(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)
BERLIN—The Reolink Altas PT Ultra brings flexibility to outdoor security. On display here at the IFA trade show, it's the first battery-powered outdoor home security camera to offer continuous monitoring as an option instead of just recording after motion-based events.
That feature alone might raise concerns about the length of its battery life, but the 20,000mAh capacity allows it to last for eight days on a charge while continuously recording for 12 hours a day, according to Reolink. You’ll need to charge it more regularly if you want 24 hours of recording, but the battery should last much longer if you switch to event-based recording.
The Altas PT Ultra is smart enough to differentiate people and vehicles in its motion recordings and alerts. It can capture 10 seconds of pre-roll before the event is triggered thanks to cached footage in its System-on-Chip (SoC). It can even pan 350 degrees, tilt 90 degrees, and automatically track subjects while recording an event. You might not even need to make use of its flagship continuous recording feature to catch the action you’re looking for, but it’s there if you need it.
Footage can be stored locally and is captured in 4K UHD. It supports full-color night vision thanks to its large aperture and sensor that detects more light than usual IR night vision cameras.
(Credit: Andrew Gebhart)The Altas PT Ultra looks the part of a robust security camera. Even without wires, you’ll need to find a sturdy place to mount it as it’s not exactly small or indiscreet. While utilitarian in design, it should have the power and flexibility to help you keep a close eye on your property at all times, wherever you are.
Reolink hasn’t announced pricing for the Reolink Altas PT Ultra yet, but it’s due out in the US on Sept. 25. We look forward to testing it in the real world, so stay tuned for our full review.