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 good is amcrest camera compared to Lorex?
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?
- Home wifi camera
- Fixed lens add-on camera
- 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. Wireless ptz home camera
One of the most popular products released by Amcrest for home camera security systems is the Amcrest ip4m-1051, while a similar product released by Lorex is Lorex w261aqc. How do these two products compete in the market and which one suits your needs.
These two camera models are popular home wifi cameras that can connect to your home wifi internet network without having to go through the base station or recorder unit (NVR). So they can work right away and can join smart homes like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice command.
Take a look at the following table 1 that shows you spec comparison table between Amcrest and Lorex home wifi cameras.
Recording resolution
The main difference between these two products is the recording resolution; Amcrest provides a resolution up to 4mp @ 20 fps while lorex only up to 2mp full HD @ 30 fps. However, note that Amcrest can only go up to 3mp @ 30 fps, while with the same frame rate (fps) Lorex is only up to 2mp. Actually they are not much different with the same fps.
Wifi adapter
Each of the security cameras comes with built-in wifi adapter to connect to the wifi network in place. The Amcrest ip4m-1051 comes with a dual band wireless ac wifi adapter (802.11ac) so it can connect to dual band wifi ac or wifi ax router using the @5ghz radio band for cleaner connection than the @2.4ghz band which has a lot of interference. Lorex only comes with single band @2.4Ghz radio band wifi.
Table 1 Amcrest vs Lorex Home wifi camera
| Home wifi camera | Amcrest ip4m-1051 | Lorex W261aqc |
| Image sensor | 1/2.9″ progressive scan CMOS | 1/2.7″ progressive scan CMOS |
| Lens | 2.8mm f/2.0 | Fixed lens 2.8mm f/2.0 |
| View angle | 120 degree diagonal | 130 degree diagonal |
| Zoom | 16x digital zoom | 16x Digital zoom |
| Minimum illumination | 1.08Lux / F2.0 | Unspecified |
| Resolution | 4MP (2688 x 1520) @20 fps; 3MP @30 fps | 2MP (1920 x 1080) @30 fps |
| Night vision | 12pcs IR LEDs range up to 32ft (10m) | IR LEDs 850nm range up to 33ft (10m) |
| Audio | Two way audio with built-in speaker and microphone with noise cancelling algorithm | Two way audio with built-in speaker and microphone with noise cancelling algorithm |
| Storage | NAS, FTP, Local PC, MicroSD Card (128GB) | Up to 256 GB microSD, Class 10 or Higher |
| Wifi adapter | Dual band 2.4GHz(802.11b/g/n), 5GHz(802.11ac/a /n) | 2.4GHz single band |
| PTZ | 360 degree pan and 90 degree tilt and digital zoom via the app | Pan and tilt and digital zoom controlled by the mobile app |
| Smart home supports | Alexa | Google assistant and Alexa |
| Price | $74.99 | $54.99 |
With a price difference of around $ 20, Amcrest ip4m-1051 is preference model with higher resolution of up to 4MP @ 20 fps and also supports dual band wifi to be able to connect more flexibly with the 2.4Ghz radio band or 5GHz band which is cleaner from signal interference. Click the link below to shop the product on Amazon (#ads).
There still more security camera models that commonly deploy in homes and don’t need to connect to base station or NVR unit such as Floodlight security camera. See also Lorex floodlight camera vs Amcrest.
2. Fixed Lens add-on camera
Security cameras with fixed lenses are widely available in the market compared to security cameras with varifocal lenses. This is understandable considering the price of security cameras with varifocal lens is much more expensive than fixed lens cameras because the technology and mechanical design of security cameras with varifocal lenses are more complicated.
Amcrest ip8m-t2669ew-ai is one of fixed lens security cameras offered by Amcrest that supports AI (artificial intelligent) technology. How this product is compared with one of new products offered by Lorex with fixed lens, the Lorex e841cd-e. Both cameras are turret model with 4k resolution for outdoor / indoor placement. Please refer to table 2 below for spec comparison table between the two fixed lens security cameras.
4k @30 fps
Both of these products provide the same resolution of up to 4k (8MP) but the frame rate is different. The Amcrest ip8m-t2669ew delivers a maximum fps @30 fps @4K, while the Lorex E841CD-E only delivers half the frame rates of the Amcrest @4k resolution. The higher the frame rates of the camera the smoother the video footage.
WDR
When two lighting conditions both bright and dark are in one frame, then your camera will work hard to be able to produce a good balanced image. For this reason, the camera is equipped with a WDR (Wide dynamic range) feature so that the camera can display a balanced image when two light conditions exist in the same frame. True WDR combines hardware and software to challenge this two light conditions in the frame. While camera with HDR (High dynamic range) feature is a software feature only without hardware device like on true WDR feature camera.
AI feature
Amcrest ip8m-t2669ew features AI (artificial intelligent) you can enable to support face detection, human and vehicle detection, and also perimeter protection including tripwire and intrusion detection. However when you enable this AI feature (enabled by default) your camera can go maximum @20 fps @4k resolution.
Table 2 Lorex vs Amcrest fixed lens camera
| Home wifi camera | Amcrest ip8m-t2669ew | Lorex E841CD-E |
| Image sensor | 1/2.8″ 8MP Progressive CMOS | 8MP/4K 1/2.7″ CMOS |
| Lens | Fixed lens 2.8mm f/1.4 | Fixed lens 2.8mm f/2.0 |
| View angle | 108 degree horizontal | 105 degree horizontal |
| WDR | 120dB true WDR | HDR |
| Minimum illumination | 0.007 Lux @F1.4 | Unspecified |
| Resolution | 4K @30fps (4K @20fps when AI is enabled, AI is automatically enabled). | 4K(8MP)@15fps, 5MP@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@30fps |
| Night vision | 2 IR LEDs range up to 98ft (30m) with auto/ manual On/Off control | Color night vision with ambient light; IR LEDs range up to 130 ft(40m) |
| Audio | One way audio with built-in microphone | One way audio with microphone |
| Storage | FTP, NAS, MicroSD Card (Up to 256GB) | NVR storage, no local memory storage |
| Power | 12V DC / PoE (802.3af) | PoE (Class -802.3af)/12V DC |
| Housing protection | IP67 weatherproof with metal housing | IP67 weatherproof with aluminum metal housing |
| Smart features | Face detection, Perimeter Protection Tripwire, Intrusion of human and vehicle detection | Motion detection |
| Price | $139.99 | $129.99 |
The price difference between the two models is only $10. With Amcrest ip8m-t2669ew-ai you have 4k @20 resolution with AI feature and true WDR as opposed with Lorex. Click the link below to see more details and shop the product in Amazon (#ads).
Now, we shift to varifocal lens add-on security cameras.
3. 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 3 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 3. 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 (#ads).
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 1 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 4 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 5 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 5 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 (#ads).
- Click here to SHOP Amcrest kits
- Or you may like to Click here to SHOP Lorex kit
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.
You may also like amcrest vs lorex security camera – comparison for various models of flagship products including dome, bullet, ptz and wifi camera models.
