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Want the best POE Security Cameras? This guide will help you find the Power-over-Ethernet camera that are right for you, as well as the best price. These days, there are a lot of PoE cameras on the market. We’ve tried a lot of them, so we decided to make a list of the best ones. If you want to protect your home or business with a PoE camera system, these are the best in terms of features, price, picture quality, ease of installation and use, and video storage.
Before we start, we need to explain what some words mean. A home security camera can be powered in different ways. They can be hardwired into the electricity in your home, run on batteries, or be powered over Ethernet, or PoE for short. Now that you know what we’re talking about, let’s take a look at some of our favorite PoE security cameras.
Best POE Security Cameras Comparison Table
Model | Viewing Angle | Night Vision | Focal Length | Weatherproof | Dimensions | Weight | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annke H800 4K Dome system | 101° | 100ft | 2.8mm – 12mm | IP67 | Φ160 x 101mm | 530g | $399.99 |
Reolink RLK8-820D4-A system | 97° | 100ft | 4.0mm | IP66 | 343 x 266mm | 3300g | $579.99 |
Lorex 4K PoE camera system | 111° | 135ft | 4.0mm | IP67 | Φ110 x 100mm | 280g | $699.99 |
Swann SWDVK-445802V | 102° | 100ft | 2.8mm | IP66 | N/A | N/A | $369.99 |
Zmodo PoE Camera System | 81° | 100ft | 2.8mm | IP65 | 180 x 65mm | 250g | $149.99 |
Night Owl PoE Camera System | 84° | 100ft | 3.6mm | IP67 | 155 x 155mm | 550g | $399.99 |
Zosi 1080p H.265+ PoE Security Camera System | 90° | 100ft | 3.6mm | IP67 | 190 x 70mm | 380g | $229.99 |
Amcrest UltraHD 4K POE IP Security Camera | 87° | 98ft | 3.6mm | IP67 | 164 x 164mm | 800g | $119.99 |
Annke H800 4K Dome system

Specification | |
---|---|
Resolution | 4K (8MP) |
Camera Type | Dome |
Night Vision | Up to 100ft |
Storage | Supports up to 6TB HDD |
Weatherproof | IP67 |
Annke’s H800 eight-channel 2TB NVR is similar to the Reolink device shown above, but it comes with four C800 dome cameras instead of just one. The NVR and cameras can connect to up to eight cameras and support H.265 4K video compression, audio recording, remote access, and other features you’d expect.
With WDR and digital noise reduction, the camera’s 8-megapixel Sony CMOS does a great job of letting you see in dark areas with a lot of contrast. The device is also IP67, which means it can stay hot (60 °C/140 °F) or cold (-40 °C/-40 °F) for a long time. Annke says that the metal construction is IK10 vandal proof, and the dome can take a hit from a mallet.
The Good
- 4K video with high resolution
- For use outside, the design is weatherproof.
- Up to 100 feet of night vision range.
The Bad
- Compared to some other systems, it has a small amount of storage space.
- The dome shape might not work for all installations.
Reolink RLK8-820D4-A system

Specification | |
---|---|
Resolution | 4K (8MP) |
Camera Type | Bullet |
Night Vision | Up to 100ft |
Storage | Supports up to 4TB HDD |
Weatherproof | IP66 |
This camera and NVR set is a powerful security system with four 4K cameras and 2TB of storage. You can use it to keep an eye on most properties without making any other purchases, and you can add up to 8 Reolink IP cameras if you need to. Using the default H.265 codec, NVR can record four channels for up to three days at maximum bit rate of 8192kbps.
If you need more space, you can add 6TB internally (by swapping the hard drive) and 6TB externally (via the eSATA socket), giving you a total of 36 days of storage. The Reolink computer client, which works on Mac, Windows, and the web, lets you see what the cameras see even when you’re not there.
The Good
- 4K video with high resolution
- For use outside, the design is weatherproof.
- Long range of night vision, up to 100 feet; easy to set up and install.
The Bad
- Compared to some other systems, it has a small amount of storage space.
Lorex 4K PoE camera system

Specification | |
---|---|
Resolution | 4K (8MP) |
Camera Type | Bullet |
Night Vision | Up to 130ft |
Storage | Supports up to 8TB HDD |
Weatherproof | IP67 |
The Lorex 4K PoE camera system is a professional-grade system that can protect large homes and businesses. But when we tested it, setting it up was just as easy as setting up the other PoE systems we put in homes. Each of the four cameras came with a 100-foot Ethernet cable, which made it easy for us to run the cables through the ceiling of our office.
We also liked that each of the dome and bullet cameras (there were two of each) came with a mounting kit and could be mounted on the wall or ceiling. In our review of the Lorex camera, you can find out more about how to set it up. If you’d rather watch a video review, check out our YouTube channel.
The Good
- 4K video with high resolution
- For use outside, the design is weatherproof.
- Up to 130 feet of night vision range. Up to 8TB HDD of storage space.
The Bad
- The design of the bullet may not work for all installations.
Swann SWDVK-445802V

Specification | |
---|---|
Resolution | 1080p (2MP) |
Camera Type | Bullet and Dome |
Night Vision | Up to 100ft |
Storage | Supports up to 2TB HDD |
Weatherproof | IP66 |
The Swann 4K PoE camera system came with all the extra parts and cables we needed to set it up, which wasn’t much. Each camera came with a Cat5e Ethernet cable that was 60 feet long, and the NVR came with a similar cable that was 3 feet long.
Once we decided where to put the cameras, we used the 60-foot cables to connect them to the NVR and the shorter cable to connect the NVR to our router. Just a little bit of software setup, and the NVR is ready to go. In about 30 minutes, all eight cameras were set up and working.
The Good
- Affordable price point
- Bullet and dome cameras are used together so that installation can be done in different ways.
- Up to 100 feet of night vision range.
The Bad
- When compared to 4K systems, 1080p video quality has a lower resolution.
- Compared to some other systems, it has a small amount of storage space.
Zmodo PoE Camera System

Specification | |
---|---|
Resolution | 1080p (2MP) |
Camera Type | Bullet |
Night Vision | Up to 65ft |
Storage | Supports up to 8TB HDD |
Weatherproof | IP65 |
When we tried out Zmodo’s cameras, we liked how they looked, how easy they were to set up, and, of course, how cheap they were. Even though it’s not as expensive as some of their competitors, Zmodo’s PoE camera system will get the job done in most situations. Like many other camera companies, Zmodo has a lot of options for customers who want to make their home security network their own.
But if you want to play PoE, you should check out Zmodo’s NVR series. But it’s important to note that this line doesn’t have a super-high-definition picture; you’ll only be able to record in 720p. Even though that’s lower than the industry standard of 1080p, don’t worry; it’s good enough.
The Good
- Affordable price point
- Large amount of storage space, up to 8TB HDD
- Setup and use are simple.
The Bad
- When compared to 4K systems, 1080p video quality has a lower resolution.
- Up to 65 feet less range for night vision.
Night Owl PoE Camera System

Specification | |
---|---|
Resolution | 1080p (2MP) |
Camera Type | Bullet |
Night Vision | Up to 100ft |
Storage | Supports up to 2TB HDD |
Weatherproof | IP67 |
Night Owl is a security camera company to think about if you want a middle-of-the-road PoE option. It’s not as cheap as Zmodo, but the cameras seem to be a little bit better. Even though they don’t have all the bells and whistles of Lorex, our Night Owl review found features like facial recognition, human detection, high resolution, and Google Assistant integration.
That being said, if you want features, you’ll have to pay for them. Most of their more advanced features are only available on their most expensive cameras. This means that your PoE network of security cameras could cost you more than $1,000.
The Good
- Affordable price point
- For use outside, the design is weatherproof.
- Up to 100 feet of night vision range.
The Bad
- When compared to 4K systems, 1080p video quality has a lower resolution.
- Compared to some other systems, it has a small amount of storage space.
Zosi 1080p H.265+ PoE Security Camera System

Specification | |
---|---|
Resolution | 1080p (2MP) |
Camera Type | Bullet |
Night Vision | Up to 100ft |
Storage | Supports up to 4TB HDD |
Weatherproof | IP67 |
The Zosi 1080p H.265+ PoE Home Security Camera System is a great way to improve home security for less money. It comes with four PoE cameras, an NVR, and all the cables and hardware you need to set it up. This PoE security camera set is affordable and comes with everything you need to get started. It also has a few features that put it ahead of more expensive competitors.
With an IP67 metal housing, these cameras can be used both inside and outside. With a 110-degree viewing angle and night vision that works up to 120 feet away, this camera has a wider field of view than many of its competitors. The video quality of this camera is not as good as that of other modern cameras. It has a 1080p video resolution, which is still HD quality but not as good as many other modern cameras.
The Good
- Affordable price point
- For use outside, the design is weatherproof.
- H.265+ compression makes storage space more useful
- Up to 100 feet of night vision range.
The Bad
- Compared to some other systems, it has a small amount of storage space.
Amcrest UltraHD 4K POE IP Security Camera

Specification | |
---|---|
Resolution | 4K (8MP) |
Camera Type | Bullet |
Night Vision | Up to 164ft |
Storage | Supports up to 2TB HDD |
Weatherproof | IP67 |
There are a lot of great things about the Amcrest UltraHD 4K 8MP Dome POE IP Security Camera that make it a great choice for home or business use. This camera can be set up inside or outside thanks to its IP67 housing. The camera can’t be broken, and it records in 4K resolution, day or night, with a viewing angle of 112 degrees.
With night vision, you can see up to 98 feet away. Motion detection alerts make it easy for users to keep an eye on things when they are away. The Amcrest app lets users see live video and play back video footage. Users can also set detection zones and the sensitivity of detection to cut down on false alerts.
The Good
- 4K video with high resolution
- For use outside, the design is weatherproof.
- Long range of night vision, up to 164 feet. Wide field of view for full coverage.
The Bad
- Compared to some other systems, it’s pretty pricey.
FAQs
Are PoE security cameras better?
The video quality of PoE security camera systems is better than that of analog camera systems. This is because the resolution of digital cameras is much better. The most pixels that an analog camera can handle is 720 x 480.
What is the disadvantage of PoE camera?
If there isn’t enough power, the device can’t start up: 802.3af PoE standard maximum output power is less than 15.4W, which is enough to power most IP cameras. But this output power is not enough for devices that use a lot of power, like a network PTZ camera.
Is PoE better than wireless?
Compared to cameras that use WiFi instead of a hardwired internet connection, PoE cameras have a much more reliable network connection that won’t break or degrade. Most organizations use Power over Ethernet (PoE) to make sure that cameras used for safety and security are always connected.
What is the max distance for a PoE security camera?
Only when a PoE switch is used with a PoE camera does the maximum distance equal the maximum cable length, which is 100 m. When you use a midspan and/or splitter, you have to check the maximum distance for the number of cables used to reach the Ethernet client from the Ethernet source.