The three brands we install the most look similar on paper. The difference lies in the app, the price range, and how long it takes you to get parts.
All three deliver IP cameras with PoE, recorders with comparable recording capabilities, and apps with live video, playback, and alerts. Image quality is not the distinguishing factor when resolution and lens are equal; the sensor and light intensity matter more than the logo.
Dahua and Hikvision have the widest range of parts and the longest availability, also for special situations such as vehicle identification or long distances. Safire falls into the price range below with a more compact range, which makes the choice easier for a regular home. The apps mainly differ in how you manage users and notifications.
For a home with four to eight cameras, Safire is often the most advantageous choice. If you want to expand later with gates, intercoms, or vehicle identification, it's better to choose Dahua or Hikvision right away, because those lines continue further. We advise against using different brands on the same recorder: you will actually lose the app integration you pay for.
The number of megapixels doesn't say much without the lens and the light intensity included. A 4MP camera with a good lens produces a better usable image at night than an 8MP camera that lets in too little light. Choose what you want to recognize and at what distance.
With the same resolution and lens, they barely differ in image quality. Dahua and Hikvision have the widest range of products and the longest availability of parts; Safire is among them in price and is often the most advantageous choice for a typical home.
Technically sometimes, but we recommend against it: you're actually losing the app integration you pay for. Choose one brand line per recorder.
