Blink Cameras Review: Indoor, Outdoor, Mini, and Doorbell
Updated by Alexia on
Blink’s little (and we mean little) home security cameras offer straightforward video surveillance at a price nearly anyone can afford.
We weren’t particularly blown away by these home security cameras, but we don’t have any major complaints about them either. They offer industry-standard features such as 1080p video quality, two-way talk, and night vision. Plus, the app is very user-friendly.
Best of all, these tiny Blink cameras can be placed just about anywhere. If you’re looking for less obvious home security, the Outdoor, Indoor, and Mini cameras are a good choice.
Pros | Cons |
Full IFTTT integration Great price point Ideal for renters and small spaces |
No pro monitoring Narrow field of view |
In this Blink camera review
- Blink Outdoor: Best overall
- Blink Indoor: Best for inside
- Blink Mini: Best for hiding
- Blink Video Doorbell: Best for the porch
Compare Blink cameras
Product | Best for | Price* | Dimensions | Power source | Two-way talk | Learn more |
Blink Outdoor | Best for overall | $99.99 | 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.2 in. | Battery | View Packages |
Read Review |
Blink Indoor | Best for inside | $79.99 | 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.2 in. | Battery | View Packages |
Read Review |
Blink Mini | Best for hiding | $34.99 | 2.0 x 1.9 x 1.4 in. | Wired | View Packages |
Read Review |
Blink Video Doorbell | Best for the porch | $49.99 | 5.1 x 1.7 x 1.1 in. | Battery or wired | View Packages |
Read Review |
Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
What to expect from Blink cameras
Blink camera similarities
All of the Blink cameras come with some pretty standard features:
- 1080p image resolution
- 110° field of view (135º on the Video Doorbell)
- Night vision
- Two-way audio
- Built-in Amazon Alexa integration
Alexa only
Blink is an Amazon-owned company, so it makes sense that the Blink cameras are compatible only with Alexa. This is a bummer if you're a Google Assistant fan. You can connect non-Alexa devices to the cameras, though, using IFTTT.
Tiny size
All of the Blink cameras are super tiny and fit in the palm of your hand. They are very discreet if you want to, say, hide the Blink Outdoor camera to peek out from behind a plant to catch footage of the neighbor who’s been walking their dog in your yard.
Installation
These pocket-size wonders are super easy to install. You just follow the on-screen instructions, and within around 10 minutes, you’re connected to Wi-Fi and the app.
One thing we didn’t like is that the Blink app doesn’t walk you through the steps of physically installing the camera. The little booklet that comes with the cameras doesn’t explain it either.
The newest Blink camera, the Blink Video Doorbell, has a bit of a reputation in early reviews for being hard to mount.
Field of view
There is another similarity we didn’t particularly like. The Outdoor, Mini, and Indoor cameras come with a 110° field of view, which is narrower than other smart home security cameras, like the Arlo Pro 4 or a Google Nest Cam.
The industry standard falls around 140° to 160°, so we wish Blink would have given these cameras a wider view for more yard or room coverage. But at least the new Blink Video Doorbell has a 135º field of view, which helps it keep up with the wide-angle cameras on most doorbell camera rivals.
Blink home security camera storage
When you purchase a Blink security camera, you get a free 30-day trial of the Blink Subscription Plan. After the trial, the basic plan costs $3 per month or $30 per year, per camera. If you have more than one camera, you can get the Plus plan for $10 per month or $100 per year.
Compare Blink subscription plans
Plan | Monthly cost | Annual cost | Cameras supported | Amazon discount on Blink | Extended warranty | Learn more |
Blink Basic | $3.00/mo. | $30.00/yr. | 1 | No | No | View Packages |
Blink Plus | $10.00/mo. | $100.00/yr. | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | View Packages |
Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
We think that the subscription plan is worth it. At only $3 per month, you get the following:
- Unlimited cloud storage for up to 60 days
- Automatic recording when motion is detected
- Video sharing
- Photo capture (You can take photos of whatever the camera is seeing.)
Without a plan, you can still view live streams and get motion notifications through the app. And, if you want to save footage, you can do it locally by adding a Blink Sync Module 2 for an extra $34.99 if you get the Mini or the Outdoor. It comes with the Indoor camera for free.
Blink camera differences
That’s it for the similarities. Differences? The clue is in the names. The Outdoor camera is weather resistant, so it can be used both indoors and outdoors. The Indoors and Mini cameras are for indoor use only.
Another big difference is their power sources. Both the Blink Outdoor camera and the Blink Indoor camera use batteries. The Blink Mini camera has a cord. This means you need to place the Blink Mini near an outlet, but at least you don’t have to change its batteries. The Blink Video Doorbell works similar to other Blink cameras but has two power options: battery or wired.
Blink security camera reviews
1. Blink Outdoor: Best overall
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Blink Outdoor -
Battery-powered
Indoor/outdoor camera
Long battery life
The Blink Outdoor camera packs a lot of useful features into a small home security camera—including a good weather-resistant rating. It can also be used inside. If you want one camera that can do double-duty, this is a great option. Best of all, it only costs about $20 more to go with the Outdoor camera over the Blink Indoor camera.
It’s powered by batteries, so it doesn’t need it to live near an outlet. This grants you the flexibility to keep an eye on what’s going on inside the house or on the back deck.
Blink Outdoor Camera’s features
- 1080p image resolution: We found the video footage clear and colorful.
- 110° field of view: The view is narrow but good enough for small yards or the porch.
- Battery-powered: We love the portability and the two-year battery life.
- Two-way audio: Sounded great, but does pick up background noises like crickets or cars passing by.
- Operating temperatures: It works in areas that get between -4 to 113° F.
- Night vision: The black-and-white footage is pretty clear. In complete darkness, it was hard to see faces.
2. Blink Indoor: Best for inside
Blink Camera-
Battery-powered
Indoor only
Affordable
The Blink Indoor camera is one of the simplest home security cameras we’ve tested. Simple isn’t a bad thing, though. The Blink Indoor camera is ideal for when you want to keep an eye on your personal space or belongings in small spaces, like a dorm or apartment. It’s also an affordable option if you’re looking to check in on Fluffy or Fido when you’re at work or away on vacation.
Blink Indoor’s features
- 1080p image resolution: The video was clear in a variety of lighting situations.
- 110° field of view: The view is narrow but perfect for small rooms.
- Battery powered: Move it from the bookshelf to the counter without needing an outlet.
- Two-way audio: Nice and clear. It definitely gets the cat’s attention.
- Night vision: The contrast is great, even in a very dark room.
3. Blink Mini: Best for hiding
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Blink Mini -
Wired
Indoor only
Tiny
The Blink Mini is Blink’s smallest home security camera yet. It isn’t any bigger than a pill bottle. It’s an ideal pick when you don’t want your security camera to be too noticeable.
Like all of the Blink cameras, we found that the Blink Mini has clear video and sound. It’s a good little camera to stick just about anywhere in the house.
Blink Mini’s features
- Two-way audio: Almost as good as hearing someone in person.
- Adjustable stand: You can point the security camera just about anywhere without moving it.
- Night vision: Clear, but the video is a little washed out when the room isn’t completely dark.
- Corded: We love that you don’t need to change the batteries.
4. Blink Video Doorbell: Best for the porch
-
Blink Video Doorbell -
Battery or wired
Indoor/outdoor camera
Affordable
The Blink Video Doorbell is the newest member of the Blink camera lineup. It's already making waves as one of the cheapest video doorbell camera on the market. At around $50, it's even cheaper than the Wyze Video Doorbell and the Ring Wired.
Blink Video Doorbell's features
- Battery or wired: The wired power source is a great alternative if you don't want to swap the batteries very often. Batteries aren't rechargeable.
- Two-way audio: Speak with guests and delivery people on your porch after they ring the bell.
- Wide field of view: Video doorbells benefit from a wider field of view so they can see more of your porch. We're glad Blink included this feature.
- Night vision: Clear video in complete darkness, but struggles when other light sources are present.
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