Last year, Tactacam's Reveal Pro 3.0 won our annual cellular trail cam field test. The camera hit an under-$160 price point, captured game up to 50 yards, relayed images to the app quickly, and created very few misfires. Which left us wondering how they could improve upon an already great cell cam. Enter the Reveal Ultra.
I've been running the Ultra for two months now and have been very impressed with the results. The Ultra offers all the features of the Pro 3.0, plus Live View video streaming, an adjustable flash, Active GPS, and more. The camera also produces remarkably few false triggers, captures crisp photos and video with audio, and is easy to set up. All of this led to Tactacam defending their title for the Best Overall Cellular trail camera in 2025. Here's a closer look at the Reveal Ultra.
Tactacam Reveal Ultra
Specs
Photo Definition: 4K (UHD), 2.5K (WQHD)
Flash Range: Low Glow - 96 feet, No Glow 80 feet
Cellular Network and Carrier: All Major Cellular Networks
On-board screen: 2" LCD
Power: 12 AA batteries or DC 12V input
Memory: 168 GB Internal Storage with Optional SD slot
Price: $199.99 ($5 per month plan)
Flip the door open, scan the QR code, select your plan, and you're off and running. That's how easy it is to get started with the Reveal Ultra. The 2-inch color LCD makes aiming easy and lets the user view the screen to ensure a strong cellular connection. The camera's housing is durable, the latch-closure door is easy to operate and secure, and there's a flexible antenna with an included antenna slot. The antenna slot holds the antenna in place when it's in your hand, pack, or hard case, preventing it from breaking.
The Ultra lets you choose from Low Glow and No Glow flash settings, and switching between them is easy via the Reveal app. Active GPS will ping your phone if the camera moves more than half a mile from its location, even if the camera is turned off. Live View lets you see what's happening in front of your camera in real-time, which is a handy feature for hunters entering a treestand or blind.
How I Tested the Reveal Ultra
Before heading afield, I added the Ultra to my Reveal account by scanning the QR Code on the front inside door. The Reveal app guides you through the setup process, and after adding the camera's name, location, and postal code, it connected and was transmitting photos in under two minutes.
Over the course of two months, I tested the Ultra in various settings, including river crossings, isolated food plots, and trail intersections. I tested the camera in the No Glow setting on a narrow river crossing and in a dense timber area where three major trails converged. The No Glow setting captured deer in the center of the frame and took excellent photos, ranging from as close as 10 feet to the maximum tested distance of 85 feet. This is five feet further than Tactacam notes the Ultra will capture deer in No Glow, which was impressive. Though the photo was a bit blurred, the Ultra captured a whitetail doe 142 feet from the camera at 6:45 a.m.
I tested the Low Glow mode on two isolated food plots and along the inside corner of a 30-acre alfalfa plot. The Low Glow mode produced clear, sharp images and video. Deer were captured from a distance of 10 feet to the maximum tested distance of 100 feet. All measurements were taken using a combination of HuntStand's Line measuring tool and onX Hunt's Line Distance measuring tool. Throughout the testing period, I recorded misfires and tracked battery life using standard AA alkaline batteries. I also tested the camera's all-new Live View and Active GPS.
Reveal Ultra Test Results
After two months of testing, Tactacam's Ultra has only taken 18 blank photos, which is impressive. The camera has been exposed to wind speeds over 50 miles per hour, hail, rain, and extreme temperatures. The hottest day was 108-degrees Fahrenheight. Even under extreme conditions, the camera continued to perform. The housing, antenna, lens, and other components still look new and operate as advertised.
When set in No Glow, deer don't look at the camera. On the river crossing, the Ultra captured a mature buck at around 14 feet. The buck remained in the area for over a minute to nibble on some overhanging elm leaves. He never noticed the camera was there. When set to No Glow, night pictures captured beyond 70 feet will appear slightly grainy, but the camera will still capture night images to Tactacam's advertised distance of 80 feet and beyond.
When set to Low Glow, deer tend to give the camera an over-the-shoulder glance, and some will even walk up to it. In Low Glow, I set the Ultra to capture pictures and videos. All buck videos were examined to see how each buck reacted to the camera. Not a single buck ran or acted alarmed. They noticed something, but it didn't bother them.
I love the easy-to-view 2-inch LCD screen for aiming, and the screen tells you where the camera is in its connection process. Photos are delivered quickly. After setting up the Ultra and letting it connect, it snapped and delivered an image of me to my phone in under two minutes.
The folding antenna allows you to maneuver the camera into tight spaces, and Tactacam has added an antenna holder to the body of the camera. This slot securely holds the antenna in place during transport, minimizing the risk of damage.
The camera took excellent standard photos and videos. HD photos are available on request. The HD photos are remarkably clear, even in nighttime conditions. The video is crisp, and the audio is clear. Video lengths can be set to 10, 15, or 30 seconds. Live View is available for a fee, and it does work as advertised. The real-time video is clear, and it's easy to see what's in front of the camera. Live View does drain battery life, so be aware of this.
I also moved the camera over a half mile from one property to the next. After turning the camera off, my Reveal app still notified me that the camera had moved via its Active GPS. Another feature I like about the camera is HuntSynch. HuntSynch allows you to disable the camera's cellular function. Once disabled, you receive a timestamp indicating when the cellular function was turned off. The camera will still operate like a standard digital camera when set to HuntSynch.
Is the Tactacam Reveal Ultra Worth It?
The Reveal Ultra is an excellent camera with customizable features and an intuitive app. At under $200, the Ultra offers a quality camera that consistently delivers excellent photos and videos, along with a range of useful features. Day and night photos are clear and crisp, and the camera has proven it can withstand harsh elements while consistently delivering high-quality images. If you're looking for the best of the best in cellular trail cameras, the Reveal Ultra is at the top.
