Best Solar Outdoor Camera Review
Solar cameras have solar panels built into the camera’s exterior that collect and convert sunlight into energy. The energy is stored in a battery to generate power for the camera.
Solar security cameras need to be able to operate in sub-optimal weather conditions like rain, snow, and cloudy days. Check to make sure your solar outdoor camera has a battery that can perform in these conditions.
1. Reolink Argus 3 Pro
If you need an outdoor security camera for the garden, backyard or driveway, the Reolink Argus 3 Pro is the ideal choice. This affordable 2K battery-powered model has the right features for monitoring kids, pets, package deliveries and other suspicious activity. It offers a number of recording options, including best solar outdoor camera scheduled and motion recording. You can also customize the detection zones and alerts to avoid getting too many false alarms. It also has a spotlight that turns on when motion is detected at night.
Another great feature of this camera is its swift connectivity, which is thanks to 5 GHz dual-band WiFi. You can connect it to your home Wi-Fi and control it with the free Reolink app. It also supports local storage via a microSD card (up to 128GB) and cloud storage for an additional monthly fee.
The Argus 3 Pro is IP65-rated and designed to withstand various weather conditions. Its case has few openings and channels rain away from the sensitive parts of the camera. It also has rubber sealing rings and silicone covers on key openings like the power and the microSD slot.
Unlike most battery-powered cameras that use PIR sensors, the Argus 3 Pro uses a more sophisticated technology that can identify objects with different shapes and sizes. This ensures that you only get notifications about relevant activities, while avoiding false alerts and wasteful recordings.
2. Reolink Go Plus
With an IPX5 rating, the Reolink Go Plus is water-resistant and will shut off automatically if it detects heavy rain. You also get the option to add a Reolink solar panel (sold separately) to boost battery power even more on cloudy days.
Unlike many other cameras that run off a wired connection to a home network, Reolink uses a cellular connection to connect remotely, so there’s no need for a router. This makes it a good choice for construction sites, RVs, marine vessels, rental properties without Wi-Fi and other locations where internet access may be limited.
It captures motion in 2K resolution and has a built-in spotlight with color night vision for visibility on your property at any time of day or night. The camera also features motion detection and the ability to send an alert with an on-scene snapshot when it detects movement.
Another unique feature is its time lapse, which allows you to observe long-term events like the blooming of flowers over minutes or seconds. The Go Plus saves recordings locally to a Micro SD card, with support for up to 128GB. It can also share recordings with a third party using Reolink’s free cloud storage, which lets you access your data from anywhere and anytime.
Reolink’s free cloud storage plan supports one camera, while rivals like Wyze and Arlo offer up to five cameras for a similar price.
3. Reolink Go PT Plus
If you need an outdoor camera that will work without WiFi or power, then the Reolink Go PT Plus is the right choice for you. It uses a 4G LTE connection, which is great for rural areas that aren’t covered by WiFi or power lines. It can also be powered by a rechargeable battery or solar panel, so you can use it security camera supplier off-grid if needed. The camera can be configured to notify you of people, vehicles, or both, and it can even sound a siren when someone is detected.
With a 2K super HD resolution, this camera is sharp and clear. It can also pan 355 degrees and tilt 140 degrees, allowing you to cover a larger monitoring area. You can also capture beautiful time-lapse videos with this camera. These are perfect for capturing long-term events, such as sunsets or construction processes, and can be enjoyed in minutes or seconds.
This is an extremely durable camera that can be mounted outdoors or indoors. It has a sturdy body made from aluminum, which makes it weather-resistant and capable of enduring many different kinds of environmental conditions. It has an adjustable lens, which allows you to adjust the field of view. This camera can be a bit expensive, but it does fill a very important niche for people who need to monitor their property from far away or in remote areas.
4. Ring Stick-Up Cam
While you’re likely familiar with Ring because of its doorbells, the company also makes “regular” security cameras. The best of those is the Ring Stick Up Cam, which offers a lot of versatility at an affordable price. You can use it indoors or outdoors, power it plugged in or battery-powered, and set up motion zones. And while the video quality isn’t quite as crisp as rivals from Netgear or Google, it still delivers enough clarity to see faces and finer details.
Unlike many competitors, the Ring is powered by an internal rechargeable battery that keeps it running for months on end. And it can be paired with either a solar panel or an AC adapter, so you have options for keeping it charged even when the weather is bad.
The device comes with Alexa and Google Assistant integration, so you can control it using voice commands. And it has two-way audio that lets you hear and speak to people who approach your camera. There’s a free plan that allows you to view the live feed and receive notifications, as well as a subscription that provides event-based cloud storage.
If you’re in the Ring ecosystem–which includes a Ring doorbell or another type of doorbell or an alarm system–you’ll get the most benefit from this camera. However, it’s also a great choice for those who don’t need a full security system and just want a versatile motion-activated camera that works at an affordable price.
