Reolink's new 4K security camera delivers AI video search without monthly fees

Published Nov 3, 2026, 10:53 AM EST Jefferson Mangubat is an experienced technology journalist who has reported on consumer electronics, software updates and big stories in the industry. He's now a Reporter at How-To Geek, and has built a solid reputation for delivering accurate, accessible, and insightful tech journalism. Prior to that, he was a tech reporter for Neowin, where he extensively covered hardware developments from Apple and Google, in addition to digital trends and application updates. Reolink first teased its OMVI security camera line at CES 2026, before launching three models in June, promising wider coverage, AI-powered tracking, and local video search without the need for subscriptions. The company had originally planned to launch its flagship OMVI X16 PoE in Q3 and is now delivering on that promise despite a slight delay. The OMVI X16 PoE is designed to give homeowners and businesses a better view of suspicious activity without leaving large areas of their property unmonitored, Reolink said in a press release. It brings together 4K imaging, 16x optical zoom, and a 180-degree panoramic view in one system. The camera is now available in the US for $680 through Amazon and Reolink’s website. The security camera is the top-of-the-line model in Reolink’s OMVI lineup, and its biggest selling point is its unusual three-lens configuration. It is a system that combines a 16MP dual-lens panoramic camera and an 8MP 4K pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera to provide 24MP of combined resolution. The panoramic unit stitches two images to cover 180 degrees, and the lower PTZ camera handles close-up monitoring. That second camera is given a 5.3-86mm f/1.6 varifocal lens with true 16x optical zoom. Optical zoom keeps the resolution at 4K, unlike digital zoom, which loses detail when you zoom into the footage. According to Reolink, the feature helps you to better identify faces and license plates at a distance. Automatic tracking does the grunt work Three lenses work together to follow suspicious activity The camera also links its panoramic and PTZ cameras to Reolink’s SyncTrack technology. If the wide-angle camera detects a person, vehicle, or animal, the PTZ unit automatically locks onto the subject and follows it even if it moves outside of the panoramic camera’s field of view. You also get 360-degree continuous panning, 95-degree vertical tilt, up to 64 preset positions, and customizable patrol routes with up to 16 stops. AI searches, night vision, and no mandatory subscriptions Find recorded footage faster without paying monthly fees Reolink now offers on-device AI detection of people, vehicles, and animals and natural-language video search. Instead of having to sift through hours of recordings manually, users can search for keywords like “black van” or “person wearing a hat” to find relevant footage. The built-in spotlights provide full-color night vision for night monitoring, and the infrared night vision provides visibility up to 240 feet. There’s also two-way audio, perimeter alerts, and continuous 24/7 recording. Storage options include microSD cards up to 512GB, Reolink NVRs, and FTP/NAS servers. The system is Power over Ethernet (PoE) enabled, so it can be powered and networked over a single Ethernet cable. A 60W PoE injector is included. The OMVI X16 PoE sits squarely in premium security-camera territory at its price. But its blend of wide-angle views, optical zoom, AI tracking, and local storage could make it a tempting choice for property owners who want fewer blind spots without another monthly subscription. Reolink OMVI X16 PoE $578 $680 Save $102 Reolink's flagship OMVI X16 PoE security camera packs a 180-degree panoramic lens, 16x zoom PTZ, local AI tracking, and subscription-free storage into one massive triple-lens setup. Source: Reolink