Reolink Argus Pro with Solar Panel Review

Reolink Argus Pro with Solar Panel may not be the king of its kind. Still, it’s certainly a competitive outdoor camera that offers features like 1080p resolution and PIR motion detection that deters false alerts. As long as you have strong WiFi connections, you’re covered for unrestricted 130-degree field view. 

Aren’t these the most commendable benefits that a surveillance camera owner needs? Well, there’s lots more that you would want to know. 

Let’s get to the details and see what Argus Pro brings to your home.

Pros and Cons of Reolink Argus Pro

A Chinese company, Shenzhen Baichuan Security Technology Co., Ltd, established Reolink home security company in 2007. It has a variety of smart security products and offers features like the field of view, HD recording capabilities, night vision, and more. 

Argus Pro with Solar Panel Overview

Argus Pro is a scaled-down version of Argus original and is more on the budget-friendly side. With the Argus Pro camera, you won’t need to drill holes that leave a permanent mark on the walls. 

Reolink Argus Pro’s outdoor security camera is 100% wireless. It comes with a solar panel (included in the parcel), so it charges its batteries which is great for someone who has a busy life. 

As we look into the features of the Argus Pro by Reolink, you’ll see a great resemblance with Argus Pro. one main difference is the Argus Pro uses Starlight night vision while the Argus 2 uses Starlight CMOS sensor (which is better than night vision).

Peek at Argus Pro’s Features

Solar Panel Power:

Argus Pro comes with a solar panel that supports continuous charging and takes away the battery replacement routine. However, stop using solar panels when the temperature drops below -10°C (14°F). You’ll get a micro USB with Argus Pro to connect to the solar plate.

Internal Battery:

Argus Pro also has an in-built, rechargeable battery. So, if you don’t want to use a WiFi connection for the security camera, you can use its internal battery to recharge the smart device.

Field of View:

A 130-degree field of view ensures to cover as much area as possible. You can monitor more areas to protect your surroundings while using Argus Pro.

Connectivity:

As per Reolink’s support site, the Argus Pro supports a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band for a solid internet connection. The camera can quickly connect to any nearby WiFi network.

Night Vision:

The Starlight night vision in Reolink Argus Pro supports clearer footage for up to 33ft. You can see who’s in your backyard with no get-up-from-the-bed struggles. It’s pretty admirable at the price of $100. 

Resolution:

Argus Pro offers HD resolution with 1920×1080 pixels to capture a grain-free and crystal-clear video that doesn’t strain your eyes.  

Motion Detection:

Passive Infrared or PIR sensor (850nm infrared LEDs) equips Argus Pro with smart motion detection to alert users through push notifications. There are no false alarms which is a sigh of relief if you ask me.

Notifications:

Whenever the Argus Pro catches detection due to smart technology, you’ll get push notifications on the mobile app. 

Live View:

The Argus Pro camera records a real-time view of 8 seconds that you can watch anytime. But, you have the choice to set it to 30 seconds from the app’s settings.

Internal Storage

You can use an SD Card with 64 GB of storage. 

External Storage:

Reolink offers 10 GB of cloud service data that users can subscribe to premium packages to store video/images. 

Water Resistance:

Argus Pro also has IP65 waterproof incorporated, protecting it from harsh weather conditions.

What Comes in the Box?

When you purchase Reolink Argus Pro, you can expect to receive the quick start guide in English and Deutsch. The user manual talks about the camera installation and other things in the package.

Other things include:

1. Mounting bracket
2. Mounting strap
3. Solar panel
4. Micro USB charging cable
5. Screws
6. Silicone protection cover for the camera
7. The Reolink Argus Pro camera device
8. Solar plate with silicone-covered USB

Once you are done with the unboxing, install the Reolink app, and the camera will be ready to go for a check. You can also mount it with the accessories present in the box.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Reolink Argus Pro with Solar Panel

We all like portable products with no wires to deal with, easy set-up, and affordable pricing. But, besides these user-centered services, there are some other sides of the Argus Pro that you need to consider before you decide to purchase it.

Critical Points:

Limited Storage

Argus Pro only supports 64GB storage supported by the external USB. This means that you won’t be able to use any device with more than 64 GB of storage, hindering the continuous recording.

Wireless Outdoor Camera

Since the Reolink Argus Pro is a wire-free device, an intruder can easily attack or dismount it. They can access the SD card and take it away. Also, Argus is only for outdoor purposes as per the manufacturer. 

Compatibility issues

You would expect a smart outdoor device to be compatible with other IoT services like Google Assistant or Alexa. Sady, Reolink Argus Pro doesn’t offer that. 

Winning Points

Amazing Battery Life

Argus Pro with solar panel runs on 960 minutes of continuous, real-time recording and 180 days on standby. The solar panel also eases the battery swapping burden. Like me, you’ll love the Argus Pro battery performance because there will be no battery swaps for the longest time. 

Low Maintenance 

You won’t have to rush outside when it’s snowing or rainy because the device is weatherproof. It comes with a silicone cover over the device, and even the USB connector is protected. 

Affordable Pricing 

Argus Pro by Reolink came into the market as an economical alternative. However, it only has the basic features. It’s still a good value for money. 

Considering the camera’s stats, you’ll have to pay some attention that this device does not support smart assistants or offer facial recognition functionality. If you’re okay with ignoring these factors, then Reolink Argus Pro is your way to go.

Reolink Argus Pro with Solar Panel Features & Benefits

Reolink’s Argus Pro is an easy-to-use security camera that you can control through an interactive app. The app benefits you by offering remote access. You can watch Live Streaming from your home and business no matter where you are. It makes life safer for you. 

The Night Vision – Indoor View

Now we’re talking about the camera’s night video quality. One great thing about Reolink Argus Pro is that it captures a complete detailed view of any room. It gives a wide-angle view. It does not show any odd curves around the main screen, even at night.

I must add here that the footage is quite clear. It only distorts around the edges because it has a fish-eye lens. Unlike most other security cameras on the market, you get more viewing areas on this device. 

The Reolink Argus Pro’s built-in infrared light feature helps you with indoor night vision. It lights up the room and covers every minute detail. It will require turning off the Infrared Night Vision lights. You can do it through the camera settings. This is because these cause mirroring or reflection in the glass. 

The Reolink App

Reolink app is a simple surveillance camera system app. It works for both Android and iOS with a friendly interface. Besides, it backs up a 16 (multi) screen live streaming and video playback for a single channel worldwide. 

Note: The app features include your access to the camera and NVRs in 3 easy steps. 

The app is easy to set up. Some of the features are:

Live Streaming Video

Watching the live feed on your phone is a few taps away now. 

Live Streaming also lets you:

• Snap pictures
• Record videos 
• View recordings
• Control the pan-tilt-zoom settings

Motion Detection

Motion detection is a great feature that helps you extensively save your battery power on the Reolink Argus 3 Pro and Reolink Go. 

The Two-way Audio

This helpful feature lets you speak to the people around the camera. It acts as a walkie talkie.

Custom Voice Alerts & Siren

You can adjust each camera to sound like a siren when it detects any motion. You can choose between an alarm sound or record your custom voice as an alert for 5 seconds. You can now hear your camera say in your voice, “What are you doing here?” or “who’s there to threaten the intruders. 

The app offers dark mode, easy set-up, and links to support resources, making it a good choice.

Reolink Battery Charge

If you wonder how long the battery charge on Reolink Argus Pro lasts, be ready for the good news. You no longer need to stress about running out of battery or power outages. The solar-powered rechargeable security camera helps you through. 

Some more information includes:

• 4 to 5 hours are enough to full-charge the camera under 10 ℃- 30 ℃ environment temperature with direct sunlight.
• Under environment temperatures of 30 ℃- 45℃, the Reolink security camera will take about 6 to 8 hours more to get full-charged.
• You will need to charge the battery-powered camera at about double the normal environment temperature. We’re talking about the environment temperature of 0 ℃- 10 ℃.
• It will not charge the battery when the environment temperature is below 0 ℃ or over 45 ℃, and it will not charge the battery. 

When you normally charge the device (a one-time full charge), its batteries will last for 1 to 4 whole weeks, depending on the frequency of the charging environment and your WiFi connection.  

Other Useful Features of the Camera

The Live View

We discussed Reolink’s Live Streaming earlier. We talk here about the method of viewing live on Reolink. To set the Reolink app to open its Live View page itself when it starts, follow these steps:

1. Open the Reolink App.
2. Choose Menu.
3. Select Settings.
4. Enable Automatically Live View.

Cloud and Internal Storage 

Cloud and local storage are two different storage systems. They both work independently. The security footage will be recorded to the Micro SD card and uploaded to the cloud instantly. Cloud storage video length is 8 seconds. 

Free Plan

If you live alone and don’t need continuous recording, Reolink’s free cloud storage is efficient.

Here’s what it offers: 

• 7 days of cloud video recordings
• 1GB of cloud storage
• 1 camera supported

However, only the premium cloud storage plan would be the best for family and business properties. It gives you more storage and records and saves more videos for evidence and connected devices. 

Premium Plans:

Reolink Argus Pro does not offer a huge storage compatibility which is unfortunate but you can always subscribe to the cloud storage it offers at decent pricing. 

Video Download

Here are the steps for downloading recordings through the Reolink App:

1. Log in to the App and open the Playback Page. 
2. Select the recording file you want to download and open the download page. 
3. Move the time range to set up the recording you need and press download to start. 

Cloud storage works for a limited number of countries. The Reolink brand is working hard to expand its functionality to Europe and other regions.

The 2-second Recording Delay

With a limited frame rate of 15 fps (Frames per second), the Reolink security camera creates a 2.5-second delay. It happens before the camera triggers a motion alert. 

The PTZ Feature

PTZ on Reolink is a short form of Pan-Tilt and Zoom. A PTZ camera is capable of remote directional (up/ down/ left/ right) and Zoom Control. pan indicates the camera can rotate from the left and right, covering a wide area. 

Note: The streaming is of high resolution and clarity.

The steps of sharing your configured camera devices or NVRs with others include:

1. Open Reolink App.
2. Tap on the icon to enter the Device Settings. 
3. Get the UID?QR code.
4. Click share to look for the Sharing QR Code.
5. Follow the instructions on the page. 

Reolink allows up to 12 people to have the same account access and view live feeds simultaneously. You can share this view on smartphones, computer screens (Windows or Mac), or laptops supporting up to two users running the mainstream altogether.

Reolink Push Notifications

Push notifications allow the Reolink App to send alerts to your mobile phone. It happens when the camera detects any motions. Allow the Reolink App to send notifications to your smartphone first. Follow the tutorial below to set up and push notifications on Androids:

1. Tap Settings on your phone
2. Click Notifications
3. Click Reolink App
4. Allow Notifications
5. Open Reolink App
6. Enter Device Settings
7. Click on the Push icon

This will enable push notifications when the system detects any motion around. To disable push notifications, you only need to click the icon again.

Reolink Alexa Integration 

Reolink now works in integration with Alexa for security solutions. Real-time videos from the Reolink cameras on Amazon Alexa devices. Such as Echo Show and Echo Spot, along with hands-free voice commands. 

Use Alexa on your Reolink by following these instructions.

1. Open the Reolink App.
2. Log in to your Reolink account.
3. Go to the Smart Home option.
4. Enable the device you have to add to Amazon Alexa.
5. Open the Amazon Alexa App.
6. Sign in to your account.
7. Tap on devices in the bottom left corner.
8. Choose Your Smart Home Skills.
9. Press Enable Smart Home Skills.
10. Click on the Search icon.
11. Search for the Reolink Smart Home option.
12. Press Enable to Use, type in your Reolink account, and select Login.
13. Click on “Discover Devices” 
14. You can also voice command “Alexa, discover devices” so Alexa will search and locate the devices.
15. Click on Set up Device. 
16. Tap on Continue and finish the setup.

You can add Amazon Alexa by following these simple steps. Test the camera by launching the Echo dot or Echo Show, say “Alexa, show (camera name) to watch the Live stream.” Then say Alexa, stop (camera name)”. It will stop the Live Stream. 

Two Way Audio Built-in?

The Argus Pro supports two-way audio capabilities. It uses a high-quality built-in microphone & speakers that support you with PIR alarms, so you never miss any updates. 

Reolink’s push to talk or two-way audio allows you to send and receive audio through the IP camera. Such cameras come with a built-in speaker and microphone. You can talk through the App when you are away from your home. 

Field of view:

• 130 degrees diagonal, fixed lens

Motion detection:

• PIR Detecting Distance: Low 2-4m, Mid 4-6m, High 6-9m – Adjustable up to 9m (30ft)
• PIR Detection Angle: 120 Degrees Horizontal

Video quality: 

• 1080p at 15 FPS video resolution
• H.264 video format
• up to 10m (33ft) night vision
• 12x digital zoom

With everything covered in our books, I’d like to give you a peek at the installation process of the Argus Pro. 

Install Argus Pro with Solar Panel

Steps for Camera Installation:

1. Get a three screwed mounting plate.
2. Drill it into the wall using screws.
3. Mount the camera’s bracket stand on the wall.
4. Hook the camera on its mounting bracket.
5. Fix the camera in with the screws.
6. Connect the camera to your phone.

Steps for Solar panel installation:

1. Choose a location with sufficient sunlight for enough energy production.
2. Mount it on the wall by drilling holes and screwing the bracket. 
3. Adjust the panel on the mounting bracket and tighten the knob.

2.4 GHz network connection

• 2.4 GHz operating frequency.
• IEEE 802.11 b/g/n wireless standards.
• WEP/WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK for security.

IP65 Weatherproof

IP65 rating is not outstanding, but it does protect your device from water jets or water sprays. However, you might have to take the camera down for heavy rain to keep it dry and protected. 

Reliability and warranty 

2-year warranty that you can avail of any time before the period ends. However, it has some restrictions that users don’t appreciate. 

What do Argus Pro Users Say About the Product?

To present a clear picture, I’ve dug deep into the online user reviews to see what Argus Pro users are saying about the device and whether it’s fulfilling its claims. 

Here’s what I found out:

All Argus Pro users absolutely love the product because it is easy to install and use. Changing batteries top the list of things users appreciate about the Reolink Argus Pro. The solar panel keeps the device charged 100% and ready to record anytime.

I won’t say you won’t encounter any camera functionality problems. There can be a point where the camera may stop working out of nowhere and other minor glitches. 

The PIR motion detection catches on the body heat of living organisms quite sensitively. The alarm doesn’t get triggered by the cars or trucks. The picture quality isn’t great unless you have garage lights on.

Argus Pro records a 30 seconds recording, but some users have struggled with the auto timing recognized by the camera. Sometimes it’s less than 20 seconds, while it’s 2 minutes straight.

The good thing is that Reolink’s customer support team is responsive, and you will get a solution within 24 hours of the complaint in most cases. 

Our Verdict: Is Argus Pro Worth it?

Reolink Argus Pro is ideal for anyone seeking a low-cost surveillance option that does not require continuous recording. You can readily put Argus Pro anywhere if you have good WiFi connectivity.

The camera may not have the best image quality, but it is IP 65 weatherproof. The camera will always have charging, and you won’t have to remove the camera or battery to charge it.

If you are after a smart security solution that also offers good value for money.