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A moderately-priced outdoor security camera with a tonne of features including 2K video, intelligent motion detection, dual-band Wi-Fi, and compatibility for voice commands from Alexa and Google Assistant is the Reolink Argus 3 Pro. It offers free cloud storage for recorded videos and produced good day and night video quality during testing, but its battery life could be better and it isn’t IFTTT compatible. The Wyze Cam V3, which is our inexpensive outdoor cameras, isn’t wireless and can only record in 1080p, but it costs just $20 and has better third-party support.
On a frigid, sunny, windy winter day in central Ohio, the brand-new Argus 3 Pro, with the most aesthetically spectacular imagery we’ve seen from a Reolink camera, was delivered to us. We put our battery-operated device to the test in the chilly winds and thick (at times) snowfall, testing with different angles to acquire the best clarity and detail. Every night as the sun went down, we watched as the camera recorded in full colour with ease and a motion-activated spotlight for added visual coverage. also you will check our article on Reolink Argus 3 Pro review.
Reolink Argus 3 Pro review: Design
The Reolink Argus 3 Pro’s exterior design is nothing special; it has a curved plastic body and a black front that houses the camera lens and all of the sensors, just like other security cameras like the Arlo Pro 4. The camera can be easily positioned to provide the desired perspective thanks to the variety of simple-to-install mounts included in the box. It is suitable for all weather conditions thanks to the IP65 rating. The Micro USB port for charging is accessible through a flap on the back, and the microSD card slot is hidden behind a flap on the bottom.
Camera Installation
A wall mount that you can screw onto a wall, a stand to put the camera indoors on a shelf, and a strap to attach the wall mount to a pole or tree are all included in the box. Once you’ve decided on your preferred camera angle, the wall mount’s lockable mechanism holds the ball joint in place. You also receive a plastic template for the wall mount that you may use to make pilot holes before you commit.
The paper template that came with the solar panel was far more preferable than this one, notwithstanding its convenience. That offered you specific locations to drill, but you must first slightly prepare the plastic template. Using the Reolink app, the camera is set up. The device scans a QR code and then creates a link using the Wi-Fi connection that already exists on your phone. It’s quick and painless overall.
If you decide to use a solar panel, be sure to set it up properly (ideally facing south) to get the most sun exposure. If you succeed in doing this, you’ll discover that the camera’s battery keeps a high charge level during regular use. In our experience, once the solar panel’s initial charge was complete, it never fell below 90%. also you will learn our article on Reolink Argus 3 Pro review.
Reolink Argus 3 Pro review: Video Quality
The switch to anything with higher resolution is quite a shock when you’re so used to receiving 1080p footage from security cameras. That’s exactly how we felt as we watched the 2K video footage from the Reolink Argus 3 Pro, which, at a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, produces incredibly sharp results that surpassed our expectations. Security camera specifications, particularly when it comes to resolution, rarely sway us, but when we watched the footage, the difference was plain to see.
The scene’s fine details are accurately depicted, and when you use a digital zoom to look closer, they still have good clarity. The quality of the video, even with a digital zoom, genuinely shocked us. The only issue is that colors are frequently muted and highlights seem a little blown out. The video quality is excellent overall, despite the slower frame rate of 15 frames per second (fps), which is unimportant in good lighting conditions.
The 4-megapixel 1/3-inch CMOS sensor’s night vision capability is equally exceptional. The footage in black and white is incredibly detailed and illuminates a good 25 feet away from where it is situated. Color night vision is an option that enhances clarity by bringing forth colors, although it does need some ambient light to function. The Argus 3 Pro has a bright floodlight that can be turned on whenever motion is sensed, but the black-and-white video is so crisp that we honestly don’t mind it. Our only criticism is that it has a 122-degree field of view, which is a smaller range than some of its rivals.
App and Performance
With its 4Mp sensor, the Pro camera (which also comes in a non-Pro 1080p version) provides great video quality during both the day and the night. 2560 x 1440 video is captured at 15 rather than 30 frames per second. The camera reliably detects movement from people within its field of view at night. When the spotlight is turned on, the infrared LEDs turn off, enabling “color night vision.” When the spotlight is not on and there is insufficient light, infrared LEDs are used because motion is detected.
It works nicely if the camera is set low or near enough for the flashlight to illuminate onlookers. Since the spotlight isn’t strong enough to illuminate the area from so far away, if you install it on the first floor of your home to reduce theft, you’ll find that image quality depends more on nearby street illumination. The Siren doesn’t sound as alarming as you might anticipate it to. Although it might discourage a person, it wouldn’t let your neighbors know that something was wrong. You can change the siren sound to a voice message that has been recorded. Although it is audible once more, there won’t likely be much of a commotion in the street.
The app is straightforward to use, but if you’d rather, you may also access it through a web portal on a browser. The app has huge, clearly labelled function buttons that enable 2-way conversing and provide access to prior recordings. However, it would be wonderful if the playback scroll head were always displayed. The area is empty when you first launch the app, adding an extra step when you want to access the playback section. The smart home integration is provided by Google Assistant and Alexa. Asking your smart device to display the camera will allow you to view the stream from either device.
Sadly, you can only use them for that. The Google Home app does not have any adjustable features that enable detection-based notifications or anything like. Additionally, there is no HomeKit support, which could be a deal-breaker if you primarily use an iPhone and Apple’s Home app. IFTTT is not supported either. You can use the camera’s built-in siren to frighten away potential intruders.
Indoor and outdoor flexibility
Although the Reolink Argus 3 Pro is advertised as an outdoor camera, we really like how it can be used as an indoor camera right out of the box. This is an important distinction to make because other outdoor cameras lack this kind of adaptability. This is due to the fact that it is packaged with a stand bracket that allows for indoor use on a flat surface such as a shelf or table. you can read our article on Reolink Argus 3 Pro review.
It looks very much like an Arlo camera at first glance, however the Argus Pro 3 is a little bit shorter. Its IP65 weatherproof design guarantees that it will withstand whatever the elements throw at it, and a concealed microSD slot on the underside gives users the convenience of local storage. We are very pleased that it does save video locally, but please be aware that the free basic plan has a 1GB cloud storage limit and only offers seven days of cloud video history for a single camera.
You’ll need to upgrade to the $3.49 standard plan, which includes support for up to five cameras and 30 days of video history, if you want even more storage. Battery life is the final notable point that needs to be made. Its battery level was 85% full after a full day of use, indicating that it will run out of power before the seventh day. The solar panel, an add-on that increases the battery’s lifespan and costs $25, is available for purchase.
Reolink Argus 3 Pro review: Battery Life
We don’t like wireless cameras for a number of reasons, including the battery. With the 1-year battery on the eufyCam 2 and the 6-month battery on the 2C, Eufy has addressed this issue. The battery life is not specified by Reolink. It is simply 6500mAh. It has been put up for a few weeks and the battery seems to be at about 50%. We can envision myself billing for this every six weeks, depending on the events recorded. Not terrible, but not great either.
A solar panel can increase battery life and only costs about $25. Reolink suggests that this might be able to keep your camera running indefinitely, giving it a significant advantage over the Eufy and Arlo. We live in the North, so we think those assertions won’t quite apply to the weather up there in the UK.
Price
The Argus 3 is available in two different configurations. Both Reolink directly and Amazon sell the 2K-capable Argus 3 Pro. On Reolink’s website in the UK, there appeared to be a perpetual reduction, bringing the price down to £95. Every week we checked, the same deal was still available despite the countdown metre. The same thing happens in the US, lowering the cost from $139.99 to $118.99.
A less expensive model, the Argus 3, which has a 1080p sensor, is also offered through Reolink (discounted to £70/$76.99) and Amazon. The camera and solar panel are also available in bundles on Amazon.com. The bundle is the best option if you require an outdoor battery-powered security camera, especially if you plan to place the camera in an inconvenient location.
Conclusion
The best replacement for the eufyCam 2C that we have tried is the Reolink Argus 3 Pro, which is a great product. You get 2K video and no need for a home base, allowing you to buy them separately, but it will probably cost a little more than the 2C and we doubt the battery will last as long.
Wireless cameras are highly practical, even if we really prefer connected POE security cameras as the primary method of security surveillance in our house. In a few places around our house where we don’t have Ethernet connected up, we still use the 2C. We can see ourselves replacing the Eufy cameras with the Argus 3 Pro so we can have one unified system given that we have so many Reolink cameras with the Reolink app.