Blink review: Two cameras are almost always better than one
Ars Technica 2016-10-08
Enlarge (credit: Valentina Palladino)
As smart home security cameras become more and more common, you'd think their prices would start coming down. However, most new cameras still retail for $200 or more, and that's just for one camera that monitors one area of your home. Blink's approach is different: much like smart light bulbs, a Blink system connects multiple smart cameras via a hub and makes all of them controllable via a mobile app.
For just $169, you get two cameras you can place throughout your home, which is a great deal considering you'll pay more for just one camera from competitors. While the Blink system has most security cameras beat in price, some caveats are worth considering before taking the plunge.
Design: More for your money
Every Blink system starts with a hub and one or more cameras. One camera and a hub costs $99, but there are two-, three-, and five-camera bundles to choose from. After starting your system, additional cameras are just $75 per unit. I tested a system that came with a hub and two separate cameras, all of which came in small, square boxes to reflect their small, square shapes.