Is the Blink Mini Waterproof? Can The Blink Mini Go Outside?

The Blink Mini is a tiny camera and can easily be mounted just about anywhere. That, among other reasons, gives many users the desire to mount their Blink Mini outside. If the camera is mounted outside, it would have to withstand the natural elements, like rain or even the morning dew. And don’t forget about UV exposure from the sun that could degrade the plastic.

Is the Blink Mini Waterproof and is it Weatherproof?

The Blink Mini is not waterproof or weatherproof. The housing on the Blink Mini has many holes in it for a speaker, microphone, USB, and ventilation. Exposure to moisture or temperatures outside of the given specifications will void the Blink Mini’s warranty.

Can The Blink Mini Go Outside?

The Blink Mini is the most affordable camera sold by Blink and has excellent specs. Many people like the idea of buying a Blink Mini instead of a Blink Outdoor camera because of the cost, but can the Blink Mini go outside?

The Blink Mini was not designed to go outside or be used outdoors. The Blink Mini specs state a temperature range of 32 to 95 F (0 to 35 C) designed for indoor use. The Blink Mini does not have an environmental rating and is not intended to withstand moisture.

That said, people have used the Blink Mini outside successfully for extended periods. Here is what you need to know and what you can try.

Using the Blink Mini Outdoors

While the Blink Mini is designed and sold as an indoor camera, many users have successfully used the camera outside. Just keep in mind that using the Blink Mini outside may void your warranty, especially if it gets water damaged.

The Blink Mini specs can be found on their website here.

The Blink Limited Warranty can be found on their website here.

Here is what Blink has said to users regarding damage from water or the temperature:

“The Blink Mini is not meant for outdoors. The Blink Mini has an operating temperature range of 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C). The Blink Mini is not waterproof and any exposure to moisture and/or temperatures outside the operating range will void our one-year limited warranty.”

Best Buy Q&A (Has been removed from Best Buy’s website)

“For the extended warranty coverage to apply to your Blink device, the device must be within its original warranty period when you subscribe to the Blink Plus Plan. Once the original warranty expires, the device will be covered under the Blink Plus Plan until your Plus Plan is cancelled. Non-Blink and other third-party devices are not eligible for the extended warranty. “

Amazon Q&A

Tips For Using the Blink Mini Outdoors

Considering the low price of Blink Mini compared to the Blink Indoor and Blink Outdoor, many consider the camera a disposable device. This makes it reasonable to experiment with what it can and can’t do.

The key to protecting your Blink Mini is to protect it from the elements. The Mini will need to be protected from extreme temperatures and water. If you live in a place where the temperature routing exceeds the operating temperature ranges of 32 to 95 F, you should consider using a different camera outside.

Secondly, keep in mind that the camera will get a lot hotter than the ambient temperature if placed in the sun. Try to place the Blink Mini in a shady location.

There are not many ways to protect the Blink Mini from temperature extremes, but there are ways to protect it from getting wet and from sun damage. I haven’t personally mounted any Blink Minis outside, but here is what I’ve learned from the available case studies in the Blink Community and various forums. 

3 Ways To Protect Your Blink Mini When Placed Outside

Place it in an enclosure

Placing the camera in an enclosure will help prevent water from getting into the camera. 

There are a couple of options available for obtaining an enclosure; buy one off of Amazon or print your own. That’s right, if you have a 3D printer, now is an excellent time to put it to use.

Here is a plan from Thingiverse

Here is a highly rated enclosure from Amazon:

Mount it under an overhang

Blink Mini users have successfully used the Blink Mini under a porch or eaves for short periods of time without using any type of enclosure.

One user on the Blink Community page reports:

“The cams worked fine outdoors. They were all under some sort of cover (eaves, covered porch, etc.). One time I even hit one with a blast of wet snow from the snowblower – worked fine afterwards! I still have those cams and they still work. I use them if I want to monitor something special outdoors for a short period of time. “

Blink Community

Apply liquid electrical tape

One user of the Blink Community suggests using liquid electrical tape to cover all the openings on the Blink Mini. That suggestion can be found here.

I can’t say I recommend the liquid tape approach, though. It is easy not to completely seal the Blink Mini, allowing moisture to get in over time. Water may even penetrate quickly if placed directly in the rain.

Does Blink Have An Outdoor Camera?

Perhaps you are not familiar with Blink’s products, and I’ve just been talking about how to weatherproof an indoor camera. Are you interested in the other cameras that Blink offers? Does Blink have an outdoor camera?

Blink offers an outdoor camera called the Blink Outdoor. It has an IP-65 rating and a temperature range of -4° to 113° F. Otherwise; the specs are exactly the same as that of the Blink Indoor.

The Blink Outdoor and Blink Indoor cameras are battery-powered, where the Blink Mini must be connected to a power supply via a USB cable. 

For more information, check out my article: Does Blink Mini Have A Battery? Does Blink Mini Need To Be Plugged In?

If you are going to be using a Blink Mini outside, you need to plan how you will power it. You will need a long USB power cord or a nearby receptacle. The receptacle also needs to be protected from getting wet. 

There have also been users that have used USB power packs to supply power for short durations.