Arlo Go 2 LTE/Wi-Fi Security Camera Review
Arlo Go 2 was officially released in Singapore back in February 2023 and retails for S$399. As the name suggests, it is the successor to Arlo Go.
Here is a table showing the differences between both cameras. The main differences would be the resolution upgrade to 1080p and additional wi-fi connectivity on top of 4G LTE. The price was cut by almost half, from S$799 to S$399.
Type | Arlo Go 2 | Arlo Go |
---|---|---|
Video Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (1080p) | 1280 x 720 (720p) |
Colour Night Vision | Yes | No |
Spotlight | Yes | No |
Connectivity | 4G LTE and/or Wi-Fi | 4G LTE |
Audio | Two-Way, Full Duplex | Two-Way |
Smart Siren | Yes | No |
GPS | Yes | No |
Works With | Alexa, Google, IFTTT | Alexa, Google |
Price | S$399 | S$799 |
Since I have not used the Arlo Go before, I will be comparing my experience with Arlo Pro 4 and Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera.
Uboxing
![Arlo Go 2 - Box Front](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738514080_4a5fdd9ec7_c.jpg)
![Arlo Go 2 - Box Back](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738514005_2eb6f67d81_c.jpg)
![Arlo Go 2 - Box](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52737580892_4e12ddd102_c.jpg)
- 13,000 mAh Rechargeable Battery
- Magnetic Charging Cable
- Wall Mount Screw Kit
- Mounting Screws
- Quick Start Guide
![Arlo Go 2 - Box Contents](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52737580872_ac012c8252_c.jpg)
Design
The design language of the Arlo Go 2 is similar to Arlo Pro 4.
![Arlo Go 2 - Front](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738355654_402c76f112_c.jpg)
![Arlo Go 2 - Bottom](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738102751_fdb276c810_c.jpg)
Arlo Go 2 is the bigger brother (in terms of size and weight) to Arlo Pro 4.
![Arlo Go 2 vs Arlo Pro 4 - Front](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738355294_db49a6f97d_c.jpg)
![Arlo Go 2 vs Arlo Pro 4 - Bottom](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738587648_9a1ac73cf6_c.jpg)
![Arlo Go 2 vs Arlo Pro 4 - Side](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52737580362_90fe6536fc_c.jpg)
Because Arlo Go 2 has a 13,000 mAh Rechargeable Battery, it weighs about 500g, while the Arlo Pro 4, which has a 4,800 mAh battery, weighs 317g. Charging is done using the same magnetic charging cable of the Arlo Pro 4.
![Arlo Go 2 - Battery](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738513760_ffbd6a2a1d_c.jpg)
The Arlo Go 2 doesn’t have a metal structure inside the shell, unlike the Arlo Pro 4, as it doesn’t support magnetic mounts, probably because it is too heavy.
![Arlo Go 2 - Open](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738513655_7b74438d0b_c.jpg)
Mounting is done using the standard 1/4″ tripod mount, and a wall mounting screw kit is included in the package.
![Arlo Go 2 - Back](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738587968_3b3a5abd23_c.jpg)
There are two slows inside the Arlo Go 2, one microSD card slot for local recording and one nano SIM slot for 4G LTE connectivity.
![Arlo Go 2 - Card Slots](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738513600_ecb4e47ffe_c.jpg)
![Arlo Go 2 - All Inserted](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738587708_7bf18474d6_c.jpg)
Setup
![Arlo iOS App - Setup](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738481765_9434c29193_c.jpg)
You can set up the Arlo Go 2 using either 4G LTE or wi-fi. Since the main selling point of this camera is 4G LTE, I set it up using 4G LTE.
![Arlo iOS App - Setup #2](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738555843_9ee9f67687_c.jpg)
The setup process is the same as wi-fi, just that when discovering the camera, it takes two times longer, which is expected since cellular connectivity has more latency.
![Arlo iOS App - Home](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52737548522_aa2871e54b_c.jpg)
Arlo App
In the “Connected to” of the camera, if it is connected to 4G LTE, it will show the network name alongside the signal strength.
![Arlo iOS App - Settings](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738481585_ebc8cff529_c.jpg)
Tapping into it will show both wi-fi and cellular network settings. If you have previously set up using 4G LTE, you can now set up wi-fi. Doing so will make your cellular network standby, and your wi-fi network will be the primary connectivity.
![Arlo iOS App - Settings - Connected To](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738323009_58d54a2558_c.jpg)
The user experience for switching between 4G LTE and wi-fi lags since the settings need to be “uploaded” to the camera. So, for example, if I want to disable wi-fi to test 4G LTE, the app will show neither network is set up after disabling it. I have to force quit the app and open the app again for it to retrieve the updated settings.
![Arlo iOS App - Settings - Connected To - Bug](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738555958_ec64b7b39a_c.jpg)
There is also a new GPS feature that allows you to retrieve the location of your Arlo Go 2. If this feature is enabled, Arlo will scan for the camera location once a day and report it back to the app.
![Arlo iOS App - Settings - Locate](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738070641_65fb4354f0_c.jpg)
Since Arlo Go 2 supports local recording, there are also settings for it.
![Arlo iOS App - Settings - Storage Settings](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52737548582_265a8fe1e6_c.jpg)
Quality
Since it is battery-powered, quality-wise, it is pretty decent.
![Arlo iOS App - Quality](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738070616_d912d410e8_c.jpg)
![Arlo iOS App - Quality - Night Vision](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738481650_fe84193e62_c.jpg)
Because, by default, it is on Optimized power management, which balances video quality and battery life. If you want to use the 1080p resolution fully, you can choose Best Video.
![Arlo iOS App - Settings - Power Management](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738481570_eb625b281e_c.jpg)
4G LTE Connectivity
I have more misses than hits regarding 4G LTE connectivity. I am testing it at home, and perhaps the signal strength is not as strong even though the signal hovers between two to three bars out of five bars.
I only probably succeeded in trying to connect to the Arlo Go 2 on 4G LTE in one out of five tries. I keep getting timeouts when trying to connect. Because of this, I know the timeout is 20 seconds, as I have been timing it with a stopwatch.
When I manage to connect, it works exactly like wi-fi connectivity. Quality does differ a little since latency on 4G LTE is higher, which in turn consumes more power. So I guess the camera reduces the quality to compensate for the higher power consumption.
I also tested it outside my home. I placed the Arlo Go 2 on my car’s dashboard and armed it to detect motion and record it locally. I parked there for more than six hours, and I am sure vehicles are moving about. But there were no recordings when I took out the microSD card to view it on my computer.
It was disappointing.
![Arlo iOS App - Carpark](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52740504568_5c70620f3f_c.jpg)
Connectivity is not an issue since live streaming works. Local recordings did not, despite the settings being turned on.
![Arlo iOS App - Carpark](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52740017031_e5a1dd8493_c.jpg)
When I went back home, Arlo Go 2 switched back to wi-fi. I armed it, and local recordings work as expected.
So I guess it could be a battery power optimization issue on 4G LTE. I am sure this could be fixed with a firmware update.
Conclusion
I think Arlo Go 2 will appeal to two groups of users.
Since Arlo Go 2 costs the same as Arlo Pro 4, it will appeal to users who do not want to pay for the Arlo Secure subscription plan but want to have a recording history. With the Arlo Go 2, you can do local recordings on the microSD card.
Think of Arlo Go 2 as the portable version of the Arlo Pro 4. For most consumers, you will probably not need an Arlo Go 2. That is because places where you will place a security camera, like your home or office, probably have wi-fi. However, if you are a business owner trying to monitor a remote location that doesn’t have wi-fi, the Arlo Go 2 is perfect for you.
But at this point, I can’t recommend the Arlo Go 2 because the reliability on its 4G LTE is horrible, and that is supposed to be the main selling point. You might be better off getting an Arlo Pro 4 and connecting it to a 4G LTE mobile router for better reliability.
![Arlo Go 2](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52738355599_6f0c7ef3fe_c.jpg)