Arlo Essential Video Doorbell

Pros

• Phone call integration ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 5.0
  When someone presses the button the doorbell rings the owner’s phone like a regular CallKit call with full duplex audio and an entry in the call log, letting them talk to visitors quickly from the app even when away from home.
• Weather & temperature tolerance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 5.0
• Delivery package monitoring ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.8
  Package detection reliably alerts when parcels are dropped off and is highlighted as one of the doorbell’s most genuinely useful security and convenience features.
• Installation & Mounting ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 4.6
• Field of view & framing ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.6
• Object & person detection ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.5
• Complete kit in box ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
  The included doorbell, angled mounting wedge, chime adapter, screws, and wire nuts form a straightforward kit that provides everything most households need to replace an existing wired doorbell.
• Peace of mind ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
  Cloud recordings, rich alerts, and the optional Arlo Smart e911 feature, which routes emergency calls based on the home’s address, are highlighted as tools that help owners feel more secure when monitoring their front door from anywhere.
• Siren loudness (if built-in) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
  The integrated siren can be activated remotely from the Arlo app, providing a loud deterrent to unwanted visitors or prowling animals and adding an extra layer of security beyond basic motion alerts and recording.
• Size & form factor ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
• System completeness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
  Used alongside other Arlo cameras and an Arlo Smart subscription, the doorbell is described as a key part of a cohesive security system that shares one app, cloud storage, and intelligent alerts.
• Notifications ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5 reviews 4.0
  Notifications show motion alerts with thumbnail previews and phone-style ring calls when the button is pressed, and they still work without a subscription, but answering can require an extra tap and cloud AI processing introduces a bit of delay, so owners often need to check in quickly to capture events.
• Audio ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.0
  Two way audio on the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell is generally clear enough for quick conversations at the door and continues to work without a subscription, letting owners talk to delivery drivers or guests through the app without major lag or distortion.
• Battery & Charging ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.0
  The removable battery helps avoid downtime by letting owners swap in a charged spare, though reaching the battery requires taking most of the doorbell off its mount.
• Chime ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
  Supports using an existing mechanical chime so households can keep their familiar doorbell sound instead of relying solely on a separate plug in chime.
• Quick-reply / pre-recorded message usefulness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
  Quick-reply buttons in the app let owners play short pre-recorded messages, such as instructions for delivery drivers, which is handy when they cannot answer a live call.
• Theft & Tamper ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
• Motion detection performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.8
  The PIR motion sensor reliably detects people approaching the door and works with Arlo Smart to generate rich, labeled notifications, though cloud processing can make alerts a little slow to arrive even if the delay is acceptable for everyday use.
• Recommendation for new buyers ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.8
  Reviewers often recommend the doorbell to buyers who already own or plan to build an Arlo camera system and are comfortable with a small monthly fee, while shoppers who prioritize sharper video, free storage, or avoiding subscriptions may find better options among rival brands.
• Video resolution & detail ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.8
• Zones & activity areas ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.8
• Price & value ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.7
  Priced around 150–200 dollars depending on sales, the doorbell can offer decent value, especially for Arlo users who plan to pay for a low-cost Secure subscription, though softer video and reliance on paid features mean some rival doorbells may still be a better overall value for picky buyers.
• Smart-home integration (Alexa, Google, Siri, HomeKit, Matter, Thread) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.7
  The doorbell integrates smoothly with the Arlo app and major platforms like Alexa and Google Assistant, but it still lacks HomeKit support, which can disappoint users who want tight integration with Apple’s smart home ecosystem.
• App, software & firmware ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4 reviews 3.5
• Design aesthetics ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3 reviews 3.5
  The doorbell has a clean rectangular black front with white sides and a subtle status light, offering a small, fairly unassuming look on the wall, though some reviewers still find it a bit bulkier and more plasticky than slimmer, more solid-feeling rivals like the Nest Hello.
• Low-light & Night vision ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.5
• Ongoing ownership costs ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.5
  Compared with rivals that include local or limited free storage, Arlo adds an ongoing subscription cost of about $2.99 per month for one camera or $9.99 for multiple, which is modest but still an extra expense to unlock full functionality.