INTRODUCTION

   I may have mentioned this like 100 times already but the one thing all people must love about the electronics industry in general is the fact that it never stays still and that in turn results in a very high level of competition between manufacturers, small and large. Take the surveillance/security segment of the electronics industry for example which although not the most popular one among consumers (although due to crime stats spiking in some areas of the planet it's a lot more popular than it was a decade ago) it's actually one of the most competitive ones with numerous new manufacturers debuting their product lines every year. Among those manufacturers there are some which are dedicated in the design and manufacturer of innovative and easy to use security cameras even for people who may not be into all things electronic. Reolink is one such manufacturer and after reading countless positive things about them by consumers we decided to take a look at their latest Argus 2 Wire-Free 1080p Security Camera.

   Reolink started up in 2009, and ever since then, we’ve been devoted to creating the finest security products for consumers and business owners. Our first product was launched in July, 2009, which received rave reviews from customers who are sensitive to both quality and service. Until now, Reolink has helped hundreds of thousands of people from all around the world. We have spent years looking for the perfect way to make your home and office more secure and comfortable. And with great efforts we currently offer a total of 5 product lines with mature technology. What’s more, Reolink’s “Plug and Play” technology brings great convenience for DIY users, without any reconfigurations or adjustments. And the Network Video Recorder (NVR) and IP camera integrated with latest 4K technology provide you with excellent view experience on a smartphone or tablet. We strive to develop innovative and progressive technology so that we can provide our customers with intelligent and straightforward solutions. What you think matters is what we care about. We hope a small step we take will lead to a big change in your life.

   Just as the name suggests the Argus 2 security camera by Reolink is the successor to their successful and award winning Argus and Argus Pro security cameras released a couple of years ago. Now although all three models feature 1080p Full HD recording (2 Megapixel/15fps/130 degrees diagonal angle), built-in microphone and speaker (two way audio), PIR motion sensor, IP-65 weather proof enclosures, wireless 2.4GHz connectivity (IEEE 802.11b/g/n), IR LEDs (range of up to 10 meters / 33 feet) and a micro SD card slot (PIR motion triggering recording files) they have some very basic differences. So although the original Argus came with 4 Lithium CR123A batteries (also supported rechargeable ones) the Argus Pro and Argus 2 come ready with rechargeable lithium ion battery packs (5200mAh) and a micro USB charging port at the rear which can be used with either a 5V 2A phone adapter or with Reolink's solar panel kit. This allows both the Argus Pro and Argus 2 to go on non-stop for many years (at least until the lithium battery pack needs to be replaced). There's also however a very significant change between the Argus Pro and the Argus 2 model and that's the new Starlight CMOS sensor used in the latter which not only offers better clarity and range but it also allows for color night vision instead of the typical black and white we see with the majority of security cameras in the market. This may not sound as a big deal and to some people it may not be but as you will see later on the difference this sensor makes is quite impressive and is really not something we weren't expecting from an affordable model like the Argus 2.