onMay 24, 2026

With 4G connectivity in addition to the usual Wi-Fi, the IMOU AOV PT is the ideal security camera for large properties

Smart Home Technology

9 min read

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IMOU AOV PT: two-minute review

Founded in 2015 as a spin-off from the Chinese surveillance giant Dahua Technology, Hangzhou-based IMOU has quickly become a major player in the value segment of the smart home market. A few months ago, I looked at the IMOU Cell 3C, another budget outdoor security camera. I liked the model, but it was a lot more basic than this model (and much cheaper, too).

For starters, the AOV PT features a separate, rather than the integrated solar panel found on the Cell 3C. For many set-ups this is an important distinction because often the best place for a camera, such as under an eve or in a porch, is the worst place for a solar panel. Having a separate panel means it can be located up to four metres away in a sun-drenched spot using the long USB-C cable provided.

Close-up of IMOU AOV PT security camera mounted outside summer house — The IMOU AOV PT features ‘smart tracking’ to follow subjects (Image credit: Future)

Whereas most battery cameras stay in a deep sleep until a PIR is triggered, this latest IMOU features the company’s Always-On Video (AOV) technology — hence the AOV moniker. It’s like a sort of low-power mode where the camera records a frame every two seconds continuously, creating a low-frame rate timelapse of the entire day. Then, when the AI detects a human or vehicle, it ramps up to full-speed 3K (5MP) recording. Particularly clever is the smart tracking option which means once the pan-and-tilt camera detects movement it will follow the ‘target’ as it moves around. It’s all a bit Big Brother-y maybe, but useful if you want to track certain individuals or vehicles.

IMOU AOV PT: subscription options

Basic Plan: Covers seven days of event history and basic AI detection, between £2.59-£3.50 ($4-$5 / AU$5-AU$7) per month or approximately £30 ($40 / AU$70) a year.

Plus Plan: Offers 30 days of event history, enhanced AI detection, and sharing with up to 20 users. Costs around £5.99 ($9 / AU$12) per month or £60 ($80 / AU$110) per year.

See https://www.imou.com/uk/imou-protect for more details

IMOU AOV PT: price and availability

How much does it cost? IMOU AOV PT, $170 / £129 / AU$260

When is it available? Since December 2025

Where is it available? UK / US / Australia

Chinese firm IMOU is known for its competitively priced home security products. This one is no exception. OK, it’s quite a bit more expensive than the IMOU Cell 3C we reviewed which also comes with a solar panel. But then the AOV PT offers so much more and is still under £150.

In fact, when you consider the package includes a separate 5W solar panel, a pre-installed 32GB MicroSD card, and a 4G SIM card, the IMOU AOV PT is actually really very good value for money. That’s not to mention other useful features such as 360-degree field of view thanks to the pan-and-tilt camera and smart tracking so you can monitor the movements of intruders!

Compared to 4G rivals from Arlo or Reolink, which often require separate purchases for solar panels or storage, the IMOU really is a cost-effective, all-in-one solution for those needing off-grid security. Best of all is that you don’t need to pay for a monthly subscription — although that option is available from around £3 a month if you want it. Instead, you can store video clips on the MicroSD card provided or upgrade to one holding 512GB (these are now widely available for under £50/$50).

IMOU AOV PT: design

Pan-and-tilt design
Separate solar panel
IP66 waterproofing

It’s fair to say that the IMOU AOV PT won’t win any security camera beauty competitions. Built for utility rather than stealth, it comprises a not particularly attractive black pan-and-tilt camera inside a large white plastic housing, plus a separate lightweight solar panel designed to tilt up to 45 degrees for maximum solar gain.

Installation isn’t the easiest either. Because of its weight and the way it protrudes from the wall, it requires a very secure mount. It’s not a camera you can casually stick up with a couple of small screws. Instead, you’ll need the full four-screw bracket provided (plus wall plugs if drilling into brick) to prevent it from vibrating in the wind or feeling flimsy.

IMOU AOV PT security camera on table with cables and accessories — This camera is quite chunky, and takes more than just a couple of screws to mount (Image credit: Future)

For added protection/security the camera snaps firmly into the mount and can only be released by pressing a button underneath the unit. Here you will also find a rubber flap covering the power on and the USB-C input for connecting to the solar panel and for recharging the camera (it comes with an integrated 1000mAh lithium-ion battery).

For our set-up we installed the camera on a wooden summer house/home office with the solar panel located nearby and angled towards the sun (the app tells you when it is receiving power from the panel). However, 4m of cable is provided if you need to locate the solar panel a bit further away to capture the sun’s rays. Thankfully, the solar panel is much simpler to install than the camera but the two units together do take up quite a lot of space, compared to other designs.

Mounting bracket for IMOU AOV PT security camera installed on wall — The camera snaps firmly into its mount (Image credit: Future)

Finally, one slightly odd aspect of the design is the panel for the MicroSD card and 4G SIM card slots. Located at the back of the camera lens, this can only be accessed with a Phillips screwdriver. Perhaps it’s to deter casual thieves from easily stealing the MicroSD/SIM cards, or maybe to provide further protection from the elements?

IMOU AOV PT: performance

360-degree field of view
3K resolution
Color night vision

When it comes to performance, the IMOU AV PT is one of the best I’ve reviewed — especially at this price level. When it comes to functionality, it’s difficult to imagine any other cameras matching it. However, what’s impressive is that it combines this functionality with very good performance too. For example, the 3K image quality is crisp enough to identify faces at a distance, and the full-color night vision is excellent, using two bright spotlights to illuminate intruders.

What I particularly like is the pan-and-tilt camera which effectively gives the camera a full 360-degree view, much wider than most cameras which are limited to a maximum of around 150 degrees. Either you can move it around using the left/right, up/down keys on the app or you can use the ‘smart tracking’ option in the menus so that it tracks movement automatically.

Footage from IMOU AOV PT security camera in mobile app — In-app controls make it easy to pan and tilt the camera (Image credit: Future)

During testing it was great fun, picking up neighbours on balconies, even family members walking close to the patio doors inside the kitchen. However, I could see it would have a serious function too if ever I was burgled, capturing the culprit as they approached the house and closing in on their physical details.

Any criticisms? Well, a few, but they are minor. Firstly, it is worth bearing in mind that the ‘smart tracking’ option really does drain the 10,000mAh battery. During a day of heavy testing, it dropped 11% in just 24 hours, even with some additional solar power from the panel. For long term use it’s probably best to switch it off completely or limit the use of the camera to certain hours of the day.

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Night vision settings for IMOU AOV PT security camera in mobile app — Full-color night vision is impressive(Image credit: Future)

Using the app, recording times can be set for each day (so the camera only records footage at night) or you can quickly put it into ‘privacy mode’ where the lens turns around completely so you can’t record. It’s also possible to set areas where you don’t want to record, such as a neighbor’s garden or a busy main road using the ‘activity zone’ option.

As with many security cameras, one small bugbear is that the IMOU AV PT is a little too sensitive, creating a few false alarms. Not only can this get a little bit annoying after a while (getting an alert every time a bird flies past), it can further drain the battery. Finally, while the siren works effectively enough, it’s certainly not the loudest we’ve ever heard.

Should you buy the IMOU AOV PT?

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IMOU AOV PT score card
Attribute	Notes	Score
Value	Costing around $170 / £129 / AU$260, the IMOU really is excellent value for money especially considering that it comes with a solar panel, a 4G SIM and a MicroSD card.	5/5
Design	Built for the outdoors with IP66 weatherproof rating, the IMOU focuses on rugged practicality rather than stunning good looks. It’s quite bulky too.	4/5
Performance	The IMOU AOV PT combines great functionality with high quality 3K images. We particularly like the smart tracking option though it does wear the battery down.	4.5/5
Overall	Want to protect a property but Wi-Fi is dodgy or non-existent? This outdoor security camera is the perfect solution, combining great performance with 4G connectivity and MicroSD storage.	4.5/5

Buy it if

Don’t buy it if

IMOU AOV PT: also consider

If you’re not sure whether the IMOU AOV PT is the right camera for you, here’s how it stacks up against two of its rivals.

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Row 0 – Cell 0	IMOU AOV PT	Reolink Solar Floodlight Cam	IMOU Cell 3C
Subscription price	None. Optional subscription from £3 (about $5 / AU$6) a month	None. Optional subscription from £2.71 (about $4 / AU$6) a month.	None required. Optional IMOU Protect from from £3 (about $5 / AU$6) a month
Viewing angle	360-degree pan and tilt lens	150-degree ultra-wide diagonal	120-degree horizontal
Network connection	Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)/4G	Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHz)	Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)
Audio	Two-way audio	Two-way audio	Two-way audio
Video	3K (5MP) video resolution	2K (1440p) video resolution	2K (3MP) video resolution
Power	Battery/Solar	Battery/Solar	Battery/Solar
Hardware price	$170 / £129 / AU$260	$99/ £85 / AU$169 (with built in solar panel)	$55 / £49 / AU$129 (with built in solar panel)

How I tested the IMOU AOV PT

I used the camera outdoors for seven days
I set it up myself using the fittings provided by the manufacturer
The security camera and solar panel was installed on the outside of my summer house/office

I am forever climbing up and down step ladders changing over outdoor security cameras on my summer house, so much so that the neighbours must think I’m paranoid about getting burgled. This is the latest in a long line of solar panel cameras I’ve looked at recently and I think one of the best so far.

I really enjoyed the smart tracking feature, watching the camera following the movement of family members and my dog Poppy, as well as the occasional glimpse of neighbours standing on a balcony. If I had the device for a long time I would probably switch this off as it is a major drain on the battery as well as being overly intrusive (although less so than using the pan-and-tilt camera in the house).

I can also see the benefits of the 4G SIM. While my Wi-Fi is generally OK in the garden, thanks to a Wi-Fi repeater near the back door, there are many homes especially in rural areas where this option could be a game-changer.