Axis Launches Chinese Competitor Line

By John Honovich, Published Apr 06, 2016, 08:24am EDT

After years of letting Chinese manufacturers bully Axis out of the low end of the market, Axis has launched its most aggressive entry level offering ever.

In this note, we examine the new Axis Companion line, its features, pricing and how it matches up against the biggest Chinese and Western manufacturers.

Camera Overview

Axis is releasing 3 new 'Companion' domes - all 1080p, one indoor, two outdoor with one offering integrated IR. There are 3 critical differentiators:

  • *****: ******** ** $*** MSRP *** *** ****** unit ($*** **** ********), this ** *** ****** cost **** **** *** ever ********. ** ***** this ****, **** ****** cost **** *** **** $229 (*** **** *****). Even ****** *** **** *** series****** ** $*** *** 720p. **** **** *** have * ~$*** ****** price ***** ****, ***** is * ***** ******** in ***** ***** *******.
  • ******: *** '*********' ***** will **** **** ******** ****** ********* *** software*** ****. ** **** not **** **** *** 3rd ***** ***** *** Axis ****** *******.
  • ***********: ****** *** ********* domes **** ** **** with **** ********* ********, you *** *** *** match *** ***** **** camera / **** ******* / ******* / *****-******, etc. **** *** ****. Since **** *** * great ******* ** ********, this ****** *********** ** reduce **** ***** ********* choice *** ****** *** functionality.

***** ** ** ******* of *** ********* **** including *** ******* *** the *** / ****** (described *****):

NVR / ****** ********

** ******** ** *** 2 *******, **** ** releasing:

  • ** * ******* *** with ** ******** *** switch ********* ** *** or *** ******* *** a ********** **** ** $499 ** $***. ***** that **** **** *** Companion ******** **** ** embedded ** ***** **** camera, ** ******* *** software *** ** ***** be ****** ** *** NVR. **** *** ***** had ** *** ** anywhere ***** ** **** price *****. *** ******* thing ****** **** ***** be ********* ** * low **** ***** ***** NAS **** * ******** PoE ******. *** *** Companion *** ********** / replaces *****.
  • * * **** *** switch *** $**. *** PoE ****** ** *** special *** ********** ******* smaller ****** ******. **** setup ******* ****** ***** camera **-***** ******* ** a ***** ***** ***.

Pricing ********** ****** ****

*** **** ***** ***** in ***** **** **** had *** **** ****'****** *** '***-** ******' 4 ******* '******'. ****** *** ****** system *** * *** MSRP ** $***, *** system *** **** ***** limitations (*.*., **' *** cable ***, **** ****, 128GB *** *******, ***.). Given ****, ** ****** the ****** *** ******* ignored **** ******** *** so ***** **. *** new ********* ****** ** much **** ********** / competitive **** ********** *********.

*** ****** **** * camera **** ********* ****** will *** ~$*,*** ********* 1080p ****** *******, *** switch / *******. *********** Axis *******, ***** ** about *** **** ***** as *** ****** ********* system **** *** *** cameras *** **** ********* an ********** $*,***+ ***. The ******* ***** **** is ***** ********, **** the ********** ** *** all ** *** ******.

Western **********

** *** ******* (*** Japanese) ****, ******** ** any ** *** ***** big ****** (*.*., ********, Bosch, *********, *****, ****), there ** ****** ******* close ** *** **** nor **** *** ********* as *** *** **** Companion ****. *** **** offering ** **** *** price ** **** **** almost *** ***** *** brand ********.

** **** ***, ***** who **** *** ******* or ********** ** * bigger ***** **** ***** cost, **** *** *** a **** ****** ********. This **** ** ***** strengthen ******** ******* *** ****.

China **********

** *** ***** ****, even ******* ********** ******* product **** ** ******* markets (*.*., ********* ********** and **** ***** ******), Chinese ********** **** *** generally ******* **** ********* plus ******* ******* ******* and ********** **:

  • *** **** ***** * IP ****** ***~$***, **** ** ****** price ** **** ***** it ****
  • ************* ***** * ** channel ***~$*,***, ******* ** ****
  • ************* ***** * ******* HD ****** *** *** ~$800
  • ***** ********* ** ******* 8 ** ******* ***~$*,***
  • ***** ********* ** ******* 8 ******* *** ***~$***

** ******, **** *** its ********* ********* *** brand, ********** *** ******* and *******, ***** *** offering, ***.

** **** **** ***** typically **** * ***** premium *** *** **** wealthier *************, **** ***** be ***** ******. *******, the *** ******* ******* comes ** ** ****** grows, ***** **** *** shows * ***** ******** for ********** ** ****** offerings.

***********?

** *** **** ****, Axis ********* *** ********* well. ** ** ****** simple ** ***, *** very ****** ***** ************ (that ** ***** **** should ***** ** ***** Station *** *** ***** corporate ******* ********* ****** as ****). ******* ****** ********* *** V3 ******.

** *** ****** ****, it **** ** **** interesting ** *** *** well ** ********. ** does *** **** **** WDR, *********** *** ********** IR, ** ***** ***** quality ****** *** ** expected. *** *** ******** or **** ** ** will ** * *** factor. ** **** **** when ********.

Closed ********

*** ******* ******* ** see ** **** **** has **** * ******** decision ** ***** *** Companion ******* ** **** Axis ********* *** *** AVHS. ** ****** **** is * ******** ** Axis ******** ***** ******* (i.e., ***** ************* *** lower *****) *** ***** protect ******* ************* ***** higher ****** *********. *******, this ***** ** *** ever **** ** ******* the *** ** ****** to * *** ***** VMS, *** ******* *** essentially $***+ ******.

********, ***** *** **** $100 ** ******* **** support ***** (** **** RTSP) **** *** ** typically ** ********** **** other ***** / *********.

*** ****** ******* ** small ***** (*** **** is *********** **** ** small **********), **** *** not ** * *******, but ** ***** *** some ****** ***** ********* down *** **** **** they *** ** ****** or ******* *** *** only ** **** *** the ******* ** *** 'open' ***** ******** *** closed **** ***** ***** level *******.

Lower *****? ** ******?

** ***** **** **** release ** ****** ****** / ***** **** ****** more ***** ** ************* results ** *** *** end, *** ** ***** Axis ***** ** ***** competitive **** ** ** analog ********. **** *** been *** ** *** best / **** ******* analog ******* ********* *** years. ** ******, *****, Axis **** ******* ** analog ***** *** ***** no ****** ******* ** all (** *** **).

*** ** **** ** truly ******* ***** *** losing *** *** *** completely, ** ***** **** will **** ** *** HD ******. **** *** aggressively ***** **** *** cost ** **, *** we ******* **** **** hurt ***** **** *** competitors *** *** ******* have ** **** ******* by ****** ******* **** adoption ** ** ****** at **** ***** ***** than ****' ****** **** offering ****.

****

Comments (23)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

04/06/16 01:10pm

Shame they don't support even rtsp...

I wonder how how long it will take for someone to unlock them, it's only Linux..

Undisclosed Integrator #2

04/06/16 02:01pm

I don't see the value in this line. You're essentially paying for the name. I don't see these bringing any more value than any low priced competitors (ex: Hik or Dahua) And being that it's "made in China" all of the die hard "Made in the USA" fans argument goes away.

I would always recommend Hik over these when the customer doesn't need high end features.

Just my thoughts,

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 04/06/16 02:40pm

2, that's a good point. If you are a happy Hikvision OEM or dealer, the Axis companion line is not going to be that attractive.

How much of the market is either not happy or not inclined to use Hikvision / Dahua / Shenzhen becomes the big question.

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | 04/06/16 03:29pm

Ubiquiti: "Let's be more like Axis!"

Axis: "Let's be more like Ubuquiti!"

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
04/06/16 10:19pm

People are voting this up simply because it's Axis. If this was any other MFG it would be ridiculed. Crippled, overpriced, knee-jerk reaction to Hik and Dahua. This isn't a real competitor. It's desperation.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

04/06/16 11:42pm

While I applaud Axis for finally trying something, it may be too little too late. Hikvision Gold and Platinum Partners are given a 5-year warranty - 12 months, no hassle over the counter exchange from ADI and the rest is shipped to California.

I saw some posts earlier about Axis and their RMA procedure. If they are serious about competing with Hik and Dahua, they should step up their customer support as well.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 04/07/16 01:45am

U4, as a point of clarification, Axis is now including 3 year warranty standard on M series as well as this Companion line. Previously, M series was only 1 year.

Your points remain about Hikvision's warranty offering but I wanted to note the recent change at Axis.

John Honovich

IPVM | 04/07/16 10:57am

Here is a picture of the new Axis companion IR dome, it is not as big as it appears in the marketing photo above.

On the other hand, it is definitely still significantly bigger than equivalent Chinese integrated IR cameras with the ring of IR LEDs. Axis says this provides better performance, something we will be including in future tests.

Avatar

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 04/07/16 07:15pm

It may not be that big but almost all the other Axis cameras I've seen don't look this ugly.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

04/07/16 12:51pm

Won't look past this article about them.

Wolfgang Sembacher

04/07/16 09:10pm

I think if Axis will start a (Price) war with Chinese vendors they can only lose.
HIKVISION will grab their business and hurt them more and more!
HD Analog is fine but the future is IP.
This is my oppinion and I did not say they will kill them ;-)

Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly's Security
04/08/16 12:49am

Waste of time of productuon and marketing dollars. Dont try to compete at a level you cant compete at. Focus more on differentiating product features at a product level you can compete with.

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Sean Nelson | 04/08/16 01:11am

I spoke with an Axis employee about this, and he said it was a way for Axis to show that they're not ignoring the low-cost market. They have something if you are an "Axis guy" and want to have an offering, but it seemed like his take was that this wasn't meant to be a high-volume product.

John Honovich

IPVM | 04/08/16 06:27am

Voting results. While overall members are split somewhat evenly among the options, integrators and manufacturers disagree.

~40% of manufacturers voted this very attractive but only ~20% of integrators did.

In this case, I suspect integrators have a better feel for the demand / competitive issues for small business, and therefore interpret it as a negative sign for Axis.

Avatar

Scott Gerrels

IPVMU Certified | 04/11/16 06:32pm

I'm mixed on this, I use Axis for their features and ability to integrate with many platforms. What the heck will I be getting with this new line, and other than wanting an Axis name brand sticker on a low end chinese camera?

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | 04/11/16 07:34pm

Btw, the NVR is also a wireless access point.

Avatar

James Stuart

05/04/16 05:31pm

Interesting the Integrators that tout HIK and bemoan Axis for "competing" with HIK for the low end market. A true Integrator wouldn't have a problem selling the value of higher priced and higher quality products across the board, not just video. We have a saying where I work...."if you can't speak to the features, functionality and benefits of what you have quoted, then you can only talk about price."

Obviously many who sell security sell at the bottom of the heap. Yes, you can find HIK at ADI, Walmart, and Supercircuits, but you won't see Axis on the open market. Didn't see any comments on that one. I'll stand with Brian above and his take from an Axis employee.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to James Stuart | 05/04/16 05:39pm

So you can't find Axis on Amazon or eBay?

Avatar

James Stuart

In reply to Jon Dillabaugh | 05/04/16 05:50pm

Please be real here.....you can find anything on EBay and Amazon. Many products "not" direct from the manufacturer. Point taken, but not valid.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to James Stuart | 05/04/16 05:52pm

James, what do you mean when you say 'on the open market'? I am just not sure what specifically this refers to.

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | In reply to James Stuart | 05/04/16 06:21pm

Related: Axis vs Avigilon vs FLIR vs Hikvision vs Samsung Camera Pricing

Edit: I originally linked the wrong one.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to James Stuart | 05/04/16 05:55pm

I didn't bemoan Axis on their high level products. We are currently talking about Axis's cheap chinese line. Which in my opinion bring no value to the table. It's still higher priced than the low end of the market and... closed...? uh... how do you equate that to value??

Oh and for the record, from my experiences with Hik they do make quality products both on the high end and the low end of the spectrum.

I'm not in love with the idea of a chinese company coming in and taking business from the american manufacturing sector but in the scope of things if someone comes and offers to sell me the same coat for a fraction of the price in not going to pay a premium just for a label.

Avatar

Jon Dillabaugh

Pro Focus LLC
In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 05/04/16 06:04pm

"I'm not in love with the idea of a chinese company coming in and taking business from the american manufacturing sector"

Which cameras are made in the USA? Maybe a few are assembled here?

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