Reolink Argus PT Review

Do It for the Aesthetics

When we unboxed the Reolink Argus PT, we immediately noticed its substantial build — this isn’t a camera trying to hide. With its impressive 355-degree pan and 140-degree tilt capabilities, it’s clearly engineered for outdoor spaces where comprehensive coverage matters more than discretion.

The camera boasts an IP65 rating, offering complete dust protection and resistance to water jets from any direction — perfect for handling everything from dusty summer winds to heavy rainstorms. Operating between -10 degrees to 131 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s built for most climates, though folks in extreme northern regions might want to consider alternatives.
If you need an outdoor camera for extremely cold climates, check out our review of the ADT Outdoor Security Camera which works in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

We appreciated the physical power switch — a simple but often overlooked feature. However, the non-removable battery presents some challenges. When it’s time to recharge, you’ll need to unmount the entire camera, and with only one to four weeks of typical use per charge, that can become tedious pretty quickly.

In contrast, in our Ring Spotlight Cam Battery review, we noted that their camera has a battery life of six to 12 months, which is the standard. For the Reolink Argus PT, we’d recommend using the Reolink Solar Panel, which was what we did to avoid the hassle of taking down the camera to recharge the camera on a regular basis. Rather, the solar panel charges continuously, making for no downtime whatsoever.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Here’s where we start to get into the thick of things. For the most part, the Reolink Argus PT left quite the impression, but that’s not to say it’s without its flaws.

Strengths

• 2K HD video quality: The current Argus PT exceeds standard expectations with its 2K resolution. During our testing, we captured remarkably clear footage with excellent detail — facial features were distinct, text on packages was readable, and we could even make out vehicle details from across the yard. The upgrade from 1080p to 2K makes a noticeable difference in real-world use.

• Infrared night vision: The six IR LEDs deliver surprisingly clear black-and-white footage in complete darkness. We could clearly identify people and objects up to 33 feet away at night — impressive for a battery-powered camera at this price point.
• Expansive field of view: The 122-degree base field of view becomes truly impressive when combined with the pan and tilt functionality. With 355-degree horizontal rotation and 140-degree vertical movement, we achieved nearly complete coverage of our backyard from a single camera. This proved invaluable for tracking package deliveries and monitoring wildlife visitors (including our neighbor’s adventurous tabby).
• Audio: As with most security cameras, the Reolink Argus PT incorporated two-way audio, which gave us many opportunities to speak to delivery folks and listen to visitors’ responses. A siren was also included, along with the ability to record a custom voice alert of up to five seconds. This saved us the trouble of pausing our activities to speak with a stranger; we recorded “Can we help you?” in the best steely voice we could muster, hoping to scare off potential intruders.
• Motion detection: The PIR (Passive Infrared) motion sensors excel at distinguishing between meaningful activity and false alarms. With AI-powered person and vehicle detection included free (no subscription required), we received alerts for delivery drivers and visitors while ignoring wind-blown branches and passing clouds. The customizable detection zones and sensitivity settings let us fine-tune alerts to our specific needs.

• Local and cloud storage: The Argus PT supports micro-SD cards up to 256GB (updated from the original 128GB limit), providing weeks of motion-triggered recordings without any monthly fees. For those wanting off-site backup, Reolink Cloud offers competitive pricing starting with a free tier that includes 1GB of storage and 7-day history.

• Notifications: When the Reolink Argus PT detected motion, we received push notifications on our phones. We had the option to set up email notifications as well, but we’d like to avoid filling up our inbox. Of course, we modified the notifications that we received based on motion detection levels and the times that we wanted to receive them. Wouldn’t want a barrage of alerts during an important Zoom meeting!
• Accessing footage: We self-monitored our live feed on our phones or on compatible smart devices. We also recorded any footage that involved movement, whether that was the delivery guy hauling a 50-pound box to our backyard where it was safer or our neighbor’s Tabby cat prowling around. On the Reolink app, we viewed motion recordings in the playback history.
• Shared access: Managing multiple users is refreshingly simple. We shared camera access via QR codes — no complex account creation required. This proved invaluable during our international travels; family members could monitor our property during their daytime while we slept halfway around the world. The app supports up to 20 shared users with customizable permissions.
• Works with Alexa and Google Assistant: It goes without saying that security cameras are more convenient to use when there’s voice assistant compatibility. The Reolink Argus PT paired up nicely with Alexa and Google Assistant, both of which we tested with the camera. We viewed footage hands-free by saying commands like, “Hey Google, show me the backyard” making our footage appear on our Chromecast-enabled TV. Of course, it didn’t have quite as many voice commands as the Google Nest Outdoor Camera we tested, but it still did an overall good job.

Weaknesses

• Downloading clips is a hassle: The 30-second download limitation feels archaic. When reviewing a three-minute incident, we had to download six separate clips and manually stitch them together. Given that competitors offer seamless full-length downloads, this limitation stands out as a significant inconvenience.
• Short battery life: Let’s be frank — the battery performance is the Argus PT’s Achilles’ heel. In our real-world testing with moderate activity (10 to 15 triggers daily), we averaged just two weeks between charges. High-traffic areas saw even worse performance. Without the solar panel accessory, this camera requires significant maintenance.

>> More info: Best Battery-Powered Security Cameras

Overall, the Reolink Argus PT offered a strong set of features. It’s also on the more affordable side compared to Reolink’s other cameras, such as the Reolink GO solar-powered camera. To learn more, read our Reolink GO review. Also, be sure to check out our Reolink pricing page for a broader overview of Reolink cameras and their costs.

Equipping Our Home With the Reolink Argus PT

While the Reolink Argus PT is both an outdoor and indoor camera, we wanted to make full use of the camera’s pan and tilt feature, so we decided to set it up in our backyard. To start, we charged the camera first before turning it on. Like most security camera setups, we downloaded the companion mobile app and followed the on-screen instructions. We added the device, scanned the QR code on the bottom of the Reolink Argus PT, and voila — the camera was ready for mounting.

With the Reolink Argus PT, we turned the camera upside down and installed it about two to three meters off the ground. Before that, we screwed the mounting bracket to the wall and then attached the camera to the bracket. But wait, there was more! As a bonus, we purchased the Reolink Solar Panel and set that up right next to the camera. We made sure that there was enough sunlight directly hitting the panel so that the Reolink Argus PT was always fully-charged. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, there are now 81 gigawatts of solar capacity installed nationwide, which is enough to power 15.7 million homes.1 Lucky for us, it’s mostly sunny where we live.

Using the Reolink App

Did you know that in the second quarter of 2020, there were approximately 37.8 billion app downloads combined from the Apple App Store and the Google Play store?2 These numbers don’t surprise us, especially when most of the security cameras that we’ve reviewed have a companion mobile app. Reolink is no different.

The Reolink app gets three out of five stars on both Google Play and the App Store. That’s not a bad rating, but it’s also not great when there are security camera apps like Nest and Ring that average more than four stars. Lucky for us, we don’t just rely on user reviews. We tested the app ourselves and it was mostly good. It was user-friendly with familiar icons and easy navigation.

We could’ve also downloaded the Reolink software on our computers, but we preferred to use the mobile app. That said, not very many security brands offer PC-compatible software that allows access to their security cameras, so we appreciated the alternative option, especially for those who’d rather view footage on a bigger screen.

Video Review

That’s a Wrap

As it stands, the Reolink Argus PT is an affordable outdoor and indoor camera, priced at $159.99, with a bunch of features to tickle your fancy. We liked that person and vehicle detections were included with the camera rather than part of a separate monthly subscription. This helped reduce the number of false alerts on our phones. On top of that, we really enjoyed scheduling when to receive alerts. The short battery life, however, was not a shining moment for the Reolink Argus PT.

All in all, the Reolink Argus PT holds a lot of weight for the affordable price tag. We loved the pan and tilt feature, which covered more areas of our backyard. Despite the growing competition, we’re confident that the Reolink Argus PT is a strong contender. If you need a primer on some similar cameras, be sure to check out our best wireless security cameras of 2025.