Amcrest has become a big brand in security cameras, and the products released are no less competitive with similar products from Lorex. Lorex has a big name in security camera after being acquired by Dahua the giant security camera from China. How do Amcrest vs Lorex products perform?
In this article:
- Amcrest vs Lorex
- Amcrest vs Lorex Spotlight cameras
- Varifocal lens add-on cams
- 8 / 16 Channel camera system
- Comparison tables
Amcrest vs Lorex
Both Amcrest and Lorex provide a variety of security camera products either for home security system needs ranging from doorbell cameras, indoor wifi home cameras, and outdoor floodlight cameras to office or industrial business needs including security camera kits, recording units (DVR /NVR) and appropriate add-on cameras.
What types of Amcrest vs Lorex security camera models to discuss in this article?
- Fixed lens Spotlights Cameras
- Varifocal lens add-on camera
- 8 channel security camera kits
We will start by comparing home wifi cameras which generally can work stand alone without connecting to recorder unit or base station.
1. Amcrest vs Lorex Spotlight cameras
Let me take two of newly launched products by each of amcrest and lorex with fixed-lens category and come with spotlights illuminator for active deterrent together with the siren. Amcrest IP8M-TD2685EW-AI is one of spotlight cameras offered by Amcrest with fixed-lens. We’ll compare it with newly launched lorex W881AAD-E.
Video recording
Both of these two products are 4k resolution cameras with slightly frame rate (fps) different. With amcrest, the fps can go up to 30fps @4k resolutions when you disable the AI function, unless it can go up to @20 fps when the AI function is enabled. This makes sense since with AI enabled, the more processing complexity will take, and AI enabled is the default setting.
When you compare it with lorex w881aad-e, you can go only up to 4k @15fps, you don’t need to enable or disable AI feature since this camera comes with AI-like features with its smart motion detection plus that differs human, vehicle, animal, and package detections.
The faster the frame rate (fps) the smoother the video performance. Amcrest with either AI enabled or disabled delivers slightly faster frame rate than lorex.
Spotlights
Both of amcrest and lorex spotlight cameras here feature color night vision in ambient light, in low light condition you can force the camera to render color night vision. You need to disable auto switch day / night to turn off the IR LEDs and force the camera to use the ambient light to render color night vision. However, when the light condition is down below the minimum illumination, which is darkness no light, the camera will switch to use IR LEDs and recording black and white night vision.
Lorex w881aad-e adds another smart security colorful lighting you can customize the color for different motion detection, human, vehicle, animal or package detection. You can customize the lighting by selecting color from million of color palette for each of specific motion detection.
For example you can pre-set red color to deter unwelcome intruders together with the siren you can trigger manually or automatically.
Connectivity
Both of these two camera models can work stand alone or you may connect to compliant nvr system, the same vendor nvr would be better for optimal compatibility. For example you may connect lorex w881aad-e to lorex fusion nvr system that allows you combine both wired and wifi cameras and other fusion collection products including other smart home security products to the same lorex fusion nvr. See also lorex fusion kit vs reolink.
The good thing with this lorex w881aad-e is that it is ready to support latest dual band wifi 6 network such as netgear orbi rbk860 series or deco x90 series which both are ax6000 wifi 6 routers with 802.11 ax standards.
In contrast to lorex with wifi 6 connectivity, amcrest ip8m-td2685ew-ai comes with ethernet POE port to allow you connect to the network using UTP cable with poe injector that also function as power connection.
Smart features
Both lorex and amcrest cameras here support smart motion detection, not just standard one. They can differentiate motions of human, vehicle. Lorex can also differentiate animal and package instead of just human and vehicle detections.
However, amcrest ip8m-td2685ew-ai features more variety smart detection features including video detection, audio detection, face detection, IVS, and smart detection. Note that face detection feature can work together with IVS in the same time. You have lots of options you can enable / disable in these smart features.
Take a look at the following spec and features comparison table between amcrest and lores cameras.
Table 1 Amcrest vs Lorex active deterrent cameras
| Spotlight Camera | Amcrest IP8M-TD2685EW-AI | Lorex W881AAD-E |
| Image sensor | 1/2.8″ 8 MP Progressive CMOS | 1/2.8″ CMOS Sensor 8MP |
| Minimum illumination | 0.007 Lux@F1.4 | Minimum Color Illumination 0 Lux f/1.6 |
| Lens | Fixed lens 2.8mm f/1.4 | Fixed lens 2.8mm f/1.6 |
| View angle | H: 107°, V: 55°, D: 127° | 140 degree |
| Video resolution | 8MP @(1–20 fps by default) / 8MP @(1–25/30 fps when AI function is disabled) | 4k (3840 x 2160) @15 fps |
| WDR | 120 dB | No |
| Spotlights | 1 White Light LED (Deterrent) | 2pcs spotlight and customizable color light Smart Security Lighting |
| Siren | 110 dB built-in siren | Built-in 110dB siren |
| Night Vision | 1x IR LED IR Distance 98.4ft (30m) IR On/Off Control: Auto/Manual | Yes, IR LEDs 855nm / range up to 32ft (10m) Color night vision with ambient lighting and spotlight booster |
| Audio | Two way audio with built-in speaker microphone | Two way audio with microphone and speaker |
| Connectivity | Wired POE | dual band wifi 802.11.b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Power | 12V DC/PoE (802.3af) | 6.6W: Max Voltage 12 VDC |
| Storage | Amcrest Cloud, FTP, NAS, MicroSD card (Up to 256GB) | 32 GB MicroSD Capacity Up to 256 GB MicroSD , Lorex fusion nvr |
| Outdoor protection | IP67 with metal casing | IP65 weatherproof |
| Smart features | AI Features: Face Detection IVS: Tripwire/Intrusion Smart Motion Detection (Human/vehicle filtering) | Smart Motion Detection Plus (person, vehicle, face + animal and package detection) |
| Dimension | Φ4.8” x 4.4” (Φ122mm x 110.9mm) | 3.44 in × 3.07 in × 3.07 in (87 mm x 78 mm × 78 mm) |
| Weight | 1.7lbs. | 0.9lbs / 0.41kg |
| Price | $199.99 | $229.99 |
The prices difference is not too much. Amcrest with full smart features is tagged with around $30 lower price than lorex. Click the link product’s link below to learn more details in Amazon (#ad). You may also compare with the prices offered by Best Buy.
- Click here to learn more details Amcrest ip8m-td2685ew-ai in Amazon (#Ad)
- Or you may like Lorex W881AAD-E with smart color booster, click here (#Ad)
Now, we shift to varifocal lens add-on security cameras.
2. Varifocal lens add-on cams
The security camera model with a varifocal motorized lens allows you to zoom in/out remotely through your camera software. Unlike a camera with manual varifocal lens which you can adjust the zoom / the view angle manually, you cannot adjust the zoom in / out remotely via the app.
Have a look at the following spec comparison table 2 that represents varifocal lens comparison between Amcrest ip8m-vt2879ew-ai and Lorex Lne9292. Both of these two camera models come with varifocal lens with motorized zoom you can control remotely via your mobile device while you are on the go.
4k @15 fps
Unlike Lorex Lne9292, Amcrest only provides frame rates up to 15fps @4k resolution. See that provides twice as fast fps as Amcrest @4k resolution. However, Lorex is not equipped with 120dB true WDR feature to challenge two extreme bright and dark lighting conditions, except for software-based HDR.
Local memory storage
Amcrest ip8m-vt2879ew-ai comes with available memory SD Card slot you can insert up to 256GB memory capacity. You can either use this camera alone and controlled by using Amcrest pro app or Blue Irish pro software or connect to compliant Onvif NVR system. you can store all the video footage and other snapshot alerts in the local memory storage if you don’t connect it to the NVR unit.
With Lne9292 you cannot store data to local memory storage on the camera, but you can use the compliant NVR system. see more detail on the following spec comparison table below.
Table 2. Amcrest vs Lorex Varifocal lens cameras
| Varifocal lens camera | Amcrest ip8m-vt2879ew-ai | Lorex Lne9292 |
| Image sensor | 1/2.8″ 8MPCMOS Starlight technology | 4K (8MP) 1/2.8″ CMOS |
| Lens | Varifocal Lens 2.7mm ~ 13.5mm | Motorized Varifocal lens 2.7mm to 13.5mm F1.5 |
| Zoom | 5x optical motorized zoom | 4x optical motorized zoom |
| View angle | H: 113 degree ~ 36 degree/ V: 58 degree ~ 17 degree/ D: 138 degree ~ 36 degree | H: 113 degree ~ 31 degree |
| WDR | 120dB | HDR (high dynamic range) |
| Minimum illumination | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| Resolution | 4K (8-Megapixel / 3840×2160) resolution 4K @15fps. | Up to 4K (8MP) @30fps |
| Night vision | 2pcs IR LEDs range up to 131.2ft (45m) | Color night vision with ambient light; Night vision with IR LEDs range up to 150ft (46m) |
| Audio | One way audio in with built-in Microphone | One way audio in with built-in Microphone |
| Storage | Micro SD Card up to 256GB, NVR, Cloud, NAS | N/A |
| Power | POE | PoE Class -802.3af /12V DC |
| Housing protection | IP67 weatherproof with heavy duty metal housing construction | IP67 weatherproof with metal aluminum alloy housing |
| Smart features | Face detection; Perimeter protection, tripwire and intrusion with built-in IVS features Smart motion detection by enabling human and vehicle detection | Face detection, human and vehicle detection |
| Price | $289.99 | $264.99 |
Now, you judge which one is suitable to meet your business. Click the link below to read more detail and see the current price in Amazon (#ad).
The following paragraphs will discuss the 8 / 16 channel security camera system kits between the two vendors.
4. 8 / 16 Channel camera system
For small offices or homes with up to 4 monitoring zones, both Amcrest and Lorex offer various models of 8 channels NVR system kits with 4pcs of security cameras, and you can add up to 4 more add-on cameras when you need to expand in the future. For businesses should you require larger scale surveillance system, consider 32 channel NVR system such as Lorex and GW Security 32 ch NVR system kit.
Let’s take Amcrest Nv4108e-Ip5m-T1179ew4-2tb kit that comes with 4pcs of 5MP turret model outdoor POE cameras and take one of popular Lorex 4AKAD8 Kits active deterrent security camera system kits as comparison.
Amcrest Nv4108e-Ip5m-T1179ew4-2tb
In this security camera kit, Amcrest offers Nv4108e 8 channel 4k NVR system with built-in 8-port POE switch to let you connect up to 8pcs POE security cameras up to 4k resolution. In this bundle, Amcrest also add 2TB hard disk storage as pre-installed hard disk and you can install total capacity up to 6TB hard disk.
Amcrest 8 channel security camera kit with preinstalled 2IB hard disk and 4pcs of outdoor turret model 5MP security cameras is ideal for homes with up to four cameras requirement and you can easily add up to more 4 cameras in the future when you need to expand.
This bundle is tagged with the price around $430.0 in Amazon.
Now we need to compare this Amcrest 8 channel security camera kits with similar product offered by Lorex 4AKAD8 Kits.
Lorex 4AKAD8 Kits
If the 5MP resolution offered by Amcrest is not high enough to meet your needs, then your choice is 4k resolution security camera system, twice the resolution offered by Amcrest. Lorex offers 8 channel security camera kit with 4k resolution cameras. Not just higher resolution camera, Lorex offers security camera with an active deterrent feature that can trigger the sirens and spotlights due to motion detection. With siren and spotlight triggered can prevent intruders from further pursuing criminal acts when entering your property.
Unlike Amcrest that uses IP network cameras that allows you to use UTP network cable for wired POE connection from the cameras to the recording unit (Amcrest NV4108E NVR unit), with Lorex the technology used is analog that uses coaxial cable for camera connections to the DVR unit with BNC interfaces.
Comparison tables
To make it easier for you to choose which of the two bundle kits suit your business needs, the two tables below present a comparison table between Amcrest and Lorex 8 channel security camera kits.
Table 3 represents recording units each of the security kits. The main difference between Amcrest NV4108E and Lorex 4AKAD8 is the recording technology used, see that Amcrest is an NVR (network video recorder) system, while the Lorex is a DVR (digital video recorder) system. We don’t discuss more detail what the difference between NVR and DVR system is, you can find more details by Googling on the net. With NVR you use UTP cable for connecting the network cameras to the recording unit which typically comes with built-in POE port switch. On the other hand, with DVR the connection between each of the analog security camera to the recording unit uses coaxial cable.
Table 3 Amcrest vs Lorex Recording Unit
| Recording Unit System | Amcrest NV4108E | Lorex 4AKAD8 |
| Recording type | IP Network (NVR) | Digital (DVR) analog |
| Channels | 8 channels NVR with built-in 8-port POE switch | 8 channels DVR with built-in 8x BNC ports |
| Recording resolution | Up to 4K (8MP) /each channel supports H.265 | Up to 4K (8.0MP) |
| Disk storage | Supports up to 6TB hard disk Preinstalled 2TB hard disk | Comes with 2TB preinstalled hard disk Up to 8TB storage |
| Incoming bandwidth | Up to 80Mbps | Unspecified |
Table 4 below shows you spec comparison between the security cameras included in each of the bundle kit.
Amcrest ip5m-T1179ew is an IP camera with 5MP (1440p) resolution @20 fps with fixed 2.8mm lens and wide 103 degree field of view angle. While Lorex C881DA is analog camera with high resolution 4k, fixed lens 2.8mm and 98 degree view angle.
Table 4 Amcrest vs Lorex security camera
| Security camera | Amcrest ip5m-T1179ew | Lorex C881DA-E |
| Camera type | IP network camera | Analog HD (CVI) |
| Resolution | 5MP @20fps High resolution, 2560 x 1440P | 4k (8.0MP) |
| Lens | 2.8mm fixed lens | 2.8mm fixed lens f/1.6 |
| Field of view angle | 103 degree horizontal | 98 degree horizontal |
| Night vision | 2pcs powerful IR LEDs range up to 98ft (30m) | Color night vision with ambient light IR LED range up to 135ft (41m) 90ft (28m) total darkness |
| Siren and spotlight | N/A | Yes and light alerts |
| Compression supports | H.265 / H.264 | N/A |
| Audio | One way audio with built-in Microphone | Speaker, no microphone |
| Local memory storage | Micro SD Card up to 256GB | N/A, need DVR unit with storage |
| Housing protection | IP67 weatherproof with | IP67 weatherproof with polycarbonate body construction |
| Price | $430.00 (NVR with 4 cameras) | $440.0 (NVR with 4 analog cameras) |
Now you decide which of these Amcrest and Lorex kits suits your business needs. The two module kits are sold at almost the same price in Amazon, the differences have discussed on the above paragraphs. Click the link below to shop the product in Amazon (#ad).
- Click here to SHOP Amcrest kits (#Ad)
- Or you may like to Click here to SHOP Lorex kit (#Ad)
Related products
For single or couple floodlight security cameras, Amcrest released ASH26 and Lorex released V261lcd. Which one is better? Click the following link for spec comparison between Lorex V261lcd floodlight security camera vs Amcrest ash26.