topic Re: Ultra 3rd Gen camera recording quality in Arlo Ultra Security Camera 3rd Gen

Ultra 3rd Gen camera recording quality

TPham — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:12:56 GMT

Hello

I bought a system of 2 Arlo Ultra 3rd gen cameras with a SmartHub. The system works great. I like it. The specification of the two cameras is 4K with HDR quality. However, I recently realise that they keep switching back to 2K (indicated on the app screen), even though I select 4k option in Video Settings. I cannot do anything to change it.

Can Arlo Staff please give me instruction?

Your reply is greatly appreciated.

Re: Ultra 3rd Gen camera recording quality

StephenB — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:52:28 GMT

@TPham wrote:

However, I recently realise that they keep switching back to 2K (indicated on the app screen), even though I select 4k option in Video Settings. I cannot do anything to change it.

Is the phone connected to your wifi network when it does this?
Is the camera zoomed in at all?
Is the video quality in the power management settings set to "best"?

Re: Ultra 3rd Gen camera recording quality

TPham — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:57:46 GMT

Thank you very much, Stephen, for your reply.

My responses to your three dot points in the reverse order.

3. I set it at "optimized"

2. No

1. This is interesting. I did not know this. I realised that when my phone is NOT connected to my home wifi, the symbol 2K disappears. Does this mean that when I am away (phone is not connected to home wifi) the camera still records 4K videos? Is this just the display on the screen or the actual recording?

I tested the option with "best" and phone on home wifi, the 2K symbol disappears.

I need wifi for the phone when at home. I would appreciate if you can elaborate the nature of this issue so that I can find an optimal solution.

Again, many thanks

Tien

Re: Ultra 3rd Gen camera recording quality

StephenB — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:34:59 GMT

@TPham wrote:

Does this mean that when I am away (phone is not connected to home wifi) the camera still records 4K videos? Is this just the display on the screen or the actual recording?

Arlo hasn't given clear information on exactly how the power management settings affect image quality. I asked about "best" in order to rule out the possibility that it was affecting resolution.

Overall, recording is different from livestreaming. If the camera is not zoomed with tracking/auto zoom turned off, then the camera should always be recording in 4K. If tracking is on, the camera generally operates at 1080p. That is also the case if the camera is zoomed (because the doom is digital). Streaming to your browser is normally also 1080p (since not all browsers can play anything higher). There are some other limitations here:

https://kb.arlo.com/000062127/How-do-I-stream-in-4K-with-my-Arlo-Ultra-series-camera

Re: Ultra 3rd Gen camera recording quality

TPham — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:46:34 GMT

Hi StephenB

Your reply is very much appreciated. I thought the symbol 2K is for the recording quality, and livestreaming is the first part of the recording. I am probably confused. Thank you for pointing that out. I'll check out the recording resolution.

Again, many thanks and best regards

Tien

Re: Ultra 3rd Gen camera recording quality

TPham — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:13:08 GMT

Hi StephenB

Just an update ...

I just got my NBN (Fibre to the premises) installed yesterday, I notice the problem of 2K has disappeared even my phone is on the home wifi.

Regards

Re: Ultra 3rd Gen camera recording quality

StephenB — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:38:19 GMT

@TPham wrote:

Just an update ...

I just got my NBN (Fibre to the premises) installed yesterday, I notice the problem of 2K has disappeared even my phone is on the home wifi.

Thx for the update. It sounds like your issue was caused by insufficient upload bandwidth. In any event, it's great that it is now resolved.