Aqara Camera G100 vs Arlo Essential XL HD (2nd Gen)

When choosing between two budget-minded outdoor cameras, the Aqara Camera G100 comes out ahead overall, backed by a lower price, a stronger user rating, sharper 2K video, and subscription-free local storage that the Arlo Essential XL HD (2nd Gen) cannot match. It also adds RTSP streaming for owners who want to pull the feed into their own recorder or smart home setup, something this Arlo model skips entirely. The Arlo Essential XL HD (2nd Gen) fights back with a broader spread of supported alert types and customizable motion zones, letting owners fine-tune exactly where and what triggers a notification, real advantages for anyone who leans on granular alert tuning. Weather resistance, warranty coverage, PoE support and several other core specs are tied between the two, so the gap really comes down to storage flexibility versus alert customization. Buyers who want to save money and skip a mandatory subscription should lean toward the Aqara Camera G100, while those who already value tailored motion zones and a wider notification range may prefer the Arlo Essential XL HD (2nd Gen).