Are Reolink cameras any good? Especially at night?

I’m mostly here on this forum, but when I research tech, I usually add “this forum” to my Google searches. When I started looking into POE cameras, Reolink came up a lot here as a popular option.

Then, I found the IPCamtalk forum, where people seem to hate Reolink. Tons of posts there trash it, grouping it with other consumer brands like Ring and Nest. The main issue seems to be Reolink’s high megapixels but lower framerate, which apparently leads to blurry footage at night if there’s movement. They also seem to favor Dahua and Hikvision.

How much truth is there in these complaints? Is Reolink really that bad at capturing clear footage at night if someone is moving? I’d love to hear experiences from folks here who’ve used both Reolink and other brands like Dahua or Hikvision.

Reolink does have a big community, and they seem to keep releasing new cameras and updates, so it looks like they’re trying to improve. Any balanced insights would be really helpful!

The trick is to use fewer megapixels at night, though this matters less with color night vision cameras. There are better options than Reolink for not much more money, like Hikvision or Dahua.

Tenzin said:
The trick is to use fewer megapixels at night, though this matters less with color night vision cameras. There are better options than Reolink for not much more money, like Hikvision or Dahua.

Thanks for the insight! It’s wild how popular Reolink is on here compared to brands like Dahua or Hikvision, which barely get mentioned. Maybe it’s just an echo chamber effect.

What cameras do you use, and are the apps and AI features any good on them?

@Adi
A lot of people don’t want to pay $200+ per camera, which might be why Reolink is so popular. They’re solid for the price, but if you want the best quality, Reolink isn’t quite up to par with brands like Dahua.

@Paxton

Reolink is like the best camera from 10 years ago

This isn’t quite a fair comparison. Cameras with high megapixels or smart features used to be crazy expensive, only for big business setups.

For home use, Reolink has upped the game compared to what was around 10 years ago. I’ve got footage from my older cameras, and they’re nowhere close to Reolink’s current quality in that price range.

@Lennox

At least compare similar types

That’s fair. I didn’t mean to compare consumer brands to the absolute best – just image quality-wise, they’re solid, and they’re better than the old low-budget stuff. I thought that went without saying.

@Adi
I’ve got mostly Dahua, and a couple of Amcrest rebranded ones. I also have a Reolink 360 cam.

Reolink’s software is actually better than Amcrest or Dahua, in my opinion. Though, it depends on what NVR you use. I’m using Unifi Protect and Frigate.

If you’re going with Reolink, I’d say pick the color night vision models; they’re solid at night. Reddit probably likes them because of the price, which is hard to beat. IPCamtalk has a point, though, that lower megapixels improve nighttime clarity.

Reolink is really good during the day! It’s nighttime where they struggle, though they improved a lot with their ColorX series, which competes with Hikvision’s ColorVu.

Price-wise, an 8MP Hikvision ColorVu can cost double or triple the Reolink ColorX, but the ColorVu has a slightly better sensor. If you want a reliable camera for the price, Reolink’s ColorX models offer decent nighttime quality.

Here’s what’s good and bad with Reolink:

  • Good: Audio quality, easy to set up, good AI detection (mostly), affordable, ColorX for nighttime is solid.

  • Bad: Poor IR night quality, no face detection, limited detection zones, poor ONVIF integration, and it can’t easily work with other brand NVRs.

If you’re on a budget, Reolink is a strong choice. But if you want high-end features like face recognition or advanced tracking, Hikvision and Dahua are worth the extra cost.

@Ansel
Thanks for breaking it all down!

About the weaker detection in Reolink – do you know if it improves with software like Blue Iris or Frigate?

Adi said:
@Ansel
Thanks for breaking it all down!

About the weaker detection in Reolink – do you know if it improves with software like Blue Iris or Frigate?

I haven’t tried Blue Iris or Frigate myself, but Reolink’s AI is pretty good, especially with their CX series. If you’re using the duo models, though, they can be glitchy at night, especially with IR. Color mode is much better across the board.

Like, with the 810a outdoors at night, IR can sometimes trigger a person alert on something random like a bug or maybe even your dog – but that’s rare. The CX series is more reliable in my experience.

Reolink’s user-friendly, which probably makes it more popular – kind of a middle ground between professional hardware and DIY options like Ring. Their app is more intuitive than some of the other brands.

Reolink is like Ring or Wyze – basic, easy-to-set-up stuff that gets the job done but not pro-level.

IPCamtalk is on point with their advice. It’s full of solid info from people who know their stuff, even if some members can be opinionated.

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, I’d recommend getting a Hikvision camera over Reolink. Way better night capture.

@Sky

Reolink is like Wyze

Honestly, it sounds like you haven’t used both brands. I’ve used both, and Reolink’s video quality is way better than Wyze, especially with bitrate and offline options. Wyze feels like a toy by comparison, with many paywalled features.

Wyze isn’t even a true security cam, but Reolink is at least solid for that purpose.

@Lennox
Actually, I have used both. Just because they’re in the same consumer grade doesn’t mean they’re identical – I just think they’re both lower-end choices.

Sky said:
@Lennox
Actually, I have used both. Just because they’re in the same consumer grade doesn’t mean they’re identical – I just think they’re both lower-end choices.

Well, there are levels within consumer-grade. If you’ve used them both, you’d probably see Wyze isn’t quite comparable in quality.

Just putting it out there – both Hikvision and Dahua are linked to some pretty heavy privacy issues. The FCC has even banned their use in government buildings.

It might seem like a lot of fear-mongering, but it’s worth thinking about, especially if you’re cautious about supporting companies linked to personal rights concerns. That said, Reolink’s also a Chinese company, but they aren’t associated with the same issues.