The Arlo 2K battery-powered security camera is 60% off before Black Friday

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

What's the deal?

The Arlo Pro 5S 2K security camera is down to just $100 with an early Black Friday discount.

Also: The best Black Friday deals live now

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ZDNET's key takeaways

Arlo's flagship Pro 5S 2K camera is battery-powered and features a 2K resolution that sells for $250 but is currently only $100.The Pro 5S can go anywhere surveillance is needed. It is reliably accurate at detecting motion and has a removable rechargeable battery.Arlo requires a subscription to access most in-app features; the video quality could be better for 2K resolution, and the camera is expensive at full price. 

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The Arlo Pro 5S 2K is a wireless security camera that can be placed indoors or outdoors. It's sleek, compact, and reliable—all qualities you'd expect from a new Arlo camera. However, some things left me wanting, though I can't say if it's because of Arlo or personal preference.

Also: I just tested the new EufyCam, and I'm never going back to grainy night vision

First, it's worth discussing the elephant in the room: the monthly subscription. 

I love a great security system; it's one of the few things I don't forget to switch on every night, and, as a diagnosed OCD sufferer, it helps me sleep at night. I have a Eufy Security system in my home because it doesn't require any subscription or monthly fees, though the startup cost isn't cheap.

Arlo cameras are more expensive than the Eufy Security ones throughout my home and still require a subscription after you buy them. I could go on a long rant about why I dislike security camera subscriptions, but I'll say this: If I buy the camera, I want to own the images. You don't buy a photography camera to pay the manufacturer for each photo or video you take. 

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The Arlo Pro 5S 2K camera isn't meant to be a standalone product. While it is sold and can be used as one, it's meant to work best when linked with other Arlo Home Security devices. Users can buy a separate Arlo Ultra SmartHub to elevate their security system and enable local storage. The SmartHub can record onto a micro SD card that's sold separately. 

Also: I just tested the new EufyCam, and I'm never going back to grainy night vision

Once set up, users can only access the camera recordings in the same network as the SmartHub, as the system works locally. This gives some users a much-needed sense of privacy but might give others a headache. 

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Arlo consumers can bypass this setup and remotely access the video recordings saved in the SmartHub using port forwarding or a VPN. 

Also: The best outdoor security cameras to protect your home

The company offers various Arlo Secure subscriptions to enable cloud storage of up to 30 days, smart interactive and animated notifications, audio detection of alarms, smart activity zones, theft replacement, critical alerts, 24/7 emergency response, and certain AI-powered features. 

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The Arlo Secure subscriptions range from $4.99 a month for a single camera up to $25 a month for an unlimited amount of cameras, plus 24/7 professional monitoring services, video verification, Family Safety monitoring for check-ins and location alerts, and crash detection and response via the Arlo Safe App. 

Also: The waterproof Blink Mini 2 is the best Wyze Cam alternative available

Monthly fees aside, I've found the Arlo Pro 5S 2K extremely reliable and responsive. Motion alerts come in immediately. As soon as there's movement on the Arlo's side of the yard, my phone lets me know.

Additionally, the battery life has been outstanding. The Arlo Pro 5S has a removable and rechargeable battery that lasts up to eight months on a single charge. I tested the Pro 5S for about six months and only had to recharge the battery once.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

However, the image quality captured by the camera wasn't great. I'm unsure if the issue lies with the camera or if my backyard isn't pretty enough, but I was left waiting for the high-quality image from the Arlo Pro 5S. Instead, I was met with overexposed patches of grass in my feed that overpowered much of the image, making it hard to identify people when they walked by that area.

Also: The best affordable home security cameras

I'll admit my backyard gets a lot of sunlight, and overexposure was the only issue I experienced with the Arlo Pro 5S. Through this experience, I determined the Pro 5S is better suited to surveil either the front or side of my home. 

ZDNET's buying advice

Is the Arlo Pro 5S 2K worth buying? It's the perfect camera for someone with an existing Arlo subscription or setup or someone interested in it -- as long as they don't mind the monthly fees. It's an exceptional camera, that's for sure, but it does not live up to its full potential without a subscription or as part of a bigger Arlo setup.

I don't believe I'd get the SmartHub to enable local storage, as viewing it remotely seems troublesome, but I can see why people do. If I were to add to my Arlo network, I'd probably get a monthly subscription. But since I'm on the cost-savings side, the Pro 5S 2K will be the only Arlo in my home for now.