Blink Mini 2 review: This tiny security cam works indoors and out

In the years since the original Blink Mini was released, the camera has earned a following that prizes it for all kinds of improvised use cases that have nothing to do with home security.

Jonathan Cohn, head of product at Blink, told me he knows people who use the camera to monitor their pool’s pressure gauge because they’re afraid of venturing into the pump room and encountering spiders. He’s heard from a customer who uses their Blink Mini to watch for nocturnal threats in their chicken coop, and another who uses theirs to make sure their dog doesn’t get into the garbage. There’s even a cult of followers using the camera to monitor their 3D printers throughout the night, so they can be alerted if their print job is disrupted.

What they all love about the original Mini is its utility. Its compact size and affordability has made it easy for users to find all kinds of useful applications for it, even if they originally bought one to protect their home.

That customer sentiment informed the development of the Blink Mini 2, according to Cohn. The camera has been redesigned from the inside out, with a clutch of improvements—including a wider field of view, enhanced image quality, smart motion detection, and a new weatherized design—but one that remains compact and affordable.

Design

Enough customers were using their original Minis outdoors that it was clear to Blink that weatherization had to be one of the improvements made in the second iteration. Blink didn’t supply an IP code for the Mini 2 at press time, but the camera has a thicker plastic encasing with fewer seams. Blink has also added a weather resistant power adapter that can be purchased separately or as part of a bundle with the camera. It’s been further equipped for outdoor use with an LED spotlight set above the lens to illuminate outdoor pathways and enable color night vision.

Despite the ruggedization, the camera maintains a sleek look and has a new matte finish that gives it a more premium feel. It’s still small enough that it fits in the palm of my hand, which keeps it visually discrete and easy to install anywhere it has access to AC power.

This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras.

As for core features, the biggest addition is on-device computer vision to support person detection. The original Mini was only capable of general motion detection, which could be triggered by anything moving in the camera’s field of view. The Mini 2 vastly reduces the number of alerts it produces by filtering out any movements not made by a human, but you’ll need a Blink Subscription Plan to use it.

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

The camera also has a wider viewing field than its predecessor—143 degrees, up from 110 degrees. Other features, including 1080p resolution and privacy/activity zones, have been ported over from the original Mini.

As mentioned, you’ll need a Blink Subscription Plan to enable person detection. You’ll also need it to record live video or motion-triggered activity. The Basic plan gives you 60 days of unlimited video storage for a single camera for $3/month or $30/year. The Blink Plus plan provides the same for unlimited cameras and adds some perks, including the ability to temporarily pause motion alerts for up to 24 hours, a 10-percent discount on Blink devices on Amazon.com, and extended warranty coverage. You get a no-obligation 30-day free trial when you activate a camera.

You can also store video locally via a user-supplied USB drive with a Blink Sync Module, which is sold separately.

Setup and usage

If you’re already a Mini user, the Mini 2 setup will be familiar. After you download the Blink app, you’ll scan the QR code on the back of the camera, provide access to your network, and enter your log-in credentials when prompted. The whole process takes just a few minutes.

The Mini 2 comes with a snap-on stand, and where you decide to place the camera will likely decide whether you use it or not. Indoors the stand isn’t strictly necessary–or desirable–as you can stand the camera freely on any flat surface. Outdoors, you’ll probably want a more permanent installation. The stand allows you to mount the camera to roof eaves or a wall and still be able to adjust its viewing angle. It requires just two screws, which are included with the camera.

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

The Mini 2’s video quality is excellent, and the wider viewing angle let me see my entire living room—and my yard, when I took it outside—without needing to change the position of the camera. Despite this, there was little fish-eye distortion.

The camera’s LED spotlight is intended to light up pathways when triggered by motion. I used it to light the footpath from my yard gate to the back of the house when I came home after dark, and it worked as designed. It’s not as powerful as a floodlight, but it’s bright enough that it should give an intruder pause if they set it off.

I found motion and person detection worked well at the default sensitivity. The Blink app provides plenty of options for calibrating it if you feel you’re getting too many alerts, though. This includes a sensitivity slider, activity zones, and the ability to adjust the length of the cool-off time between motion triggers.

The app provides a wealth of customization options for video, lighting, privacy, and other camera functions as well. All of these are easily accessible and intuitively labeled in the settings menu.

Naturally, you can use the Mini 2 with an Amazon Echo smart display. Once you connect the two, you can receive alerts, check a live view on demand, arm and disarm the camera, and more.

Should you buy a Blink Mini 2?

The Blink Mini 2 is an easy recommendation for current Mini users. It retains all the flexibility of the original, and its thoughtful improvements are sure to spark a whole new wave of off-label use cases. If you’re a first-time user, the camera is a low-risk investment and an easy entry point into home security monitoring. Don’t be surprised if you find a lot of additional uses for it.