4K means 3840×2160, or 8.3 megapixels per frame — same as Ultra HD and 2160p, different names for the same thing. Displays got cheap, content caught up, and 4K is on track to replace 1080p as the default. Whether it's worth upgrading depends on whether your full pipeline can push 4K. If yes, it's worth it. If no, you're paying for pixels your system can't deliver.
4K Security Camera Systems
True 4K (8MP) security camera systems with PoE NVR, color night vision, AI human/vehicle detection & IP67 weatherproof cameras. Local HDD storage & remote access for home, yard, shop & business surveillance.
What is 4K resolution?
4× pixels — and enough reach to read the plate, not just record it
A 4K frame is 8.29 million pixels — 4× what 1080p gives you, 65% more than 5MP. The extra pixels buy identification distance:
- License plates legible to 35m on 4K vs 20m on1080p
- Faces readable to 10-15m on 4K vs 5-8m on1080p
- Inventory detail holding at 6-10m on 4K vs 3-5m on 1080p
Numbers come from Axis Communications' 2023 identification-distance whitepaper.
16:9 frame — fewer cameras per corridor, lower install cost
4K runs 3840×2160, wider horizontally than 12MP's 4000×3000 4:3. For corridors, warehouses, and parking lanes, that wider frame covers more ground with fewer cameras. A DualArc 4K dual-lens (8MP × 2) takes the same logic further — 180° horizontal from one mount point replacing 2-3 single-lens 110° cameras. Every camera you cut is a PoE port, an NVR channel, and a cabling run you don't pay for.
H.265 keeps storage in check — 4TB gets you a full week
4K doesn't have to mean storage explosion. H.265 at 30fps lands a 4K camera at 8-12 Mbps, 30-40 GB/day event-triggered or 45-55 GB/day running 24/7. A 4COVR 16-channel 4K with the default 4TB HDD holds 7-10 days of continuous footage. Step to 2× 10TB (20TB max) and you're at 38-40 days. Numbers from IPVM's 2024 storage calculator.
-
Regular Price From $1,199.99 USD -
Regular Price From $2,559.99 USD
-
-
-
Regular Price $2,569.99 USD
Filters
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a 4K security camera system really worth the extra cost?
Worth it if any of these match your site:
- License plates past 25m — 1080p reads to ~20m, 4K to 35m (Source: Axis Communications, 2023 Whitepaper)
- Facial recognition past 10m — 1080p usable to 5-8m, 4K doubles that
- Retail inventory detail at 6m+ — shelf-level shrink evidence
Sub-5m monitoring with a $1,000 budget? 1080p or 5MP gives more per dollar. 4K only earns its premium when extra pixels change the outcome.
2. How much storage does a 4K camera use per day?
30-40 GB event-triggered, 45-55 GB running 24/7. That's 2-3× a 1080p camera at 30fps H.265.Sizing a 16-channel 4K system:
- 4TB (4COVR default) — 7-10 days of 24/7
- 8TB — 15-20 days
- 20TB max (2× 10TB) — 38-40 days
Source: IPVM (2024) Storage Calculator. Real numbers swing ±20%.
3. Can a 4K NVR record 1080p or 5MP cameras?
Yes. A 4COVR 4K NVR takes 1080p, 5MP, and 4K streams on any channel and records each at the camera's native resolution.Common split on a 16-channel NVR: 4 × 4K at critical points (entry, cash register, perimeter) + 12 × 1080p at secondary spots (corridors, stockrooms). One system, pay 4K only where evidence matters.
4. Do I need a 4K monitor to use a 4K security system?
Not strictly. Where 4K lands depends on your display:
- 1080p monitor — live view looks the same as 1080p, but playback earns: pause and zoom into a plate or face, extra pixels are on disk
- 4K monitor (recommended) — live view shows full 4K detail in real time
A 4K monitor runs $200-$500 extra. Evidence-driven sites (parking, retail, warehouses): worth it. Otherwise, skip it.
5. How long do 4K security cameras keep footage?
4COVR 16 channel 4K with default 4TB HDD:
- 24/7 continuous — 7-10 days
- Event-triggered (35% motion) — 20-28 days
HDD scales: 8TB doubles retention, 20TB max (2× 10TB) gives ~5× the 4TB baseline. Most sites run 7-14 days; bump HDD or move low-priority channels to motion-triggered if you need more.
Try the disk calculator if need - link