Blink’s little (and we mean little) home security cameras offer straightforward video surveillance at a price nearly anyone can afford.
We weren’t particularly blown away by these home security cameras, but we don’t have any major complaints about them either. They offer industry-standard features such as 1080p video quality, two-way talk, and night vision. Plus, the app is very user-friendly.
Best of all, these tiny Blink cameras can be placed just about anywhere. If you’re looking for less obvious home security, the Outdoor, Indoor, and Mini cameras are a good choice.
Compare Blink Cameras
| Most versatile | Best for inside | Best for hiding | |
| Product or Brand |
 |
 |
 |
| Price | $99.99 | $79.99 | $34.99 |
| Dimensions | 71 x 71 x 31 mm | 71 x 71 x 31 mm | 50 mm x 49 mm x 36 mm |
| Power source | Battery | Battery | Wired |
| Learn more | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
*Amazon.com price as of 04/13/2021 at 12:00 p.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.
Blink camera pros and cons
Full IFTTT integration Great price point Ideal for renters and small spaces
No pro monitoring Narrow field of viewBlink camera similarities and differences
All of the Blink cameras come with some pretty standard features:
- 1080p image resolution
- 110° field of view
- Night vision
- Two-way audio
- Built-in Amazon Alexa integration
All of the Blink cameras are super tiny and fit in the palm of your hand. They are very discreet if you want to, say, hide the Outdoor camera to peek out from behind a plant to catch footage of the neighbor who’s been walking their dog in your yard.
These pocket-size wonders are super easy to install. You just follow the on-screen instructions, and within around 10 minutes, you’re connected to Wi-Fi and the app.
One thing we didn’t like is that the Blink app doesn’t walk you through the steps of physically installing the camera. The little booklet that comes with the cameras doesn’t explain it either.
With both the Outdoor and Indoor cameras, the mount must be forcibly pushed into the little hole in the back of the device. It would have been nice if the setup instructions gave you that heads-up. It took us a few minutes to figure it out.
There is another similarity we didn’t particularly like. The Outdoor, Mini, and Indoor cameras come with a 110° field of view, which is narrower than other smart home security cameras, like the Arlo Pro or a Google Nest Cam. The industry standard falls around 140° to 160°, so we wish Blink would have given these cameras a wider view for more yard or room coverage.
Blink is an Amazon-owned company, so it makes sense that the Blink cameras are only compatible with Alexa. This is a bummer if you are a Google Assistant fan. You can connect non-Alexa devices to the cameras, though, using IFTTT.
That’s it for the similarities. Differences? The clue is in the names. The Outdoor camera is weather resistant, so it can be used both indoors and outdoors. The Indoors and Mini cameras are for indoor use only.
Another big difference is their power sources. Both the Blink Outdoor Camera and the Blink Indoor Camera use batteries. The Mini has a cord. This means you need to place the Mini near an outlet, but at least you don’t have to change its batteries.
Blink home security camera storage
When you purchase a Blink camera, you get a free 30-day trial of the Blink Subscription Plan. After the trial, the basic plan costs $3 per month or $30 per year, per camera. If you have more than one camera, you can get the Plus plan for $10 per month or $100 per year.
Blink subscription plans
|
Price per month
|
Price per year
|
Cameras supported
|
Amazon discount on Blink
|
Extended warranty
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $3 | $30 | 1 |
 No |
No |
| Plus | $10 | $100 | Unlimited |
 Yes |
Yes |
We think that the subscription plan is worth it. At only $3 per month, you get:
- Unlimited storage for up to 60 days
- Automatic recording when motion is detected
- Video sharing
- Photo capture (You can take photos of whatever the camera is seeing.)
Without a plan, you can still view live streams and get motion notifications through the app. And, if you want to save footage, you can do it locally by adding a Blink Sync Module 2 for an extra $34.99 if you get the Mini or the Outdoor. It comes with the Indoor camera for free.
The Sync will save footage for up to 10 cameras, and there aren't any monthly storage fees. It’s also tiny (notice a theme for Blink cameras?). So it doesn't take up a lot of space like local storage DVR or NVR boxes that come with security cameras like Swann.
Blink app
The Blink app is simple to use and has a lot of features. Here are just a few:
- Customizable activity zones (down to the inch)
- Adjustable volume for the camera’s two-way talk
- Adjustable video brightness
- Temperature detection so you can see the temperature where each camera is placed
- Adjustable motion sensor sensitivity to lessen notifications
Our favorite feature is that you can customize activity zones by inches. With most security cameras, you draw a circle or square on the activity zone map where you want the motion sensor to focus. In the Blink app, this area is a grid and there’s no drawing.
You simply tap the squares where you don’t want the motion sensor to detect movement. It’s kind of like those I-am-not-a-robot captcha tests, but a lot less frustrating. Plant leaf waving in front of the camera and setting off the push notifications? Don’t rip the poor leaf off the plant in frustration. Just a few taps in the app, and you can bask in peace and quiet.
Blink cameras reviews
1.Blink Outdoor Camera: Most versatile
*Amazon.com price as of 04/13/2021 at 12:00 p.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.
The Blink Outdoor Camera packs a lot of useful features into a small home security camera—including a good weather-resistant rating. It can also be used inside. If you want one camera that can do double-duty, this is a great option. Best of all, it only costs about $20 more to go with the Outdoor camera over the Blink Indoor camera.
It’s powered by batteries, so it doesn’t need it to live near an outlet. This grants you the flexibility to keep an eye on what’s going on inside the house or on the back deck.
We didn’t even bother mounting the Outdoor camera. It was just so darn useful to put it on the picnic table to watch for a car to pull into the driveway, then on the porch to watch for a package, and then inside to watch the pets.
Of course, if you want a dedicated outdoor camera, mounting it somewhere permanently is ideal so it doesn’t get knocked over. Installation is easy. It just takes two screws and a few minutes to attach the Outdoor camera to its forever home.
Blink Outdoor Camera’s features:
- 1080p image resolution: We found the video footage clear and colorful.
- 110° field of view: The view is narrow but good enough for small yards or the porch.
- Battery powered: We love the portability.
- Two-way audio: Sounded great, but does pick up background noises like crickets or cars passing by.
- Operating temperatures: It works in areas that get between -4 to 113° F.
Night vision: The black-and-white footage is pretty clear. In complete darkness, it was hard to see faces
Indoor/outdoor Battery powered
Picks up background noise Small video width
Because it has two-way talk, you can use the Blink Outdoor in a pinch as a video doorbell substitute. No need to add another piece of hardware to keep an eye on packages or talk to visitors when you’re not home.
2. Blink Indoor Camera: Best for inside
*Amazon.com price as of 04/13/2021 at 12:00 p.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.
Blink Indoor Camera is one of the simplest home security cameras we’ve tested. Simple isn’t a bad thing, though. The Blink Indoor camera is ideal for when you want to keep an eye on your personal space or belongings in small spaces, like a dorm or apartment. It’s also an affordable option if you’re looking to check in on Fluffy or Fido when you’re at work or away on vacation.
Blink Indoor Camera’s features:
- 1080p image resolution: The video was clear in a variety of lighting situations.
- 110° field of view: The view is narrow but perfect for small rooms.
- Battery powered: Move it from the bookshelf to the counter without needing an outlet.
- Two-way audio: Nice and clear. It definitely gets the cat’s attention.
- Night vision: The contrast is great, even in a very dark room.
Affordable Battery powered Easy to use
Batteries are hard to access
At $80 for one camera, it’s hard to beat the Blink Indoor's price point if you want to keep an eye on multiple rooms throughout your home.
3. Blink Indoor Mini: Best for hiding
*Amazon.com price as of 04/13/2021 at 12:00 p.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.
The Blink Mini is Blink’s smallest home security camera yet. It isn’t any bigger than a pill bottle. It’s an ideal pick when you don’t want your security camera to be too noticeable.
Like all of the Blink cameras, we found that the Blink Mini has clear video and sound. It’s a good little camera to stick just about anywhere in the house. We love it as a nanny cam for fur babies or human tots or to ensure your teenager doesn’t steal a favorite shirt from your closet.
Blink Mini features:
- Two-way audio: Almost as good as hearing someone in person.
- Adjustable stand: You can point the security camera just about anywhere without moving it.
- Night vision: Clear, but the video is a little washed out when the room isn’t completely dark.
- Corded: We love that you don’t need to change the batteries.
Tiny Wired
Poor night visionFinal word
Blink home security cameras offer an affordable option that delivers reliable motion detection and good image and audio quality. Blink cameras aren’t the fanciest out there, but they do a respectable job at a fantastic price.
- Blink Outdoor is a versatile camera for indoor and outdoor surveillance.
- Blink Indoor is a good choice for dorms, home offices and other small rooms.
- Blink Mini is a tiny corded wonder that can fit just about anywhere.
How we reviewed Blink Cameras
We had multiple testers give the Blink cameras a try to help us identify what we like and where they fall short. Here’s a peek at how we put Blink through its paces:
- We tested in various light conditions—natural, artificial, and under cover of darkness. We also used the cameras indoors and outside.
- We enlisted a 13-pound cat named Leary and her cohorts to see how sensitive the motion sensors are.
- We used the cameras’ IFTTT features to see how easy it was to set up routines and put the motion sensors on alert when we left the house.
- We added voice control with an Amazon Echo.
In addition to our in-home tests, we also conducted research and compared Blink to other wireless security cameras. Factors we considered include price, overall value, customer experience, smart home compatibility, features, and ease of setup and cameras use.
For the full dish on how we test and review products, check out our full methodology.
Blink cameras FAQ
Both Blink cameras use standard AA 1.5V lithium batteries. Two AA batteries come with each camera, and you can use any brand of non-rechargeable lithium batteries when it’s time to replace them.
Blink cameras work within 100 feet of the Blink Sync Module 2, which bridges the cameras to the mobile app and your home Wi-Fi network. The cameras can detect motion up to 20 feet from the camera.
These two cameras have been discontinued.
Related articles on SafeWise
(Amazon only): *Amazon.com list price as of 04/13/2021 at 12:00 p.m. (MT). Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
(Google only): †Google, Google Nest, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
The post Blink Cameras Review: Indoor, Outdoor and Mini appeared first on SafeWise.
Article source here: Blink Cameras Review: Indoor, Outdoor and Mini
