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![Blink Outdoor 4 Camera [Review]](https://img.hipsterpixel.co/blink-outdoor-4-camera-review-07.jpg "Blink Outdoor 4 Camera [Review]")
Blink Outdoor 4 Camera [Review]
The small outdoor security camera Amazon has been selling is now a staple of the wider security ecosystem. So much so that I know people with multiple houses where they have cameras on each of their properties and they can keep an eye on them from thousands of kilometers away.
The Blink Outdoor 4 is the latest camera of the series that has the novel feature of being battery powered. Something that allows for an incredible amount of flexibility in terms of installation. If you need to install it further away, there is even the Blink Sync Module XR that allows much better range and even saves all your videos locally! More on this one in another article!
Design
The Blink Cameras were always small, cute cameras that are not meant to be “in your face”—they don’t have lights and they don’t have wires. You can install them and even hide them in corners where they can barely be seen. Perfect to catch perps in the action.
The Outdoor 4 comes in black or white and is basically just a square with a lens in the corner. It has a novel snap-on stand in the box if you need to install it on a wall, but you can get multiple different mounts on Amazon for windows, flat surfaces, even make them hold with a snake-like system that reminds me of the Joby Gorillapod 5K!
It comes with two Energizer Lithium batteries and this is important. This camera once set up with default settings can last months, up to 2 years in ideal conditions and configuration, but just like you, you have to feed it quality or else it’s going to last weeks. Make sure you pick up sets of solid batteries like the Energizer Lithium or the Eneloop Pro High Capacity. And of course, if you point it to the street and there is movement every few minutes, expect it to last less time than if it’s pointing out back where nothing really happens.
The Blink Outdoor 4 also comes with a Sync Module 2, the device that allows you to sync your 1 or many cameras with the app and the cloud. It’s a small device that needs a power source and it cannot save video locally like the Sync Module XR (sold separately).
Features
- 1080p full HD resolution
- Infrared night vision
- Enhanced motion detection sends quick alerts
- Dual-zone
- Two-way talk with the Blink app
- Person detection uses smart computer vision (via subscription)
Performance
The very first impression I got from the unboxing experience is a very positive one. The box is very small, everything is tightly packed. Every single component looks like great design care was given to it.
The installation process is incredibly easy and made for people that are not engineers. It sticks to the point and does not bore you with pages and pages of reading so if you do the setup for a 2nd or 3rd camera it’s very fast.
Once you get the Blink Camera and Sync Module set up, you are ready to just leave it as it is. The defaults are already optimized for battery life without negatively impacting the quality. But if you are like me you will jump into every single setting and set your custom detection zones, privacy zones and if you have regular access to the camera, you can even increase the recording quality. You will probably not last the full two years promised, but even if it’s only 1 year it’s quite impressive to last that long with two simple AA batteries.
Footage Capture
As you can see from the footage below, the quality is great! It’s not 4K like the Arlo 4K camera I reviewed a few years ago, but I had to end up running my Arlo on a wire as the battery would not last more than a few days facing the street.
One of the most useful modes is the infrared mode at night. It is adjustable and you can increase or decrease the amount of infrared light being projected. This allows you to get an even clearer image. Make sure to test it out before assuming it’s all set. Play the bad guy for once!
I was curious about what critters are roaming my backyard so I placed the camera on the second step of my balcony and was able to capture a couple little guys :)
Of course, IR capture is never as clear as daylight but it can provide valuable information. Here are a couple of shots taken from different situations.
Managing Videos
The Blink app is incredibly well done. It’s fast and efficient to get access to videos, even if they are hosted online. You can save them to your camera roll, clean up old clips, etc.
The easy Disarmed/Armed toggle is very useful when you have folks over, or if you are spending your day in your yard and passing in front of the camera hundreds of times. For the Arlo camera you had to switch modes, and it was not intuitive. Amazon got this right!
Gluttony
Even with two nice Lithium batteries you don’t have enough power, due to constantly moving elements in the image? Or you are a snowbird and you need to leave your house for 6 months? Don’t fuss, Amazon has the thing for you!
If you need your camera attached to your home and have access to an outlet, there is this optional cable that turns your wireless camera into a wired camera. No need for batteries anymore!
Or if you want to keep batteries, but need more capacity, Amazon has the Battery Extension Pack that allows you to install 2 more batteries, thus doubling your capacity to offer up to 4 years of use!
For some houses, you already have an ethernet cable going to some corner of the house and I read you might be able to use a PoE (power over ethernet) adapter and run power to the camera. Double check all the voltage, wattage to make sure it works before jumping into this project.
Subscription or Local
The Blink Subscription allows you to set up one or unlimited cameras and have all of the AI powered detection as well as 60 days clip retention. It is not expensive at all especially if you have two homes to watch over. Going for $3 or $10 per month, or $30 or $100 per year, you gain some very interesting features.
Up to 90-minutes continuous recording. I’ve seen situations where I would trigger the camera while working in front of it, but then it stopped recording while I was still there doing things. I can see the value in just that single feature!
Auto local storage backup takes all of your clips from the day, even the long ones, and backs them up on the Sync Module XR’s microSD card every day. This way, you always have local backups. You also get extended warranty, custom snooze notification options, smart detection and even 10% off new Blink devices!
Conclusion
The Blink Outdoor 4 camera did not disappoint! I was expecting it to be interesting with its wireless approach to security cameras, but I was not expecting it to be that easy to use, configure and adjust to your specific situation! Amazon really outdid themselves on this one, and it shows that this little guy is the 4th generation—they removed all the kinks and it’s a joy to use.
The configuration of these little guys allows you to set them up exactly how you want them no matter what they are pointing to. And for folks with multiple homes, the fully wireless and cloud connected features make it the perfect companion to keep an eye from afar!
I strongly recommend you look into the Blink ecosystem, especially if you need 2 or more cameras as the accessories and products in the product line make this an incredibly high value! Make sure you shop for when they go on sale—Amazon is always very generous with their sale pricing!
Review Summary
Blink Outdoor 4Amazon.com, Inc.
The Blink Outdoor 4 is a small battery-powered camera that should not be underestimated, even compared to much more expensive cameras!
Blink Outdoor 4 Camera (single)
Blink Outdoor 4 Camera (5-pack)
The Good Stuff
- Solid design
- Extremely efficient battery system
- Ecosystem options
- Price
- Included wall mount has limited angles
The Ratings
Overall: 96%
Disclaimers:
This product or service was loaned for the purpose of this review.
For more information on how we score products, please read how we review products.
For more information on how we score products, please read how we review products.
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