Blink XT2 | Outdoor/Indoor Smart Security Camera with Cloud Storage, 2-Way Audio, 2-Year Battery Life | 1-Camera System
- Overall, the Blink XT2 is an intriguing camera that's way better than the predecessor I tested at this year. I like the price, I love the free cloud storage and the battery life, if it turns out to be even remotely accurate, will be a huge benefit.
- There are plenty of other solid battery-powered outdoor cameras around, especially the Arlo Pro 2 (which I really like), but if the Blink XT2 continues to deliver, it might become one of my favorite weatherproof options to date.
- It’s Spring, and I’ve been on a bit of an outdoor camera kick. In this review, I’m taking a look at the Blink XT2, the latest indoor/ outdoor camera from Blink. So I’m hoping to be even more impressed by the XT2. But will it measure up to Security Baron’s Necessary Features Test?
Blink XT2 Product Display Video.
Let’s get started!
Promised Features
Reading about the Blink XT2 is sending chills down my spine. It’s promising me a lot of things I look for in a security camera, like:
- 1080p HD video: This isn’t super surprising, as its in the current industry standard
- Amazon Alexa integration: I’m happy that the Blink XT2 works with Alexa, although I wish it also had a Google Assistant integration
- Two-year battery life: This is extremely impressive, and also the longest battery life I’ve seen from a security camera of any sort.
But this isn’t something I’m going to muse about forever— it’s time to open the box and see how this thing works.
First Impression.
My first thought upon seeing the Blink XT2? Well, it looks identical to the Blink XT, and looking on the Blink website, I can see this was on purpose. It seems like a lot of customers liked the look of the Blink XT, and I can understand why. It doesn’t look much like a security camera at all. Rather, it has a square face with rounded edges and is all black, which is good for camouflage. You can either place it on a flat surface or mount it onto a wall or ceiling. You’ll need the Blink sync module to use the Blink XT2, so it’s a great choice if you already use Blink cameras.
Of course, one of the Blink XT2’s main draws is its astounding two-year battery life. This is twice as long as the battery life of its predecessor, the Blink XT, and it’s really impressive (if it’s accurate).
Another thing to keep in mind is the camera’s weather-resistance. With an IP rating of 65, it is completely protected against all solids and will even withstand water jets. As long as you don’t blast it with more powerful water jets or immerse it in water, this thing can withstand all the elements, which is exactly what you want in an outdoor camera.
All in all, I’m satisfied with the Blink XT2’s design, and I’m excited to see if its features match up.
Necessary Features
Now it’s time for the most important part of any camera review— Security Baron’s Necessary Features Test. Here, I’m going to be talking technical specifications along with my own personal experience of the Blink XT2 in regards to video, night vision, audio, storage, smart platform integration, artificial intelligence, convenience, and overall value. If you’re looking for the meat of the review, then you’ve come to the right place.
Of course, the Blink XT2 has 1080p HD video, the industry standard, which will make for some clear vision. Its a field of view is a bit narrow, however, at 110 degrees. I prefer my fields of view to be at least 120 degrees, so this isn’t a huge dealbreaker— you just won’t get as much coverage as possible. And while you can zoom in digitally, there’s no way to zoom in optically.
Night Vision.
The Blink XT2 has pretty clear night vision stemming from infrared LED lights, which I prefer over color night vision from bright white light because they’re less conspicuous. However, I will note that when the camera is recording, a blue indicator light turns on, making it obvious there’s a camera. Despite this, I’m going to give the Blink XT2 full marks for its beautiful night vision display.
Audio Quality.
One major factor that differentiates the Blink XT2 from its predecessor is its two-way audio. Using two-way audio, you’ll be able to speak to whomever you’re recording using the Blink Home app. This can come in handy if you simply want to speak with someone remotely, or if you want to scare away intruders. I’m not kidding about that last part— it’s been done successfully on many occasions. I mean, imagine how freaked out you’d be if you were robbing someone and a voice starting yelling at you to get out of their house! Full marks for audio.
Storage.
When it comes to your Blink XT2’s footage, you want to make sure you’re backing it up in two different ways; that way, if one way fails, you’ll have a plan B. The Blink XT2 offers cloud completely free. You could store the footage will last for up to a year, which is among the most generous I’ve seen from a security camera company. From there, you can download footage to save on your local storage. However, it’s limited to 7200 seconds, which rounds out to two hours. For the lack of direct local storage on the Blink XT2, I’m going to have to give the camera half marks for storage.
Smart Platform Integration:
If you’re already in the Amazon smart home ecosystem, you’re in luck— the Blink XT2 integrates with Amazon Alexa, enabling voice commands. However, it’s not a great choice if you wanted a camera to fit in with your Google, Apple, or Microsoft ecosystem. Still, I’ll give the Blink XT2 full marks for its smart platform integration.
Artificial Intelligence
The most advanced security cameras don’t just notify you when the camera detects motion. They take it a step further with person detection and, for the most sophisticated cameras, facial recognition. That way you’ll receive specific and smart notifications only when it matters (i.e, not when your camera detects movement from your dog, a car outside or the trees blowing in the breeze). Unfortunately, the Blink XT2 doesn’t have person detection or facial recognition, so I’m going to have to give it no marks for this category.
Convenience
The Blink XT2 must be used with the sync module, which will start your installation process. Just plug in the module and add it to Wi-Fi using the Blink Home app (more on this later). Then, put two AA batteries in the camera itself, sync it with the module and you’re ready to go! Like I said, the batteries have a life of two-years, making your life a whole lot easier, plus, you can simply place the camera on any flat surface if you don’t feel like using the swivel mount. All in all, I’m giving the Blink XT2 full marks for convenience!
Value.
At only $99.99 for one Blink XT2 or $179.99 for two, this camera is particularly reasonably priced when you consider how durable it is. With an IP rating of 65, this camera comes in at about the third of the price of some similar outdoor cameras, making it a great deal overall. Full marks!
Extras.
But wait— we’re not done yet! The Blink XT2 has a couple more features I want to talk to you about before we get into the app.
Temperature Sensor
The Blink XT2 has built-in temperature sensing, which can give you the most accurate read of the temperature (because let’s be honest, the iPhone weather app has its limits).
Activity Zone.
Activity zones allow you to tell the Blink XT2 what areas to focus on specific and what areas to ignore. This is especially useful for an outdoor camera. For example, you can have the camera ignore the street and focus only on your property so you can receive only meaningful notifications. Very nice!
The Blink Home App
Comparison
Blink XT2 V/S Canary Flex.
Another indoor/ outdoor camera is the Canary Flex, which costs about $70 more than the Blink XT2 at $169. Both have 1080p HD video, infrared night vision, two-way audio, plus integrations with Amazon Alexa, although you’ll have to pay $9.99 a month to get two-way audio with the Canary Flex. The Canary membership also includes person detection, which the Blink XT2 lacks, plus 30 days of cloud storage. Unfortunately, the Flex lacks local storage and you’ll only get 24 hours of free cloud storage, unlike the Blink XT2 which offers a ton of cloud and local storage for free.
The Canary Flex also works with Google Assistant, making it an excellent choice for those already in the Google ecosystem, plus its field of view is slightly wider at 116 degrees compared to 110. All in all, I’d spend a bit more money and buy the Canary Flex due to its person detection alone, which I think is a very useful feature, particularly for an outdoor camera.
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Recap Of The Blink XT2
All in all, I think the Blink XT2 is a great camera, but it’s not for everyone! Let me break it down as simply as I can.
I think the Blink XT2 would be good for you if you want…
- Alexa integration: If you’re already in the Amazon ecosystem, you’ll be able to control the Blink XT2 using your voice alone.
- 1080p HD video: For a relatively affordable price, you’ll get the industry standard in a video display.
- Free cloud and local storage: No need to spend any more money on storage once you buy the Blink XT2— this thing comes with cloud and local storage.
But if you don’t want the following features, I’d steer clear…
- No integrations with Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit or Microsoft Cortana: If you wanted a camera that fits in with any of these smart home ecosystems, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
- No person detection or facial recognition: As the Blink XT2 only has motion detection, you’ll probably receive a bunch of unnecessary notifications.
- Requires sync module: If you’re not already a Blink user, this is an additional cost that you might not feel like paying.
If the Blink XT2 doesn’t sound like the camera for you, be sure to check out our list
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