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4 min read
Edited ByRebecca EdwardsI installed the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam at home and ran it through a series of tests. There's a lot to love about this truly wireless floodlight camera.
First, once it's installed, you never have to charge it. Second, it seems to identify vehicles and people pretty well. The footage quality could be better, but for the price, you're getting a fantastic solar security camera.
Doesn't need to be charged
Detects objects accurately
Active Deterrence Mode
Easy to install
Low price 
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The Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam costs just a little over $100, which is incredibly cheap for a high-quality security camera. Often, top brands will cost you anywhere from $200 to $400.
Another way Reolink saves you money is by giving you local storage options (I'll talk more about that later) so you don't need to pay for cloud storage for your video footage.
If you do want to go with cloud storage, Reolink's cloud storage plans are also crazy inexpensive. While many companies charge around $10-$20 per month, you can get up to 30 days of cloud video history for around $6. Want 60 days of storage? That will cost around a measly $12.
Here's a better look at all of the cloud storage plans.
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Camera | Typical price | Battery life (capacity)
 | Solar panel | Learn more |
| <$120 | Up to 6 mo. (7800mAh) | Included | View on Amazon | |
| <$120 | Up to 6 mo. (6,000 mAh) | Included | View on Amazon | |
| <$310 | Up to 6 mo. (13,000 mAh) | Sold separately | View on Amazon | |
| <$550 (2-pack) | Up to 12 mo. (13,400 mAh) | Built-in | View on Amazon | |
| <$140 | Up to 6 mo. (5,960 mAh) | Included | View on Amazon | |
| <$90 | Up to 6 mo. (5,200 mAh) | Sold separately | View on Amazon |
Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
A look at what you'll get with your Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam, including hardware and instructions for installation. Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise
One thing I hate most about security cameras that aren't wired into your home's electricity is charging them. Even the best cameras need their batteries charged every few months. And if your camera is installed high, like above the garage door, that can mean dangerous ladder trips several times each year.
Luckily, the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam only needs to be charged once, right before you install it. From then on, it charges itself using the solar panel on top of the camera. Even on cloudy days, I found that this camera didn't run out of power, and it's only in a sunny spot for a few hours each day.
I really like that the solar panel is attached to the camera. Some other brands sell the solar panels separately. That means you pay more, and you also need to install the solar panel. That's more effort than I like.
It took a couple of hours for the camera to fully charge and it took me about 30 minutes to install it. You can see full installation instructions here: How to Install the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam
Most security cameras say they can detect objects, but I've found in my extensive testing that many confuse an animal for a person, or a package for a pet. The Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam doesn't seem to have that problem, for the most part.
When a vehicle pulls up my driveway, I've noticed that the camera notifications consistently identify the vehicle as, well, a vehicle. It's the same with people.
It gets a little tripped up on pets and other objects, though. It will just tell you it detected movement, instead of letting you know exactly what caused it.
When you tap the alarm, it triggers the camera's active deterrence mode. It flashes its 1000-lumen floodlights and sounds a 110dB siren to scare off potential thieves or wild animals.
Reolink cameras are known for their fantastic clarity when it comes to camera footage. So I was a little disappointed with the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam. The footage is a little grainy and doesn't have the high contrast of some of the brand's other models.
I wondered if I was just expecting too much, so I compared the floodlight camera to the Reolink Argus 4 Pro, one of SafeWise's favorite security cameras. I was definitely shocked. The Argus was far and away much clearer than its little floodlight sibling.
Here's a comparison. As you can see, the floodlight footage looks a little washed out and grainy. The Argus footage is vibrant and clear.
The Reolink Solar Floodlight footage is grainy and washed out.
Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise
Reolink's Argus 4 Pro give you clear, vibrant video footage.
Image: Alina Bradford, SafeWise
It's important to note that the Argus 4 Pro has 4K video resolution while the Solar Floodlight has only 2K. You can definitely tell the difference.
Another thing Reolink cameras are known for is local storage. This means all of your footage is offline, either on a mini SD card or on the Reolink Home Hub. Both can be purchased separately and added to your camera.
The Reolink Home Hub Pro (around $300) can store up to 2TB of footage and comes with no monthly fees. It needs to be connected by an Ethernet cable to your internet router.
The mini SD card is inserted into the back of the camera. How much storage it provides depends on the card you buy.
Yes, it does! It uses the Reolink Home Hub and cameras. You can read our full review here: Reolink Wireless Security System Review: Not Your Average Security System
It sure is. You can move the camera and both of the lights up, down, and sideways. You can also adjust its detection zones and motion detector sensitivity.
No, you don't need the Reolink Home Hub to use the camera. If you decide to go hub-less, you'll need to purchase a mini SD card for storage.
Image: SafeWise
I've been testing Reolink products for years. For my reviews, I test a unit at home. So that's what I did with the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam.
I installed the camera above my carport and put it through several tests:
I also spoke with Reolink representatives and researched the camera specs, prices, and more.
Read our full methodology page.
I found that, for the price, the Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam is a great option if you want a reliable floodlight camera that can light up the darkest parts of your yard. While the camera footage isn't as good as it could be, it still works well enough that you can tell if a visitor is someone you know or a stranger. And I really like that it can actively deter intruders.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of post date and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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