Finding an affordable, reliable, and compact security camera can be a challenge. Amazon's Blink Mini 2 aims to solve that problem, offering a significant upgrade to the original with a weather-resistant design, sharper image quality, and smarter features. This tiny camera is designed to be placed anywhere, inside or out, providing peace of mind without a hefty price tag or complicated setup.
Blink Mini 2 Compact Smart Security Camera
A versatile and affordable indoor/outdoor security camera with 1080p video, color night vision, and smart motion detection.
Design and Setup: Compact and Simple
True to its name, the Blink Mini 2 is tiny. Its small, square body sits on a flexible ball-joint stand, making it easy to position on a shelf or mount to a wall. The biggest design upgrade is its new weather-resistant seal, allowing it to be used outdoors when paired with Blink's weatherproof power adapter. Setup is a breeze through the Blink app; simply scan a QR code, connect to your Wi-Fi, and you're up and running in minutes.
Performance: Clear and Colorful, Day or Night
The Mini 2 captures crisp 1080p HD video that's a noticeable improvement over the original. Daytime footage is sharp and clear, easily allowing you to make out faces and details. The standout feature is the new color night vision, enabled by a built-in LED spotlight. When motion is detected at night, the light kicks on, providing a full-color view instead of the grainy black-and-white footage typical of older cameras.
The addition of weather resistance without a big price increase is a game-changer, making it one of the most versatile and affordable outdoor cameras on the market.
Motion detection is timely, and with a Blink subscription, the person detection feature is quite accurate, significantly reducing false alerts from pets or passing cars. Two-way audio is also clear, allowing for easy communication through the camera.
Features and Subscription
Out of the box, the Blink Mini 2 provides live view and motion alerts. However, to save video clips, you'll need either a Blink Subscription Plan for cloud storage or a Blink Sync Module 2 (sold separately) for local storage via a USB drive. The subscription is also required to unlock the person detection feature, which is a key part of its smart functionality.
What We Like
- Excellent value for the price.
- Indoor/outdoor versatility with weather resistance.
- Crisp 1080p video with color night vision.
- Extremely simple setup process.
What We Don't Like
- Subscription required for key features like cloud storage.
- Field of view is slightly narrower than some competitors.
- Not battery-powered; requires a nearby outlet.
Verdict
The Blink Mini 2 is an outstanding achievement in the budget security camera space. It offers features and versatility that are almost impossible to find at this price point. For anyone looking for a simple, effective, and highly affordable way to add security to their home—both inside and out—the Blink Mini 2 is an easy recommendation. While the reliance on a subscription for full functionality is a drawback, the low cost of the hardware makes it a very compelling package overall.