HD 1080p vs 2K Security Cameras

Whether you're a homeowner or a business owner, it's important to choose security cameras that provide high-quality footage and reliable performance indoors and outdoors. The first thing you'll want to consider when purchasing the right security camera is the resolution. A higher resolution means more detail can be captured, and it's easier to identify suspects should any criminal activity occur.

If you are looking for a new security camera system or to upgrade an old system, one of your first considerations should be the resolution. HD 1080p and 2K 1440p are two reliable mid-tier resolutions your security cameras may feature. They’re much sharper and clearer than old 720p cameras, but don’t reach the heights of 4K 2160p resolution featured by top-of-the-line 4K camera systems. See our comparison of 1080p vs 2K security cameras so you can make an informed decision to enhance the security of your property.

1080p Security Cameras

Over the last decade, 1080p security cameras have been the standard resolution for surveillance. It's the most common type of camera resolution, providing clear HD images with a resolution of 1,920×1,080 pixels.

1080p security cameras offer higher quality than 720p cameras but less detailed images than 2K cameras or the 4K security cameras referred to as ultra HD. As a result, 1080p is ideal for capturing details in most residential or commercial applications, including:

Homes - front yards, backyards, walkways, and garages,
Businesses - storefronts, offices, storerooms, and parking lots
Vacation homes, construction sites, RVs, sailing boats, marinas, and more
When to choose 1080p vs 2K security cameras

When you want a simple HD video surveillance solution for general-purpose use
When you don't want to spend more money on high-end cameras
When 1080p resolution is sufficient enough for your home or business surveillance needs
You can customize your own 1080p security system with multiple security cameras with the features you need and connect them to a network video recorder (NVR) or digital video recorder (DVR). This way, you can enjoy remote viewing, recording, and playback 24/7 on your PC, smartphone, or tablet.

2K Security Cameras

2K security cameras, also referred to as 1440p, Quad HD, or QHD cameras, are a great upgrade to 1080p resolution. They provide a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, which is higher than what 1080p security cameras offer. When you compare 1080p vs 2K security cameras, you'll notice that when you zoom in on a 2K video, it will retain more clarity compared to a 1080p video.

With 2K security cameras, you can digitally zoom and pan your images and increase the sharpness and image color without losing any video quality. While the difference between the two seems relatively minor, comparison videos show that a higher resolution camera produces clearer images.

2K security cameras are ideal for:

Reading license plates and street signs
Identifying people's faces in high traffic areas
Monitoring high-security points like building entry and exit points
Monitoring busy areas like parking lots and large storefronts
When to choose 2K vs 1080p security cameras

In this comparison, if you choose to buy the security camera is wired, then I recommend that you buy 2K picture quality cameras, 1080p picture quality compared to 2K picture quality cameras are more power efficient, and more advantageous in video storage, given these reasons, in the home security system, 1080p is a better choice.