Solar security camera system: the hub sets the camera count, and 4G cameras can't join

Updated 2026-11-13 · Pick: Reolink Argus 4 Pro + Solar Panel 2, price on the Amazon page, buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HP5JX5R8?tag=dealectric-20

Short answer. A solar security camera system is battery cameras topped up by solar panels and recorded on one hub. Pick the Reolink Argus 4 Pro with its 6 W Solar Panel 2: the Reolink Home Hub records up to 8 cameras, but no 4G camera can join it.

How this table was made: each figure comes from the maker's own US product page or manual, or from the reviewer named next to it, checked 2026-11-13. Dealectric does not test units itself. Rows with a Buy link are products Dealectric lists: the links are affiliate links, and their codes are re-tested in the brand's own cart every day (last check 2026-11-13).

What the differences mean

• Room to grow on one Reolink hub: the Argus 4 Pro Kit ships 2 cameras, 2 Solar Panel 2s and a Home Hub, so 8 − 2 = 6 more cameras fit. A Home Hub Pro raises the cap to 12 cameras, or to 24 battery cameras on some hardware versions.
• eufy cost per camera with a hub: the SoloCam E50 4-Cam Kit with HomeBase S380 costs $999.99 ÷ 4 = $250.00 per camera, hub included (eufy, 2026-11-13).
• What the eufy hub adds: the E50 2-Cam Kit is $649.99 with HomeBase S380 and $449.99 without, so the hub costs $649.99 − $449.99 = $200. Each E50 already records to its own microSD card (up to 512 GB) with no monthly fee. The hub adds BionicMind family-vs-stranger recognition and storage up to 16 TB.
• Daily draw on Reolink's own figures: a 5,000 mAh battery lasting about 60 days at 300 s of recording a day works out to 5,000 ÷ 60 ≈ 83 mAh a day.
• The panel is not optional: James Smythe at Mighty Gadget saw his Argus 4 Pro at about 25% after about 3 weeks without solar, (100 − 25) ÷ 21 ≈ 3.6% a day. On solar in sunny weather, it read 100% consistently over the first few days.
• Panel cable reach: Reolink panels have a 4 m lead, and Reolink advises against more than 9 m of extension cable, so 4 + 9 = 13 m from panel to camera before charging may slow.

Your site	Fits	Why
Home with Wi-Fi, 2–8 cameras, one place to review footage	Reolink Argus 4 Pro + Solar Panel 2 on a Home Hub	Factory-supported on the hub; 6 W panel; hub holds 2× 1 TB microSD
Home with Wi-Fi, wants tracking, zoom and face recognition	eufy SoloCam E50 + HomeBase S380	Pan-tilt dual 4K, 12× hybrid zoom, 5 W panel, BionicMind on the hub
Big battery, few motion events	Reolink Argus Eco Ultra + Solar Panel 2	21.6 Wh battery; joins the Home Hub after a firmware update
Farm, gate or barn with no Wi-Fi	AnywhereCam Eagle 4G Pro	4G LTE with a panel and backup battery in the box; each camera stands alone

Why the hub, not the panel, defines the system

A single solar camera records to its own card. A system means one hub that stores and manages every camera. The two biggest consumer hubs set hard rules on which cameras they accept.

• Reolink Home Hub: Reolink states that 'the total number of connected cameras cannot exceed 8, regardless of camera type', lists 4G cameras as 'Not Supported', and says a camera 'must be on the same LAN as the hub' to be added. The Argus 4 Series works out of the box. The Argus Eco Ultra needs its compatibility firmware first. Reolink also says battery-powered 4G cameras can't be used with its NVRs.
• eufy HomeBase 3 (S380): eufy's compatibility table marks the SoloCam S340 compatible for both storage and BionicMind. The 4G LTE Cam S330 stores to the hub 'only under Wi-Fi mode', and the 4G Starlight Cam S230 is 'Not Compatible' because it 'does not connect to Wi-Fi'. The SoloCam E50 needs HomeBase 3 firmware V3.8.8.0 or later.
• What that means off-grid: on a site without Wi-Fi, every cellular camera is its own island with its own SIM, data plan and app view. The $245: https://dealectric.com/go/anywherecam-eagle-4g-pro ships with its panel and battery pack and runs up to 7 days without direct sun, by AnywhereCam's figure. On a budget, the Arenti GO3G 4G LTE camera is $39.99 at Arenti (2026-11-13) $39.99 on arenti.com, $36 through this link: https://dealectric.com/go/arenti-go3g-4g-lte-camera, and it too stays outside any Reolink or eufy hub.
• Cold sites: Reolink says its cameras' lithium batteries 'cannot charge properly' below 0 °C (32 °F) and gives 0–45 °C as the panels' charging range. In a freezing week a bigger panel won't refill the battery, so size the reserve for it.

For a Wi-Fi home, the buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HP5JX5R8?tag=dealectric-20 plus a Home Hub is the cheapest route to a hub-recorded system with a 6 W panel per camera. A Reolink camera bought without a panel can take the buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGJ2561Q?tag=dealectric-20.

Not recommended

eufy 4G Starlight Cam S230 as part of a HomeBase system. eufy lists it as not compatible with HomeBase 3 for storage or BionicMind, so it can't join the rest of a eufy setup. Also note the SoloCam S340's 2.2 W panel: eufy's own next generation, the E50, carries a 5 W panel for $10 more. WhistleOut's Alex Choros saw the S340's battery go no lower than 91% after a few non-stop rainy days.

Sources

• Reolink Home Hub: 8 cameras total, 4G cameras not supported, Argus 4 Series factory-supported, Argus Eco Ultra 'Released, upgradable', Home Hub Pro 12/24 depending on hardware version — support.reolink.com
• Argus 4 Pro Kit contents (2 cameras, 2 panels, Home Hub), same-LAN rule, not compatible with 4G cameras, hub 2× 1 TB microSD — reolink.com
• Argus 4 Pro: 5,000 mAh, about 2 months at 300 s a day, Wi-Fi 6 2.4/5 GHz, 5120×1440 at 15 fps, 180°, microSD to 512 GB, Solar Panel 2 (6 W) not in the standard box — reolink.com
• Argus Eco Ultra: 21.6 Wh, 4K at 15 fps, Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz, microSD to 512 GB, Solar Panel 2 sold separately — reolink.com
• Reolink Solar Panel 2: 6 W, 6 V 0.97 A, 4 m cable, 0–45 °C charging range — support.reolink.com
• Reolink panel extension cables: 4 m panel cable, up to 2 extensions and 13 m total, more than 9 m of extension cable not recommended — support.reolink.com
• Battery-powered 4G cameras can't be used with Reolink NVRs — support.reolink.com
• Reolink battery cameras can't charge properly below 0 °C — support.reolink.com
• eufy HomeBase 3 compatibility: S340 compatible, S330 storage only in Wi-Fi mode, 4G Starlight Cam S230 not compatible — service.eufy.com
• eufy SoloCam E50: $229.99, dual 4K pan-tilt, 12× hybrid zoom, 5 W MPPT panel, microSD to 512 GB, dual-band Wi-Fi; 2-Cam Kit $449.99, with HomeBase S380 $649.99 — us.eufy.com
• eufy SoloCam E50 4-Cam Kit with HomeBase S380: $999.99, HomeBase 3 firmware V3.8.8.0 or later, storage to 16 TB — us.eufy.com
• eufy SoloCam S340: $219.99, 2.2 W removable panel, 2 h of direct sun a day, 3K dual-lens, 8× zoom — us.eufy.com
• AnywhereCam Eagle 4G Pro: 4G LTE, panel with battery backup, up to 7 days without direct sun, 1080p, 350° rotation — anywhere.cam
• Arenti GO3G 4G LTE Security Camera: $39.99 (Arenti store, 2026-11-13) — arenti.com
• Measured Argus 4 Pro battery (about 25% after about 3 weeks without solar; 100% over the first few days on solar in sunny weather), Mighty Gadget, James Smythe — mightygadget.com
• eufy SoloCam S340 lowest battery 91% after a few non-stop rainy days, WhistleOut, Alex Choros — whistleout.com.au

Published 2026-11-13; updated 2026-11-13. The buy links are affiliate links; see the disclosure. Corrections welcome at [email protected] or /feedback.