I overhauled my house's security cameras three years ago, switching to Ubiquiti's UniFi system. I liked the inherent scalability and the range of products available, and the brand does a great job in this area. However, I needed Google Home integration, and that's not something Ubiquiti provides — you need to use its own UniFi Protect service.
So I started looking at other security cameras last year, and grudgingly, I settled on Google's Nest Cam. The camera isn't that great; the battery is pathetic, the footage isn't clean, and you can't use the camera without an $80 Nest Aware plan. The only reason I started using it is the convenience and security.
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Thankfully, there's now an alternative. Reolink swiftly rose up the ranks in recent years, and its cameras have local storage, plenty of great features, high-resolution sensors, and best of all, Google Home integration.
I used the Argus 4 Pro for just over four months now, and it has proven to be a reliable alternative to the Nest camera — one that works locally. The camera is designed for outdoor use, and it comes with a solar charging panel. The kit costs $219, but it's now down to just $139, making it a great value.
✅Recommended if: You need a reliable security camera that stores footage locally, and doesn't need a monthly fee. You can slot in a MicroSD card into the camera, image resolution is terrific, and the battery life has been great — you don't have to worry about it at all if you use the 6W solar charging panel.
❌Skip this deal if: You need continuous recording.
Reolink didn't leave anything out with this camera; it uses dual lenses to deliver 180-degree coverage, and the footage is much better than what I got out of the Nest Cam. The 6W solar panel does a great job delivering continual charge, and you don't have to think about manually charging up the camera if you go this route.
You can record footage to a MicroSD card; I slotted in a 128GB card, and it should be good enough to hold a year's worth of footage. I didn't see any issues with connectivity either, and overall, the camera has been reliable.
The camera records up to 4K, has motion detection, and there's two-way audio. What I like the most is the Google Home integration; it was easy to add the camera to my device list in the platform, and I was able to view footage and access alerts via Home. While the deal price of $139 is costlier than what that of the Nest Cam, this is a significantly better product, and you don't have to shell out a fee to use the camera at all.
