The Reolink Duo is a surveillance camera available since the end of 2021, not to be confused with the recent TrackMix from the same manufacturer, which also incorporates two cameras. That said, these are in their case used to film a very wide field rather than with a zoom. Reolink returns at the end of the year with a new version with an even wider field of vision: 180° against 150° for the first model, horizontally. The Duo 2 also offers extended vision on the vertical axis. From 44°, the angle changes to 60°.
New optics and new sensor
Behind this extended field of vision hide not only a new lens with a shorter focal length (3.2 mm against 4 mm), but also a slightly larger sensor (1/2.7 “against 1/3”). The resolution of the latter is also different, but not necessarily superior, contrary to what Reolink’s speech might suggest.
Indeed, if the firm presents its camera as a 4K model, while it only mentioned 2K for the previous one, it is actually in the software processing that the main difference seems to be at stake. The two video streams are now combined on the camera and therefore output as a single stream, at most 4608 x 1728 pixels. This should in particular facilitate the integration of the camera with third-party systems (ONVIF and Google Assistant), but it will be recalled that the first Duo of the name could output two images of 2560 x 1440 pixels, i.e. up to 5120 x 1440 pixels. once the two images are combined.
Bonus animal detection and timelapse mode
The Reolink Duo 2 gains with this the detection of animals, which is thus added to the detection of movements, people and vehicles already available on the previous model, as well as a timelapse function that can also be found on the Argus 3 Pro. For the rest, we benefit from a night mode in black & white and in color thanks to the integrated projectors, a microphone and a speaker for two-way audio, or even 2.4 and 5 GHz wifi for remote access. The Duo 2 can finally store recordings on a microSD card or a Reolink NVR recorder – the cloud doesn’t seem to be supported.
The Reolink Duo 2 is now available and, as often with Reolink, several versions are available. Or at least two: with battery or without (PoE, power supply via Ethernet port). The first is recommended at a price of 200 €, against 190 € for the second.