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Established in 2005 as a joint venture between Huawei and 3Com/Hewlett-Packard, Uniview is now one of Hikvision's largest international competitors.
Both companies manufacture a wide range of IP security cameras and systems that are generally feature-rich yet competitively priced. In our analysis, we compare four of their flagship camera models to give you a sense of what sets them apart.
Let’s begin.
Uniview vs Hikvision at a Glance
Budget PoE Head to Head
Mid-Range PoE Head to Head
Mid-Range PTZ Head to Head
Fisheye Head to Head
Uniview vs Hikvision Overview
Uniview (or UNV) and Hikvision are both internationally-recognized companies based in China. They are veterans of the industry, with Hikvision being the oldest since it was founded in 2001. Nonetheless, Uniview is not so far behind as it was founded in 2005.
Both companies are OEMs that sell a plethora of devices related to video surveillance, including security cameras and recorders. Apart from selling their own devices, they also manufacture for other big-name rebranders such as AvertX, ANNKE, and Alibi.
Both brands tailor their video surveillance products to cater to large-scale businesses and organizations. Although, that is not to say you won’t find standalone cameras or budget-friendly 4-channel systems.
When it comes to NDAA-compliant devices, it is a mixed bag. Hikvision (despite being one of the most internationally recognized security camera brands) does not comply with the NDAA.
Uniview, on the other hand, has a mix of NDAA-approved and non-approved devices. (Here is Uniview’s official list of approved devices.)
Both brands have pretty decent mobile apps (EZview for Uniview and Hik-Connect for Hikvision), with reviews averaging around 3.3 in both the Google Play Store and App Store. Their mobile apps offer basic functions such as remote viewing, accessing storage, etc. (It's best to stick with the desktop client or recorder for managing the camera settings and other advanced functions.)
Also, since most of their cameras are meant to work with NVRs/DVRs or local MicroSD solutions, essential features won’t be locked behind a monthly paywall.
Budget PoE Head to Head
Key Differences
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.)
Key Features in Common
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.
Mid-Range PoE Head to Head
Key Differences
Our second comparison is among the mid-range PoE devices, namely the Uniview 4K (8MP) bullet-type camera VS Hikvision’s 4MP bullet-type camera.
Here, the primary difference between these two is the camera resolution. The Uniview camera records 4K resolution footage using an 8MP camera, while the Hikvision counterpart only records 2K-ish footage using a 4MP camera (2688x1520).
4K recording does come at a price; hence, the Uniview camera is relatively more expensive than the Hikvision device.
Also, a couple of additional features found in the Hikvision camera (and missing from the Uniview counterpart) are MicroSD support and face detection.
Key Features in Common
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.
Despite being recognized as high-end PoE devices, these security cameras do not include full-color night vision features. Instead, they rely on simple infrared night vision with a 98ft maximum range.
Regardless, they include an IP67 rating and would work great outdoors, provided you can install PoE wires from the camera to the NVR.
Mid-Range PTZ Head to Head
Key Differences
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.
Key Features in Common
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.
Fisheye Head to Head
Key Differences
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.
Key Features in Common
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.
The Uniview vs Hikvision Verdict
So that has been our comparison of Uniview vs Hikvision. As we figured out from our previous comparison of Uniview vs Dahua, it’s apparent that Uniview devices tend to emphasize their camera system core over other features such as night vision, intelligent motion detection, etc. Apart from that, Uniview cameras tend to be a little more pricey, but they have a solid build quality.
Hikvision products are more affordable and packed with features. On top of that, they are viable options for many consumer-based customers because of their focus on more general-purpose applications.
Even though it depends on the use-cases, we have decided to go with Uniview on this one. Despite being more expensive, they include NDAA-approved devices that work best for medium-sized businesses and organizations.
With that said, do you agree with our verdict? Let us know in the comments.
