What has changed with Arlo's solar camera?
Arlo unveiled the Essential Solar Security Camera on 29 September 2026. Pre-orders opened in the US with shipping scheduled for mid-October, in black or white, at a list price of $99.99 (Arlo press release).
The idea is to remove the chore that puts people off wire-free cameras: taking them down to charge. The panel is built into the camera body rather than being a separate add-on, and Arlo says it needs as little as two hours of sunlight a day to stay topped up. If the sun disappears, the 14,790mAh battery is rated for up to six months.
| Spec | Arlo Essential Solar (announced) |
|---|---|
| Video | 2K at 24fps, 130° field of view |
| Power | Built-in 1.2W solar panel, 14,790mAh battery |
| Battery without sun | Up to six months (Arlo's claim) |
| Weather rating | IP65 |
| Night and audio | Colour night vision with white LED spotlight, two-way audio, remote siren |
| Wi-Fi | Dual-band |
| Voice and platforms | Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, SmartThings |
| US price | $99.99 |
The AI features, including the Early Warning System and event summaries, need an Arlo Secure plan. Arlo's announcement did not give plan prices or say what the camera records for free, so read our Arlo subscription cost guide for how that works on the current UK range.
Is the Arlo Essential Solar camera available in the UK?
Not yet. The announcement covers US pricing and pre-orders only, and Arlo has not confirmed a UK launch date or a pound price. A direct conversion of $99.99 would be unreliable once VAT and UK pricing are applied, so treat any quoted £ figure as a guess until Arlo UK publishes one.
You can already buy solar-powered Arlo cameras here. The Arlo Essential 3 2K range is sold in the UK as kits with separate solar panels, and retailer listings such as John Lewis and EE show two- and three-camera solar kits at roughly £245 to £250. That is the practical benchmark for the new model once it lands. For the wider range, see our Arlo security camera UK review.
Why does this matter for Home Assistant users?
For Home Assistant users it matters very little at the moment. Arlo does not publish a local API, and the announcement lists Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT and SmartThings, with no mention of Matter, ONVIF or RTSP. The camera will almost certainly be cloud-only.
Home Assistant's own Arlo integration page now shows it as a removed integration. The community-maintained aarlo custom integration installable through HACS is the usual workaround, but it relies on Arlo's cloud, and forum threads regularly report it breaking after Arlo changes. Whether it will support a brand-new model is unknown.
If local recording and reliable automations matter more than never charging a camera, an RTSP or ONVIF camera is the safer route. Our Arlo vs Ring comparison covers how the two big cloud brands differ.
Should you wait for the Arlo Essential Solar camera?
Wait only if you were about to buy an Arlo wire-free camera anyway. A built-in panel is tidier than a separate one, and the headline price looks keen against UK solar kits. But there is no UK price, no confirmed date, and no subscription pricing, so you cannot yet judge the true cost.
If you need a camera now, an Essential 3 solar kit works today. If you want it integrated with Home Assistant, skip the Arlo wait altogether. We will update this page if Arlo announces UK availability.
