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Oct 30, 2023

Vivint Spotlight Pro Review

Audio deterrent features on outdoor security cameras might get an intruder's

Audio deterrent features on outdoor security cameras might get an intruder's attention, but why not also put them in the spotlight? That's the main reason to buy Vivint's Spotlight Pro ($249.99), which works exclusively with the company's Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 2 ($399.99) to illuminate unwanted visitors to your home. This pricey light offers a wide, 180-degree radius, dynamically follows people as they move within the camera's view, and even lets you calibrate lighting zones via its companion app. Our main complaints are that it works only within the Vivint Smart Home system and doesn't support any third-party services. If you want something more versatile, the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight camera ($199.99) is a vastly more affordable solution that's easy to install, integrates a bright, motion-activated light, and interfaces with lots of other smart platforms. But if you can afford the Spotlight Pro, don't mind paying for a professional installation, and rely on Vivint for your home security needs anyway, it's an excellent companion to the Gen 2 camera.

The Spotlight Pro fixture matches the primarily white design and IP65 weatherproof rating of the Gen 2 camera. Including its L-shaped bracket, the apparatus measures 7.0 by 7.0 by 3.0 inches (HWD). The top portion of the bracket includes a mounting plate that lets you attach it to the Outdoor Camera Pro, as well as four holes for securing the entire assembly to an outside wall or post.

Each of the trapezoidal base's three outward-facing panels includes three columns (zones) and two rows of LEDs, for a total of 18 lights across nine zones. The combination of the front and the side panels (which sit at a 45-degree angle) provide 180 degrees of light coverage as far out as 25 feet.

The lights put out a maximum of 2,000 lumens with a 5,000K white color temperature. But in the companion app, you can decrease the brightness level via a slider, as well as turn off zones to prevent light from shining past your property into a neighbor's window.

What sets the Spotlight Pro apart from other outdoor security lights is how it behaves when Vivint's Smart Deter feature is active. Smart Deter activates if a person lingers too long (you can set this duration in the app) within the camera's view. When someone does, the camera emits a warning sound and its LED ring flashes red. For its part, the Spotlight Pro switches to one of five Deter lighting effects: Strobe (the light flashes rapidly), Wave (each zone lights up sequentially from side to side), Circle (the LEDs illuminate in a circular pattern), Flood (the light shines steadily at its highest brightness setting), or Tracking (a bright flood light follows whoever set off the motion sensor). That last one is my favorite. If you turn off the Smart Deter feature, the spotlight still follows intruders around, but the light is softer and doesn't act as much of a deterrent.

The Spotlight Pro relies on the same mobile app (available for Android and iOS) as all the other cameras, switches, door locks, and sensors that work within the Vivint ecosystem. On the app's home screen, you can adjust the Spotlight Pro's brightness level, as well as turn it on and off by tapping the Lights button at the bottom. To configure additional settings, pick the gear icon in the upper right corner of the Cameras screen and select whichever Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 2 you paired to the Spotlight.

On the Settings screen that pops up, you can enable the Spotlight and Follow options, as well as calibrate the lighting zones if they aren't tracking motion correctly. Use the Deter Light section to select one of the five aforementioned effects or choose the No Light option. Head to the Light Settings section to configure the lights to turn on automatically at sunset and off at sunrise, or to turn off specific beams (zones). Here you can also set the Spotlight Pro to track movement with a softer light beam when Smart Deter is off.

Vivint requires you to hire a professional to install any of its devices, including the Spotlight Pro. That can cost up to $199 depending on where you live and the complexity of the installation. In my case, I needed someone to set up the Spotlight Pro along with two Gen 2 Outdoor Camera Pros and a Gen 2 Doorbell Camera Pro. As has always been the case, the Vivint technician arrived on time and was both courteous and professional. The installation took several hours to complete, but afterward, the tech ran a full system evaluation and explained all of the product features.

The Spotlight Pro worked well in my tests. At its highest brightness levels, it provided more than enough light to illuminate my entire driveway as well as parts of my front yard. It consistently reacted to motion triggers and followed my lighting schedule without an issue. The fixture also had no trouble tracking and following people that the camera detected. Anecdotally, I found the Strobe effect to be the most useful deterrent, but my neighbor across the street found it annoying.

If you rely on Vivint's Smart Home system and own (or plan to get) the Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 2, the Spotlight Pro adds an extra measure of security. Its LEDs shine bright, while a Smart Deter feature offers both tracking capabilities and a strobe mode that scares off intruders (or at least lets them know they are under surveillance). But the combination of the Spotlight Pro ($249.99), the required camera ($399.99), and a professional installation (up to $199) might prove too expensive for many people. If you don't mind the DIY route, you can save a bundle with our battery-powered Editors’ Choice winner, the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight camera. Or, if you’re on a tight budget and need a wider lighting radius, consider the Wyze Cam Floodlight ($99.98), another Editors’ Choice winner.

The pricey Vivint Spotlight Pro works with the company's Outdoor Camera Pro Gen 2 to expose intruders on your property by shining a light on them.

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