Blink Mini Review: Why We Love This Device!

Features And Benefits

Design

The Blink Mini has a white and black color combination. Its shape resembles a square, and it is mounted on a ball-and-socket joint stand. If you want, you can remove it. The mini camera comes with a bunch of screws so you can hang it on your wall.  

I like this camera design because it is simplistic and there is nothing really to nitpick. Due to its mini and compact build, you can place it anywhere. Since this is a wired camera, the wires can be annoying for you, specifically if you use them as a spy camera. 

Camera Resolution and Viewing Angle

The mini camera can record the footage in HD 1080P resolution. I like the Blink Mini’s video resolution because it gives me ultra-high and crystal-clear video. This camera has a frame rate of 30 frames per second, and it ensures better quality footage. 

This Blink Mini cam has a wide enough 110-degree viewing angle. With a 110 degree field of view, it covers more area, and you can see a broad view of your place. 

Installation

Unlike its other models, this Blink is a plug-in source cam. Being a wired camera, picking a perfect place to keep this mini cam is difficult. You can have it in your living room, bedroom, children’s room, kitchen, or any other area. You should place it on a flat surface so that it won’t fall. The stand is removable, so you can either keep it or remove it. 

Always make sure to keep the camera near the power outlet or any USB port. I installed this device near my PC’s USB 3.0 port. It comes with a power adapter and a USB cable that is seven ft long. 

Motion Detection

The Blink Mini comes with a motion detection function. It is a fantastic feature because it sends instant motion alerts when it detects any movement. I find it very useful as I don’t have to go to the activity zones every time I hear a sound or see a shadow. 

This feature also saves the power and storage of the camera. Motion detection is sensitive to motion, so you will get alerts even if it senses the slightest movement in the activity zones. There are sensitivity adjustment levels, making this cam even better.

This Blink Mini model has motion detection zones. It allows you to set motion detection for particular places. When there is any motion in those motion zones, you will receive alerts. 

Night Vision

When the surroundings get dark, the Blink Mini turns on its infrared LED lights. These lights allow the cam to record viewable footage in total darkness. The night vision turns the dark videos into black-and-white color, but the other details remain the same as daylight footage.

One feature that I love about this model is that you can customize the intensity of the infrared LEDs at night time. There are low, medium, and high adjusting levels. I used the low setting because my living space is small. When I tried the medium and high levels, the nearby items are producing a reflective flash. For wide-area rooms, the medium and high settings are better. 

Like Blink Mini, the Blink XT2 model also has infrared LED night vision. But the Blink Indoor w/ Sync Module has low-light illumination night vision. 

Two-way Talk

Like the high-end models, the Blink Mini also features a two-way audio function. While streaming, it provides clear two-way audio. If you want to talk to whoever is near the device, you have to hold the two-way talk button on the smartphone app. 

The sound quality exceeds my actual expectations, which is quite impressive. The recording voice that the microphone picks up sounds the same as a premium HD phone call. If the wi-fi signal is strong, it outperforms HD voice quality. 

You have to consent to microphone permission to the Blink app to use the two-way talk feature. I found this feature very effective. It allows you to talk to your family. If a thief breaks into your house, you can startle him/her by yelling using this function. 

Live Streaming

A Live feed is a crucial feature of many home security cameras, and our Blink Mini also has it. I watch the live feed through the Blink Home Monitor app to check my home while I am away. Sometimes, I used the Echo Show and smart TV for live streaming. I do not have to check on the batteries for Blink Mini as this is a plug-in model. But, every time I watch the live view, the app restricts the live time. For every 15 to 30 seconds, the continue button pops up. If I don’t press it, the live streaming will stop. (1)

Power

Unlike the Blink XT2 model, which runs on batteries, the Mini is a power source plug-in model. You will get a two-meter-long micro USB with a power cord adapter. The Blink Mini’s electrical rating is 100-240V 50/60 HZ 0.15A. 

Audio

The Mini model comes with speaker output, and there is a dual-way audio recording and related LEDs. When this is active or working, one blue LED will blink to let you know. 

Connectivity

Our Blink Mini can support 2.4 GHz 802.11g/n wi-fi network connections. But you can not connect this device to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) or other paywall wi-fi networks. (2)

You need to have at least a minimum of 2 Mbps upload speed to use this model. The Blink Mini is compatible with devices above Android 5.0, iOS 10.3, and Fire OS 5.1. 

Local Storage: Blink Sync Module 2 

The Sync Module 2 gives local video storage for the Blink Mini cam, but you have to pay $35. Even though this is a one-time payment, the cost is the same as the Blink Mini cam.

You can store video and other images in the Blink Sync Module 2. Also, it allows you to save all the recordings of up to 10 Blink cameras. These Sync Modules help to save the power of the Blink cam, and they give free video storage. 

The local storage supports only up to 64GB of storage, and you need to have an extra drive for a large number of recordings. The Sync Module 2 allows you to use plug-in storage to transfer the Blink Mini clips to a USB flash drive. 

Cloud Storage

Before 2021, Blink offered free cloud storage for all its cameras. But now there is a new cloud subscription, and you have to pay fees every month to use cloud storage space. 

The users who have a Blink account before April 15, 2020, can enjoy the free cloud storage services. For new customers, they need to pay $3 every month to access cloud storage. 

Even if you do not use cloud storage, you will get alerts when the motion zones are triggered. The Blink allows you to watch the live view from anywhere. 

Blink Subscription Plan

The Blink subscription plan offers a free trial for thirty days. You can capture, live view, and save all the recordings in the app. Later, you have to subscribe monthly to get access to cloud storage with exclusive features. The fee per camera is only $3 per month, and for unlimited cameras, it is $10 per month. It is better to subscribe to annual contracts to save more money. (3)

Smart Home Integrations

The Blink Mini works with Alexa-enabled smart speakers. Having an Amazon Echo Show smart display is very effective. Using this smart display, you can watch the live streaming of every camera. Also, you can see old or previous recordings. 

Using the smart display or speaker, you can also arm and disarm the camera for motion detection. To provide an entire customized smart home, Blink can support IFTT integration. You can automatically arm or disarm the cam based on your mobile’s location.

Using the Alexa app, you can connect to your Alexa devices to have more functionality. One thing that is a bit disappointing is that the Blink Mini is not compatible with Google Assistant and Siri via Apple HomeKit. 

Blink App

Login to your Blink app to view the recordings, or you can use a USB flash drive to store the videos. All the Blink cameras have the same Blink Home Monitor app. There you can see the motion alerts and live view options on the home page. 

The app lets you create a particular schedule for arming and disarming the Mini. You have to download the Blink app on your mobile to add the cameras to your account. 

Extra Add-ons

You will get a detachable stand with the Blink Mini cam. There are two mounting screws per camera. In the package, you will receive one USB cable and a power adapter.