TCRThe Comparison Report

Security Cameras / Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) vs eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)

Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) vs eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)

Best Overall

eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)

Best night vision and zero subscription — at 15fps, on 2.4GHz, for $430.

Wins overall by 2.6 points

Buy on Amazon

Quick Verdict

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) takes this by a clear 2.6 points. Best night vision and zero subscription — at 15fps, on 2.4GHz, for $430. The Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.

The Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) and eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) are both closely matched security Camera models, and the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) is $80 cheaper than the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) ($349.99 vs $429.99). On Subscription Freedom, the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads (9.5 vs 1.5/10) — what the camera still does when you pay nothing — this category's trap dimension, because several drop to live view with no recording at all. On Local Storage, the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads (9.5 vs 4.5/10) — recording that stays in your house: card slot, hub, NAS — and whether the card or hub is in the box. On Value, the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads (7.5 vs 5.0/10) — what you get for the money once the subscription, the card and the missing adapter are priced in. Overall, the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores 8.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.7/10 for the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.

Side-by-Side Comparison

SpecArlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
Price$349.99$429.99
Release Year20252024
Max Resolution4K (8 megapixel sensor); 2K, 1080p and 720p modes also offered4K (3840x2160)
Frame Rate at Top ResolutionNot published by Arlo. Trusted Reviews' testing found the 4K Ultra 3 records at the same bitrate as the 2K Pro 6, so the extra pixels are paid for in compression rather than detailUp to 15 fps at 4K, on eufy's own spec sheet
Field of View180 degrees diagonalNot published on eufy's US product page for this model
Power SourceSwappable rechargeable battery, USB-C. Only Arlo-certified USB-C or universal solar panels work; the magnetic-base panels do not13,000mAh battery with a solar panel built into the camera. An external panel is a separately sold $29.99 backup for shaded sites
Battery Life ClaimUp to 6 months (Arlo). Trusted Reviews' tester called four months plus more realisticUp to 365 days, and eufy claims one hour of daily direct sun keeps it charged indefinitely. eufy quantifies it: the built-in panel gathers 450-900mAh a day against 100-200mAh of average daily use
Night VisionColour night vision driven by the built-in spotlight, with IR black-and-white fallback. Trusted Reviews measured about a second of colour stabilisation after the light firesMaxColor Vision — full colour with no spotlight, from the 1/1.8in sensor and f/1.0 aperture. Identifies faces and plates to about 30ft in low light
Weather RatingWeather-resistant, indoor or outdoor; Arlo does not publish an IP ratingIP67
Wi-Fi / Network2.4GHz and 5GHz, but the camera talks to the SmartHub, which Arlo's own FAQ says is required2.4GHz only (802.11b/g/n). No 5GHz anywhere in this $430 kit
Local StorageSmartHub with a microSD card. The hub is in this 2-camera kit; the microSD card is not, and for a single or add-on camera the hub is not eitherHomeBase 3 with 16GB eMMC built in, expandable to 16TB with a 2.5in SATA drive or SSD you supply. One hub handles up to 16 cameras
With No SubscriptionLive view and motion notifications only. Arlo's own FAQ confirms cloud storage, interactive notifications and object detection all stop with the trialEverything. Recording, playback, face recognition and alerts are all local, with no plan at any point
Cheapest Plan ($/mo)9.990
RTSP / ONVIF / NVRNo RTSP, no ONVIF, no third-party NVR supportNo RTSP or ONVIF from the cameras. Apple Home works but caps video at 1080p rather than 4K
Warranty12 months12 months
ColorsWhite, BlackWhite

Category Scores

Video QualityReal sensor resolution, frame rate and bitrate at the advertised top mode — not the marketing number
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)
8.5
eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
8.0
Night VisionHow usable the image is after dark, and whether colour needs the spotlight burning
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)
7.5
eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
9.5
Subscription FreedomWhat the camera still does when you pay nothing — this category's trap dimension, because several drop to live view with no recording at all
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)
1.5
eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
9.5
Local StorageRecording that stays in your house: card slot, hub, NAS — and whether the card or hub is in the box
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)
4.5
eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
9.5
Power & BatteryFreedom from a power cable: battery capacity, solar top-up, and how honest the runtime claim is
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)
8.0
eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
9.5
InstallationHow much extra hardware, wiring, drilling or network work stands between the box and a working camera
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)
6.5
eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
6.5
Openness & Smart HomeRTSP, ONVIF, NVR and NAS support plus Alexa/Google/HomeKit/Matter — whether the camera works outside its own app
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)
4.0
eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
6.0
ValueWhat you get for the money once the subscription, the card and the missing adapter are priced in
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)
5.0
eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)
7.5
Video QualityNight VisionSubscription FreedomLocal StoragePower & BatteryInstallationOpenness & Smart HomeValue
Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)

Video Quality

The Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on real sensor resolution, frame rate and bitrate at the advertised top mode — not the marketing number. If that is what you are buying for, the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Night Vision

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.5 — a 2.0-point margin on how usable the image is after dark, and whether colour needs the spotlight burning. If that is what you are buying for, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Subscription Freedom

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 1.5 — a 8.0-point margin on what the camera still does when you pay nothing — this category's trap dimension, because several drop to live view with no recording at all. If that is what you are buying for, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Local Storage

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 4.5 — a 5.0-point margin on recording that stays in your house: card slot, hub, NAS — and whether the card or hub is in the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Power & Battery

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on freedom from a power cable: battery capacity, solar top-up, and how honest the runtime claim is. If that is what you are buying for, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Installation

The Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) and eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) are level here, at 6.5/10 each. how much extra hardware, wiring, drilling or network work stands between the box and a working camera is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.

Openness & Smart Home

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads clearly here, 6.0 against 4.0 — a 2.0-point margin on RTSP, ONVIF, NVR and NAS support plus Alexa/Google/HomeKit/Matter — whether the camera works outside its own app. If that is what you are buying for, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Value

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.0 — a 2.5-point margin on what you get for the money once the subscription, the card and the missing adapter are priced in. If that is what you are buying for, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) does not close the gap elsewhere.

Best For

Choose the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) if…

  • You want to spend less — it's $80 cheaper.

Choose the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) if…

  • Subscription Freedom matters most to you — the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores 9.5/10 here (what the camera still does when you pay nothing — this category's trap dimension, because several drop to live view with no recording at all).
  • Local Storage matters most to you — the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores 9.5/10 here (recording that stays in your house: card slot, hub, NAS — and whether the card or hub is in the box).
  • Value matters most to you — the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores 7.5/10 here (what you get for the money once the subscription, the card and the missing adapter are priced in).
  • Night Vision matters most to you — the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores 9.5/10 here (how usable the image is after dark, and whether colour needs the spotlight burning).
  • Openness & Smart Home matters most to you — the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores 6.0/10 here (RTSP, ONVIF, NVR and NAS support plus Alexa/Google/HomeKit/Matter — whether the camera works outside its own app).

Pros & Cons

Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS)

Pros

  • +180-degree field of view genuinely removes the blind spots a 140-degree camera leaves at a corner
  • +SmartHub is in the box on this kit, so local microSD recording is a card away rather than a $100 accessory away
  • +Auto-Zoom and Tracking in 4K is the one feature here that no cheaper camera imitates convincingly
  • +USB-C battery and swappable cells mean the camera stays on the wall for its whole life

Cons

  • 4K recording and streaming require Arlo's higher Secure Plus tier — on the base plan you get a 4K camera producing 2K files
  • Trusted Reviews found the 4K stream runs at the same bitrate as the 2K Pro 6, so 4K here mostly buys compression artefacts
  • The SmartHub is mandatory. Buy a single Ultra 3 or an add-on camera and it is inert until you also buy a VMB5000
  • The microSD card is never included, on any Ultra 3 SKU
  • $349.99 for two cameras before you have paid a cent of subscription, and no plan means no recording

eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)

Pros

  • +The only camera here that produces genuinely usable full colour at night without turning a spotlight on, which is also why its battery lasts
  • +No subscription, ever — recording, AI face recognition and 16TB of expandable local storage are all included in the hardware price
  • +eufy publishes actual solar maths (450-900mAh harvested against 100-200mAh used) instead of the usual 'forever power' hand-waving
  • +IP67 and a 13,000mAh cell: this is the least maintenance-hungry outdoor camera in the set

Cons

  • 4K runs at up to 15 fps — half the frame rate of the UniFi G6 Instant, and eufy prints it in its own specs rather than hiding it
  • 2.4GHz-only Wi-Fi on a $430 kit, when a $99.99 Ring does dual-band Wi-Fi 6
  • Apple Home users get 1080p, not 4K — the HomeKit path throws away most of what you paid for
  • No RTSP and no ONVIF, so despite all the local storage the cameras still will not talk to Blue Iris, Frigate or a third-party NVR
  • The hub is a single point of failure: lose the HomeBase 3 and you lose the recordings on the drive inside it

Shop by Need

FAQs

Is the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) or eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) better overall?+

Based on our 8-category scoring, the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.

Which is better for Subscription Freedom, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) or the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)?+

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores higher on Subscription Freedom (9.5/10 vs 1.5/10) — what the camera still does when you pay nothing — this category's trap dimension, because several drop to live view with no recording at all.

Which is better for Local Storage, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) or the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)?+

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores higher on Local Storage (9.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — recording that stays in your house: card slot, hub, NAS — and whether the card or hub is in the box.

Which is better for Value, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) or the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)?+

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores higher on Value (7.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — what you get for the money once the subscription, the card and the missing adapter are priced in.

Which is better for Night Vision, the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) or the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)?+

The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) scores higher on Night Vision (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — how usable the image is after dark, and whether colour needs the spotlight burning.

Is the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) worth the price difference over the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)?+

The Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) is the cheaper option at $349.99 versus $429.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Subscription Freedom.

Which is better suited to my use case?+

The Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) is the better fit if you mainly care about battery-powered or solar-ready. The eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) is the better fit for no-subscription.

What's the warranty on the Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) vs the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892)?+

The Arlo Ultra Security Camera 4K HDR, 3rd Gen — 2-Cam Kit with SmartHub (VMS5250-100NAS) ships with a 12-month warranty; the eufy eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit with HomeBase 3 (T8892) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.

Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+

If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.

Cheaper Option

Reolink Argus 4 Pro with Solar Panel 2 — $179.99

Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.

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