Ubiquiti $79 Flex IP Camera Tested

Author: Rob Kilpatrick, Published on Dec 07, 2018

U.S. Manufacturer Ubiquiti has released a 1080p, integrated IR IP camera, selling it directly for $79, making this one of the least expensive IP cameras available.

We bought and tested the Flex vs the Axis Companion Mini L, Hanwha LND-6011R, and Hikvision Value Express cameras.

tested

Inside we examine:

  • Full light performance
  • Dark IR performance in <1lx
  • Integrated IR coverage
  • WDR performance
  • Installation pros and cons
  • Camera setup options
  • Bandwidth consumption
  • Physical features

*.*. *********************** ******** * *****, ********** ** ** ******, ******* ** directly *** $**, ****** **** *** ** *** ***** ********* IP ******* *********.

** ****** *** ****** *** **** ** *** **** ********* Mini *, ****** ***-*****, *** ********* ***** ******* *******.

tested

****** ** *******:

  • **** ***** ***********
  • **** ** *********** **
  • ********** ** ********
  • *** ***********
  • ************ **** *** ****
  • ****** ***** *******
  • ********* ***********
  • ******** ********

[***************]

*******

** *** ******* *** ******** **** ****** ***** ******* ********* well ******** ** ********, ******, *** **** *** **** *********, offering ******* ******* ** **** ***** *** **** *********. ************, the ** ******** *** ******* ** *********** ** *** ****** and **** ******, ************ *** ***** *** ******* *** **** slightly ******. *** **** ****** *** **** **** *** ********* though:

  • ******** *** ***********:*** *** *** ******* ** **** ** ******'* * ****** camera ** **** ********* **** * *** ** ************ ** the ******* *******, ******** ** *** ******* ******** ****** **** the ********* ***** ******* ******.
  • ****** ********* *** ****** ****** *** ****** ***** ** ******* Out ** ***:*** ** *** ******* **** ** ******* *** ** *** to ******** ****** ** *** ****** *****, *** ****** ** susceptible ** ***** ******* *** ** *** ** **** ****** pulled *** ** *** *****.
  • ****** ********* **** ***** ******* ******:********* *** ******** ****** ** * **** ***** ***** *** almost ** ****** **** *** **** ******* ****** ** * dark ***** ***** **.
  • ** ***** *******:*** **** ****** **** *** ******* *** ***** ********, *********** with ***** ******* ** **** ********* ******* ** **** ****** when *** ****** ** ** ********** ****.

*******

*** ******** ** **** ****** *** ** ***** ****** ** the******** ********** $** ***. **** ** **** ********* **** *** ********** low-cost ********* ** *** ********** ****, *********, *** ****** **** we ******.

Physical ********

*** ******** ** **** ****** *** * ****** **** ****** that **** ******** ***-**** ******, ***** ** ** ****** ****** to ***, ******* **** ** **** ** ******** ******** ***** or ***** *** ****. ***** ** ** ******** ** *** physical *************** ** *** **** ******.

Standalone/Unifi ***** ******** *****

*** **** ****** ******** ******** **** *** *****, ********* * web ********* ** ****** ******* ** ** ******* ** * unifi ***** ********** ** **** *** ** ** ********** ****, which ******** ** **** ****** *** **************.

managed-by-unifi-video-controller-or-used-in-standalone-mode

************

********** *** ****** **** *** *** **** *** *** **** like ***** ******* ** ******* ** ******** **** *** **** to *******. ***** *** ***** ** *********, *** ****** ******* to ** *** *** **** ** *****. *** ***** ***** shows *** ************ *********** ******* *** **** ****** *** *** Hikvision ***** ******* ******.

Full ***** ***** *******

** * **** ***** ****** *** *****, *** **** ****** displayed ******* ******* ** *** ***** ****** ******.

similar subject and chart details

** ***** *** ********, ****** ******* *** ***** ******* *** softer **** ***** ******* ****** *** ******* ******* *** ***** be ********.

softer image similar subject and chart details

Dark ***** *******

** * **** ***** **** ** ** , ** ***** range *** **** ****** ******** ******* ** ****** ******* **** all ***** ******* ****** *** ** *** ************ *** *******. Note **** *** ********* ****** *** *** **** ***** ***** IR, ******* *** ****** ** *** ***** ** ** ***********.

similar or better ir subject and chart details

******* ****, ** ~**' ********/** ***, *** ******* ******* *** similar ** *** ********* ***** ******* ****** *** ****** **** the ****** *** ** ****** * ****** ******* *** *** subjects ****.

flex camera similar ir facial details better ir chart details

IR ****** ** **** ** ***** ** ****

*** **** *** ******* *********** *** ******* ** *** ****** of *** ***** ** **** ******* ************ *** *** *** completely ********** *** ***** ***** ** ****, **** ** ******* to *** ***-***** *** ****** *********** **** *** ********* ***** Express.

ir dimmer at edge

Below ******* **** ******* ***** ***********

******* ** * **** ******* ***** *****, *** ****** **** 8,000+ *** ******* ** **** ~*** ****** *** *********.

wdr test field of view

** **** ***** *** *** ********** **** *** **** ********* Eye **** * *** *** ****** ***-*****, ******** ******* ** the ******* *** ***** **** ******* *** ****** **** ** 800x *** ********. *** ******** **** ****** *** ** ******* performer, ******** **** ******* ******* ** *** ******* ******** ** the *** ********** *** ** ************. *******, *** ********* ***** Express ****** *** *** ***** ********* *** ** ************ ******* no ****** ******* ** *** ******* ** ** **** *** washing *** *** *****.

below average wdr performance better than value express

Higher ***** *********

** * *** *****, *** **** ******'* ********* *** **** slightly ****** **** ***** *******, ** ***** *** ********* ****** significantly ****** **** ***** *******.

bandwidth comparison

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** **** **** ** **** ****** ****** *******.

  • ******** ** **** ******: ***.**.*.*.**.*********.******.****
  • ****** ***-*****: *.********
  • ********* ***-*****: **.*.* ***** ******
  • **** ********* *** **** *: *.**.*

Country ** ******

*** ******** **** ****** *** **** ** *****.

Comments (25)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

12/07/18 08:36am

**** ** ** *********** ******. * **** ******** ******** (************ Unifi), *** **'* **** **** *** ** ** **** **** as * ******* ***** ************ ************. *** ******** **** ******** overachieve **** **** ******* **.

*** **** ** ***** ** * ****** **********. * ***** that **** ***'* **** **** ******* *** **** ******, ** you're ******** ***** **** ***** ******* **********. *** **, **** puts ** **** *** ***** ** ***** ***-** **** *** could ***** ** ******** **** ***'** ******* ***** * ******** network ***.

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

Undisclosed Integrator #2

12/07/18 09:52am

*** *** ******* **** * **** ********* **** *********** ******** to ** ** ** ******. ***** ****, * *** ******* give **. ****** **** *** ***** *** *** **** ******. Of ****** *** **** ** ***** ** **** ***. ******** has **** ******* ***** ****** *** * ****** ****** **** as **** ******** **** ** ************.

** ****...

Michael Miller

12/07/18 10:08am

******* *** *** ****** ****** *** *** ********* *** ******* are * **** **** ********.

Undisclosed Integrator #3

12/07/18 04:22pm

"** ***** *******: *** **** ****** **** *** ******* *** ONVIF ********.'

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

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 12/07/18 10:31am

****, *** ****** *** ** *** **** ********** **** ** enable *** **** ******. * ****** *** ******* ** **** that **** *****.

Avatar

Cary Menage

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Rob Kilpatrick | 12/07/18 06:59pm

****** ***! * ****** ********** *** ***** *********** **** ******** @ ****, ************* **** ******* ****** ****** **** ******* :)

Avatar

Tom Sharples

12/07/18 10:23am

* ****** ***** ********* *** **** ******** ***** ** ***** a **** ** *********** ****-******* ** *** *****. **** **** look **** ** *********** ******* ***. *** **'* **** ** understand *** ***. * ******** ******* ******'* ** * *** more ******* **** ********* ********* *********** - **** **** *** that ** * ********** ******** *******.

Undisclosed #4

12/07/18 01:05pm

** ** *** ***** *** ******** ***** **** ** ** Camera ******* **** ***** **** **** *** ****** ******. **** think ** *****, *** ** ***** ******* *** ******** ** connect **** **** ** * ******* ******. *** ***** **** build * *** ** **** *** **** *** **** * bandit.

* **** **** ****** **** ******** *** *** $** ** works **** *** **. **** ********** *** ***********, ****** ****** for ********* ** **********. ** ** ***** ** *** **** list.

******* ********* ****** ******, * **** ** **** *** ****** is *** *** *** ****** ****** *** ****** **** *** supply *****. * **** **** ** ** *********** ****** **** investing **** **** ****** **** ******* **** **** ******** ****'* junk. ****** ******* *** ** ****** ****.

**** ********: *** *** **** *** ***** ** ** *** during **** ********* *****?

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 12/07/18 01:32pm

******* ********* ****** ******, * **** ** **** *** ****** is *** *** *** ****** ****** *** ****** **** *** supply *****. * **** **** ** ** *********** ****** **** investing **** **** ****** **** ******* **** **** ******** ****'* junk. ****** ******* *** ** ****** ****.

**** *** ****** ****** ****** **** *** ***** ******** *** just *******. *** *** ** ** ***** ******** *** **** out **** *** **** ******* *** ******.

*************, ****** ******* ** ****** *** ****. * ***'* **** to **** *** ********** **** * ******** **** ****** ***** who *) **** ** ** ** * ***** *** ******* B) ***'* ***** *********** ********.

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Michael Miller | 12/10/18 02:43pm

** ******* ** ********* * ******* **** ***** ******* ** security ******** *** ****** **** *** ****** *** **** *** other ****** ** ********? ** **** *** **** *** *** doing ***** ***? *** *** *** ** * ***** ***** now ***** **** **** **** *****?

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 12/10/18 02:49pm

**'* ** ****** **** **** *** ****** ****** **** *** there ********.

Avatar

Brian Levy

In reply to Michael Miller | 12/10/18 04:23pm

*******,

***** * **** **** **** ** ** **** **** **** distributors, ** ** *** ****** *** **** **** ******. ** seems **** ***** *** **** "*******" ************ **** ****** **** to **** *****.

*****

Michael Miller

In reply to Brian Levy | 12/10/18 04:27pm

**** ******* *** "*******" ************ *** **** *** ****?

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #4 | 12/10/18 09:49am

**** ********: *** *** **** *** ***** ** ** *** during **** ********* *****?

**, ***** *** *** **** ********* *** ******.

Avatar

Matthew Del Salto

BLACKBOX USA | 12/07/18 09:16pm
*** *** **** **** **** *** *** ***** *** *** tons **** ***** ******? * **** ********* *** ****.
Avatar

Sean Nelson

Nelly Security | In reply to Matthew Del Salto | 12/10/18 11:33am

**********, ******* ***** ** ***** **** ***** **** ***** **** product *******

Undisclosed #4

In reply to Matthew Del Salto | 12/10/18 02:46pm

* ***** **** ******* ********* *** ****** **** **** ******* for. ******* **** **** ********* **** ** *********** *****? ** it *** ** ****** * ***** ***** ***** *** ** the ********. ****** **** ** ****** ****.

Undisclosed Distributor #5

12/10/18 11:32am

**** *** **** ** **** *** *** ************/***** ** *** DSP ** **** ** *** ***** ****** *** **** ******? Was *** *** ********* ******* ** ** ** ***** ** is ** ********* ** ***** ********? **** *** **** ** test ** ** *** **** *** ******? ** **** **** an ******** *** ******** ******* *** **/***? **** ** *** name ** ***** ****** **** *** ****** ****?

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #5 | 12/10/18 12:41pm

**** *** **** ** **** *** *** ************/***** ** *** DSP ** **** ** *** ***** ****** *** **** ******?

****** ** ***** ** ********* ****, **** ****:

*** *** *** ********* ******* ** ** ** ***** ** is ** ********* ** ***** ********?

**, ** ** *** ******* ** **, **** ** **** test * *** ***** ****** ** ****** *** *** *********.

**** *** **** ** **** ** ** *** **** *** access?

* *** *** **** ** **** **** *** ******.

** **** **** ** ******** *** ******** ******* *** **/***?

*** *** *** *********** ****** ********** ********** ****** *** ******, ****** *****, ***..

**** ** *** **** ** ***** ****** **** *** ****** apps?

***** *******

Avatar

Nicholas Marto

In reply to Rob Kilpatrick | 12/11/18 08:48am

******** ********* ** *** *****. ******** *** * ***** ******** products - ***** ***** *** ***** *******.

***** ***** *** ** ********* ** *******, *****, ** ***-********* on ***** ***. **** ***** **** *** ***** ***** ***.

******* *** ******** ** *********** ********* ** *** ***** *** Gen2 **** (** ***** *** ***) *** ***** **** *** Protect ***.

*** ******* *** **** *** **** **** *** ***** ***** software.

*** ******* *** ********** **** ****** ******.

Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Nicholas Marto | 12/11/18 09:25am

*** *** ******* ********, ** **** **** ******** ** *********** ***** ******* ******.

** *** *****, *** ******* **** **** **** ***** ***** and *******, *** *** ************ *** *** *****-******** **********.

Avatar

Rick Guerrero

12/11/18 08:15am

******* **** ** *** *** ****

* ****** ****** ** **** ** **** ** *** ***

****** *** ** ***** ****** ********

Undisclosed Integrator #6

12/12/18 05:28am

* *** ****** ********** **********.

**** ****** *****'* ***** ***** *** ****** ** ************. *** fact *** * ** ******* ** ****** **** ********** ** where **'* ******** ****. ********* **** * ***** ******** *** same ********* - **** ******** ** *******.

** *** ** *** ******* ******** ** ***** ********** * had **** ************* ********* ** ** ********** ********* ****** **** Ubiquiti:

*. *** ****** ** *** ***** ** *** ****** ********** - **** ** ****

*. *** ****** ** *** *************** ***** ** ****, ******* claiming **'* ******** *** ******** ***.

*. *** ****** *** ** **** ****** ******.

********** *** ******* ** ** ********* **** ** *** ******* development - *** * ***** **** ** *** ***'* ***** its ********* ** ******** - **** ****** ******** ** *** save * *** $'*.

** ***** **** ** ******** *** **** ** *** ****** - ******** **** ****** * *** *** ****** **** ****** well **** ** ***-********* **** ********* ***** ****** **** ******* my ****.

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | 12/12/18 12:19pm

**** ****** *****'* ***** ***** *** ****** ** ************. *** fact *** * ** ******* ** ****** **** ********** ** where **'* ******** ****. ********* **** * ***** ******** *** same ********* - **** ******** ** *******.

*** ******** **** ****** *** **** ** *****, * ******* the ****** **** **** ***********.

Avatar

Rick Guerrero

In reply to Rob Kilpatrick | 12/12/18 07:34pm

****** ***

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