GoKawiilArtificial intelligence features moved rapidly into the home security world in the past couple of years, adding capabilities I couldn’t have imagined, like the ability to detect packages at your front door or the much more controversial feature that learns and detects faces by name. But these abilities typically cost ongoing fees — at least for now. At IFA 2026, Reolink introduced a new option I’ve never seen before, and it may not cost us anything at all.
Read more: Everything We Discovered at IFA 2026
Reolink’s IFA announcement included new cams, including new high-res, dual-lens cameras with tracking. But those didn’t excite me (dual-lens cameras aren’t worth the extra cost for the average homeowner) nearly as much as its ReoNeura showcase.
ReoNeura is a new type of on-device AI engine. The algorithms don’t require the cloud to use, and the engine powers Custom AI Detection, which let users train the AI themselves to focus on what’s important. Let me break down what that means and why exactly I’m excited about it.
What makes Reolink’s AI plans so unique?
Reolink promises a unique feature with an unheard-of pricing plan. Reolink
First, custom AI detection is incredibly rare in home security at this time. The only other brand I can think of that has embraced it is Arlo, with its Arlo Custom Detection feature I tested last year.
Normal security AI is trained to identify specific things, like cars, humans, animals, packages and in some cases faces or fires. But custom AI lets users set up their own training to “teach” the camera how to recognize something specific that’s important to them.
This opens up many possibilities, depending on your own plans. For example, you could train an outdoor camera to detect whether your garage door is open or closed, or if a parked bike is present or gone. You could create a rule so the camera alerts you if the sprinklers are on or a fence gate is open. If you have a special piece of art or a safe, you could create alerts about their status, too. Basically, it puts a lot more AI power in the hands of users, which is neat.
Second, this custom AI capability appears to live entirely on the camera itself and doesn’t require a cloud or a cloud subscription. If what Reolink says is correct, that would make it the only custom AI option available to homeowners that doesn’t cost any extra fees. (Arlo’s custom training option needs at least an $8 subscription.)
... continue reading