I’ve seen a ton of reviews about the Blink Mini and it’s been very hit or miss. So, I decided to grab one and will let you know my thoughts.
If you haven’t read my in-depth Blink XT2 review, check it out first for a comparison, I’m still a massive fan of that camera.
Amazon is expanding on the budget security camera market, and that’s fantastic. The Blink Mini is a small, Alexa-Friendly (You’d hope so!) indoor camera that offers plenty of the same features as the Blink XT2:
- Night Vision
- Motion Sensing
- Cloud Storage
The Blink Mini is built to compete with the Wyze Cam v2 and the Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera, which makes sense, given the Wyze Camera (And its off-brand sister the NEOS Smart Cam) are very good cameras for their price bracket.
The Blink Mini can record at 1080p, video and photo and has a 110-degree field of vision. As mentioned it hals Night vision, Cloud storage and motion detection. It uses the same Blink app as the XT2, this means you can customize the motion-detection zones (FANTASTIC).
They still haven’t updated their motion detection to ignore small animals etc, so it will detect your pets, Robot Vacuums or children alike.
Much like its older brother, the Blink Mini allows for a live view and two-way audio. You can view the clips and live stream on your Smart Phone / Amazon Echo Show / Amazon Firestick.
This is very similar to whether or not you should go with other subscription services or expensive brands. There are cheaper alternatives, there are better options for many other configurations, however, Blink is owned by Amazon which means it’s going to get consistant updates until the lifespan of the devices has expired.
The Blink XT2 is still expensive for what it is, if you’re already in the ecosystem I’d lean more towards the Blink Mini Camera. Otherwise, go for the Wyze/Neos Camera.
Drawbacks
So far I’ve mentioned the insane subscription service, the cheaper alternatives offer the same features, however, I haven’t mentioned that the Blink XT2 is quite flimsy with a glossy plastic cover.
It’s not a particularly sturdy build and I suppose that doesn’t matter too much as an indoor camera, but if you’re pulling away from one area of the build AND stripping away from other areas, you’re left with a poorly built camera.
Blink Mini Specifications?
- 1080p resolution
- 110-degree field of view
- Night vision with infrared
- Two-way audio
- USB storage (not included)
- 60-day cloud storage $3 per month or $30 per year per camera
- WPA2
- Motion detection zones
What is the Blink Motion App like?
I have to give kudos to the Blink Home Monitor App, it’s actually a very good app, very easy to manage/use. There’s two main icons you’ll be using, one is a camera and the other is a video camera. You can arm and disarm the camera using the slider on the app homepage.
Can the Blink Mini save files locally?
As of writing this, the Blink Mini can not save files locally. The only storage option is video clips via the cloud plan that Blink Offer. However, Blink does offer a free trial of their Blink Plus Subscription plan.
The Blink Plus subscription plan typically costs $10 a month or $100 a year and provides you with access to motion-activated notifications, Live Streaming, 30 days of rolling Video storage, Unlimited Cameras support, 10% off other Blink Devices and extended Warranty.
There are plans for local storage for the Blink Mini in the future, however, this is said to only work with the new Blink Sync Module 2, this is a wireless gateway which allows you to record local videos on up to 10 Blink cameras. There is no ETA on the release date.
Does the Blink Mini work with the XT2?
Yes, if you have another Blink camera, for example, the XT2 it will connect via the same Smart Phone App and allow you to view all footage in one area.
It’s very easy to set up and can be seen in my video guide on how to set up the Blink Mini.
Are there any hidden fees with the Blink Mini?
If you haven’t bought all your cameras by January 1st 2021, you will need to pay $3 per month per camera you have. Unfortunately this is only for newer purchases and is for storing your videos on their cloud storage.
If you wish to just live view and use two-way communication there will be no additional fees, however, this is a paywall for features other cameras offer for free.
You also require the Sync Module, if you purchase too many cameras, you will need to purchase a new Sync Module. Each system currently allows a total of 10 cameras per sync module.
Is the Blink Mini worth it?
This is very similar to whether or not you should go with other subscription services or expensive brands. There are cheaper alternatives, there are better options for many other configurations, however, Blink is owned by Amazon which means it’s going to get consistant updates until the lifespan of the devices has expired.
The Blink XT2 is still expensive for what it is, if you’re already in the ecosystem I’d lean more towards the Blink Mini Camera. Otherwise, go for the Wyze/Neos Camera.
Drawbacks
So far I’ve mentioned the insane subscription service, the cheaper alternatives offer the same features, however, I haven’t mentioned that the Blink XT2 is quite flimsy with a glossy plastic cover.
It’s not a particularly sturdy build and I suppose that doesn’t matter too much as an indoor camera, but if you’re pulling away from one area of the build AND stripping away from other areas, you’re left with a poorly built camera.
Blink Mini Specifications?
- 1080p resolution
- 110-degree field of view
- Night vision with infrared
- Two-way audio
- USB storage (not included)
- 60-day cloud storage $3 per month or $30 per year per camera
- WPA2
- Motion detection zones
What is the Blink Motion App like?
I have to give kudos to the Blink Home Monitor App, it’s actually a very good app, very easy to manage/use. There’s two main icons you’ll be using, one is a camera and the other is a video camera. You can arm and disarm the camera using the slider on the app homepage.
