Lorex vs Amcrest Security Cameras
Which One Is Better For You?

You have many choices of security camera brands but only one opportunity to make the right choice.

A substandard system may fail when you need evidence of a break-in or, worse, a violent crime against your family. That’s why my team tested and compared Amcrest vs Lorex to see which has better security camera systems.

The main difference between Amcrest and Lorex Security Cameras are their equipment bundles. Lorex offers more in the way of complete security equipment packages that will cover your entire property.

While Amcrest does have a few multi-camera packages, they offer more in the form of individual cameras. The company also provides a wider variety of camera types, including active defense cameras and smart detection cameras.

Both Amcrest and Lorex home security cameras have zoom capabilities. Between the two companies, the preferred camera is the Lorex 1080p PTZ with a 25x optical zoom. Amcrest has a 4mp PTZ camera with 12x optical zoom, which can also be a good option.

At the lower end, both companies offer units with 4x zoom capabilities for indoor use where less zoom is needed. The critical feature to look at is optical zoom instead of digital zoom. Optical zoom increases the zoom through a zoom lens, whereas digital zoom uses image processing.

Zoom Capabilities Winner: Lorex

Recording resolution describes the number of pixels across the width and the height of the image. The higher the resolution of the camera, the more precise the image will be.

When it comes to Amcrest vs Lorex, both of these brands offer options at 4k and 4k ultra-resolution. At the moment, these are some of the highest resolutions available for consumer-level options. These cameras have image sensors that record 3,840 pixels horizontally and 2,160 pixels vertically.

From our testing, we found the Lorex 4K Weatherproof Wired Indoor/Outdoor HD Security Cameras to be the best security camera for home use in terms of resolution.

Resolution Winner: Lorex

Some of the most popular security camera system models include:

• Lorex LHA4414F 4MP Super HD 4 Channel Security System
• Lorex 8MP 4K IP Motorized Varifocal Zoom Bullet Security Camera
• Lorex 8-Channel 5MP DVR Security System w/ Active Deterrence Cameras

Some of the most popular Amcrest security camera models include:

• Amcrest 4K Security Camera System 4CH 8MP
• Amcrest ProHD 4K
• Amcrest IP8M UltraHD 4K IP Camera

When it comes to night vision, the two primary options are color night vision and infrared (IR range) night vision. After extensively testing dozens of different 4K IP cameras, 4K Pan Tilt cameras, and indoor/outdoor cameras, we recommend color night vision.

When looking between Amcrest vs Lorex, we discovered that Lorex camera had a wider variety of color night vision cameras available and different types (4K IP, 4K Pan Tilt, etc.). Amcrest does have a few options but more limited, giving you less freedom when setting up a custom multi-channel security system.

Night Vision Technology Winner: Lorex

When it comes to Amcrest vs Lorex, Lorex registered better motion detection when we tested their 4K cameras. Both brands have advanced motion detection technology in their cameras.

With Lorex, they have an object detection system that helps automatically detect potential false alarms such as branches, debris from wind, etc. Amcrest also has a reliable intrusion detection program, but you will need to spend more time calibrating the system for your needs. Due to the less time required to set the system up, Lorex gets our vote for better motion detection.

Motion Detector Technology Winner: Lorex

Both companies offer a similar warranty and protection plan of up to one year for most purchases. Lorex has a slightly better offering as it provides a 30-day money-back guarantee and an extra year on your warranty if you purchase products directly from their website.

With both companies, you will need to register your purchase online to make sure it is activated. Also, Amcrest states explicitly that their warranty starts from the day of purchase, which is good to note if you don’t plan on setting your system DVR or PoE NVR system up immediately.

Warranty Winner: Lorex

Image sensor quality is a complex set of attributes that convey the overall clarity of videos or images (1). It is also one of the most important factors we look at when testing security system cameras. The primary factor is image compression and how this leads to video quality loss.

We looked for H.265 video encoding (vs H.264 for 1080p), which Lorex and Amcrest support in their 4K cameras. This gives you the same quality of video and frame rate but at half the bit rate, which saves on storage and improves the recorded image.

Image Quality: Tie (both have H.265 encoding and optimal frame rate)

When it comes to Amcrest vs Lorex, there is a wide range of options for budgets, both large and small. The one advantage that Amcrest has when it comes to pricing is that they offer more individual options for purchasing cameras such as the 4K Amcrest ProHD or the Amcrest IP8M, so you can buy what you need or can afford at the time.

The company seems more focused on selling complete systems, though they also have several single-camera options. Overall, both companies have a range of products at prices that meet many different budgets.

Preferred Pricing: Amcrest (due to the broader variety of single-camera options such as the Amcrest IP8M 4K or Amcrest ProHD)

Lorex security systems are a better choice when it comes to hardware. Their outdoor IP camera can withstand temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 Celsiuscelsius) and as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsiuscelsius). The Amcrest ProHD 4K and Amcrest IP8M are good cameras with reliable hardware, but our testing found Lorex better overall.

The company's NVR system and DVR systems are also good with quality hard drive options and Micro SD Card storage capabilities. One final point, we like that the company uses the Sony Exmor R image sensor in some of their cameras.

Hardware Winner: Lorex

When it comes to installation, wireless options are the best security cameras based on our experience. Home installation can be tricky if you plan on doing the installation yourself. So, eliminating the wires is the best way to go.

Both companies offer multi-channel security system options. The one thing to note is that when we were ordering systems to test, many wireless systems were out of stock on the Amcrest website. Lorex, on the other hand, regularly had these systems in stock.

Simple Installation Winner: Lorex (the more straightforward to install systems are regularly in stock)

In our comparison of Amcrest vs Lorex, we found both to be reliable brands. But, Lorex is better than Amcrest in a few key areas. They offer a more attractive warranty and money-back guarantee for each security system and have better options if you want a 4K multi-channel security system. We like the color night vision with their 4k security cameras for better low light conditions.

Their 25x optical zoom security camera stands out as an attractive option, and the NVR system is well rated. To check out some of the 4K IP cameras, complete security systems, and Wi-Fi cameras from Lorex, click below.