Cameras · Head to head

Reolink Altas PT Ultra vs Reolink OMVI 3i PoE

Full Smart Cameras comparison in 2026

Data from Amazon and official Reolink site.
2026 verdict
Two Reolink 4K cameras with pan and tilt, and the Reolink Altas PT Ultra is the one to choose when you cannot wire the spot, at the lower price.
Reolink Altas PT Ultra
Winner
Reolink Altas PT Ultra
Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
It is wire-free, running on a large battery topped up by its bundled solar panel, with dual-band Wi-Fi, 4K video and a signature 10-second pre-recording buffer that captures the moments before motion triggers. It stores locally to a microSD card up to 512GB with no subscription, but it stays in Reolink's app, its bundled panel cannot sustain true 24/7 recording, and in freezing climates the battery can stop holding charge. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the wired answer, a 180 degree panorama plus a tracking lens on one PoE cable with continuous 24/7 recording, an IP66 body and direct RTSP. Pick the Reolink Altas PT Ultra for a sunny, wire-free spot where catching the whole event matters, and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE when you can run a cable.
vs
News by email

Still comparing? Get what's new by email

New releases and the smart home news worth knowing, in your inbox.

Smart home news and new releases, straight to your inbox

New releases, comparisons and the smart home news worth knowing.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Please enter a valid email address.
Tick the box above to finish signing up.
We couldn't verify you're human. Please try again.
Too many attempts. Please try again in an hour.
Your subscription has been successful.
FeatureReolink Altas PT UltraReolink OMVI 3i PoEWinner
Rating3.84.3Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
Weather ResistanceIP65IP66Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
PoENOYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
Solar ChargingYESNOReolink Altas PT Ultra
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFiEthernetReolink Altas PT Ultra
StorageMicroSD Card Slot, CloudMicroSD Card SlotReolink Altas PT Ultra
RTSPReolink Home Hub requiredYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
Warranty2 years2 yearsTie
2K VideoYESYESTie
4K VideoYESYESTie
HDRNONOTie
Color Night VisionYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Power

The Reolink Altas PT Ultra runs on a battery charged by its bundled solar panel and needs no cable. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE draws power and data from a single Ethernet cable, so it is fixed in place but unaffected by sun or temperature.

Pre-recording

The Reolink Altas PT Ultra keeps a rolling buffer so a triggered clip includes the ten seconds before motion started, which catches fast-moving people and cars. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE records continuously, so nothing needs to be buffered.

Coverage

The Reolink Altas PT Ultra has a 90 degree horizontal view on a 355 degree pan and 90 degree tilt head. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE holds a fixed 180 degree panorama while a second lens tracks, so it watches the whole scene at once.

Cold weather

The Reolink Altas PT Ultra is known to stop powering or charging in sustained sub-freezing weather, a battery limitation. The wired Reolink OMVI 3i PoE has no battery, so cold does not affect it the same way.

RTSP and ecosystem

The Reolink Altas PT Ultra needs a Reolink Home Hub for RTSP, Alexa and Home Assistant. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE exposes RTSP directly and works with Home Assistant without extra hardware, though neither supports Apple HomeKit.

Which one to buy if

Winner
Reolink

Reolink Altas PT Ultra

Prime exclusive deal
Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
  • + Solar Charging: YES
  • + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi
  • + Storage: MicroSD Card Slot, Cloud
  • - Rating: 3.8 vs 4.3
  • - Weather Resistance: IP65 vs IP66

What owners say

Owners of both Reolink cameras praise the same qualities: a sharp 4K image, accurate people, animal and vehicle detection, and subscription-free local storage. Reolink Altas PT Ultra owners single out the 10-second pre-recording, which lets them see a whole event rather than a clip that starts late, and they rate the ColorX colour night vision and the pan-tilt with return-to-preset highly. Their warnings are clear: the bundled solar panel cannot keep up with true 24/7 recording, the battery can stop working in sub-freezing weather, and RTSP or Alexa need a Reolink Home Hub. Reolink OMVI 3i PoE owners instead talk about the 180 degree panoramic view and the tracking lens, calling the wide shot crisp and the mount solid, while noting slower close-up tracking, heavy default notifications and support limited to Google Home and Home Assistant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Reolink Altas PT Ultra or Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

For a wire-free spot in a sunny, mild climate, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra wins on freedom, pre-recording and price. Where a cable can be run, the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the more dependable camera, recording 24/7 from a fixed 180 degree panorama with direct RTSP.

What is the biggest difference between the Reolink Altas PT Ultra and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

Power and reliability. The Reolink Altas PT Ultra runs on solar and battery, which limits it to event recording and struggles in freezing weather, while the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is wired for continuous 24/7 recording.

Can the Reolink Altas PT Ultra and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE record 24/7?

Only the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE does reliably. The Reolink Altas PT Ultra can start recording on a schedule, but its bundled solar panel cannot keep the battery up under continuous 24/7 use, so event recording is the realistic mode.

Do these Reolink cameras need a subscription?

No. Both store footage locally with no monthly fee, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra to a microSD card up to 512GB and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE to a microSD card, an NVR or FTP/NAS. A subscription is only optional for cloud storage.

Which works with Alexa, Home Assistant or RTSP?

The Reolink Altas PT Ultra supports Alexa, Home Assistant and RTSP only through a Reolink Home Hub. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE offers RTSP and Home Assistant directly, with no Alexa. Neither supports Apple HomeKit.

Who should buy the Reolink Altas PT Ultra?

Owners of a large or remote property in a sunny, mild climate who want wire-free 4K pan-tilt coverage, pre-recording and fully local storage with no subscription.

Full comparison table

Compare all 134 Cameras side by side

You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Cameras in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.

  • 134 Cameras
  • 63 specs compared
  • 60 filters
Open the full comparison
More Cameras

Top Cameras to compare next

134 security cameras from 19 brands compared: Eufy, Arlo, Reolink, Ring and more. Resolution, local vs cloud storage, subscription costs and prices.

All Cameras
Reolink

More Reolink products

A sharper look at other Reolink products worth comparing.

Explore Reolink
Independent · Not sponsoredBrands never pay for placement or rankings. Affiliate commissions never influence our comparisons.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

© 2026 Smart Home Compared
Search