The Reolink Duo 3 PoE is a dual-lens security camera with impressive features and a wide field of view, but it has some limitations over PTZ cameras.
My Thoughts: The camera is well made and has a solid feel and build. The front portion around the lens is metal, while the remaining body is plastic.
- The mount is plastic and is supplied with inadequate hardware to mount appropriately to any surface other than the wallboard/wood. You must improvise if you want to mount this camera to Vinyl siding. The metal hardware and screws are just too small and short to do the job on anything other than wood.
- The lens has bad flare, making the camera better suited for areas not in direct sunlight. If the camera is positioned in an area with sunlight, you will see terrible lens flaring.
- When testing indoors at 60F/16C, the camera became hot. So, I wonder how it will be this summer outdoors in the heat; time will tell.
- You must download and use the ReoLink App to set up the camera. By default, the camera's ports are locked and inaccessible by third-party software or a web browser until you enable them using the Reolink app.
- The documentation is geared toward users with/using their smartphones. More experienced users who wish to set up the camera on a "system" such as Synology need to open ports and enable those features embedded in the Reolink App.
- The duo's one upside compared to a 4k PTZ camera is its wide angle of view.
My Experience With Other Reolink Cameras:
- In three years, I have purchased and used five Reolink cameras. Three of those five have failed due to water intrusion. The remaining cameras are used indoors. All are "advertised" as outdoor, so at this point, I lack confidence in Reolink cameras' long-term use.
- In comparison, my Axis camera was constantly used for 14 years outdoors until I decided to replace it, not because it failed but because of technological advances. I have yet to experience these "newer" cameras lasting more than a few years.
Pros:
- The Reolink Duo 3 POE is receiving firmware updates, which is good.
- The Reolink Duo 3 POE offers several color, brightness, saturation, Network, and Alarm Reporting configurations.
- The Reolink Duo 3 POE offers Motion detection for pets, cars, and people and can turn on sirens and spotlights upon detection.
- The cameras have excellent night IR vision.\, but is centrally focused so coverage across 180 degrees is lacking.
- Good Ethernet weather protection using the included sleeve.
- Offers Power over Ethernet (POE).
- Two-way talk using the app
- Customizable floodlighting options to turn on for Animals, Humans, and People.
Cons:
- The Reolink Duo 3 is geared toward the home consumer market, so do not have high expectations.
- Mounting options are limited to a wood or drywall surface. This is the worst I have seen—come on, Reolink!!!
- The lens suffers from a terrible flare.
- Digital Zoom Only - so don't expect much.
- There is no wind protection for the mic—if the wind is blowing, you will hear it over anything else.
- No power supplied included.
- You can not set the bitrate.
- The Reolink Duo 3 is limited to internal storage using Micro SD up to 256GB.
- The image quality is good, and two 4K cameras are combined to cover a 180-degree field of view (FOV).
Bad Flare:
The Fluf:
The Reolink Duo POE is a 16MP UHD Dual-Lens camera with a stunning 16MP ultra-high-definition resolution, ensuring clear and detailed videos.
180° Panoramic View: With its dual lenses, the Reolink Duo 3 PoE covers a wide area and stitches both videos together to give you a 180° field of view. This panoramic view allows you to monitor an ample space effectively.
Motion Tracking: The camera can track the motion of objects, which is helpful for security purposes. It sends instant and accurate alerts to your devices when it detects movement.
Color Night Vision: Even in low-light conditions, the Reolink Duo 3 PoE provides color night vision, allowing you to see more details than traditional black-and-white night vision.
Two-Way Audio: Using the built-in two-way audio feature, you can communicate with anyone near the camera.
IP66-Certified: The camera is weatherproof and suitable for outdoor use.
Floodlights: If you’re interested in a similar camera with floodlights, consider the Reolink Duo Floodlight PoE, which offers 4K resolution, dual lenses, and powerful 1800 lumens floodlights3.
Remember that Reolink offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, free shipping, and a 2-year limited warranty for the Duo 3 PoE.
Recommendation: Recommended for use requiring a wide field of view. Buy your Reolink Duo 3 using my Amazon Associate Link ReoLink Duo 3 POE