GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra Cellular Trail Camera Review:

I’ve been using GardePro trail cameras for months now, and I’ve become a collector. I have seven of them around my property. Five are the company’s long-range wireless cameras that connect through a hub, and the others are cellular models.

Why so many cameras? I like seeing what’s in my yard when I’m not looking. Deer, turkey, coyotes, possums, skunks… something is usually passing through.

Now, I’m checking out the GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra. I recently reviewed the GardePro X66 Pro, but this model is interesting because of its larger battery. Let’s take a look.

What Is It?

The GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra is a cellular trail camera that captures photos and video when it detects motion. You can use its mobile app to review captures, change settings, and check a live view.

Because it uses a cellular connection, it doesn’t need to connect to my home’s Wi-Fi or a separate camera hub. It does need compatible cellular coverage and an active data plan for its remote features, so those are things to check before choosing a spot in the woods.

What’s Included?

• GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra trail camera with rechargeable battery pack
• Cellular antenna
• Mounting strap
• USB-C to USB-C charging cable
• USB adapter for connecting to USB-A
• Camera manual and battery documentation

GardePro also supplied a 64GB SD card and an SP1000 solar panel for my review. The solar panel is a separate accessory, so don’t assume it’s included with the camera-only package.

Tech Specs

Here are the main features covered in this review. For the full specifications, visit GardePro’s X66 3.0 Ultra overview.

• Battery: Removable 17,500mAh rechargeable lithium battery
• Video: Up to 4K recording
• Detection: Three passive infrared (PIR) sensors
• Night recording: Infrared LEDs
• Storage: SD card
• Controls: Built-in screen and physical menu buttons
• Remote features: Mobile app, live view, and camera settings
• Charging: USB-C, with optional SP1000 solar panel support

Design and Features

The first thing I noticed when I picked up the GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra was the weight. This thing is hefty. That larger battery has to go somewhere!

The front has the camera lens, infrared LEDs, light sensor, status light, and three PIR sensors. If you’re wondering, PIR stands for passive infrared. These are the sensors that detect motion and tell the camera that something might be worth recording.

A large latch opens the housing to reveal the screen and physical controls. This is where you can navigate the menus and adjust the camera’s settings. You’ll also find the SD card slot and USB connection.

I like that the USB connection lets the camera work as a card reader. Plug it into your computer, and you can copy the photos and videos without removing the SD card and hunting down another reader. One less thing to find on my desk.

The removable battery pack has its own charging connection. GardePro also supplied its SP1000 solar panel (not included with the GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra trail camera), which plugs into the camera’s external power connection to help keep the battery charged.

The idea is to mount the panel nearby where it can get sunlight and reduce the need to bring the battery inside for charging. I haven’t measured a complete charge-to-empty runtime for this review, so I can’t give you my own battery-life number because so far, it’s lasted a few weeks and it’s still at 70%. The extra capacity is a welcome feature, though, especially if you don’t plan to add a solar panel.

Setup and Installation

I started by fully charging the battery and installing the 64GB SD card that GardePro sent me. Then I opened the app, selected the cellular camera option and the 66 series, and scanned the camera’s QR code.

The app flagged an available update and prompted me to activate a cellular plan. I’m leaving exact plan prices out of this review because they can change. Check GardePro’s current options and the included live-view allowance before signing up.

Next, I formatted the SD card through the camera’s menu and adjusted the recording settings. I increased the video length from 10 seconds to 30 seconds and selected 4K video. I wanted a little more time to see what the animals were doing instead of having the clip end while something interesting was happening.

I strapped the GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra trail camera to a tree behind my house, facing an area where wildlife regularly passes through, and let it do its thing.

Let’s See Who’s Out There!

The app displays captures in a gallery that you can scroll through. A small icon identifies the videos, and opening a clip gives you a timeline so you can jump to the action. You can also request the HD version, save a capture, check its information, share it, or delete it.

One of my early visitors was a squirrel that got close enough to give me a view of an ear and a tail. Not exactly a wildlife portrait, but it made me laugh.

Live view is another feature that I like. There’s something fun about checking what’s happening outside without leaving your chair.

Live view does have a plan allowance, so keep that in mind if you’re tempted to leave it running. You can also change camera settings remotely, which is handy when you want to make an adjustment without going back out to the tree.

Daytime and Nighttime Footage

The GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra trail camera captured several deer visits, including a buck walking through the yard and a nighttime clip with three deer moving around together. I also recorded myself walking in front of it to show how it handles a person moving through the scene.

The GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra’s microphone stood out to me. I could hear a buck grunting, footsteps through the leaves, and the surprisingly loud crunching when I walked past. The sound adds a lot to these clips. You’re getting more than a silent glimpse of something moving across the yard.

Daytime footage isn’t perfect, though. Bright sunlight can wash out parts of the image. That’s something I’d like to see improved.

Check out the video below to see the video footage.

See It In Action

Final Thoughts

The GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra has given me more of what I already enjoy about these cameras: an easy way to see the wildlife passing through my property. Motion capture worked well in my use, I enjoyed the daytime and nighttime recordings, and the microphone picked up more detail than you might expect from a camera strapped to a tree.

The cellular connection is useful when you want to place a camera somewhere that doesn’t have access to your home’s internet or a camera hub. Just remember that you still need cellular coverage, and the cost of a data plan is part of the decision.

I’d like better handling of bright areas in daytime footage, and the large battery makes this a fairly heavy camera. But the app is easy to use, live view is fun, and the option to add solar charging makes sense for a camera that you want to leave outside.

For me, the best part is picking up my phone in the morning and seeing who stopped by while I was asleep. Sometimes it’s a deer. Sometimes it’s a squirrel’s tail. Either way, I’m going to look.

The GardePro X66 3.0 Ultra Trail Camera (1 camera) retails for $139.99 (requires a yearly subscription which starts at $42.20/yr; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample. GardePro provided the camera, SD card, and SP1000 solar panel used in this review.

What I Like: Daytime and nighttime wildlife captures; Detailed audio; Easy-to-use app; Live view and remote settings; Large rechargeable battery; Optional solar charging; No home internet or hub needed for the cellular connection

What Needs Improvement: Bright areas can look washed out in daytime footage; Cellular access requires a data plan