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Reolink Argus 3 Pro 5MP Solar Security Camera: features, specs and who it suits
A wire-free 5MP outdoor camera that comes with a solar panel: what dual-band Wi-Fi, colour night vision and local storage mean for a spot with no outlet.
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The Reolink Argus 3 Pro is a wire-free outdoor security camera that comes with a solar panel. With no power cord to run, it can go on a fence, a shed or the far corner of a yard where there's no outlet nearby. It records 5MP video, offers colour or black-and-white night vision and connects over dual-band Wi-Fi.
How the solar panel keeps it running
The camera runs on a built-in battery, and the solar panel keeps it charged, so there's no taking it down to recharge it by hand. Reolink advises fully charging the camera before you install it.
How well solar charging keeps up depends on how much direct sunlight the panel gets and how often the camera records. As a rule, a panel facing the sun with no shade from trees or eaves does better, and output drops in winter, when days are short and snow can cover the panel. Battery-powered cameras typically record when they detect activity rather than around the clock, which is how they keep their power use low.
Night vision: infrared and spotlights
The Argus 3 Pro has both infrared lights and spotlights. In infrared mode, it records in black and white without visibly lighting the area. With the spotlights on, it records in full colour, which can show details such as the colour of a car or a jacket. You can choose when the spotlight turns on, so it doesn't have to light up the yard every time something moves.
Person and vehicle detection
Smart detection recognises people and vehicles, which reduces false alarms from things like swaying branches and moving shadows. For a battery camera this matters twice: fewer false triggers mean fewer unwanted alerts and less battery spent on clips you don't need. The siren alerts and the recording settings can be customised too.
Dual-band Wi-Fi and local storage
The camera connects over 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi. In general, 2.4 GHz reaches farther and passes through walls better, which helps a camera mounted far from the router, while 5 GHz is faster over a shorter range, which helps with smooth live viewing. Being able to use either lets you pick what works at the mounting spot.
Video is kept locally, on a microSD card of up to 512GB or on a Reolink Home Hub or Home Hub Pro of up to 16TB. Neither the card nor the hub is included. Paired with a Home Hub, the camera also supports RTSP and NAS storage. RTSP is a common streaming standard that many video recorders and software tools can read, and a NAS (network-attached storage) is a storage drive that sits on your home network.
Built for the outdoors
The camera is IP67 weatherproof, meaning it's dust-tight and built for rain. Reolink lists an operating range of -4°F to 131°F (-20°C to 55°C). If your winter nights regularly fall below -20°C, compare that range with your local weather; cold also typically reduces battery performance.
It suits porches, yards, sheds and other spots far from an outlet, for people who would rather not run cables or recharge a camera by hand.
What to check before you buy
- Sunlight: check how many hours of direct sun the panel's spot gets, especially in winter.
- Panel placement: check how the panel connects to the camera and how far apart the two can be mounted.
- Wi-Fi signal: test the signal at the mounting spot; 2.4 GHz usually reaches farther.
- Storage: plan for a microSD card or a Home Hub, since neither is included.
- Privacy: aim the camera at your own property, and check local rules on recording neighbours or public areas.
The short version
- A wire-free outdoor camera with a solar panel included; charge it fully before installing.
- 5MP video, with colour (spotlights) or black-and-white (infrared) night vision.
- Person and vehicle detection, with customisable siren, spotlight and recording settings.
- Dual-band Wi-Fi; microSD up to 512GB or a Home Hub up to 16TB, neither included.
- IP67 weatherproof, for temperatures from -4°F to 131°F (-20°C to 55°C).
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