Arlo’s Video Doorbell (3rd Gen) is available for preorder in battery-powered and wired versions, with both models priced at $80. Arlo says sales will begin on November 25. The two versions share the same stated features apart from their power arrangements and are offered in White, Black, Greystone and Sand Dune.
For custom security dealers, the most consequential change is not the exterior design or resolution. Arlo’s new doorbells are not compatible with the company’s SmartHub or Base Station devices, according to an FAQ on the product pages. That removes the local-storage path available with the Video Doorbell (2nd Gen), leaving cloud recording dependent on an Arlo subscription.
“are not currently compatible”
Arlo’s FAQ, as reported by Gizmodo, uses that wording in reference to SmartHub and Base Station compatibility. The change also affects Apple Home functionality: without a SmartHub or Base Station, the new doorbells do not provide the streaming-only Apple Home support that those devices add. The products continue to work with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT and SmartThings.
Hardware changes
Arlo says the battery model can operate for up to six months on a charge, compared with four months for the Video Doorbell (2nd Gen). The company also lists motion detection at distances of up to 25 feet, versus 10 feet for the previous model. Both new doorbells add 5GHz Wi-Fi; the earlier model supported only the 2.4GHz band.
| Product | Power | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlo Video Doorbell (3rd Gen) | Battery-powered | $80 | Preorder; sale begins November 25 |
| Wired Video Doorbell (3rd Gen) | Wired | $80 | Preorder; sale begins November 25 |
The doorbells retain the previous generation’s 2K video recording and 180-degree field of view, and add 12x digital zoom. Arlo also says the updated models are designed to withstand heat, cold, rain and sun. The company lists four color choices for each version: White, Black, Greystone and Sand Dune.
Subscription requirements
Recordings are tied to Arlo’s cloud plans because the new models cannot use the company’s local-storage hubs. The plans start at $10 per month for one camera, according to Gizmodo. Arlo’s subscription offerings also provide features such as person, animal and vehicle detection, AI-generated video summaries and notification captions. The exact features available depend on the selected plan.
Arlo also promotes its Secure Early Warning System through higher subscription tiers. The system includes event alerts for packages, people, animals and vehicles, as well as fire detection and personalized event recognition. Arlo says its threat-assessment features can add context to detected activity, while the service can recognize familiar faces and vehicles. These functions are subscription-based rather than capabilities supplied solely by the doorbell hardware.
- Price: $80 for either the battery-powered or wired model
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi
- Video: 2K recording, 180-degree field of view and 12x digital zoom
- Storage: Cloud recording through Arlo subscription plans; no current SmartHub or Base Station compatibility
- Smart-home platforms: Google Home, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT and SmartThings
For dealers specifying the new doorbells, the storage architecture and recurring-service requirement are central differences from the Video Doorbell (2nd Gen). The products can be preordered now, but Arlo has set November 25 as the stated start of sales rather than describing them as already shipping.
