Lorex Security Camera Systems: Indoor, Outdoor and Wireless 4k Options

Lorex does cameras, plain and simple. Established in 1991, Lorex Technology1 is one of the mainstays of the security marketplace, with a massive selection of reasonably priced, tough-as-nails surveillance equipment that caters to specific needs for homes and businesses. We’ve tested Lorex ourselves, but today we’re going to look at their packages, plans, and pricing.

Just a heads up, though, Lorex isn’t the easiest brand to decipher. It offers hundreds of different cameras, systems, DVRs, and NVRs, not to mention bundles and special deals.

Fortunately, Lorex grouped its cameras into four categories: IP cameras, Analog cameras, Wire-Free cameras, and Wi-Fi cameras. From there, you can sort through each category based on features, such as the resolution (1080p HD to 4K), panning and zooming abilities, and even smart home integrations.

Lorex Packaging

Clearly, there’s lots of great info to unpack here. To get started, here’s a quick list of key features we found in many Lorex cameras:

• At least 1080p HD video quality (up to 4K in some models)
• Long-range color and infrared night vision
• Scalable systems with lots of equipment sets
• Smooth app experience
• No contracts or monthly fees
• Long history in the home security industry
• Smart home compatibility
• Smart motion detection

Lorex Camera Equipment Options

Getting to know Lorex’s product selection2 can be interesting, as the brand is continuously adding new cameras to their lineup and expanding the features within them. This is compounded by some inconsistencies in the brand’s pricing; you might find three or four different prices for the same camera, depending on where it’s sold. That’s not entirely bad news though, since you can shop around and find the cheapest option or best deals available.

But above all that, in our Lorex camera review, we still found Lorex’s equipment prices to be quite reasonable. For starters, their line of smart Wi-Fi 1080p cameras, including an indoor model for less than $50 and a rugged outdoor model for less than $130, both align well with mid-range pricing for cameras in those categories.

Let’s dig into those two cameras for a moment, followed by a broader, category-by-category pricing breakdown of Lorex cameras.

Lorex Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera

Lorex Outdoor Camera Installed

Lorex is long known for making rugged, weatherproof outdoor systems like the ones you might be accustomed to seeing outside of retail stores or on traffic lights. But for single-family homeowners like us, this style doesn’t blend quite as well with our home’s decor. Lorex appears to have answered this quandary with the Smart Outdoor Wi-Fi security camera, which holds up against the toughest of elements but looks a bit sleeker and cleaner than Lorex’s earlier bullet-style models, and more discreet than, say, an outdoor Wi-Fi camera from Ezviz.

And, it has the added bonus of active deterrence lighting, similar to what we’ve seen in some of Ring’s cameras, like the Ring Floodlight Cam we reviewed. The LED is triggered by motion and instantly illuminates any scene and any suspicious characters in it. That proactive approach, combined with smart motion technology that distinguishes movement detected by either people or vehicles, both work to ensure your Lorex camera won’t miss crucial moments of activity, and neither will you.

And in a late-breaking discovery, we noted that this camera is also Lorex’s first Wi-Fi security camera with color night vision, adding yet another level of detail when you need it most. Bear in mind that Lorex also has power-over-Ethernet (PoE) cameras with color night vision, so if that’s what you’re after, know that you have options.

Lorex Outdoor Camera Night Vision

One word of warning: This camera runs on Wi-Fi, but it still requires a power cord to work. This could affect your installation, but just remember that with plug-in cameras, you won’t have to climb up and replace or recharge batteries. What’s more, the camera includes a 32 GB micro SD card3 for local storage.

Note that prices range from $130 to $150 for a standalone Lorex Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera, which is impressive when you consider everything it offers.

Lorex Indoor Wi-Fi Camera

Lorex Indoor Camera

Like its outdoor sibling, we learned that our Lorex indoor cam includes person detection, which is not entirely common in even the industry’s best indoor cameras. In our experience, detection of specific objects, like animals, people, or vehicles, is typically reserved for outdoor models.

So right away, we knew the tech on this camera was going to be top-notch. With lightweight construction and an attractive teardrop style (or hockey puck, if you’re feeling sporty), this device complemented our living room decor quite well. That, and its simple plug-and-play setup allowed for easy relocation depending on where we needed it most.

And speaking of simple, Lorex Indoor also has a magnetic mounting option. If you’ve got a suitable metal surface, you can bend the base 180 degrees for easy, hassle-free vertical placement and you’ll get a strong, secure setup without drilling a single hole. The only caveat to this is that you still need to have it plugged in, so again, this might limit your placement choices.

For all of this convenience and flexibility, we think pricing for Lorex Indoor is surprisingly low. It retails for $39.99, but more often than not, we’ve seen it at discounted prices of up to 20% off retail. (We’ll explore Lorex’s deals and discounts in more detail in a few.) And just so you know, it has a slightly more expensive sibling with all of the same features plus an upgraded 2K HD resolution. The 2K HD version retails for $49.99, and it’s worth considering if you’re interested in capturing clearer and more cinematic footage.

Lorex Pricing Breakdown

Lorex Video Storage Options

There’s a no-strings-attached philosophy that runs through Lorex, and we found it as soon as we brought our cameras home and set them up. Beyond upfront costs for the equipment – most of which is quite reasonable – we didn’t have to spend a penny more on subscriptions, monitoring, or any other monthly fees to use the cameras every day. For folks who are trying to limit monthly expenses – and who isn’t? – we can say that Lorex has much to offer.

Unlike a great number of security brands we’ve interacted with, though, it’s important to remember that Lorex does not have cloud storage options, professional monitoring,4 or monthly subscriptions.

On-site video storage is the most common storage option for Lorex cameras. Most of its analog and digital IP cameras rely on NVRs and DVRs, which are computer boxes that house a hard drive for storage. Lorex DVRs and NVRs typically have a 500 GB to 1 TB capacity, but most of them are upgradeable with additional hard drives. On the other hand, most Wi-Fi cameras have slots for a microSD card for on-board storage.

Local, on-site video storage has pros and cons. The biggest pro is you don’t have to pay a monthly fee. Buy the equipment, set it up, and you’re good for years. The downside, though, is the lack of video backup. Since your videos are stored locally, you could lose them if there’s a fire, theft, or due to damage. Not to mention, over time, hard drives deteriorate, so you run the risk of having corrupted files. That’s why we recommend backing up your videos to a personal cloud if you decide on a local storage option. Some DVRs and NVRs can be configured to automatically backup to a personal cloud server via file transfer protocol (FTP).

Lorex: A Look at Features and Tech

Lorex Indoor Camera and Box

Though features and tech vary among the many Lorex cameras and systems, they all do one thing quite well — deliver clear high-definition video, from 1080p all the way up to 4K.5

Rounding this out, however, are a number of key features that you’ll want to be aware of before you buy a Lorex camera. Check out our chart below:

Snapshot of Lorex Features and Tech

Mobile Alerts	Using any one of Lorex’s three mobile apps, you’ll be notified when one of your cameras is triggered, allowing you to open up the app and view a clip of the motion within a few seconds.
Person Detection	Lorex’s smart Wi-Fi cameras can distinguish human motion from other types of motion like cars, and you’ll be notified via mobile alerts right away. With this feature, you’ll have up-to-the-second insight into what’s going on around your property.
Surveillance Cameras	Lorex became a big player in the security industry with the success of their surveillance camera systems, ranging from the most basic to highly technical surveillance cameras used commonly by businesses.
DIY Installation	Since Lorex cameras and other components are wireless, they are also easy to install. Each Lorex camera comes with a self-installation kit that makes the process even easier.
Smart Home Options	Lorex communicates with most smart home technology, including Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. By linking accounts with those devices, you can pull up one or more of your camera displays using voice commands.
Two-Way Talk	Lorex offers two-way talk with most of their equipment, so you can remotely communicate with visitors, wanted and unwanted. Two-way talk has been touted as an effective crime deterrent.

Deals and Discounts on Lorex Cameras

Lorex frequently has markdowns of their cameras, including several Deals of the Day for individual cameras and some serious savings on bundles and packages. To help you narrow them down, we’ve included a sampling of can’t-miss deals on Lorex below. Note that these deals change often, but they can give you an idea of the savings in store if you know where and when to look for deals.

• Deal of the Day: 32-Channel NVR System with 16 4K (8 MP) nocturnal varifocal zoom IP cameras and 250-foot night vision for just under $3,000, a $1,000 savings.
• Deal of the Day: 4K Ultra HD active deterrence dome security camera for $99.99, a savings of $40.
• Deal of the Day: 4K Ultra HD bullet security camera with 135-foot color night vision for $49.99, a $40 discount.
• Save up to $250 on Lorex NVR boxes, including the 16-Channel 4K Security NVR with Active Deterrence Compatibility and 4TB Hard Drive for $349.99 (originally $599.99)
• Father’s Day Sale: Save up to $1,300 on Lorex products, including a 32-channel DVR system originally priced at $7,999, now available for $5,999.
• Black Friday Sale: Cameras marked down up to 50 percent off MSRP (but not guaranteed!).

For folks who might be buying security cameras for the first time, Lorex’s 4-camera, 8-channel NVR systems have served as a great starter package. And at a rolling sale price of $249.99, you might consider making that leap. We recommend keeping a lookout for percentage-off and dollar-off discounts all year long. Also look for camera package deals and bundle promotions offered by Lorex. You can start by checking our updated roundup of Lorex’s best sales and deals here.

Final Thoughts: Is Lorex the Camera for You?

We’ve been ranking Lorex’s cameras consistently high in both equipment and features for a while now, but more recently, we paid close attention to how this brand stacks up when it comes to value. Beyond upfront costs for the equipment, we didn’t have to worry about monthly subscription fees, which is always a bonus. So we definitely think Lorex is a safe bet for the budget-conscious buyers out there.

Lorex Cameras

What’s noteworthy for us about Lorex’s no-strings-attached, set-it-and-forget-it model is that it’s somewhat rare. In an industry dominated by subscription models and service agreements, we appreciate that with Lorex, your financial responsibility ends when you buy the equipment.

And about that equipment … as large as Lorex is, the equipment selection can be a bit intimidating. We really like Lorex cameras, and we left the experience with very few complaints. But to really determine whether Lorex cameras are right for you, we’d encourage you to consider what your indoor security needs are.

Do you need a nanny cam? Are you looking for something discreet, that blends in with your decor and can be placed on a surface? Or perhaps an additional set of eyes to watch over the younger members of the household – and occasionally the four-legged ones, too? To help you here, we’ve created a guide on How to Choose a Home Security System.

We’ll leave you with one word of advice: If you really just want to buy quality security cameras without any further financial responsibility, Lorex is likely the brand for you.

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