Picture a security camera with two eyes on top and one round eye swiveling underneath. That’s not a robot prop — that’s Reolink’s new OMVI camera, and yes, it really looks like that.
Odd design, real reason. Most outdoor security cameras make you choose: a wide view that shows everything but zooms in on nothing, or a zoom lens that catches detail but loses the bigger picture the moment it moves. You’re always missing half the story.
The OMVI series refuses that trade-off. Two wide eyes keep watch over the whole scene. One tracking eye zooms in on anything that moves — without the wide view ever going dark. Full coverage. Full detail. No compromise.
What the OMVI Series Actually Is
Every camera in the lineup combines two very different lens systems into one unit: a fixed dual-lens panoramic camera up top for full-scene coverage, and an independent pan-tilt lens below that actively tracks movement. Reolink calls the tracking tech SyncTrack — when the panoramic lenses spot motion, the pan-tilt lens automatically follows it, zooming in and holding focus on people, pets, or vehicles without losing the wider view.
There are three models in the lineup, and they’re not identical — resolution, connectivity, and price all vary depending on which one you pick.
Meet the Three Models
| Model | Resolution | Connectivity | Best For | UK Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMVI 3i WiFi | 18MP (10MP dual-lens + 8MP pan-tilt) | WiFi | Smaller homes, easy DIY setup | ~£259.99 |
| OMVI 3i PoE | 18MP (10MP dual-lens + 8MP pan-tilt) | Power over Ethernet | Smaller homes/businesses wanting a more stable connection | £249.99 |
| OMVI X16 PoE (flagship) | 24MP (16MP dual-lens + 8MP pan-tilt, 16x optical zoom) | Power over Ethernet | Larger properties needing long-range detail | Not yet announced |
The two 3i models are essentially the same camera with a choice of connection type — WiFi for flexible placement, or PoE for a more stable, wire-fed connection. The X16 PoE is the clear step-up model: more resolution, a wider 180-degree ultra-wide panoramic view, and 16x optical zoom on the tracking lens, aimed squarely at bigger properties where the 3i models might start showing their limits.
The Features That Actually Matter
Tap-to-Track Control
Instead of manually steering the zoom lens through on-screen controls, you can tap any point on the wide panoramic feed and the pan-tilt lens redirects itself there instantly. It turns tracking from a fiddly manual process into something closer to pointing at a map.
Auto Framing
Once the pan-tilt lens locks onto a person, pet, or vehicle, Auto Framing keeps it centered and in focus as it moves — rather than requiring constant manual adjustment to keep tracking a moving subject.
Local AI Video Search
Running on Reolink’s on-device AI system (ReoNeura), the OMVI series lets you search saved footage using natural descriptions instead of scrubbing through timelines manually — and because the processing happens on-device, it doesn’t depend on a cloud subscription to work.
360° Coverage
The pan-tilt lens can rotate a full 360 degrees horizontally, so a single unit can realistically cover a driveway, backyard, and side entrance that would otherwise need two or three separate fixed cameras.
Subscription-Free by Default
Like most of Reolink’s recent releases, the OMVI series stores footage locally — via microSD card or a compatible NVR — rather than requiring a cloud subscription just to access your own recordings. That fits the wider shift happening across the camera market this year, where “no monthly fee” has gone from a selling point to a baseline expectation.
Who Should Actually Buy One
- Buy the 3i WiFi or 3i PoE if: you’re covering a standard home exterior — a driveway, backyard, or side yard — and want one camera to replace what used to take two or three fixed units.
- Buy the X16 PoE if: you’re covering a larger property — acreage, a commercial lot, a long driveway — where extra resolution and 16x zoom actually make a difference at distance.
- Skip the OMVI series if: you just want a simple doorbell or single-room indoor camera — this lineup is built for wide, complex outdoor coverage, not small spaces.
Price and Availability
The OMVI 3i PoE is available now, with the OMVI 3i WiFi following shortly after. Pricing starts at £249.99 for the PoE model and roughly £259.99 for the WiFi version. The flagship X16 PoE is the one to watch for — it’s arriving later, with pricing still unconfirmed, so it’s worth holding off if the top-tier model is what you’re after.
The “mini robot” look isn’t a design gimmick — it’s a direct result of solving a real limitation in outdoor security coverage. If you’ve ever had a camera miss something just outside its zoom range, or lose track of a subject the moment it panned away from the wider scene, the OMVI series is built specifically to fix that. For most home setups, the 3i models will cover the job; the X16 PoE is worth waiting for if you’re covering serious ground.