Reolink Argus 4 Pro review: Did the best just get better?

The Reolink Argus 3 Pro has been a SafeWise favourite for years. It blew us away with its affordable price, crisp 2K video quality, versatile mounting options, and free cloud and local storage. It even tops multiple of our “best” lists, including best home security cameras, best wireless security cameras, best security cameras without subscriptions, best outdoor security camera, best solar-powered camera… and it truly deserves all the praise it gets. But is its follow-up, the Argus 4 Pro, about to kick it off the top spot?

In many ways, the Argus 4 Pro is a more-than-worthy successor, boasting 4K quality, 180-degree coverage, enhanced colour night vision and Wi-Fi 6 capabilities. That said, Reolink has had to make a few key sacrifices to squeeze all those new goodies into a compact, battery/solar-powered package, and some of those sacrifices may be too much for those accustomed to the virtues of its predecessor.

It’s hard to believe the Reolink Argus 4 Pro is even related to the Argus 3 Pro, as this year’s design couldn’t be more different. Where the Argus 3 Pro was a pint-sized powerhouse, the Argus 4 Pro is much bigger, heavier, and kind of awkwardly shaped. Granted, it has to be in order to accommodate the dual lenses and 180-degree PIR sensor. However, it does mean that, unlike previous iterations, the camera can’t simply be placed on a table—it really does need to be mounted. For that reason, and because of its IP66 weatherproof rating, the Argus 4 Pro works best as an outdoor security camera.

Fortunately, there are a few different mounting options, including one renter-friendly solution. You can, of course, drill a few holes and install the mounting bracket to a wall or ceiling, but Reolink also includes a strap that can be used to affix the camera to a tree or post without drilling any holes. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing (nor most secure) solution, but it’s easy to set up and does the job. The same mounting options are available for the included solar panel, along with a four-metre cable for more flexible placement.

You’ll need to fully charge the camera before mounting (which will take about three hours), and I recommend setting it up through the Reolink app beforehand as well, in case anything goes awry and you need easy access to the device. That said, I found the setup process to be pretty foolproof. It was as simple as downloading the app, scanning a QR code, plugging in the solar panel and following the prompts.

At CES earlier this year, Reolink unveiled their new flagship security camera, the Duo 3 PoE. I was stunned by the 4K video quality, but even more so by its sweeping 180-degree viewing range. In our Reolink Duo 3 PoE review, the only thing I thought could make the camera better was if its placement wasn’t governed by its need for power over ethernet. The Argus 4 Pro is the solution to that very problem, packing basically all of the features I loved in the Duo 3 PoE into a battery-powered package.

The Argus 3 Pro boasts the same dual image stitching as the Duo 3 PoE, creating a seamless shot of the views from both lenses. The 4K video is crystal clear, allowing you to make out even the tiniest details. The onboard spotlight allows for equally high-quality night vision and exceptionally true-to-life colours. Plus, having a 180-degree view means you don’t have to use any annoying pan/tilt controls to get the camera to show you what area you want to see—it’s all right there.

I also found the Argus 4 Pro’s motion detection to be highly accurate, able to differentiate motion events based on the subject and allowing you to filter videos by subject (person, animal, car, or motion). Sensitivity can be tweaked in the Reolink app, where you can also control the camera’s brightness, stream quality, anti-flicker setting, add privacy masks, enable the inbuilt siren, chat with visitors using two-way talk, and adjust the brightness and mode of the spotlight.

On the downside, the battery life is a real letdown on the Argus 4 Pro, especially compared to the impressive performance of other battery-powered Reolink cameras. That is somewhat to be expected, given the power-intensive dual lenses, 4K resolution and wider PIR sensor area, but still, with moderate use, the battery dropped so fast without the solar panel that it needed a recharge once every few weeks.

Fortunately, the included Reolink Solar Panel 2 effectively eliminates this problem by keeping the battery topped up all the time. Reolink claims its solar panel can get 24 hours worth of battery in 10 minutes of sun exposure, and I found that to be pretty accurate. Once plugged into the solar panel, I never touched the camera again.

If the battery life was better without the solar panel and the design of the camera was more table-top friendly, the Reolink Argus 4 Pro would be just about the perfect security camera. The ultra-detailed 4K resolution and 180-degree coverage means nothing is missed, and thanks to the enhanced colour night vision, the same goes for even the darkest of nights. It’s also a cinch to set up, and with the solar panel thrown in, it’ll basically stay powered forever.

So, is it better than the Argus 3 Pro? Bar one or two detractors, absolutely. But in terms of value for money, it’s not quite enough to knock its predecessor off the top spot… yet.