Quick answer: While the manufacturer recommends using a base station with all of its products, Arlo's Essential line does not need a base station to operate. All users need is a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.

Connor is a writer living in Dallas, Texas, where he can usually be found taking photos, working out, or camping. He writes reviews, features, and guides for Android devices, power stations, earbuds, ...

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Arlo’s newest gadget is an NFC security tag that lets you tap to disarm from outside your home. Arlo’s newest ...

Both companies offer such large hardware lineups that we can’t cover each product in-depth. Instead we’ll try summarize their catalogs, giving you a sense of what you can expect when you go shopping.