HomeKit resolution limits video to 1080p - does this affect arlo secure app?

[ic177]

Hi,

I cannot seem to find an answer to my query anywhere, and apologies if I am being useless at getting the information.

I want to use my Arlo system with HomeKit.

When I go to Devices -> BaseStation -> Device Info -> HomeKit

There is a warning "Video Resolution Limitation" - "Connecting your Base Station to HomeKit limits the video resolution to 1080p"

Does this mean:

a) All camera feeds will be limited to 1080p across the entire Arlo ecosystem? i.e. Will my recordings in the Arlo Secure app via the cloud, and the recordings on the SD card all be in 1080p?

OR

b) Camera feeds viewed in HomeKit will be 1080p, but if I use the Arlo Secure app I will still get 2k/4k feeds (where relevant), and my cloud/local recordings will still all be 2k/4k?

This is a critical bit of information for me, and should really be mentioned in detail on either the warning message or on the knowledge base: https://www.arlo.com/en_gb/support/faq/000062279/How-do-I-connect-my-Arlo-camera-to-Apple-HomeKit

Thanks in advance!

[ShayneS]

Hi @ic177 

Thanks for reaching out.1080p support is available for all of our partners, not only HomeKit, and this capability will not compromise video resolution anywhere within the Arlo ecosystem.

[StephenB]

---

@ic177 wrote:

I want to use my Arlo system with HomeKit.

When I go to Devices -> BaseStation -> Device Info -> HomeKit

There is a warning "Video Resolution Limitation" - "Connecting your Base Station to HomeKit limits the video resolution to 1080p"

---

This particular limitation is with HomeKit (Apple).  It applies to all vendors, not just Arlo.

Not something I've tried, so I don't know if other Ultra cameras connected to the base (but not in Homekit) would also be limited to 1080p.

[ic177]

Yeah, I'm fine with only 1080p in HomeKit, but I want to make sure I can continue to use the Arlo app for full res feeds/recordings. I'm just worried that if I connect HomeKit it is going to cause the Base Station to drop all the camera feed resolutions from Camera -> Base Station, rather than just the feed from the Base Station -> HomeKit.

Could it be looked into by someone in engineering? I don't have HomeKit myself yet, but was considering getting a HomePod. So Ideally I would like a concrete answer before going down that road! If it is going to drop my entire Arlo resolution across the the system (even internal Arlo stuff), then I will just go down a different speaker route!

Appreciate the reply! 

[StephenB]

---

@ic177 wrote:

I'm just worried that if I connect HomeKit it is going to cause the Base Station to drop all the camera feed resolutions from Camera -> Base Station, rather than just the feed from the Base Station -> HomeKit.

---

I think it will reduce all the livestreams to 1080p (even if not displayed via homekit).  I'd expect recording to continue at 4K (since the recordings aren't shown via homekit).

Note by default livestreams are 1080p anyway.  There is an option to increase to 4K for local streams in the app, but even if this is enabled, the web browser still uses 1080p.  The app will also drop to 1080p when your phone is not connected to your home wifi.

Another factor here is the resolution of your phone display.  Even high-end phones don't have 4K displays.  For example, the iPhone 17 Pro Max display is 2868 x 1320.  This is about the same as 2K (2560 x 1440), not even close to 4K (3840x2160).  

---

@ic177 wrote:

Could it be looked into by someone in engineering?

---

I'm tagging the mods ( @BrookeN , @ShayneS , @JamesC ) in hopes they can follow up.

While you can't use homekit remotely w/o a homekit hub, you can use it when you are on your home network. So you can see for yourself what would happen if you went forward with the purchase.    

[ShayneS]

Hi @ic177 

Thanks for reaching out.1080p support is available for all of our partners, not only HomeKit, and this capability will not compromise video resolution anywhere within the Arlo ecosystem.