4 days ago
Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFi review: A panoramic 4K security solution with local AI video search
Combining a dual-lens 4K camera with high-intensity dual floodlights, the Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFi offers impressive outdoor visibility and intelligent protection. This security camera has panoramic coverage, adaptive lighting, and AI-driven detection, making it a versatile, subscription-free choice for home and business security.
Design and build
The Elite Floodlight WiFi sports a primarily white, industrial design with two large floodlight panels that can be angled independently for maximum coverage. The large mounting plate holds the LED lights that are capable of producing up to 3,000 lumens. The lights offer a variable colour temperature from a warm 3,000K glow to a crisp 6,000K white, allowing flexibility for ambience or full visibility. The central housing contains the camera module, flanked by dual lenses that together provide a panoramic 180° horizontal view.
The main unit is IP67-rated for weather resistance, with an integrated siren and strategically placed IR sensors for extra deterrence. There's no getting away from the fact that this is not a subtle device, and it will be seen from afar. It's designed to be both a watchful eye and a visible warning.
Installation and setup
Despite packing advanced features, the Elite Floodlight WiFi is surprisingly straightforward to install. I was able to do the install myself, but if you're not comfortable connecting to mains electricity, I'd suggest you look for a professional to do the install for you.
The unit offers the choice of wiring directly into mains power or using the supplied 18-gauge cable for a standard outlet. All necessary mounting hardware, screws, wire nuts, and even a positioning template are included.
Initial setup is handled via the Reolink app, and pairing is quick. The option to power the camera via USB-C during setup ensures you can configure it before final mounting, which made my installation much easier.
Features and software
The Elite Floodlight WiFi is built for both prevention and detection. Its AI-powered system can distinguish between people, vehicles, and animals, which helps to reduce false alarms. Customisable detection zones and virtual fences let you focus monitoring where it matters most.
The dual floodlights have multiple operation modes: manual control, dusk-to-dawn automation, and motion-triggered activation of the built-in siren. The siren can hit up to 105dB, more than enough to scare off unwanted visitors, but it's optional, so you can leave it disabled if you prefer a quieter approach.
Voice alerts and two-way audio provide interactive security, enabling you to warn intruders or speak to delivery drivers directly from the app.
The camera offers integration with Google Assistant, which is a bonus for users with a Google Nest Hub display. It's also worth mentioning that all the Reolink cameras I've tested so far work with Home Assistant, which has been a nice bonus for me.
The onboard AI processing, including the new Local AI Video Search (Beta), works entirely offline, and you don't need a subscription to use it. Reolink AI Video Search makes it quick and easy to find the footage you need. Instead of only spotting one type of object, it understands text, images, and video together, giving you more accurate results from local, AI-triggered recordings. Everything stays on your device, so it's fast and private.
The system tags clips with categories like person, motor vehicles, non-motor vehicles, animals, and packages so that you can filter and search in seconds. Just pick a category and type something like 'a person carrying a package' to pull up the right clips instantly. With smarter searches and no cloud involved, it's a simple, secure way to review footage and respond to incidents faster.
Hardware
The dual cameras pack 4K sensors with a combined resolution of 7680×2160 at 20fps. Each lens has a 2.8mm focal length, producing sharp, wide-angle coverage with minimal distortion thanks to image stitching technology. Most of the time, the image appears seamlessly stitched, but when sunlight hits one of the lenses directly, lens flare can cause half of the image to appear slightly faded. Using the app, you can tweak the image stitching, but I found it spot-on straight out of the box.
The built-in microphone and bottom-mounted speaker deliver decent two-way audio, and the SD card slot is accessible via two screws. The camera doesn't come with a card, but it supports capacities up to 512GB.
Performance
After several weeks of daily use, the Elite Floodlight WiFi has proven reliable in all conditions. I found motion detection fast thanks to dual-band Wi-Fi 6 support, with alerts typically arriving within seconds of an event.
The 180° field of view should reduce the chance of blind spots in large outdoor spaces, and even fast-moving subjects are captured clearly enough for identification.
I found the floodlights impressively bright at maximum output and great for night-time visibility.
Image quality
In daylight, the 4K footage is crisp, with excellent detail retention across the panoramic view. Faces are well-defined, with minimal motion blur unless subjects are moving rapidly.
At night, the camera performs well, with infrared providing strong monochrome visibility when the floodlights are off. With the lights on, colours remain vivid and clarity is excellent. The wide dynamic range handles mixed lighting conditions well.
Reolink also offers optional cloud storage for added peace of mind.
Storage options
Reolink continues its subscription-free approach by offering flexible storage without mandatory cloud fees. You can record to a high-capacity microSD card (up to 512GB), a compatible Reolink NVR, or local NAS storage. The camera is also compatible with Reolink's Home Hub. Being able to store files locally means footage remains under your control.
Verdict
The Reolink Elite Floodlight WiFi is a well-engineered, feature-rich security solution that combines wide-angle 4K monitoring with powerful, adaptive lighting and intelligent detection. Its combination of deterrence, clarity, and subscription-free operation makes it a compelling choice for those who take property security seriously.
€195 Reolink
