Wireless security cameras might seem easy to install, but keeping them running can make you feel like you're scaling mountains just to change a battery.
With an add-on solar panel, that isn’t the case for the Reolink Argus 3 Pro which we tested out below. Check out our video review and read on!
Note: Reolink provided us with a free sample of the product for the purposes of this review.
Without having to run wires, the Reolink Argus 3 Pro camera can fit anywhere – from your garage to your porch. Meaning you can have eyes and ears anywhere on your property. That being said, you will need to ensure you have a strong enough Wi-Fi signal to these locations!
- Eco-friendly charging options with rechargeable batteries.
- Two-way audio transmission for enhanced safety.
- Local and cloud storage options available.
Rechargeable Batteries
The Reolink Argus 3 Pro has solar-powered rechargeable batteries so you don’t have to worry about your camera's batteries dying out on you and leaving your property unguarded. That also means you can cut down on power costs that can add up when your cameras are running 24/7, 365 days a year.
Resolution
The only thing that we didn't take to 100% is the 1080p or 2K visual experience. Video clarity isn't just an added bonus – it's more of a necessity in security cameras. Which is why, cameras with high resolution inspire more confidence.
While 2K isn't exactly poor quality, a 4K resolution would have made everything so much better. However, we do like the fact that the Argus 3 Pro offers black & white as well as color night vision mode.
Storage
Then there's the camera's storage options. You can choose between a 128GB MicroSD card or cloud storage. The good news is that the camera comes with a basic plan that allows for 1GB of video and 7-day history storage for one camera.
Reolink also offers standard, premier, and business plan options for folks looking for more space.
Overall, the Argus 3 Pro packs quite a punch in a reasonable price range.
Reolink Argus 3 Pro Decision-Making Factors
Battery- or Solar-Powered – No Power Cable
One of the main things that will immediately catch your eye about the Argus 3 Pro is the wireless, rechargeable battery that it comes with. Instead of getting tangled in multiple wire connections and cables, you can easily use a rechargeable battery with the Argus 3 Pro to cut down on your electricity usage.
What's more, you can also get the Reolink solar panel to recharge the battery with solar power, cutting down on energy costs and ensuring smooth functioning even if there's a blackout. You can simply install the solar panel with the camera and forget about your battery-charging duties.
Wi-Fi – No Ethernet / Coaxial Cable
The battery-powered camera allows you to connect to a dual-band Wi-Fi connection. The camera's 2.4/5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity means higher chances of high-quality connections and networking with your camera.
You can easily connect it to Wi-Fi signals to transmit your footage over the secured internet connection, giving you full access to the feed. That also means you don't attach or hide any coaxial cables for the reception of video signals – which is always a plus.
Smart Detection & Motion Zones
The Argus 3 Pro offers superior smart motion detection technology that enables the camera to distinguish between humans and vehicles. Once the high-tech motion detectors have figured out the object, you can receive alerts about human and car activity near your camera.
So you don't have to constantly check the feed to figure out what's causing the commotion.
Night Vision
The Argus 3 Pro offers both black and white and full-color night vision for an improved visual experience. It's not always easy to tell what you're looking at through your camera at night because of glares.
Not to mention the B&W mode makes your eyes strain harder to absorb light. But with the 3 Pro, you can switch to color mode – even at night – to get a better picture and once you're done, you can revert to the black and white mode to save battery.
Deterrent Light & Siren
Intruder alert with the Argus 3 Pro is pretty simple. The camera comes with built-in spotlights and alarm sirens that go off when an unidentified intruder is spotted.
Not just that, but you can also manually activate a speech warning or voice alarm to keep anyone from trying to break in.
Two-Way Audio
The Argus 3 Pro's two-way audio transmission lets you listen to whoever is captured by the camera's feed through a built-in microphone.
You can also speak to whomever your camera captures through the speakers in the camera. This two-way communication makes it easy for you to take care of “visitors” even when you're not home.
Weatherproof for Outdoor Use
One of the main concerns of people with outdoor surveillance is the weather and the damage it might cause to their safety equipment. With the Argus 3 Pro, you can wave that concern goodbye.
The camera comes with IP65 weatherproof certification, meaning that harsh weather conditions like rain, snow, or wind, will not harm your camera or its results in any way. So you can relax knowing that your Argus 3 Pro will survive even the harshest environment.
Resolution
The 4MP HD camera comes with a reasonable 2K resolution. This, coupled with the pre-installed spotlights within the camera, allows for sharp and clear visuals for your footage.
Even at night, the spotlights aid in giving the camera an advantage over the human eye and deliver a crisp, sharp feed so you can identify even the most trivial differences.
As long as the battery is recharged, the camera will record in full HD colors day and night.
Remote Live Feeds and Timeline Playback
Security is just a click away with the Argus 3 Pro's live feed feature. It lets you get live feed results from your camera directly on your phone, tablet, or laptop via the Reolink application. You can check up on your home, family, valuables, or even your office space straight through the Reolink app.
Viewing your recordings via the app allows you control over the playback feature. You can scroll through the timeline of the video to get back to a particular event instead of viewing the whole thing.
Local Storage & Cloud Option
The Argus 3 Pro gives you two different storage options to make your experience with surveillance flexible and smooth. With the local storage option, which is an SD card that stores all your feed data and stores recordings even when there is a power breakdown, you get to keep all your live feed recordings secure with you in a physical medium. You can easily copy the files and store them on multiple devices.
There are also four different plans for cloud storage, with the basic plan offered free with your Argus 3 Pro purchase. You can choose to upgrade your plan according to your needs and ensure all your recordings are backed up in a secure location.
Time Lapses
The camera also gives you the freedom to create time lapses of your home or your yard, recording the growth of your favorite plants and beautiful sunsets and sunrises, too.
Get creative and professional with the Argus 3 Pro's timelapse feature.
Voice Control & Smart Integrations
The Argus 3 Pro is compatible with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. That may not seem like much but it definitely adds to ease of use by allowing you to control or access your cameras without resorting to the app.
The Verdict
The Argus 3 Pro is armed with all the latest security camera features, has a competitive price range, and comes with a 30-day warranty. Even though it's lacking the brilliance of 4k video quality, the fact that there's local storage, color night vision, and two-way audio more than make up for it.
Without having to run wires, the Reolink Argus 3 Pro camera can fit anywhere – from your garage to your porch. Meaning you can have eyes and ears anywhere on your property. That being said, you will need to ensure you have a strong enough Wi-Fi signal to these locations!
- Eco-friendly charging options with rechargeable batteries.
- Two-way audio transmission for enhanced safety.
- Local and cloud storage options available.