Reolink Vs. Amcrest: The Security Camera Battle That Produced One Winner

We recently discussed Reolink and Lorex technologies, with the former focusing on small-scale business owners. A similar comparison of Reolink versus Amcrest cameras is being conducted today to determine who comes out on top. This is a hard problem since the two are more popular with customers and have a comparable rating in practically every category.

Even yet, they’re all distinctive in their own ways, and it’s easy to see why. During the course of our investigation, we discovered a number of problems with the Reolink security camera that must be addressed. This is true with Amcrest, which also has a number of strengths and weaknesses.

Let’s get started straight away by comparing the two companies. So at least you’ll know which is best for your present situation.

As a homeowner, I can attest to the importance of a well-equipped security camera.

We all want the best for the safety of our houses, children, and other possessions. Life got more manageable with the introduction of surveillance security systems.

Amcrest and Reolink are the most well-known brands in terms of exterior security cameras.

Security cameras are something I’ve been using for a long time, and I’ve tested a variety of types.

When it comes to security cameras, there are a lot of options out there, and it may be difficult to know where to begin.

With the help of this comparison, you will be able to tell the difference between security cameras from Amcrest and Reolink.

Amcrest beats Reolink in a head-to-head comparison. Amcrest cameras are known for their high-quality video, clear records, and wide field of vision.

Reolink has made an effort to give the finest security, even if it isn’t the most well-known. In 2019, the firm celebrated its first decade with a slew of new products.

Reolink focuses on DIY enthusiasts, small enterprises, and homes with security products in the consumer market. Their primary goal is to provide CCTV systems that are both economical and strong enough to be used on a regular basis.

Hong Kong’s Wan Chai serves as a hub for digital technology that is distributed across the world, with local warehouses in countries such as Australia, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As a result, they’ve been able to quickly build up a devoted consumer following.

It’s a shame, but Reolink hasn’t been able to cover all the video surveillance market sectors. The Reolink Lumus Spotlight Camera is their lone recent product, putting them well behind their competitors in terms of technological advancement.

There aren’t a lot of interior camera alternatives from the firm, with the E1 wireless range leading the way. Reolink Argus 2 vs. Argus Pro are compared below, and we hope you find it interesting.

Amcrest, on the other hand, focuses mostly on the consumer market but also provides professional-grade systems. Most of the security cameras offered by the technological firm are reasonably priced and very effective.

Prior to its independence, Amcrest was a part of the Foscam corporation that provided US customers with technical assistance. Various security flaws led to a divorce between the parent business and its daughter in 2015/2016.

Since then, Amcrest has been headquartered in Houston, Texas, but they also have warehouses in Canada, Spain, and the United Kingdom from where they send their products to customers. Thermal technology, for example, has helped the firm develop a reputation for itself by demonstrating the company’s ability to innovate without sacrificing affordability.

To go along with their security camera offerings, Amcrest Technologies also offers a wide range of other cutting-edge technology, including drones and trail cameras. Consequently, it’s a good option for both hunters and tourists.

Indoor IP Cameras: Amcrest ProHD Wi-Fi Camera vs. Reolink E1 Pro 4MP Camera

Many consumers prefer Amcrest; however, Reolink’s flagship cameras compete with the major names in the security camera industry. Both Reolink and Amcrest are widely recognized companies.

I’ll start by comparing the technical specifications of the Amcrest Pro HD Wi-Fi camera with the Reolink Wireless 4 MP Camera. Then I’ll go through their most popular versions, including the bullet, dome, turret, and PTZ.

Video Quality

The Reolink E1 Pro 4MP Camera has a 2560 x 1440 resolution and a wide field of view for recording clean and sharp films. Video may be recorded at 1920 x 1280 at 30 frames per second with the Amcrest.

At a distance of 32 feet, the Amcrest ProHD Wi-Fi camera can capture quality movies, while the Reolink Wireless 4MP camera can cover 40 feet.

Setup Options

Installation is a snap with any of these models. The Amcrest camera may be connected to Wi-Fi through a cable or wirelessly.

Setting up the sensors, speaker, and mic couldn’t be easier. There is no need to employ a professional for the installation of the Reolink camera.

It is possible to upgrade the camera’s firmware by connecting it to an NVR.

Night Vision, Motion Detection & Audio

In addition to motion detection, both the Amcrest and Reolink versions contain a two-way audio function.

Having a night vision capability is critical for indoor IP cameras, and both of these models from Amcrest and Reolink include it. Only a few feet separate the night vision capabilities of the Amcrest and the Reolink versions.

Streaming and Storage

In addition to the hard drive, the Amcrest and Reolink versions provide cloud storage capabilities.

A seven-day trial of cloud storage is now available. Up to 17 hours of video may be stored on the Amcrest camera’s 32 GB memory card.

Winner

The Amcrest ProHD Wi-Fi Camera beats out the Reolink E1 Pro 4MP Camera in this head-to-head matchup! As a result of its big cloud and local storage capacity, high-quality HD video resolution, audio alerts, and motion detection, I consider it superior.

Bullet Cameras: Amcrest 4K Bullet Camera vs. Reolink 5MP Bullet Camera

Video Quality

It is possible to record movies at a resolution of 5MP (2560 x 1920) with the Reolink 5MP PoE, while the Amcrest can record films at 4K or 8MP at 30fps. The video quality of these cameras is excellent because of modern features, such as the Reolink camera’s 18 infrared LED lights and the Amcrest’s low light image sensor.

Setup Options

Installing the Amcrest 4K PoE couldn’t be easier. The Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector is all you need to get started. Due to its modest weight, it is also simpler to set up. In order to connect and set up the Reolink camera, you will also require a single PoE line.

Night Vision, Motion Detection & Audio

If we talk about how far these cameras can see at night, the Amcrest can see 164 feet, and the Reolink can see 100 feet.

Motion detection and alarms are included in both cameras, and the cameras’ motion sensitivities may be adjusted.

A push notification is sent to your mobile when the camera detects movement.

Streaming and Storage

These two cameras, Amcrest and Reolink, both provide cloud and hard disk storage options. The Reolink has an inbuilt HDD storage capacity of 3TB. In addition to the Amcrest Surveillance Pro software or the Amcrest app, Amcrest is compatible with Chrome, Amcrest NVRs, Safari, Synology, FTP, and QNAP NAS.

Victor

The Amcrest 4K PoE camera, in my opinion, is one of the greatest bullet cameras currently available on the market.

The Reolink 5 MP PoE, on the other hand, offers a wider field of vision and higher resolution. Amcrest outperforms Reolink in terms of other characteristics as well, which is another point in their favor.

Dome Cameras: Amcrest 4K Dome Camera vs. Reolink Dome 5MP Camera

Dome Cameras Amcrest 4K Dome Camera vs. Reolink Dome 5MP Camera

Video Quality

With a 5 MP super HD quality and a range of 100 feet, the Reolink Dome camera captures films in stunning detail.

The Amcrest Dome camera takes clear films at a 4K 8 MP resolution and improves the video quality by using the Ambarella S3LM chipset and Sony IMX274 Starvis image sensor.

Nighttime visibility on the Amcrest is 98 feet.

Setup Options

The Dome Amcrest and Reolink cameras are very light and simple to set up.

Only 1.4 pounds separate the Amcrest camera from Reoilnk.

Data transport and power are provided by a single PoE (Power over Ethernet) connection for both cameras.

Both of these cameras have the advantage of not requiring any setup to be set up.

Night Vision, Motion Detection & Audio

The night vision of the Reolink camera is exceptional. It has a night-vision range of 100 feet, while the Amcrest has a night-vision range of 98 feet.

However, with the Amcrest dome camera, you may assign four distinct motion detection zones and change the sensitivity of the zones you chose.

The Amcrest camera has two-way audio; however, Reolink does not have this capability.

Streaming and Storage

A security camera’s night vision, motion detection, and streaming/storage capabilities depend heavily on these features.

There is a microSD card and an NVR in the Reolink, whereas Amcrest has a microSD card and many different NVRs in addition to the Surveillance Pro and Synology NAS.

Victor

This is one of the best security cameras on the market.

Audio and motion detection, storage, and installation simplicity are superior to Reolink’s.

In terms of both field of vision and video quality, the Reolink camera is superior.

Turret Cameras: Amcrest 4K Turret Camera vs. Reolink 5MP Turret Camera

Video Quality

Clear and crisp movies may be recorded at 8MP 4K quality using the Amcrest 4K Outdoor Turret camera (3840 X 2160). When it comes to video recording, the Reolink 5MP PoE Turret camera has a resolution of 5MP (2560 X 1920).

In terms of video quality, Amcrest has the edge over the competition.

Setup Options

Both Amcrest and Reolink turret cameras may be installed without the assistance of a trained expert.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is built into both cameras, making data transmission and powering them a snap.

Night Vision, Motion Detection & Audio

With its night vision capabilities, the Amcrest camera covers 164 feet at night, whereas the Reolink camera only covers 100 feet.

Even though the cameras don’t have audio detection, they are both equipped with advanced motion detection technology. It is possible to designate certain areas for motion detection, alter the sensitivity level, and set a timer for the motion sensors.

Despite the lack of audio detection, one-way audio is present, which means that you may hear the sound but cannot react to it.

Streaming and Storage

The Amcrest camera comes with 128 GB of inbuilt storage, but the Reolink only comes with 64 GB SD cards.

The Amcrest is equipped with Dual H.265/H.246 compression, which provides for maximum encryption, while the other two enable you to capture movies through cellphones.

Victor

The night vision, quality, video storage, and field of view of the Amcrest Turret camera set it apart from the competition.

Although both cameras are simple to set up, Amcrest emerges as the obvious winner.

PTZ Cameras: Amcrest Wi-Fi PTZ Camera vs Reolink PTZ 5MP Camera

PTZ Cameras Amcrest Wi Fi PTZ Camera vs Reolink PTZ 5MP Camera

Video Quality

The Amcrest PTZ camera can capture footage in 1080p, while the Reolink PTZ camera records at a resolution of 2560 X 1920. The Ambarella S3LM chipset and Sony Starvis IMX290 image sensor both help enhance the video quality of Amcrest.

30 fps is the frame rate for both cameras.

Setup Options

The PTZ cameras from Amcrest and Reolink come with screws and bolts for simple installation.

Installing the devices is a breeze, and so is configuring the software.

The recorded video may be readily accessed with Amcrest View, a smartphone app. The Reolink is likewise simple to set up, and both applications deliver notifications through push notification, text, and email.

Night Vision, Motion Detection & Audio

When it comes to night vision, the Amcrest PTZ camera ranges 329 feet, whereas the Reolink can only see 190 feet out. The Reolink camera does not come with built-in microphones, unlike the Amcrest camera does.

The Amcrest Wi-Fi camera’s integrated IR LEDs and Sony Starvis progressive image sensors enhance video recordings at night.

Streaming and Storage

MicroSD cards up to 64 GB in size may be used with the Reolink PTZ camera. The 16 GB card has the capacity to record 1080 motion events, while the 32 GB card has the capacity to record 2160 motion events. “

The microSD card, Amcrest Cloud, Amcrest NVR, FTP, and NAS included in the Amcrest PTZ camera ensure that video recordings will not be interrupted.

Victor

PTZ cameras from both Amcrest and Reolink are simple to set up, but Amcrest wins again due to its excellent video storage and two-way audio capabilities.

Conclusion

There are many common similarities between Amcrest and Reolink since both have established themselves as market leaders.

Although both manufacturers are excellent, I’d go with the Amcrest security cameras in the end.

Better night vision (field of view) and motion detection are included in the Amcrest cameras specifically for video recording. Despite these shortcomings, both Reolink and Amcrest offer a lot of potentials. Features like facial recognition and line-crossing detection may have already been implemented.

Furthermore, Amcrest’s cloud subscription plan might have been made more user-friendly if it had been revised. Despite this, their solo cameras are equipped with an SD card port, and their recorders contain a hard drive. For a house or company owner who doesn’t anticipate doing anything with his system, any method of local recording is sufficient.

After comparing Amcrest with Reolink, you now have the winner!

Frequently Asked Questions

faq 5 1

Is Amcrest a Chinese company?

Not at all. Amcrest is a US firm. It is based in the United States.

Is Reolink a Chinese company?

There is no doubt that Reolink is a Chinese firm.

Can Reolink cameras be hacked?

Advanced encryption is used by Reolink to keep out hackers, although it is feasible to circumvent this.

Is Amcrest cloud-free?

For a limited time, you may use Amcrest Cloud for free. Subscriptions are available on a monthly basis and begin at $6.

Does Reolink have a monthly fee?

Reolink has a free plan but paid plans for the regular, premium, and business tiers.

Lance Ulanoff is a renowned tech journalist, commentator, and on-air expert with over 36 years of experience. He has held esteemed positions including Editor in Chief of Lifewire and Mashable, where he delved into the impact of technology on daily life. Lance's expertise has been featured on major news programs globally, and he has made appearances on Fox News, CNBC, and the BBC.