The Blink XT Home Security Camera is truly a revolution of sorts. It is wireless, portable to fit anywhere indoors or outdoors, Wi-Fi-operated and fairly priced.
The Blink XT might not have all of the fancier features in the pricier and larger models like the Nest cameras, but it does offer free cloud storage and is extremely easy to use.
Blink Indoor Home Security Camera System with Motion Detection, HD Video, 2-Year Battery Life and...
- MOTION DETECTOR: Built-in motion sensor alarm, when motion detector is triggered, WIFI cameras send...
- BATTERY POWERED SECURITY SYSTEM: Wireless home camera with 2-year battery life, powered by 2 Lithium...
- SMART HOME SECURITY: Simple self-install home monitoring in minutes; easy control wireless cameras...
- ADVANCED HOME SURVEILLANCE: Home and pet monitoring in real time with video camera “Live View”...
- FREE CLOUD STORAGE: Totally wire-free, with no monthly fees or service contract required. (Requires...
Blink XT Review: Key Features
Here are some of the best and worst parts about the product.
- Indoor and outdoor models
- 720p HD video
- Up to 30 FPS
- 2 year battery life
- Motion detection
- Cloud storage included
- Compatible with Alexa or Amazon Echo
- Wire free
- Phone app for iOS or Android
- Live view mode
- Instant, push notification alerts
- LED illuminator
- Microphone for one-way audio
Video And Audio Quality
One of the best parts about the Blink XT is its ability to capture 1080p HD videos with a glass lens and a 110-degree field of vision. Though depending on the conditions, the quality of videos recorded may vary vastly.
Indoors videos during daylight were bright, clean, and properly detailed. Outdoor videos, on the other hand, have decent quality due to the daylight not being well-controlled. However, the XT experienced problems with the backlighting and then lost its details in the shadows.
For night vision, Blink XT turns off its infrared filter that blocks out IR light in clear bright mornings instead of IR LEDs. With this, the XT is able to capture both IR and visible light in night mode. Customers can also get a better view of darker objects by adjusting the video’s illumination setting.
Cloud Storage And Video Library
Although cloud storage is free, it’s not unlimited. According to the website of the manufacturer, customers get over 7,200 seconds of storage before the new footage records over the old one. Still, it’s great that users don’t have to access their own footage.
On top of the video-history screen (known as Clip Roll), there is a slider that lets you know how much cloud storage you’re using. And on the playback screen, you can download recorded videos, delete it, or even share it via email or any other relevant app through your phone.
Design
The Blink XT sports a matte-black-colored rectangular box design that measures about 2.75 x 2.75 x 0.9 inches. The glossy, black lens bezel, which measures about 2.4 x 1.2-inches has a small microphone attached to its left side.
The half-inch dome that is beneath the lens covering infrared and motion sensors. The blue recording light can give away the camera’s presence at night, but fortunately, can be turned off with a switch that exists inside the device’s battery compartment.
The XT runs on 2 AA batteries, which according to Blink, can last up to 2 years of “standard” use.
Perhaps one of the biggest differences between the classic Blink camera and that of XT is the increase of video resolution from 720p to 1080p, an infrared mode for night vision instead of an illuminator, and that it is both for indoor and outdoor uses while the previous model was only meant for indoor usage.
The App Is Quite Easy To Use
As soon as you have connected the app of the camera on your phone, controlling the camera is a piece of cake. The app has been laid out quite beautifully we must say.
With the app, you can control the sensitivity of the camera’s motion detection sensor and whether you wish to arm or disarm your camera at times. You can add extra cameras (up to 10), name devices and see warnings of low battery. The app can also be used by multiple users at once, provided you want to share the login information with them.
Motion Detection & Temperature Alerts
The XT might not have person, face or sound detecting facilities, but its motion-detecting works pretty well, in which it is able to send push notifications rather quickly. It also offers three impressive settings that other cameras don’t:
- Clip length (from 5 to 60 seconds)
- re-trigger time (how soon it is able to capture a video and have a new one triggered, between 10 and 60 seconds)
- clip length (from 5 to 60 seconds)
Besides that, you can also have the clip end early in case motion stops.
Battery-Operated
This is perhaps a great advantage for those who are constantly bothered by numerous wires or power cords running at the side of their houses. That’s why setting it up is easy, keeps the place looking tidy and uncluttered and prevents the camera from going out due to power outages.
What’s more, is that the camera runs on two AA lithium batteries, saving you from using expensive batteries or battery packs to operate the XT and can last up to two years with regular usage.
Smart Home/Amazon Alexa Integration
The company Blink was established back in 2008 and was then later acquired by Amazon at the end of 2017. It should come as no surprise that this system is well-integrated with Alexa.
The Blink XT is a smart camera that can be armed and disarmed with Alexa (but owners are unable to view the XT’s feed on a Fire TV) and it supports IFTTT. The latter feature can be quite useful along with the temperature alerts, that is if you have a smart thermostat installed.
If you have Echo Spot and Echo Snow, you can view clips and get live video footage coverage from Blink cameras.
In January 2019, Blink introduced “Activity Zones” on the XT, meaning that you can block out certain areas of the camera where you won’t be getting motion alerts.
Where Can I Buy It?
You can easily find the Blink XT surveillance camera online. Check now for the current price.
Blink XT Camera Video Review
Blink Camera: Customer Reviews
“My apartment got broken into a few months ago and I got a ton of stuff stolen. I was super worried and paranoid that it’d happen again, so I got myself this Blink smart security camera. Serious peace of mind in a nice little package. Easy set-up and a ton of options.”
“I initially got these to keep an eye on my dog while we went away on vacation and also to make sure that the dog sitter we hired was actually checking in on him twice daily. I love how much access you have to the camera remotely via the phone app. It makes it super easy to arm and disarm them. Nice picture quality too.”
“Easy set up, no wires or monthly fees. Fair pricing and live viewing. What more could you really want in something like this?”
Installation Of The Blink XT Security Camera
There are a variety of steps to follow in order to install the camera. Thankfully though, the instructions are rather easy to follow and implement. Only one problem though: the manual doesn’t say that you need to be connected with your network via 2.4GHz. If, for example, your device is attached via 5GHz, the installation will fail.
There are just a few simple steps that you need to follow:
- Plug the Sync Module into a wall outlet
- Launch the Blink app and go to the Setup Wizard
- Place your Blink devices wherever you’d like
More information here: How to Install the Blink XT
How To Install The Blink XT Camera In Less Than 20 Minutes
Blink Camera Review: Conclusion
Overall, the Blink XT is quite the reasonably-priced security camera. Although the camera’s features only cover the basics, it’s enough for most users. It’s also quite impressive that you can save up to 2 hours of video for free.
The only downer with the product so far is that it is unable to perform well with an outdoor setting at night. So if you want a camera that can do that, you might as well get an Arlo Pro or Arlo Pro 2. Nevertheless, for a budgeted indoor security camera, the Blink XT is quite the surprise.
Shop Now
Does it sound like the Blink Security Camera might be the right choice for you? Learn more about it on Amazon, and don’t forget to check and see if this product is eligible for free shipping with a Prime membership:
Blink XT Vs Arlo 2
Let’s compare these two very popular smart home security cameras:
Compare Smart Home Security Systems
Besides the Blink Camera, there are plenty of other top picks for indoor or outdoor security cameras with footage that you can view remotely. Here are some of our top picks:
Blink XT Surveillance System: Your Thoughts?
What are your thoughts about the Blink Camera? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.
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Last update on 2025-05-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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