Blink Mini – Compact indoor plug-in smart security camera, 1080p HD video, night vision, motion detection, two-way audio, easy set up, Works with Alexa – 1 camera (White)

10 reviews for Blink Mini – Compact indoor plug-in smart security camera, 1080p HD video, night vision, motion detection, two-way audio, easy set up, Works with Alexa – 1 camera (White)

1. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Tacaño Anciano – December 4, 2022

   
   I got a 2-pak of Blink Minis on sale and I am happy with my purchase. Will you be? Read on.They work great, stand alone, as a drop-in viewport with echo show devices using voice commands, fire TV sticks using voice commands and the Blink app on the phone. If you want more than that then factor in the cost of a subscription to the Blink cloud service because it is more than just a cloud storage service, it unlocks all of the Blink Mini features except the ability to drop-in and view a live video feed via those three methods I just mentioned.You can not use the Alexa app on your phone, tablet, etc. with the camera at all without a Blink subscription plan active. Here is what Blink says about it: Even without a Blink Subscription owners of Blink Video Doorbell, Outdoor, Indoor (gen 2), or Mini cameras receive Motion Alerts in the Blink app that you tap to enter the camera’s Live View. No clips are saved. That is straight from the manufacturer’s website. Heads up, adding the Sync Module 2 does not add that functionality.Considering using local storage by purchasing a Sync Module 2 to use with your Minis? The primary function of the Sync Module 2 is as a wifi booster for the low power Blink Outdoor cams running off only battery power. The Minis do not need this since they run off AC power. The Blink Outdoor cams offload the wifi video upload for the cloud onto the Sync Module 2 because it has an ac power source and so sending the video from the Sync Module 2 instead of directly from the outdoor cams saves battery life in the cams. Now you know the true purpose of the Sync Module 2. No, it won’t give you recording and motion detection functionality in place of a subscription. To further confuse things, if you have an active subscription, including the free trial that is automatically started when you setup your first Blink device, the module functions only as a once a day backup device and can not function as a local storage device for videos. Once your free 30 day trial subscription runs out, the Sync Module 2 is remotely reconfigured by Blink to become a limited functionality storage device instead of a backup device. Understand the difference. And your Blink app on your phone is automatically remotely reconfigured to remove functionality you had with the free trial subscription. So don’t buy the Sync Module 2 thinking it will provide the functionality you lose with an expired subscription. And don’t think you will be able to purchase a Sync Module 2 right up front with your Blink Minis and start using it for local storage when you setup the cams instead of cloud storage because the trial subscription is automatic and prevents the Sync Module 2 from functioning as a local storage device. It only functions as a once a day backup device. Like you need to backup the web to your local device. I always thought it was the other way around, backup your local devices to the web. So you have to keep the cams and module for over 30 days before you can even check out the Sync Module 2 to see what it does and how it works. I purchased a Sync Module 2 and a 128 GB USB stick to use with it for my Minis and it was for nothing – no added functionality at all. My Minis are sending the motion triggered recordings to the trial subscription cloud storage for the next 27 days whether I want it or not.I’m not happy about the Sync Module 2 but the Mini does do what I wanted for a minimal cost even without it. My goal with the Blink minis was to be able to check in on my other place when I’m not there during the winter months just to see that its still standing and my cars are still in the garage. I wasn’t looking for a constant viewport that is always recording in an endless loop nor did I think I was buying a serious thief catching security system. For that I have a professional security service with expensive overpriced equipment for all doors and windows, smoke, fire, CO2, detectors, etc. and high monthly fees so that someone somewhere receives all the alarms 24/7 and calls the police immediately. That is a real security system. For me these Blink cams are a peace-of-mind curiosity system. In that respect I think its going to serve me well.Your satisfaction will vary greatly according to your expectations for the Blink Mini cam and also the Blink Home app and also the Blink options for functionality, from 1. its the worst piece of crap ever made with the primary objective being to upsell amazon Alexa video devices and cloud video storage plans (oh, and unlocking almost all of the cam’s functionality) to 2. its a really great product definitely worth the price so I want to get more. Are you expecting a serious security system with unlimited live viewing and local storage of video with all the features they list for the system with a subscription and cameras with the latest, greatest resolution and features? You will be in the first, very disappointed, category. Are you looking for a curiosity cam that lets you check in on your place once in a while via your voice controlled echo, fire-tv stick or the Blink phone app for minimal cost? You will be in the latter category, I love the Minis. Are you looking for an inexpensive cam with off-site cloud storage and added, some might say needed, functionality provided by a low cost subscription? You should be happy with the Blink Mini.ProEasy to setup and use with Blink app and Echo Show devices (although android app has some known issues that might cause some frustration during setup)When I had to call tech support because of an issue with the Blink app on Android, the wait was not too long and the rep was helpful and pleasantVery inexpensive way to drop in and check on a place momentarilyNo subscription or anything else needed for this basic functionalityWith or without a subscription these have good valueConAll features beyond live video feed require a subscriptionNo documentation included at all, you must search the web for everything you need help with or info aboutNo clear explanation of what you get without a subscription, in fact, purposely obfuscated as a marketing planNo clear explanation of what adding a sync module 2 will do for you if you only have Minis – not muchCheap 1080p video – its ok, it works, but we are going into 2023 so how about an upgrade to 2k this yearCheap minimal mounts that are intended for mounting on horizontal surfaces like a shelf and deficient adjustment for vertical surfaces like a wall (curiously the exact opposite of the outdoor cams that are intended to be mounted on a vertical wall and not good for horizontal mounting like under a soffit). Had they made the mount a little longer it would have been so much better but it probably would’ve cost a couple cents more.To get the features you think you are getting you need the subscription. In Blink’s defense, the subscription is currently reasonably priced and any serious security must include off-site storage of data (to prevent loss by fire or theft) or its just a curiosity system anyway. Their marketing approach for it is very poor though.Blink needs to step up to the same level of customer experience as Alexa devices provide. And I think if you pay for prime it should include the Blink cloud subscription for up to 4 devices and only pay if you have more devices than that. How about Bezos holding off giving away some of those billions and put it towards excellent customer satisfaction with its products and services.It should not be so purposely confusing as to what you actually get WITHOUT a subscription. Starting an automatic subscription upon setup of a camera to conceal the lack of functionality without out one until the 30 days has passed is a pretty shady business practice. Internet based tech companies get away with unchecked deception and shady practices as standard operating procedure, and its not just Blink, its all of them. Its too bad because for people who know exactly what they are getting, the Blink Minis are a great product even despite this. I think it backfires on Blink by raising people’s expectations very high only to find out 30 days later that they now have to start paying a fee to keep those features they thought were included with the purchase of the device. And so they become haters of the product and company. You can see this in many reviews. This does not seem like a good long-term marketing plan to me.I hope this helps you make an informed decision whether to purchase the Blink Mini cams. Now if you purchase them you can be very happy with them based upon your correct expectations of the product.

2. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Ben – April 17, 2020

   
   UPDATED: When I saw these smaller cameras announced I was excited and looked forward to adding them to my existing 5 camera Blink system. I figured these would be a great replacement for the XT/XT2 cameras that I had inside my house so I could then re-purpose those for additional outdoor locations. I thought this was a brilliant addition to the Blink camera ecosystem, adding a lower cost camera for indoor applications like mine where the benefits of the battery power and weather-proofness would be overkill. Soon as they were released I ordered up a two-pack to add to my system. I installed one of the them and found that the picture quality right out of the box wasn’t the best but once you change the video quality setting to “Enhanced” it’s right up there with the XT2 quality. The motion detection is a little spotty, as they use a new digital method of detecting motion (AI compares one frame to the next to check for changes). Some very subtle movement will show up, like a shadow moving across the viewing area, but then actually walking across it won’t (sometimes). A rep I spoke with said that they are working on an update to improve the consistency of that feature, which will be available as an over-the-air update since it is a digital-based feature, which I think is pretty cool. So originally my poor review was based around the cloud storage feature on these cameras. After I purchased these cameras I looked into the cloud storage feature as all of the literature I found on them stated that a subscription would be required. Since this is different than the previous XT & XT2 systems I was not pleased about this. After I posted my original review a rep from Blink reached out to clarify the cloud storage situation. So here is what I learned: If you already have an XT or XT2 system, then you can add these cameras to it without having to get a paid subscription. If you do not have a Blink system at all, and these cameras are the first ones you get, then you get a free subscription until December 31st, 2020; then you will pay $3/month per camera after that. By then though, they plan to have released a new sync module with an SD card slot so that you can locally store video clips without having to pay for a subscription at all. Personally I don’t think they intend to have too many people on the subscription plan, I think they see the SD card functionality being more of a selling point but they had to piggy-back the first adopters of these Mini cameras onto the cloud storage until the new sync module gets released. Maybe they had delays in getting the new sync module released at the same time as the Mini due to factory closings around the world right now. I am much happier after this getting cleared up, but hope that they update the cloud storage & subscription info on the product pages to make it much clearer how this all works. Had I looked at all of the available info before buying these, then I probably would not have purchased them based on the unclear info that’s out there. In the end, the savior of the situation was the rep that contacted me from Blink. He clarified all of my concerns, gave me a great amount of info on the product, and answered all of my questions (I had lot of them). To be clear, the rep did not once ask me to change my review, take it down, or in any way artificially influence me to do any of those things. The great job he did led to me to change this of my own accord, as they really took care of my concerns. One star deducted for the confusion but three added back in for the great CS experience. Good product can get you a buyer, but good service gets you a customer for life. Blink has done a fantastic job turning a disappointed (and misinformed) buyer into a satisfied customer. So to recap, if you have an existing Blink system, buy these and use ‘em where you don’t need the wireless ones. If you are looking to get these as your first Blink setup, get them knowing you will have the option of paying for a subscription starting in 2021 or a one-time purchase of a sync module with SD card slot to store your video clips.

3. 

   Rated 2 out of 5

   Haley – April 18, 2020

   
   I bought this to use as a baby monitor, thinking if the quality was good I would end up purchasing an outdoor set as well. I got it in this afternoon, and set up was super easy. The picture quality is excellent for the price point.The main issue for me is that there is no option for continuous viewing. The live view from the app will automatically shut off after 30 seconds if you don’t tap the “continue?” prompt. If I had known this ahead of time, I would have never purchased a Blink camera. I watch my daughter on a Fire tablet while I work at night, and it’s really not feasible to stop typing every 30 seconds to press a button.Maybe it’s my fault for not realizing it, but I don’t remember reading any information about the length of viewing time, so I assumed it would be like the Foscam I had sought to replace. If Blink ever adds an update for continuous viewing, I would repurchase in a heartbeat, but for now, I’m sending it back.

4. 

   Rated 3 out of 5

   Wcouv – April 17, 2020

   
   I pre-ordered 4 cameras without any reviews having been posted, so I hope that this helps someone. First off, the cameras are pretty nice, very easy to setup and get connected and the price is just about perfect. The app is where things start to fall apart. It clearly was created for the other Blink cameras that are battery dependent, so most of the quirks/problems I found are probably necessary for battery savings on the other Blink cameras. I have had cameras for well over ten years and have gone through several different apps/programs to access and store the video but I have never had an app that did NOT allow me to view all of my cameras at the same time. This one requires you to select a single camera and activate it individually to view real time video. I assume that this was designed for battery savings, but since these cameras are always on, it now serves no purpose. Additionally, not having the ability to view all of my cameras, while activated in a single 4 pane window seems a step in the wrong direction. For years I have been able to see live feeds in a multi-pane format and select the camera I want to zoom in on that one, not with this app.Second, tech support is, at best, not good. I contacted them regarding the IR light that apparently can NOT be turned off (although you can turn it off via the app for the other Blink cameras?!) and the support tech actually stated that he did not know anything about these cameras and had to ask someone else. That was a first for me. The IR light is probably not a big deal for most, but I have for years had an indoor camera pointed out a window since my front yard is pretty well lit at night and the IR light stuck in the ON position make that impossible.I never review anything, but I wanted to get the word out on this. I suspect that these cameras were kind of rushed and the app just re-purposed, so it my sincere hope that they will address the live view concerns in future app updates specific to Blink Mini owners. Soon I hope!!!! Here’s to hoping!Update: I was contacted by Blink following regarding my review. They indicated that multiple people had voiced similar concerns about the apps real-time capabilities and they made it sound like they were developing an update to the app to address this. They also offered to send me an additional camera (an older model) that does allow you to turn off the IR at no charge. I asked directly if this would be in exchange for changing my review and they specifically did NOT ask me to amend this review. If nothing else, that is GREAT customer service.

5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Debbie Tracy – October 5, 2023

   
   As someone of the “geriatric group” easy, quick and trouble free was extremely important. I was not disappointed. My neighbors son-in-law recommended them. My husband has dementia and keeping an eye on him anytime of day is #1 priority. It allows me to give him his freedoms to keep routines and choice while I pick up the slack and do what he can no longer do. Let me tell ya while mowing 8.5 acres I can stop, take a break and check on him while I’m in the back 40. The peace of mind is priceless! The ease of installing and setting up the app was worth every penny in our already stretched budget. Don’t hesitate. The app is easy to use for a tech challenged individual. Because my health is also declining I was able to share the system information with our daughter and she checks in on us through her phone. Worth it!

6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   mokiach – September 17, 2023

   
   It works great during the day if you are shining it out the window, but the angle reflects back a light into the image and it doesn’t work at night so you can only use it in a parallel plane to the window.p.s. It would have been nice to have figured out that if you sign up for the service plan before you buy Blink equipment you get a 10% discount on the stuff you buy. Service is free for the first 30 days without commitment, then either about $3/camera or $10 for all cameras (basic plan).These cameras are wireless but are not battery powered so they need to be wired to power through an AC USB adapter, a DC 12v cigarette lighter USB adapter, or can be plugged into power-tool batter with a USB adapter attachment.Note too that these cameras do not have two-way audio, but there is an alternate version of these that do.Although these cameras do not require the Blink Sync Module 2 because they have direct setup links to your home internet wireless router (unlike some of the other exterior cameras that link up only through the Sync Module 2), it is a good idea to get one anyhow so you can use a USB memory stick to record, store, & transfer the pictures to your camera or to mix both types of cameras into one system and service — which can be used either with or without the service.

   
7. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Fadi Shamaan – May 24, 2023

   
   I never thought I would be writing a review for a security camera, but after my unforgettable experience with the Blink Mini, I couldn’t resist sharing my story. From the moment I set my eyes on this compact indoor plug-in smart security camera, I knew my home would never be the same again.Unboxing:When the package arrived, I eagerly tore it open like a kid on Christmas morning. Inside, I found the Blink Mini, beautifully wrapped in its pristine white color. I have to admit, the camera itself looked adorable, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at its tiny size. It was like a cute little spy on a mission to protect my home.Easy Setup:Setting up the Blink Mini was an absolute breeze. Even for a technologically challenged person like me, it took no more than a few minutes. I plugged it into an outlet, connected it to my Wi-Fi using the Blink app on my smartphone, and voila! I was ready to go. It’s worth mentioning that the app was incredibly user-friendly, guiding me through the entire setup process with clear instructions.Crystal Clear HD Video:The Blink Mini boasts an impressive 1080p HD video quality, and boy, does it deliver! The first time I viewed the live feed on my phone, I was blown away by the clarity and sharpness of the image. It felt like I was watching a high-definition movie, except this one was starring my own living room. The camera captured every detail, from the texture of my couch to the fur on my pet’s back.Night Vision Magic:Nighttime is when the real fun begins with the Blink Mini. Its advanced night vision feature turned my house into a stage for some comical shenanigans. I caught my mischievous cat, Mr. Whiskers, attempting to conquer the refrigerator at 2 a.m. The night vision mode illuminated the scene in eerie green, giving Mr. Whiskers an otherworldly glow as he tiptoed across the kitchen counter. It was like watching a feline James Bond.Motion Detection Follies:The motion detection feature of the Blink Mini had its fair share of funny moments. Every time a fly buzzed around the camera, it triggered an alert on my phone. It was hilarious watching myself rush to check the feed, only to find out it was just an insect causing all the fuss. I even started a game with my friends, betting on how many false alarms the camera would give me in a day. It was all in good fun, and it never failed to provide a good laugh.Two-Way Audio Pranks:One of my favorite features of the Blink Mini is the two-way audio. Oh, the pranks I pulled on my unsuspecting family members! I would wait until they were in the living room, then remotely activate the camera’s audio. Their puzzled expressions as they tried to figure out where the voice was coming from were absolutely priceless. I must admit, I took great pleasure in pretending to be the voice of their conscience.Works with Alexa Magic:Being able to control the Blink Mini with Alexa was a game-changer. I could simply ask Alexa to show me the camera feed on my Echo Show, and in an instant, my house became a live reality show. My friends were in awe when they witnessed this magical interaction. It felt like I had just stepped into the future, where security cameras respond to my every command.Conclusion:In conclusion, the Blink Mini exceeded all my expectations. It provided top-notch security for my home while offering endless entertainment. The easy setup, exceptional video quality, night vision hilarity, motion detection follies, two-way audio pranks, and seamless integration with Alexa made it a true gem. If you’re looking for a smart security camera that will keep you safe and entertained, I wholeheartedly recommend the Blink Mini. Trust me, you won’t be able to wipe the smile off your face!

   
8. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   EmaD – October 4, 2023

   
   The Blink Indoor Camera has become my home’s silent guardian. It’s like having an extra pair of eyes, always vigilant. Setting it up was so easy that even a tech novice like me had no trouble. Its wireless design allowed me to place it exactly where I needed it without worrying about cords.The picture quality is remarkable, whether it’s daytime or nighttime, thanks to the exceptional infrared night vision. I love how the mobile app keeps me connected to my home, no matter where I am. I’ve received motion detection alerts that have given me peace of mind when I’m away.This camera has truly made me feel safer in my own space, and I couldn’t recommend it more to anyone looking for that extra layer of security. It’s become an invaluable part of my home.

9. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Ms B – October 6, 2023

   
   Coverage is 180* . For max coverage buy 2 and face them towards each other. Camera easily adjusts, high quality video and easily installed in minutes either on wall or placed on a flat surface. I’ve had mine over 3 years with no complaints regarding the camera. I’ve bought them for friends and family. Great to keep an eye on children at play or asleep. Also great for observing everyone in your personal space with or without their knowledge! You can speak to people through the camera even if you aren’t in the same state/country as long as there is a functioning Wi-Fi connection. You can take pictures or video. Will record in your absence when triggered by motion according to your settings and preferences!

10. 

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Rod of SATX – September 26, 2023

    
    I’ve become a fan of these Blink minis for indoor use. They set up easily, stay connected, are inexpensive, and you can store output from 10 cameras locally without a subscription plan once you buy one of their hubs. I went the hub route for while, but with more cameras, the subscription plan is cost effective and increases ease of use. When the internet goes down, these Blink mini’s have consistently reconnected without any action by me. I have some of these Blink mini’s that I keep in a drawer, and when leaving on a trip, I put them out on counters, tables or window sills plugging them into nearby outlets. They don’t pan and tilt, but you can get Blink mini’s with a base that does pan and tilt – I have a couple of these. I’ve bought nearly a dozen Blink mini’s, and I’ve never had one fail. I have had other cameras with more features such as tracking, but I’ve replaced some of these with the Blink mini’s due to the greater reliability and ease of use.