What do you get when you take the best of the Reolink Keen indoor-only 100% battery operated camera with an included external PIR sensor and blend it with one of the company’s core outdoor bullet cameras? The answer to that question is the Reolink Argus! What is the Reolink Argus you ask? Well, continue reading to answer this question and many others about the latest innovation from a company making a name for itself in a crowed security camera space. Reolink is already known for their high-quality and dependability products but they are always continuing to revolutionize the security camera market. Reolink has had a very successful Indiegogo campaign running for their Argus camera which has broken multiple funding records. You still have a few days to support purchase this product for the reduced price at the time of this review. Read on for more details about this compact and powerful security camera.
As stated earlier, the Reolink Argus is the company’s first entry into the indoor/outdoor 100% battery operated camera market permitting you the ability to place it nearly anywhere desired. It takes all the various innovations the company has made with its other products and condenses them into a single device that is no larger than 3.5” High x 2.25” Wide x 2” Deep. Although it is a very small and compact unit, it packs a punch when it comes to functionality and usability. The ideas and uses are nearly endless where one can place the Argus security camera.
What do you get in the box? First, let me say that I have never been disappointed with the packaging or shipping of any of Reolink’s products, and this is exactly what I received with the Argus. Tight and well secured packaging that fully protects my purchase. As with the company’s other cameras, you always get more than what other manufactures provide or are often sold separately. Reolink provides you with everything you need to get started with the camera out of the box. You not only get the camera and its magnetic base, you also get a tripod mount, the mounting screws (if required), a tool to assist in opening the camera to install batteries, four included lithium batteries, and the mounting templates. The only thing missing (which is optional) is a basic SD card for storing any recordings you would like.
What are some of the features a camera like this can provide? Well, this little unit can run 100% on battery power for months at a time. It is fully weather proof, so it can be used both inside and outside. The video is 1080p full HD unlike others offering 720 or below resolutions. The camera comes with night vision with a range of 33 feet; not bad for such a small device only running on batteries. The camera has the smart PIR sensor built in, so unlike with the keen where you needed to additionally place the sensor somewhere near the camera, the Argus has it all built in. The camera also allows you remote access as with other Reolink devices and is managed by a mobile application supporting both iOS and Android systems. Setup is a breeze if you have previously setup a Reolink Keen device. Setup walks you through via voice instructions the steps to get the unit on wireless and connected to the client application. It could not be easier.
What makes this camera even more versatile is the magnetic base that ships with the camera. This weighted base permits one to mount or angle the camera in almost any position. The magnetic base is very heavy and solid so there is no concern that the camera will tip over; even during windy days. The metal base also comes with two mounting holes for screws if you want to mount it permanently to something such as the side of a house, door post, or anything else that will accept screws. If you do not want to use the magnetic base, the camera also ships with a tripod adaptor that can be screw mounted also. For more severe environment, I would suggest using the tripod mount over the magnetic one.
If you have already made an investment into Reolink’s products and you are looking for a small form-factor indoor/outdoor camera, the Argus is a no brainer. If you simply want a stand-along versatile security camera, I do not think you can go working with the Argus.
Pros:
• Many features and functions only found in higher end cameras
• All the required items are provided in the one box; SD card optional
• Mobility HD 1080P camera to capture nearly anything anywhere
• Very heavy and balanced magnetic base
• All-in-one integration, no need for a separate PIR sensor
• Loud warning siren to scare away potential thieves
• Two-way audio communication
• Uses voice commands telling you how to initially setup the unit
• No required cloud-based subscriptions
Cons:
• Would have liked the unit to be a bit easier to open without the tool
• Would have preferred the reset button and SD card slot be located in the battery compartment for better protection from the outdoor elements
• The unit does not support any PTZ (Pan / Tilt / Zoom) features like the indoor units
• No real instructions or quick start guide provided in my packaging; may be in others
• For a few extra dollars, it would have been nice to have an included SD card
• The unit does not integrate with any NVR units for long term storage or management
• An option to have a solid black unit would have also been nice
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Product Description
Unique Features:
- Multiple-Account Viewing Sharing: Allows up to 10 users to live view the surveillance camera simultaneously.
- Rapid Wake-Up: Wake up at once for live view or motion event detecting.
- Low-Battery Notifications: Inform you when battery capacity reaches 10% so you won’t miss it.
- Playback and Save Clips: Playback videos and click on the specific clip to download via Reolink client. Never miss a moment. Even change resolution if necessary.
Install Tip: Our PIR motion sensor is more sensitive to side-to-side movement than movement heading straight toward the camera.For example, when a person moves straight toward the camera, the PIR motion sensor will be less sensitive to the movement.
Main Features
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Smart PIR Motion Sensor --- Accurate & Instant Alerts |
1080p Full HD & High-Quality Day/Night Vision |
View Live Streaming Anywhere Anytime |
Product Specification
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100% Wire-Free & Weatherproof
Place & Move Anywhere
A truly battery-powered & wireless security camera from top to bottom! Portable, flexible & versatile! The IP65 weatherproof design enables you to install this wire-free security camera outdoors/indoors, and offers no limited placement, such as front door, backyard, garage security. This camera can deliver you clear videos/images even in harsh weather conditions.
With the magnetic base, you can just stick Reolink Argus on it and twist the camera in any directions, or you can mount the camera on the outdoor/indoor security mount to make it firm and secure.
Notes
- Supports 2.4G WiFi ONLY.
- NOT support Solar Panel.
- NOT support ONVIF/WPS.
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| Reolink Keen Battery-Powered Security Camera | Reolink Argus 2 Rechargeable Battery/Solar-Powered Wireless Security Camera | 410W Wifi Camera | Reolink Argus 2+Solar Panel Battery-Powered WiFi Home Security Camera | C1 Pro White Wifi Camera | |
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| Customer Reviews |
83
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2,637
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122
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5,164
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2,045
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| Resolution | 1080p Full HD | 4MP(2560*1440） | 4MP(2560*1440） | 1080p Full HD | 4MP(2560*1440） |
| Solar-powered | N/A | Supported | Supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rechargeable battery-powered | Comes with 4 CR123A Non-Rechargeable Batteries (3V) | Comes with a rechargeable lithium battery | Not Battery Camera | Comes with a rechargeable battery and solar panel | Not Battery Camera |
| Sensor | Common | Starlight Sensor | Common | Starlight Sensor | Common |
| Motion Detect | Thermal IR sensor | Thermal IR sensor | moving object | Thermal IR sensor | moving object |
| WiFi connected | 2.4G WiFi ONLY | 2.4G WiFi ONLY | 2.4Ghz and 5GHz WiFi | 2.4G WiFi ONLY | 2.4Ghz and 5GHz WiFi |
| 2-Way audio(Talk and Listen) | ✓ | ✓ | Listen only | ✓ | ✓ |
| Viewing angle | Flexible 355° Pan and 105° Tilt | 130° (Diagonal) | 80° | 130° (Diagonal) | 80° |
| Remote viewing and control(iOS/Andriod phone) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wall mount | Security wall mount. | Magnetic & security wall mount. | Security wall mount | Magnetic & security wall mount. | Security wall mount |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Reolink Argus 100% Wire-Free 1080p HD Outdoor Wireless Battery-Powered Security Camera for Home with Two Way Audio Micro SD Card Slot & Night Vision |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | Currently unavailable. | -20% $79.99 List: $99.99 | -15% $84.99 Typical: $99.99 | -14% $59.99 Typical: $69.99 | -39% $54.99 List: $89.99 | -14% $42.99 Typical: $49.99 |
| Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Picture quality | ||||||
| Night vision | ||||||
| Motion detection | ||||||
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| Battery life | ||||||
| Sold By | — | ReolinkDirect | ReolinkDirect | ReolinkDirect | ReolinkDirect | ReolinkDirect |
| power source | Battery Powered | Battery Powered | Solar Powered | Solar Powered | Battery Powered | Corded Electric |
| video resolution | 1080p | 4 MP | 5 MP, 1920p | 1080p | 3MP | 2k |
| wireless tech | — | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi |
| viewing angle | — | 122 degrees | 125 degrees | 120 degrees | 100 degrees | 100 degrees |
| night vision range | — | 33 feet | 10 meters | 10 meters | 10 meters | 33 feet |
| mounting type | Wall Mount | Stick Up | Wall Mount | Wall Mount | Wall Mount | Wall Mount |
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Customer Review: Amazing picture and quality!
Michael Wilder
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Customer Review: Great image. great features
Jamal W.
Reviews with images
but for the most part I'm happy with the notifications
I bought this camera for a reason with a single purpose in mind - to notify us when a package was left on the porch. Sometimes the person delivering would ring the doorbell and sometimes they would not. We've had a problem with package thieves, so I wanted something that would send us a message in case the delivery person just left one there. The camera works very well in this case - once setup properly we get immediate phone and email notifications along with a photo of the activity. A video clip is also available to review, but for the most part I'm happy with the notifications.NOTE: If you have a lot of activity where the camera is setup, you will receive a lot of notifications and email messages. This could range from shrubbery blowing in the wind, or animals wandering by, or even normal foot traffic. You might be able to configure an email filter to manage this, but that also runs the risk of missing something important. It's a good/bad 2-edged sword kind of thing... we're lucky to have minimal activity on our front porch - most of the time we use the garage to come and go.The camera attaches magnetically to a hemispheric ball, allowing you to rotate about a wide range of angles. This too can be used to isolate on what you want to view instead of capturing too much activity. There's also a way to mount using screws instead of the magnet, since an outdoor setting will run the risk of a thief simply snatching the camera from the magnet base. But ours is mounted about 12' off the ground in a very inconspicuous place - minimal risk in my opinion.The reason I bought this particular camera is because it could be setup without cables. No need for power or data cables since it runs on batteries and is wireless. It's connected to our wifi network and we can view activity on our phones - there's supposed to be a way to view on a PC also and I'm sure it can be done, but cell phones work best for us. Now that I think about it, it wouldn't be too hard to keep an old phone or tablet near the front door dedicated to viewing front door activity... gonna have to play with that idea.Setup was a little tricky and it took a bit to figure out... I had trouble connecting the camera to wifi, but it must have been my fault because after understanding the whole process I did a factory reset, repeated the procedure and it connected right away.Batteries are not your standard sizes - it uses (qty 4) CR123A batteries, which are between an AA and C size battery. I was concerned about how long they would last. But it's been 2 weeks since installation with both warm (90 deg) and cool (40 deg) weather, and the battery indicator hasn't budged from 100%. And camera software has a utility that displays battery usage each day over the previous 4 weeks, along with tips for extending the life of the batteries. So far, the biggest drain has happened during setup and testing of various functions. Other than that, usage has been pretty minimal.Amazon lists these batteries, both standard and rechargeable, for about $8 a set. Worst case, if I spend $30 a year on batteries it will be worthwhile considering I can mount the camera anywhere inside or outside, as long as my wifi signal will reach.After dark images were pretty good. We don't have a need for that because the porch light is always on at night, but I attached an image taken without the light on and also one during the day - like I said, not bad.Overall I'm going to consider purchasing a couple more cameras for a few other places on our property. We live on a corner lot and there's quite a bit of street activity next to the house that is totally obscured from view. Until now.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
MOTION DETECTION DISTANCE: REOLINK claims 20ft, but I measured and the traffic for my driveway is roughly 10ft away.
NIGHT CAPABILITY: Please see attached photo of my wife and dog at about 15ft distance. This camera cannot perform at night for a distance. As noted above, the motion is very limited and inconsistent and then add in the poor night performance and this camera's limits are CLEAR.
Not directly related to the camera, but something to consider: The battery operated camera's cannot be managed from your PC, only from the app on your phone or tablet. I also find that app's playback interface to be very bad and it's hard to find clips on detected motion. Needs work!
UPDATED ADDITIONS: I’m really tired of being sent blank pictures or pictures showing a car leaving the detection zone. This camera’s motion detection is HORRIBLE (See attached photo). In addition, the battery compartment is a pain in the you know what to get open. I have to use a screw driver to press the button and this isn’t going to last over time, I’m pretty sure of that (see picture).
FINAL CONCLUSION: After months of use and software upgrades, I've determined the this environment is terrible. I'm in the process of exploring alternatives. I bought a 2nd wired reolink camera and it's motion detection is just as terrible. Get what you pay for!
Needs work, don't use for motion detection (my experience)
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
So here's my gripe: The camera has a good picture for a wireless entry in to the market. I mean, 1080 is a nice step in the right direction! However, it ends with the picture because I have serious issues with this camera's ability to capture movement. I placed it at the end of my driveway and in a line of sight that is not straight on with cars and people entering as directed. I get notifications and photos for shadows, but my son walked past the camera in daylight and I got NOTHING. Sometimes I get email notifications of cars entering my driveway and other times I get nothing. I have a popular manufactures camera mounted on my house facing the driveway and it catches EVERYTHING, but this Reolink at the end of the driveway is sporadic at best. I'm going to give it a few days to gauge the battery life, but so far it's a dud.Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
MOTION DETECTION DISTANCE: REOLINK claims 20ft, but I measured and the traffic for my driveway is roughly 10ft away.
NIGHT CAPABILITY: Please see attached photo of my wife and dog at about 15ft distance. This camera cannot perform at night for a distance. As noted above, the motion is very limited and inconsistent and then add in the poor night performance and this camera's limits are CLEAR.
Not directly related to the camera, but something to consider: The battery operated camera's cannot be managed from your PC, only from the app on your phone or tablet. I also find that app's playback interface to be very bad and it's hard to find clips on detected motion. Needs work!
UPDATED ADDITIONS: I’m really tired of being sent blank pictures or pictures showing a car leaving the detection zone. This camera’s motion detection is HORRIBLE (See attached photo). In addition, the battery compartment is a pain in the you know what to get open. I have to use a screw driver to press the button and this isn’t going to last over time, I’m pretty sure of that (see picture).
FINAL CONCLUSION: After months of use and software upgrades, I've determined the this environment is terrible. I'm in the process of exploring alternatives. I bought a 2nd wired reolink camera and it's motion detection is just as terrible. Get what you pay for!
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Hector H
No duran las baterias - preferible la versión de panel solar
Reviewed in Mexico on April 19, 2019
