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Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam: two-minute evaluate
Based in 2009 by a crew of engineers in Shenzhen, China, Reolink has grown into a world supplier of good, but reasonably priced, safety cameras. A short time again I examined the Reolink Altas PT Extremely and was actually impressed with the 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt digital camera, although the design was just a little cumbersome. This just lately launched Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam could be very totally different although.
The digital camera’s two extra-bright spotlights resemble ‘ears’ on both aspect of the primary unit (Picture credit score: Future)
Designed to be positioned on the skin of the property with a transparent view of the sky at a peak of round 2.5 to 3m, the Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam in all fairness simple to put in. Within the field there’s a mounting bracket with screws and wall plugs, in addition to — unusually — a mounting wrench for tightening up the bracket.
Earlier than set up, you have to to cost the unit utilizing the USB-C cable offered and pair the digital camera with the Reolink app utilizing the QR code on the again of the unit. Helpfully, the digital camera helps each 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi frequencies and it tells you when it’s efficiently paired with your property community.
The digital camera comes with a mounting bracket and screws, plus a mounting wrench to tighten the bracket (Picture credit score: Future)
- Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam at Amazon for $87.99
In contrast to some apps, which will be complicated to navigate, the Reolink app presents every little thing you want inside a fairly clear interface. You may choose the various kinds of object you need the digital camera to detect (human, animal, automobile or different) and set a schedule for if you need recordings to occur (for instance, swap off throughout the day if you already know relations are going to be round). You can too exclude sure components of the body, which is useful if — like me — you’re setting the digital camera up in a again backyard and don’t need to file exercise out of your next-door neighbour’s property.
Alternatively, if you happen to don’t need to use the Reolink app, the system will be absolutely built-in with Amazon Alexa, permitting you to view dwell video feeds on screen-enabled gadgets reminiscent of an Echo Present (although we didn’t check this facility). You may even management the floodlights utilizing your personal voice through the Alexa app.
The Reolink app has a refreshingly clear interface (Picture credit score: Future)
Along with two highly effective spotlights, a really loud 110dB siren is offered to assist deter burglars. Alternatively, it’s potential to set your personal customized audio tone if the alarm is triggered reminiscent of whispering ‘pssst’ to get intruders to take a look at the digital camera for higher facial recognition.
Not solely can the brightness of the LED spotlights be adjusted relying in your preferences, it’s additionally potential to regulate colour temperature relying on whether or not you need your intruders to be bathed in a chilly ‘blue-ish’ gentle or a a lot hotter yellow gentle.
You may alter the brightness of the digital camera’s twin spotlights, and even their colour temperature (Picture credit score: Future)
Two-way audio is offered for communications with sound coming from a large-ish speaker on the underside of the unit subsequent to the PIR sensor and waterproof connections for the USB-C cable and Micro SD card.
Footage will be recorded both to the MicroSD card (as much as a most of 512GB) or you possibly can subscribe to Reolink Cloud to retailer footage within the cloud – see particulars beneath. This facility additionally consists of AI Video Search so you possibly can shortly discover footage utilizing pure language. For instance, sort ‘man carrying a pink T-shirt’ and within the UK it’ll convey up the postman coming to the door and anybody else carrying a pink T-shirt!
Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam: subscription choices
Reolink Cloud, Single Gadget Plan: As much as 30-day cloud video historical past, one digital camera, 16GB cloud storage, AI video search. £2.71 (about $3.50 / AU$5) per 30 days.
Reolink Cloud, Customary Plan. Premier Plan: As much as 30-day cloud video historical past, as much as 5 cameras supported, 30GB cloud storage. £2.87 (about $4 / AU$6) per 30 days.
See https://cloud.reolink.com/cloud-plan for additional particulars
Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam: worth and availability
- How a lot does it price? Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam £85 UK, $US99, $AUD169
- When is it out there? Since March 2026
- The place is it out there? UK/US/Australia
First introduced at CES 2026 in early January, the Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam is one in every of a variety of gadgets Reolink is planning to launch this 12 months. Others embody a 24MP triple lens outside digital camera (the OMVI X16 PoE) and an fascinating Reolink AI set-top field designed so as to add AI performance to non-AI cameras.
What’s extra, the Floodlight Cam can be one of many most cost-effective outside cameras you should purchase with native storage (though you’ll have to fork out to your personal Micro SD card). Whereas some firms hold {hardware} costs comparatively low by tying you right into a subscription even for fundamental performance, the Reolink presents a better of each worlds’ answer – low cost {hardware} mixed with native subscription-free storage.
Neither is simply concerning the cash. For these nervous concerning the safety of cloud-based storage, native storage is a far safer choice (offering the burglar doesn’t steal the digital camera with the MicroSD card inside, after all). Nevertheless, there may be all the time the choice of taking out a month-to-month subscription if you happen to so select.
Whereas some producers will cost you over £10 a month for fundamental performance, no less than Reolink Cloud is comparatively low cost. Subscription costs have even come down since I final reviewed a Reolink product round 18 months in the past. Now you can get 30-days of recordings saved within the cloud for lower than £3 a month. The cloud subscription additionally consists of AI video seek for discovering recordings utilizing quick descriptions.
Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam: design
- Distinctive triple dice design
- Fastened photo voltaic panel
- IP66 waterproofing
Most outside safety cameras comprise both one or perhaps two fundamental parts. There’s normally the digital camera itself plus a photo voltaic panel which is both mounted on the digital camera or housed in a separate system and related through a USB-C cable. The Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam is uncommon in that it actually includes 4 parts of comparable measurement and form.
First there’s the primary dice the place the fastened digital camera lens and PIR are situated. Then there are the 2 versatile LED lights that sit both aspect like massive flappy ears. Lastly, there’s the photo voltaic panel, which sits on prime of the primary unit.
The photo voltaic panel is in a set place, so it’s good to watch out to mount the digital camera in a spot the place it’ll catch the solar (Picture credit score: Future)
Normally if the photo voltaic panel is built-in it may be moved manually in the direction of the solar (or within the case of the modern Baseus Safety S2 the panel truly rotates with the motion of the solar). However that’s not the case right here. As an alternative, the photo voltaic panel is fastened which suggests you have to to put in the digital camera someplace that’s comparatively sunny to make sure extra energy.
Initially I had nervous that the bizarre dice design may make the Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam really feel a bit extra flimsy than a number of the extra standard tubular formed fashions. Nevertheless, this white unit feels well-built and comes with IP66 waterproofing.
Picture 1 of two
The digital camera is provided with a dome-shaped movement sensor and a big speaker(Picture credit score: Future)The digital camera is provided with a dome-shaped movement sensor and a big speaker(Picture credit score: Future)
Beneath the digital camera are two weatherproof sockets (one for exterior energy from a USB-C cable and one for energy on/off and a MicroSD card slot). Additionally offered are a PIR dome movement sensor and enormous speaker. Lastly in the back of the digital camera sits a steel ball joint that connects to the mounting bracket to offer final flexibility on the subject of angling the digital camera.
Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam: efficiency
- Highly effective 1,000-lumen illumination
- 2K decision
- Coloration evening imaginative and prescient
On the subject of efficiency it’s honest to say that the Reolink is strong relatively than spectacular. Photographs from the 2K (1440p) digital camera lens aren’t the sharpest I’ve seen, definitely nowhere close to pretty much as good as these from its stablemate, the Reolink Altas PT Extremely. Nevertheless, the place it comes into its personal is its potential to seize footage in close to whole darkness. Just about each evening I examined the digital camera it captured wildlife in my backyard, together with a number of foxes and even a hedgehog! Fortunately no human intruders although.
Picture 1 of 4
Reolink’s app is simple to make use of, and clips are neatly ordered for fast reference(Picture credit score: Future)You may schedule occasions when the digital camera ought to and should not look ahead to exercise(Picture credit score: Future)Adjusting the battery mode can prolong the time between fees(Picture credit score: Future)The time lapse setting is uncommon, however useful for issues like monitoring the method of a constructing mission(Picture credit score: Future)
Whereas some safety cameras have apps which are very troublesome to navigate, Reolink’s are typically very simple to make use of. Beneath the primary picture there’s a timeline the place you possibly can scroll via captured footage — helpful if you happen to missed the push notifications in your cellphone. Every of the clips is categorized for straightforward reference with a picture of a working individual for an intruder, pawprint for animal or a circle for different sighting. This makes it a lot simpler to search out related footage.
As with many safety cameras, I discovered the lens on the Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight digital camera just a little too delicate at its default setting of 80. For instance, sheets hanging on a washing line have been routinely triggering alerts. In consequence, I discovered it essential to cut back the sensitivity to round 50 so it didn’t seize each minor motion.
Picture 1 of two
The Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam would not seize the sharpest pictures in daylight…(Picture credit score: Future)…but it surely actually comes into its personal after darkish(Picture credit score: Future)
Alternatively, if you wish to use the digital camera for artistic, relatively than safety functions, there’s an modern time lapse setting. This may be set as much as seize pictures at set intervals of between 10 seconds and 6 hours and in addition consists of totally different pre-sets together with one for building — useful in case you are monitoring the progress of a constructing mission.
Do you have to purchase the Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam?
Swipe to scroll horizontallyReolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam rating card
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Worth
Costing round £85, the Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam is superb worth for cash contemplating it presents two massive spotlights and a built-in photo voltaic panel.
4.5/5
Design
An uncommon dice design, the Reolink is surprisingly sturdy with respectable IP66 score.
4/5
Efficiency
The Reolink produces strong relatively than spectacular pictures. Nevertheless, its menus are simple to navigate and it incorporates some helpful options reminiscent of time lapse.
4/5
Common score
If you’d like an honest safety digital camera with highly effective spotlights that you just don’t need to hold recharging each few months then the Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam is an efficient choice, particularly given the aggressive price ticket.
4/5
Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam: additionally think about
Swipe to scroll horizontallyRow 0 – Cell 0
Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam
Ring Highlight Cam Professional (Photo voltaic)
IMOU Cell 3C
MP
Subscription worth
None. Elective Reolink Cloud From £2.71 a month.
From £4.99 a month
None required. non-compulsory IMOU Defend from £3.49 a month)
Row 1 – Cell 4
Viewing angle
150° ultra-wide (diagonal)
140° view horizontal, 80° vertical
120° horizontal
Row 2 – Cell 4
Community connection
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)
Row 3 – Cell 4
Audio
Two-way audio
Two-way audio
Two-way audio
Row 4 – Cell 4
Video
2K (1440p) video decision
2K Video, HDR, Reside View, Coloration Evening Imaginative and prescient
2K (3MP) video decision
Row 5 – Cell 4
Energy
Battery/Photo voltaic
Battery/Photo voltaic (mains choice additionally out there)
Battery/Photo voltaic
Row 6 – Cell 4
{Hardware} worth
£85 (with in-built photo voltaic panel)
£199 (with separate photo voltaic panel)
£49.99 (with in-built photo voltaic panel)
Row 7 – Cell 4
When you’re unsure whether or not the Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam is the suitable system to guard your property, listed here are two different choices you must think about:
Do you have to purchase the Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam?
Purchase it if
How I examined the Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam
- * I used the digital camera open air for 10 days
- * I set it up myself utilizing the fittings offered by the producer
- * The safety digital camera was put in on the skin of my summer season home
I put in the Reolink digital camera on the entrance of my summer season home which additionally serves as a small health club and an workplace throughout the summer season. As a result of the constructing is manufactured from wooden it makes it easy to put in cameras utilizing the screws offered, whereas if it was on a brick wall I must use a drill and the wall plugs offered for set up.
Because the photo voltaic panel is fastened and the perfect location for the digital camera is below the eaves of the summer season home I had nervous that the photo voltaic panel could be ineffective. However, remarkably, after 10 days of testing (admittedly a lot of them truly sunny for a change), the digital camera’s battery remains to be at 100% cost. A part of the reason being that I turned the sensitivity of the digital camera down to cut back the variety of false alerts. I additionally decreased the brightness of the spotlights in order to not annoy the neighbours with an excessive amount of gentle air pollution each time an alert is triggered.
Reolink Photo voltaic Floodlight Cam: Value Comparability
