Dahua series and model codes explained

Dahua explained

How to read a Dahua camera: series and model codes

Dahua divides its cameras and recorders into series. This is not marketing but a real purchasing decision: it determines which intelligence you get and what you pay. On this page you can read what the series mean, how to decode a model number, and the mistake most often made when choosing a recorder.

The series is often not shown in the product title, but it is always in the model code. If you can read the code, you can see at a glance what a camera is and what it can do.

The series ladder

From Entry to WizMind

The series increase in intelligence. It is important to know that Lite is already WizSense, second generation. It is therefore not a jump from “no AI” to “AI”, but an ascending range within the same AI family, with WizMind as the project line above it.

Entry

The basic series, without its own AI chip. For simple viewing where smart detection is not needed.

Lite (WizSense 2)

Dedicated AI chip with deep learning. Distinguishes between people and vehicles, filters out small and large animals to limit false alarms, and searches back on clothing and vehicle colour.

WizSense (3)

The same AI line, one generation newer. The smart detection of Lite, developed further.

WizMind

The project line for retail, energy, finance and transport. Facial recognition, privacy masking, people counting, number plate recognition and more. Platforms 4, 5 and 7 fall under this.

In addition to the series, there is a separate layer, Xinghan Vision, which is discussed further on: it is not a fifth series but the newest generation of image processing.

Reading the code

What the digits in a model number mean

A Dahua network camera reads as a series of fixed positions. Take IPC-HDBW2449FP-AS-IL-0280B:

IPC	network camera (IP). HAC is the coax variant.
HDBW	the camera type: here a vandal-resistant dome. HFW is a bullet, HDW a turret.
2	the platform, in other words the series: 1 Entry, 2 Lite, 3 WizSense, 4 to 7 WizMind, 8 panoramic or sector-specific.
4	the resolution in megapixels (here 4 MP).
4	the generation digit: 3 is H.265, 4 is AI, 5 is Xinghan Vision.
9	the function, here full-color (colour image in the dark).
FP-AS-IL-0280B	the version and features, such as the lens size (0280B is 2.8 mm) and illumination.

The platform digit and the generation digit are therefore two different things: the first tells you what kind of camera it is, the second how recent the image processing inside it is.

The latest generation

Xinghan Vision: a generation, not a series

Xinghan Vision is in the generation digit, not in the platform digit. It is the successor to the standard AI generation (digit 4), with large-scale AI models instead of the smaller CNN models. In practice, Xinghan is almost always found on the WizMind 5 platform.

What it delivers for a home or business premises, according to Dahua’s own measurements against their previous generation:

Fewer false alarms

Up to 92% fewer false alerts in perimeter protection, while maintaining accuracy. Exactly what keeps people awake at night.

Greater distance

Up to 50% greater detection distance, while retaining 98% accuracy.

Animal detection

Recognises animals separately, so that a cat or dog walking past does not need to trigger a notification.

These are measurements by Dahua itself against their own previous generation, not independently established figures. They indicate the direction, not a guarantee for every situation.

Pay attention to the recorder

The recorder must be able to keep up with the camera

This is the point where things most often go wrong. A camera's smart functions only work if the recorder can handle them too. If you buy a WizMind camera with an entry-level recorder, you pay for intelligence that you cannot use.

Recorders follow the same logic in their code: for NVR and XVR, a 4 to 7 stands for WizSense and an 8 for WizMind. Keep the camera and recorder in the same class, or choose a recorder that is one step higher. Unsure about a combination? Feel free to contact us and we will help you check it.

Questions

Frequently asked questions about Dahua series

Is Lite without AI?

No. At Dahua, Lite is the second generation of WizSense and has its own AI chip. It distinguishes people from vehicles and filters out animals to limit false alarms. Entry is the series without an AI chip.

Is Xinghan Vision a separate series?

No, it is the newest generation of image processing and is part of the generation digit in the code. You will find it almost always on WizMind 5 cameras. The series tells you what type of camera it is, the generation tells you how new the image processing is.

Which series do I need?

For a home or small business, Lite or WizSense is usually more than sufficient: they filter out animals and distinguish between people and vehicles. WizMind and Xinghan are for those who want the sharpest detection and the fewest false alerts, especially with alarm receiving centre follow-up.

Can I connect a WizMind camera to a WizSense recorder?

Recording video works, but some of the smart functions will not work. Keep the camera and recorder in the same class, or choose the recorder one step higher. Ask us if you are not sure whether a combination is correct.

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Dahua series and model codes