Blink is a wireless home security system that has no monthly subscription fees or long-term contracts, and its cameras are extremely affordable. You can install the camera indoors or outdoors, and it has a wide field of view to cover a large area. The camera is powered by AA batteries (that last up to two years), and when motion is detected, it sends a notification to your phone and displays the live video in the Blink app.
Blink also has a variety of accessories, including a white XT2 cover to make your camera blend in and an adjustable camera mount for better positioning. The company offers other devices for its home security systems, including sirens and keypads, but those seem to have been discontinued.
The XT2 has an impressive battery life of two years out of the box, and it’s easy to pair with other devices in your system to create an alarm. It also has a built-in speaker and microphone so you can use the app to greet visitors or scare off intruders. The camera has a square design and rounded edges, so it’s relatively inconspicuous wherever you choose to mount it.
The camera works with Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa, and you can control it with voice commands. However, the XT2 doesn’t work with the smart home ecosystem that includes Google Assistant and supports IFTTT routines. You can also watch a live stream from the camera on an Amazon Fire TV or Echo Show.