Review on 📷 REOLINK 4K PoE Security Camera System - 8MP Wired IP Cameras with Person Vehicle Detection, 16CH NVR & 3TB HDD for 24-7 Recording by Keith Wachtel

I had high hopes for this system. Our old DVR and Samsung cameras have served us well, but at just 720p it's time for an upgrade. This Reolink device arrived well packaged and included everything I needed for a full installation that took most of the day as I had to clamp cables in tight spaces. Installation was fairly routine, with one exception - the cameras are a bit more difficult to set up properly for wall mounting, much more difficult than older Samsungs. There is no doubt that Reolink could improve the design significantly. (Be sure to test the NVR, all cameras and cables before running the ethernet lines and securing the cameras in place. It only takes a few minutes and will save you a lot of trouble if you receive faulty devices. Luckily I have everything with me ok.) The NVR boots fairly quickly and the menus are easily accessible, either via a monitor connected to the NVR with an HDMI cable, or in my case also via the Windows client app (which is much quicker to navigate, imo). When the camera images first came out I was amazed by their clarity on the 1080p output compared to my old 720p video and couldn't wait to be dazzled after switching to 4k. The DVR reboots when the output resolution is changed, and I was looking forward to just watching. absolutely no difference compared to 1080. I recently invested in a high quality 4k monitor (not a TV) which is amazingly clear with other 4k content compared to 1080p so I knew the monitor wasn't to blame. Okay, I thought maybe a 4k monitor is just incredibly good at upscaling 1080p images. So I decided to compare a 4k image on my 4k monitor with a 1080p image on a good 1080p monitor of a similar size. No difference. Zero, no. I asked other people to take a look and even compared screenshots. Same result. So yes, this system is capable of producing decent quality 1080p images. But in my experience there was no noticeable difference in 4k (yes, my monitor is set correctly) and I regret spending the extra money on this device. This would make me buy a lower system. can i get it back I doubt it - too much pain to tear it all down and put other things back together. But I could return the 2 extra 4k cameras I ordered and replace them with cheaper ones as long as you can mix camera resolutions on the same NVR. If not, then I guess I'm stuck. Conclusion: If you have a well-functioning 1080p system or better, don't worry about upgrading to this NVR and cameras. Spend your money where you get the most bang for your buck.