Arlo’s battery camera has the looks and power, but I put it through rainy weather to see how the solar panel really functions.

Solar panel features help solve the decades-old question about wireless security cameras — how hard is it to keep the battery charged? These little panels are made to help charge up batteries when they get full sun exposure in good weather, but what happens when the seasons get dark and rainy? So when Arlo announced its new compact solar camera this fall, I knew I had the perfect chance to test out the home camera in downright bad conditions.

Arlo’s great design quality and wide-ranging suite of smart features remain for the flat Arlo Essential Solar Security Camera ($100), but it’s the power management features and solar performance that really won me over. Yes, the cam can charge up on surprisingly little sunlight each day, especially if you use detection settings and motion zones to record only what you want. I don’t know if the battery’s going to last all winter, but this is an excellent start.

Many solar home security cameras use separate solar panels that you can attach to the cam or put a couple of feet away. A few, like Arlo’s new model, have a solar panel built right into the frame to save on space and management. This version, with a 14,790-mAh battery, is one of the most compact I’ve tried, although certain Eufy models offer steep competition here.

What can’t be compared is Arlo’s design quality, which remains the best I’ve tested and one of the reasons Arlo cams are my top picks in certain security fields.

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