Blink smart home security, an Amazon company, recently expanded into Australia and New Zealand, offering an affordable and hassle-free smart security camera range, designed for the 43% of Australians who say cost is a barrier to purchasing home security products.

Starting at $69, the Blink Mini 2 is a compact and feature-packed home security camera that can be placed inside the home, or outside with the Blink Weather Resistant Power Adaptor (sold separately from $19).

Set-up is quick and easy. Simply create an account on the Blink app, plug in the Mini 2, add the device to your app, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the in-app setup instructions. A power adapter and cable are included in the box.

The Blink Mini 2 delivers a sleek and minimalist design that blends into home environments with a matte white finish. Its construction is sturdy yet lightweight for easy placement or mounting.

The camera captures 1080p HD video for clear and sharp footage during day and night. The image maintains reasonably good detail even in low-light conditions and is more than sufficient for most home security needs. The 110-degree field of view is wide enough – not as expansive as higher-end models, but what would be expected at this price point.

With two-way audio, you can both listen and speak through the camera. The speaker and microphone offer decent sound quality, particularly for brief interactions, but are not as crisp as more premium camera systems (again, this comes down to price).

By upgrading to a paid Blink subscription plan – Basic from $5 per month or Plus from $15 per month – you can save and share events and access helpful features like person detection and stream continuous live view for up to 90 minutes. Note: a 30-day free trial is included.

Local storage is available with a Blink Sync Module and USB flash drive (each sold separately).

Available in a one, two, three or five-pack, starting at $149, the Blink Outdoor 4 is a wireless weather-proof outdoor smart home security camera, which runs on the included set of AA lithium batteries for up to two years with regular use. This is a huge selling point for those looking to avoid the hassle of frequent recharging or replacing batteries.

Designed with durability in mind, the Outdoor 4 incorporates an IP65 rating for year-round use in various weather conditions. It’s a true DIY solution that doesn’t require a separate hub or any complex wiring and comes with a mounting bracket in the box for installation.  

Just like the Mini 2, set-up is quick and easy. Simply create an account on the Blink app, plug in the Outdoor 4, add the device to your app, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the in-app setup instructions.

The Outdoor 4’s black housing seamlessly blends into outdoor environments, making it discreet yet functional. Its wireless design means it can be placed virtually anywhere within Wi-Fi range for greater flexibility.

Boasting 1080p HD video and a wide 110-degree field of view, video quality is clear and sharp in most lighting conditions and can capture enough detail to identify people or objects within the frame. It also comes with two-way audio.

Outdoor 4 comes with the Blink Sync Module 2, enabling you to control up to 10 Blink cameras from the Blink app, as well as view, share, and store motion events locally for no additional fee.

If you’re already part of the Amazon ecosystem like me, both the Mini 2 and Outdoor 4 seamlessly integrate with Amazon Alexa, enabling you to view live footage or arm/disarm the camera using voice commands for added convenience. You can also customise activity, set privacy zones and adjust sensitivity to suit individual needs.

The Blink Mini 2 and Outdoor 4 deliver security camera essentials – easy set-up, clear video quality, motion detection and smart home integration with Alexa. While they lack more advanced features, they both offer excellent value for money to protect the home inside and out, making them ideal for budget-conscious consumers or those entering the market.

Blink devices and accessories are available for purchase in-store exclusively from Bunnings Warehouse and online via Amazon Australia.