Want to update to newer cameras

[adicecca]

I have 4 Arlo Pro cameras which are going obsolete soon. I have the old base to.

If I were to upgrade to newer (state of the art) cameras, which ones should I get?

I do NOT want a yearly or monthly monitoring subscription either. I want to monitor myself as I have for the last 6 years.

Can I have more than 6 cameras and a doorbell on the same system? Can I change the monitoring functions for each individual camera, or am I limited to whatever I program for one camera, it will affect the other cameras?

Do I need the base hub again? Can I use my existing wall mounts? Are the battery lifes of the cameras longer?

Is the resolution still 1080 for each camera?

Is the outdoor camera different than the indoor ones?

Thanks,

Tony

[StephenB]

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@adicecca wrote:

I have 4 Arlo Pro cameras which are going obsolete soon.

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IMO there is no reason to rush to upgrade them.  They will get security updates through July 2024, and the 7-day cloud storage continues indefinitely.  So you don't need to replace anything just yet, and you can replace them gradually.

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@adicecca wrote:

I do NOT want a yearly or monthly monitoring subscription 

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Your current legacy cameras have 7-day free cloud storage.  None of the current cameras have that.  So you'd either need an Arlo Secure subscription, or you'd need to use direct access to local storage.

Direct access to local storage requires that the cameras be connected to a VMB4540 or a VMB5000 smarthub (other hub models don't have the feature).  It has several other limitations:

• locally stored recordings can only be seen from the app (not the browser)
• locally stored recordings can only be seen from the primary account (not friend accounts)
• you cannot make manual recordings or take snapshots
• no thumbnails, so all videos need to be downloaded to view
• remote access requires router setting changes that some find difficult (and which don't work with some internet service providers).

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@adicecca wrote:

Do I need the base hub again? 

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I answered that above in part.  If you decide a subscription is ok, then you could connect many camera models (essential, pro 3 floodlight, pro 4, pro 5s, and the video doorbells) directly to your home wifi.  

Ultras and Pro 3 cameras would require a base (even if you have a subscription).

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@adicecca wrote:

Can I have more than 6 cameras and a doorbell on the same system? 

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Yes.

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@adicecca wrote:

Can I use my existing wall mounts?

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Not the magnetic ones.  But you could reuse the screw mounts.

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@adicecca wrote:

Are the battery lifes of the cameras longer?

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XL camera models have much bigger batteries, and they do last quite a bit longer.  The Pro 5S is the newest camera, and even though it comes with a standard battery, it has significantly longer battery life than the Pro 3 and Pro 4.

The Pro batteries won't fit the newer models.

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@adicecca wrote:

Is the resolution still 1080 for each camera?

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Only the Essentials.  Pro 3/4/5s are 2K, Ultras are 4K.

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@adicecca wrote:

Can I change the monitoring functions for each individual camera, or am I limited to whatever I program for one camera, it will affect the other cameras?

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The system still has modes, which can be operate pretty much the way your current system does.

Arlo is slowing transistioning everyone to a new user interface, which unfortunately doesn't include custom modes. Instead it has three built-in modes, which are all fully customizable.  You will eventually end up using that interface whether you upgrade or not.