Reolink has quietly become one of the most compelling security camera brands available in the UK. While Ring and Arlo dominate the advertising space, Reolink offers competitive resolution, weatherproofing, and smart home integration — often at a fraction of the price and with no ongoing subscription fee. This review covers three of the best Reolink cameras you can buy in the UK right now: the Argus 3 Pro, RLC-810A, and E1 Outdoor.
Reolink Argus 3 Pro: Best for Wireless Flexibility
Price: around £59.99 (prices vary by retailer). The Argus 3 Pro is Reolink's flagship battery-powered camera, offering 2K (2560×1440) resolution alongside colour night vision — a rarity at this price point. It is rated IP67, meaning it handles British weather without issue.
Power options are genuinely flexible: use the built-in rechargeable battery, attach the optional Reolink solar panel, or connect via USB-C. For most UK gardens and driveways, the solar panel option makes this a truly wire-free, maintenance-free setup.
Motion detection is customisable within the Reolink app, and footage can be saved to a MicroSD card (up to 256GB) or uploaded to Reolink's optional cloud storage. Critically, local SD card storage is free and fully functional with no subscription required — a significant advantage over Arlo or Ring, where cloud storage requires a paid plan. The camera works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, allowing live view via Echo Show or Nest Hub displays.
The Reolink app is well-regarded for ease of setup: most users have the camera online within five minutes. Push notifications on motion are reliable and include a thumbnail preview. If you want a flexible outdoor camera that does not lock you into a monthly fee, the Argus 3 Pro is the standout choice at its price. For a broader look at what's available, see our guide to the best smart CCTV systems in the UK.
Reolink RLC-810A: Best for Wired 4K Installations
Price: around £49.99 (prices vary by retailer). The RLC-810A is a Power over Ethernet (PoE) wired camera offering 4K (3840×2160) resolution — exceptional clarity for reading number plates or monitoring large areas. Because it draws power directly from the ethernet cable, there are no batteries to manage and no WiFi reliability concerns.
Smart detection on the RLC-810A goes beyond simple motion: it can distinguish between people, vehicles, and pets, which dramatically reduces false alerts from passing cars, foxes, or blowing leaves. Footage is stored locally on a connected Reolink NVR or NAS via RTSP streaming — an open standard that keeps you in full control of your data.
For Home Assistant users, the RLC-810A is the clear choice. Reolink cameras with RTSP support work natively with the home security guide UK setup we recommend, and the official Home Assistant Reolink integration provides motion events, snapshot triggers, and live streams directly inside your HA dashboard. No third-party workarounds needed.
The main limitation is installation complexity — you need to run an ethernet cable to the camera location, which may require drilling. If you are comfortable with a basic wired setup, however, the RLC-810A delivers 4K quality and full local control that genuinely rivals cameras costing two or three times more.
Reolink E1 Outdoor: Best Entry-Level Value
Price: around £44.99 (prices vary by retailer). The E1 Outdoor is Reolink's entry-level WiFi camera, offering 5MP resolution and a straightforward setup via the Reolink app. It lacks the colour night vision of the Argus 3 Pro and the smart detection of the RLC-810A, but for a first outdoor camera, it covers the basics well.
WiFi connectivity means no cable runs, though you will need a power outlet nearby. IP67 weatherproofing holds up to UK rain and cold. Motion zones and push alerts are available through the app. SD card storage is again free and built in.
If you are on a tight budget and want something to monitor a front door or garden gate, the E1 Outdoor provides solid value. For those ready to step up, the Argus 3 Pro or RLC-810A are worth the modest extra investment.
How Does Reolink Compare to the Competition?
The most important differentiator is the no-subscription model. Arlo's base plan is free for up to five cameras but limits clip length and removes some smart detection features; Ring charges for cloud storage and person detection. Reolink offers full functionality — motion alerts, smart detection on supported models, local storage — without any ongoing fee.
Compared to Arlo security cameras, Reolink generally offers higher resolution at a lower price, though Arlo's app polish and third-party integrations are broader. Compared to TP-Link Tapo cameras, Reolink's RTSP and Home Assistant support gives it a clear edge for smart home users who want local, self-hosted control.
Home Assistant Integration
The Reolink integration for Home Assistant is one of the brand's strongest selling points for technically minded UK buyers. The official integration (available since Home Assistant 2023.1) supports motion detection events, person and vehicle alerts, PTZ control on supported models, and live RTSP streams — all without relying on Reolink's cloud. Setup requires the camera's local IP address and your Reolink account credentials; most RTSP-capable models are supported.
This level of local integration is difficult to find on Arlo or Ring cameras, which rely heavily on cloud APIs and do not offer RTSP on all models.
Verdict
Reolink cameras represent strong value for UK buyers at every price tier. The Argus 3 Pro is the best all-round wireless camera if you want flexibility and colour night vision without paying a monthly fee. The RLC-810A is the pick for home automation enthusiasts and anyone who wants 4K, smart detection, and deep Home Assistant integration via RTSP. The E1 Outdoor covers the basics for those on a tight budget.
Across the range, the consistent strength is local storage with no subscription, solid weatherproofing, and growing smart home compatibility. If you are weighing up whether to go with Ring or Reolink, read our comparison of the best home security systems in the UK to see how the full ecosystem stacks up.
