Uniview vs Hikvision Security Cameras (2023)

In our first comparison, we have the Uniview 5MP camera VS Hikvisions’s 8MP counterpart. The Hikvision camera is more expensive because of its 4K recording and intelligent face and object detection capabilities.

Apart from that, it has better support software such as a browser app, PC, and Mac applications on top of the existing mobile apps.

The Uniview 5MP camera has a more budget-friendly price tag with support for only android and iOS mobile applications. What sets it apart from the Hikvision camera is the integrated microphone (for recording audio) and full-color night vision using low-light sensors. (Does not need spotlights and has a minimum illumination for color threshold value of 0.003Lux.)

What’s similar about these PoE cameras is that they have fixed-focus lenses with 2.8mm and 4.0mm variants. (Hikvision has an additional 6mm variant.)

In terms of infrared capabilities, they incorporate the same IR-cut filter components with a maximum IR range of 131ft for the Uniview and 98ft for the Hikvision cameras.

They process footage using 120dB True WDR and can export three separate streams with a maximum of 25fps. (Although frame rates may be lower at higher resolutions.)

Also, both cameras have an IP67 rating, with the Hikvision camera including an official IK10 rating as an additional feature.

Here, the primary difference between these two is the camera resolution. The Uniview camera records 4K resolution footage using an 8MP camera. Meanwhile, the Hikvision counterpart only records 2K-ish footage using a 4MP camera (2688x1520).

The Uniview camera tends to be a bit limited in terms of AI object detection. For instance, it supports privacy masking, motion detection, and customizable ROI.

The Hikvision camera outright supports perimeter protection features and human and vehicle detection. It also takes things further with the ability to capture faces.

Both cameras are IP-based devices with PoE support and DC power options. They include fixed-focus lenses complete with 120dB True WDR for post-processing.

Both cameras support infrared night vision with a 98ft maximum range. Also, they both include an IP67 rating and would work great outdoors.

In order to compare the mid-range PTZ sector, we have picked the Uniview 5MP PTZ Security Camera and Hikvision 4MP PTZ Security Camera.

The Uniview camera is the more expensive out of the two, mainly because it utilizes a 5MP camera (recording at 2880x1620) while the Dahua counterpart uses a 4MP camera (recording at 2560x1440).

Both cameras have different intelligent features, with the Uniview camera supporting sound detection, tampering alarm, and general motion detection. Meanwhile, the Hikvision camera can detect faces and line crossing perimeter protection.

In terms of similarities, both cameras are IP-based devices with PoE data transmission medium and optional DC power support.

Both cameras utilize a 2.8mm to 12mm motorized lens with nearly identical 360°panning and 90° tilting with 4x optical zoom magnification.

They can also record audio and perform two-way communication. In terms of night vision, they support infrared (with varying IR distances) and full-color night vision (via low-light sensors).

Also, they are ideal for outdoor applications as both of them come with official IP66 ratings.

For our fisheye camera head to head, we’ve set up Uniview’s 12MP fisheye security camera VS Hikvisions 12MP counterpart.

The Uniview 12MP camera is the more expensive option, with it exporting three separate video streams at a maximum framerate of 25fps. Meanwhile, the reasonably-priced Hikvision counterpart can only output two streams with a maximum of 20fps.

Apart from that, the Uniview camera has an IP66 rating, while the Hikvision camera has a slightly better IP67 rating.

Considering the similarities, both devices record footage at the same 4000x3000 resolution using 12MP sensors. They have the same image sensor size and utilize the same type of fixed focus lens.

Both devices can seamlessly record footage in infrared although neither of them supports full-color night vision or True WDR.

Also, they can easily carry out two-way communication thanks to built-in microphones and speakers.