Which Blink home security camera should I buy? Here's what you need to know to help you pick the right model
A simple guide to your options, for indoors and outside
Blink makes some of the best home security cameras you can buy right now, but with wide range of models available, working out which one is best for your needs can be difficult. Below, I've pulled together a simple guide to your options.
Now's an especially good time to buy. Blink is an Amazon-owned brand, and with Amazon Prime Day starting next week (June 23-26), we were expecting plenty of discounts on Blink security cams. Well, Amazon has jumped the gun and pretty much the entire range is already on sale. Almost every single deal matches or betters what we saw during the most recent Prime Day (which happened in June), and the discounts are big.
I'm not expecting prices to drop further on the 'official' Prime Day, so if you decide one of these is the security camera for you, you should be good to buy now. And if you want help deciding which model to chose, you're in the right place — below, you'll find a guide to all your different options.
I'll start with the Outdoor range of battery-powered, weatherproofed security cameras, spearheaded by the Outdoor 4 and the Outdoor 2K+ lines. Both of these lines require a Sync module to work, and Amazon sells bundles to help you save if you want more than one camera. Next, I'll cover the Mini lineup of mains-powered indoor cameras, including the Mini 2K+ and Mini Pan-Tilt. Read on for everything you need to know...
Blink Outdoor 4: models, details & deals
The Outdoor 2K+ is the brand's battery-powered, weatherproofed security cam line, alongside the Outdoor 2K+ (below). It has lower video resolution (1080p) but a slightly wider field of view. It's weatherproofed, and runs off two AA batteries — these have a claimed two-year battery life, so you won't have to worry about constantly replacing them.
In the US, this model is also available in an XR+ (extended range) version, which comes with an special Sync module that boosts the range by 10x compared to cameras connected using Wi-Fi on its own.
It can also be part of a Wireless Floodlight Camera, which adds 600 (US) or 700 (UK) LED floodlights either side of the camera. In the US, there's also a Wired Floodlight Camera, with significantly brighter 2600-lumen lights.
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Blink Outdoor 4 — US deals
Blink Outdoor 4 — UK deals
Blink Outdoor 2K+: models, details & deals
The Outdoor 2K+ is the brand's two battery-powered, weatherproofed security cams, alongside the Outdoor 4 (above). It has detailed, 2k (2560 x 1440) video.
It can also be purchased as the Solaris 2K+, which is an Outdoor 2K+ with a solar panel hat. Blink claims that just 45 minutes of direct sunlight is enough to keep the camera running. The reviews on this model are worryingly negative, though, with multiple reports of bugs, glitches and a lack of customer support.
Blink Outdoor 2K+ — US deals
Blink Outdoor 2K+ — UK deals
Blink Mini: models, details & deals
You can use any of Blink's outdoor cameras inside, but Blink also makes a few indoor models, all of which run off mains electricity.
The Mini 2K+ is the newest-gen option, with 2K (2560 x 1440) video, and the option of adding a weather-resistant power adaptor (sold separately) to make it suitable for use outdoors. There are a couple of older Minis still kicking around. In the UK I've found the Mini 2, and in the US it's still possible to find the first-gen Mini. Those have 1080p video. You can also pick up an Arc mount, which combines two Mini cameras side-by-side for a wider field of view.
Alternatively, you could opt for a Mini Pan-Tilt. This is an indoor cam that can — as you might have guessed — pan and tilt its camera in order to gain to see into all the corners of your room.
Blink Mini — US deals
Blink Mini — UK deals
Blink security camera specs compared
What is a Sync module, and do I need one?
A Blink Sync module is a Wi-Fi hub that acts as a bridge between your security cameras and your app, and it can connect to multiple cameras (up to 10) to create a unified system. Adding a Sync module means the cams don't need to be actively connected to your home's Wi-Fi, which significantly lowers the amount of battery they use.
The Sync module is required for Blink's battery-powered options — so the Outdoor models. If you have wired, indoor Blink cameras (so the Mini options), a Sync module is optional, because these cams can connect directly to your home Wi-Fi. The below video goes into more detail.
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Ruth is TechRadar's Collections Editor, responsible for masterminding TechRadar's approach towards the new Collections format — a themed, curated selection of product recommendations designed to provide readers with an exciting new way to shop for the very best new gadgets and gizmos.
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