Pros & Cons
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- Sharp 2K video
- Two-year battery life
- AI video descriptions
- Works with Alexa and IFTTT
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- Some features require a subscription
- Doesn't support Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant
Blink Outdoor 2K+ Specs
| Alarm | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Field of View | 135 |
| Integrations | Amazon Alexa |
| Integrations | IFTTT |
| Night Vision | |
| Resolution | 2K |
| Storage | Cloud |
| Two-Way Audio |
The latest addition to Blink's family of pint-sized devices, the Outdoor 2K+ is a security camera designed to withstand the elements while delivering sharp 2K video. It runs on a pair of AA batteries that can power it for up to two years. It's completely wireless and a snap to install, and at $99.99 (including a Sync Module), it provides a relatively affordable way to monitor the outside of your home. It also offers AI-generated video descriptions, but, as with all Blink cameras, you’ll need a subscription to unlock some features and view recorded video stored in the cloud. That said, the TP-Link Tapo Wire-Free MagCam is regularly available for $89.99 and offers local and cloud storage options, Alexa and Google compatibility, and free intelligent alerts, making it our Editors' Choice winner for wireless outdoor security cameras.
Design and Specs: A Tiny Package Crammed With Options
The $99.99 Blink Outdoor 2K+ comes with everything you need to get started. Along with the camera itself, you get a Sync Module Core, which serves as a wireless link between the camera and your Wi-Fi, as well as a mounting bracket, a right-angle adapter, and related hardware. Rounding out the contents, you'll find a quick start guide, a USB-C cable, and an AC adapter. Additional cameras (without the Sync Module) go for $89.99 each.
The camera's black enclosure measures a petite 2.8 by 2.8 by 1.6 inches (HWD), and has an IP65 weatherproof rating to battle the elements. It's powered by two AA batteries (included) that are rated to last up to two years. To access the battery compartment, you need to undo a screw on the back panel. You can also use the USB-C port around back for constant, uninterrupted power. For comparison, the TP-Link Tapo Wire-Free MagCam promises 300 days of power between charges, but it has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is more convenient than keeping AAs on hand.
The Blink camera captures 2K (2,560-by-1,440-pixel) video at 24fps, with a 135-degree diagonal field of view. The Tapo MagCam offers the same resolution at 30fps with a 150-degree diagonal field of view, and also has a built-in siren and spotlights to deter unwanted visitors.
Near the lens on the front of the Blink camera, you'll find a status LED and a microphone, and the left side holds a speaker. There's also a built-in sensor that tells you the current temperature wherever the camera is installed. You can program the mobile app to send you alerts whenever the temperature hits a certain threshold.
The Sync Module Core measures 3.1 by 1.8 by 0.8 inches, and has a USB-C power port on the bottom edge. There are two LED indicators on the front, for Wi-Fi and power. The module contains a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio for connecting to your home network and an RF radio to communicate with the camera. The Sync Module Core does not support local storage for clip backup; for that, you'll want to pick up a Sync Module 2 (sold separately for $49.99). Otherwise, you’ll need a Blink Subscription Plan to view event-triggered videos stored in the cloud.
Cloud Storage: Starts at $4 Per Month
The $3.99 monthly/$39.99 yearly Blink Basic Plan covers one camera and gives you motion-event recording with instant access to footage, 60 days of video storage, and extended live view (up to 90 minutes). You'll also get person and vehicle detection, Blink Moments (which stitches multiple events into a single video), custom notification snoozing, periodic photo capture in between event recordings, and automatic thumbnail updates on the app's home screen. The $11.99 monthly/$119.99 yearly Plus Plan gives you everything from the Basic Plan, including unlimited cameras, plus extended warranty coverage.
Another intriguing feature, currently in beta, uses AI to generate detailed descriptions of events in push alerts, so you can quickly get a sense of what's happening without opening the app. Called Blink Video Descriptions, it's currently available as a preview to select subscribers.
Many other security cameras carry subscriptions for cloud storage and other features, and Blink's fees are on the low side compared with competitors. Tapo's cloud subscription fees are even lower, starting at $3.49 per month or $34.99 per year for a single camera, up to $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year for 10 cameras.
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Smart Features: Alexa, IFTTT, and a Solid Phone App
The Outdoor 2K+ works with Alexa voice commands and IFTTT applets, but not with Google Home or Apple HomeKit. If Google Home compatibility is a priority for you, the Tapo MagCam has you covered, while the $149.99 Nest Cam Outdoor (Wired, 2nd Gen) is another excellent option. Meanwhile, the Matter-enabled Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro ($179.99) plays well with Apple and every other major smart home platform.
The Blink Home Monitor mobile app (available for iOS and Android) lets you monitor and control all your Blink devices. The Outdoor 2K+ gets its own panel on the app's home screen that displays the camera's name and last captured image, along with a play arrow and a motion status button. When you press the motion button, you can enable or disable motion detection, snooze notifications, refresh thumbnails, and access the camera's settings menu.
(Credit: Blink/PCMag)Tapping the play arrow launches a screen with a live stream that you can view in full-screen mode by turning your phone sideways or tapping the square icon in the upper-right corner. At the bottom of this screen, you’ll find buttons to save the current view as a clip, mute or unmute the sound, and access the device settings menu.
The general settings menu lets you handle a bunch of basic tasks, like checking the firmware version, editing the camera's name, viewing the signal strength to the Sync Module, monitoring the current temperature, and setting temperature thresholds. Another menu, motion settings, allows you to adjust motion sensitivity, create motion zones, configure the re-trigger time (the duration after a motion event during which the camera won't detect motion), and enable Smart Detection (Person, Vehicle, or Other). With other settings, you can create privacy zones, enable/disable video and audio recording, adjust the speaker volume, configure night vision, and select video resolution.
Installation and Performance: Great Pictures With Smooth Control
Installing the Outdoor 2K+ is quick and easy. First, download the Blink Home Monitor app and create an account if you're new to the brand. To get the Sync Module up and running, I tapped the plus icon in the upper-right corner of the app's home screen, then selected Sync Module on the Add Device page. Following the on-screen instructions, I scanned the QR code on the back of the device and added it to my existing system.
Once the LEDs illuminated as indicated, I tapped Discover Device and waited for it to be located, then entered my Wi-Fi credentials, ran a firmware update, and the module installation was complete.
Next up was the camera itself. I started by selecting Wireless Cameras from the Add Device screen, popping in the AAs, and scanning the QR code in the battery compartment when prompted. When the LED began flashing red, I tapped Discover Device and waited a few seconds for the camera to be recognized. I gave it a name, took it outside, and mounted it on the siding in the front of my house, and the installation was complete.
The Outdoor 2K+ provided high-quality video in my testing. In the daytime, colors popped, and images were sharp. The picture stayed crisp in low light, even if the colors lacked the vibrancy that I saw during the day. Black-and-white video likewise looked sharp and well-lit.
Motion alerts were timely and correctly identified, and video descriptions were spot-on. For example, while a delivery was being made, I received a push alert that a person was approaching the walkway carrying a box. I had no trouble using Alexa voice commands to view live video on my Amazon Echo Show smart display, and an Alexa routine worked well, turning on a TP-Link Tapo P110M smart plug when the camera detected motion.