Arlo Essential Video Doorbell
By Arlo · Video Doorbells · Cleaning & Smart Home · More from Arlo
- 1536p HDR video resolution
- 180-degree field of view
- Battery-powered (wireless) or hardwired
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, no hub required
- Built-in siren
Lowest price seen
$29.97
from $29.97 at Costco · Checked Oct 13, 2026
- Costco $29.97View at Costco
- ArloView at Arlo
- Best BuyView at Best Buy
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
- eBayView at eBay
- AmazonView at Amazon (paid link)
Stores are listed in a fixed order, never by price or commission. Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
A battery video doorbell with a 1536 × 1536 square HDR view and a 180-degree diagonal lens that pairs straight to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with no hub. Check two things first: every recording and smart alert needs an Arlo Secure plan, and even hardwired the doorbell still runs on its battery.
Strengths
- The 1:1 square frame and 180-degree lens catch visitors and packages on the ground in one view.
- No hub needed; it pairs straight to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
- Removable battery swaps without taking the unit off the wall, and spares cost $49.
- Built-in siren can be triggered from the app or set to fire on motion.
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT and SmartThings.
- Reviewers found daytime video sharp and night vision clear.
Weaknesses
- Without an Arlo Secure plan it records nothing, and the person, package, animal and vehicle alerts do not work.
- Hardwiring does not remove the battery; the doorbell always runs on it, and charging is capped between 65% and 80%.
- The six-month battery claim assumes under 5 minutes a day, and owners report far less.
- Coverage is cloud only, with no local storage and no pre-roll.
- At 1.85 in thick and over 5 in tall it is bulky next to smaller doorbells.
- Activity zones are rectangular only; owners report Wi-Fi pairing trouble and false alerts.
Verified specifications
| Model | Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free, AVD2001 (first generation). |
|---|---|
| Video | up to 1536 × 1536, 1:1 square, H.264 with HDR. |
| Field of view | 180 degrees diagonal corner-to-corner; 12x digital zoom. |
| Night vision | infrared black-and-white, single 850 nm LED, lights up to 20 feet. |
| Motion | PIR sensor, 110-degree field of view per PCMag; 3 m range on the wireless model. |
| Audio | two-way audio plus pre-recorded quick-reply messages. |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, up to 300 feet line of sight, no hub or base station required. |
| Siren | built-in, triggered from the app or automatically on motion. |
| Power | rechargeable 3.63V lithium-ion battery, at least 6500mAh; hardwiring (8-24 VAC, 10 VA) only trickle-charges it between 65% and 80%. |
| Battery life | Arlo claims up to six months per charge; its support pages rate that at under 5 minutes a day of recording and live viewing. |
| Storage | cloud only; no local storage and no pre-roll on the wireless model. |
| Subscription | Arlo Secure, $2.99/month for one camera or $9.99/month unlimited, is required for recordings and smart notifications. |
| Dimensions | 1.85 × 5.63 × 1.45 in (47 × 143 × 37 mm); 0.55 lb (249 g) with battery. |
| In the box | doorbell, battery, charging cable, flat and angled plates, screws, release pin, wire extensions and quick start guide. |
Full research notes and sources
Battery life and the six-month claim
Hardwiring does not turn this into a wired doorbell: the wires only trickle-charge the battery between 65% and 80%, the unit always operates on battery power, and no charging icon appears in the app. An Arlo Community thread and a manual mirror describe real-world life well short of six months, so treat the headline as a best case.
Subscription and storage
There is no local storage and no free recording tier. Arlo Secure at $2.99/month for a single camera, or $9.99/month for unlimited cameras at one location, unlocks recording and the person, package, animal and vehicle detection. Without it the doorbell stores no video at all. Two-factor authentication is offered but not required.
What you pay
Arlo launched the AVD2001 at $199.99. PCMag’s page showed a $67 Best Buy street price in October 2026, and a spare battery is $49 with the Arlo Chime 2 at $9.
Which model this is
This is the first-generation AVD2001. Do not confuse it with the Arlo Video Doorbell 2nd Generation (AVD3001 or AVD4001, a 2K wired-or-battery model released in 2023) or with the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wired, which has no battery.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free data sheet (AVD2001)
- Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-Free FAQ
- Arlo support: battery drain while hardwired
Independent reviews:
Owner reports:
