

Amazon purchased Blink in 2012, and they have continued to expand their line of home security cameras. We reviewed the Blink Outdoor camera. Everything from its amazing battery life, to its limitless live-streaming capabilities, the Blink Outdoor camera has all we need.

Strong Points

Two-way audio: Most security cameras have two-way audio now, but it’s still really important. The Blink Outdoor allowed us to communicate with repair personnel and delivery people directly via the microphone and speakers of the camera. This also enabled us to notify intruders when we saw them. A firm, confident voice can be all that is needed to persuade troublemakers to move quickly. This was what we discovered in numerous cases.

See also Impulse Theme Shopify Review

Blink Outdoor will last two years with just two tiny AA cells. The quality and video usage patterns of the AA battery can have an impact on the actual operating time. Unfortunately, this camera is new so we are unable to confirm the 2-year battery life. However, we will report back within a few years.

Solid video performance. The Blink Outdoor had a solid video quality. Although the field of view at 110 degrees diagonally was narrower than necessary, it was still able to clearly see our stoop. But we couldn’t see all that was going on along our sidewalk. Although the camera didn’t allow us to zoom in optically on it, we did zoom directly in on the Blink Home application four times to see the smaller details. For example, an exotic bird landed on our recycling bin on Tuesday morning. We would be thrilled if the camera could identify which bird it was!

Motion detection sensitivity: We kept getting alerts when there were particularly strong gusts of wind, which was annoying and unnecessary. After digging into the BlinkHome app, it was clear that there were ways to reduce the alerts caused by motion detection. Although the camera doesn’t detect persons, it was still a good way to increase the importance of our notifications. We do wish though that the camera could also distinguish moving objects from animals and people.

Privacy zones: Smart home security has long been a concern. Tenable Inc discovered seven vulnerabilities in Blink XT2 cameras1 last year that could allow remote viewing of the footage. Privacy zones are a way for Blink to address this problem with its new outdoor camera. The privacy zones are basically a way to designate areas that the camera will not show on our live stream. We blacked out the backyard of our neighbours when the camera had been installed. This was to ensure that they wouldn’t know we were watching them. We were able to see only our yard, which reduced the number of notifications. The win was ours!

Local storage: We already talked about how our footage was automatically backed-up on our Sync Module 2. This was nice even though we needed to purchase the flash drive.

Alexa integration The Echo Show and Fire TV smart TVs have Alexa integration, so we used our voices for footage of our cameras. Blink Outdoor’s Alexa capabilities are some of our best, and the Blink Outdoor makes a good choice for anyone already in Amazon’s ecosystem. Our Echo Show review Echo Dot with Clock are excellent places to start if your interest is in that ecosystem.

BlinkXt2 Camera

Verywell Family / Deanna McCormack Buy on Blinkforhome.com We purchased the Blink XT2 Camera so our reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it in her home. For our full review, please continue reading.

These systems are no longer available to companies. Smart camera systems that you can install yourself, such as Amazon’s Blink XT2 Security Camera System have flooded market. There is a wide range of options available for each type of home and customer. Blink XT2’s design is simpler than other popular options and it still costs a small amount. Powered by lithium batteries that last up to two years and equipped for indoor and outdoor use, it’s easier than you think to install a couple of Blink cameras around your home and property.

For over a month my husband and me tested the camera system inside our home. We looked at everything: the design and mounting, to the features of camera quality and motion detection. We were amazed at the ease with which the camera system was connected to both the Blink App and our Amazon Alexa smart home system. However, you need to be aware of the many other features available before making a purchase. After all, the more you know about your home’s security system, the better.

Verywell Family/Deanna McCormack

Amazon Bans All Sales Of The New BlinkXt2 Camcorder After Reading Mixed Early Reviews

Amazon temporarily stopped receiving orders for Blink XT2 smart cameras that it introduced last month. The XT2, which is Blink’s first new camera since Amazon acquired the company, is listed as “currently unavailable” for purchase. This applies to all configurations including single-camera and multicamera kit models. Amazon is being contacted for comments by The Verge. Best Buy lists the new camera as “coming shortly” online. But some buyers have been able purchase it locally.

Early customer reviews for the $89.99 Blink XT2 have been extremely mixed, with some buyers complaining of poor maximum range between the camera and their router, buggy software, and inconsistent movement detection. Blink and Amazon seem to be aware of the problem, with some customers updating their reviews to mention that they had heard from Blink within the last few weeks.

Gary H. sent a message to say that Blink had sent him an email letting her know they are looking into unexpected problems and were willing to help me. Blink apparently has released many software updates in an effort to resolve some of its early issues, although not all. Another customer praises them.

Blink Xt2 Review

You can learn more about Blink XT2 cameras with reviews from customers, pricing information, key features and frequently asked queries.

Updated October 20th. 2021. We may receive an affiliate commission if we sell through your links to our website.

Blink

The wireless and weatherproof outdoor security camera can be used indoors or outdoors. It is powered by a battery and connects to WiFi networks. The free cloud storage comes as an added bonus. The Blink XT2’s predecessor, the Blink XT, offers two-way audio, motion detection that can be customized, doubled battery use, live view recording, and 2-way audio.

Is there a monthly charge for Blink

If you’re interested in purchasing a Blink Subscription Plan, you can opt for a Basic Plan at $3.00 per month per device or a year-long subscription at a two-month discount of $30.

Can the Blink Xt2 be hacked?

Hacking is possible with Blink cameras as well as other wireless technology. Amazon provides firmware updates frequently to make sure your devices remain secure and safe from unauthorised usage. Although Blink cameras have vulnerabilities in security, no recent instances have been reported of hackers. Nov 7, 2020

Does Blink Xt2 Record Continuously?

Blink, a motion-based camera system is available. … Blink XT2 is able to record movement and Live View when active. The Blink camera does not provide continuous recording but you may leave it armed at any point.

Is Blink Xt2 capable of detecting motion as far as a mile?

For all blink cameras, the maximum distance for motion detection is 20 feet. There are many factors that affect motion detection, including the camera position, app sensitivity and object size. Can a Blink camera detect motion through a window or glass?

.Blink Xt2 Review