Dahua NVR5208-XI (WizMind) — worth it or better options?

Macak11

Macak11

n3wb
Aug 13, 2025
12
0
Serbia
Looking for real-world feedback on the Dahua NVR5208-XI (WizMind series). I found it new for around $400 and it seems to offer the most AI features in this price range. How has it performed for you? Is it worth buying, or should I be looking at something else?
I also came across the Uniview NVR502-32B-IQ for about $300, but it doesn’t support AI on all channels and can’t run multiple AI features simultaneously. Any other recommendations in a similar budget?
 
steve1225 said:
1. what cameras you want to use with this NVR?

2. what AI features you want to use?

3. why only 8 channels - very limiting - you should start from 16 chanel version...
Click to expand...
1. For now i have some Dahua IPC-HDBW1230E-0280B-S5 and tvt td-9422E3 but in future i want to buy Dahua HDW3849H-AS-PV-PRO and IPC-HFW3849T1-AS-PV-PRO
2. Smd, perimeter protection, face recognition
3. The 16ch version is more expensive, but it supports a total of 32 channels, so later on, when I have some smarter cameras, I can use their built-in AI features as well
 
Macak11 said:
1. For now i have some Dahua IPC-HDBW1230E-0280B-S5 and tvt td-9422E3 but in future i want to buy Dahua HDW3849H-AS-PV-PRO and IPC-HFW3849T1-AS-PV-PRO
2. Smd, perimeter protection, face recognition
3. The 16ch version is more expensive, but it supports a total of 32 channels, so later on, when I have some smarter cameras, I can use their built-in AI features as well
Click to expand...

-XI have higher -AL limits, for processing done on NVR. For AI done on cameras - there is no difference...

You can look at cheaper 5xxx-EI line, or new 5xxx-EI2 (2x more AI)...
 
steve1225 said:
-XI have higher -AL limits, for processing done on NVR. For AI done on cameras - there is no difference...

You can look at cheaper 5xxx-EI line, or new 5xxx-EI2 (2x more AI)...
Click to expand...
Yes, but EI don't have ai on all ch. What you thing about xi? Its quite new and there is not many reviews on the internet
 
steve1225 said:
what you mean as EI don't have AI on all ch?
Click to expand...
AI by Recorder supports 2-channel face detection and recognition, up to 20 face databases and 20,000 face images; 4-channel perimeter protection; 8-channel SMD Plus.
Thats EI model, XI has
AI by Recorder supports 8-channel face detection and recognition, up to 20 face databases and 200,000 face images; 8-channel metadata; 8-channel perimeter protection; 8-channel SMD Plus.
 
Macak11 said:
Yes, but EI don't have ai on all ch. What you thing about xi? Its quite new and there is not many reviews on the internet
Click to expand...

I have both -EI and -XI (but 608-XI not 5xxx-XI)..

main difference between 5xxx-EI and 5xxx-XI is that -XI have much more AI performance onboard NVR..

But this is important only for AI DONE on NVR... IF you do some AI on camera (IVS, FaceDetect, VideoMetaData, AcuPick etc), there is NO difference...

Both are capable to receive & store & search ANY AI information from ANY Dahua AI camera..

ps. there is one BIG problem with 5xxx-XI and 608-XI - Dahua don't refresh for them firmware. 5xxx-EI receive non stop updates, firmwares and new features for XI are stalled for long time...
 
Macak11 said:
AI by Recorder supports 2-channel face detection and recognition, up to 20 face databases and 20,000 face images; 4-channel perimeter protection; 8-channel SMD Plus.
Thats EI model, XI has
AI by Recorder supports 8-channel face detection and recognition, up to 20 face databases and 200,000 face images; 8-channel metadata; 8-channel perimeter protection; 8-channel SMD Plus.
Click to expand...

this is for AI done on NVR, not AI done on camera..
 
steve1225 said:
I have both -EI and -XI (but 608-XI not 5xxx-XI)..

main difference between 5xxx-EI and 5xxx-XI is that -XI have much more AI performance onboard NVR..

But this is important only for AI DONE on NVR... IF you do some AI on camera (IVS, FaceDetect, VideoMetaData, AcuPick etc), there is NO difference...

Both are capable to receive & store & search ANY AI information from ANY Dahua AI camera..

ps. there is one BIG problem with 5xxx-XI and 608-XI - Dahua don't refresh for them firmware. 5xxx-EI receive non stop updates, firmwares and new features for XI are stalled for long time...
Click to expand...
Yes, yes, I know what you mean. But I’m interested precisely because of those little details you don’t know until you ask around, like you said about the firmware update. If you have any additional info about bugs or other issues, I’d appreciate it.
 
Macak11 said:
Yes, yes, I know what you mean. But I’m interested precisely because of those little details you don’t know until you ask around, like you said about the firmware update. If you have any additional info about bugs or other issues, I’d appreciate it.
Click to expand...

both working stable...

simply official firmware for -XI is 12-18 months behind (feature wise)... there are unofficial (customs) firmwares for XI, with added some missing features (mostly AcuPick 2.0)...

for -EI is available beta of next generation (5.0 NextGUI) Dahua firmware with totally new GUI. for now don't recommend.
 
steve1225 said:
both working stable...

simply official firmware for -XI is 12-18 months behind (feature wise)... there are unofficial (customs) firmwares for XI, with added some missing features (mostly AcuPick 2.0)...

for -EI is available beta of next generation (5.0 NextGUI) Dahua firmware with totally new GUI. for now don't recommend.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, Steve!
 
Macak11 said:
1. For now i have some Dahua IPC-HDBW1230E-0280B-S5 and tvt td-9422E3 but in future i want to buy Dahua HDW3849H-AS-PV-PRO and IPC-HFW3849T1-AS-PV-PRO
2. Smd, perimeter protection, face recognition
3. The 16ch version is more expensive, but it supports a total of 32 channels, so later on, when I have some smarter cameras, I can use their built-in AI features as well
Click to expand...

The 3449 Pro will outperform the 3849 Pro
 
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