I Was Skeptical of Wireless Cams, But This Deeply Discounted Blink Blew Me Away

Black Friday deals alert: Black Friday may be over, but Cyber Monday is just around the corner. There are still plenty of discounts to be had during this time as well, including sales on home security systems that you’ll want to keep an eye on, like deals on some of the products we’ve tested and loved. Take this one, for example: this two-camera bundle for the Blink Outdoor 4 is currently $120, which is an impressive $180 off its original price. That gets you nearly $200 off a device that bagged a CNET Editors’ Choice Award. And because it comes packing a long-lasting rechargeable battery, you can save money in that area as well. 

CNET’s key takeaways

• The Blink Outdoor 4 security camera comes with lithium AA batteries that lasted me well over a year, unlike competitor cameras that require frequent recharging, as often as every month.  
• The Blink Outdoor 4 is one of the more affordable cams, and it is often on sale.
• The Blink app is limited to Alexa support only, meaning you cannot connect with Google, Apple or other third-party smart platforms. 

Blink’s Outdoor 4 cam came with a big promise when I first started reviewing it: lithium AA batteries that could last for two years without needing to be replaced. That’s a ridiculously long time for a wireless security camera, which usually has batteries that need recharging every few months. 

I started out skeptical, but Blink’s cam stayed operational on my fence, not just for a few months but season after season while I waited, and I was increasingly impressed.

While my Blink Outdoor 4 model didn’t quite reach the full two years that Blink rates its wireless camera batteries at, a year and a half far surpasses the use of any wireless camera with a rechargeable battery, like Ring or Nest. In my experience, those rechargeable batteries tend to last several months at the most before you need to bring them in for a recharge or switch them out with a new battery pack.

That recharging gets annoying during cold winters or for wireless cameras that are posted out of reach and require a ladder to switch batteries out. And if your cams activate all the time, batteries run out even faster. I don’t mind leaning out to grab the video doorbell for a quick recharge, but for other outdoor cameras, it turns into an unwanted and inconvenient task. 

Blink, meanwhile, promises long-lasting batteries that you replace, not recharge, when the time comes. Those new batteries cost $4 to $5, which works out to about 22 cents a month for the convenience of not bothering about it. I’ve found that to be a particularly helpful option for an outdoor camera I can set up and leave to do its job, giving me one less thing to worry about.

My experience with the Blink Outdoor 4

I consider the Blink Outdoor 4 a “jack of all trades” outdoor camera, which is why it has earned a spot on my list of the best home security cameras. It is also the best camera for battery life, which is why I often recommend it to someone who wants an all-purpose camera at a fairly affordable price.

From the 1080p resolution and Alexa support to the two-way audio and motion detection, the Outdoor 4 does a little of everything in a compact, weather-resistant design. But where it really shines is that extended battery life.

Battery options that keep lasting

The Blink Outdoor 4 runs on two lithium AA batteries (included) slotted into the back. Unscrew the back cover and you can have new batteries in and out in a minute. I just did this part after a year and a half of use, and the hardest part was remembering how to detach the Outdoor 4 from its mount without breaking it.

Unlike some batteries with “lithium” in the name, these aren’t rechargeable. They offer other benefits instead, including extra power compared to traditional AA batteries and an extended shelf life of up to 25 years, so you can buy a pack without worrying about them dying. There’s currently this pack of 24 lithium AAs on sale for $37

If one to two years of battery life just isn’t enough, you can also purchase a Blink extension pack ($30) to add more batteries so the cam can last even longer, a possibility if you want to put it in an out-of-the-way spot.

Mounting and placement

The Blink Outdoor 4 uses a small screw-in mount. I can’t screw anything into my impervious fiber cement siding, but a fence post proved the ideal option for watching my backyard and various wildlife appearances.

The mount is a little stiff and requires careful adjustment when angling, but is otherwise problem-free. With an operating temperature range of -4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, I watched my Blink Outdoor 4 brave blistering summers and winter snowstorms without complaint, the batteries inside still powering through.

A no-nonsense app to monitor battery life

I’ve tinkered with dozens of home security apps, and Blink remains one of my favorites. The Blink app has a welcome combination of simplicity and easily accessible camera features. A few taps can get you almost anywhere you need to go, including quick camera live views and two-way audio chats.

The app also lets you check on battery life so you can see when it’s “OK” or reaching danger levels — until, as I found out, it dies completely, in which case you won’t be able to check on battery life.

Blink’s app serves up motion and human detection alerts according to your settings. It also enables the connection to the included Sync Module 2, which has a USB slot you can use for video clip storage, making the Blink subscription services ($3 per month) entirely optional.

Blink’s solar option

I can’t talk about battery life without mentioning solar panels. Many are available for the Blink Outdoor 4, and if you have the space, you could add one. Some work better than others, and the best, like this model that’s on sale for $36, have their own built-in battery to power the Blink because those lithium AA batteries can’t be recharged.

With extra-long battery life, a solar panel is less necessary, but this is an option if you put your Blink camera in a sunny spot and never really want to worry about battery life at all. I haven’t tested solar panels with the Blink Outdoor 4, but I have tested them with many other security cams, and I can say they do keep batteries topped off, particularly in the summer months.

The specs for the Blink Outdoor 4

• Size: 2.76×2.76×1.61 inches (70x70x41 mm)
• Weight: 5.0 oz (141 g)
• Main battery: 2 AA 1.5V lithium non-rechargeable batteries
• Optional: Weather Resistant Power Adapter (sold separately), Outdoor 4 Battery Extension Pack (available in the US and Canada)
• Battery life: Up to two years with default settings. Customized settings, use and environmental conditions may affect battery performance
• Field of view: 143 degrees diagonal
• Resolution: 1080p HD video
• Images: View captured images in 640×360
• Frames per second: Up to 30fps
• Connectivity: High-speed internet connection (such as broadband, fiber or DSL), Wi-Fi network: 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n
• Hub support: Camera compatible with all Blink Sync Modules
• Audio: Two-way audio
• Lights: 1 blue LED so you know when it’s active (optional), 1 red LED when recording in night vision
• Operating temperature: -4 to 113 F (-20 C to 45 C)

CNET’s buying advice

If you find recharging batteries every few months annoying, Blink’s lithium AA batteries really do provide that extra convenience. For me, it’s well worth the extra $4 to replace them every year or two. 

Those long-lasting batteries also make it easier to choose a spot that’s harder to access but ideal for a vantage point, like above a garage door, because you know you won’t have to make frequent trips up there for recharging.

Cap it off with a user-friendly app and a quite reasonable price compared to other outdoor cameras, like the Ring Spotlight for more than $200, and the Blink Outdoor 4 should certainly be on your list if you’re looking for a wireless camera. As a bonus, it frequently goes on sale during big sales events like the current Prime Day sale and upcoming Black Friday.

If you want an outdoor camera with more bells and whistles, smart features and voice assistants beyond Alexa, I recommend the Arlo Pro 5S. You’ll have to recharge its battery more often, and the camera really needs a subscription (for a fee) to shine, but it can do nearly anything and includes Arlo’s advanced AI customization options. 

For more big discounts, check out our editors’ roundup of the best Black Friday deals available right now.