Arlo Ultra 3 test: Powerful camera for home use?

The Arlo Ultra 3 is a new home camera system. Imagine you are on vacation and receive a notification on your smartphone. An unknown person is at your front door, a parcel has been left or strangers are up to mischief in your carport. This doesn’t sound like a fantasy scenario, but is exactly what the Arlo Ultra 3 is designed to cover. The flagship camera is primarily aimed at anyone who wants to keep an eye on their home or property around the clock. We already covered the market launch and technical key facts of the Arlo Ultra 3 at the beginning of the year.

The new Arlo security camera has a lot to offer in terms of technology. It has a 180° field of view, AI detection for people, vehicles, parcels and even fire. In addition, the battery should last around six months – even with a resolution of 4K HDR.

Find out what else the Arlo Ultra 3 has to offer and whether the purchase price of just under 600 euros for the set of two cameras is worth it in our detailed test.

Arlo Ultra 3 – Technical data

Model	Ultra 3
Resolution / Video	4K / 8 MP (3,840 × 2,160) with HDR
Sensor size	½ inch
Viewing angle	180° diagonal
Zoom	Digital up to 12×
Motion detection	Double motion detectors, 150° horizontal
Video functions	Auto track & zoom
Night vision / illumination	Color and IR B/W + spotlight
Microphone	Dual (echo and wind noise suppression)
Connectivity	2.4 GHz & 5GHz (802.11 b/g/n/ac) Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2
Battery / power supply	Up to 6 months, rechargeable in approx. 4.5 h
IP certification	IP65
Area of use	Indoors/outdoors (UV and weather-resistant outdoors)
Memory	Cloud functionality
Power supply unit	Output: 5V 2A Input: 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
Interfaces / smart home integration	Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT
Price	€ 599.99 (€ 300.00 / Stück)*

Scope of delivery

• 2 cameras incl. batteries, SmartHub, power supply & Ethernet cable
• Includes wall and magnetic brackets with mounting material

After unpacking, two Arlo Ultra 3 outdoor cameras are revealed, each equipped with its own rechargeable battery. A classic wall mount and a magnetic version are also included, each with a screw set, so that different mounting options can be easily implemented.

The SmartHub, which is supplied together with a power supply unit and an Ethernet cable, serves as the centerpiece for wireless communication. A USB-C cable is provided for charging the cameras. The package is rounded off with a range of documents, including the quick start guide and a video surveillance sticker that clearly informs visitors about the cameras.

Design and workmanship

• Discreet, modern design in white/black
• High-quality, robust workmanship without defects
• Compact SmartHub with clear status display

In terms of design, the Arlo Ultra 3 has a rather discreet and elegant appearance thanks to the slightly glossy white of the plastic housing, without appearing sterile or cheap. The front, including the lens, speakers, microphones and the attached spotlight above it, is kept in black, which complements each other well in terms of color. Accordingly, the outdoor camera set is typically suitable for areas such as house entrances, carports, garage walls or gardens, where it blends in unobtrusively.

All interfaces of the Arlo Ultra 3 camera are located on the bottom and on the back. The recess for the wall mount is located on the back of the housing. The opening button for unlocking the housing and a charging port with USB-C, which is concealed behind a cover, are located in the lower part.

The Arlo Ultra 3 makes a high-quality impression as soon as it is unpacked. The housing looks quite robust, has a solid finish and also feels good in the hand. The gaps are also very precise in terms of accuracy and neither wobbling nor creaking can be noticed during the test. The SmartHub also remains quite compact given its height. The active connection is indicated by an LED on the front, while the connections for the power supply and Ethernet are located on the opposite side as usual.

Installation and setup

• Simple setup via app, but account required
• SmartHub is integrated into the network via Ethernet
• A separate Wi-Fi network is created for the cameras

Before the actual installation or pairing via app can take place, both batteries should first be fully charged. Depending on the charge level, this may take some time, but it will pay off later. Once the batteries are fully charged, they are inserted into the cameras and the two housings are closed.

Setting up the Arlo Ultra 3 is generally effortless, but requires an Arlo account. Only after registration can the manufacturer’s own app be used and the setup of the cameras can begin. First, the SmartHub is connected to the home network using an Ethernet cable and power supply unit. The subsequent pairing between the SmartHub and the two cameras then takes place entirely via the Arlo Secure app, which guides you step-by-step through the setup process. Important to know: The SmartHub creates a separate Wi-Fi network for the cameras.

A positive feature: Directly during setup, the app automatically starts a firmware update of the SmartHub. Afterwards, both cameras were immediately recognized and offered for configuration. A quick confirmation in the app is all it takes to link both cameras to the Arlo account. From this point on, the SmartHub and cameras are fully operational and can be conveniently managed via the app.

App: Arlo Secure

• Central control for live view & recordings
• Various filter and setting options
• Advanced functions only with paid subscription

The manufacturer’s Arlo Secure app serves as the central control center for the entire camera experience – literally nothing works without it. The app is available for Android and iOS. When registering and setting up the new cameras, a one-month trial version of the Arlo Secure membership is also included. Recently, the manufacturer equipped the Arlo Secure app with a new SOS button that directly connects users to local emergency services in critical situations.

Comparison: Range of functions with and without subscription

After configuration, the live images from both cameras can be called up directly via the dashboard. Recorded images appear in their own feed tab, where they can be filtered according to event type. A practical feature here is that filtering is possible per camera and for different categories such as people, animals, parcels or vehicles.

The AI-supported Early Warning System, which Arlo offers in the Secure Plus tariff, goes one step further. It not only identifies known people, but also detects fire or flames and individual vehicles – from your own car to the delivery vehicle. If desired, the camera can also be linked to individual scenarios. This includes, for example, evaluating whether the garage or garden door in the recording area has been left open unintentionally. However, such functionalities cost €19.99 per month or €219.99 per year with the Secure Plus tariff, which includes the Early Warning System.

Even without a subscription model, essential security functions such as motion alarms, local storage via the base station and live streaming are retained. The same applies to deterrent measures such as floodlights, sirens and two-way audio. Nevertheless, to exploit the full potential of the Arlo Ultra 3, there is probably no way around the Secure Plus plan, which is subject to a charge.

Plenty of configuration options

A closer look at the settings reveals a range of helpful functions, including freely definable activity zones, schedules and geofencing. The latter now offers event-based use, which means it can be used independently of the schedule or in combination with it. As a result, the Arlo Ultra 3 can be automatically armed when you leave the house and deactivated again when you come home.

All in all, the app makes a decent and well thought-out impression. In the test, the user interface responded quickly and notifications were displayed quickly and reliably when motion was detected. There is only a certain latency between the app and playback via the camera when live streaming with the microphone activated.

Practical test

• Very good image quality in 4K HDR with a large field of view
• Solid motion detection – better results with AI classification
• Convenient use of all functions requires Arlo Secure subscription

We now move on to the real world and test the Arlo Ultra 3 in everyday use over a period of several weeks. For a much more affordable battery surveillance camera with a similar ambition, see our review of the EZVIZ CB8 Lite 4G Kit as a battery surveillance camera with solar option.

Camera quality

The Arlo Ultra 3 achieves a convincing result in terms of image quality during the day. This is due to the combination of a high-quality lens, 4K quality with HDR and a large 180° field of view. As a result, there are hardly any blind spots and sharpness, contrast and color reproduction remain intact across the entire image width. A similarly wide field of view is also offered by the ANNKE FCD800 with a comparable 180° concept, although this is solved via two sensors with panorama stitching. However, local 4K streaming must first be activated in the app in order to exploit the full camera quality. Otherwise, playback in the app will only be in Full HD, even though the recording is in 4K.

The integrated spotlight is used at night. Although it takes about a second from activation to the true-color night shot, the battery-powered surveillance camera delivers impressively lifelike results. Even at night, people can still be easily recognized during the test. Depending on the positioning of the camera, recognizable facial features can also be seen based on individual frames. Moving objects are logically displayed more softly, but this should be within the expected range.

The 12x zoom also cuts a good figure, as does the auto-tracking, which tracks movements well. In practice, both are very useful, even if it is a digital zoom – the image loses detail sharpness at high magnification. This fact should therefore be kept in mind.

All in all, the image quality is unmistakably first-class. If you expect detailed, sharp images during the day and want colorful pictures at night, you can’t go wrong with the Arlo Ultra 3.

Motion detection

One of the strengths of the Arlo Ultra 3 is its intelligent motion detection – provided that the full potential of the surveillance camera is utilized. Even without a subscription, the basic motion detection works reliably: Here, however, all types of activity are registered and immediately sent to your smartphone as a push message.

The effect is particularly clear with the Arlo Secure Plus subscription. The difference is particularly noticeable in everyday life as, thanks to classification, not every cat that walks through the picture triggers an alarm message. As a result, the so-called “false positive” messages can be significantly reduced and only interesting events are recorded.

Added to this are the freely definable activity zones, which allow certain areas of the image to be included or excluded. For example, if you live on a busy road, you can hide the area in the background and significantly reduce false alarms. In our opinion, the system works reliably and accurately in practice – any false alarms are kept to a very manageable level.

However, one small point of criticism should be noted: While the camera image offers a recording range of 180°, the motion sensor itself only covers 150° in the horizontal range. This delta reads more striking on paper than it actually is, because in practice this fact is hardly noticeable.

Comparison: cloud use vs. local storage

Anyone who buys the Arlo Ultra 3 will at some point ask themselves the question: should I take out a cloud subscription or store my videos locally? Both options have their advantages, but the convenience and range of functions vary noticeably.

Cloud use via Arlo Secure is by far the most flexible solution. Recorded videos can be accessed anywhere and the AI-supported detection works perfectly. Access via app also works smoothly, regardless of whether you are at home or on the move. However, this requires a paid subscription, which currently costs 19.99 euros per month. The Arlo Secure basic subscription, on the other hand, costs €7.99 per month, but does not include the early warning system with AI functions.

If you decide against the cloud, a microSD card can be inserted into the slot provided on the underside of the SmartHub. Although this must be purchased separately, recordings from the Arlo Ultra 3 can then be viewed in the app at no additional cost. Although Arlo also provides a web dashboard for viewing videos on PCs, only clips from the cloud are displayed there. In addition, locally stored videos are only supported in your own home network. Mobile access to video content would only be possible via detours such as port forwarding or a VPN connection. If you are looking for a pure 4K surveillance camera with local storage and no ongoing subscription costs, take a closer look at the TP-Link Tapo C660 Kit as a 4K alternative.

Conclusion

With the Arlo Ultra 3, the manufacturer presents a sophisticated and well thought-out surveillance camera that should impress in the decisive aspects. The workmanship is exemplary, while the image quality and motion detection are at a first-class level. Once you get used to the colorful and detailed image with a 180° field of view, which is supplemented by the push notifications divided by event type, you definitely won’t want to miss it in everyday life. In addition to the quick set-up, the intuitive app is also worth mentioning, which leaves a solid overall impression.

However, anyone who assumes that everything is covered with the comparatively proud purchase price will probably be surprised sooner or later. The full potential of the camera is hidden behind a monthly subscription. After all, when buying such a premium product, you would hardly want to do without object and face recognition, cloud recording or remote access to recordings in general. In this respect, it should be noted that the Arlo Ultra 3 provides a robust technical basis, but some functions are limited without the Secure Plus subscription. Although local storage via microSD is possible, in practice this reduces convenience as you cannot access it on the move without technical detours.

The bottom line is that the Arlo Ultra 3 is definitely worth recommending – as long as the ongoing subscription costs are factored in from the outset. In return, you get a powerful surveillance system that fully fulfills its purpose and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of security and reliability.