Cameras · Head to head

Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel vs Reolink OMVI 3i PoE

Full Smart Cameras comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Reolink site.
2026 verdict
The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel is the better fit of these two Reolink cameras when no cable can reach the spot, and it comes at the lower price.
Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
Winner
Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
$166.99
Buy on Amazon USA
It is wire-free, running on a battery that its included panel keeps charged, with a 4K pan-tilt lens that tracks movement, dual-band Wi-Fi and subscription-free microSD storage. It does record events rather than 24/7, and it stays inside Reolink's app, with RTSP, Alexa and Home Assistant only through a Reolink Home Hub. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the wired alternative, drawing power and data from one PoE cable for true 24/7 recording, a 180 degree panorama plus a tracking lens, an IP66 body and direct RTSP. Choose the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel for a sunny, wire-free install, and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE when you can run a cable and want continuous recording with a wider view.
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FeatureReolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar PanelReolink OMVI 3i PoEWinner
Price$166.99$329.99Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel
Rating3.94.3Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
Weather ResistanceIP65IP66Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
PoENOYESReolink OMVI 3i 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
RTSPReolink Home Hub requiredYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
Warranty2 years2 yearsTie
2K VideoYESYESTie
4K VideoYESYESTie
HDRNONOTie

What the differences mean

Power

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel runs on a battery charged by its included solar panel and needs no cable. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is powered over one Ethernet cable, so it is fixed in place but never depends on the sun.

Recording mode

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel records motion events and sleeps between them to save power, so it is not continuous. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE records 24/7 around the clock, which is the clearest advantage of the wired model.

Field of view

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel sees 90 degrees horizontally but pans 355 degrees and tilts 140 degrees to sweep a scene. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE holds a fixed 180 degree panorama while its second lens tracks, so it watches the whole frame at once.

Connection and RTSP

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel connects over dual-band Wi-Fi and needs a Reolink Home Hub for RTSP, Alexa and Home Assistant. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE exposes RTSP directly off the PoE connection, without a hub.

Weather rating

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel is IP65 and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE IP66, so the wired camera is the slightly more exposed-weather-proof of the two.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Reolink cameras like the same things: local storage with no subscription and an image that holds up at night. Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel owners single out the solar charging, reporting the battery sitting near full even through shorter winter days, and praise the 4K image, the bright spotlight and the auto-tracking pan-tilt that covers far more than a fixed camera. Their warnings are that it sleeps instead of recording 24/7, that the Reolink Home Hub and app can be finicky, and that some chargers will not charge it. Reolink OMVI 3i PoE owners, meanwhile, focus on the wide 180 degree view and the tracking lens, calling the panorama crisp, the pan and tilt smooth and the mount sturdy, while noting slow close-up tracking and notifications that need tuning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel or Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

If you cannot run a cable, the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel wins on freedom and price. If you can wire the spot, the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the more capable camera, recording 24/7 with a 180 degree panorama and a tracking lens.

What is the biggest difference between the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

Power and recording. The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel runs on a solar-charged battery and records events only, while the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is wired and records continuously around the clock.

Can the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel record 24/7?

Not on its own. It records motion events and sleeps to save battery, so continuous coverage would need Reolink's NVR or Home Hub with wired cameras. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE, by contrast, records 24/7 directly.

Do these Reolink cameras need a subscription?

No. Both store recordings locally with no monthly fee, the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel to a microSD card 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, Google Home or RTSP?

The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel works with Google Home directly, but needs a Reolink Home Hub for RTSP, Alexa and Home Assistant. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE works with Google Home and Home Assistant and streams RTSP directly, with no Alexa support.

Who should buy the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel?

Anyone with a sunny spot and no way to run a cable who wants 4K pan-tilt coverage, solar charging and local storage without a subscription.

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