Cameras · Head to head

Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel vs Reolink OMVI 2i PoE

Full Smart Cameras comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Reolink site.
2026 verdict
Off-grid on a fence with sun on it, the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel beats the Reolink OMVI 2i PoE for most homes.
Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
Winner
Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
$166.99

Last recorded price

Buy on Amazon USA
It runs on a 21.6 Wh battery kept topped up by its own solar panel, shoots 4K over dual-band Wi-Fi, pans 355 degrees and records to a microSD card or FTP with no subscription. The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE is the wired counterpart: it needs a PoE cable, but it streams over RTSP, supports Home Assistant directly, carries an IP66 body and a two-year warranty, and its dual 5MP lenses cover a 165-degree horizontal view with tracking. Choose the Argus PT Ultra where no cable can reach, and the OMVI 2i PoE where you can run PoE and want always-on wired reliability.
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FeatureReolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar PanelReolink OMVI 2i PoEWinner
Price$166.99$189.99Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
Rating3.95.0Reolink OMVI 2i PoE
Weather ResistanceIP65IP66Reolink OMVI 2i PoE
PoENOYESReolink OMVI 2i PoE
Solar ChargingYESNOReolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFiEthernetReolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
StorageMicroSD Card Slot, CloudMicroSD Card SlotReolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
4K VideoYESNOReolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
RTSPReolink Home Hub requiredYESReolink OMVI 2i PoE
Warranty2 years2 yearsTie
2K VideoYESYESTie
HDRNONOTie

What the differences mean

Power and placement

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel runs on a rechargeable 21.6 Wh battery charged by its bundled panel, so it goes where there is sun and no outlet. The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE has no battery and no Wi-Fi, needing a PoE cable. That decides where each can be mounted.

Recording mode

The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE records true 24/7 continuously over its wired link, to microSD, an NVR or FTP. The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel records motion events and sleeps between them to protect battery life, so it is not continuous. For round-the-clock footage, only the wired one delivers.

Resolution and lenses

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel records 4K (8MP). The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE uses two 5MP lenses, one wide and one pan-tilt, working together. The Argus gives more pixels per frame, while the OMVI gives a wider combined view with a tracking head.

Coverage

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel pans 355 degrees and tilts 140 around a 90-degree horizontal lens. The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE reaches a combined 165 degrees horizontally, with a lower head that pans 340 and tilts 55. Both cover a wide area, by different means.

Streaming and ecosystems

The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE streams RTSP/ONVIF directly and works with Home Assistant and Google Home, but has no Alexa. The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel adds Alexa and Google Home, but RTSP and Home Assistant require a Reolink Home Hub. One is open, the other is broader.

Body and warranty

The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE is rated IP66 with a two-year warranty. The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel is IP65 with the same two-year warranty. Both are covered equally, and the IP66 of the OMVI is a step tougher against water jets for a permanent install.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel owners lead with the solar panel. Many report the battery sitting at or near full with the included panel, even through shorter winter days, and they value the 4K detail, a bright spotlight and auto-tracking that covers more ground than a fixed camera. The pay-once model is the other theme: local microSD recording and optional FTP to a NAS, with no subscription. What they caution about is recording mode, because the camera sleeps to save battery and is not truly 24/7, and the app experience, where the Reolink Home Hub needed for RTSP and Home Assistant can be finicky and live feeds occasionally drop.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
  • Reolink OMVI 2i PoE

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall, the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel or the Reolink OMVI 2i PoE?

For most homes the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel wins on flexibility, since it is wire-free, self-charging and records 4K locally with no subscription. The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE is better when you can run a PoE cable and need true 24/7 recording, RTSP and a slightly tougher IP66 body.

What is the biggest difference between the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel and the Reolink OMVI 2i PoE?

Power and recording. The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel is battery and solar powered and records motion events, while the Reolink OMVI 2i PoE is a wired PoE camera that records continuously 24/7.

Do the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel and the Reolink OMVI 2i PoE need a subscription?

No. Both record locally to microSD with no monthly fee, and the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel can also upload to FTP or a NAS. Cloud storage from Reolink is optional on both.

Can the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel record 24/7 like the Reolink OMVI 2i PoE?

No. The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel records motion events because it sleeps to conserve battery. If you want continuous 24/7 recording, the Reolink OMVI 2i PoE is the model that does it.

Does the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel work with Alexa, Google Home or Home Assistant?

It works with Alexa and Google Home, and reaches Home Assistant and RTSP through a Reolink Home Hub. The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE supports Google Home and Home Assistant directly plus RTSP/ONVIF, but has no Alexa.

Which has the wider view, the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel or the Reolink OMVI 2i PoE?

The Reolink OMVI 2i PoE reaches a combined 165 degrees horizontally with its two 5MP lenses. The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel has a 90-degree horizontal lens but pans 355 degrees, so it can look around a wider arc over time.

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