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Amazon's Blink Outdoor 4 Cam Is One of the Easiest Setups We've Found

Blink wireless cams and the no-nonsense Blink app let you set up a new device in minutes. This outdoor model is one of their best and currently discounted to $65 in the Amazon spring sale.

Tyler Lacoma Editor / Home Security
For more than 10 years Tyler has used his experience in smart home tech to craft how-to guides, explainers, and recommendations for technology of all kinds. From using his home in beautiful Bend, OR as a testing zone for the latest security products to digging into the nuts and bolts of the best data privacy guidelines, Tyler has experience in all aspects of protecting your home and belongings. With a BA in Writing from George Fox and certification in Technical Writing from Oregon State University, he's ready to get you the details you need to make the best decisions for your home. On off hours, you can find Tyler exploring the Cascade trails, finding the latest brew in town with some friends, or trying a new recipe in the kitchen!
Expertise Smart home, smart security, home tech, energy savings, A/V
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Tyler Lacoma
2 min read
The wireless Blink Outdoor 4 security camera sits perched on a fence.

The Blink Outdoor 4 has one of the best setup processes we've encountered.

 Amazon

When I find a new Blink home security camera to test (like the Blink Mini 2), I know I'm in for swift installation process. Blink has streamlined cam setup and installation better than nearly any other brand, thanks to a few stand-out features. And with Amazon's 2024 Big Spring Sale going on, you can find one of the best models, the Blink Outdoor 4, for more than 30% off.

See it on Amazon

The Blink app itself is an effective example of great UI design and how it can make the setup experience so much better. The app fits a large number of settings in a small space without disorienting the user. Everything from sliders to control motion detection to flipping spotlights on and off is just a couple taps away. 

The setup walkthrough is simple and speedy -- as long as you know your Wi-Fi password off the top of your head (or from your password manager), it takes only a few minutes. The features are intuitive enough that I always have a good idea where to find a setting, which is very helpful when putting a camera through its paces for a review or recommendation.

The motion detection settings page for a Blink Mini 2.

Blink's app is easy to use and filled with quick settings adjustments.

 CNET/Tyler Lacoma

Blink's Outdoor cams shine for an additional reason: Its AA lithium batteries are rated for up to two years, so depending on the frequency of activation they can last a very long time. That makes their wireless approach a nice choice for home-havers who may want to put their cams in unconventional locations and really don't want to worry about recharging a battery every month.

The Blink Outdoor 4 has a number of camera features I like to see, including night vision, two-way audio and motion detection zones. As an Amazon brand, it works very well with Alexa (although not with much else), and if you want to spend extra on a Sync Module 2 the cam supports local storage. As is common, some great features like person recognition or cloud storage are locked behind a subscription, but Blink's fees are particularly low, starting at $3 a month. That's a pretty strong price-to-feature ratio if you don't mind a subscription model.