At IFA 2024, Reolink unveiled the Altas PT Ultra, a 4K continuous recording security camera priced at $180, or $200 if you want it shipped with a 6W solar panel. Altas PT Ultra promises Reolink’s proprietary ColorX Night Vision. All images are recorded in 4K Ultra High Definition, and the 360-degree rotating camera head promises “universal security” from a large 20,000 mAh battery.
The company says the battery is big enough to provide four days of continuous recording at 4K or 500 days when you use it in Trigger Mode. Trigger Mode means the camera still sends images to your phone in real time, but it doesn’t record everything it captures. With Smart Detection Auto Tracking, the camera ensures motion detection. It quickly turns its lens to anything unusual it senses, so real-time images sent to your phone should suffice in most cases.
Reolink Altas PT Ultra
Reolink’s Altas PT Ultra offers excellent 4K quality with powerful night vision and great battery life.
Benefits
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Very easy setup
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The best 4K images
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Night vision is very sharp
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The battery lasts more than a year
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Multiple Wi-Fi options
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Tons of useful in-app features
Evil
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The network storage option is expensive
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The MicroSD card slot is easily accessible by everyone
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The speaker is very small and has an echo
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There is no power connection option
The lack of a continuous power source was one of my first complaints with the Altas PT Ultra, although it’s not a dealbreaker due to the camera’s large battery. The camera is battery powered, so it is not intended to work with a power connection. With a dozen other devices to be charged already, I would want a device that handles my security not to be an addition to my list. I’m glad the battery is big enough to last 500 days (over a year) on a single charge, but it would be nice if it also made the power connection easier.
The Altas PT Ultra uses a Dual-band Wi-Fi system, offering 2.4 and 5 GHz options. That said, the 5 GHz option is recommended for improved range and less interference, but 2.4 GHz support is a good backup. For a device that requires an Internet connection to work, I’m happy to choose another low-GHz Wi-Fi.
The app offers several remote options with the Altas PT Ultra. You can trigger a indeed high volume alarm on the camera or use the talk button to talk through the built-in speaker. The speaker is bare-bones, feels very thin, and echoy, but it’s efficient enough to get the job done. The flashlight icon in the app allows you to activate a set of six LED lights under the lens on the camera. The LEDs were blindingly bright and almost triggered my photophobia when I accidentally activated them directly in my face.
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Reolink Altas PT Ultra Review: Set
The camera shipped with a bunch of screws and other scary installation tools in the package, which made me immediately dread the setup process. I first tried to stop at the office but I had to change gears because the internet is dirty here. At home, I quickly discovered that I could completely bypass the entire installation process. Setup was easy and took just a few minutes. I lifted the rubber flap and long pressed the power button inside next to the Type C charging port. A loud and long welcome message greeted me, which embarrassed me when I first tried it in my office.
I then downloaded the Reolink companion app to my iPhone and tapped the pairing icon to add a new device. That prompted me to scan the QR code on the camera with my phone. When I did that, it told me that it’s already connected via Bluetooth, and I should set up Wi-Fi now. This part didn’t work with the problematic internet in my office, but it was very easy when I tried it at home. I entered my Wi-Fi information, renamed the camera “Dua Room,” and hit enter. I like that it also gave me the Atlas PT Ultra password when I wanted to log in from another device.
Reolink Altas PT Ultra review: In-app features
I’ve been messing around with this camera for a few weeks now and exploring everything it has to offer. It has been sending a continuous stream of 4K images to an app on my phone with a bunch of options. I can take a screenshot of any moment using the camera icon in the app or tap the camcorder icon to record a clip.
Recorded video looks great with colors and clarity, and detail and sharpness are outstanding. I was very impressed with its night vision capabilities, as I didn’t expect it to work well during the day.
There is a full screen option to focus on the images better and a pause option if you want it to take a break. Mute/unmute cycles between muting or unmuting the sound the camera is recording. The PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) control in the app takes you to a wheel-like controller that you can rotate at will and have it translate to the camera head moving in real time. I thoroughly tested this feature and was impressed by the automatic and smooth movement. The speed option on the PTZ button allows you to control how fast or slow you want the camera head to move.
The Altas PT Ultra means business when it says 360-degree recording. I abused the PTZ button to reveal its limitations but didn’t encounter any blind spots. The play button shows the recorded video if you need to select a specific time.
The images are incredibly detailed and show the date and time of recording, too, but you can move things around or make them completely invisible. I found the time and date details of my video to be important, so I didn’t choose to hide them. Instead, I moved them from the bottom right to the top since the fixed position interfered with the POV I wanted.
Another big thing about the Altas PT Ultra is its lack of network storage options unless you buy the Reolink Home Hub for $88. In the hub, you can connect up to eight Reolink cameras and enjoy the benefits of encryption, too, but the nearly $100 fee is a big expense. Let’s say you don’t want to take the Home Hub route. If so, another option is to insert a MicroSD card—up to 512 GB—in the slot provided in the camera, which is in a very visible and incredibly easy to open position. Even an inexperienced thief can quickly find the slot and discard the card before making his game plan.
The Altas PT Ultra is rated IP65 for dust and water resistance, a standard feature for outdoor security cameras.
Altas PT Ultra Review: Verdict
I’m very impressed with the hassle-free setup and in-app options on the Altas PT Ultra. I also like the flexibility the camera offers in terms of Wi-Fi options. Its large battery that lasts for more than a year (16 months) is extremely impressive. However, where the camera undoubtedly shines is its brilliant, detailed 4K quality, and excellent night vision capabilities. I wish the memory card slot was more secure, especially considering it’s the only free option for storing photos. Like I said, the lack of a power connection would be a bummer if it weren’t for the ridiculously long battery life.
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