How Long Does the Arlo Battery Last? Tips for Enhancing Battery Life

Arlo has become a popular choice for owners who want an easy-to-install home security solution without dealing with complicated wiring. However, the convenience of Arlo wireless cameras comes with a potential drawback. Just like any battery-powered device, Arlo cameras have a limited battery life. This can be problematic when they are placed in hard-to-reach areas. Recharging the batteries means the cameras are temporarily out of action, and security issues don't always occur at convenient times. So, it's helpful to have a rough estimate of when your Arlo cameras will need recharging.

The Arlo battery generally lasts around 3-6 months, depending on several factors, including the camera model, environmental factors, and how you use your Arlo camera.

Factors Influencing Battery Life

Several factors can significantly impact the battery life of Arlo cameras:

1. Low-Light Conditions: Arlo cameras may use more power when operating in low-light or nighttime conditions, especially if they have to activate infrared LEDs for night vision.

2. Extreme Temperatures: Extreme temperatures, especially below freezing (temperature below 0°C) or in very hot conditions, can reduce battery life and performance.

3. Weak Signal Strength: Cameras operating in areas with weak Wi-Fi signals might consume more power to maintain a stable connection.

4. Audio and Video Quality: Higher resolution and frame rates (FPS) require more power for recording and transmitting video, which can reduce the camera's battery life.

5. Motion and Audio Detection: Cameras set to trigger on motion or audio detection can use more battery as they need to be alert and recording frequently.

How Long Do Arlo Batteries Last?

Arlo battery lifespan varies based on the camera model and settings:

• Resolution and FPS: Higher-resolution settings and higher FPS will consume more battery power. Adjusting these settings can extend battery life.

• Rechargeable Batteries: Arlo cameras generally use rechargeable batteries. Over time, battery capacity may degrade, reducing overall battery life.

• Temperature Management: Avoid exposing your Arlo cameras to extreme temperatures. Using them within the recommended temperature range can help maintain battery life.

• Auto-Scheduling and Activity Zones: Utilizing Arlo's features like auto-scheduling and activity zones can reduce unnecessary recording, thus conserving battery power.

Arlo Pro Battery Life

The Arlo Ultra and Pro series cameras use a 3.85V 4800mAh 18.48Wh rechargeable lithium polymer battery, providing the convenience of interchangeability among these camera models. The company claims that this battery can last between 4 and 6 months with average use, but in that time you can still experience some Arlo Pro charging issues.

Regarding recharging, Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 offer a convenient solution. You can easily recharge the cameras by connecting their power cable. These cameras also support quick charging, allowing a camera to go from 30% to fully charged in just over an hour. Additionally, they can continue functioning while plugged in, ensuring uninterrupted operation without battery concerns.

Alternatively, you have the option of getting a charging station along with additional batteries. This setup enables you to have one battery charging while using the other, guaranteeing that your camera is always operational, even during battery replenishment. To swap the battery, simply press the button on the camera's top to open the hatch, remove the battery, and slide it onto the charging station.

It's essential to note that the batteries for Arlo Pro/Pro 2 and Arlo Ultra cannot be swapped between these camera models and their respective chargers due to variations in battery types.

Arlo Essential Camera Battery Life

The Arlo Essential Camera and Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera both utilize a 3.63V 5080mAh 18.44Wh rechargeable lithium polymer battery. In contrast, the Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera uses an extended version of the same battery type, offering a longer-lasting charge before requiring a recharge. Both types of battery are non-removable, so recharging involves unmounting the camera, recharging it indoors, and then remounting it. This process can be a bit inconvenient to some, so it's important to know how often you'll have to do this when thinking about getting any of these models.

The Arlo Essential battery is estimated to last up to six months. However, this estimate depends on how frequently the camera is activated and when it is activated. Nighttime footage tends to deplete the battery faster, approximately twice as fast as daytime use.

If you opt for the Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera, the battery life is expected to last up to a year under similar usage conditions.

Since both the Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera and the Essential Spotlight Camera include an integrated spotlight and color night vision, you have to be mindful of their power demands at night.

To eliminate battery concerns, you can purchase Arlo Essential accessories, like solar panels that can provide non-stop power to your cameras.

Arlo Go Battery Life

Photo courtesy of CNET

The Arlo Go camera relies on a 7.2V 3660mAh 26.35Wh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This battery provides an approximate battery life of 2 to 3 months with typical use, which may vary based on the strength of the mobile signal it receives. While Arlo Go shares similarities with the Arlo Pro, its standout feature is the inclusion of 3G and 4G LTE connectivity through a mobile network plan, making it an excellent choice for monitoring locations without Wi-Fi, such as remote cabins.

However, because Arlo Go incorporates LTE functionality, its battery consumption may increase when placed in areas with a weak signal. To maximize the battery life of Arlo Go, Arlo suggests positioning it in locations where it can attain at least 3 bars of LTE signal. Even under these favorable conditions, the battery's duration won't match that of some other Arlo cameras due to the demands of LTE connectivity.

In general, under regular usage, you can anticipate the Arlo Go's battery to last approximately 2 to 3 months.

When it comes to recharging, Arlo Go can be recharged by plugging it into a wall outlet or using a charging dock. It's important to note that Arlo Go uses different batteries compared to the Arlo Pro cameras, and these camera batteries are not interchangeable between the two models.

Arlo Ultra Battery Life

As previously mentioned, Arlo Ultra uses the same 3.85V 4800mAh 18.48Wh rechargeable lithium polymer battery as the Arlo Pro series. But since it has a 4k video resolution, color night vision, auto zoom and tracking, integrated spotlight, and other power-hungry features, its battery life lasts approximately between 3 and 6 months, with real-life users reporting around 3-4 months of continuous usage and recharging taking around 3.5 hours. If you don't want to worry about the battery life, consider getting a solar panel for your Arlo camera.

The Arlo Ultra's battery can be accessed and replaced from the back of the camera. Unlike the Arlo Pro and Pro 2 models, the charging cable for the Arlo Ultra is magnetic and attaches to the bottom of the camera. This design makes recharging the battery or powering the camera a convenient process without the need to uninstall the camera or attach a cord to the back.

Arlo Wire-Free Cameras Battery Life

The Arlo Wire-Free Camera is estimated to last up to 6 months on a set of batteries, but real-life users have found that they typically only last around 3 to 4 months. Some even reported as little as 2 months of battery life.

Since these cameras use four non-rechargeable CR123 batteries, they'll have to be replaced once the power runs out. This can be seen as a drawback when compared to the Arlo Pro, which has rechargeable batteries and other advantages. However, Tenergy has partnered with Arlo to produce 3.7V 650mAh rechargeable batteries that are compatible with the Arlo Wire-Free model. This is a practical way to make the camera's batteries more useful. With four batteries in the package, you can keep one set charged while the other powers your camera for continuous operation.

In the long run, this can save you money since you won't have to replace the non-rechargeable CR123 batteries as often.

Recharging Options for Arlo Cameras

Arlo offers various recharging options for their cameras, depending on the camera model. Here's a breakdown of the recharging options and the differences between them:

Direct Charging via Power Cable:

• Most Arlo cameras, including the Arlo Pro, Pro 2, and Arlo Essential, can be recharged directly using a power cable. Additionally, you can use third-party charging cables such as the Wasserstein Magnetic Charging Cable.

• To recharge the camera, you need to connect the provided power cable to the camera's charging port and plug it into a power source, such as a wall outlet or a portable charger.

• This method provides a convenient way to recharge the camera without removing it from its mounting location.

Charging Station:

• Some Arlo camera models, such as the Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2, offer the option of using a dedicated charging station.

• The charging station typically comes with one or more extra rechargeable batteries.

• To recharge the camera, you remove the depleted battery, replace it with a fully charged one from the charging station, and charge the depleted battery in the station.

• This option ensures that you always have a charged battery ready for quick camera swaps, reducing downtime.

Solar Panel Charger:

• Solar panel chargers compatible with the Arlo Pro and Ultra series and the Essential Spotlight / XL Spotlight are designed to harness solar energy and convert it into power to keep the camera charged.

• They provide a sustainable and maintenance-free charging option, ideal for cameras placed in locations with sufficient sunlight.

• This option eliminates the need to manually recharge the camera.

Battery Replacement:

• For some Arlo cameras, such as the Arlo Wire-Free, Arlo Go, and Arlo Ultra, the batteries are not removable or rechargeable. You can check our full comparison of Arlo cameras for more details.

• When the batteries in these cameras are depleted, you need to replace them with new ones.

• Arlo provides guidance on the battery replacement process for these camera models.

Tips for Optimizing Arlo Camera Battery Lifespan

According to Arlo, there are several steps you can take to optimize your camera's battery life:

Video Settings:

• Record shorter videos; the default is 10 seconds, and longer recordings consume more battery.

• Lower the sensitivity to reduce false alarms and conserve battery power.

• Consider reducing the video quality to standard or lower resolution, as this helps save battery life.

• Select the power setting that suits your needs; "Optimized" and "Best Battery Life" prioritize battery longevity.

Other Tips:

• Strategically position your camera within 300 feet of the base station, avoiding multiple routers, to preserve battery life.

• Install the camera in a well-lit area to reduce the need for infrared (IR) usage at night.

• Avoid extremely low temperatures, as freezing conditions can drain the battery more quickly.

• Access the live stream only when necessary to minimize battery usage.

• Ensure your Arlo cameras are running the latest firmware, as updates can optimize battery performance. Firmware updates usually occur between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., but you can manually check for updates in the camera settings.

The battery life estimates provided by Arlo assume an average usage of 5 minutes of recording per day. If you use your cameras for extended periods or record more footage, your actual battery life may be less than the manufacturer's estimates, potentially leading to Arlo battery life issues.

How to Track the Arlo Camera Battery Life

Tracking the battery life of your Arlo cameras is essential to ensure they remain operational when you need them most. Here's how you can do it:

Using the Arlo App:

1. Open the Arlo app on your smartphone or tablet.

2. Sign in to your Arlo account if prompted.

3. In the app's main dashboard, you will see a list of your Arlo cameras. Each camera's battery status is displayed alongside its name or image.

4. The battery icon typically shows the remaining battery life as a percentage.

In addition to checking the Arlo app, you can set up alerts to notify you when the battery is running low:

• Email Notifications: Configure email notifications within the Arlo app to receive alerts when the battery reaches a certain threshold.

• Push Notifications: Enable push notifications on your mobile device to receive real-time alerts about low battery status.

• Arlo Smart Subscription: If you have an Arlo Smart subscription, you can receive customized alerts and notifications based on specific events or battery levels.

Monitoring your Arlo camera's battery life is crucial for several reasons:

• Timely Recharging: It helps you know when to recharge your camera's battery to avoid downtime in your security system.

• Maximizing Performance: Regular monitoring allows you to optimize camera settings based on battery status, such as adjusting video quality or sensitivity.

• Preventing Failures: Low battery alerts can help prevent camera failure during critical moments.

FAQ

Why does Arlo's battery drain so fast?

Arlo's battery can drain quickly due to high camera activity, settings, extreme temperatures, or a weak Wi-Fi signal.

How many times can you recharge an Arlo battery?

Arlo camera batteries are rechargeable and can be recharged many times before they degrade significantly.

Which Arlo camera has the longest battery life?

Arlo Pro and Pro 2 models have the longest estimated battery life compared to other Arlo cameras.

How do I extend my Arlo battery life?

Extend Arlo battery life by adjusting settings, updating software, and avoiding extreme temperatures.

Can you overcharge an Arlo battery?

No, Arlo batteries are designed to prevent overcharging.

Does turning off Arlo's camera save battery?

Yes, turning off the camera when not in use can save battery power.

What batteries are best for Arlo cameras?

Arlo cameras use proprietary rechargeable camera batteries, and it's recommended to use official Arlo battery replacements for best performance.