The Reolink Duo covers a huge field of view by sheer brute force: it puts two cameras in one body. With on-device smart features, floodlights for full-color night vision, a range of models to suit every need, and the same software support that we've come to love from Reolink, it's hard to fault the Duo.

Specifications
  • Brand: Reolink
  • Resolution: 4MP / 2560 x 1440p (x2)
  • Connectivity: PoE, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or 4G (price varies)
  • App Compatibility: Smartphone and desktop app
  • Night Vision: Yes, IR and floodllight for full-color
  • Internal or External: External
  • Power Source: PoE, DC, or Battery
  • Axis Control: No, fixed view
Pros
  • Incredible resolution and little distortion across a wide 150-degree field of view
  • Floodlights provide excellent night-time footage
  • On-camera human and vehicle detection
  • Desktop and smartphone app
  • View the feeds from anywhere in the world without a subscription
  • SD card recording (Up to 128GB or 256GB depending on model)
Cons
  • Two separate streams with no option to automatically stitch the recorded video file
Buy This Product
Reolink Duo

Getting a wide field of view in a security camera typically means compromising on the resolution or suffering image distortion from super-wide-angle lenses. But for its latest device, Reolink said "why not just put two cameras in the one package?", and called it the Reolink Duo. Be sure to check out our full review video for sample footage.

Reolink isn’t a leader in the home security camera space just because it has affordable prices, local recording, well-made cameras, and cross-platform software—although it does have all of those—but also because it continues to innovate.

The Reolink Duo is available to pre-order now at a discounted price of $102 for the basic PoE model (as tested), up to $260 for the 4G battery-powered model; though the MSRP will be higher once it has officially launched. I opted for the PoE model, so I can't comment on how long the battery would last in the Wi-Fi or 4G models, though my previous experience with any battery-powered security camera is that it's the first thing to fail. It's also worth noting that the PoE model can record up to 30fps video onto a 256GB SD card (not supplied); the 4G and Wi-Fi models are limited to 15fps onto a 128GB. For the best product life and most reliable video streaming, you should always use a wired Ethernet connection and always-on power.

Inside the box is a generous selection of bits and pieces:

  • Sturdy metal mounting plate
  • Plastic swivel arm
  • Reolink Duo camera body
  • Waterproof cable cover
  • Short Ethernet cable
  • Mounting screws, wall plugs, and drill template
  • Small Philips screwdriver
  • Warning stickers
reolink duo box contents

Before installing the camera in its final location, you should add an SD card to store your recordings. Undo the two screws securing the waterproof panel to the underside of the camera, then slot in your card and replace the panel. If you've opted for a Wi-Fi model, it's also wise to run through the app setup process first.

Since I opted for the PoE (Power over Ethernet) model and already have the infrastructure wired in, the installation was a case of screwing the mounting plate to the wall, attaching the swivel arm mounting bracket, then plugging it in. The mounting bracket allows for a large range of movement to get the perfect angle, and can then be locked in place with the included screwdriver. It's probably the simplest security camera installation that I've come across yet.

reolink duo mounting arm

PoE requires you to use a special network switch that also transmits power, but it does mean you only ever need a single cable to send both power and data to remote devices. If your network isn't PoE equipped, not to worry, you'll need the standard Reolink Duo model with DC plug, though obviously, this limits your placement options to nearby a power socket. Though if you plan to expand your security camera coverage at some, I would definitely recommend investing in a PoE-capable switch. In either case, be sure to attach the waterproof Ethernet cable cover to prevent the copper pins from corroding in wet weather.

reolink duo main body

Once you're plugged in and powered on, you should download the Reolink app. Although the software is available for both desktop and smartphones, I'd suggest using the smartphone app to do the initial setup—plus you'll be able to tweak the angle with a live stream. The setup process for a Wi-Fi connection involves scanning a QR code on the camera itself, but in my case, the app had already recognized a new camera and added it to the list. Tapping on that asked me to set a security password; and that was it.

reolink duo installed

Each camera in the Reolink Duo is 4MP, or 2560x1440p. Alone, that's better than HD, but remember, there are actually two separate streams. Combined you have a higher than 4K horizontal resolution, and better than HD vertical resolution. That's at a combined field of view of around 150-degrees.

reolink duo field of view full sample

The advantage of using two separate camera streams is that you'll have a better quality video, with little (but not zero) distortion. If the photograph above looks quite distorted, that's my fault: we live on a hill, and everything is bent. Although you could feasibly get a similar field of view from a single super-wide-angle lens, the distortion would render the video unusable, and any attempt to flatten it would reduce the quality and resolution further.

However, it's worth emphasizing that these are two separate video streams. Though the smartphone app can present them as a single view (and the desktop app allows you to drag them next to each other in multi-cam view), if you need to grab footage, it's two distinct files, and they're not automatically stitched together.

As for audio quality, check out the full review video embedded at the start of the review—a portion of that was recorded directly from the Reolink Duo.

Motion Events, On-Camera A.I.

The Reolink Duo can intelligently recognize both humans and vehicles, saving you the hassle of being notified every time the wind blows. And I'll stress the point that this recognition is done on the device itself—some manufacturers demand additional monthly fees for this functionality, even if you're already paying for cloud storage. Using the event viewer, you can filter for events containing only humans or vehicles, or you can opt to ignore other types of motion events and just not record those at all, saving storage space.

It's also worth noting that recording happens simultaneously; there is no separate detection on each stream. If a person is detected on one, the files from both cameras are saved.

Alarm and Color Night Vision

The Reolink Duo isn't just a security camera; it also features a motion-activated siren alarm and floodlight. As well as standard infra-red illumination for clear black and white nighttime footage, if you've enabled the floodlight, you can benefit from full-color footage whenever motion is detected. This is fully configurable and can be activated at any time while viewing the live feeds, too. Although obviously not as good as daylight, the 440 lumens of light does provide remarkably good footage at night, certainly the best I've seen.

reolink duo night light

The alarm is loud, but not deafeningly so. But moreover, the motion event detection is reliable enough that I'd be happy to enable the alarm, safe in the knowledge that my neighbors wouldn't hate me. There's also a high degree of configurable options: scheduling, detection area masks, sensitivity, and object size all make this a system that can be tweaked to perfection.

Reolink provides both a smartphone app and a cross-platform desktop app. As far as I know, it's the only consumer-level manufacturer to do so.

The smartphone app is admittedly more developed, with a simpler user interface. It allows you to view your recorded events and live streams from anywhere in the world, without additional fees. All your recordings are stored locally, on the SD card fitted to the camera.

If you have notifications enabled, you'll be told if a person or vehicle is detected, and from which camera. You can then click through to see the snapshot of what was recorded. If you want, you can enable talkback through the app, though of course, wired models will have the least latency. Generally, I found the audio quality to be good enough to maintain a conversation, though this would be more difficult in adverse weather if your camera isn't under cover.

reolink duo 4-up desktop app view

The desktop app is a little more barebones, but allows you to view up to 36 video streams simultaneously in a multi-cam view, single-camera view with pinch-to-zoom support, or browse through recorded events.

My one and only complaint about the Reolink Duo is that it's perhaps not suitable for entranceways. When placing the camera, I found that naturally, I placed the central area of the field of view where people approached the door. Unfortunately, this meant most recordings consisted of someone being half in one camera stream and half in another.

reolink duo capture people on side

I could have improved this by angling the Duo more to the left or the right, but inevitably that meant one stream would mostly be recording a wall, which seemed like a waste. This would also be less of a problem if the videos were automatically stitched together.

Placement of the Reolink Duo is critical then, and it would be best suited for environments where you need to record the flow of traffic across a large area, from one side to the other; rather than locations where traffic is primarily coming toward the camera.

I've tested a lot of security cameras in the decade I've been writing for MakeUseOf, and Reolink has never failed to impress. It's the only manufacturer I know of that provides both a competent desktop app and a smartphone app, so you can keep an eye on your home or business whether you're in another part of the world, or sat at your desk. It also offers a full range of NVR units, so if you need terabytes of storage for multiple cameras, you've got that option too.

reolink duo desktop app single camera

Because the recording is kept locally on an SD card, you don't need to pay a monthly fee. Nor do you need to pay extra for smart features like human and vehicle detection. Not only is the Reolink range affordable to start with, but it has a lower total cost of ownership since there are no ongoing fees.

The Reolink Duo is an innovative way to provide security coverage for a large area without sacrificing video quality. Ultimately you might be better served by two cameras—but if you only have a single mounting point or wired connection, I can't think of a better way to solve it.