As someone who has tried many different types of home security cameras over the years, from wired to wireless, indoors to outdoors, I approached the Blink Outdoor Camera with a healthy dose of skepticism. Could a little battery-powered camera really provide reliable outdoor monitoring at an affordable price?
After using the Blink Outdoor Camera system for the past two years at my house, I can confidently say that it exceeded my expectations in almost every way. While it may lack some of the advanced features of pricier systems, the Blink camera delivers the essentials exceptionally well: crisp HD video, responsive motion alerts, easy DIY setup, and outstanding battery life.
In this detailed review, I‘ll share my firsthand experience using the 3rd gen Blink Outdoor Camera, covering everything from unboxing to everyday use. I‘ll highlight what I love about it as well as a few minor drawbacks to be aware of. By the end, you‘ll have a clear idea of whether the Blink is the right outdoor security camera for your needs and budget.
Blink Outdoor Camera: Key Specs & Features
Let‘s start with a quick overview of the core specs and capabilities of the 3rd generation Blink Outdoor Camera that I purchased in a 3-camera kit:
- 1080p Full HD video
- Infrared night vision
- 110-degree diagonal field of view
- Motion detection up to 30 feet away
- Two-way audio with built-in mic and speaker
- Customizable motion zones and sensitivity
- 2-year battery life on two AA lithium batteries
- Operates in -4 to 113 degrees F
- Wire-free and weather-resistant design
- Live view and motion clips in Blink app (iOS & Android)
As you can see, the Blink covers all the fundamentals you would expect in an outdoor camera and adds some handy extras like two-way talk and a wide viewing angle. The 2-year battery life claim is one I was particularly eager to put to the test.
Setting Up the Blink Outdoor Camera
One of the biggest selling points of the Blink camera for me was the completely wire-free design. With my old wired system, I spent countless frustrating hours running Ethernet cables through walls and ceilings to every camera location. Never again!
In contrast, setting up my three Blink cameras could not have been simpler. The kit includes a required Sync Module, which plugs into an outlet and connects to your wifi router. You pair this with the Blink smartphone app and can then start adding cameras.
Each camera runs on two AA batteries, which are included. You just insert the batteries, scan the camera‘s QR code in the app, and give it a name. You can use the included mounting bracket and screws to attach the camera to an exterior wall or fencing. I also appreciate that the camera has a threaded tripod mount on the bottom, giving you more placement flexibility.
From unboxing to having three cameras mounted outside and streaming video took me about 30 minutes total. The Blink app guides you through the entire process step-by-step. Even if you‘re not particularly tech-savvy, you‘ll have no trouble getting these cameras up and running.
Video & Audio Quality
For such a compact camera, the Blink Outdoor delivers impressive video quality. The 1080p resolution is more than sufficient for clearly seeing what‘s happening outside your home, day or night. It can record clips up to 30 seconds long when motion is detected.
The 110-degree field of view feels just right – wide enough to cover a large area without a distorting fish-eye effect. You also have the ability to zoom in 8x digitally if you need a closer look. Just don‘t expect to make out fine details like license plates from a distance.
Infrared night vision automatically kicks on in low light so you can continue monitoring even in complete darkness. In my testing, people and objects were recognizable up to about 20-25 feet away at night, which is better range than many other comparably priced cameras provide.
I found daytime video to be crisp and evenly exposed in most lighting conditions. The 720p live view feed is also quite smooth and stable. You can turn on the camera‘s microphone to hear ambient sounds while viewing the live stream.
If the camera has one real weakness, it‘s the two-way audio. The built-in speaker sounds tinny and doesn‘t get very loud. Push-to-talk also has an annoying delay that makes having a conversation almost impossible. But for simply listening in or talking at someone briefly, the two-way audio gets the job done.
Motion Detection & Alerts
Customizable motion detection is one area where the Blink camera really shines. Through the app, you can precisely select up to 25 rectangular zones where you want the camera to detect movement. You can also adjust the overall sensitivity between 5 levels.
This flexibility lets you focus on key areas like doors and windows while ignoring things like busy sidewalks and swaying branches that might trigger false alerts. I had to experiment with the sensitivity a bit before finding the ideal balance between catching important events and avoiding notification overload.
When motion is detected, the Blink pushes an instant alert to your phone and records a short video clip which you can review in the app. You also have the option to ignore certain types of alerts, such as people or animals, if you want to further filter them.
I found the person detection to be fairly accurate, although not perfect. Occasionally a large dog or shadow would be incorrectly tagged as human motion. But overall I was impressed by the camera‘s ability to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant activity.
Battery Life
Perhaps the single greatest benefit of the Blink Outdoor Camera compared to the competition is its remarkably long battery life. The official claim is "up to 2 years" on a single set of two lithium AA batteries, which initially sounded too good to be true.
But after using my Blink cameras heavily for the past couple years, I‘m happy to report that the battery life is indeed incredible. One of my cameras is approaching the 2 year mark on its original batteries with 12% charge remaining, based on the indicator in the app. Another is at 18 months with 38% left.
The third camera, which is in a high-traffic area and records a lot more motion events, needed a battery swap after about 16 months. Still, not having to recharge or replace batteries for over a year is so freeing compared to other battery-powered cameras I‘ve tried.
If changing batteries even once a year seems like too much hassle for you, Blink also sells a weather-resistant solar panel mount to keep the cameras topped up indefinitely. It‘s a bit pricey but could be worth it for hard-to-reach locations.
Blink App & Cloud Storage
All of the Blink camera‘s settings, livestreaming, and video clip storage are handled through the Blink smartphone app for iOS and Android. I found the app to be well-designed and easy to navigate overall, with a clean layout that puts the most important functions front and center.
Tapping a camera lets you view the live feed or review the most recent motion-triggered recordings. You can also take a manual snapshot or video clip at any time. If you have multiple cameras, you can view them all simultaneously on a single screen.
By default, Blink gives you free cloud storage for up to 120 minutes of video, which is likely plenty if you only expect the occasional motion event. For busier locations or if you want to keep recordings long-term, you can pay $3/month per camera or $10/month for unlimited cameras to store clips for up to 60 days.
The cloud subscription also adds some nice perks like the ability to rapidly scrub through a timeline view of recordings from the past 60 days. You can also set the camera to record continuously for up to 60 minutes at a time. But the standard features are robust enough that many users can get by just fine without a paid plan.
Since Blink is owned by Amazon, the camera can also integrate with Alexa devices like the Echo and Fire TV for viewing live feeds and motion alerts. I personally didn‘t use this much but it‘s nice to have the option to call up a particular camera on a large screen with a simple voice command.
Durability & Reliability
Any true outdoor security camera needs to be able to withstand the elements season after season. The Blink is IP65 rated, which means it‘s dust tight and protected against water jets from any direction. While I haven‘t subjected it to any extreme torture tests, I can attest that my cameras have continued working flawlessly through two years of rain, snow, heat, and cold.
The operating temperature range is specified as -4 to 113 degrees F, which should cover the vast majority of climates. Just be aware that the batteries may deplete faster in very cold conditions. You‘ll get a notification in the app if that starts to happen.
Build quality of the camera also feels very sturdy, with good fit and finish on the plastics. Tolerances are tight and the battery compartment has a foam-rubber gasket to keep moisture out. The cameras have survived a few falls from my ladder during setup without any damage. And neither the white or black finish has shown any fading after long-term sun exposure.
In terms of reliability, all three of my cameras have maintained a solid connection to the sync module and responded instantly to commands in the app. I can count on one hand the number of times a camera has gone offline briefly, and a quick power cycle of the sync module fixes it.
How Blink Compares to Other Outdoor Cameras
When I was initially shopping for a new outdoor camera system two years ago, I narrowed my choices down to the Blink, Arlo Pro 2, and Nest Cam Outdoor. Here‘s a quick overview of how I feel the Blink stacks up to those key competitors:
Blink vs Arlo Pro 2:
- Cheaper upfront and no base station required
- 2-year battery life vs. 3-6 months on the Arlo
- Lower 1080p resolution but similar video quality
- Faster motion alerts and more reliable connection
- No local storage option like Arlo‘s USB drive
Blink vs Nest Cam Outdoor:
- Completely wire-free with long battery vs. wired power
- Much easier DIY setup with no drilling required
- Subscription not essential like Nest Aware
- Nest has 24/7 continuous recording, familiar face alerts
- Nest monitors a wider and taller field of view
At the end of the day, I chose the Blink because I wanted a truly wireless camera with exceptional battery life, simple installation, and no mandatory fees. It checked all of those boxes and delivered very good video quality and app functionality to boot, at a price around half that of the Arlo Pro 2 or Nest Cam Outdoor.
Is the Blink Outdoor Camera Right For You?
So after two years of putting the Blink through its paces, do I think it‘s a good buy for most people? If you‘re looking for an affordable, easy-to-use outdoor camera that reliably covers the basics, the Blink is pretty hard to beat.
You should buy the Blink Outdoor Camera if you want:
- Completely wire-free, battery-powered operation
- 2-year battery life for minimal maintenance
- High quality 1080p video day and night
- Accurate, customizable motion detection
- Instant alerts and easy livestreaming in app
- Durable, weather-resistant design
- Simple DIY setup with flexible mounting
- Free cloud storage (or cheap premium storage)
- Option to expand with more cameras anytime
However, you shouldn‘t buy the Blink Outdoor Camera if you need:
- 24/7 continuous recording
- Extremely wide field of view
- High quality two-way audio
- Local video storage on a USB drive or NAS
- Advanced AI detection for faces, packages, vehicles
- Floodlight or siren for deterring intruders
At a typical price of $100 per add-on camera and $200-$300 for a starter bundle with the sync module, the Blink presents an excellent value compared to most of its outdoor wireless competitors. It goes on sale fairly often as well – I picked up my 3-camera kit for under $200.
The newest 4th generation Blink Outdoor Camera promises an even quicker, dual-core processor but is otherwise very similar to the model I tested for this review. As is often the case, the latest and greatest costs a bit more, so I‘d recommend buying whichever you can get the best deal on.
The Bottom Line
The Blink Outdoor Camera has honestly surpassed my expectations in almost every way during the two years I‘ve had it watching over my home. While it may not be the fanciest or most featured-packed camera out there, it nails the fundamentals of security and convenience that matter most.
Blink makes it so easy (and affordable) to put a quality, totally wireless camera anywhere outside your house. The extraordinary 2-year battery life means you can basically set it and forget it. And when you do need to tune in, the well-designed app gives you one-tap access to a crystal clear live view and scrollable timeline of any motion events.
If you want peace of mind without a lot of hassle or expense, the Blink Outdoor Camera is tough to top. I‘d recommend it to family and friends without hesitation. It will be my go-to outdoor security camera for years to come.
