blink mini 2 and blink outdoor 4 - Don't Pay Too Much for Home Security

When it comes to installing a security camera or two at your place, it's easy to get carried away.

A high-quality, weather-proof camera can set you back hundreds. Then, once installed, all too often you'll be stung a second time with a subscription to keep accessing the more advanced features.

Once you've spent all that money, maybe it would have been cheaper to let the burglars in and just take their pick.

The good news is - especially at this time of year - you don't have to shell out top dollar for a reasonable home monitoring solution.

From October this year, Amazon-owned Blink arrived in New Zealand in force with its latest devices, the Mini 2 and Outdoor 4. The Mini 4 offers the versatility of working either indoors or outside while the wireless Outdoor 4 promises up to two years use on a single pair of AA batteries.

Both cameras are available in white or black and both are extremely compact, although obviously the Mini 2 is particularly tiny. This makes them a good solution for those of us who prefer a more subtle approach to home security in terms of aesthetics. If you want a big, bold, in-your-face camera that shouts, "Take your chances, crims! Can't you see you're being recorded?" these Bink cams might not be the answer. On the other hand, if you'd rather not have cameras detracting from the look of your lovely home, these little beauties can be easily tucked away somewhere less obtrusive.

Both cameras come with equally petite mounts, which can be adapted for wall or ceiling installation. While these mounts are certainly versatile, they're pretty much entirely plastic and I wonder about durability over time - not that I've had any issues yet. My other concern is how the cameras simply snap onto the mount with a click. This makes for easy installation but presumably it would also make for easy theft if a baddie wanted to make off with your camera. Luckily, no video footage is stored on the devices themselves so at least the last image you got would be a closeup of the thief!

Let's talk storage, while we're here. Just like most other brands, Blink makes you subscribe to a monthly plan if you want to use their cloud storage option. Videos are saved for 60 days and it's easy to watch and share them. However, unlike some of Blink's competitors, there's another option.

The Outdoor 4 camera is boxed up with the Sync Module 2. As with many other smart home devices, instead of connecting directly to your Wi-Fi network, you use the Blink app to set up the Sync Module 2 first. This is very quick and easy and it then benefits you in three ways. Firstly, by locating the Sync Module 2 in your house, somewhere close to your outdoor cameras, you'll get improved connectivity, as Wi-Fi routers are often situated a long way away from outside, let alone where you want your cameras to be.

Secondly, connecting several cameras through a module like this means less traffic on your home network overall, which should always be your goal.

Thirdly - and this is the clincher - the Sync Module 2 has a USB-A slot to plug in an external storage drive. This means you can store your vids locally for free, even after the 30 day trial of the Blink subscription plan runs out.

The crazy thing is, the module is absolutely tiny - so it's easily stashed away behind or under furniture.

The Blink Mini 2 isn't bundled with a Sync Module and as such can just work as a standalone Wi-Fi camera - but if you're planning on using several or you want to take advantage of that local storage option, the Sync Module is the way to go and of course, you can buy them separately.

Another optional extra you may want to consider is the Weather Resistant Power Adaptor - a four-metre cord (complete with cable tidies and installation screws) that's compatible with both the Mini 2 and the Outdoor 4, if you prefer to run it off the mains, rather than on battery. This is certainly a sturdy cable and the USB-C connection to the camera is impressively rubberised to keep any moisture out. However, because the USB-C slot on the camera is extra deep in order to accomodate the weather-proof plug, I found it very fiddly to push it in at just the right angle to ensure the USB-C part of the plug actually slid in. It took me several attempts and caused quite a bit of frustration when I kept checking the app only to discover the Mini 2 still wasn't powered up and ready for pairing.

However, I got there in the end. In terms of operation, I found the cameras work in much the same way as most others I have tried. The app provides clear, wide angled footage from both cameras and the sound quality to be excellent. You also have the option to speak out of the cameras from your phone - scaring off undesirables or welcoming visitors perhaps.

The Mini 2 features a surprisingly powerful LED floodlight. This can be triggered automatically or manually via the app and it means you'll get a clear, colour HD feed, even at night. Conversely, the Outdoor 4 reverts to black-and-white infrared after dark - still perfectly clear though.

As you would expect, you can set up motion notifications to appear on your phone and being an Amazon-integrated product, you can view feeds from Blink cameras on Echo Show and Fire TV devices or set up other Alexa smart home routines to be fired off when either camera is activated. You can customise Motion Zones quite accurately or alternatively, set up Privacy Zones where the camera won't look.

There are other features, apart from cloud storage, you can only utilise through a subscription plan. These include person detection, extended live viewing and what Blink calls "Moments" - which is a compilation of videos saved into one longer clip.

Starting from NZ$5 a month, the Blink subs are similar to others out there but there are definitely savings to be made with the purchase price on the cameras themselves and their associated accessories.

The Mini 2 and Outdoor 4 are easy to set up and generally speaking, they do the same job any other camera does, yet they're probably cheaper - especially when Amazon is having one of its frequent sales. I'm not 100% convinced of their durability long-term, although really the only thing I'm basing that on is the plasticky feel of the mounting hardware. I certainly haven't experienced any issues and thanks to the Sync Module 2, connectivity is first rate.

If indeed the Outdoor 4 runs for two years on a single set of batteries, that alone has gotta be worth a try.

    

Click here for more information and pricing on the blink mini 2.

Click here for more information and priocing on the blink outdoor 4.