Hikvision Model Numbers Explained
A Hikvision model number is a description, not a code. Once you can read it you can tell what a camera is, what shape it is, how it sees in the dark and what it can hear. Installers call it the Hikvision alphabet.
This page follows Hikvision's own published naming rules (Product Naming Rules, July 2026). One thing is worth knowing before you start: the same letter means different things in different positions and different product families. H alone has four meanings. We have flagged those rather than pretending the system is tidier than it is.
1. The prefix
| Prefix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DS- | Standard Hikvision product |
| iDS- | Intelligent product — AcuSense or DeepinMind, meaning deep-learning classification of people and vehicles |
| 2CD | Network (IP) camera |
| 2CE | Turbo HD camera — analogue over coax |
Why the lower-case i matters: on a recorder the analytics run in the box, so ordinary analogue cameras gain people-and-vehicle filtering without being replaced. On a camera, the camera does it itself.
2. Form — the body shape
| Code | Body |
|---|---|
| B | Bullet |
| D | Dome |
| T | Big fixed bullet |
| H | Varifocal turret — note this is a form code, not the suffix H |
3. Resolution
A single character: 0 = 1MP · 1 = 1.3MP · 2 = 2MP · 3 = 3MP · 4 = 4MP · 5 = 5MP · 6 = 6MP · 8 = 8MP · C = 12MP · 16 = 16MP.
4. Feature level
Default (vacant) = standard · E = Economic · H = Enhanced.
5. The suffix letters
This is where most of the useful information sits. Taken directly from Hikvision's suffix table for network cameras:
| Code | Means |
|---|---|
| I | Infrared. 2I = two IR LEDs, 4I = four IR LEDs — more LEDs, longer reach |
| L | White light — records in colour after dark |
| LI | Dual light — infrared and white light together. This is the code behind Smart Hybrid Light |
| N | Invisible IR — 940nm, no visible red glow |
| Z | Motorised varifocal lens — set the framing remotely instead of up a ladder |
| S | Interface — audio and alarm |
| U | Built-in microphone. 2U indicates two |
| F | SD card (on 3xx1 fixed models). Not "fixed lens" |
| M | HDMI, on 3-Line HDMI models |
| D | Non-PoE, AC/DC powered |
| H | Heater — in the suffix position |
| Y | Anti-corrosion. This is why Y models carry a NEMA 4X rating. It is not a version number |
| W | Wi-Fi |
| /SL | Strobe light and audio alarm |
| /4G, /5G | Mobile connectivity |
6. Light source and low-light technology
| Code | Means |
|---|---|
| C | ColorVu |
| H / XX | DarkFighter |
| W | Powered-by-DarkFighter |
| I | 850nm IR light |
| N | 940nm IR — no visible glow |
| S | White light |
| L | Laser light |
| M | IR and white light |
| (NA) | Without IR |
This is the table that catches people out. In this position H means DarkFighter; in the suffix position H means heater; in the feature position H means Enhanced; and in the form position H means varifocal turret. Position decides meaning.
7. Generation — and why there is no single rule
Hikvision's own document uses two different generation mappings in different product families:
- Some ranges: G0 first generation · G2 second · G3 third
- Other ranges: G0 first generation · G1 second · G2 third
So a higher G is always newer within its own family, but G2 does not mean the same thing across every range. Treat it as a sequence, not an absolute.
Bracketed revisions such as (C), (D), (E) and (eF) are separate again, and they are not cosmetic — on NVRs a (C) and an (E) differ in maximum resolution, storage and face-library capacity. Always check the exact variant.
8. Recorders
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| NI | Network video recorder |
| NXI | NVR with intelligent functions — AcuSense, or DeepinMind on iDS models |
| HQHI | DVR recording up to 3K / 5MP Lite |
| HUHI | DVR recording full 5MP, accepts 8MP cameras |
| HTHI | DVR recording true 8MP on every channel |
Drive slots are given plainly: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 or 24 HDD slots — the M1 / M2 / M4 / M8 part of a DVR model. Bays decide how long you keep footage, not how many cameras you can run.
The expensive trap: HUHI and HTHI are both sold as handling 8MP cameras. An HUHI records full 8MP on channel one only — every other channel drops to 8MP Lite. HTHI records 8MP on all of them. Our DVR buying guide covers this properly.
- /P or /PXT — PoC on a DVR (power over coax), PoE ports on an NVR
- /S — Ultra Series. On these, advanced perimeter analytics run only on specific physical channels
- R — redundant power supply
- K-series — the older generation, without AcuSense
8b. PTZ and specialist ranges
PTZ cameras have their own product codes:
| Code | Range |
|---|---|
| 2AE | Analogue PTZ |
| 2DE / 2DF | DE-line and DF-line network PTZ |
| 2DP | Panoramic PTZ |
| 2DT | Anti-corrosion PTZ |
| 2DY | Positioning systems |
| 2SE / 2SF | TandemVu PTZ |
| 2VS | Traffic violation detection PTZ |
| 2XC | Anti-corrosion series cameras |
| HM- | HIKMICRO thermal |
On thermal and positioning products a further suffix gives the platform: 1X turret, 2X bullet, 3X cube, 4X speed dome, 5X mini positioning system, 6X positioning system, 7X panoramic scanner, 8X stable PTZ, 9X sphere PTZ. Thermal models also carry a detector resolution such as 256 x 192, 384 x 288 or 640 x 512.
Other function codes you may meet: D water-level detection, P illegal parking detection, K solar power kit, 3 in-ceiling mounting, 4 base mounting, M vehicle installation.
8c. Turbo HD cameras (DS-2CE)
Analogue Turbo HD cameras use a different convention from IP. Reading DS-2CE72UF3T-LSYE left to right:
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| C / E / S | C series for projects · E series for distribution · S series for special applications |
| 1 / 3 / 5 / 7 | Bullet · box · dome · turret |
| Second digit | Housing detail within that shape |
| C / D / H / U | 720p · 1080p · 5MP · 8MP |
| 0-3 | Economy rank |
| 5 or 8 | Ultra low light |
| 9 | Ultra low light plus |
| F | Full-time colour |
| T | HD-TVI |
Turbo HD suffixes
| Code | Means |
|---|---|
| E | PoC - powered over the coax |
| S | Coaxial audio - audio over the same cable (AoC) |
| F | 4-in-1 - switchable TVI / AHD / CVI / CVBS |
| Z | Motorised lens |
| VF / VP | Varifocal · vandal-proof |
| IR / IR3 | Conventional IR 10-20m · 30-40m |
| IT / IT2 / IT3 / IT5 | EXIR 2.0 - 20-30m · 20-40m · 30-60m · 60-80m |
| L | Lighting (white light) |
| X | Strobe light and audible alarm |
| PIR / PH | PIR detection · pinhole |
| O / B / H | Alarm out · built-in balun · heater |
| A / P / M | 24V AC and 12V DC · plastic · metal |
Note the overlap trap: on Turbo HD, S means coaxial audio and E means PoC. On IP cameras S means an audio/alarm interface and E means Economy. Same letters, different ranges.
8d. DVRs (the full rule)
A DVR model such as iDS-7208HUHI-M1/P breaks down like this:
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DS- / iDS- | General · intelligent (AcuSense) |
| 71 / 72 / 73 / 76 / 81 / 90 | DVR product series. Encoders use 60/61/65/66/67 |
| 01-32 | Analogue channel count |
| HGH | 720p / 1080p Lite |
| HQH | 1080p / 4MP Lite |
| HUH | 3MP / 5MP / 8MP |
| HTH | 8MP |
| I | International. The I on the end of HQHI, HUHI and HTHI means international market - it is not part of the resolution code |
| -M | Second-generation AcuSense - the current range |
| -K | H.265 and H.265+ generation |
| -F, -S, -ST, -SH, -E | Older generations |
| 1-16 | Supported hard drives |
| /P | Built-in PoC |
| /N | Non-real-time |
| /xS | Number of smart analysis channels |
That I is worth knowing. People read HUHI as a single code; it is HUH plus I. Once you see that, the tiers line up: HGH, HQH, HUH, HTH in ascending resolution.
8e. NVRs
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 71 / 76 / 77 / 96 | Value · Pro · Pro · Pro or Ultra |
| N / NX | NVR · NVR with deep-learning technology |
| I | International market |
| I / K / E / Q | Platform - different processors |
| 1-24 | Hard drive slots |
| /16P | 16 PoE ports |
| /4S / /4F / /4B | 4 channels of human detection · facial recognition · behaviour analysis |
| (B) | Second hardware revision |
8f. Brackets and housings
Worth knowing if you have ever ordered the wrong mount. DS-1272ZJ-110-TRS decodes as:
- 12 camera bracket · 16 PTZ dome bracket
- 70 adaptor cap · 71 pendant · 72 short arm wall mount · 73 long arm wall mount · 75 pole mount · 76 corner mount · 80 junction box · 81 inclined base · 82 adaptor plate
- 110 to 160 - adaptor cap diameter in millimetres
- TR turret · TRS turret 3 and 5 · TRL turret 6 and 8 · DM18-DM23 for dome cameras
Housings run DS-13xx: 30 indoor plastic, 32 indoor metal, 31 outdoor, 40 outdoor with three-axis adjustment. Suffixes: -C fan, -H heater and fan, -W wiper, -E PoE, -I IK10, -R refrigeration.
9. Worked examples
DS-2CD2346G3-IZ2UY → network camera · 4MP · G3 · I infrared · Z motorised lens · 2U two microphones · Y anti-corrosion. See it.
DS-2CD2T46G3-2IZY → the same camera as a T big fixed bullet, with 2I two IR LEDs, Z motorised lens, Y anti-corrosion — and no U, so no microphone. See it.
iDS-7204HTHI-M1/PXT → intelligent · 4-channel · true 8MP · one drive bay · PoC. See it.
10. Lenses, colours and a warning
- (2.8mm), (2.8-12mm) — focal length. A single figure is fixed; a range is varifocal. No Z means you set it by hand at the camera
- /BLACK, /GREY, (B), (G) — housing colour
- Careful: a bracketed letter is usually colour or revision, but an unbracketed trailing letter is often a different model. DS-1272ZJ-110 and DS-1272ZJ-110B are not the same bracket
11. The technology names
| Name | What it actually does |
|---|---|
| AcuSense | Deep-learning classification of people and vehicles, cutting false alarms and letting you search recordings by object type |
| ColorVu | Full colour footage after dark, using a wide aperture and white light rather than infrared |
| Smart Hybrid Light | Infrared and white light in one camera — discreet mono, colour, or automatic switching. Coded LI |
| DarkFighter | A very sensitive sensor for low light. Still uses infrared at night, so footage is monochrome |
| DeepinMind | Hikvision's highest analytics tier on recorders |
| ANR | The camera keeps recording to its memory card if the network drops, then back-fills the gap |
| AoC / PoC | Audio, or power, carried on the coax alongside the video |
| NEMA 4X | Corrosion resistance beyond IP67 — signalled by Y in the model number |
12. The specification nobody quotes, and the one that matters most
DORI is the European standard (EN 62676-4) for what a camera can do at a given distance:
- Detect — something is there
- Observe — what kind of thing it is
- Recognise — someone you already know
- Identify — a stranger, to evidential standard
The gap is larger than most people expect. A 4MP camera with a 2.8mm lens detects at 66 metres but identifies at under 7. That is normal, not a fault — but it is why the camera covering your door needs to be near the door, and why megapixels alone never answer "will I see who it was?"
Common questions
What does the i in iDS mean?
It marks an intelligent product — AcuSense, or DeepinMind on higher-tier recorders. The device classifies people and vehicles using deep learning rather than triggering on any movement.
What does Y mean at the end of a Hikvision model number?
Anti-corrosion. It is why models ending in Y typically carry a NEMA 4X rating, worth having near the coast, on farms, or anywhere with salt or chemicals in the air. It is not a version number.
Why does H seem to mean different things?
Because it does. In the form position H means varifocal turret; in the feature position, Enhanced; in the light-source position, DarkFighter; in the suffix position, heater. Position decides meaning — which is why reading a model number left to right matters.
What is the difference between 2I and 4I?
The number of infrared LEDs — two or four. More LEDs means longer infrared reach, so a 4I model sees further in the dark than the 2I version of the same camera.
What does LI mean?
Dual light — infrared and white light in the same camera. It is the code behind Smart Hybrid Light, letting you choose discreet monochrome or full colour after dark.
Is a higher G number always newer?
Within the same family, yes. But Hikvision uses two different generation mappings across ranges — in some, G0, G2 and G3 are the first, second and third generations; in others it runs G0, G1, G2. Treat G as a sequence within a range rather than an absolute.
What is the difference between HQHI, HUHI and HTHI?
Resolution tiers on a DVR. HQHI records up to 3K or 5MP Lite, HUHI handles full 5MP and accepts 8MP cameras, and HTHI records true 8MP on every channel.
How far can a camera identify someone?
Far less than it can see. Check the DORI figures: a typical 4MP camera at 2.8mm identifies a stranger at under 7 metres, even though it detects movement at around 66.
Still not sure what you are looking at?
Send us the model number and we will tell you exactly what it is, what it will and will not do, and whether it is still current. We stock Hikvision and HiLook as an authorised partner, and we would rather talk you out of the wrong camera than sell it to you.
Contact us, call 01902 902251, or visit the Wolverhampton trade counter.
Next: the DVR buying guide, the NVR buying guide and the IP camera buying guide.