Lorex Security Cameras Review – Powerful Cameras

Lorex has been around for a long time. This huge Canadian brand started in 1991 and is still going strong after more than thirty years. How did they stay a top company for so long that they made security gear? They don’t just do nothing. Lorex is always changing and coming up with new products and cutting-edge ways to use security cameras.

Lorex has come out with a number of new 2K and 4K outdoor cameras in the past six months, some of which have smart security lighting. There’s no need for complicated wiring with some of these new cameras because they run on batteries. Others come with smart features like the ability to find people and even send alerts based on AI. One great thing about Lorex is that it is always coming up with new ideas. Its cameras might not look as sleek as some other security cameras on the market, but they have cutting-edge technology inside.

There are some problems with these cameras that make them less than perfect for security. By going through the whole Lorex experience, you’ll find out how the cameras compare to their main rivals, which are the DIY favorite Ring cameras over the years. You’ll also get the best tips on how to buy, install, set up, and live with Lorex cameras. There are lots of surprises in my blog post.

Lorex Outdoor Security Cameras

Lorex Security Cameras: Packaging and Design

Lorex sells a wide variety of security cameras. Its website has a huge selection of Wi-Fi cameras, digital IP cameras, wireless cameras, and even old-fashioned analog cameras. There are also a lot of packages that come with cameras, recorders, and extras like Ethernet and coaxial cables for connecting the cameras. Lorex is a company that focuses on security, but its services are very different from ADT’s more traditional home monitoring plans. For sure.

Lorex makes a lot of different cameras with different features. One of these is a 4K spotlight camera that has what looks like an LED smiley face on it. Its eyes are like spotlights, and right below them is a color-changing LED that looks like a smile to add to its cuteness. That’s different.

Lorex makes a wide range of products with different features. These include 4K, 8-channel NVR security systems, wire-free floodlight and spotlight models, as well as bullet-shaped outdoor models and dome models for indoor use. This line-up from Lorex is very big, so there should be something for everyone.

Lorex also has a helpful guide for people who are new to their cameras that can help you choose. First, you’ll pick a camera from one of four main groups: IP cameras, analog cameras, Wi-Fi cameras, and wire-free cameras.

What to Expect From Lorex

This review is about the Lorex Smart Wi-Fi indoor security camera and the Smart Outdoor Wi-Fi camera. As you might guess from their names, both are Wi-Fi cameras. As you watch your pets, kids, and anything that goes bump in the night, these cameras will give you a sense of how they would work inside and outside your home. You’ll also find out what makes their cameras different from others, even the less well-known YI/Kami security cameras.

Unboxing and Setting Up Lorex

Step one in setting up a security camera is pretty simple: open the box and take out the contents. Luckily, Lorex’s gear isn’t hard to use or complicated. Almost everything is ready to go. The only things left are to screw in some mounting hardware attachments and tame a couple of power cords. Additionally, if you don’t like cords, Lorex makes Power over Ethernet cameras that connect to the internet and run on batteries, as well as wire-free cameras that don’t need any.

Going back, the next thing you need to do is get the Lorex app for your camera. The Lorex brand includes three: the Lorex Cirrus, the Lorex Home, and the Lorex Cloud. There are actually more than three apps, but these three work best with Lorex’s current line. Which one, though, works best with your camera? You can find the answer in the guide.

It shouldn’t take more than a few more clicks and about 10 minutes to get up and running after the app reads the QR codes on your cameras and starts the sync process. Once that’s done, you can start setting up the camera installation process.

Performance and Features

First, let us talk about what we know about the Lorex outdoor camera. The Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Camera really works outside and is one of the toughest ones on the market. How rough? The rating is IP65. That means it doesn’t let any dust in and can handle low-pressure water jets. Additionally, it can handle temperatures as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit and as low as 22 degrees Fahrenheit. For the most part, this camera will work in any weather.

Not only is the smart Wi-Fi outdoor camera tough, but it also looks good. The camera makes it seem like you care about keeping your home secure. Not too big, but kind of like the security cameras you see in banks. Of course, the screws that hold it in place make it look even tougher. The Lorex Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor camera isn’t like most cameras I see these days, which have magnetic mounts. It would be hard for thieves to knock it off its stand.

As with most of the best outdoor cameras, picking a spot is usually the part that takes the most time. After that, it’s just a matter of attaching the plate or stand, drilling in a few screws, and adjusting the camera to the angle you want. You should be patient, because this might take a few tries.

It is possible to plug the Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor into a wall outlet. While it does connect to Wi-Fi, this camera is not truly wireless, as it still needs a power cord. Finding a good place to put the camera is important. It should be within 20 feet of a wall outlet at the very least, since it comes with a 10-foot power cord and a 10-foot USB extension cord.

It’s best to put this kind of camera in a high corner, on a ceiling, or on a wall. Setting up a camera can be like figuring out where to put a light fixture or that weird wedding gift from your great aunt. It takes a lot of trial and error. You might have to go back and forth a few times, but you’ll quickly find the right angle. Take this advice: Keep your phone close by so you can use the app to see how the video looks. You don’t want to miss a blind spot, after all.

Image Resolution

Most of the time, you should be able to see this camera in full 1080p HD resolution if you take a step back and look around. There were no problems with my Wi-Fi or recordings that took too long to play, so the technology worked well all day and night. Having said that, if your internet connection can handle it, videos from Lorex 4K cameras are much clearer. They have four times as many pixels as 1080p cameras, so you can zoom in several times and still see the videos clearly.

After that, it’s a good idea to look around the app. This is when you can change your outdoor camera’s default setting from HD to SD if you’re worried about how much it will use your Wi-Fi. It’s great that this is a spotlight camera because it will shine a nice light on parts of your yard that aren’t really lit up.

Motion Sensitivity

It was clear that the Lorex motion sensitivity feature would be needed after testing this camera over and over again. Like most wireless cameras on the market today, these cameras are sensitive. You can also choose what kinds of motion the camera will record.

This is another way to cut down on alerts you don’t want. This shared feature adds another level of control to motion detection. Sensitivity sliders aren’t new or revolutionary in security cameras; You can learn a lot about how security cameras work in different places and situations by adjusting their sensitivity. This is true, no matter what brand you have.

Sound Detection

The sound detection feature from Lorex was another example of how much control this camera gives you. For instance, living in a busy area may not warrant you receiving notifications every time a car passes by. But would you want to know in the middle of the night if a book fell off a table in your Lobby area? Of course!

Lorex Indoor Security Cameras

It’s pretty easy to use the Lorex indoor cam. It looks like a raindrop (or a wayfinding sign, if you’re feeling fancy). Made to be light and thin, it doesn’t look scary and blends well with most home decor. The only problem is the long, bulky power cord that comes with it; it’s always nice to have a battery option so you don’t have to deal with wires. But for more ideas, you can read our full list of the best cameras that run on batteries.

Since these cameras plug in, you should put them somewhere close to a power outlet that works.

There are many times when this kind of camera would be useful. For example, if your kids ever have to go to school from home again, and you can’t be in two places at once… Some of these Lorex cameras will be useful around the house to do some of the hard work. Maybe even three.

Person Detection

Like the outdoor Lorex, the indoor cam can detect people, which isn’t always the case with indoor cameras. Usually, outdoor models are the only ones that can detect specific things like people, animals, or vehicles. So, it’s a good step ahead of some of the best indoor cameras on the market. But keep in mind that these days, more and more cameras are adding their own take on person detection. One example is the brand new Nest Cam battery, which is similar to the Nest Cam IQ that we previously reviewed.

Smart Home Integration with Alexa

Say, “Alexa, show me my gym!” Oooo, the voice home with automations. 😍 Love this baby. Where is the door baby. 😂🤣

You can use Lorex cameras with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to display cameras during voice commands, but there are a few things you should be aware of. (See our full home automation guide for the most up-to-date information on smart home devices.)

It wasn’t too hard to get both of Lorex cams to stream to our Amazon Echo Show for smart home automation. Was it as simple as setting up a Ring camera that Amazon owns to work this way? Not quite. You do need to search for the Lorex skill in your Alexa app and connect the accounts. This took you less than four minutes. That must be a good use of time, right?

Of course, if you really like Alexa, a brand like Blink might be better for you. As I said in my hands-on review of the Blink camera, these cameras are one of the easiest to set up with Alexa because they are owned by Amazon.

Lorex Monitoring and Storage Options

With Lorex, it’s pretty easy to keep an eye on and save the recordings from your cameras. How easy is it to use compared to the hidden Google Nest Cams? Not at all, especially since there is no way for professional monitoring. That’s not Lorex’s strong suit, but they are great for keeping an eye on your own property.

It’s pretty simple to set up cloud recording for video storage. If you have the right cameras and apps, The cameras we reviewed worked well with the Lorex cloud app, which was great. In that case, you will need either a microSD card or an NVR if you end up with Lorex cameras that don’t have cloud storage. That’s not always a bad thing, though.

While local recording has its flaws, I’ve found that with Lorex, you can always count on one thing: not having to worry about monthly fees to store all of those recordings in your timeline. Most of the cameras we’ve reviewed have used subscriptions as their standard model, so Lorex is a nice change from the norm.

So, if you want a camera system with a really great monitoring package, you might want to look at Canary. Read my full review of the Canary Pro Cams to find out more.

Plus, there’s more good news: the Lorex cameras came with a microSD card built right in for local storage. This meant that once you were done setting up the camera, you could use all of its features right away and for free. This is the plus point, and you will really like that!

Pricing and Packages: Lorex

Thanks to their DVR and NVR5 camera systems, Lorex has been getting a lot of praise for their 4K Ultra HD camera packages over the years. It seems like their Wi-Fi cameras, especially the two we reviewed, are becoming more popular as well.

Since it only cost $39.99, the Lorex indoor camera got bonus points for being cheap. There is a sale going on right now at Lorex, where you can get the outdoor version for just $80.

Of course, keep in mind that those are only two of a huge number of cameras. (Check out our in-depth security system comparison guide for more help choosing the right home security gear for you.)

But above all else, it’s important to remember that the brand’s main product is surveillance camera systems. We’ve published the prices for Lorex cameras below, but keep in mind that the exact prices will depend on how many cameras you need.

Conclusion

These little things have a lot of power! With a set of Lorex cameras manning the station, we felt safe and sure. During the day, they provide clear images even in the rainstorms. At night, when the camera’s night vision kicks in, you’ll see consistently good images. With the active-deterrence light on the outdoor camera, the whole thing should work pretty well, either as part of a larger Lorex camera system or as a couple of handy cameras to keep around.

We notices some problems with Lorex. There were too many options, and it was a little disappointing to learn that not all of Lorex’s apps can store videos in the cloud. If you want to store a lot of video in the cloud, you do need to be careful.

In conclusion, There are numerous ways to customize Lorex cameras, making them ideal for individuals who enjoy tinkering with their technology to tailor it to their preferences.

If you want a more hands-off and intuitive way to protect your home, you can always use Cove, which is just as easy to use as SimpliSafe.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Content Creation Process and Resources

1. General Security. (2020, April 6). NVR vs. DVR Surveillance Systems. https://www.gensecurity.com/blog/nvr-vs-dvr-surveillance-systems
2. Lorex. (2021). App Compatibility. https://www.lorextechnology.com/apps-software
3. Lorex. (2021). Specs, models, reviews, discussion and informational data. https://www.lorex.com