Winner
Updated November 2026
Data from the official Reolink and Ring sites.
2026 verdict
Pay once or pay monthly: the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel is the stronger outdoor battery camera, recording 4K to a local microSD card with free people, animal and vehicle alerts.
Its solar panel comes in the box, it pans 355 degrees and tilts 140 to follow movement, adds a spotlight, joins 2.4 or 5 GHz Wi-Fi and carries a two-year warranty. The Ring Outdoor Cam is the more affordable and simpler camera: 1080p with color night vision, a removable battery, optional wired power and Home Assistant support without a hub, fitting neatly beside Ring doorbells and Alexa, but it saves no video at all without Ring Protect. Choose the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel for a sunny yard you want covered with no subscription, and the Ring Outdoor Cam to extend an existing Ring system.
Works with
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz
vs
£79.99
Works with
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
News by email
Still comparing? Get what's new by email
New releases and the smart home news worth knowing, in your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
| Feature | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel | Ring Outdoor Cam | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $134.99 | £79.99 | Ring Outdoor Cam |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.5 | Ring Outdoor Cam |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 year | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| Solar Charging | YES | NO | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi | 2.4 GHz WiFi | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| Storage | MicroSD Card Slot, Cloud | Cloud | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| 2K Video | YES | NO | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| 4K Video | YES | NO | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| RTSP | Reolink Home Hub required | NO | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| Alerts | Motion, People, Animals, Vehicles | Motion, People, Packages | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| Light | YES | NO | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
| Local Control | YES | NO | Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel |
What the differences mean
Subscription
The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel records to a microSD card and sends people, animal and vehicle alerts for free. The Ring Outdoor Cam gives live view only until you add Ring Protect.
Image and coverage
The Reolink records 4K and pans 355 degrees and tilts 140 to track a subject. The Ring Outdoor Cam records 1080p across a fixed 110 degree view.
Power
The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel charges from its included panel. The Ring Outdoor Cam uses a removable battery you swap and charge, or optional wired power; solar is an accessory.
Smart home
The Ring Outdoor Cam works with Alexa and Home Assistant. The Reolink works with Alexa and Google Home and needs a Reolink Home Hub for Home Assistant and RTSP.
Wi-Fi and warranty
The Reolink joins 5 GHz as well as 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and carries a two-year warranty; the Ring Outdoor Cam is 2.4 GHz only with one year.
Which one to buy if
- you do not want a monthly fee
The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel stores clips and sends smart alerts with no plan.
- you already have a Ring doorbell and chimes
The Ring Outdoor Cam joins the same app, Protect plan and Alexa routines.
- you want the camera to follow someone across the yard
The Reolink's auto-tracking pan-tilt keeps the subject in frame.
- you run Home Assistant and want no extra hub
The Ring Outdoor Cam works with Home Assistant directly; the Reolink needs its Home Hub.
- you use Google Home
The Reolink works with Google Home; the Ring Outdoor Cam does not.
Winner
19% OFF
$134.99
$166.99
- + Warranty: 2 years
- + Solar Charging: YES
- + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi
- - Price: $134.99 vs £79.99
- - Rating: 4.0 vs 4.5
£79.99
- + Price: £79.99
- + Rating: 4.5
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 2 years
- - Solar Charging: NO vs YES
What owners say
Owners of both cameras value a wire-free install that takes minutes and color footage at night. Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel owners single out batteries that sit near full on the included panel even in winter, a spotlight bright enough to deter and auto-tracking that covers far more than a fixed view, and they complain that it sleeps between events, reloads for live view and depends on a sometimes finicky Reolink Home Hub for extras. Ring Outdoor Cam owners talk about night vision better than they expected, a removable battery that is easy to swap and how it links with their Ring doorbells, chimes and Alexa, while their complaints are that nothing is saved without Ring Protect, that heavy use can mean weekly recharging and that motion detection misses movement further away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel or Ring Outdoor Cam?
The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel. It records 4K locally with free smart alerts, pans and tilts to track movement and charges from its included solar panel. The Ring Outdoor Cam is the cheaper, simpler option for households already using Ring and Ring Protect.
What is the biggest difference between the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel and the Ring Outdoor Cam?
The subscription. The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel records to a microSD card with no plan, while the Ring Outdoor Cam saves no video until you subscribe to Ring Protect.
Which has better video, the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel or the Ring Outdoor Cam?
The Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel records 4K and can pan and tilt, while the Ring Outdoor Cam records 1080p from a fixed view. Both have color night vision.
Do these cameras work with Alexa and Home Assistant?
Both the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel and the Ring Outdoor Cam work with Alexa. The Ring works with Home Assistant directly, while the Reolink needs a Reolink Home Hub for it. Only the Reolink works with Google Home.
Who should buy the Reolink Argus PT Ultra + Solar Panel?
Anyone with a sunny yard or driveway who wants 4K, auto-tracking and local storage without a monthly fee, backed by a two-year warranty.
Who should buy the Ring Outdoor Cam?
Ring and Alexa households that want an inexpensive wire-free camera with color night vision and a removable battery, and already pay for Ring Protect.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Tell us and we will fix it.
Our store on AmazonShop our ideas on AmazonLists of the smart home setups we would put together ourselves, ready to add to your Amazon cart.Shop on AmazonFull comparison table
Compare all 151 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.
- 151 Cameras
- 67 specs compared
- 64 filters
- Cameras
Window Camera E10
- Cameras
OMVI X16 PoE
- Cameras
Ring Indoor Cam
- Cameras
Floodlight Cam Wired Plus
- Cameras
Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam
- Cameras
OMVI 2i PoE
- Cameras
Smart Outdoor Camera
- Cameras
Indoor Cam Plus
- Cameras
Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)
- Cameras
Tapo C260
- Cameras
Nest Cam (indoor, wired)
- Cameras
Tapo C200
- Cameras
Tapo C210
- Cameras
Mini Pan-Tilt
- Cameras
Spotlight Cam Plus
- Cameras
Mini 2
- Cameras
Ring Outdoor Cam Plus
- Cameras
Tapo C320WS
- Cameras
Tapo C500
- Cameras
C8c
- Cameras
4MP Indoor
- Cameras
Altas PT Ultra
- Cameras
Argus 4 Pro
- Cameras
Argus MagiCam
- Cameras
Duo 2V PoE
- Cameras
Duo 3 PoE
- Cameras
Duo 3 WiFi
- Cameras
E1 Pro
- Cameras
Elite Floodlight WiFi
- Cameras
OMVI 2i PoE
- Cameras
OMVI 2i Ultra
- Cameras
OMVI 3i PoE
- Cameras
OMVI X16 PoE
- Cameras
RLC-810A
- Cameras
RP-PCT8MD
- Cameras
TrackFlex Floodlight WiFi
- Cameras
TrackMix PoE
- Cameras
TrackMix WiFi
- Doorbells
Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)
- Doorbells
Doorbell WiFi
- Alarm Systems
Alarm (2nd Gen) 5-Piece Kit
- Alarm Systems
Alarm (2nd Gen) 8-Piece Kit
- Alarm Systems
Alarm (2nd Gen) EU
- Alarm Systems
Alarm Pro 14-Piece Kit
- Alarm Systems
Alarm Pro 8-Piece Kit
- Cameras
Floodlight Cam 2K
- Cameras
Floodlight Cam 4K Plus (Wired)
- Cameras
Floodlight Cam 4K Pro
- Cameras
Floodlight Cam Wired Plus
- Cameras
Indoor Cam 4K
- Cameras
Indoor Cam Plus
- Cameras
Ring Indoor Cam
- Cameras
Outdoor Cam (2nd Gen)
- Cameras
Outdoor Cam 4K Pro (Plug-In)
- Cameras
Ring Outdoor Cam Plus
- Cameras
Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K
- Cameras
Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam
- Cameras
Spotlight Cam 2K
- Cameras
Spotlight Cam 4K Pro (2nd Gen)
- Cameras
Spotlight Cam Plus (wired)