Get a Blink Mini 2 waterproof security camera for just $20 before Prime Day in October

What’s up?

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sales event is just a few days away and many offers are already available, including the 50 percent discount Blink Mini 2 for $20 and with an outdoor adapter for just $30.

Also: The 50+ best deals for Prime Day 2024 in early October that you can buy now

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Key findings from ZDNET

• The Blink Mini 2 is available individually or bundled with one for $40 for a limited time weatherproof power supply for $50.
• With a stronger construction, improved video quality, a new headlight, people detection and weather resistance for outdoor use, the Blink Mini 2 is a clear upgrade over the first generation.
• As an Amazon device, the Blink Mini 2 works with Alexa, but not with Google Home, Matter or other smart home systems.

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If you’re looking for an affordable security camera to replace your Wyze Cam following recent data breaches, Blink may have the right one for you. The new Blink Mini 2 is finally available for purchase.

I tested the Blink Mini 2 last week and noticed some big changes from the original Blink Miniwhich I have had for almost two years. The Blink Mini is widely known as an affordable indoor camera (you can often buy two for $30 at Amazon sales events). It is a compact plug-in camera that can be installed anywhere inside or outside your home.

Also: Smart Home Starter Pack: Top 5 Devices You Need

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The older Blink Mini has two-way audio, 1080p video resolution, Amazon Alexa integration, and acts as a chime for the Blink video doorbell. The new Blink Mini 2 has all of these features, as well as a weatherproof interior and exterior construction, people detection and a headlight.

Weather resistance is a feature that takes the Blink to the next level and makes it a direct companion Wyze Cam v3 Competitors. Wyze Cam maker Wyze Labs recently found itself in the crosshairs of user frustration after a service outage led to a data breach that left some users temporarily able to see other users’ live cameras and events.

After testing the Blink Mini 2, I spoke with Jonathan Cohn, Blink’s product manager, to discuss the specifics of the new security camera. Cohn explained that after listening to user feedback, the company added weather resistance and a spotlight that acts as a light source for color night vision to illuminate dark areas when motion is detected. The camera also features a recording indicator to deter potential intruders.

Plus: A battery-powered floodlight camera was exactly what my dark garden needed

While not as bright as an outdoor light, the spotlight is bright enough to illuminate people as they approach and to illuminate paths in the dark. This got me thinking about placing the Mini 2 next to the trash cans next to my house, but decided against it since I don’t have a power source nearby and the camera needs to be plugged in at all times. The Mini 2 would fit perfectly in a garage or carport to light a driveway or monitor a back door.

Like the Blink Outdoor 4, the Blink Mini 2 can notify you when a person is detected and ignore any other movements powered by the Blink’s silicone.

“Blink makes its chip and uses it in our cameras, which means we own the end-to-end experience and design of our camera,” Cohn explained. The use of proprietary silicon and design ensures that Blink can ensure the entire privacy and security experience from the light entering the lens to the video clips recorded, Cohn added.

Also: Wyze’s camera breach allowed 13,000 strangers to look into other people’s homes

Although the Blink Mini and Mini 2 have 1080p HD resolution video recording, the difference is noticeable in the clips recorded. Cohn explained that Blink has significantly improved the Mini 2’s video quality by increasing the field of view from 110 to 143 degrees for greater coverage, increasing the sensor’s low-light capability and improving dynamic range.

This means that the Mini 2 can capture clearer and more detailed images in mixed lighting, even when there are very bright and dark areas in a single image. Better dynamic range can show details in shadowed and brightly lit areas in a single video, making it easier to identify people and objects.

ZDNET’s buying guide

This is at my house Blink Mini 2 replaced a Wyze Cam v3 in my sunroom. This is a fairly humid room with direct access to my home, so a camera with a spotlight is better than one without. Since I switched I won’t be going back.

Blink cameras come with a 30-day free trial of the Blink subscription plan. The monthly subscription provides users with cloud storage and additional features such as people detection and a continuous live feed for up to 90 minutes. You can bypass the subscription by purchasing a Blink Sync module and a USB flash drive to store video clips. This is the solution I have set up in my home.

Since my home relies on Amazon’s Alexa, I appreciate that the Blink Mini 2 connects to multiple Echo Shows faster than the Wyze camera and shows me what’s happening in the sunroom. Blink does not integrate with Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings or other smart home systems. This is a factor to consider if your smart home uses one.