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Blink Outdoor 4
Blink’s latest and greatest products
$100 $120 Save $20
Blink’s new Outdoor 4 camera gets some big upgrades in terms of image quality, including improved motion detection and a person detection mode for the first time on a battery-powered camera.
Advantages- person detection
- Improved image quality
- long battery life
disadvantage- Requires synchronization module
- slight price increase
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Blink Outdoor 3
old but good
$60 $100 Save $40
Blink’s third-generation outdoor cameras are still worth considering if you don’t need a wider field of view or people detection, and you may be able to find them at a discount if you shop around.
Advantages- 1080p video
- long battery life
- Discount price (on sale)
disadvantage- No smart notifications
- Narrow FOV
Blink’s lineup of smart security devices is increasing every year. There are now a variety of cameras, doorbells and floodlights to choose from, all of which can give you peace of mind about the security of your home.
Best Outdoor Security Cameras: Hello from the Outside
For maximum security, you can install and control your outdoor security cameras yourself.
Launched in August 2023, Outdoor 4 is the latest security camera in the Blink portfolio. Like the third-generation outdoor cameras, Outdoor 4 is completely wireless and can operate for up to two years on a single battery charge. For the first time, Outdoor 4 includes people detection. This feature has so far been limited to Blink’s wired floodlight cameras.
Whether you already own an Outdoor 3 and are wondering whether you should upgrade to a newer model, or if you’re buying for the first time and wondering how much to spend, here’s what to expect: Compare the two side by side. We’ve created this brief guide to walk you through everything you need to know about Blink Outdoor 3 and Blink Outdoor 4 before you make your decision.
blink
Pricing, Specifications, Availability
Blink’s Outdoor 4 camera has been available since its launch in August 2023. It costs $120 and includes the camera, necessary mounting hardware, and Blink’s Sync Module 2. This module is required to set up and use your Outdoor 4 camera.
The third generation Blink Outdoor cameras were first released in September 2020 and are still listed as part of the Blink camera lineup following the release of Outdoor 4. The Outdoor 3 is listed on the Blink website for $99.99. It’s worth mentioning that both devices see regular price cuts from Blink’s parent company, Amazon and Best Buy.
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Blink Outdoor 4 Blink Outdoor 3 brand blink blink solve 1080p, 640 x 360 still photos 1080p, 640 x 360 still photos App Compatibility iOS, Android iOS, Android everyone AA batteries AA batteries integrated amazon alexa amazon alexa hub required yes yes eyesight 143 degrees 110 degrees strength Up to 2 years of battery life Up to 2 years of battery life size 70x70x41mm 71x71x31mm
To start, both cameras have identical photo and video resolutions, capturing 640 x 360 pixel stills and clips at 1080p. But Blink’s Outdoor 4 camera offers a wider field of view and “the best image quality ever,” thanks to improved low-light performance and clarity, according to Blink.
The field of view of Outdoor 4 is 143 degrees compared to 110 degrees of Outdoor 3, which makes a big difference in how much of the area in front of the camera can be seen. The Outdoor 3’s narrow field of view makes it ideal for narrow passageways or entrances to your home or backyard. Outdoor 4 not only works in these situations, but also gives you a better overview of areas like the front of your house.
I’ve never used the Outdoor 3, but I did test the Outdoor 4 before launch and could see that the video quality of the new camera was a huge improvement over the previous Blink Outdoor cameras. (Again, I’m talking about the older version of the Outdoor camera because it can’t compare to the 3.) The Outdoor 4 has a hard time overexposing clouds and most shots in overcast or overcast conditions. You can still see who and what is in front of the camera.
Otherwise, video captured under normal lighting conditions is clean and crisp with minimal pixelation around moving objects. This is a common phenomenon with home security cameras like these.
Amazon
Features, video storage and subscriptions
Blink has added two new features to Outdoor 4 that give it a clear advantage over the third-generation camera version in the form of improved motion detection, and person detection for the first time in one of Blink’s battery-powered cameras. This means you can set Outdoor 4 to monitor and send you notifications only when it detects people in its field of view. In Outdoor 3, the camera cannot distinguish. You either get alerts for every move, or none at all.
Both cameras run on AA batteries and can be used outdoors for two years before the batteries need to be replaced. We say that’s a possibility because battery life for both cameras will vary based on other factors, such as how often motion events are detected, operating temperature (batteries are more demanding in cold climates), and how often the cameras live stream to the Blink app.
There are several options for both cameras when it comes to saving recorded videos and clips. You can use the USB port on the included Sync Module 2 to connect to a storage device such as a thumb drive and save recorded clips locally. You can also sign up for Blink’s subscription plan, which starts at $3 per month per camera, or do both.
No matter which camera you purchase, Blink’s subscription plan provides up to 90 minutes of continuous live streaming, live view recording, 60 days of video history, quick access to video recordings, video sharing, and an automatic timelapse feature that takes a photo every time. . Determine the time between motion events and stitch them into video. Additionally, if you have a storage device connected to the sync module, your videos will be backed up to your local storage every day. The only advantage to purchasing the Outdoor 4 camera plan over the Outdoor 3 is that you can also add people detection to that list.
Without a plan, live streaming, motion alerts, and motion video recording are limited to 5 minutes only when a thumb drive is connected to the sync module.
smart home compatibility
Since Blink is an Amazon-owned company, smart home options for interacting with and viewing Blink cameras are limited to Amazon’s Alexa platform. That means you’ll need an Echo Show or Fire TV to watch live streaming video from one of the Blink cameras. Additionally, one of Amazon’s smart speakers can be used for motion alerts or to arm and disarm the camera.
If you use Google Assistant or Siri through Apple’s HomeKit, you won’t be able to import the Blink camera to either of those platforms. That may be a deal breaker for some people.
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Blink Outdoor 3 vs Blink Outdoor 4: Which should you choose?
Blink’s Outdoor 4 is a significant improvement over the third-generation Outdoor Cam, with a wider field of view, better video, and person detection. At $120, it’s only $20 more than the standard price of the Outdoor 3, and it’s worth the extra investment.
However, for those who already own an Outdoor 3 camera, the additional features are unlikely to be worth the upgrade. Unless you absolutely need people detection, we recommend sticking with the features you already have.
Blink Outdoor 4
Editor’s Choice
$100 $120 Save $20
If you’re purchasing your first outdoor security camera and can’t see yourself taking advantage of the additional features the Outdoor 4 brings to the table, the Blink Outdoor 3 will suffice. It is undoubtedly a better option for those on a tight budget.
Blink Outdoor 3
best value
$60 $100 Save $40