Category: Home Security

Thinking of getting a battery-powered security camera and stuck between Reolink and Arlo? I know, its a tough choice because each brand has so many different models and it can be difficult to figure out what you need exactly.

Let’s take a close look at the top cameras from each brand and compare them on the important requirements of a good security camera:

• How is the night vision?
• Can it work if there is no Internet connection?
• Can it work properly without a monthly fee?
• Does it have local storage? Or does everything have to go on the cloud?
• Does it integrate with other smart home tech (Alexa etc.)?

Reolink vs. Arlo – the Stories behind the Brands

Reolink

Reolink is one of our favourite IP security camera brands. We have been using their cameras for a few years now and have a good deal of experience with them.

Reolink is a popular brand that is only a few years old. But they are not exactly new to the surveillance camera industry. The brand Reolink is owned by Reolink Innovation Limited (earlier known as Shenzhen Baichuan Security Technology Co., Ltd.) who are a manufacturer of security cameras and other surveillance equipment. What’s the source? I simply emailed them and asked. Simple as that.

So Reolink is not a rebranded Hikvision or Dahua as some people have claimed online. Therefore they are not subject to the Federal government ban imposed through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This is a huge positive for Reolink.

Arlo

Netgear kicked-off the battery powered security camera craze when they launched the Arlo range. Small, cute, battery operated cameras that were weather-proof. A winning combination. Many clones have spawned since, but Arlo remains very popular.

Does Reolink have anything that can challenge the might of Arlo? Let’s find out.

Reolink Argus 2 vs. Arlo Pro 3

Reolink has upgraded the original Argus which we reviewed with the new and improved Argus 2.

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Meanwhile Netgear has the latest Arlo Pro 3 on offer. This is the model that’s closest to the Argus 2.

Hardware features

The Reolink Argus 2 is a 1080p camera (FullHD) whereas the Arlo Pro 3 has a 4MP sensor with a maximum video resolution of 2560×1440. That’s twice as many pixels as the Reolink. Arlo put the extra pixels to good use with a cool feature – cropping the video to 1080p while automatically tracking and zooming moving objects.

So the Arlo Pro 3 can work like a PTZ within its field of view, by zooming in on moving objects like a car or a person.

The Arlo also has a wide 160° field of view, whereas the Argus 2 can do 130°.

However it is important to note that while the Argus 2 is a standalone camera, the Arlo Pro 3 is useless without buying the smart hub also. Thankfully the Arlo Pro 3 cameras can connect to the older Arlo Base Station models VMB4000 and VMB4500. It is also compatible with existing outdoor security mounts. But it isn’t backward compatible with previous generation Arlo batteries or charging cables.

The Arlo battery is rated for 4-6 months of battery life. The Argus 2 uses a 5200mAh battery which is also rated for 4-6 months battery life. Both use rechargeable batteries.

Arlo Pro 3 has an integrated spotlight which no doubt contributes to its colour night vision abilities. Argus 2 also has colour night vision but relies on its Sony Starlight sensor to achieve this.

Software features

The Argus 2 is a standalone camera whereas the Arlo requires the Arlo Smart Hub to function. Furthermore, the Arlo is primarily a cloud-camera, whereas the cloud is optional for Reolink cameras. The Arlo 3 is designed by default to stream video to the Smart Hub and then from there to the cloud. These are the biggest differences between the two brands.

With Reolink, local storage is simple: Add an inexpensive microSD card to the Argus and you have local storage. No need to have an Internet connection at all.

Arlo has a very confusing cloud plan structure. With the older Arlo’s you got free local storage: just add a USB storage device to the Arlo Smart Hub.

But with the new Arlo3, Arlo Ultra, and Arlo Doorbell products, Netgear has taken away all of the above. You get just live video streaming to the mobile app and notifications.

Does the Arlo Pro 3 have free cloud storage?

No, the 7-day free cloud storage has been taken away. Now you have to pay for an Arlo Smart plan if you want cloud storage.

Does the Arlo Pro 3 have local storage?

Yes, and you don’t need an Arlo Smart monthly plan for this. But to view the recorded clips, you have to unplug the USB drive from the Smart Hub and then plug it into a computer. This inconvenience seems to be deliberately designed so that you will just give up and pay for a cloud plan.

Motion Detection ability

Both the Argus 2 and Arlo Pro 3 use a PIR motion sensor for motion detection. This is more accurate than software based motion detection.

However, the Arlo Smart cloud plan strikes again. The Arlo Pro 3 requires you to pay if you want to mark motion detection zones or ‘activity zones’. This is a basic feature and shame on Netgear for doing this. Of course the Reolink doesn’t make you pay for this.

Cloud-reliant cameras have one advantage – they can use the cloud for things like Person, Vehicle, & Animal Detection. It can even do package detection. But you have to pay for any of these features. The Argus 2 has optional cloud storage (Reolink Cloud) but it doesn’t have these advanced motion detection methods.

One are where the Argus 2 disappoints is the lack of pre-recording. Without this feature, your motion triggered clips may be missing the few seconds before motion was triggered. Arlo does has this feature in AC power mode.

Smart Home Connectivity

The Arlo Pro 3 is compatible with IFTTT, Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple. The Argus 2 can interface with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Warranty

Reolink offers a 2 year limited warranty. Netgear offers only a 1 year limited warranty on Arlo products.

Verdict

The Arlo Pro 3 has the edge in video quality and it has some features like smart motion detection which the Argus 2 doesn’t have. However you have to pay for a monthly Arlo Smart plan to use a lot of these features. Netgear has designed the Arlo Pro 3 to work best with a paid cloud plan. So you are really looking at paying a monthly fee if you want the Arlo.

If you don’t mind this and are also okay with your data being on the cloud, the Arlo might work for you.

But VueVille is a privacy and wallet-conscious blog – we pick the Reolink Argus 2 because it is not crippled without the cloud or an Internet connection. Local storage is also free to use. This coupled with the 2 year warranty puts it miles ahead of the Arlo. And we haven’t even talked about price yet.

Also check out the other recommendations on our best outdoor IP cameras list.

Where to buy

• [easyazon_link identifier=”B07W3MCDNH” locale=”US” tag=”vueville.com-eaz-20″]Reolink Argus 2 at your local Amazon website[/easyazon_link]
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B07YDYP6JH” locale=”US” tag=”vueville.com-eaz-20″]Netgear Arlo Pro 3 at local Amazon website[/easyazon_link]

Summary comparison table

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

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 2025, 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 [easyazon_link identifier=”B004VD3YIM” locale=”US” tag=”vueville.com-eaz-20″]tinyCAM Monitor Pro[/easyazon_link] 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 [easyazon_link identifier=”B08CWGJY37″ locale=”US” tag=”vueville.com-eaz-20″]local Amazon website.[/easyazon_link]
• 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

A few years ago we reviewed the Reolink C1 Pro, a 4 Megapixel wireless pan-tilt indoor security camera. We loved it so much that it became our main nursery baby monitor. Now Reolink has launched another 4MP Pan-Tilt, the E1 Pro which is an even more affordable option than the C1 Pro. What’s more, it supports person and pet detection and even auto-tracking!

So how does the E1 Pro perform, what features if any have been sacrificed and ultimately should you buy it? To find out, we put a review sample that Reolink provided through its paces in this hands-on review.

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A quick note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate link(s). An affiliate link means I may earn advertising or referral fees if you make a purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

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Specifications

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Unboxing

What’s in the box

• Reolink E1 Pro PT Indoor Wireless Security Camera
• DC 5V wall adaptor
• Power cable
• Wall mounting bracket
• Quick Start guide
• What’s next booklet
• Drilling templates
• Reolink surveillance notification sticker
• Screws and rawl plugs

Design & Features

The E1 Pro is different from any other Reolink camera I have seen. It is very compact and weighs just 200 grams.

The camera can be divided into 3 parts – the black lens housing, the white tennis ball shaped body, and the white base. The tennis ball design of the body which surrounds the black lens housing is a neat design. Overall, the high-quality fit and finish of the camera exudes a premium aura that belies its budget price.

So how does this Pan-Tilt camera work? When panning, the entire upper body revolves around the base. When tilting, only the black lens housing rotates up or down.

The black lens housing has a matte design and is super smooth to the touch. The daylight sensor is integrated into the ring-type 8 Infrared LEDs concealed smartly around the lens. If you look carefully you can see the red tinge of the Infrared LEDs under the darkened glass surrounding the lens.

The built-in microphone is placed just under the lens. The SD card slot and the reset button are also placed here, which is actually a genius idea. When the camera is in its default position of looking straight ahead, the SD card slot and the reset button are totally concealed! Tilt the lens up all the way using the Reolink mobile app or PC Client software and you can access the slot and the reset button.

The left and right sides of the body are bare but you will find the built-in speaker on the back of the lens housing.

The base of the E1 Pro has just the AC power input. Unusually this is not a microUSB design.

Update: Reolink has recently added an Ethernet port to the E1 camera lineup, and so the E1 Pro can also be used as a wired camera.

Flip the camera over and you will find the slot for fitting the wall bracket and a sticker with the QR code for setting up the camera in the Reolink mobile app.

The dual-band Wi-Fi antennae are prominent by their absence. Yes, the antennae are built-in but in my testing this doesn’t seem to affect range noticeably. Just like the C2 Pro, the 5 Ghz Wi-Fi is a great feature to have as most of the competitors are still sporting just 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The higher bandwidth capacity of the 5 Ghz band comes with a significant range disadvantage though.

All in all, the camera feels light yet solid in construction. The contrasting colours and the matte finish of the black lens housing really makes the E1 Pro look and feel far more expensive than it really is.

Installation & Setup

The Reolink E1 Pro comes with a very good quick start guide which is a double-sided glossy booklet, just like the other Reolink cameras I have reviewed. The general introduction section illustrates and labels the different parts of the camera such as the daylight sensor, the built-in mic, the speaker, the indicator LEDs and the various connections.

There is also a helpful camera connection guide for those who are new to security cameras. The setup is voice guided (just like the Reolink Argus) and can be done fully wireless. I would expect most people to use the camera’s Wi-Fi option rather than the Ethernet port, so that’s what I have also done in this review.

So you have two options for setting up the camera:

1. Setup using a smartphone or tablet using the Reolink app, or
2. Setup using a laptop and the Reolink Client software for PC

Reolink recommends the smartphone app method, so that’s what I did.

1. Install the Reolink mobile app. I had it already installed since I use the Reolink C2 Pro, C1 Pro and the Argus all of which I have reviewed in the past.
2. Power on the E1 Pro. You will hear a voice message ‘Please run the Reolink app and add the camera to set it up’.
3. In the Reolink app, click the plus button at the top right to add the camera, and choose the ‘Connect to Wi-Fi option’.
   
4. I was not happy to see the app asking for location access, feel free to deny it – the setup will continue successfully anyway.
5. Enter your Wi-Fi info into the app. The app will then transfer it to the camera in the next step.
6. Scan the QR code on the bottom of the camera base.
7. The camera will then attempt to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
8. After the camera has initialized, create a login password to complete the setup process.

Configuring the E1 Pro

The only way of configuring the camera is using the Reolink mobile app. Unlike the C1 Pro, the E1 Pro does not have a built-in web server where you can access the advanced settings. In that respect it is more like the Reolink Argus. In the next section, I will cover the camera configuration also.

Using the Reolink mobile app

The Reolink mobile app has always been a reliable and well-designed app. I have never experienced the app crashing on my Samsung Galaxy S9.

As Reolink started introducing cameras such as the Argus without a built-in web server, it became essential for the app to be able to fully configure the camera. The E1 Pro leverages the app very well and the app allows you almost full control over the camera.

When you open the app after setting up the camera, you are greeted with the familiar camera selection list with a static preview image. What’s new in the app is the ability to group cameras together and apply Scenes or quick modes to them quickly – this is a great feature if you have multiple Reolink cameras but dont have an NVR. You can create custom scenes, say, ‘Arm alarm’ to instantly enable motion detection recording, push/email alerts, and audio buzzer alarms when you leave the home. Then when you return you can just activate a ‘Disarm alarm’ scene to deactivate all alarms/alerts.

Touching the camera preview image takes you to the Live-view screen of the E1 Pro. Here you can adjust the Pan-Tilt camera position, use the 2-way audio talk feature, record a clip or take a snapshot. There’s also a nifty audio buzzer button that will briefly sound the camera alarm buzzer. Its not very loud but should be enough to scare away an intruder!

The playback button at the bottom right is for accessing the built-in NVR feature of the E1 Pro. More on that later. Back in the app home page, you can touch the gear icon of the E1 Pro to access the camera settings.

You can either activate/deactivate individual alert settings or use the Scenes feature mentioned earlier to control the camera behaviour. This is my favourite way of managing the alert settings of the E1 Pro.

Under Display, you can adjust the video stream settings – you can choose between 4MP, 3MP, 1080p and 720p for the main stream. 4MP is the default.

You can also perform user management here, such as setting up additional users for your family members’ smartphones.

The E1 Pro has the usual P2P and UID features but the app doesn’t give access to these settings. If you want to change these and other advanced settings such as port numbers, you can do it through the Reolink Client PC app.

Built-in NVR Feature

The built-in NVR feature of the E1 Pro allows you to record video clips without having to buy a separate NVR. What is this built-in NVR feature? Basically, pop in a microSD card and the camera can record motion detection triggered video clips or snapshots to the SD card.

This means that if you need only a single camera or two in your home , you don’t need to buy a separate NVR just to record video footage (although I strongly recommend it ). The camera can also push notifications to the Reolink app on your mobile phone, send email alerts with attached snapshots or video clips.

Adding a microSD card for motion detection recording

I inserted a microSD card into the SD card slot. I had to push the card all the way into the slot before it click-locked. I then formatted the card through the Reolink mobile app. The camera then automatically rebooted and the microSD card was ready for use.

You have several options to control the motion detection recording behaviour. First up is sensitivity, you can go for the default single setting or set up multiple settings for different times of the day.

You can also define the area that the camera should monitor for motion.

The two features above will go a long way in reducing false motion detection alerts.

Reviewing recorded footage

There are three ways to view the recorded footage – the Reolink mobile app, the Reolink Client PC software, and manually accessing the clips on the microSD card with a laptop.

Using the mobile app, you can login any time from anywhere to review the footage through a timeline view. The mobile app also identifies each motion detection event so that you can just play those without having to scrub through the timeline.

At first I thought were only the sub-stream clips could be downloaded to the phone and not the main stream. But Reolink guided me to the picture quality icon – tap it and change it to 4MP and you can download the 4MP clips!

You can also do all of the above through the Reolink Client app or remove the SD card and take the video clips off it with a laptop.

Mobile Push Notifications

Use the Scenes feature to control when and how push notifications are delivered to your smartphone.

Remember that push notifications will not work outside your local network if you switch off P2P though.

Adding the Reolink to QNAP Surveillance Station

The E1 Pro supports both ONVIF and RTSP, so I was easily able to add it to my QNAP TS-253A’s Surveillance Station app. I first created an additional user for the NAS using the admin section of the camera app.

The ONVIF port is port 8000, the media port is 9000, RTSP is available at port 554 and RTMP at port 1935.

Performance

The E1 Pro has a 4MP sensor which can record at up to 2560 x 1440 resolution. The maximum bitrate of 4Mbps is lower than the usual 8Mbps of other Reolink cameras.

Let’s look at the default settings the Reolink E1 Pro comes with from the factory:

Main stream: 4MP @ 15fps and 3Mbps

Since these are the defaults, I ran my day and night tests at these settings.

Video quality

Video captured was sharp and detailed both during the day time and in total darkness, in line with my expectations for a 4 Megapixel IP camera.

Here are the motion detection triggered videos recorded at the default settings:

There was no blurring of the video and there were no dropped frames.

Motion detection

The E1 Pro is able to do both pre-recording and post-recording. This means the camera is able to record not just what happens after motion was triggered but 5 seconds before the trigger as well. This is a great feature and something that I always look for in a security camera.

The post-record feature lets you decide how many seconds the camera should record after the last motion trigger. The default is 15 seconds.

Night vision

The 8 InfraRed LEDs placed around the lens in a ring pattern are reasonably powerful and can light up a decent sized room with no trouble.

There are no settings to control the brightness of the LEDs and there are no advanced features to dynamically control the infrared light output.

Audio quality

Just like the other Reolink indoor security cameras, the E1 Pro supports 2-way audio. Usually the implementation in most manufacturers’ native apps mutes the audio when you activate the microphone. In other words they have half-duplex audio, not full-duplex. Ideally to use the camera as an intercom, you need 2-way full duplex audio.

Interestingly Reolink has not claimed full duplex audio, but the Reolink app doesn’t mute the incoming audio when you press the microphone button. You can continue to hear what the person at the other end is saying when you are speaking. So the E1 Pro actually supports full duplex audio.

So how well does it work in practice? The audio quality is great and the dual speakers do a great job in reproducing audio. But there is a noticeable lag, however slight, in audio playback and this makes the full duplex capability less useful. We found ourselves using the Reolink E1 Pro more like a walkie-talkie just like the Amcrest ProHD cameras.

PT performance

If you are planning to use the E1 Pro as a baby monitor with 2-way audio, you will be interested in how much noise it makes while panning and zooming.

I was pleased to find that the E1 Pro just like the C1 Pro hardly makes a sound while starting up, panning or tilting. So it makes for a great baby monitor.

A long-standing issue I have seen in Reolink cameras is that the motion detection stays active even when you use the Pan-Tilt controls. This means the camera records a motion detection clip each time you use the PTZ controls. The E1 Pro is no different here and exhibits the same behaviour.

Wireless performance

The E1 Pro (just like the C2 Pro) boasts 2T2R MIMO antennae for improved wireless performance. So I moved the camera to the farthest point in my house to see how the Wi-Fi performed. Over both 2.4GHz and 5 GHz, the E1 Pro was stable and performed just as if it was connected over Ethernet.

Mobile app push notifications

So what should you be looking for when it comes to push notifications? The speed and reliability of the push notifications reaching you. You want the camera to send you push notifications immediately after it detects motion.

Especially if you have configured email alerts, SD card recording at 4 Megapixel recording and push notifications, inferior cameras may struggle with the workload.

The E1 Pro performed like a champ. Inside my local network I got push notifications on my phone instantaneously and on remote networks there was a delay of just 1 second which is very impressive. The success rate of receiving the push notifications over multiple motion triggers was a solid 100%.

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Verdict

The E1 Pro is a stylish yet budget-friendly DIY security camera that simply gets the job done. With its easy voice-guided setup, smart person detection, on-board microSD storage, built-in NVR feature, full duplex 2-way audio, push alerts and dual-band WiFi, the E1 Pro offers fantastic bang for the buck.

DIY enthusiasts will appreciate the availability of RTSP streams & ONVIF compliance which allows the E1 Pro to work with a DIY NAS NVR. Kudos to Reolink for supporting this feature even in this entry-level camera. But they may not be too happy about no web browser access and the max 4Mbps bitrate. Still that’s a small price to pay for this much value.

[review]

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Where to buy

(* = affiliate link / image source: Amazon Associates Program)

Having just recently compared Reolink and Lorex, let’s now throw in another popular DIY IP camera brand into the mix and compare them – Amcrest vs Lorex.

Reolink and Amcrest are similar in the type of products they market – good quality standalone IP cameras and NVRs that are ONVIF compliant and very affordable.

Lorex on the other hand has focused on selling NVR kits rather than IP cameras capable of standalone operation.

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Amcrest vs. Lorex – the Stories behind the Brands

Amcrest

Foscam US re-branded themselves as Amcrest Technologies in early 2016. Foscam US (Foscam Digital Technologies) used to be an independent distributor for the Chinese manufacturer/supplie 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 Foscam both in quality, reliability, support service levels, and reputation. They are still around though.

Amcrest mostly re-brands Dahua cameras.

Lorex

Lorex was founded in 1993 and has head offices in Markham, Ontario, Canada and in Linthicum, Maryland, USA. They have product warehouses in Markham, Indiana and California.

But first let’s start with the company FLIR, better known as the high-end camera manufacturer who revolutionized thermal imaging for the military and industrial markets. They acquired Lorex in 2012 for around $60 million seeking to lower the cost of thermal imaging and open it up to the retail market.

So for the next 6 years they tried to penetrate the DIY and SMB markets. During this period, their main OEM supplier was Dahua. In February 2018, however, FLIR exited the DIY security camera space by selling Lorex to Dahua. They currently operate as a subsidiary of Dahua. So think of Lorex as a Dahua brand.

8MP 4K IP Camera Duel – Amcrest (IP8M-2496EB) and Lorex LNB8111BW

So Amcrest rebrands Dahua and Lorex is Dahua. So this is looking more like Dahua vs. Dahua isn’t it? Well Amcrest and Lorex used to target different DIY consumers, but that gap is narrowing as we shall see.

I have opted to compare the most popular 8MP models from Amcrest (IP8M-2496EB) and Lorex (LNB8111BW). These are 4K cameras.

The Biggest Difference between Amcrest and Lorex IP Cameras

If you thought the answer is ONVIF support, you would have been right…. last year.

But all Lorex cameras now support ONVIF, so you can use them with any ONVIF-compatible NVR. So you can add them to a non-Lorex NVR or to a DIY NAS NVR system.

Amcrest has always supported ONVIF.

So what is the biggest difference between Amcrest and Lorex? Amcrest IP cameras are capable of standalone independent operation without an NVR, wheras Lorex IP cameras cannot.

Amcrest has always made cameras that are capable of standalone operation. This means you do not need an NVR to make the camera work. That’s right they have the built-in NVR functionality just like Hikvision, Dahua and Reolink do. They can also detect motion, record video clips to a microSD card, send email and push notifications, even upload to an FTP server.

Lorex cameras cannot do any of this. Without an NVR or another device (like a NAS) to store the video, there’s no point in buying one. Now if you are going to use an NVR anyway, this is not an issue for you. Also since they have ONVIF support, they should theoretically work with any ONVIF-compliant NVR. Not just Lorex ones.

Hardware features

Both the Amcrest and Lorex cameras have a nice large 1/2.5″ progressive scan CMOS sensor. This is even better than Reolink’s which has a slightly smaller 1/2.7″ sensor. The Lorex uses a Sony Exmor R CMOS sensor whereas the Amcrest uses a Sony Starvis CMOS sensor.

The size of the sensor has a huge bearing on the low light ability of a camera. The larger the sensor, the greater its ability to gather light and so do well in low light conditions. But as you cram in more and more pixels into the same size sensor, they get smaller and smaller, which adds noise. Noise is the bane of low light video and reduces the detail that you can get out of your video. So while security camera manufacturers have pushed pixel count from 2MP to 5MP and beyond, most have not really increased the sensor size.

The Amcrest has a substantially wider viewing angle of 112° vs. the Lorex’s 88° angle of view.

On to low light performance. While most IP cameras are good in daylight, night-time performance is what separates the men from the boys. The Lorex sports colour night vision – this is a very interesting feature and does set the Lorex brand apart. However be aware that the camera will switch back to black & white IR night vision below 1 lux to ‘ensure optimal low-light image quality’ as Lorex puts it.

The Amcrest camera has only standard black and white infrared night vision. But the minimum illumination required is impressive, 0.06Lux without IR and 0Lux with IR on. The IR range is also 40 feet more than that of the Lorex.

Neither camera has special features such as PIR motion sensors, audio, or alarm connections. But the Amcrest does have a microSD card slot and the built-in NVR feature.

Software features

When it comes to video encoding, both cameras support the highly desirable H.265 option for lowering bandwidth usage and generating smaller video file sizes.

Next up is WDR or Wide Dynamic Range. This is a feature that enhances the level of detail an IP camera can pick out in shadows. Amcrest supports 120dB WDR. Lorex doesn’t have WDR, but instead claims High Dynamic Range (HDR) support. While I doubt they are comparable, it is better than nothing.

The three software features that make a great IP camera are ONVIF/RTSP support, built-in NVR feature, and the advanced motion detection features that help reduce false alerts.

Here, the main differences between the Amcrest and the Lorex are that:

• Amcrest has the built-in NVR feature, as it is capable of standalone operation, but Lorex doesn’t.
• Both Amcrest and Lorex have only basic motion detection but the Lorex can work only when it’s connected to an NVR.

Motion Detection ability

Neither camera has advanced motion detection methods which go a long way in reducing reducing false motion alerts.

Warranty

Lorex has a 2 year warranty as standard, but can be extended to 3 years or 5 years for an extra fee.

Amcrest has only a 1 year warranty as standard, but promises lifetime support.

Here’s a summary of all the differences in a nice and easy table:

Verdict

Lorex cameras are basically Dahuas that are locked down. You can still add them to any NVR that supports ONVIF. It has all the basic hardware features that you would expect and has colour night vision and HDR also. But they still are not as capable as Amcrest cameras. Lorex cameras are not an option if you want a standalone IP camera that can operate without an NVR.

So I would recommend Amcrest instead. Now if the Amcrest doesn’t meet your specific requirements, just opt for a Dahua IP camera. Simples.

For IP cameras that are capable of standalone operation and designed for DIY security camera fans, check out the other recommendations on our best outdoor IP cameras list and best indoor IP cameras list.

Where to buy

• Amcrest IP8M-2496EB at [easyazon_link identifier=”B07C7W91YR” locale=”US” tag=”vueville.com-eaz-20″]Amazon[/easyazon_link]
• Lorex LNB8111BW at [easyazon_link identifier=”B077PC2R3C” locale=”US” tag=”vueville.com-eaz-20″]Amazon[/easyazon_link]

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