Blink Security Cameras Review and Prices
Founded in 2014 by Immedia Semiconductor in Massachusetts, Blink is a consumer electronics company that manufactures home security cameras. It stands out in the crowded security camera market for its ability to produce small, inexpensive, battery-powered cameras with most of the features of much larger, less compact, and more power-hungry cameras. Much of this has to do with its background as a chip manufacturer, which gave it the expertise to develop devices that can do more on less power.
Blink Outdoor Camera: Most versatile
- 1080p image resolution: We found the video footage clear and colorful.
- 110° field of view: The view is narrow but good enough for small yards or the porch.
- Battery powered: We love the portability.
- Two-way audio: Sounded great, but does pick up background noises like crickets or cars passing by.
- Operating temperatures: It works in areas that get between -4 to 113° F.
Blink Indoor Camera: Best for inside
- 1080p image resolution: The video was clear in a variety of lighting situations.
- 110° field of view: The view is narrow but perfect for small rooms.
- Battery powered: Move it from the bookshelf to the counter without needing an outlet.
- Two-way audio: Nice and clear. It definitely gets the cat’s attention.
- Night vision: The contrast is great, even in a very dark room.
Blink Indoor Mini: Best for hiding
- Two-way audio: Almost as good as hearing someone in person.
- Adjustable stand: You can point the security camera just about anywhere without moving it.
- Night vision: Clear, but the video is a little washed out when the room isn’t completely dark.
- Corded: We love that you don’t need to change the batteries.
Best Blink Security Cameras Review
One Blink camera made our Best Security Cameras of 2021 rating: the Blink Outdoor Camera.
A wireless, weather-resistant camera that can be used both indoors and out, the Blink Outdoor Camera is easy to install yourself and costs $99 for a camera system (which includes a required Blink Sync Module 2 that must be plugged in indoors) and $89 for any additional cameras. It’s powered by two included AA lithium-ion batteries and works over W-iFi, sending alerts and recording video clips from 5 seconds to 60 seconds long when triggered by motion. It features 1080p Full HD video quality with a 110-degree field of view, two-way audio, and night vision. You can view a live stream through the free Blink Home Monitoring app, and watch recorded video either with a cloud storage subscription (starting at $3 a month or $30 a year), or by storing video locally on the sync module using a USB flash drive (sold separately).
Blink’s cameras are good value for money, especially considering you don’t need to pay for cloud storage to view recorded footage if you use a USB flash drive. The Blink Outdoor Camera costs $99 when bought with a Blink Sync Module 2 (required for operation), and every additional camera costs $89. The Indoor version is $79. You can buy cameras bundled for more savings, and purchase them for a discount when paired with Amazon Echo devices such as the Echo Show, which lets you see a live view of the camera feed on its screen.
The Blink Outdoor and Indoor cameras can store their footage locally on the Sync Module with the purchase of a USB flash drive, up to 256 GB. Alternatively, you can pay for cloud storage with a Basic or Plus plan. The Basic plan starts at $3 per month for one device. The Plus plan is $10 a month for an unlimited number of Blink cameras and has additional benefits such as extended warranties and discounts. All Blink cameras come with a free 30-day trial of Blink Plus.
