Reolink Altas PT Ultra review: a security camera that's great for continuously monitoring your property

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Reolink Altas PT Ultra: two-minute review

A marque caller exemplary from a institution that has been producing information solutions since 2009, nan Altas (not Atlas) PT Ultra is intended for those who are superior astir security. A bulky exemplary featuring a 355-degree cookware and 90-degree tilt camera, it’s ideally suited for mini businesses and individuals wanting to show their premises connected a regular, aliases moreover constant, basis.

However, it’s not nan astir straightforward to install, requiring a small spot of DIY accomplishment to equine nan bracket which nan camera past slots into. Thankfully though, mounting templates, screws, and wall plugs are each provided successful nan box. Various mounting options are catered for, including a ceiling and wall mount. It’s moreover imaginable to instal connected a character utilizing nan character mounting strap provided.

As pinch astir of nan best location information cameras these days, nan Altas is controlled via your smartphone. Simply download nan Reolink app and scan nan QR codification printed connected nan instrumentality to spell done nan setup instructions, complete pinch sound commands. Unlike galore information cameras, nan Reolink Altas PT Ultra supports some 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi frequencies. It tin besides shop footage connected a MicroSD paper up to 512GB (not supplied) aliases nan company’s Home Hub/Home Hub Pro server (also not supplied).

Alternatively, you tin salary for a subscription to shop footage successful nan cloud. Currently nan modular scheme costs $6.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.99 per period aliases $69.99 / £34.49 / AU$49.99 a twelvemonth for 30-day unreality video history, 30GB video retention and support for up to 5 cameras.

Using nan app, you tin group nan cookware and tilt camera some to grounds and way different types of activity automatically (human, animals, cars etc.) aliases you tin power nan camera manually via nan app utilizing nan up and down arrow keys. There’s moreover a 10-second pre-record action which, for illustration a body-worn camera aliases dashcam, perpetually records successful nan inheritance (this tin beryllium switched disconnected if nan artillery falls to beneath a definite level).

Notifications tin either beryllium pushed to your mobile telephone aliases via email if you want to spell aged school. If you want to grounds much than conscionable motion-triggered events, you tin group nan camera up for continuous recording. Alternatively, it’s imaginable to group up a timer schedule of erstwhile you want recordings to return spot utilizing nan slider controls successful nan menu.

Finally, successful summation to signaling footage there’s besides nan action of talking to imaginable intruders via nan built-in microphone. And if reasoning pinch them doesn’t activity location are besides options to trigger nan onboard siren aliases move nan camera’s agleam lights connected each astatine nan touch of a button.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: subscription options

Reolink Cloud, Classic Plan Series. Standard Plan: Up to 30-day unreality video history, up to 5 cameras supported, up to 30GB unreality storage. $6.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.99 per period aliases $69.99 / £34.49 / AU$49.99 per year.

Reolink Cloud, Classic Plan Series. Premier Plan: Up to 30-day unreality video history, up to 10 cameras supported, up to 80GB unreality storage. $10.99 / £6.89 / AU$9.99 per month, $104.99 / £68.19 / AU$99 per year.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: value and availability

• How overmuch does it cost? $229 / £229 / AU$359
• When is it available? Available since October 2024
• Where is it available? UK / US / Australia

Given you tin now get an outdoor information camera for nether £100 (such arsenic nan £89 Ring Stick-Up Cam) nan Reolink seems very costly astatine first glance. But past this instrumentality isn’t conscionable intended for individual use. It’s besides perfect for mini businesses who want to support an oculus connected their premises.

Another use is that you don’t person to salary nan monthly subscription interest which often helps to subsidise nan value of information cameras, alternatively for illustration costly printer cartridges subsidise inexpensive printers. Instead, you tin usage a MicroSD paper aliases a ReoLink location hub to shop footage alternatively than paying to shop it successful nan cloud.

Also, dissimilar different models, nan Reolink Altas PT Ultra combines a very ample integrated lithium ion artillery pinch a stand-alone star sheet arsenic modular whereas often this is an optional extra. And while nan star sheet didn’t beryllium peculiarly useful successful nan UK during a rainy and overcast mates of weeks successful Autumn, it’s a awesome measurement of supplementing nan device’s powerfulness successful sunnier times.

Of course, nan Reolink Atlas PT Ultra isn’t for everyone. There are overmuch surely overmuch cheaper models connected nan marketplace if you conscionable want to way occasional motion. But if it’s changeless monitoring mixed pinch precocious capacity video you are aft past it’s surely worthy paying nan premium.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: design

• Solidly built
• Hefty mounting bracket provided
• Large integrated camera

The first point you announcement astir nan ReoLink Altas PT Ultra is conscionable really large and dense it is. Not that this is simply a disapproval necessarily, conscionable that it feels overmuch chunkier than different models connected nan market. It besides requires immoderate DIY skills to drill each nan basal holes to instal nan mounting bracket into which nan camera slots.

We installed nan ReoLink Atlas connected nan beforehand of a backmost plot office, but arsenic it could person been mounted connected a ceiling. The only point you request to beryllium mindful of is leaving capable room for nan built-in antenna which is designed to beryllium angled straight upwards from nan cookware and tilt camera.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

(Image credit: Chris Price)

(Image credit: Chris Price)

A waterproof screen beneath nan lens hides nan MicroSD retention while supra nan lens are nan powerful achromatic lights. These lights are triggered by mobility erstwhile it’s acheronian aliases tin beryllium switched connected by pressing a fastener connected nan app. A microphone spread and daylight sensor are besides provided successful nan main camera lodging pinch a ample speaker and USB-C charging larboard located connected nan underside of nan portion adjacent to nan mounting bracket.

You tin simply descent nan camera retired of nan mounting bracket to complaint it via nan mains utilizing nan USB-C cablegram provided (you will request your ain USB plug arsenic this isn’t supplied). Alternatively, you tin link nan camera via nan aforesaid USB-port to nan star sheet for further powerfulness connected sunny days. A generous magnitude of cablegram is provided for nan star sheet and it’s amazingly easy some to instal (just 3 screws required), arsenic good arsenic perspective towards nan sky.

• Design score: 4/5

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: performance

• 4K ultra high-definition resolution
• Large artillery for continuous recording
• Color nighttime vision

Undoubtedly, it’s erstwhile it comes to capacity that nan Reolink Altas PT really comes into its own. Testing nan video value during nan day, I was impressed pinch nan 4K solution which displayed nan plants and animals of my plot successful rich | item arsenic good arsenic capturing family members and pets successful precocious solution (no intruders were spotted during nan trial period!)

(Image credit: Chris Price)

(Image credit: Chris Price)

However, it’s astatine nighttime wherever nan camera really excels. Whereas astir information cameras only show mediocre achromatic and achromatic images astatine night, nan Reolink features ColorX exertion enabling full-color footage without nan request for spotlights (though successful highly acheronian environments nan built-in spotlights will travel connected to heighten visibility).

Obviously, because nan Reolink Altas PT is simply a 355-degree cookware and 90-degree tilt camera it’s capable to way and grounds activity from various sources without worrying astir immoderate unsighted spots. Another prize is nan ample built successful 20,000 mAh artillery – complete doubly nan size of nan artillery successful nan Eufy 4K S330 information camera, for example. This enables continuous signaling 12 hours a time for complete a week.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Reolink claims that nan 6W star sheet tin complaint up to 35% of nan artillery pinch conscionable 1 time of sunshine. However, we recovered that nan star sheet really contributed very small during rainy Autumn days successful London – surely not much than a mates of percent successful a day. Nevertheless, moreover without nan star panels contributing overmuch power, we recovered that during a 10 time play outdoors we didn’t request to region nan camera from its equine erstwhile for charging.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you bargain nan Reolink Altas PT Ultra?

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Reolink Altas PT Ultra: besides consider

Not wholly sold connected nan Reolink Altas PT Ultra? Here are 2 much options to consider.

How I tested nan Reolink Altas PT Ultra

• I utilized nan Reolink each time for 2 weeks
• I group it up myself utilizing nan fittings provided by nan shaper
• The information camera was installed connected nan extracurricular of my plot agency (the star sheet was group up temporarily)

I installed nan Reolink Altas connected nan beforehand of my plot agency for astir 10 days truthful it could seizure footage from nan garden. After this play I past brought it indoors truthful I could usage it to way activity a small much and besides cheque artillery usage.

Before mounting up I made judge that nan camera only focused connected my ain spot by excluding parts of nan framework that could seizure nan neighbour’s plot utilizing nan app. I besides switched disconnected nan siren and only utilized nan powerful spotlights concisely outdoors. Both nan siren and spotlights were tested much thoroughly indoors.

Because it was autumn successful nan UK and nan star sheet was mostly ineffective, this was installed only temporarily connected an outdoor array and besides connected nan plot agency doorway for a fewer days.

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First reviewed October 2024