Blink XT Cameras: 1-Camera System $70 or Single Add-On Camera Expired

The XT has a two-year rated battery as well. They way they're rating the battery life is as follows:

"The Blink XT2 is the next-generation of the XT and offers new and improved features such as two-way audio, customizable motion detection, live view recording and can record a total of 80,000 seconds of video on a single set of 1.5v AA lithium batteries (compared to 40,000 seconds of the XT), allowing customers to use it twice as much and still enjoy the same 2-year battery life, all for an even lower price!"

I have a combination of about 20 Blink cameras (indoor + XT). My take is the following:

1. If you hear people complain about battery life (and trust me, you will), it is generally because they're not using Blink cameras as designed. If you arm the cameras and out them in a super-active area, battery life won't last. Every single Blink camera where I've had to change the battery was from a camera I've had for 2+ years. I have them automatically arm when my wife and I leave the house, not 24/7.

2. The cameras seem to have improved with firmware updates and software. There are still some annoying quirks, and the only supported integration is with IFTTT (which sucks).

3. The XT2 is the first "new" product they've released in over 2 years and I think it is probably a result of their canceled doorbell project and was probably a project Amazon asked them to do as part of Amazon Key.

I think the XT is probably worth it for this price, if for no other reason to play around with it. I'm still a little concerned with Blink's future and lack of new products; however, being an Amazon company, I think any existing cameras will be supported for a long, long time.

These get about 40,000 total seconds of recording from one set of batteries where as the xt2 (newer model) gets about 80,000 seconds of recording from one set of batteries.

One flaw, a major one in my opinion, is that the system can only record a maximum clip of 60 seconds. It will record a new clip after that, however, there is a minimum of 10 second 'waiting period' until the next recording starts. So if someone is messing around in your yard for 90 seconds, you will get the first 60, and the last 20, with a 10 second gap in the middle. To me, that seems idiotic for a security camera.