Hikvision vs. Amcrest – The Most Popular IP Cameras Compared

How do the more budget oriented Amcrest IP cameras compare to the more expensive Hikvision models? This is something I have been wondering about for some time now. From the emails I get, I am not the only one! So in this post, let’s take a detailed look at Hikvision vs Amcrest.

We have looked at Hikvision vs. Dahua in the past, and we found that comparable models from the two companies are very close to each other in both features and performance.

A quick note: This article may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and then purchase something, we may receive a fee. This does not cost you anything extra. Also note that Hikvision and Dahua do not consider certain platforms including Amazon as an authorized seller platform. So if you need warranty support please purchase from authorized resellers of Hikvision and Dahua products in your country.

Hikvision vs. Amcrest – the Stories behind the Brands

Hikvision

You’re probably no stranger to Hikvision if you have been dabbling with DIY security cameras for some time. Hikvision is a surveillance equipment manufacturer based in Hangzhou China. They primarily cater to professional installers and are not really interested in retailing to the general public. But still they made a splash in the DIY space because of their affordable DIY IP cameras with powerful features. Like 3MP sensors which were unheard of in mainstream IP cameras in 2014 when I bought my first IP camera, the Hikvision DS-2CD2032-I.

A few years ago, they launched their retail brand EZVIZ. Confusingly, EZVIZ used to be the name of their cloud app as well. Anyway the EZVIZ models are dumbed down versions of the Hikvision cameras and are not worth spending any money on. That’s why I am focusing on the main Hikvision brand.

The biggest concern I have with Hikvision is not so much about their cameras, but who owns the company. The Chinese government owns at least a partial stake in Hikvision. This creates a few ethical and moral quandaries that I won’t go into here – you know what I’m talking about.

If you live in the USA, there’s one more reason to avoid Hikvision cameras – the US government has recently banned the sale and import of new Hikvision products into the USA unless certain conditions are met. They are still being sold by their authorized retail seller BH Photo though. Of course, you can always get them from AliExpress as most of us have always done.

From a technical standpoint, you should treat any security camera the same way – with maximum suspicion that they may be ‘dialing home’ to their manufacturer’s own servers and leaking your data. So lock them down using Virtual LANs (VLAN) and strict firewall rules like I have in my DIY home security camera system.

Amcrest

Foscam US re-branded themselves as Amcrest Technologies in early 2016. Foscam US (Foscam Digital Technologies) used to be an independent reseller for the Chinese manufacturer/supplier Foscam Shenzhen. However in 2016, the Chinese supplier allegedly started undercutting Foscam US. Foscam US says they had no choice but to cut all ties with Foscam Shenzhen and go it alone as Amcrest Technologies.

Foscam security cameras never had a great reputation and once Amcrest launched their own products, they have quickly overtaken the original Foscam brand both in quality, reliability, support service levels, and reputation.

8MP 4K IP Camera Duel – Hikvision DS-2CD2085G1-I vs. Amcrest IP8M-T2669EW-AI

In 2023, everybody’s selling 8MP IP cameras. 4K resolution is the buzzword and 8MP is what you need to get 4K video.

I have picked two compelling options from the two companies and pitted them against each other. I would normally compare the DS-2CD2083G0-I which is the cheapest Hikvision 8MP bullet you can get. However as a consumer you will probably be looking at the more powerful Hikvision DS-2CD2085G1-I which is priced only a bit more than the DS-2CD2083G0-I. It would be remiss of me to steer you to the DS-2CD2083G0-I when the more capable DS-2CD2085G1-I is available at a similar price.

So as you peruse the rest of this comparison, please bear in mind that the Hikvision DS-2CD2085G1-I is the best Hikvision 4K camera to compare to the best Amcrest 4K camera, the IP8M-T2669EW-AI.

Hardware features – Hikvision vs. Amcrest

The Hikvision I have selected is from the Darkfighter series. These are ultra low-light camera that can produce night-time colour video down to 0.008 lux. They can also provide great black and white video together with IR. Interestingly, Hikvision doesn’t claim that this camera has ColorVu technology but which does the same thing effectively.

Nor does this camera have the AcuSense feature which reduces false alarms by ignoring birds, animals, lights and movement of trees. For these features you need to step up to a more premium line of Hikvision cameras.

The Hikvision has a larger sensor (1/2″) than the Amcrest camera (1/2.8″). But as we shall see below they are closer in performance than this spec suggests.

Amcrest cameras have historically been rebranded Dahua cameras, and so shared most of the same features. Dahua has a highly acclaimed low-light technology called Starlight. The highest spec of Starlight also has full color night vision. Until last year, Amcrest cameras didn’t get Starlight at all. But now the IP8M-T2669EW-AI sports the Starlight sensor and can match the Hikvision in low-light colour vision. Even though Amcrest doesn’t market this camera as a color night vision model.

Both the Hikvision & Amcrest have true 120dB Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) to help improve video quality in high glare situations.

The cameras are both made from metal and have the same level of ingress protection (IP67). I am happy to see Hikvision have embraced IP67, they have always gone for IP66 for their outdoor IP cameras. But Dahua has always been using IP67. So Amcrest also gets the IP67 rating.

Neither have vandal protection (IK10), more expensive Hikvision bullets do have it these days.

The Amcrest does have a built-in microphone, but Hikvision doesn’t.

Winner: Amcrest

Software features – Hikvision vs. Amcrest

The three most important software features that I look for are ONVIF support, the built-in NVR feature, and the advanced motion detection features that help reduce false alerts. Why because if an IP camera has ONVIF and RTSP features, you can use it as a standalone IP camera or easily integrate it into a Pro-DIY type DIY NVR system like mine.

Both Hikvision and Amcrest support ONVIF, and RTSP on all their IP cameras.

ONVIF ensures that your camera will work with standards-compliant equipment from 3rd party manufacturers. This is why you can add a Hikvision or Amcrest camera to your ONVIF-compatible NVR or DIY NAS NVR and integrate it into my smart home automation system.

RTSP allows even non-ONVIF equipment (such as software) to access the security camera’s video stream. Examples are video players like the popular VLC player or tinyCAM Monitor Pro on Android.

Motion Detection ability

Both Amcrest and Hikvision have advanced motion detection features like line crossing, intrusion detection. Hikvision further supports unattended baggage detection, and object removal detection.

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of these advanced motion detection methods in reducing false motion alerts.

But Amcrest has something the Hikvision DS-2CD2085G1-I doesn’t have – person and vehicle detection. This is a recent addition to Amcrest cameras and not all models have it yet, but the IP8M-T2669EW-AI does as indicated by the AI in the model name.

So Amcrest gets the slight edge here if you are going to use it as a standalone IP camera without an NVR connected, or as part of a DIY NAS NVR system.

Winner: Amcrest

Mobile app

There’s no contest here, the Amcrest mobile app is miles ahead of the IVMS suite of Hikvision mobile apps.

Winner: Amcrest

Warranty – Hikvision vs. Amcrest

Hikvision products come with a limited 3-Year Warranty if purchased from authorized dealers. Please note you may not get the warranty if you purchase from other retailers such as Amazon.

Amcrest provides only a 1 year warranty.

So Hikvision wins easily here.

Detailed Comparison Table

Here’s a summary of the full review in a nice and easy table:

Verdict – Hikvision vs. Amcrest

Thanks to the smart detection features such as person and vehicle detection, Amcrest gains the edge over Hikvision in my opinion. The ongoing governmental sanctions against Hikvision also mean its probably a better idea to avoid Hikvision products.

Also check out the other recommendations on our best outdoor IP cameras list for more interesting cameras reviewed from a DIY perspective.

Where to buy

• Amcrest IP8M-T2669EW-AI at local Amazon website.
• Hikvision DS-2CD2085G1-I at BH Photo (authorized US retailer)

Related Comparisons

• Hikvision vs. Dahua
• Hikvision vs. Reolink
• Hikvision vs. Lorex
• Amcrest vs. Lorex
• Lorex vs. Swann
• Reolink vs. Lorex
• Reolink vs. Arlo