Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2 Review: Is It An Upgrade?

Picture the gate at the end of a rural driveway, or a cabin or shed past the edge of your Wi-Fi. There is no outlet nearby and no practical way to run a cable but you still want to see who comes and goes, 24/7.

The TrackMix LTE Plus 2 can watch that spot around the clock on cellular and solar power alone, given enough sun. It also pans, tilts, and zooms to follow movement.

Curious to know more? This Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2 review checks the specs and battery math behind those claims, and reveals if you should go other cellular and pan-tilt alternative models, including wired options. All to ensure you make the most informed choice.

What Is the Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2?

The Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2 is a 4G LTE PTZ camera built to record nonstop on battery and solar power. PTZ means the camera can pan left and right, tilt up and down, and zoom in. It is a strong buy for remote gates, cabins, and rural lots that get enough sun. It is not built for anyone chasing the sharpest daytime picture.

The camera is a perfect fit for a remote gate, a cabin, or a large rural property with no Wi-Fi and no easy access to grid power. It's also suitable for anyone who wants a wide view of the whole area and an automatic zoom on whatever moves through it. If continuous recording is not an option compared to recording clips triggered by motion, the TrackMix LTE Plus 2 is also a decent security camera for the job.

Resolution

The TrackMix LTE Plus 2 records at 2560×1440 (2K/4MP) at up to 15fps. That resolution fits a camera built to run all day on cellular data and solar power: smaller files mean less data to send and less power spent recording around the clock. If a sharper daytime picture matters more than 24/7 off-grid recording, the TrackMix PoE, WiFi, Battery, and LTE models are worth considering, as they shoot 4K (8MP).

Dual-Lens System

The TrackMix LTE Plus 2 is a dual lens security camera and it works as one system. The system consists of a wide-angle lens (2.8mm, F1.0) that shows the whole scene and a telephoto lens (12mm, F1.6) that locks onto moving subjects and zooms in for detail. The two lenses interchangeably does a smooth switch depending on whether there's a need to zoom in or out. That is what auto-zoom tracking means in practice, and it is why this is one dual-lens camera and not two separate cameras.

IP Rating

This security camera body is IP65 and the battery pack is IP67. For both components, no dust or dirt can get inside. IP65 means the camera body shrugs off wind-driven rain and low-pressure water jets from any direction. The battery pack's IP67 rating goes further, rated for up to about 3 feet (1 meter) of water for 30 minutes, which matters most when you remove it to charge or swap it around very wet conditions.

Pro Tip: To learn more about IP ratings, our IP rating guide has deeper explanations that'll help you understand more about dustproofing and waterproofing standards.

ColorX Night Vision

ColorX night vision is Reolink's state-of-the-art night vision technology. It works by using ambient light that is already there, such as moonlight or a street light, to record full-color video after dark. The TrackMix LTE Plus 2's F1.0 aperture lets in more light, while the large 1/1.8-inch sensor captures more of it. A lower F-number means a wider aperture, which helps the camera produce brighter images in low light.

When ambient light runs short, there is a spotlight that can be turned on to achieve brighter colored night vision footages. You can also switch to infrared mode, which records black-and-white video up to 100 feet (30 m) away. The infrared mode will work better at a rural lot with no light at all while ColorX will work better at a driveway with a street light.

Auto-Zoom Tracking

As a PTZ camera, the TrackMix PTE Plus 2 supports auto-zoom tracking, so you can monitor the wider scene while also getting a closer look at a moving subject. The camera pans up to 355° and tilts up to 90° to follow movement, while the telephoto lens provides the close-up. Its horizontal field of view narrows from 102.1° to 37.54° across the zoom range, bringing the subject more prominently into view.

24/7 Recording, Battery, and Solar Power

The TrackMix LTE Plus 2 is a battery-powered camera and can record around the clock if it's backed by solar power provided by enough direct sunlight. Its Continuous Mode records at 3fps by default and steps up to 15fps when it detects motion. Frames per second (fps) is the number of still pictures that make up one second of video. A motion-triggered mode records only when something happens.

In 24/7 mode, only the wide-angle lens records by default. The telephoto tracking lens records only when tracking starts or during live view.

The battery stores 92Wh (watt-hours, a measure of stored energy). It lasts up to 160 days in motion-triggered mode, based on 300 seconds of recording a day with the rest in standby. In continuous 24/7 mode, the battery lasts up to 21 days on one charge.

The included 30W solar panel is meant to close the gap between those two figures. Five minutes of direct sunlight a day keeps motion-triggered mode running. For 24/7 recording, 15 minutes a day is enough.

A shaded or heavily overcast spot can change the result. In the Northern Hemisphere, installing the camera to face the south generally gets more sun.

A very useful feature is the 10-second pre-recording feature which saves the 10 seconds before a motion event. These clips with pre-recording can show what led up to the trigger, which provides more context a regular clip might miss. It's especially helpful when there comes a time to produce true evidence.

The camera operates from -4°F to 131°F (-20°C to 55°C) and charging works down to 14°F (-10°C). When the battery pack falls below 32°F (0°C), the solar panel warms it before charging begins.

Smart Detection and Off-Grid 4G LTE Connectivity

The TrackMix LTE Plus 2 only works through a 4G LTE cellular network instead of WiFi. For any off-grid cellular security camera, signal at the installation spot matters most.

Pro Tip: Check your phone network bars to find out if a location is suitable to mount your 4G security camera. The fuller the bar, the stronger the network connection you'll expect.

With Smart Detection, the TrackMix LTE Plus 2 sorts what it sees into people, vehicles, and animals, which helps reduce false alerts. Person, vehicle, and animal detection works without a subscription.

A SIM card is also included and it connects to the strongest available network from AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile in the US. There are also no contract or activation fees charged by Reolink. The included 100 MB of free data is for checking your data usage. After that, you'll need to choose a data plan. You buy data through Reolink's Cellular Data Service in supported regions.

Pro Tip: Plan for 2GB to 5GB a month for basic motion alerts and light viewing. Frequent high-resolution live streaming can need 10GB or more.

How the TrackMix LTE Plus 2 Compares to Other Reolink Cameras

Whether your installation spot has power and Wi-Fi, and whether you need round-the-clock recording, decides which of Reolink's most popular cellular or pan-tilt cameras fits you best. The table below compares each model's connectivity, power source, and recording mode spec for spec.

The TrackMix LTE is the closest sibling to the Plus 2. The Plus 2 adds 24/7 recording on battery, solar power, and ColorX night vision. It also has 2.5 times the battery capacity (92Wh against 36.72Wh) and a solar panel with five times the wattage (30W against 6W).

Recording is the biggest split. TrackMix PoE, WiFi, and Wired LTE offer 24/7 recording but need wired power. The TrackMix LTE and Go PT Ultra are the other battery-powered cameras here but the Plus 2 is the only battery camera with a 24/7 recording function in the table.

On resolution, only the Plus 2 and Wired LTE are 2K/4MP. The rest are 4K/8MP.

TrackMix LTE Plus 2 vs TrackMix LTE Plus

If you've used the original TrackMix LTE Plus, you'll find that it's got the same resolution at 2K/4MP and continuous recording function. What's new on the Plus 2 is ColorX night vision (the original only has spotlight-based color), a brighter f/1.0 wide lens with a longer 12mm telephoto reach against the original's f/1.6 and 8mm.

It's also more efficient. Despite a smaller 92Wh battery and 30W solar panel against the original's 155.52Wh battery and 66W panel, the Plus 2 gets up to 21 days of continuous recording on a charge versus the original's 48 hours.

Who Should Buy The Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2?

According to the specs shown by the table above, you should buy the Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2 if your installation spot has no Wi-Fi and no easy power run, and 24/7 recording matters.

• Buy it if: your camera spot has no Wi-Fi and no practical power run, and 24/7 recording matters more than the sharpest picture. It runs on a 92Wh battery and a 30W solar panel, the largest battery and solar setup in this lineup, built to sustain continuous recording rather than just motion clips. The wide-angle (2.8mm) and telephoto (12mm) lenses hand off automatically to zoom in on moving subjects, and ColorX adds full-color night vision on top. However, 2K/4MP isn't the sharpest resolution here, so if that matters more than 24/7 off-grid recording, one of the alternatives below fits better.

• Consider TrackMix PoE or TrackMix WiFi instead if: you have power and a network connection at the spot and want a sharper 4K/8MP picture. Both pair a 2.8mm wide lens with an 8mm telephoto lens for 24/7 recording; PoE carries power and data over one cable, while the WiFi model needs a separate DC adapter. However, both security cameras need wired power, so a spot with no outlet fits the Plus 2 better.

• Consider TrackMix LTE instead if: you want the sharpest cellular picture (4K/8MP) and motion-triggered recording is enough. It runs on a 36.72Wh battery with our 6W Solar Panel 2 and includes a SIM card with 100 MB of free data. The tradeoff is that there's no 24/7 recording, so choose the Plus 2 for that.

• Consider TrackMix Wired LTE instead if: you have power at the spot but no Wi-Fi. It shoots 2K/4MP at 15fps on a DC 12V/2A adapter, with motion-triggered, scheduled, and 24/7 recording, and needs a Nano SIM card and a data plan. Do note that this security camera needs a power run to the camera, so a spot with no outlet fits the Plus 2 better.

• Consider Go PT Ultra instead if: you want an off-grid pan-tilt camera without dual-lens tracking, ColorX, or 24/7 recording. It's 4K/8MP with one fixed lens, pans 355° and tilts 140°, and runs on a 21.6Wh battery with our 6W Solar Panel 2, weighing about 1.1 lb (496g) with the battery. This security camera has no telephoto lens for auto-zoom tracking, so if that is a need, choose a TrackMix model for that.

FAQs

Does the TrackMix LTE Plus 2 really record 24/7 on battery and solar power?

Yes, if the 30W solar panel gets 15 minutes of direct sunlight a day. Without enough sun, the TrackMix LTE Plus 2's 92Wh battery alone lasts up to 21 days of continuous recording. A shaded install spot can change that result.

Is the Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2 4K?

No, the TrackMix LTE Plus 2 is 2K/4MP (2560×1440), not 4K. Our TrackMix PoE and WiFi models are 4K/8MP, and so are the TrackMix Battery and LTE. If a sharper daytime image matters more, pick one of those 4K models.

Which carriers and LTE bands does the TrackMix LTE Plus 2 support?

The included SIM connects to AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile in the US. There are no contract or activation fees. The camera supports LTE FDD bands B2/B4/B5/B12/B13/B14/B66/B71 for the Americas. Bands are the radio channels carriers use, so compare them with your carrier's coverage in your area.

Does the TrackMix LTE Plus 2 need a data plan?

Yes, after the first 100 MB. The TrackMix LTE Plus 2 includes a SIM card and 100 MB of free data for checking your data usage. After that, you choose a plan. You buy data through our Cellular Data Service in supported regions.

Conclusion

So, is the TrackMix LTE Plus 2 worth it? It totally depends on whether your spot needs 4G, solar, and 24/7 recording? Or would a sharper Wi-Fi or PoE camera do the job?

The rule from this Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2 review is simple. All of us at Reolink chose to pick the Plus 2 if the spot has no Wi-Fi and no easy power, and when round-the-clock recording matters. If either is not true, one of the alternatives above could just be a better fit.

Keen to find out more about the security camera? Head on to the Reolink TrackMix LTE Plus 2 product page for the current specs and bundle details!