Chinese Direct Disruptor Reolink Tested

By: Ethan Ace, Published on May 31, 2017

Another Chinese disruptor, Reolink, is gaining attention.

This one is selling direct from its own website, with fulfillment by Amazon. And a number of their prices make Dahua and Hikvision look downright expensive. For example, a fixed lens 4MP camera for $75, a varifocal zoom 4MP camera for $105, etc.

They have been aggressive, spamming sites as well as with affiliate programs claiming 10 to 20% comissions [note: IPVM never does any of these programs.]

We did want to see how Reolink performed, so we bought the fixed 4MP camera, the zoom 4MP camera and an NVR, shown below:

Inside, we examine performance and other issues in detail.

******* ******* *********,*******, ** ******* *********.

**** *** ********* ****** **** *** own *******, **** *********** ** Amazon. *** * ****** of ***** ****** **** Dahua *** ********* **** downright *********. *** *******, a ***** **** *** camera *** $**, * varifocal **** *** ****** for $***, ***.

**** **** **** **********, spamming ***** ** **** as **** ********* ******** claiming ** ** **% comissions [****: **** ***** does *** ** ***** programs.]

** *** **** ** see *** ******* *********, so ** ****** *** fixed *** ******, *** zoom *** ****** *** an ***, ***** *****:

******, ** ******* *********** and ***** ****** ** detail.

[***************]

Test *******

** *** *****, ******* had ******* ********* ******** to *****, *********, *** other *** **** *** cameras:

  • ***** *******:******* *******' ***** ******* was ******* ** ***** and ********* *** *** night, **** ** ****** such ***************,**** **, ******* ********** ** **** ***** IP ****** *****. ************, the *** ********* *** solid, ******* ********/********** ******* issues ** *********/************* ******** seen ** ***** ***** low **** ****, **** similar ** ************ ******.
  • ** *********** ******:****** ***** ******* ****** well, ****** ******* ** not ********** **********, **** cameras ****** *** ********* properly ** *** ***** tested (********, *****, *****, Genetec, *********, ******* *****/** Spectrum).
  • ****** ***** ******:*******'* ***** ****** ***** was *** ******** ** have ******, **** ****** apps ************* ********* *** local ******* *** ****** devices ******* **** ***** aside **** ***********, * much ******* ******* **** others ***** ********* ******* devices ** ** ***** one ** * ****.

*******, ***** **** *** key ******* *********:

  • **** *******/** ***** *****:*******'* ******** **** ******* in *** ****** ******, due ** ***** ****** VBR ************** *********** **** like *** ** **** as ***** **** ** smart ***** *******, *** included ** **** ***** cameras.
  • ******* *** *************:*** ****-*** *** ********* only ******* *******, **** no ***** ***** ** ONVIF *******, *** **** when ********* ** *** rear *** *****, **** no *** ** *** cameras ******* ********* ** the *******.

Integrator *********

******* *** ***** *** drawbacks ******** ** **** commercial ** ****** ************* which *** ****** ** impede ******* ***** ***********:

  • **** **** *******:******* *** ** ******* structure ******* ** ***** online *****. ***** ** no ****** ******** *******, with *********** ****** *** same ***** ** *** users *** *******. ** contrast, ***** *********, *****, and ***** ******* *** be ****** ***** ******, these ************* ***** ****** programs **** ********** **********, deeper *********, ***.
  • ** ***** *******:** ******** ** *****, Hikvision, ** ******, ***** all **** ********* ***** American ***** *************, ******* is ***** ******** (**** Kong/Shenzhen) **** ** ***** RSMs, *********, ***., ****** it **** ********* ** get ******* ** ******* questions ** ****** **** equipment, ** ***** ******** are ********* ** ***.
  • ** ***** **** *******:******* ******* ** ****** via*****/****** ****. ***** ** * contact ****** ** ***** website, *** ** ** Hong **** *****, **** office ***** **-** ***** ahead ** ** ****. By ********, *****, *********, and ****** **** **** established ***** ******** **** support *****.

Reolink *******

******* ** ******** ** draw **** *********** *** to *** **** ** local ******* *** ******* protection. *********** *** ******** to ****** **** ****** such ** *****, ******, or *********, *** ** which ***** ********* ***** American ******* ********** *** at ***** **** ***** of ******* ********** (****** all ***** *** ******* available ****** ** ****** close ** ******, ** well).

*******, ***** ***** ********** affiliate ******* *** ****** sales, ******** **** ****** setup *** ****** ******, as **** ** ******** usability *** ***** ******* compared ** ******** ***** low **** ******, ******* is ****** ** **** some ******* **** ***/***/**** users, ******* **** ********* and ***** ** **** market.

*******

**** ******* ******* ****** are ************* **** ********* than ******* *** **** models **** ** ********* or *****.

*** ****** ****** ** less **** **** *** price ** ***** *** Hikvision *********** ******.

***** *** ********* **** dome ** *********** */*** the ***** ** ***** and *********.

*** ****-*** *** ** priced ********** ***** **** competitive *** ******, ~$*** online, **. $***-*** *** Dahua/Hikvision.

************

******* ******* *** ********* are ********* ******** **** their *******. ******* **** fulfillment ** ******, ******* that ****** **** **** with *-*** ******** *** Prime *******.

*** ******* *** *** arrived ** ******* ****** boxes, ***** ****, **** an ****** *********** ****** address **** ******* ******* Technology ** *** ******* name.

Who ***** *******

******* *** *** ******** manufacturer ** ******* ******* is ** ********* ** determine.

** *******'* ******** ****,** ******* ** **** Kong ** ******, ***** ***** ****** information *** ******** ***** shows (************ ****) ***** * ******** address.

*******, ******** *** *** of *** ******* ******' shows ******* ************, **** with ** ******* ** Shenzhen (****** ********* **** above).

**:**:** ******** ******** ******* Technology **., ***.

** **** ** ** can ****, ** ** likely******** ********** ** ***** ***** some ************* *** *******, as ****** ****** **** similar *** ***** *** is ****.

Physical ********

*** ***-*** **** **** is ******* ** **** and **** ****** ** other ********* **** *******, shown *****.

*** **** ** **** of *** ****** ******, compared **** ** * Hikvision **** ******.

*** ******* *** **** a **** ********* **** layout **** ***** **** we **** ******, *** essentially *** **** **** types, ***** ***** ******** to *********. *** **** notable ********* *** *** RS-485 *** */* **** found ** *** ********* NVR, ** **** ** audio ** (******* ******** only ***** ***).

Default ******** ******** ****

******* ******* **** **** credentials ******* ******** ** the ****** *****: ***** / (*****). ***** **** providing ** ******** ********, this ********* ************* ** compounded ** *** *******' reset ****** ***** ** the ***** ****, ****** more ********** **** **** cameras, ***** ******* ***** to ***** ****** ** access *** ***** ******.

Web ********* *********

*** *** ********** ** the ******* ******* *** NVR *** ****** **** many ******* **** *********** brands ** **** ****** (see******* $** ***** *********** *** **** ******* Camera ********) ***** ********* **** unclear ***, ***-*********** ********, ActiveX ***** ***'* *******, etc. ** *** **** of ***** ****** ** the ******* ****** ******.

*** *** ********* **** runs ** ******** ******** and ******** *******.

** ****** *** *** interface ** **** *****, highlighting *** ***** ** be ***** **.

Reolink *****

******* ****** **** ** port ********** ***** ******, which **** ****** **** "Plug & ****."

****** **** ***** ************* which ******* ******* ** be ***** *** ** a **** *** ** code ** ****** **. Instead, *** ******* *** searches ******* ** *** local ******* *** **** them ** *** *** automatically, ********* ***** **** & **** **, ********* users **** ** ***** the ******* ******** (** changed **** *******). ***** this *********, ******* *** be ******** **** ******* and ********, **** ** port ********** ** *** required.

**** **** **** ******* is ******* ** *******, but *** ** ****** off ** ****** *****.

NVR *************

*** ******* ****-*** *** has *** *** ************* compared ** ******:

  • **** ******* ******* *********:***** ***** *** ***** cameras *** *** *********, only ******* ******.
  • ***** ******* ****:**** ******* ******** ** the **** *** ***** of *** *** *** supported. ***** ** ** way ** ****** *** cameras ** *** ***** network.

** ****** *** ****** addition ** **** *****:

Camera *****/*** ***************

******* ******* *** *** ONVIF **********, *** **** claim "***** *.*" *******. Additionally, ***** ****** **** that **** **** ** used *** ***** ******* of **.

** *** *****, *** cameras ********* *** ******** properly ** *** ***** tested, ********* ********, *****, Exacq, *******, *********, *** NX *******/** ********. **** Axxon ******** ****** ********* events **** *** ******* (using ***** ******* "***** events" ***********).

Image *******

** ****** ***** ******* of *** ******* ******* versus ***** *** ********* equivalents ** **** ***** of ****:

********* **** *******

** **** *****, *** motorized **** ***-*** ******* details ** *** ***** and *********, **** ******** better **** **********, *** similar ******* *******.

** *****, **** ********** is ***** **** ** the ******* ******, **** details ******* ** *** Hikvision *****. **** **** the ***** ******** ***** defocused ** **** *****, but *** ******* ***** to ********. ** *** this ***** ** *** original********* ** ***** ****-*** 4MP ******* ****, ** ****.

****** *******

******** *********** ** ****** cameras *** *******, **** the ******* ****** ********* details ******* ** ********* and ******** ****** **** Dahua, ****** **** **** overexposure ** *** ***** of *** **** *****.

** *** *****, ** with *** **** *****, the ******* ****** ******** the ******** ******* ** the ******* *** **** chart.

Bitrate **********

**** ******* *******' ******** were **** ******** ** Dahua *** ********* *** to *** *** ******:

  • ******-*** *********:******* ********* * "*** bitrate" *******, ******* ********* performs **** **** ***, hovering **** *** ******* value *** ********** ** activity ** *** *****. Additionally, **** **** ***** is ** *** ** control *********** ** ******* devices, ****** ******* ***/*** implementations.
  • ** ***** ******:**** ** *** ******* gear ****** ******** ***** codecs, **** "*******" *.***.

***** ****** **** ******* in **** ********* ****:

*** ****** ******:

Test **********

******** ******** **** ** this ****:

  • ******* ***-***:**.*.*.*
  • ******* ***-***:**.*.*.*
  • ***** **-***-********:*.***.****.**.*
  • ***** **-***-********:*.***.****.**.*
  • ********* **-*********-*:*.*.*
  • ********* **-**********-**:*.*.*

Comments (5)

Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly Security | 05/31/17 05:55pm

*******. * ****** ******* ***** **** **** ****** *****

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC | 06/02/17 11:58am

****** *** ******** **** ***. * ***** *** **** **** they ***'* **** **** ***, ***** *** ********* *** ***** do ****, ** * *** ************** **** *** *** *********** the ******** *****.

Undisclosed Integrator #1

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 09/22/17 12:24pm

****** ****** ********* *** ******** * *** ** *** ******, so ***** *********** * ***** ********** ** ***** *** *********, especially ** **** *** **** ***** **** ***** ** *** cyber ******** ******. ** **** *** ** ****, ** *** displace * *** ** *****.

Undisclosed #2

11/10/17 03:47pm

******* *********-**** *** ** **** *** ** **** *** **** company: ******** ******** ******* ********** **.

Undisclosed #2

06/15/18 06:55pm

**** *** **** ********

******* *** *** **** ****, ***** *** ****

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Dahua USA Celebrates 5 Years of Errors on May 21, 2019
Dahua USA is, in their own words, 'celebrating' 5 years in North America or as trade magazine SSN declared: Dahua Technology finds success in...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...
Bluecherry Open Sources Entire VMS on May 13, 2019
Bluecherry announced they have "released the entire Bluecherry software application open source with a GPL license". We spoke to Bluecherry's...
Mining Company Security Manager Interview on May 10, 2019
First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQML) is a global enterprise with offices on 4 continents and operations in 7 countries with exploratory operations...
10 Facial Recognition Providers Review (Secutech) on May 09, 2019
Adding to our 19 Facial Recognition Providers Profiled report from ISC West, IPVM focused on facial recognition technology for our Day 2 coverage...
ADT's Top Dealer "The Defenders" Sued 20+ Times on May 07, 2019
ADT's largest authorized dealer, The Defenders, has been sued more than 20 times since 2012, IPVM has verified through analyzing legal...
Dahua and Hikvision Products Illegally Sold To US Government GSA on May 06, 2019
Dahua and Hikvision products are being widely and illegally sold to the US government GSA. The sellers are falsely claiming these China products to...
Ranking Manufacturer Favorability 2019 on May 06, 2019
24 manufacturer's favorability was ranked based on 170+ integrators feedback. Voting plus in-depth comments revealed insights on which brands were...
Dahua ePoE Long Distance UTP / Coax Tested on May 03, 2019
Dahua's Enhanced PoE (ePoE) line is claiming extended video and power transmission over 600m without repeaters, with devices interchangeable via...
Top Hikvision Proponent Nelly's "GoSwift" Elsewhere on May 03, 2019
Sean Nelson of Nelly's Security has made a name for himself and his company as a proponent of Hikvision, such as this notable 2017...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Axis ~$150 Outdoor Camera Tested on May 21, 2019
Axis has released the latest in their Companion camera line, the outdoor Companion Dome Mini LE, a 1080p integrated IR model aiming to compete with...
Covert Facial Recognition Using Axis and Amazon By NYTimes on May 20, 2019
What if you took a 33MP Axis camera covering one of the busiest parks in the US and ran Amazon Facial Recognition against it? That is what the...
Amazon Ring Public Subsidy Program Aims To Dominate Residential Security on May 20, 2019
Amazon dominates market after market. Quitely, but increasingly, they are doing so in residential security, through a combination of significant...
LifeSafety Power NetLink Vulnerabilities And Problematic Response on May 20, 2019
'Power supplies' are not devices that many think about when considering vulnerabilities but as more and more devices go 'online', the risks for...
Facial Recognition Systems Fail Simple Liveness Detection Test on May 17, 2019
Facial recognition is being widely promoted as a solution to physical access control but we were able to simply spoof 3 systems because they had no...
Inside Look Into Scam Market Research on May 17, 2019
Scam market research has exploded over the last few years becoming the most commonly cited 'statistics' for most industries, despite there clearly...
Maglock Selection Guide on May 16, 2019
One of the most misunderstood yet valuable pieces of electrified hardware is the maglock. Few locks are stronger, but myths and confusion surround...
Panasonic 32MP Multi Imager Camera Tested (WV-X8570N) on May 16, 2019
Panasonic has released their first multi imager models including the 32MP (4x4K) WV-X8570N, claiming "Extreme image quality for evidence capturing...
Trump Signs 'Huawei Ban' - Executive Order Targeting Foreign Adversary Technology on May 16, 2019
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order targeting technology provided by 'foreign adversaries', in what is widely being called a...
Bank Security Manager Interview on May 15, 2019
Bank security contends with many significant threats - from fraudsters to robbers and more. In this interview, IPVM spoke with bank security...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact