The Arlo Pro 3 introduces a new SmartHub base station. At first glance, it doesn’t look much different from the one that accompanied the Ultra, but it replaces the original SmartHub’s microSD slot with a USB port, and supports up to 2TB of local storage, so you don’t need to depend on the cloud. Is Arlo Pro 3 base station for sale?
In the box
- Power Adapter (1)
- Ethernet Cable (1)
- Base Station (1)
- Quick Start Guide (1)
Compare Arlo Pro 3 base station with camera kit
| Arlo Pro 3 buying options | Price | Camera quantity | Includes hub |
| Add-on camera | $180.00 | 1 | No |
| 2-camera kit | $499.00 | 2 + base station | Yes |
| 3-camera kit | $649.99 | 3 + base station | Yes |
| 4-camera kit | $899.00 | 4 + base station | Yes |
| 6-camera kit | $1,279.00 | 6 + base station | Yes |
| Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera | $245.19 | 1 | No |
Do you really need a Arlo Pro 3 SmartHub or base station?
No. An Arlo SmartHub or base station is optional to use an Essential wire-free camera. You can use an existing WiFi router to connect your Essential wire-free camera directly to 2.4GHz WiFi. If you want to connect your Essential wire-free camera to a SmartHub or base station, you can connect it to a VMB5000, VM4540, VMB4500, VMB4000 SmartHub or base station.
Which is worth buying – Arlo Pro 3 SmartHub or Base Station?
Arlo SmartHub
The Arlo SmartHubs offer the best Arlo experience and are compatible with all Arlo wire-free devices, except Arlo Go.
VMB5000
- Compatible with: Arlo Ultra, Ultra 2, Essential wire-free, Pro 4, Pro 3, Pro 3 Floodlight Camera, Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, Wired Video Doorbell, and Audio Doorbell.
- Maximum streaming resolution: 4K with a compatible Arlo camera
- Local storage: microSD cards, microSDHC, or microSDXC; up to class 10 UHS-3 V90
- Integrated siren: No
- Additional specifications: See page 7 of the Data Sheet.
VMB4540
- Compatible with: Arlo Ultra, Ultra 2, Essential wire-free, Pro 4, Pro 3, Pro 3 Floodlight Camera, Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, Wired Video Doorbell, and Audio Doorbell.
- Maximum streaming resolution: 4K with a compatible Arlo camera
- Local storage: USB Type A, 2.0 compatible
- Integrated siren: No
- Additional specifications: See page 6 of the Data Sheet.
Arlo Base Station with Siren
The Arlo base stations with siren are compatible with Arlo Ultra, Pro 4, Pro 3, Pro 3 Floodlight Camera, Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, Video Doorbell, and Audio Doorbell.
VMB4000
Compatible with: Arlo Ultra, Ultra 2, Essential wire-free, Pro 4, Pro 3, Pro 3 Floodlight Camera, Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, Wired Video Doorbell, and Audio Doorbell.
- Maximum streaming resolution: 4K with a compatible Arlo camera
- Local storage: USB Type A, 2.0 compatible
- Integrated siren: 100 dB
- Additional specifications: See page 9 of the Data Sheet.
VMB4500
- Compatible with: Arlo Ultra, Ultra 2, Essential wire-free, Pro 4, Pro 3, Pro 3 Floodlight Camera, Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, Wired Video Doorbell, and Audio Doorbell.
- Maximum streaming resolution: 4K with a compatible Arlo camera
- Local storage: USB Type A, 2.0 compatible
- Integrated siren: 90 dB
- Additional specifications: See the Product Page.
Arlo Base Station
The Arlo base stations are compatible with Arlo Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, and Audio Doorbell.
VMB3000
- Compatible with: Arlo Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, and Audio Doorbell.
- Maximum streaming resolution: 1080p with a compatible Arlo camera
- Local storage: No
- Integrated siren: No
- Additional specifications: See page 8 of the Data Sheet.
VMB3500
- Compatible with: Arlo Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, and Audio Doorbell.
- Maximum streaming resolution: 1080p with a compatible Arlo camera
- Local storage: No
- Integrated siren: No
But if you want to unlock this security camera’s full potential—with AI features such as person, animal, vehicle, and package detection, you’ll need to cough up $10 a month for a cloud subscription anyway. Arlo will whet your appetitive for its service with a three-month free trial of Arlo Smart Premier, which also provides customizable activity zones, mobile lock-screen notifications, e911 emergency call service, and 30 days of cloud video storage for up to 10 cameras. But that’s much less generous than the one-year complimentary deal that Arlo Ultra buyers get.
Smart Home Integration
Additional features include USB local storage backup, integrated Smart Siren, and compatibility with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Samsung SmartThings.
Setup – Arlo Pro 3 base station
You first add the SmartHub in the Arlo app, plug in its power cord, and then connect it to an ethernet port on your router. Next, you add each camera, following the in-app prompts. As part of the installation, the app allows you view the Wi-Fi signal strength as you position the camera. This ensures you establish a strong connection before your commit to mounting the camera on your home’s siding or eaves. The Arlo Pro 3 uses the same magnetic mount introduced with the Ultra, which installs with a single screw. A security mount that locks onto the camera to prevent theft is also included.
Arlo Pro 3 base station customer review
Serves as a great additional base station
Does the job. I needed a second base station, to be closer to some of my Arlo Pro 3 cams. This works just as well as the Smart Hub that came with them, including the local USB recording. It’s also sort of nice to be able to arm the base stations separately, in case there’s extra activity in either area.
By ERocko at Best Buy
