The catch
Arlo Home Security System with 2 Sensors
Premium response features keep working only if you pay for an Arlo Secure plan.
Side by side
Multifunction sensors and a paid route to professional monitoring come with Arlo. AS05 begins with three separate sensing devices and a separate keypad, which keeps self-monitoring straightforward.
Before you buy
Two Arlo sensors are still just two physical placements.
Where this comes from
Multiplying two sensor bodies by eight supported functions describes capabilities. It does not describe sixteen separately monitored rooms or openings.
The catch
Premium response features keep working only if you pay for an Arlo Secure plan.
The catch
Professional dispatch and cellular backup are both missing.


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Sensor placement, environmental detection, keypad location and the hardware outage backup needs: Arlo SS1201 vs X-Sense AS05 on each count.
Which one fits
Two contacts and one separate motion sensor come with AS05. The Arlo package has two sensors, so it cannot cover three independently placed sensor locations without another sensor.
Additional functions are supported by Arlo sensors.
A separate keypad is included with AS05.
A paid service path is provided by Arlo.
In practice
Two Arlo sensors are still just two physical placements.
Multiplying two sensor bodies by eight supported functions describes capabilities. It does not describe sixteen separately monitored rooms or openings.
Three sensing devices come with it, compared with two.
Add two contacts and one motion sensor to get three. Subtract two from three to get one.
The Arlo base hub has the keypad built in, and the documented outage path needs an extra backup module.
Weigh the integrated keypad against X-Sense’s separate keypad. Then keep Arlo’s optional cellular and battery accessory apart from what the kit includes.

Arlo, SS1201-100NAS
Two configurable sensors in Arlo’s compact package can detect opening, motion, water, light, temperature and alarm sounds.

X-Sense, AS05
This five-piece alarm connects to an app and includes a keypad and a 100 dB base siren, with no professional monitoring plan required.
Spec by spec
| Spec | Arlo Home Security System with 2 Sensors | X-Sense Smart Home Security System | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor bodies | Two All-in-One Sensors | Two contacts and one motion sensor | Three sensing devices that can be positioned independently come with AS05. |
| Sensor functions | Eight supported functions per All-in-One Sensor | Dedicated entry and motion devices | Additional environmental roles can be configured on Arlo. |
| Keypad placement | Keypad integrated in Sensor Hub | Separate wireless keypad | On AS05, the place where you arm is apart from the base. |
| Professional service | Eligible paid Arlo monitoring after trial | No professional monitoring | Responsibility for responding differs. |
| Backup expansion | Separate cellular and battery accessory with plan conditions | No cellular backup path | Arlo backup is not base-kit hardware but an additional purchase. |
Trade-offs
Change of plan
Neither model fits. The same keypad-hub platform comes with five All-in-One Sensors in SS1501.
Decision guide
Arlo’s strength is multifunction sensors with a paid professional-monitoring path. The AS05 offers three separate sensing devices plus a separate keypad, a simple setup for self-monitoring.
Each Arlo multifunction sensor can be given a different job, yet where you physically put it limits which jobs make sense together. A sensor placed to detect water cannot also be mounted high for the same motion view. Sketch the intended locations before you multiply out the advertised function count.
The AS05 provides a plain hardware layout for those three sensing positions. The Arlo two-sensor package may need another sensor, depending on placement. What deserves comparison is the finished layout and not the number of functions printed on one sensor.
A separate cellular and battery backup accessory is available from Arlo, along with eligible paid monitoring. Having a keypad on the hub does not mean either item is included. AS05 stays a self-monitored option, so decide who will receive and act on alerts before you conclude that a subscription is unnecessary.
By the numbers
What we found across the home security systems we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Only 3 of the 22 models checked meet every need here: “A setup compact enough for an apartment”, “Alerts in the app, no monitoring contract required”, “Professional alarm response as an option”, and “Daily arming from a physical keypad”.
3 models fit, out of 22 checkedHow we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “A setup compact enough for an apartment”, “Alerts in the app, no monitoring contract required”, “Professional alarm response as an option”, and “Daily arming from a physical keypad”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlo Home Security System with 2 Sensors |
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| X-Sense Smart Home Security System |
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Ready to buy
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.

Your sensors should be able to handle environmental jobs as well as intrusion ones.
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The first box should already cover two openings and a separate motion zone.
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