ANNKE 16 Channel Security Camera System 4K PoE with 8MP Outdoor Cameras

kathy

September 2, 2026

Works great

Works fine as advertised, would totally recommend.

oktay

September 2, 2026

Garbage

Product is headache, you switch to playback to check the video from 2 days ago, suddenly shows device is offline, on a 500gbps wired internet, supprt is a joke, bunch of automated replies and support person have no idea what he’s talking about , they worked on it for a week and I gave him my user and passport and at the end they told me your Internet is not fast enough are you kidding me?Do not buy this product unless you’re looking for a headache.

Reliable PoE Camera System – Highly Recommended

I’ve installed many camera systems, and this ANNKE kit exceeded my expectations. The 4K image quality is sharp, the NVR runs smoothly, and the cameras provide reliable 24/7 recording. The AI detection significantly reduces false alarms, and the dual-light night vision performs very well.

The two-way audio and customizable voice warning are useful features that many systems in this price range don’t offer. Great product and excellent value.

High quality cameras

I recently upgraded to this ANNKE 16-channel 4K PoE security camera system after replacing an older Reolink setup, and overall I’ve been very happy with the switch. The image quality is excellent, footage is high-resolution and very clear during both daytime and nighttime, with sharp detail that makes a real difference (compared to fuzzy nightime clarity on the older Reolink cameras).

Setup was mostly straightforward, though I did run into some initial difficulty configuring the recorder. Thankfully, ANNKE support was responsive and helpful and walked me through troubleshooting until everything was working properly. One important tip for those new to using ANNKE products: set up an ANNKE account and link the recorder to your account. This is essential for remote viewing, managing the system, and receiving notifications, and once configured, the mobile app works reliably and is easy to use.

With the included 4TB hard drive, which is also expandable to 8TB with an additional hard drive, I’m getting around two weeks of storage with all 8 cameras with constant recording enabled, which is more than enough time to go back and review events when needed.

We also recently had a baby, and this system has been great for additional use cases beyond the outdoor security. I’ve used some of the cameras as indoor nanny cams, which has been incredibly helpful for monitoring and checking in throughout the day.

The on-camera AI object recognition is a bit more limited compared to some other solutions, it primarily identifies people and cars, but it’s still very useful and honestly more than enough for my needs. Alerts are relevant without being overwhelming.

Considering the overall performance, features, and reliability, this system is a great value for the price paid (around $750). If you’re looking to upgrade from a basic camera setup or want a solid, scalable security system with good storage and image quality, I’d definitely recommend this ANNKE product.

The Sweet Spot!

This camera system is the sweet spot between price and quality! I have used many different systems before settling on Annke's systems a few years back. This set is replacing an older analog unit. The difference is amazing. The picture quality is what a modern system should be!

Everything came well packaged in individual boxes. The different components are easily put together (plug and play). My old system used BNC connections, but these Ethernet connections are much easier. The cables also have covers for the connections, which is a nice addition. The cameras themselves are about 1/3 larger than the older models, but that's to be expected with the additional hardware in these. These cameras have audio and an additional light for night use, though I was impressed with the normal IR night vision without the additional lights! The hard drive, for local storage, is great and a must have for me.

As I mentioned, the system is pretty much plug and play to get everything up and running. From there, the software allows you to tweak the settings for each camera, as well as some for the device itself. I need to be able to remotely view my cameras and this system was pretty much the same setup as my older Annke system, so I was happy about that. I also separately purchased their 180°Panoramic View camera and it had no problems syncing up with this system.

I look forward to exploring some of the features that are new to me on this model. So far, everything has been great! I have contacted Annke's customer service in the past and they have always been helpful and responsive (24 hours or less), so I'm confident they will help me with any questions on the new features.

Easy to set up and use

I got this system to upgrade/replace an older Annke system which was still working OK. You need to provide a monitor and an Ethernet internet connection but other than that, everything you need is included and it is almost "plug and play." The instructions were not an exact match to the system but it was easy to follow along and figure out, my biggest complaint is that the print is really small for my old eyes. This system uses POE (Power Over Ethernet) to power the cameras. The cameras themselves are designed to alternately be used standalone with an external power supply and mini SD card which was confusing when I first opened up a camera and saw the separate power line. I was worried that I would also have to run power to the cameras which you do not. The camera instructions also said they used a provided hex key to open the cameras but you use a regular Phillip's screwdriver. I am an experienced DIYer and I ran my own CAT-6 cable through the house and walls from the cameras to the recorder, the hardest part for most people will be running the wires "neatly." The system is menu driven and you use the provided mouse to work through the menus. I personally don't find the menus to be intuitive but referring back to the instructions I was quickly able to set up the alarms, notification, and monitor area. I have one camera that I have blocked the movement alarm on the area that covers the bottom of the street that has a lot of cross traffic. You can set the playback options to skip to the movement detections which is really nice for reviewing the videos. You can easily download videos by date, time, and cameras to a USB drive in MP4 format. The Android phone app works great for me so I can see what is going on at home over my phone

Protection Starts With ANNKE

I wanted to share my positive experience with the ANNKE Security Camera System. I upgraded from a LOREX 8-channel HD setup to the ANNKE 16-channel 4K PoE system, and it has been a game-changer for my small business.

The jump from HD to 4K resolution has made a huge difference. The video quality is incredibly sharp and clear. The AI motion detection feature is another standout, as it can accurately detect people and cars, something my old system couldn’t do.

I also transitioned from coax cabling to Power over Ethernet using the Cat6 cables. While this required some effort, the installation was straightforward. A single cable now handles both power and data, reducing clutter and simplifying the setup.

Installation of the Annke Vision app on my iPhone has also been a positive experience as well. The setup process was straightforward and took just a few minutes to setup and register. The app interface is user friendly and easy to navigate. The Annke Vision app is a good compliment to the security system for remote surveillance.

The highlights for me includes exceptional video quality, additional channels for expanded coverage, an upgradable hard drive that supports up to 16TB of continuous recording, and advanced AI motion detection. These features made upgrading to the ANNKE Camera System an easy decision.

I hope this review helps other business owners and homeowners consider the ANNKE Security Camera System for their security needs. This investment has significantly enhanced the security of my business, and I am confident it will provide the same level of protection and peace of mind for others.

great upgrade from my previous Annke system

Let me start by saying that I wasn’t going to write this review, but I was showing off my new NVR surveillance system to a friend of mine and he had a lot of questions as he never had such a system so I decided to write a review so he can take advantage of it and I’m also hoping this will help other folks.

This isn’t my first Annke product, this is actually my 3rd NVR that I purchased in the past ~10 years. I’m using cameras for my home to be able to see what is going on around my house(especially if I’m not there),keep an eye on kids and “for fun”. That being said I wired my entire exterior with cameras when I was making major renovations years ago, so I have CAT5 POE cabling already in place(more on that later). This simplified set-up.

Annke has a lot of products, the one I’m writing a review for is AU-N46PCK-I91DM08-4TB system that comes with I91DM 8MP cameras.

As I mentioned at the beginning, only after having a conversation with a friend that was also interested in purchasing a surveillance system, I realized I can help others by doing this review. My goal is to review this particular product but also give others some tips on what to look for when choosing a surveillance system for home use. By no means this is an exhaustive list but it’s a good start in my opinion.

There are several things you should consider when buying a surveillance system:

1. Camera resolution, image quality, sensor size – if the picture doesn’t look good, no one cares about the specs. Many people are confused with terms/keywords (4k, ultra HD, 5MP, 8MP etc) and how they relate to surveillance cameras.

This particular camera model included in the package that I’m reviewing has 3840*2160(8MP), 4k resolution with 1/2.4" Progressive Scan CMOS sensor. Camera model: I91DF

4k term is borrowed from cinema industry and it simply implies the camera is of high resolution. Most modern higher end home-use cameras offer 4k. What you should really focus on are other things like image sensor size, quality of sensor etc. This particular model has 1/2.4" Progressive Scan CMOS according to the specs, but what does it actually mean? It refers to physical dimensions of the image sensor in the camera(diagonal length of the sensor). You’re probably like, this means nothing to me, tell me more. You see, the larger the sensor more light gets to the camera and this can lead to better image quality. This is especially important at night when there is not a lot of light.

So how do you decipher sensor size from 1/2.4 ? When comparing sensors smaller numbers after the "/" indicate larger sensors. Other common sensor sizes are 1/1.8, 1/2.8, 1/2.7, 1/2.5. A 1/2.4 sensor is larger than 1/2.5 sensor, A 1/2.5" sensor is larger than a 1/2.7" sensor, which in turn is larger than a 1/2.8" sensor.

Sometimes it’s not that easy to find the sensor size for the camera as some manufacturers only specify the resolution, for example: 4K+ Ultra HD 12MP CMOS (4640 x 2624).

Resolution refers to the number of pixels a camera sensor can capture. It's measured in megapixels (MP), where one megapixel equals one million pixels. Higher resolution means more pixels, which translates to more detailed images. More pixels mean you can capture finer details, which is particularly important for tasks like reading license plates in surveillance

Sensor size is the physical dimension of the sensor itself, typically measured diagonally in inches (e.g., 1/2.3", 1/1.7", 1", etc., where a smaller number means a larger sensor). Larger sensors have larger pixels (or can accommodate more pixels without making them too small), leading to better light gathering capabilities. This means better performance in low light, less noise, and a wider dynamic range.

In security cameras, higher resolution might be prioritized for detail, but sensor size impacts how well that detail is captured, especially in varying light conditions.

There’s a lot more to image quality than just resolution, image sensor. You would have to look at pixel quality, lens quality, or even image processing as software can significantly enhance image, but that goes beyond the scope of this review as many times you won’t be able to tell from product description, you just have to try it out and see if it’s “good for you”.

Enough about “theory”. I’m very satisfied with the quality of the image of these cameras. There is a big difference between my previous Annke model that only supported IR(infrared). This system offers few modes of Night vision:

Night vision with light – light in front of a camera stays constantly ON

Black&White - Infrared

Smart light compensation – a mix of both above settings.

If you have some minimal light(for example coming off of a street light), these cameras will make the image look amazing compared to the standard IR camera. You will be pleasantly surprised ! When I first hooked up the cameras and it was already dark outside, I literally looked out through the window, because when I was looking at the image coming from the camera it looked like it’s still not dark, so I was confused. That’s how big of a difference these cameras have – look at the picture attached to the review.

Both pictures were taken at midnight. With the new cameras, you can clearly see the shadows coming from the tree in front of my house and even though this was midnight it looks like it’s not even that dark outside !

Look at the shadows on a car and compare to the one from the older camera! Not to mention the reflections visible on the older cameras.

I’m also including a picture from the back camera that doesn’t have any supplemental lighting and it only uses IR. Even so, you can see the details and the image is not as “washed out” as from the older cameras

The cameras also have a light in front of them that comes on when motion is detected. You can configure camera (on individual basis) to either use that light or use the smart feature that doesn’t rely on a light. I recommend playing around with settings and see what works best for you. Your setup will be heavily dependent on amount of light your cameras are getting. In my case there is just enough light from the street lights, so I use a different config for those cameras vs cameras facing back yard.

2. Number of cameras - this is probably another thing us typical users look at. How many cameras am I getting. This NVR supports 16 cameras and comes with 8. 8 is plenty for my use ! But if you need more you can buy more or re-use cameras from your older model as many times they will work, but may not give you same image quality.

I like how each camera is individually packed, it comes with drill template, sticker, mounting bracket, mounting screws, waterproof sleeves for the connectors and a manual. My previous camera didn’t require mounting bracket. You attach mounting bracket to your wall with screws, connect the cable and then attach a camera. After that I recommend that you connect all cameras, set up a system to the point that can you see the video from cameras on your phone, go outside and adjust the cameras video angle to suit your needs.

3. Remote viewing.

Let’s face it – we live in a world when 99% of users will be using their mobile application for accessing either live view or playback from the NVR.

Annke offers application called “Annke Vision”. When you first turn on your NVR one of the steps in the setup wizards walks you through setting up an application.

Live viewing:

While live viewing the image you can switch from HD to basic mode (use basic only if your mobile connectivity is slow, otherwise stick to HD). You can listen to audio and audio is also being recorded.

While viewing the video live you can also take a picture or record the video to your phone.

Multiple cameras can be viewed live at the same time, you can pick how many cameras you would like to view(1,4,9,12,16).

You can also configure compensation light or as they call it supplement light, you would do it mostly at night. I have mine set to “smart light compensation”, but you can also choose black and white night vision(in other words Infrared) or colorful night vision(the light on the front of the camera will turn on to illuminate viewing space.

Playback:

You can view video stored on the NVR. There is a calendar that will show a dot next to each date that has a video. I hooked up mine on 12/29 and it’s a month later and I still can view that video, while I have all cameras set up to record highest quality, full frame, H265 compression.

Once you select a date you want to view, you can either select to see video from the very specific time or if you’re looking for more granularity you have the option of selecting: event, person or vehicle. What this means is that you will see lines on the timeline that will indicate camera detected that specific activity and you can quickly scroll to it. You can also switch to “timeline playback”, this view will show you tiles(shortcuts) to those events which are even easier to use and focus on that specific activity ! The timeline view is useful if you then want to view video leading to that event. You can then download that activity to your phone(videos up to 5min), so if the video is longer just trim it. Video is then downloaded directly from your NVR to your mobile phone. Downloaded 5 min video took 120MB of space and it was in 3840x2160 UHD quality. Downloaded video also includes audio!

Pictures attached to this review show the playback functionality capabilities to filter on events (all, human,vehicle) – you get to pick if you want to look at them using tile view or schedule view. I find the tiles easier to use, but that’s more of a personal preference.

4. Configuration features

Motion zones.

If you’re familiar with Ring video doorbell this will make sense to you. You can define “zones”(areas that camera should disregard) when marking the motion on the timeline. In other words if you have some plants like I do in front of the house that would move when it’s windy outside you can exclude those plants from the motion trigger. The video will still be recorded, the only thing that won’t be “marked” on the timeline is that motion occurred. Otherwise your timeline will be cluttered. Motion zones are defined for each camera on NVR itself. You can define sensitivity threshold and specify if you want to detect humans and/or vehicles.

Privacy mask

Although I’m not using it this feature is good for someone that doesn’t want camera to capture specific viewable area(maybe a license plate, house number etc)

Other features:

Video tampering detection, video loss detection

5. Storage. You need to store videos, images somewhere. This unit comes with one 4TB Seagate SkyHawk surveillance hard drive, but NVR is expandable up to 2 drives.

I pulled my 3TB WD Purple drive from previous unit and connected to this system. So now I have 7TB of storage for local recording. If you’re thinking about adding 2nd hard drive just keep in mind, there are special surveillance hard drives designed to be on 24/7, unlike your computer hard drive that is powered off when the computer is sleeping/off. SATA connector (cable for connecting a 2nd hard drive) is included as well as hard drive mounting screws!

H.265+ drastically reduce storage required so 4TB drive will be plenty of storage!

6. Camera connectivity. This one is important as well. For cameras to work, they need a power source, that power either comes from NVR or through a separate cable. As I mentioned I already had ethernet cables wired. POE means Power Over Ethernet, this means that camera is getting power from NVR. This is important when you’re looking for cameras because this means a single cable can supply power to your camera and transfer video.

There are four sets of 100 ft cables and four 60 ft cables that you get with this unit. I ended up replacing one of my older cables with the new ones but ended up leaving the rest.

7. What’s included and packaging

Mouse, HDMI cable for hooking up NVR to your TV/receiver, ethernet cable for connecting NVR to your local network, NVR manual, 16 cameras. Each camera is individually and securely packed.

Hope this review helps someone.

Powerful setup

I tried many cameras. Regular "standard" ONVIF cameras had issues using all capabilities with some software, and the software itself was lacking. Cheap/ open source choices were not good, and I wasn't going to pay a monthly subscription fee for better software- it would become pretty expensive pretty fast. And don't get me started on the non standard cameras relying on a variety of phone apps. They are toys not worth mentioning. I decided to order this Annke set because I wanted an integrated solution without compatibility issues and a complicated setup. I was also attracted by the built in POE switch negating the need to buy additional hardware. One must have feature for me was the ability to view the cameras from my computer. It took a bit of effort to get it right, because the video didn't want to play in the browser even after I downloaded their plugin. But soon I found Annke PC application and it worked right away.

Most of the security cameras apps have ratings between 1 and 2, Annke Vision is rated 4.7. I have to say the app is good, it is fast loading and reliable.

I haven't permanently installed the cameras, but basement testing results are excellent- high quality video in all lighting conditions.

Trash night vision

The night vision seem to be completely trash and the user interface is terrible as well the system is over complicated and difficult to navigate the app is terrible and takes far to long to load the picture does look halfway decent tho during the day but is pixelated and for a system advertised to be 4k I don’t believe this is 4k not even close

Know what to expect

Using this system is frustrating. Initial setup and In-Home functionality is great. DO NOT expect to have good live feed from the app they provide. The cameras are constantly loading or not connecting/ video failed to play. Not ideal for live feeds. Downloading clips in the app is also frustrating. After successful downloading the video will not play. I worked for almost an hour on a 33 second clip. Thanks for reading. Hope this helps someone. For what it's worth, the NVR operation in the home is nice with great image quality.

Ohana

December 21, 2021

Gives me an extra feel of security

Was in the market for a good Security System for a while. Wasn't interested in having somebody install it for me or recurring monthly charges. After research Annke and their cameras and Systems seemed affordable and with good quality. It did NOT disappoint at all. Initially I setup the entire system on my table at home and ran the cameras including wires. The wires are on the cheaper side but still good for my use. Any Cat5 will do. Shorter or longer doesn't matter with a max of 150ft. The initial setup is super easy. Plug in the camera and wait for about 30 seconds until the system pick it up. The part that took me the longest was running the wires through the attic. If you are good a cable management and a little bit of a handy man installing these cameras is a breeze. There was no fiddeling around with software. Pretty much just Plug and play. The online app is amazing. I got my DVR wired to my Nighthawk Router for Internet and after logging into my Annke app I scanned the QR code and I am now able to access all my cameras from my cellphone whereever I am. Sound recording etc. Is awesome. I am currently running 8 cameras in h265+ plus mode and with those settings I can record to the 3TB harddrive for nearly 27 days. Best bang for your buck with this system. Cameras have a solid feel to it and image quality is amazing even if it's in pitch black environment. This system gives me an extra feel of security and it's good to know I can just flip open my phone and check on my home when i am not around. Thank you Annke for such an amazing product. I added on some NC400 models (which don't have sound recording but color nightvision due to a small LED light ) . These H800 are more than sufficient and I will buy 4 more of those to run a 16 camera setup so I don't have any blind spots.

So far night vision is horrible with C800 Cameras - support group was great

Updated post.

Daytime pictures are great. Night pics not so good. I have 5 C800 cameras installed so far, and this is what I get at night. Dome is clean, lenses are clean, out of ideas. The GUI was easy to set up though so it gets a 2 for that.

Spent a week or two going back and forth with the support group in China. After some discussion and a bit of a communications issue it was found to be a "reflection" problem. That is, the IR light was reflecting off surfaces in sight of the lens. Ok, an understandable problem... the issue I had was that it took a week of trying this, trying that on a ladder every night to understand what they were talking about. If there was a note in the setup directions or even on their website this would have been an easy fix. After a couple months of operation so far so good. Good quality product.

TM

June 30, 2021

Reliable IP-Cam Server, Huge Cameras, Minor Flaws

For those who only read first sentences in reviews: This is a very good deal to buy into a system supporting the open IP-camera standard, rather than a closed system. The learning curve is a bit longer for newbies, but the rewards are more options when it comes to cameras and a future proof system that makes it flexible to replace or upgrade cameras. The downside is the plug-and-play of what other products offer, even though I think that’s an illusion (and good marketing). I find Reolink a good system that I recommend for homeowners, but with installing the cameras, wiring the network (which I prefer, no security cam network should run purely on Wifi), and setting up apps and software, it’s not that much more to make a step to a full fledged IP-cam system. There are security concerns with cheap cameras, but they can be avoided or eliminated. My simple advice for basic network security: Keep separate networks, invest in a good managed switch, get a VPN. That’s is easier than it sounds, I recommend Chuck Keith’s excellent Youtube channel NetworkChuck a good source on that.

Now to the core: The system comes complete with everything, even the cables are included. Everything feels a bit cheaper, but works. I don’t like these types of cables for permanent installation, so I didn’t use them. Unless it’s the easiest to access hanging ceiling or a walk into the attic, I would go with solid stranded Ethernet cables that are preferred for building wiring. Especially when routing involves pulling them through holes, channels, cable organizers, or tight spaces, the chances for deadly kinks are high and painful.

Annke customer service is very responsive and helpful. I had two issues: Out of the box the remote was broken, which got replaced right away, and I had an issue with my HDMI/USB switch. Now please read this: The NVR absolutely didn’t like my switch to share one screen, mouse, and keyboard with my server. It absolutely screwed up the input, and made it impossible to enter anything from commands to passwords. It was fixed by removing the switch and rebooting the device. Granted the switch is a very basic one, but for two devices that is about what the market offers. It might be an exclusive issue with my cheap-A switch and might work with others.

PROS, NEUTRAL, CONS

+ Complete package

+ Easy to set up with many advanced options

+ User interface is fast and responsive

+ Recognized many IP-cameras from different brands with full control (PTZ)

+ Solid and shielded ports

+ Cameras have a good image quality, easy to upgrade, metal case

+ Metal case frame and lid

+ Space for second HD

*The mouse works but is too cheap to keep

* To rack mount a 1U rack shelf is required

* A personal issue: I prefer the network ports in the front (or at least the status LEDs)

- Only two USB-ports (1 front, 1 back), USB-hub required for mouse/keyboard

- Cheap plastic front

- The cameras are HUGE and with the diameter they don’t fit on 4-inch round conduit boxes to hide the connectors, which I think looks cleaner

- Case doesn’t lock, and the hard drive is easy to remove. DVR storage box recommended

- Ring/bezel to cover the screws is plastic and difficult to remove (a paint can opener worked best, I sprayed it with white Krylon Fusion to protect the plastic from UV-damage)

- Loud with two cheap and small fans (easy to replace)

I personally think this is a good system for home- or small-shop owners. Remove the stickers and logos from the cameras, and maybe mix it with other brands, and it’s hard to tell for most what level and price range security system is installed. In doubt most people with bad intentions will move on. Just remember to keep the cables hidden and protected, the DVR safe, and protected by a backup power source. I hope this helps to make a decision.

Clear HD Video, Real-time Access on Phone App, Easy to Recall and Save Video

We bought and installed this sytem 3 months ago. Last week the police asked for a copy of our video to support a homicide investigation on our block. The feedback from the detective was definite; we have one of the best systems available (at our price point). We were out of town when the incident occurred, but it was simple to locate stored video using the date and time. It was downloaded in 15 minutes from two camera angles. Even as the detectives reviewed the feed on my phone app, they were able to identify people as they walked through the frame. I am grateful that we had the Annke system installed at our home.

We chose a 4 camera system, but I've included only two in the photo.

Installation was not difficult, but took us a few hours, as we had to drill through our brick exterior walls. We knew this going in; purchased the system with the power supply as part of the cable system. Annke has provided us with a top-notch system at a price we can afford.

Very clear cameras!

I bought the 8MP version and don't regret it one bit, the pictures is crystal clear and I am able to see very fine details. This is my second Annke PoE NVR system, after the great experience I had with the first one many years ago I decided to stick with Annke when I wanted to upgrade. Setup and install was easy, the user interface is also easy to navigate. I enjoy the many different screen/camera configurations this system has, and was even able to add my older 720P cameras until I can afford to buy more 8MP ones. This purchase was a no-brainer. You can't get this kind of quality at this price point anywhere else.

Working, but not working...

Just got around to installing these.

Has anyone had issues with power being supplied to the cameras?

I plugged in and tested the cameras out and they worked, however, once I installed them in their place, and ran the wires, not all cameras were showing an image on the DVR, yet their lights on the back for the cameras are lit up. Well actually only 3 lit up, then I unplugged something else in the same outlet and the fourth cameras lights lit up on back of the DVR, yet now image.

So I only have 2 / 4 cameras showing a picture, and 2 / 4 cameras not showing an image, but backlights on DVR are lit (both yellow and green [not flashing though, mainly solid]).

***UPDATE***

Cameras that are not working appear to be acknowledged within the NVR, however are stuck on "detecting".

Can I get any help?

Kelly Cheatwood

July 28, 2019

NVR Has A Few Problems but We Have Reliable Operation for 2 Years

To amend what was written below, I’ve had this system for 2 years now and haven’t had any performance issues at all lately. There are a few issues mentioned below but overall the system has operated okay. Annie contacted me recently and sent me a free camera to rectify the situation so at least they’re willing to work with the buyers some. I’ll buy Anke again as long as the issues below have been mediated.

I have to amend my review from the first week I had it. After setting up all the cameras, it is clear that this system has some problems with the NVR. First off the good. The cameras seem to be really good quality, set up real nicely and are easy to adjust. The picture quality is really good and I'm not disappointed there. The NVR, however, has a whole host of problems. I noticed after I set up all the cameras and tried to go into Review mode to look at old footage, I could only pull up 1 to 2 channels at most. The rest said 'No Resource'. I messed with this for over an hour and could not change the settings. Secondly, the cameras all are labeled as 'Camera 1'. No matter what I do or where I go in the menu settings it either says functions are not available or that I am not authorized to change the name. I am hoping Annke will read this message and contact me about rectifying the situation as soon as possible and I will change the review and update my thoughts as soon as that happens. Thanks.

Great system at affordable price

I bought this to replace my existing 2MP surveillance system.

Packaging - all components came in a box that was packaged in another box that was then packaged in yet another box ! I think it's pretty safe to say it's prone to shipping damages. Each camera was carefully packaged along with other components.

Mounting cameras - mounting cameras was very easy. They come with drill template, although I didn't need them as I was mounting cameras either to the soffit or the siding so didn't have to drill anything. All you have to do is plug in the connector coming out of the camera to ethernet cable that goes to your video recorder and you're ready to go. I used existing ethernet cables but you also get them with this system.

After powering up the system you're presented with the wizard that walks you through the set up - you set a password, security questions, time zone, choose unlock pattern (so you don't have to type in the password, instead you draw a pattern like you can do on your mobile phone), set up network connectivity, enable access through mobile application etc

System comes with four 8MP POE cameras although it supports up to 8. Cameras are a bit over 6" (with the mounting bracket) when laid flat. With the help of Annke Support I was even able to connect my old 2MP cameras to the remaining 4 ports and even though the quality is not as good I don't have to initially spend more money to buy additional cameras.

Mobile application - Annke has it's own free mobile application that allows you to remotely connect to the system. It's called Annke Vision. Application has fingerprint sign on capability so it's very convenient - I hate typing in passwords. Setting up application to work with the NVR is easy - you click on the add button inside the app, scan the QR code that you see on a screen when setting up a system and you're done.

Accessing NVR can be done directly through NVR itself (hooked up through HDMI to TV), through Annke Vision application or simply by browsing to the NVR's IP address while connected to the same local network. I have a poor cell phone reception at work and my employer blocks a lot of ports over wifi so it's difficult for me to use the application, hence I connect to NVR through the browser. Browser plug-in only works with IE, it doesn't work for Chrome.

Other features:

Motion detection - you can set up motion detection on each camera, the way you do this is you define an "area" that camera should monitor and if it detects the motion it triggers an alert(sends you an email).

Video tampering - notifies you if for some reason video has been tampered with.

Video loss- pretty useful feature to inform you if the camera has been disconnected (on purpose or due to some technical issues ) - you basically don't need to be checking your cameras periodically to ensure stuff works as expected, system will notify you on it's own.

Failed attempts to log in to NVR - you will receive email notification in case someone tries to log in to your NVR with invalid credentials.

DDNS - you can set up DDNS to remotely connect to your system by friendly name, i use ddns.net, you can get a free hostname from them. This friendly name then maps to the public IP address of your router at home.

SMTP(Email) - once configured NVR will send you alerts to an email. Google has a free SMTP server you can use. I had to use port 587.

Video playback - Annke provides a player to be able to play exported files, i also used VLC player and it worked fine. Link to Annke’s player:

Image quality: Image quality during a day is superb compared to my old cameras. This system has cameras with 8MP resolution.

After exporting the video, I took a snapshot from the video and it created a file with 3840x2160 resolution. You can clearly see everything that is going on around your house. With H265 compression the videos are also much smaller in size!

Image quality at night: thanks to EXIR (I honestly didn't know what it was until I got these cameras) the image at night is uniformly lit - with my old cameras the image was bright at center and darker on the edges. See picture attached to this review, the shot from the Back Yard was done without any lights on, what you see by the stamped concrete is neighbors light bouncing off my siding.

I’m attaching a video as well as some images to this review so you can see the quality for yourself.

Overall this is a very good system at an affordable price that I would totally recommend to everyone !

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