Reolink TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi Review

The Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFi was the primary floodlight digicam from Reolink designed to be wired straight into your mains, just like conventional floodlights and most competing sensible video floodlights.

Reolink introduced the TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi again in September, and I’ve been reviewing it for the previous few weeks.

In case you are accustomed to Reolink, you’ll realise this combines the tech from the aforementioned Elite Floodlight however swaps out the 180-degree twin lens design for the twin lens design of the Reolink Trackmix the place you’ve an 8MP 4K wide-angle lens, then a second 4MP 2K zoom lens with a 6x hybrid zoom with pan and tilt performance which may monitor objects offering 360 diploma protection.

Associated Evaluations

Specification

Options

Digicam and Visuals

The gadget is supplied with a dual-lens system. One lens supplies a wide-angle view in 4K decision, whereas a second telephoto lens allows a 6x hybrid zoom for nearer inspection of distant objects. This setup permits for a dual-view show on the Reolink app, displaying each the vast overview and the zoomed-in picture concurrently.

The digicam is mounted on a pan and tilt mechanism, providing 360-degree horizontal protection (355-degree pan) and 50-degree vertical tilt. This permits the consumer to observe massive areas with out blind spots. For night-time operation, it has two modes. Infrared evening imaginative and prescient supplies black and white footage as much as 30 metres away. Alternatively, color evening imaginative and prescient is feasible when the floodlights are lively.

AI Capabilities

On-device AI processing drives a number of of the digicam’s sensible features with no need a subscription. The system can distinguish between folks, automobiles, and animals, which helps to cut back false alerts.

A notable operate is the AI auto-tracking, the place the digicam robotically pans, tilts, and zooms to observe a detected topic because it strikes. The digicam additionally includes a 270-degree out-of-view detection zone, utilizing three PIR sensors. If movement is detected outdoors the digicam’s present discipline of view, it should robotically flip to face and file the exercise.

The AI additionally powers an area video search device. Customers can kind key phrases, reminiscent of “white automotive” or “individual carrying an umbrella”, into the app to seek out particular video clips from the native storage.

Floodlight System

The built-in floodlights are a key a part of the gadget. They will produce as much as 3000 lumens of brightness with a variety of roughly 12.2 metres. Customers can alter each the brightness degree and the color temperature, from a heat 3000K to a cool 6000K, by way of the app.

The lighting might be managed with a number of sensible modes. It may be set to a schedule, function robotically from dusk-to-dawn, or activate solely when movement is detected.

Safety and Storage

When the digicam detects an individual, automobile, or animal, it will possibly set off a multi-layered alert system. This contains activating the floodlights, sounding a strong 110dB siren, and enjoying a user-recorded five-second customized voice message. On the similar time, a notification is distributed to the consumer’s smartphone. Two-way audio can also be supported through a built-in microphone and speaker.

For video storage, the TrackFlex just isn’t reliant on the cloud. It has a microSD card slot that helps playing cards as much as 512GB for steady native recording. The digicam can be built-in with a Reolink NVR (Community Video Recorder) or save footage to an FTP or NAS server.

Connectivity and Construct

The digicam connects to your community utilizing dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz and 5GHz), which gives sooner knowledge switch and a extra steady connection than older Wi-Fi requirements. The connection is secured with the WPA3 encryption protocol. For sensible residence customers, the gadget might be built-in with Google Assistant, permitting for voice instructions to manage the lights or view the reside feed.

The unit is designed for outside use with an IP66 weatherproof score, defending it from mud and water. It may be mounted on a wall or a ceiling, and the adjustable angles of the digicam and lights present flexibility for set up in numerous areas. The really useful mounting peak is between 2.1 and three metres.

Unboxing / Design

Set up

In the course of the assessment, I mounted the digicam in my standard location, which is simply above my shed door. That is sub-optimal for this type of digicam, as it’s best suited in the next place, the place you’ll be able to profit from the zoom lens. When the climate calms down, I’ll possible get the ladders out to exchange my Eufy Floodlight Digicam E340.

On this placement, I wired the digicam into the unterminated energy lead that I used with the Elite WiFi.

For most individuals, you’d possible wish to swap out an current outside mild which already has electrical wiring run outdoor. If you’ll want to drill holes in your wall, then it will be a way more difficult set up.

Assuming you’ve the wiring in place and don’t must drill into brickwork, the general set up is sort of simple and basically the identical because the Elite WiFi.

 There’s a rear mounting plate which has a cutout within the rear permitting you to wire it in excessive of the place the wires come out, or there’s a small gap within the base that has a rubber plug that can be utilized to run a cable into.

Like many floodlight cameras, there’s a handy cable and hook system permitting you to hold the digicam when you wire it up.

Wiring is easy, for me I didn’t want to show the facility off on the mains, I simply left it unplugged, you then use the included cable connectors, then the digicam slots on to the mount and is held in place with two screws.

Past the bodily set up, the digicam is ready up precisely the identical as each different Reolink digicam.

The gadget pairs simply with the Reolink app, and the setup wizard guides customers by way of the configuration course of step-by-step.

You have got the choice to make use of this in standalone mode with a microSD card for storage, or with the Reolink Homebase performing as an NVR.

Reolink App

The Reolink cellular app gives full management over the TrackFlex Floodlight features, with a structure that’s each easy and well-structured. It makes it easy to entry key choices whereas nonetheless providing fine-tuned configuration for extra superior customers.

Movement Detection and AI Calibration

Movement detection is configurable at a granular degree, with impartial sensitivity profiles for human, automobile, and animal detection. Every class makes use of Reolink’s onboard AI engine to categorise motion occasions, considerably decreasing false positives originating from environmental movement reminiscent of foliage or lighting adjustments. Zone-based configuration permits focused monitoring areas, which is beneficial when overlooking driveways or entrances.

Floodlight and Illumination Tuning

Floodlight administration inside the app gives full handbook and automatic management. Brightness depth and color temperature might be adjusted dynamically, with programmable schedules for dusk-to-dawn operation. The motion-triggered lighting performs constantly throughout check eventualities, and the delay timer is configurable from seconds to a number of minutes, accommodating each safety and utility lighting use circumstances.

Recording and Storage Modes

Reolink contains normal and superior recording modes: motion-based, scheduled, and steady seize. The addition of a time-lapse possibility enhances surveillance flexibility for documenting longer exercise durations, which was absent in prior Duo Floodlight iterations. Configuration extends to storage vacation spot settings, accommodating each native SD and NVR recording.

Superior Detection and Zone Administration

Sensible perimeter safety options combine seamlessly with Reolink’s AI framework. Customers can outline digital boundaries, intrusion zones, and loitering parameters straight inside the app. These features present an extra layer of situational consciousness, notably worthwhile in industrial or wide-area residential setups.

Movement Detection

Many of the movement detection options and efficiency are the identical as different Reolink cameras. However the principle distinction right here is that you’ve got pan and tilt performance. Inside the choices, you’ll be able to allow auto monitoring with the flexibility to trace folks, automobiles and animals. Then you’ve the choice to set it to digital monitoring, digital monitoring first, then pan/tilt first.

I desire the pan/tilt first possibility, so the digicam tracks an individual correctly with the most effective picture high quality.

With this enabled, additionally, you will wish to allow the horizontal monitoring vary. That is helpful as you’ll be able to restrict how far left/proper the digicam strikes, avoiding it dealing with too near your wall.

Then, you may as well allow out-of-view detection. This makes use of the movement sensors to detect movement outdoors of the digicam view, which may scale back the chance of the digicam lacking objects.

One setting that was hidden away is the monitor level. This isn’t within the movement detection web page. You have to view the feed, then click on the little goal icon. The monitor level is essential as that is the place the digicam will return to after it has stopped recording movement.

As at all times with Reolink, I discover the movement detection good however not the most effective. Manufacturers like Aqara and Eufy have facial detection performance, and I’ve discovered the general efficiency to be higher. Reolink has the benefit of extra digicam decisions and the flexibility to file 24/7 to an NVR/Homebase.

Day Time Video High quality

I discover that the majority surveillance cameras present good-quality daytime footage these days you probably have affordable expectations. A £20 1080P is clearly going to be inferior to a costlier 4K digicam.

That is true right here. The 4K 8MP lens supplies glorious high quality footage, permitting you to obviously make out recognisable options of any individual/animal/automotive it captures.

The 2K 4MP sensor additionally supplies good high quality footage, although the decision is decrease, it zoomed in picture permits you to get far more element of the thing being tracked.

Night time / Low Mild Video High quality

Low mild efficiency is sweet, however not so good as you’d get with one in all Reolink’s ColorX cameras, that are able to true color video in very low mild. With the floodlights off, the digicam data in black and white, switching to color when the floodlights are enabled.

I suppose the logic right here is that you simply don’t want a ColorX digicam sensor when the floodlights set off for any motion, and fewer superior digicam sensors assist hold prices down. However I’d have nonetheless most popular a real color sensor.

You probably have positioned the floodlights sensibly, they supply loads of illumination and a constant unfold of sunshine, so objects are clear with none important vibrant spots.

You can even alter the brightness of the floodlights inside the settings, which might be useful if you wish to keep away from the sunshine being too vibrant for extra public-facing areas.

Value and Different Choices

The RRP of the Reolink TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi is $239.99, I’ve not been supplied the UK pricing but, however the US value works out at £180. The presale of this digicam will begin on November twenty fifth, and the launch date is December eighth. 

The Elite Floodlight WiFi launched for £200, and on the time of writing, it was out there for £150.

The Reolink TrackMix PoE has an RRP of £160 and is accessible for £112.

So, I’d anticipate the Reolink TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi to launch for round £200 and inevitably be discounted inside a number of days, weeks, or months.

Eufy has the Floodlight Digicam E340, which I really like. It may well file 24/7, in contrast to many different Eufy cameras, however that is restricted to the Homebase. Nonetheless, you need to use RTSP with Reolink. This has an RRP of £219 with £30 off out there.

General

The TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi is one other nice digicam from Reolink that offers patrons extra alternative for his or her surveillance wants.

In my state of affairs, the TrackFlex Floodlight wasn’t preferrred, because of the low placement, however the Elite Floodlight WiFi is ideal for this location. On the flip aspect, if I had mounted the digicam greater up on my property, the TrackFlex Floodlight would have made extra sense, giving me a wide-angle view that covers my backyard, and a zoomed view to seize the small print or any object it tracks.

Some folks may need this have been PoE, however I feel the mains-wired design has a wider viewers, because it permits patrons to swap out old school dumb floodlights with one thing like this.

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

As a health fanatic who loves working and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related know-how, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My numerous pursuits enable me to deliver a novel perspective to tech running a blog, merging life-style, health, and the most recent tech traits.

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

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has constantly ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many high know-how blogs within the UK. With my dedication to know-how and drive to share my insights, I purpose to proceed offering my readers with participating and informative content material.