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There are a lot of Wi-Fi security camera systems on the market in Australia these days and you could be forgiven for not knowing the ins and outs of every single brand. For me, it was Lorex, a brand I had seen around but never really looked at very closely.
When Lorex reached out to review some of their Wi-Fi security cameras, I was sceptical. However, they are available at Officeworks (and Amazon AU), and they look impressive in the pictures, so I figured, why not? After all, it is our job to convey our thoughts on tech products to you, the potential customers.
Lorex offers an extensive range of IP cameras, but they require a lot of setup and wiring in your house, so they are a bit ‘too much like hard work’ for most of us. Their Wi-Fi camera options, though, are, and you can bet there will be more coming in the future based on their IP offerings.
Lorex sent me their 4K Indoor/Outdoor Spotlight WiFi Camera White and the 2K Indoor WiFi Security Camera White and while I appreciate the descriptive names, they are a mouthful, especially when I’m going to be writing them over and over again here.
As you may have guessed, the Lorex 4K Outdoor Camera (what I’m calling it from here on) delivers 4K resolution across a 140-degree field of view, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, two-way talk, colour night vision and is IP65 weather resistant.
When reviewing this camera, I placed it side by side with my Ring Spotlight Cam Pro security camera to see how the Lorex camera compared to my go-to brand, Ring.
In the Lorex 4K Outdoor camera box, you get everything you need to mount it wherever you want. There is a mounting template, mounting bracket and plate, power adapter, wrench, screws and cable clips and a microSD card.
Mounting the camera was super simple. Those who are a bit more careful than I may use the template but I just stuck the bracket up on the frame of my alfresco and drilled holes in the frame through the bracket holes – if I was drilling into brick I dare say I would have used the template because the drilling will take a lot longer.
Anyway, drilled the holes, screwed in the mounting plate and attached the mounting bracket with the camera attached. The mounting of the camera onto the bracket was probably just a bit too easy – someone could easily steal the camera if they could reach it.
The app is also super simple to use. Open it up and add a camera with the plus button. Choose the camera you are installing, scan the QR code on the camera with the app, and it will create a Wi-Fi connection between the Lorex camera and your smartphone. Follow the instructions to connect the Lorex camera to your home Wi-Fi and you are good to go.
The Lorex app does not seem to walk you through all the settings as well as the Ring app does, but you can easily go through one at a time to set up all the motion zones, notification types, and more just how you like it.
Now, the camera design includes a permanently attached power cable that is plugged into an USB-C power adapter and I didn’t love this. Not the USB-C adapter, but the permanently connected power cable. There is no way to shorten the cable unless you just wind it all up and secure it using a clip.
My power socket is right next to where I mounted the camera, so it would have been nice to be able to attach my own length USB cable, instead of this approximately 5m cable already there. The attached cable is not thin either, so it is very bulky.
At this stage, there aren’t any Lorex-branded solar panels you can buy to power these outdoor cameras. If I were to replace my outdoor Ring cameras with them, I’d need solar panels as I currently have because I don’t have power points anywhere near the camera locations. According to Lorex, any solar panel with a USB-C output connection can be used to power the cameras.
The problem is that the Lorex camera has a non-removable USB-C cable exiting it, which needs to be plugged into a female USB-C socket. All solar panels I’ve found have a male USB-C cable output. If you find one that I can plug the Lorex camera into, let me know.
Obviously the Lorex 4K Outdoor camera offers 4K quality video recording, while the Ring camera next to it has only recently been upgraded to 2K. Is there much difference between the quality of the recordings? Yes. A lot.
As you can see in the snapshots captured by the two cameras, the difference in quality is night and day. The Lorex camera offers such amazing detail that you can read the label on the t-shirt and make out facial features in a lot more detail. When it comes to the security of your property, it is obviously a lot better to be able to view an intruder’s face in greater detail.
The improved optics in the camera also improved night vision. The detail makes a massive difference, whether it’s night or day.
The problem with the greater 4K detail, though, is that it uses a lot more data to transfer and store the videos and screenshots. The 32GB microSD card included in the Lorex camera’s box will be used up very quickly when recording at this resolution. It will just overwrite the oldest videos when it gets full, and it seemed to take a few weeks for that to occur for me.
The solution is to install a larger microSD card – up to 256GB is supported, although I dare say bigger ones will ‘unofficially’ work and/or to pay for their cloud storage subscription, which offers unlimited 4K storage for up to 30 days. One more option is to purchase one of the Lorex network video recorders (2TB) to store it all locally – no need for the cloud at all.
The Lorex 2K Indoor camera is cheap, so you can stick it anywhere and everywhere. That said, the camera is still really good.
The 2K resolution is still better than most other companies’ cheaper Wi-Fi cameras with the improved detail really making a difference, especially when the subject is not all that close to the camera.
Zooming in works well, and still offers some detail of the face. I would much prefer 4K again, especially given the difference I noticed in the outdoor cameras, but I dare say that would double the price, making it less attractive to stick everywhere.
Lorex does offer an indoor 4K Wi-Fi camera in the US, and that is twice the price (at its current sale price) of the 2K version that we have here. 2K is all most people need, and 4K might be overdoing it, considering that intruders are normally as far from the camera as they would be for an outdoor camera.
The Lorex 2K indoor camera’s night vision is exceptional, with quite a bit of detail visible. Even when the room is fully dark (for example, at 5 a.m.), intruders, people, and dogs can be easily seen, and their detail is quite good. To be honest, I am very impressed with its quality.
The app offers easy setup of not just the camera connection but also the features. At this stage, the app reflects many of its US-based options, such as prices, but an update is on the way to localise it for Aussies.
The app has sections that make it at first seem like there aren’t many options to change but dig a bit deeper into each section and you’ll find quite a few of the normal settings we see in security camera apps.
Open Motion Detection Settings, and you’ll find the Lorex Smart Detection Settings, where you can decide if you want video recording and notifications for certain types of motion detection, such as person, vehicle, animal, or package detection. I turned off animal detection because I didn’t want a notification every single time one of our doggos sped past the camera.
These smart detection features use “In-Camera Edge AI technology that provides advanced detection algorithms that can recognize different objects including cars, packages, pets, and people. All of this is contained within the camera itself and not sent to a cloud server for analysis, which means your detection data stays with you.”
For each type of motion detection mentioned above, you can alter the zone from which each detection is taken. This allows you to have a different area for vehicle detection than that for person detection. It’s handy and something I have not seen before.
The Lorex app will also allow for sound detection which is handy for things such as windows breaking etc. Turn it on and set the sound sensitivity in decibels for when you want to be notified if a sound is detected above that threshold.
I have the sound detection set for the default of 70dB but this threshold seems to be reached far too easily with random noises outside – that do not seem very loud at all. I suggest playing with this level a bit until you can find the sweet spot of the noise level you want. Some camera brands are able to detect the actual sound of breaking glass using their smarts – Lorex does not do this at this stage.
The cameras may be 4K and 2K but you can lower the quality of the video if your network or storage size cannot cope with the increased resolution.
Auto Night Vision is what allows such good detail in extremely low light conditions – but keep in mind that turning this on forces the camera OUT of colour mode with only greyscale video possible.
The cameras also offer quick responses such as ‘no thank you’, how can I help you’ and more.
Home and away mode is great because it means you can have notifications automatically disabled if you are home or just about home. I wish I was able to set an area smaller than 500m for my ‘Home’ but it is something to keep in mind if you are nearby but still want notifications etc.
A big advantage of the Lorex Wi-Fi camera system is the local storage options. You can use the microSD cards that come with the cameras or purchase bigger ones yourself. If you have multiple cameras I would consider purchasing something like the NVR for 5 – you can connect up to 8 Wi-Fi (and 8 wired cameras) cameras to it (I’m not sure why only 8 but maybe Lorex will offer a bigger version eventually – there is a 4TB and 16 Wi-Fi camera version available in the US so….)
This solution allows you to store 2TB of video on it before it is overwritten. I would choose this option if I were setting up multiple cameras throughout my house and yard.
If you also prefer the security of off-site storage, Lorex offers a cloud storage solution at US
Mounting the camera was super simple. Those who are a bit more careful than I may use the template but I just stuck the bracket up on the frame of my alfresco and drilled holes in the frame through the bracket holes – if I was drilling into brick I dare say I would have used the template because the drilling will take a lot longer.
Anyway, drilled the holes, screwed in the mounting plate and attached the mounting bracket with the camera attached. The mounting of the camera onto the bracket was probably just a bit too easy – someone could easily steal the camera if they could reach it.
The app is also super simple to use. Open it up and add a camera with the plus button. Choose the camera you are installing, scan the QR code on the camera with the app, and it will create a Wi-Fi connection between the Lorex camera and your smartphone. Follow the instructions to connect the Lorex camera to your home Wi-Fi and you are good to go.
The Lorex app does not seem to walk you through all the settings as well as the Ring app does, but you can easily go through one at a time to set up all the motion zones, notification types, and more just how you like it.
Now, the camera design includes a permanently attached power cable that is plugged into an USB-C power adapter and I didn’t love this. Not the USB-C adapter, but the permanently connected power cable. There is no way to shorten the cable unless you just wind it all up and secure it using a clip.
My power socket is right next to where I mounted the camera, so it would have been nice to be able to attach my own length USB cable, instead of this approximately 5m cable already there. The attached cable is not thin either, so it is very bulky.
At this stage, there aren’t any Lorex-branded solar panels you can buy to power these outdoor cameras. If I were to replace my outdoor Ring cameras with them, I’d need solar panels as I currently have because I don’t have power points anywhere near the camera locations. According to Lorex, any solar panel with a USB-C output connection can be used to power the cameras.
The problem is that the Lorex camera has a non-removable USB-C cable exiting it, which needs to be plugged into a female USB-C socket. All solar panels I’ve found have a male USB-C cable output. If you find one that I can plug the Lorex camera into, let me know.
Obviously the Lorex 4K Outdoor camera offers 4K quality video recording, while the Ring camera next to it has only recently been upgraded to 2K. Is there much difference between the quality of the recordings? Yes. A lot.
As you can see in the snapshots captured by the two cameras, the difference in quality is night and day. The Lorex camera offers such amazing detail that you can read the label on the t-shirt and make out facial features in a lot more detail. When it comes to the security of your property, it is obviously a lot better to be able to view an intruder’s face in greater detail.
The improved optics in the camera also improved night vision. The detail makes a massive difference, whether it’s night or day.
The problem with the greater 4K detail, though, is that it uses a lot more data to transfer and store the videos and screenshots. The 32GB microSD card included in the Lorex camera’s box will be used up very quickly when recording at this resolution. It will just overwrite the oldest videos when it gets full, and it seemed to take a few weeks for that to occur for me.
The solution is to install a larger microSD card – up to 256GB is supported, although I dare say bigger ones will ‘unofficially’ work and/or to pay for their cloud storage subscription, which offers unlimited 4K storage for up to 30 days. One more option is to purchase one of the Lorex network video recorders (2TB) to store it all locally – no need for the cloud at all.
The Lorex 2K Indoor camera is cheap, so you can stick it anywhere and everywhere. That said, the camera is still really good.
The 2K resolution is still better than most other companies’ cheaper Wi-Fi cameras with the improved detail really making a difference, especially when the subject is not all that close to the camera.
Zooming in works well, and still offers some detail of the face. I would much prefer 4K again, especially given the difference I noticed in the outdoor cameras, but I dare say that would double the price, making it less attractive to stick everywhere.
Lorex does offer an indoor 4K Wi-Fi camera in the US, and that is twice the price (at its current sale price) of the 2K version that we have here. 2K is all most people need, and 4K might be overdoing it, considering that intruders are normally as far from the camera as they would be for an outdoor camera.
The Lorex 2K indoor camera’s night vision is exceptional, with quite a bit of detail visible. Even when the room is fully dark (for example, at 5 a.m.), intruders, people, and dogs can be easily seen, and their detail is quite good. To be honest, I am very impressed with its quality.
The app offers easy setup of not just the camera connection but also the features. At this stage, the app reflects many of its US-based options, such as prices, but an update is on the way to localise it for Aussies.
The app has sections that make it at first seem like there aren’t many options to change but dig a bit deeper into each section and you’ll find quite a few of the normal settings we see in security camera apps.
Open Motion Detection Settings, and you’ll find the Lorex Smart Detection Settings, where you can decide if you want video recording and notifications for certain types of motion detection, such as person, vehicle, animal, or package detection. I turned off animal detection because I didn’t want a notification every single time one of our doggos sped past the camera.
These smart detection features use “In-Camera Edge AI technology that provides advanced detection algorithms that can recognize different objects including cars, packages, pets, and people. All of this is contained within the camera itself and not sent to a cloud server for analysis, which means your detection data stays with you.”
For each type of motion detection mentioned above, you can alter the zone from which each detection is taken. This allows you to have a different area for vehicle detection than that for person detection. It’s handy and something I have not seen before.
The Lorex app will also allow for sound detection which is handy for things such as windows breaking etc. Turn it on and set the sound sensitivity in decibels for when you want to be notified if a sound is detected above that threshold.
I have the sound detection set for the default of 70dB but this threshold seems to be reached far too easily with random noises outside – that do not seem very loud at all. I suggest playing with this level a bit until you can find the sweet spot of the noise level you want. Some camera brands are able to detect the actual sound of breaking glass using their smarts – Lorex does not do this at this stage.
The cameras may be 4K and 2K but you can lower the quality of the video if your network or storage size cannot cope with the increased resolution.
Auto Night Vision is what allows such good detail in extremely low light conditions – but keep in mind that turning this on forces the camera OUT of colour mode with only greyscale video possible.
The cameras also offer quick responses such as ‘no thank you’, how can I help you’ and more.
Home and away mode is great because it means you can have notifications automatically disabled if you are home or just about home. I wish I was able to set an area smaller than 500m for my ‘Home’ but it is something to keep in mind if you are nearby but still want notifications etc.
A big advantage of the Lorex Wi-Fi camera system is the local storage options. You can use the microSD cards that come with the cameras or purchase bigger ones yourself. If you have multiple cameras I would consider purchasing something like the NVR for $575 – you can connect up to 8 Wi-Fi (and 8 wired cameras) cameras to it (I’m not sure why only 8 but maybe Lorex will offer a bigger version eventually – there is a 4TB and 16 Wi-Fi camera version available in the US so….)
This solution allows you to store 2TB of video on it before it is overwritten. I would choose this option if I were setting up multiple cameras throughout my house and yard.
If you also prefer the security of off-site storage, Lorex offers a cloud storage solution at US$2.99/month or US$29.99 per year for a single camera or if you have more than one camera and up to 10 cameras, US$9.99/month or US$99.99/year. It gives you 30 days of storage and the ability to view recordings even if your cameras are offline.
The Lorex security cameras offer amazing resolution and detail and outperform so many other cameras I have tested in my time. The difference in image and video detail was enough to warrant me looking to replace all of my current security cameras with their 4K cameras. The only thing holding me back is power. I need some form of solar panel that will power the outdoor cameras and at this stage Lorex do not import them to Australia and to find a compatible panel seems a difficult task.
You do not need to fork out for cloud storage if you need to view from anywhere in the world — just an Internet connection at home. Each camera has its own storage with a microSD card (included), but you can increase the size of these cards if you need the video captured to be saved for longer periods of time. Lorex does offer an NVR home storage solution, though, which is a great idea and looks easy to set up.
If you do wish for the added security of a cloud solution, Lorex offers that too. They have a multi-camera (up to 10) storage subscription, which will set you back $99.99 USD per year. What happens after 10 cameras? I am not sure, but it is something worth looking into if you are looking to go down the Lorex cloud subscription path. Cameras can add up quickly.
The Lorex cameras offer a comprehensive suite of smart notifications and motion detection features in stylish-looking cameras. At this stage, though, it is difficult to recommend them as an entire-house solution. When they bring more of their products to Australia, that will undoubtedly change.
Give me their 4K doorbell, 4K indoor cameras, a 16-channel NVR (all available in the US) and a compatible solar panel and I’m switching and forking out all the money for the full Lorex experience. Lorex also offer wired security camera solutions, but who has the time and budget for all that wiring? Until then, the Lorex cameras are great for a specific scenario or a small home.
The Lorex cameras are available now at Officeworks and Amazon AU for:
Scott is our resident open technology expert. If you can mod it, or want to use it your way, Scott has probably done it. From Laptops to phones, headphones and game consoles, he’s played with it and wants to see the next generation.
The Lorex security cameras offer amazing resolution and detail and outperform so many other cameras I have tested in my time. The difference in image and video detail was enough to warrant me looking to replace all of my current security cameras with their 4K cameras. The only thing holding me back is power. I need some form of solar panel that will power the outdoor cameras and at this stage Lorex do not import them to Australia and to find a compatible panel seems a difficult task.
You do not need to fork out for cloud storage if you need to view from anywhere in the world — just an Internet connection at home. Each camera has its own storage with a microSD card (included), but you can increase the size of these cards if you need the video captured to be saved for longer periods of time. Lorex does offer an NVR home storage solution, though, which is a great idea and looks easy to set up.
If you do wish for the added security of a cloud solution, Lorex offers that too. They have a multi-camera (up to 10) storage subscription, which will set you back .99 USD per year. What happens after 10 cameras? I am not sure, but it is something worth looking into if you are looking to go down the Lorex cloud subscription path. Cameras can add up quickly.
The Lorex cameras offer a comprehensive suite of smart notifications and motion detection features in stylish-looking cameras. At this stage, though, it is difficult to recommend them as an entire-house solution. When they bring more of their products to Australia, that will undoubtedly change.
Give me their 4K doorbell, 4K indoor cameras, a 16-channel NVR (all available in the US) and a compatible solar panel and I’m switching and forking out all the money for the full Lorex experience. Lorex also offer wired security camera solutions, but who has the time and budget for all that wiring? Until then, the Lorex cameras are great for a specific scenario or a small home.
The Lorex cameras are available now at Officeworks and Amazon AU for:
Scott is our resident open technology expert. If you can mod it, or want to use it your way, Scott has probably done it. From Laptops to phones, headphones and game consoles, he’s played with it and wants to see the next generation.
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