Reolink Argus 4 Pro Review – An outstanding dual lens  surveillance camera with true colour night vision  

I’ve been a giant fan of the dual-lens cameras Reolink has produced, and I proceed to make use of the Reolink Duo Floodlight in my again backyard and the Reolink Duo 3 in my entrance backyard.

Reolink has now carried out this tech in its Argus vary, with the Argus 4 Professional being the brand new flagship mannequin. Moreover, this is among the first Reolink cameras to make use of the brand new ColorX evening imaginative and prescient know-how, which may produce true-colour evening video footage.

I’ve been utilizing this digicam side-by-side with my  Eufy Safety S300 for the previous few weeks to see how effectively it performs. I used to be significantly to see how the battery holds up as all this superior tech should absolutely be demanding on a battery.

Reolink Argus 4 Professional vs Argus 4 Specification

The primary variations are with the digicam sensor and battery.

The Argus 4 Professional makes use of the ColorX 1/1.8″ Picture Sensor, which was first launched on the Reolink CX410 and permits the digicam to supply true color evening footage. The development in battery life is probably going a results of the Argus 4 Professional not needing to make use of the LED spotlights to supply gentle.

Unboxing and Design

The digicam comes provided with a screw mount, strap and screws, supplying you with the flexibleness to mount it the place you need.

The digicam itself is massive for a battery-powered digicam, as you count on as a result of dual-lens design.

It’s simpler on the attention than the Reolink Duo 3 and resembles a robotic head with the lenses as eyes. You then have highlight LEDs on the left, proper and within the centre for when there’s not sufficient gentle for the color evening imaginative and prescient to work correctly.

On the bottom of the digicam is a rubber flap defending the microSD slot and reset button.

Then, on the again is one other rubber flap for the USB-C port. This can be a recessed port that means that you can use a photo voltaic panel, with the USB-C cable on the panel sealing up the port to supply some ingress safety.

App and Arrange

The setup is identical as for all different Reolink cameras: energy it up, add the digicam via the Reolink app, and comply with the directions.

The primary factor to spotlight is that that is appropriate with Wi-Fi 6 and each 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The 5GHz band doesn’t have as a lot vary, but it surely ought to make connecting the digicam stream quicker.

Storage Choices and Subscription

Reolink is among the greatest firms for the storage choices you might have out there, as they don’t drive you right into a month-to-month subscription.

The Argus 4 Professional helps microSD playing cards as much as 128GB and the Reolink House Hub Collection helps as much as 6TB and provides RTSP assist.

Moreover, you possibly can set the digicam up with e mail alerts and uploads through FTP.

Reolink additionally offers cloud storage for his or her battery-powered cameras. There’s a primary plan at no cost with 7-day cloud storage and one system restrict, then £3.49 PCM for 30 days storage and 5 cameras, or £6.89 for 10 cameras.

180 Diploma Subject of View and Day Time Efficiency

The Argus 4 Professional makes use of two 4MP lenses angled away from one another, which then stitches the 2 photos collectively to supply a formidable 180° ultra-wide-angle view with a decision of 5120×1440.

The twin lens design permits the digicam to have superior readability even in comparison with wider lenses akin to f=2.8mm or f=3.2mm, which disperse pixels over a bigger space.

Video is recorded at 15fps with a 45-second video consuming 16MB of storage.

Video high quality is sweet, which is the case for many cameras throughout daylight these days.

Evening Time Video Efficiency

The Argus 4 Professional makes use of the identical digicam sensor because the CX410, which makes use of a big 1/1.8″CMOS sensor with an aperture of F= 1.0, which permits it to seize considerably extra gentle than competing choices and, subsequently, permits it to supply color footage in low gentle eventualities.

So long as there’s a small quantity of sunshine akin to starlight or a little bit of streetlight, the digicam can shoot full-colour evening imaginative and prescient without having for infrared lights or spotlights.

The standard of the footage just isn’t fairly nearly as good because the daytime efficiency, however it’s considerably higher than B&W’s nighttime footage. Moreover, as a result of the LEDs stay off, you don’t have points with glare like different cameras.

Movement Detection

The Argus 4 Professional has a  180° ultra-wide Passive Infrared (PIR) sensor, guaranteeing broad protection.

In my case, I positioned the digicam on a fence panel going through the gate into my again backyard. On this place, the digicam can detect movement at my entrance door, which is situated to the far proper of the picture and in addition folks getting into my property through the driveway to the proper. So, I’ve one digicam that fulfils the job of two or three cameras.

The digicam additionally has superior AI object detection, which can be utilized to establish people, automobiles, and animals whereas ignoring false triggers akin to wind or rain.

There isn’t a face detection like you might have with some manufacturers akin to Netatmo, Aqara and Eufy.

General, movement detection is great however not fairly nearly as good as my Eufy cameras.

Battery and Photo voltaic Charging

I used to be involved in regards to the battery of this digicam once I acquired it. A dual-lens design looks like it’ll drain the battery very quick.

Reolink claims the Argus 4 Professional is extra environment friendly due to the Argus 4 Professional ColorX know-how, avoiding the everyday problems with IR evening cameras. The Argus 4 Professional saves 2W/h energy consumption when the digicam is in evening imaginative and prescient mode. The embedded Reolink ColorX tech contributes to a 30% extra battery life in contrast with different IR 4K decision cameras at an evening situation in lab exams.

I’ve used the digicam for round three weeks on battery and it was about 25% once I checked. So, round a month’s price of cost. That’s not nice, however not terrible. Eufy skew my opinion as their cameras can final months, however Arlo and different manufacturers with sometimes final round 6 weeks. I discovered that the  Argus 3 Professional additionally wanted a cost round each 6 weeks.

I used to be additionally despatched Reolink’s Photo voltaic Panel, which has as much as a 6W output. Reolink claims that 10 minutes of charging can energy the digicam for twenty-four hours, providing an eco-friendly and environment friendly power answer.

I’m based mostly within the north of England, which has few sunny days. Once I first arrange the digicam, I used it for round per week on photo voltaic. It was sunny on the time, and once I checked on it over the primary few days, it confirmed the battery constantly at 100%.

For Brits, I’d say it’s unlikely you’ll maintain the digicam powered indefinitely on cost, however throughout summer season months, I’d count on you’ll not often must cost it.

Worth and Various Choices

The Reolink Argus 4 Professional launches at this time with an RRP of:

• U.S. $239.9 (consists of photo voltaic panel)
• Europe $249.9 (consists of photo voltaic panel)

I don’t know why they supplied the EU worth in USD, however I’ll guess the UK worth is round £200.

The Reolink Duo 2 battery is £180 RRP and is presently discounted to £140. That’s bodily a lot bigger and uglier, and the digicam sensor is nowhere close to nearly as good because the Argus 4 Professional.

The Argus 3 Extremely has a single 4K 8MP digicam sensor with a 105° FoV, it might do color evening imaginative and prescient however requires spotlights and prices £150 RRP discounted to £100.

Eufy has the SoloCam S340 which is sort of totally different as it’s a PTZ digicam with one regular lens and one zoom lens. It’s battery powered however has a photo voltaic panel inbuilt. Battery life is reported as 3 months with out photo voltaic. This then works with the HomeBase S380 which may add facial detection. It’s then priced at £180.

regular battery cameras, Eufy has the 2-camera eufy Safety S300 eufyCam 3C that’s out there for £280.

The Arlo Professional 5 has a 160-degree area of view from a single 2K lens and is out there for £160.

General

Most of my Reolink critiques are glowing, and I personally use the Reolink POE cameras as my foremost type of surveillance. For residence customers, I believe they’re by far one of the best model for wired cameras. Efficiency will not be nearly as good as Hikvision, however the price-to-performance ratio is considerably higher.

I’ve all the time favored the Reolink Argus vary however most well-liked the dearer choices from Eufy as a result of superior battery life and movement detection.

The Reolink Argus 4 Professional is excellent, and I’d severely take into account swapping out the Eufy cameras I’ve for one or two of those. The 180-degree area of view and color evening imaginative and prescient means this digicam outclasses most different competing choices.

It’s not an inexpensive digicam, however contemplating the options, I believe it’s moderately priced.

I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Enthusiastic about all issues know-how, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cellular, wearables, and good residence units.

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In my educational pursuits, I earned a BSc in Data Techniques Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior examine additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the know-how curve.

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