Reolink Altas PT Ultra 4K Solar-Powered Security Camera Review

The Reolink Altas PT Ultra is a security camera that aims to deliver the convenience of a battery-powered device without severely limiting performance. On paper, with its continuous 4K recording, pan-and-tilt, and even solar support for potentially limitless power with no need to ever plug in or change batteries, it sounds promising. How does it hold up in the real world? Here is my review.

Continuous 4K!

The main spec highlight of the Altas PT Ultra is that continuous 4K recording. In other cameras, that kind of feature would quickly drain battery life. With the Altas PT Ultra, the 20,000 mAh battery swoops in to keep the camera powered up and ready to record continuously.

Additionally, if you add the solar panel, that big battery will be kept topped up without the need to plug in.

Big nighttime quality

Nighttime recording is another big talking point when it comes to security cameras. If the camera can’t record in the dark, then it’s only really good 50% of the time.

Thankfully, through its ColorX system, the Altas PT Ultra can record clear video in low light, before turning to infrared for pitch dark capture.

The pan-and-tilt functionality is also worthy of highlighting. This camera can rotate close to 360 degrees and auto-tracking keeps targeted subjects in frame. (The camera can distinguish between people, animals, and vehicles.)

Get capturing

When you’ve got everything set up and mastered the panning and tilting, it’s time to actually record footage and review just how crisp and clear it is. Happily, the 4K footage captured by the sensor is truly exceptional, providing excellent clarity and detail on people’s faces and registration plates.

Recording can go straight to local storage, which is excellent to see, as so many competing products have introduced subscription plans for cloud storage. Seeing local storage supported here, made easy with quick WiFi speeds, is great.

It’s big

The biggest downside of the Altas PT Ultra is its size. It looks like serious business and could intimidate and deter someone considering being unlawful. However, attracting attention could also be seen as a downside.

While the big battery is appreciated, and can be combined with the solar panel add-on, users will likely have to eventually recharge it manually, which is a common inconvenience when it comes to this type of product.

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Reolink.

Final Verdict

At $219.99, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra stands out as a capable battery-powered security camera that delivers strong overall performance, highlighted by continuous 4K recording, reliable low-light and nighttime capture, and flexible pan-and-tilt coverage. Local storage support is a welcome feature that adds convenience without ongoing costs, while the large battery helps reduce day-to-day maintenance. Its bulky design and the likelihood of occasional recharging may not suit everyone, but taken as a whole, it offers a well-rounded balance of features and practicality for those seeking a more advanced wireless security solution.