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)

I absolutely love the Blink Mini camera! It’s compact, super easy to set up, and the video quality is excellent for everyday home monitoring. The motion detection works perfectly and sends instant alerts to my phone, which gives me great peace of mind when I’m away. The night vision is clear, and the live view loads quickly every time I check it.

It’s the perfect camera to keep an eye on my home, pets, or any room I want to monitor. For the price, the performance is outstanding. I highly recommend the Blink Mini — affordable, reliable, and incredibly easy to use!

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.

Pro
Easy 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 pleasant
Very inexpensive way to drop in and check on a place momentarily
No subscription or anything else needed for this basic functionality
With or without a subscription these have good value

Con
All features beyond live video feed require a subscription
No documentation included at all, you must search the web for everything you need help with or info about
No clear explanation of what you get without a subscription, in fact, purposely obfuscated as a marketing plan
No clear explanation of what adding a sync module 2 will do for you if you only have Minis – not much
Cheap 1080p video – its ok, it works, but we are going into 2023 so how about an upgrade to 2k this year
Cheap 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.

Me gusta la simplicidad de conexión , no me gusta que no se puede expandir a que grabe en Dvr.

We love this. The security and video game quality is amazing. The connectivity is perfect and easy to set up. All the features work best and better quality videos and pictures if purchase membership. Well worth the money. So glad it came as a set with the doorbell. Much cheaper and and affordable.

These cameras work great for the cheap price point. They are very easy to set up—you just need to download the app and connect them to Wi-Fi. The picture quality is fairly good, though it does start to get grainy at longer distances. The app also sends notifications depending on how you set up the camera in the app. Overall, it’s a great little camera that works well for the low price.

I used this Blink Mini indoor camera in a second home, and the setup was quick with a user-friendly app that made it easy to get running. The video quality is clear both during the day and at night, which covers basic monitoring needs well. The design is small and sleek, so it doesn’t stand out much in a room. This is my second set, and the experience has been consistent across both. I haven’t run into any issues with performance so far. Overall, a reliable and straightforward option for indoor security.

Love blink cameras! They occasionally go offline but then come back on. A few times I had to reset but overall very pleased with my blink cameras.

I have had these since 2021 and they have done a good job for keeping me with security for my home, also letting me check in on my dogs while I am away. Have not had any problems with them and they were easy to get up and running. thinking of updating them to a newer version now. They are small enough to keep out of sight, yet do show the whole room on the camera.

I have been meaning to leave this review for a while now and finally have a free moment. We have had our blink cameras for 5 years now. I finally gave up on the Furbo dog camera due to constant connectivity issues. The little Blink cameras have very rarely given us that grief. If I unplug and move to different spot, no problem. BUT the most remarkable feature of all is that it has survived NUMEROUS attacks by our new puppy. It’s really quite unbelievable. I purchased replacement cameras for the inevitable day that it succumbs to the abuse, but those are still sitting in the box! I highly recommend this product and it has given me a lot of peace as I check in on my little guy throughout the day when we are at work. We keep it out of his reach, or use it when he’s crated. But anyone who’s owned a puppy knows they are quick and impulsive little creatures. Great product and well worth the price.

UPDATE 9/13/20

What I feared – and predicted – would happen came to pass. Last Friday, 9/11/20, my landlord called me and asked me to review the footage on my cameras because another tenant had seen someone on the premises behaving suspiciously. I checked my Blink Mini app on my cell phone and sure enough.

NOTHING.

As usual, the cameras had STOPPED WORKING the night before sometime around midnight. As a result, there was nothing recorded during the day on Friday. Nothing.

A few days earlier, I spoke to Amazon who said that, since the 30 day window had passed, there was nothing they could do. They suggested I deal directly with Blink, even though Bling is OWNED BY AMAZON, supposedly. I called Blink “tech support” (laughable) at the number the Amazon rep gave me.

I wound up wasting 35 minutes with a woman who knew nothing about the Blink system, could barely speak English, and whose background sounded like she was rattling pots and pans in her kitchen. She asked me to hold a few times and, so help me, it sounded like all she was doing was rattling things around to give the appearance that she was actually doing something.

As I’ve mentioned before, the Blink Mini cameras UTTERLY FAIL at their primary, stated, function: to provide you peace of mind relative to home security. Neither Amazon nor Blink will be of any help to you in getting your issue resolved and the only thing you will have accomplished it to waste your money.

It’s too late for me but if you are considering purchasing this system, I advise you in the strongest possible terms to look elsewhere. You may want to shop at Costco since they have a very liberal return policy.

I hope people get to read this review since it appears Amazon has obscured many one-star reviews from site and only a few show up on the Blink Mini page. Do not waste your money on this camera.

UPDATE 9/2/20

I received an email on 7/28/20 from a Blink employee named Haitham. In part, he wrote:

“I would like to clarify that we are fully aware of this issue where the camera will stay on the night mode and not fully recognize that it has to switch to the day mode, and that will mostly happen in the early morning once the sun rises. We are working one the fix and it should come automatically to your camera. In the meantime as a work around, you may need to schedule disarming the system in the early morning and arm it back right after.”

As of today, ZERO has happened.

I want to be clear that the Blink mini camera can be a genuine hazard to your well being because of this issue. It simply goes off a ledge around midnight and NEVER wakes up unless you remember to wake it. This means you could be away from home and be burglarized. You think you’re covered because you have the Blink camera system only to discover that it has recorded absolutely nothing.

The worst case scenario is you and your family go out to dinner. While you’re out, intruders get into your home. Since the camera stopped working at midnight yesterday, you are completely unaware you have unwelcome guests until you return home and walk in on them.

In short, this system poses a danger to your well being because it fails in its stated purpose. Since Blink has done nothing to correct this problem, which is purely software based, you will be taking your chances by purchasing this system.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

I purchased a two-pack of the Blink Mini. What attracted me was the low cost of the item. They were $35 each or the two-pack for $65. Turns out I might just as well have taken $65 and thrown it out the window. Of a moving car.

I only set up one camera by a window, looking out through the glass. I was very happy to see that the motion sensing worked and it should have since all it’s doing is noting changing pixels. I was also happy to see that the microphone was sensitive enough to pick up what was being said on the other side of a dual-paned window.

However, for some reason the camera decided to stop working or, more specifically, to stop sensing and recording motion. I first noticed this when I fired up the Blink app and noticed that all the clips were tagged “Yesterday” and none from “Today”.

It turns out that, for some reason, the camera seems to decide that its work is done sometime around midnight. Beyond that, it will NOT record ANY video UNLESS I proactively disarm and re-arm the motion sensing on the camera via the app. Alternatively, I can do a “Live” view to see what the camera is seeing, also through the app. Both of these actions have the effect of seeming to “wake” the camera up to a new day. From that point on, it will continue working as normal. Until midnight. At that point the whole process begins again.

Another odd thing is that it records video – when it decides to actually work – only for a specified period of time, between 5 and 30 seconds. It OUGHT to work like motion sensing lights that turn on and remain on for a specified period of time BUT will stay lit if it continues to sense motion. These cameras should continue recording if the motion they detected continues or resumes within the designated video clip length. In other words, if you set a clip length of 15 seconds and 12 seconds into it the motion resumes, it should keep recording until there is no motion.

The point of these cameras is to be able to set them up and forget about them until you are notified it senses motion. In this regard, the system is a complete failure. I tried power cycling the camera by physically disconnecting it from the power supply then reconnecting. Nothing. I tried deleting the camera from the app and re-installing it. Nothing. It’s got nothing to do with the app because it has no physical connection to the camera. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the app and all the camera settings I had previously set were still intact, so it ain’t the app.

As a last resort I did the unthinkable: I called “tech support”. What I got was a call center somewhere in the Philippines and one of those maddeningly persistently cordial persons who is anything BUT “tech support”. I finally just let him believe he actually helped me and ended the call.

So here I am without a functional camera system and, of course, well past the return date. The bottom line here is that this system, ostensibly meant to alert you if there is an intrusion into your home, simply CANNOT be relied upon for that purpose. Your home could be broken into and you would be none the wiser. You would be much better off to do your research and purchase a system that, while potentially more expensive, will at least serve its stated purpose. This one does not.

Easy to set up and works well for indoor monitoring. Video quality is clear, and the app is simple to use. Great for basic home security, though it requires a subscription for full features.

The indoor camera gives good quality.The images are clear.Its was easy to connect to the wifi.The notifications are accurate no delay.It was easy to mount.The camera has live audio and the sound is clear.It aslo has night light making it easy to view images or live viewing.

Me gusta la simplicidad de conexión , no me gusta que no se puede expandir a que grabe en Dvr.