Amazon's budget-friendly security camera line has just become even more accessible with a significant price reduction. The Blink Mini 2 security camera is now available at its lowest price ever, offering consumers an affordable entry point into home security with several meaningful improvements over its predecessor.
Half-Price Deal Makes Blink Mini 2 More Accessible
The Blink Mini 2 is currently selling for USD $19.99, down from its regular price of USD $39.99. This 50% discount represents the lowest price the device has ever reached according to price tracking tools, making it an exceptionally attractive option for budget-conscious consumers looking to enhance their home security setup. For those interested in outdoor usage, the camera can be bundled with a weatherproof power adapter for just USD $30, though this adapter is also available separately for USD $9.99.
Significant Hardware Improvements Over Original Model
The second-generation Blink Mini brings substantial upgrades over its predecessor. The field of view has been expanded from 110 degrees to a much wider 143 degrees, allowing users to monitor larger areas with a single camera. The improved sensor delivers better low-light performance, and the addition of a built-in LED spotlight enables color night vision when activated. Without the spotlight, the camera defaults to traditional black-and-white night vision. These improvements address key limitations of the original model while maintaining the compact form factor that made the first generation popular.
Blink Mini 2 Specifications
- Price: USD $19.99 (regular price: USD $39.99)
- Resolution: 1080p HD
- Field of view: 143 degrees (up from 110 degrees in original)
- Weather resistance: IP65-rated (requires Weather Resistant Power Adapter for outdoor use)
- Night vision: Color with spotlight on, black and white otherwise
- Smart detection: People, pets, and packages (requires subscription)
- Smart home compatibility: Amazon Alexa, IFTTT (no Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit)
Indoor and Outdoor Versatility
Unlike the original Blink Mini, which was strictly an indoor device, the Mini 2 features IP65 weather resistance, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications. However, to fully weatherproof the setup, users will need to purchase the dedicated Weather Resistant Power Adapter, as the standard power cable included in the box isn't water-resistant. This versatility positions the Mini 2 as a direct competitor to cameras like the Wyze Cam v3, especially as some users look for alternatives following Wyze's recent privacy incidents and service outages.
Smart Detection Features with Subscription Option
The Blink Mini 2 can detect people, pets, and packages, but these advanced detection features require a Blink subscription. The service costs USD $3 per month for a single camera or USD $10 monthly for unlimited cameras. Without a subscription, users still have access to basic functionality including live views, motion detection, and the ability to use local storage through the separately sold Sync Module 2 (USD $49.99), which allows recording to an SD card up to 256GB instead of relying on cloud storage.
Subscription Options
- Blink Subscription Plan: USD $3/month for one camera, USD $10/month for unlimited cameras
- Features with subscription: Cloud storage, person detection, continuous live feed (up to 90 minutes)
- Without subscription: Live views, motion detection, local storage with Sync Module 2 (sold separately)
Smart Home Integration
The Mini 2 works seamlessly with Amazon's Alexa ecosystem and supports IFTTT for broader smart home integrations. This allows users to view camera feeds on Echo Show devices and create custom automations. However, the camera lacks support for Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings, which may be a limitation for households not committed to Amazon's smart home ecosystem.
Competitive Landscape
While the Blink Mini 2 offers compelling value at its discounted price, it faces strong competition from alternatives like the TP-Link Tapo C120, currently priced at USD $24.99 (down from USD $39.99). The Tapo camera offers higher 2K resolution compared to the Mini 2's 1080p and includes AI-powered alerts without requiring a subscription. Additionally, the Tapo C120 is fully weatherproof out of the box without needing additional accessories. For users prioritizing image quality and free smart detection features, the slightly higher price point might represent better overall value.
Competitor Comparison
- TP-Link Tapo C120: USD $24.99 (regular price: USD $39.99)
- Higher 2K resolution vs. Blink's 1080p
- Fully weatherproof without additional accessories
- Includes AI-powered alerts without subscription
Privacy and Security Considerations
According to Blink's head of product, Jonathan Cohn, the company designs its own silicon chips used in their cameras, giving them control over the entire privacy and security experience from image capture to video storage. This end-to-end approach may appeal to security-conscious consumers, especially following privacy concerns with competitors like Wyze, which recently experienced an incident where some users could temporarily see other users' live camera feeds and events.
Subscription-Free Options
For users reluctant to commit to ongoing subscription fees, Blink offers an alternative through the Sync Module 2 and a USB flash drive for local storage of video clips. This one-time purchase allows owners to avoid monthly cloud storage fees while still maintaining recording capabilities, though some advanced features remain subscription-exclusive.