With a battery life of up to two years, Blink XT2 stands out from the crowd of smart surveillance cameras. The cam, which can also be used by cable, can also stream live images to Alexa devices and even save your recordings free of charge in the manufacturer’s cloud. But where there is a lot of light, there are usually also downsides. Anyone who opts for the current version of the Blink XT2 pays significantly more than with the predecessor. We checked whether this is worth it.
Update: There’s a newer version of Blink Outdoor. See it here
The editors’ rating of the Blink XT2: good price-performance ratio
If you compare the Blink XT2 with the previous model, you might be put off by the price difference. Because instead of a retail price of 99 dollars, the manufacturer specifies 199 dollars for a single camera of the Blink XT2. However, there is also a simple reason for this price increase: many functions have been fundamentally revised or were only added in 2019.
The Blink XT2 can now be used both indoors and outdoors – the previous model, however, was not waterproof. Instead of 720p HD-Ready resolution, 1080p Full HD is now possible. These extras are supplemented by an infrared night vision mode, which ensures a safe feeling even in the dark. Those who opt for battery operation can look forward to a runtime of up to two years.
The free cloud storage of any number of video recordings for up to one year each has remained the same. For this alone, you would pay a subscription fee of up to 5 dollars per month with other manufacturers, i.e. 60 dollars over a year. The live streaming of the surveillance images on Alexa devices with a screen provides spontaneous insights in between. These include e.g. Echo Show, Echo Spot, or Fire TV. If you do not have an Echo Smart Display, you can access the video image transmission via smartphone.
All in all, we think this overall package of flexible assembly, good image quality, and free storage is successful. Compared to a subscription model, which costs 5 dollars per month, the camera would have paid for itself completely after a good three years of use.
Overview of the functions of the Blink XT2 WLAN surveillance camera
The main area of application of the Blink XT2 is to detect movements, to report them to their owners, and, if necessary, to create evidence images. Inside, the smart camera can be pointed at the entrance door or used to monitor the children’s room. A motion sensor has been integrated for this purpose, which ensures that a warning message is sent to the cell phone of the camera owner in the event of danger.
Users then have the option of viewing live images of the situation and communicating via two-way audio via the camera. If you are at home when the motion alarm is triggered, there is an alternative option to calling up the surveillance images on a compatible device using an Alexa voice command.
Installation and commissioning of the Blink XT2 WLAN security camera
The Blink XT2 is ready for use in just three steps:
- For the installation, it is sufficient to create an account in the manufacturer app,
- Then integrate the sync module included in the scope of delivery into your WLAN network and synchronize it with the cam.
- Thanks to the wireless battery-powered option, the Blink XT2 can then be positioned particularly flexibly.
Which products are compatible with the Blink XT2 WiFi surveillance camera?
- Amazon Alexa (display of live streams via Alexa-enabled devices possible)
- Blink Home Monitor App (Android | iOS)
Blink XT2 surveillance camera – technical details
| Field of view | 110 degrees diagonal |
| Size | 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.4 inches or 71 x 71 x 34 mm |
| Weight | 3.15 oz or 89 grams |
| CPU | Immedia Proprietary – AC1002B, 4 cores / 200 MHz |
| Power | 2 AA 1.5V lithium metal (non rechargeable) batteries |
| Battery Life | Two AA lithium metal batteries last up to two years, based on 53,870 seconds of video events, including Live View, motion-activated recording, and two-way talk. XT2 provides double the seconds of use as the original XT when used exclusively for Live View and motion-activated recording. Battery life will vary based on device settings, use, and environmental factors. Use of two-way talk will reduce battery life. |
| Wireless | Single-antenna Wi-Fi with diversity. Supports public and private Wi-Fi networks that use the 2.4 Ghz 802.11g/n; does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks. |
| Connection | WiFi, minimum 2 Mbps upload speed required |
