Skip to main content

Defender 4K Wired Security System impressions: First-class video, economy app

Terry Walsh/Digital Trends

The 4K smart cam juggernaut is rapidly approaching. With the excellent Arlo Ultra blazing a trail earlier this year, prepare yourselves for a swarm of slinky new security cameras — packing ultra high-definition (UHD) image quality and other trinkets  — to hit the market in the coming months.

Recommended Videos

While you may expect these dazzling new devices to arrive with hefty price tags, the $450 Defender 4K Wired Security System proves that may not be the case. It’s a 4-camera system supported by a stand-alone 1 TB network video recorder (NVR), negating the need for ongoing cloud subscription fees. 

While it may not have all of the bells and whistles of pricier packages like Swann’s new 4K Security System, it promises to deliver a high standard of smart surveillance, with an 8.3 MP sensor delivering that 4K (3840 × 2160 resolution) goodness.

Complex, clunky cabling

Of course, a low price typically leads to compromise. Defender 4K cameras are compact and built for the elements, with an IP67 weatherproof rating, but they’re not particularly pretty and lack advanced features like the integrated PIR sensors you’ll find on premium competitors. The supporting plastic wall mounts feel cheap and only offer vertical adjustment, making camera positioning more difficult than it should be.

Terry Walsh/Digital Trends

Cabling is also quite complex, with individual — and chunky — 12-volt DC power and BNC data connectors favored over a more convenient power over Ethernet design. All four cameras connect to a single power supply and directly to the NVR, so you’ll certainly need to think through your wiring design and power outlet availability ahead of installation. Considering Arlo Ultra’s wire-free design and easy installation, Defender 4K looks to be quite the dinosaur.

Pin-sharp 4K, narrow field of view

You’ll be delighted with Defender’s 4K images, which are crystal clear, with accurate colors and balanced contrast. Night vision delivers well-illuminated images with good range. Video quality and detail impresses, whether you’re monitoring the feeds on a small 4K monitor or big-screen TV. However, a horribly narrow field of view of just 79 degrees is well behind most modern smart cameras. In fact, it’s less than half of what the Arlo Ultra provides, so you’ll need to position your cameras carefully to cover your property’s entrance and exit points.

Dated mobile app

Like most modern NVR systems, you can choose to manage cameras and recordings directly using a supplied USB mouse or via an accompanying mobile app. We found Defender’s NVR software to be responsive. Accessing camera feeds and configuring recordings was easy enough, although if you’re new to multi-camera security apps, you’ll need to invest plenty of time getting up to speed with Defender’s advanced settings and technical terms.

We found connecting the supporting mobile app to be trickier than most security systems, requiring settings that need to be tweaked on both NVR and a smartphone, as well as a scan of a QR code on screen (which didn’t work) or a second QR code stuck onto the NVR hardware. The clunky setup experience provided a clear indication that Defender’s app — and overall user experience — lacks the friendly, intuitive design we expect from modern smart home devices. 

Monitoring our four cameras via the mobile app was reasonably straightforward, as was accessing previously captured recordings. But while we admire the jump to 4K resolution, Defender 4K feels outdated in others areas. It lacks both the seamless usability of modern smart home security systems and misses out on advanced features such as variable alert triggers, notification filters, person or facial recognition, and third-party device integrations.

Conclusion

A price tag of $450 is certainly attractive for a 4-camera UHD NVR system, but you’ll need to invest a significant amount of time installing, configuring, and, in some cases, battling Defender 4K’s old-school hardware, interface, and feature design to overcome its limitations.

Terry Walsh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Terry Walsh is a British-born technology writer living in Canada, whose first computer was a cherished 48k ZX Spectrum…
Earth Day with Reolink: Protecting nature, one camera at a time
earth day with reolink protecting nature one camera at a time hero crop

This Earth Day, Reolink is celebrating the incredible intersection of technology and conservation. With help from environmentally conscious users and dedicated NGO partners, Reolink is proving that small actions, powered by smart outdoor technology, can lead to a big impact for our planet's wildlife and natural landscapes.
Smarter, Greener Outdoor Monitoring
Reolink's lineup of outdoor cameras, including the Go PT Ultra, Go Ranger PT, and TrackMix LTE, do more than safeguard homes. They empower nature lovers to connect with the wild while treading lightly on the environment.

Each camera is engineered for sustainability and performance. Solar power compatibility keeps them running without contributing to battery waste. Their rugged, waterproof designs ensure they survive the toughest outdoor elements. And with stunning 4K 8MP ultra-clear footage, they capture the beauty of wildlife — from the shimmer of a bird's wings to the subtle prowling of a fox at dusk — without disturbing natural behavior.

Read more
Roku expands smart home lineup with two upcoming security cameras
The Roku Battery Camera on a tree

Roku might be known for its streaming sticks and smart TVs, but the brand also has a strong presence in the smart home market. From video doorbells and smart lights to plugs and motion sensors, Roku’s smart home catalog is surprisingly robust. The catalog is set to expand in the coming months, as Roku has officially revealed two upcoming security cameras -- the Roku Battery Camera and Roku Battery Camera Plus.

The Roku Battery Camera Plus is the most enticing of the two, as it can get up to two years of battery life on a single charge (the Battery Camera gets up to six months). They can also be combined with an optional solar panel to extend their battery life. Beyond that, most specs are shared -- including 1080p resolutions, color night vision, and the option to receive motion alerts when activity is detected around your home.

Read more
Aqara releases new Matter hub, security system, and climate sensor
The Aqara Matter Hub

Aqara has been busy as of late. The company announced Matter support for 50 new device types earlier this month, and now it’s launching three new products -- the Aqara M100 Hub, Climate Sensor W100, and Camera Protect Kit Y100. All three are now available for purchase.

If you’re interested in syncing all your smart devices together, the Aqara Smart Hub M100 is bound to be the most exciting of the bunch. The next-gen smart hub is designed for seamless Matter compatibility, allowing you to set up complex automations between Aqara products and Matter-enabled products from other platforms.

Read more