If you’re looking for an affordable and feature-packed indoor security camera, the Reolink E1 Pro Smart Camera is a strong contender. With 2K 4MP resolution, pan-and-tilt functionality, motion tracking, and no required subscription, it offers solid value for home monitoring. Whether you want to keep an eye on pets, packages, or general home security, this camera provides a range of useful features without breaking the bank.
In this review, we’ll take a deep dive into the Reolink E1 Pro’s features, performance, and real-world usability. We’ll also cover setup experience, integration with smart home platforms, and what other users are saying to help you determine if this camera is the right fit for your needs.
About the Reolink E1 Pro Indoor Camera
Product Features:
- 2K 4MP recording
- Great daytime recording and IR LED’s for lighting up the night
- Compatible with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi Fi
- Can turn to track motion
- Person, vehicle, and pet detection
- Many storage options, including no subscription
Reolink E1 Pro Indoor Camera Details
The Reolink E1 Pro Indoor Camera is a security camera designed for use indoors. It has a 1/2.7″ CMOS sensor, which helps capture clear images. The camera records in 2560×1440 resolution, providing detailed video with its 4-megapixel capability. It is equipped with a lens that has a fixed focal length of 4.0mm and an aperture of F2.4, including an IR Cut for better image quality in different lighting conditions. The camera offers a horizontal angle of view of 82 degrees and a vertical angle of 43 degrees.
For flexibility, the E1 Pro can pan horizontally up to 355 degrees and tilt vertically up to 50 degrees. It includes auto-tracking to follow movement within its field of view. The camera’s minimum illumination is 0 Lux when the IR illuminator is on, and it can see up to 40 feet in the dark with its infrared LEDs. It measures 76x106mm and weighs 200g, making it compact and lightweight. The camera’s power input is DC 5.0V/1A.
The Reolink E1 Pro has several useful features, such as two-way audio, allowing communication through the camera. It supports up to 20 users, with one admin and 19 user accounts, and can handle multiple video streams at once. The camera uses H.264 image compression and can record at up to 25 frames per second, with a code rate between 1024Kbps to 5120Kbps. Motion, person, and pet detection are included in its smart alarm features.
The camera connects wirelessly using the IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n standards, operating on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. It supports WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK for wireless security. It is compatible with Windows and Mac OS on desktops, and iOS and Android on smartphones. The camera can record in different modes, including motion-triggered, scheduled, and continuous 24/7 recording. It has a microSD card slot that can hold up to 512GB for storage, along with a built-in microphone and speaker, and a reset button for easy setup and operation.
Our Review
We’ve been using the Reolink E1 Pro Indoor Camera for about three months now. It’s been a reliable helper for keeping an eye on our doorway and packages. The camera is pretty good at notifying us when a package arrives, which is handy since not all delivery folks knock. From its spot, it can also swivel to look over the entire living room, so when we leave, we can still check on people or pets at home.
Setting it up with the Reolink app was straightforward, and I appreciate the “no trigger” zones. This feature helped us avoid false alerts from people walking on the sidewalk when the camera was in doorway mode.
I did try connecting the camera to Home Assistant using Frigate, which turned out to be a bit of a challenge. Unlike other Reolink cameras with RTSP, the E1 Pro doesn’t have a webpage for direct integration, which would have been nice. To get the stream into Home Assistant, I had to connect the camera to the Reolink app first, then Frigate, and finally interact with it in Home Assistant. The Frigate setup involves some YAML configuration, which took some trial and error.
Despite the hassle of getting it into Home Assistant, the camera offers good value with features like vehicle, people, and animal detection, real-time alerts, local recording, and two-way talk. Overall, it’s a solid camera with useful features. We recommend taking a look at it – unless you’re trying to add it into Home Assistant.
What Others are Saying
The Reolink E1 Pro Smart Camera has over 12,000 reviews on Amazon with an overall 4.2-star rating (as of publish time). Many reviewers praise its affordable price, solid video quality, and ease of setup, making it a great budget-friendly security option.
Some users report occasional connectivity issues, with the camera struggling to maintain a stable Wi-Fi signal in certain setups. While many users had no trouble, those with weaker Wi-Fi or larger homes found that a strong connection is key for smooth performance.
Overall, the Reolink E1 Pro is well-liked by the majority of buyers, with thousands of five-star reviews highlighting its clear video, smooth app experience, and budget-friendly pricing. While some users encountered minor challenges, most found it to be a reliable and feature-rich security camera for the price.
Pros and Cons of the Reolink E1 Pro Indoor Camera
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Budget friendly | Needs a strong Wi-Fi signal |
| Good video quality | MicroSD card can be a tight fit |
| Local storage for SD cards and NVRs | No built-in web interface |
| Two-way audio | |
| Motion detection alerts | |
| No subscription required |
Summary
The Reolink E1 Pro Smart Camera is a budget-friendly indoor security solution that offers clear 2K video, pan-and-tilt functionality, motion tracking, and local storage options without requiring a subscription. It’s easy to set up and works well for monitoring doorways, living spaces, pets, or general home security. While it delivers solid performance for the price, it does require a strong Wi-Fi connection for reliable streaming, and integration with Home Assistant can be tricky.
Overall, if you’re looking for a versatile and affordable indoor security camera with useful features like two-way audio, night vision, and person detection, the Reolink E1 Pro is a solid choice—especially for those who prefer local storage over cloud-based subscriptions.
