Reolink Argus 2
Compact smart security camera
$129.99 From Reolink Digital Technology, reolink.com Features Rechargeable battery, wire-free, night vision Needs iOS 8.0 or later
Few industries have benefitted more from smartphones than security products. Thanks to mobile apps, surveillance cameras are no longer chained to expensive video recorders, and can stream live video in real time right to the palm of your hand.
Reolink Argus 2 is a compact, entirely wire-free indoor or outdoor smart security camera capable of capturing full 1080p HD footage from a 130-degree field of view. (“Fluent” mode reduces resolution to 720p to save bandwidth.) Like its earlier model, Argus 2 works in conjunction with mobile and desktop apps, which can be configured to trigger sirens, start recording, and send push notification or email alerts whenever the unit’s PIR motion sensor is triggered, as well as two-way audio communication via the built-in speaker and microphone.
Few products are this easy to unbox and start using right away. Once the battery pack is fitted, the voice prompts guide you to open the app and pair the camera to your wireless network using QR codes. Although there’s no Ethernet port or AC power, Argus 2 tackles two limitations with other security products. The camera is powered by a single rechargeable battery pack (included), which lasts up to six months in standby mode or roughly 840 minutes of continuous live viewing or recording. Reolink also offers a small $29.99 solar panel, which eliminates the need for extra battery packs but adds a 15-foot USB charging cable to the mix. Argus 2 includes a feature called Starlight Night Vision, which produces stunningly crisp video images in total darkness from up to 33 feet away, especially in 1080p “clear” mode.
Shaped like an oversized Easter egg, Argus 2 is about two and a half inches in diameter and five inches tall on its adjustable magnetic ball stand; an outdoor security mount is also included, complete with screws. Weighing just over 12 ounces, it’s solidly built, although we would have preferred the weatherproof plastic exterior in black instead of white to make it a little harder to spot. (Instead, the company offers a protective skin accessory in black or camouflage for $12.99.)
There’s not yet a cloud-based live video recording solution for Argus 2, but the unit includes a micro-SD card slot on the side (up to 64GB is supported), although you’ll have to provide the card. Reolink also admits this product is not designed for 24/7 surveillance, so motion detection should be used sparingly. The app displays current battery levels for all connected cameras, and you can keep tabs on four weeks of usage at any time.
The bottom line. Perfect for families or small businesses, Argus 2 is as featurepacked as it is cute. J.R. Bookwalter