Video doorbells have become an essential part of the modern smart home, offering security and convenience that traditional doorbells can't match. In this detailed comparison, we'll explore how the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell and Roku Smart Home Video Doorbell & Chime SE stack up against each other, helping you make an informed decision for your home.
Today's video doorbells are far more than just cameras with buttons. They combine HD video, advanced motion detection, two-way audio, and smart home integration into powerful security devices. When choosing between models, you'll want to consider video quality, smart features, ecosystem compatibility, and total cost of ownership.
The Arlo Essential leads with its impressive 1536x1536 resolution and 180-degree diagonal field of view. This square aspect ratio means you'll see everything from packages on your doorstep to visitors' full height. HDR (High Dynamic Range) support helps balance bright and dark areas, particularly useful when your porch is backlit by strong sunlight.
The Roku SE offers 1080p resolution, which is perfectly serviceable but noticeably less detailed than the Arlo. While Roku doesn't specify their field of view, user reviews suggest it's narrower than Arlo's generous 180 degrees. This means you might miss activity at the edges of your porch.
Here's where we see significant differences. The Arlo Essential incorporates AI-powered detection that can distinguish between people, packages, vehicles, and animals. This intelligence means fewer false alerts from things like swaying trees or passing cars. The system can also detect package delivery and notify you specifically about that.
Roku's approach is more basic, offering standard motion detection without the sophisticated object recognition. While it will reliably alert you to movement, you'll need to check the video feed to determine what triggered the alert.
Both doorbells feature two-way audio, but Arlo's implementation stands out with full-duplex audio, meaning both parties can speak simultaneously like a phone call. Roku's audio is functional but can suffer from slight delays and push-to-talk limitations.
The Arlo Essential works with major smart home platforms including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This broad compatibility means you can:
Roku's doorbell shines in its integration with Roku TVs and streaming devices, displaying doorbell alerts right on your TV screen. However, it lacks broader smart home platform support, which could be limiting if you're invested in other ecosystems.
Both doorbells are competitively priced at around $80, making them more affordable than premium options like Ring Pro or Nest Hello.
The Arlo Essential requires a subscription for advanced features like cloud storage and AI detection. This adds about $3/month to your total cost. Roku's approach is more straightforward, with basic features available without a subscription, though cloud storage options are available.
Both doorbells require hardwiring to your existing doorbell system, working with standard 16-24V AC transformers. The installation process is similar for both:
The Arlo Essential, released in 2021, has received several firmware updates improving detection accuracy and adding features like package detection. The Roku SE, being newer to the market, is still establishing its update pattern but benefits from more recent hardware design.
In daily use, the Arlo Essential's superior video quality and advanced detection features make it more capable as a security device. The ability to distinguish between different types of motion means you're not constantly checking false alerts, while the wider field of view ensures you don't miss important activity.
The Roku SE excels in its simplicity and TV integration. If you're already using Roku devices, the convenience of seeing doorbell alerts on your TV might outweigh the more advanced features of the Arlo.
For home theater enthusiasts, the Roku SE offers unique advantages. Doorbell alerts can appear as overlays on your TV screen, regardless of what you're watching. This integration is particularly useful during movie nights when you might not want to check your phone but still need to monitor the door.
Both doorbells offer solid value, but they serve different needs. The Arlo Essential is the more capable security device, with superior video quality and advanced detection features. The Roku SE offers an excellent TV-integrated experience at a lower total cost of ownership.
Your choice ultimately depends on your priorities: advanced security features versus simplicity and ecosystem integration. Consider your existing smart home setup, budget, and specific needs when making your decision.
| Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell | Roku Smart Home Video Doorbell & Chime SE |
|---|---|
| Video Resolution - Higher resolution means clearer visitor identification | |
| 1536x1536 (notably sharper, especially for package details) | 1080p (adequate for general viewing) |
| Field of View - Wider angles show more of your porch area | |
| 180° diagonal (sees packages and full-height visitors) | Not specified (reviews indicate narrower viewing angle) |
| Smart Detection - Affects alert accuracy and usefulness | |
| AI-powered detection of people, packages, vehicles, animals | Basic motion and sound detection only |
| Smart Home Integration - Important for ecosystem compatibility | |
| Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit | Roku TV ecosystem only |
| Audio Capabilities - Affects communication quality | |
| Full-duplex (natural conversation like phone) | Basic two-way audio with some delay |
| Subscription Requirements - Impacts total cost of ownership | |
| Required for advanced features (~$3/month) | Optional, basic features work without subscription |
| Operating Temperature Range - Matters for extreme climates | |
| -20°C to 45°C (-4°F to 113°F) | -20.5°C to 48.5°C (-5°F to 120°F) |
| Power Requirements - Affects installation options | |
| 16-24V AC, 10VA transformer | 10-24V AC, 40VA max, 50/60Hz |
| Storage Options - Important for video history | |
| Cloud storage with subscription | Cloud storage optional, local storage available |
| Night Vision - Critical for security after dark | |
| High-powered IR LEDs at 850nm wavelength | Color night vision (specifics not provided) |
The Roku Smart Home Video Doorbell offers superior home theater integration with on-screen alerts and live feed viewing on Roku TVs. The Arlo Essential requires a separate device for viewing.
The Arlo Essential offers superior 1536x1536 resolution compared to the Roku SE's 1080p, providing clearer visitor identification and package details.
The Arlo Essential requires a subscription for advanced features, while the Roku Smart Home Doorbell offers basic functionality without a subscription.
Yes, with the Roku SE Doorbell, alerts appear directly on Roku TVs. The Arlo Essential requires additional hardware like an Echo Show for TV viewing.
Both offer night vision, but the Arlo Essential uses specific high-powered IR LEDs at 850nm wavelength, while the Roku SE offers color night vision with less detailed specifications.
Both the Arlo Essential and Roku SE require hardwiring and have similar installation processes, using standard doorbell wiring.
The Arlo Essential works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit, while the Roku SE is limited to the Roku ecosystem.
The Arlo Essential offers advanced AI-powered detection for people, packages, and vehicles, while the Roku SE provides basic motion detection.
Both the Arlo Essential and Roku SE are similarly priced around $80, but Arlo requires an additional subscription cost.
The Arlo Essential offers a 180-degree viewing angle, while the Roku SE's field of view is unspecified but reportedly narrower.
Yes, both support two-way audio, but the Arlo Essential offers full-duplex audio for more natural conversation compared to the Roku SE's basic two-way communication.
The Roku SE provides customizable on-screen alerts that can be adjusted for minimal disruption during movies, while the Arlo Essential sends notifications to your phone or separate display.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: safehome.org - arlo.com - arlo.com - bestbuy.com - arlo.com - wasserstein-home.com - arlo.com - arlo.com - prnewswire.com - telquestintl.com - consumerreports.org - forums.wyze.com - community.roku.com - discussions.apple.com - consumerreports.org - ring.com - securitysystemsnews.com - community.roku.com - image.roku.com - droneupdelivery.com - lukoilmarine.com - roku.com
