Does a surveillance camera with high image quality and reliable signal transmission necessarily require a wired power connection? Reolink wants to prove the opposite with its Argus Pro 4. The compact surveillance camera with battery operation is now in its fourth generation. With 4K resolution, a viewing angle of 180 degrees and night vision in color, the technical data reads very well. But is this also confirmed in practice? In the Reolink Argus 4 Pro test, we take a closer look at the latest model in the popular series.
Technical data
| The camera | – 4K resolution – 180 degree field of view |
| Dimensions | 128 x 87 x 80 mm |
| Camera weight | 467 g |
| Motion detection | – Person detection – Animal detection – Vehicle detection |
| Night vision | – Night vision in color (LED illumination) |
| IP standard | IP66 protection against water |
| Operating temperature | -10°C to 55°C |
| Video memory | – MicroSD card – cloud storage for a fee |
| Two-way audio | Yes |
| Price | € 189.99 * |
Scope of delivery
- Reolink Argus 4 Pro surveillance camera
- USB-C charging cable
- Strap
- Wall mount
- Mounting material
- Drilling template
- Instruction manual
Reolink Argus 4 Pro test: design and workmanship
Reolink’s brand new Argus 4 Pro demonstrates a great deal of courage in its visual design. After all, in terms of design, it hardly has anything in common with the third generation of the battery-powered premium camera. A lot has changed, especially in terms of size and shape.
At 12.8 × 8.7 × 8.0 cm and weighing 400 g, the Argus 4 Pro is not only significantly larger and heavier than its predecessor. The camera unit has also grown in width. The increase in width is no accident. Reolink has placed two cameras next to each other. This dual design is intended to provide the widest possible viewing angle.
We take a closer look at how well this works in the practical test. Reolink installs a total of three LEDs on the right, left and center of the front. These in turn are designed to illuminate the area in front of the camera. This should not only turn the camera into a practical mini outdoor light.
In addition, the illumination of the area in front of the camera enables colored night vision. The camera unit is rounded off by a motion detector, which is quite large. If you turn the camera upside down, you will not only see a power switch for the camera.
There is also a slot for microSD cards. At the back is the USB-C port, which is used to charge the integrated 5,000 mAh battery. In terms of build quality, the Argus 4 Pro is in a league of its own. There are no cracks or creaks anywhere and it is also water-protected in accordance with the IP66 standard.
Reolink Argus 4 Pro test: Installation and commissioning
A major advantage of battery-powered cameras: thanks to the integrated battery, you are not dependent on a power supply from a power connection. You can also enjoy this flexibility with the Reolink Argus 4 Pro. This means you can mount it exactly where you want. The appropriate screws and wall plugs are included in the scope of delivery.
Before you mount the camera, you should first put it into operation. Reolink’s own app is used for this. A big advantage during setup is the fact that you don’t have to create an account to set up and use the camera with the app. Unfortunately, this is a rarity and must therefore be emphasized positively at Reolink.
The setup is quick and easy and does not really differ from that of other modern surveillance cameras. There is a QR code on the back of the Argus 4 Pro, which you have to scan via the app during setup. Once the camera has been added as a new device in the Reolink app, you can make settings.
Reolink Argus 4 Pro test: Reolink app
The connection to the Reolink app is not only established quickly, but was also pleasantly stable at all times during the test. This is because the surveillance camera uses WiFi 6 and can transmit via 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz. The Argus 4 Pro also has Bluetooth on board. However, this wireless interface only really plays a role during setup.
The Reolink app itself is not new to me. After all, I have already been able to convince myself of the practicality of the smartphone application with other cameras such as the Reolink Argus Track (Review). Compared to the competition from TP-Link or eufy, the look of the app seems a little outdated. But that is of course a matter of taste.
In practice, I didn’t have any connection problems and it was always quick to use. Newcomers will be pleased with the clear design. The various setting options can be found quickly. For example, you can make various adjustments to the camera recordings.
Reolink Argus 4 Pro test: Cool AI features
Of course, a surveillance camera with the nickname “Pro” should not be without extensive motion detection. The Reolink Argus 4 Pro has a lot to offer in this respect. You don’t just get simple motion detection here. Instead, the camera distinguishes between animals and people.
The camera should even be able to recognize vehicles. Practical experience has shown that this is not just an empty promise from Reolink. Quite the opposite. In the test, the Argus 4 Pro was even able to correctly identify my dog, which was several meters away, as an animal. The system also reliably detected people and vehicles every time.
This is by no means a pointless feature. Quite the opposite. If you have a camera with motion detection only, you will quickly switch off the corresponding push notification. After all, such devices react immediately to every movement and send a message to your cell phone. This can quickly become annoying.
With the Reolink Argus 4 Pro, however, the notifications can be filtered. For example, with the appropriate settings, you will only receive a push notification on your smartphone when a person’s movement has been detected. This is particularly useful on busy roads.
Reolink Argus 4 Pro test: Image recording
With a resolution of 4K and an impressive 180-degree field of view, the Reolink Argus 4 Pro boasts impressive specs. And this is by no means just window dressing. Quite the opposite! The image quality of the camera was really good in good lighting conditions. An eufyCam S330 (Review) is a tick better here.
So you shouldn’t expect miracles, but for the average consumer this will be more than enough. The color saturation is also good, but not earth-shattering. The night vision in color is cool. This is made possible by the two LEDs on the left and right. Much more exciting, however, is the wide viewing angle of a remarkable 180 degrees.
This allows you to keep a large area of your garden in view. This is made possible by the two cameras in the Argus 4 Pro. These do not conjure up two different images on your smartphone. Instead, the camera calculates an overall picture from the images, which is then presented to you in the app.
Reolink Argus 4 Pro test: Weak battery life
Unfortunately, the Argus 4 Pro not only shares the broad-headed design with the Reolink Argus Track. On top of that, the two devices unfortunately share a very short battery life. On my not very busy street, the camera unfortunately only lasted just under a month before the battery was empty.
In colder temperatures, the battery is likely to run down even faster. It’s a real shame that the battery cannot be removed. This would at least allow you to buy a spare battery and always have a quick supply. It is not without reason that the manufacturer recommends buying the Argus 4 Pro in combination with the solar panel, which is also available.
Reolink sent me the right panel for the test. In combination, the Argus 4 Pro showed the desired endurance. Accordingly, owners of the corresponding panel will probably only have to worry about regularly charging the battery in winter.
Reolink Argus 4 Pro test: Video memory and voice assistant
Just as there is no account requirement for use with the app, Reolink also offers a pleasing amount of freedom when it comes to video storage. Of course, the use of the microSD port is obvious. Here, the recordings are stored locally on a microSD of up to 128 GB. Alternatively, you can also use the Reolink cloud. The basic subscription with 1 GB storage and 7 days of video history is free of charge. The standard subscription with 30 GB and 30 days of video storage costs 4.19 euros.
If you want to store recordings on your home NAS, you need the Reolink Home Hub. Operation via voice assistants is particularly convenient. The Reolink Argus 4 Pro offers support for the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. With their help, you can, for example, view camera recordings on a smart display. Apart from this, however, compatibility is quite limited. There is no access to other services such as Apple HomeKit, Samsung Smartthings or Onvif.
Conclusion
Are you looking for a wireless surveillance camera that scores points for its uncomplicated setup and good image quality? Then you should definitely take a closer look at the Reolink Argus 4 Pro. In the test, this model proved to be a great competitor to eufy, TP-Link and the like in many respects. I would like to emphasize not only the reliability of the smart motion detection. I also like the camera’s large field of view.
This makes it ideal for monitoring larger areas of your garden in particular. Although the app looks a little outdated, it offers a good overview and doesn’t require you to create your own account. Very good! The image quality is also really good. If only it weren’t for the poor battery life of just under a month. If you want to buy the Argus 4 Pro, you should definitely iron out this disadvantage with the matching solar panel from Reolink. Nevertheless, we can definitely recommend buying this battery-powered camera.
Reolink Argus 4 Pro
Design and workmanship
Camera quality
Ease of use
Equipment
Smart-home-connection
Value for money
89/100
The Reolink Argus 4 Pro is a really good surveillance camera, but it suffers from significant weaknesses in terms of battery life.
