Blink Outdoor 4 camera review – the ultimate in fire and forget security?

This is the fourth generation of one of the most popular security cameras on the market. Blink's reputation is, we should acknowledge, partly garnered by being an Amazon-owned company, so it gets brilliant positioning and discounts at certain times of the year.

To say that Amazon's ownership is the only reason Blink is well-known is to do it a disservice. The cameras, especially the outdoor versions, are well known because they solve an issue: battery depletion. Blink came up with the idea of using long-life (Lithium AA) batteries in an outdoor camera, and the compromise made is that it cannot record indefinitely, but distinct video clips, limited to 60 seconds or less.

Blink says this camera can last two years (or even four years with a battery extender). I haven't had time to test that, but I've had other Blink cameras in the past where that has proven to be more or less accurate, so I have no reason to doubt it. What, then, does this new version bring to the equation?

There is a Sync Module 2 – the 'bridge' between the camera and the home Wi-Fi network. This uses a lower-energy radio system than Wi-Fi, which is what helps keep that battery life up, and it also has a USB port for a thumb drive so you can record video without paying a subscription fee (but more securely than just in the camera housing).

Price

Launched in November 2023, the list price is $99 / UK £89 / AU $149, though you'll need to make sure you have at least one Blink Sync Module 2 and a USB stick to store video on if you're not going to use the subscription cloud service.

Specifications

Build and handling

Setting up the Blink Outdoor 4 was very straightforward. I followed the on-screen instructions in the app, plugged the Sync Module 2 in and pointed my phone's camera at the QR code on the back of it.

The app also included some very clear instructions about the positioning of the camera, and they do matter here more than most security cameras because the one-life batteries will be depleted earlier if you ignore the advice. If you have a lot of trees with leaves on, you might see these as somewhat limiting (and it is interesting that the Ring camera I tested recently had no issues with fluttering leaves).

I actually chose to test the camera in the loft, because at the time I was hoping I might catch a suspected mouse/rat. As it happens, no such animal ever showed up on the video (though one did eventually make its way into the trap).

The camera will default to even shorter clips than necessary (the limit is 60 seconds) and 720P in the interest of saving the most battery possible, but I'd suggest it is worth pushing these settings up.

One limitation you can't tweak is the 143-degree field of view, which sounds like a lot, but you need to remember this figure is given on the diagonal. Some cameras now offer up to 160, like the competition from Ring, but given this camera maxes out at 1080P it is understandable that the image is more confined.

Performance

The camera spotted me on every occasion that I went near it, whether there were any lights or not, though using it in a dark location – the loft – was interesting as the image seemed to revert to the black-and-white infrared more easily than I might have expected, especially as there was light being provided by a single electric bulb.

Overall verdict

Image sharpness is not as impressive as with other security cameras, and the time limit can seem a little arbitrary – this camera feels very dominated by the battery-led design. That said, it's great that this is an option because with so many battery-powered security cameras, charging or changing the battery every few months can become a very tiresome chore, and the result is that you stop bothering, resulting in no footage at all.

Inevitably, as an Amazon-owned company, Alexa support is included - but support for Google Assistant (let alone Apple HomeKit) is ignored.

The Blink app is a good user experience, within the obvious limitations. If you opt for the subscription, and so Person detection, you can also – for a small monthly outlay – eliminate a lot of unnecessary alerts depending on your positioning. I also liked the activity zones (just tap on the squares, no weird shape drawing, feels very natural).

Alternatives

The Ring Outdoor Cam Plus is also a generational update of a security camera from an Amazon-owned company. So far, so similar. But with 2K it's higher resolution, and offers longer viewing periods. Ring can be thought of as the premium offering – the compromise is the battery life, but the image quality and features will win out for many.

The Arlo Essential 2nd Gen outdoor also offers higher resolution 2K cameras in their range of security cameras, and built-in spotlights, and a more complete set of smart features. It's also easy to set up, and (with the right hub) will even befriend the Apple HomeKit system.

How I tested it

I tested the camera by setting it up and fitting it in our loft for several weeks, then visiting it several times and approaching from behind boxes. I also placed the camera outdoors. This gave me a good chance to see how it performed in different light and different weather, and see how far it could get from the base station.