Hikvision EasyIP 4.0 Plus Camera Range: 2026 UK Installer Guide
Hikvision EasyIP 4.0 Plus is the camera platform Hikvision launched in October 2024 to ship four new technologies in one chassis — ColorVu 3.0, AcuSense 3.0, Audio 2.0 and Motorization 2.0. Two years on, the range has stabilised into three buyable sub-families that we stock at Netview Leicester: G3 Hybrid Light turrets, domes and bullets with the full four-tech stack; the still-current G2H Smart Hybrid Light predecessors; and the G3 AcuSense Darkfighter 12 MP and 16 MP IR-only turrets that share the platform's silicon but skip the white-light hybrid. This guide is the installer-side decode — what each tier actually gives you on a UK site, how the SKU naming works, which NVRs they onboard to, and where each one earns its place over the others.
At a glance
- EasyIP 4.0 Plus = Hikvision Pro Series camera platform launched Oct 2024 carrying four new technologies: ColorVu 3.0 (0.0005 lux + HikAI-ISP), AcuSense 3.0 (with AcuSearch), Audio 2.0 (dual-mic + Smart PA) and Motorization 2.0 (full motorised tilt + zoom + focus + rotation).
- G3 Hybrid Light turrets, domes and bullets (
-LI*,-LIS*,-LIY,-LIZS*) are the flagship 4 MP and 8 MP tier — ColorVu 3.0 + Smart Hybrid Light + dual-mic + AcuSense 3.0. - G2H Smart Hybrid Light (DS-2CD2T46G2H-IS2U/SL, DS-2CD2T86G2H-IS2U/SL, DS-2CD2386G2H-IS2U/SL) is the previous generation — ColorVu 2.0 + AcuSense 2 + dual-mic, still excellent and still in stock.
- G3 AcuSense Darkfighter 12 MP (DS-2CD23126G3-IS2UY/SL) and 16 MP (DS-2CD23166G3-IS2UY/SL) trade the white-light hybrid for a higher-resolution 1/1.8" sensor on the same EasyIP 4.0 Plus silicon.
- Every Pro Series camera in this range onboards cleanly to the Hikvision K-series, AcuSeek VPRO and Ultra 9000 NVRs — pick the recorder by camera count and retention, not by tier.
- Stock dispatches same-day from our Leicester trade desk: 01163 800 838.
What is EasyIP 4.0 Plus?
EasyIP 4.0 Plus is the latest generation of Hikvision's Pro Series IP camera platform, launched at a global event on 14 October 2024 and shipping into UK distribution from late 2024 onwards. It is the successor to EasyIP 4.0 (2018) and adds four new technologies inside the same Pro Series chassis: ColorVu 3.0, AcuSense 3.0, Audio 2.0 and Motorization 2.0 (Hikvision press release, October 2024).
The label "EasyIP 4.0 Plus" refers to the platform, not a single product line. Different model families inside the platform pick up different subsets of the four technologies — the Smart Hybrid Light G3 turrets get the full stack; the AcuSense Darkfighter G3 12/16 MP turrets skip the white-light hybrid; and the Panoramic ColorVu sits to the side as a specialist 180° bullet. For installers, the practical question is which sub-family fits the install — not whether the platform itself is "right".
The four pillar technologies, decoded
The four new technologies inside EasyIP 4.0 Plus each address a different installer pain point. None of them are gimmicks; each one removes a real friction in the day-to-day life of a UK CCTV install.
ColorVu 3.0
What it does: delivers full-colour images down to 0.0005 lux on the latest 4 MP and 8 MP G3 cameras, using Hikvision's HikAI-ISP image processor for AI noise reduction and dynamic motion-trail reduction. The marketing line is 0.0001 lux on the flagship varifocal models; the fixed-lens 4/8 MP turrets and bullets we stock most of are 0.0005 lux with the supplemental warm white LED on.
What changed vs. ColorVu 2.0: the F1.0 Super Confocal lens, the move to a 1/1.8" sensor on most G3 models, and HikAI-ISP doing AI denoise rather than the older fixed temporal noise reduction. In practice that means cleaner, less ghosting on moving subjects after dark — which is the single most common ColorVu complaint installers used to get from end-customers (Hikvision Pro Series with ColorVu 3.0). For the full ColorVu story across the range see our ColorVu complete guide.
AcuSense 3.0 with AcuSearch
What it does: AcuSense 3.0 keeps the on-camera human/vehicle classifier and adds AcuSearch — a one-click image-based forensic search that lets the end-user (or you, on iVMS-4200) drag in a photo and pull back every clip of the matching person or vehicle from the recorded archive. That replaces twenty minutes of scrubbing a timeline with a single click.
The on-camera analytics are the same trio installers know from AcuSense Gen 2 — line crossing, intrusion, region entrance/exit — just running on a faster NPU. For the cleanest framing of how AcuSense, AcuSearch and DeepinMind differ ("filter / search / recognise"), see the AcuSense complete guide.
Audio 2.0
What it does: the arrayed dual-microphone on the G3 housing plus a Smart PA speaker on the -LIS*UY/SL and -IS2U/SL variants gives roughly twice the clear-voice pickup distance of the older single-mic G2 cameras — about 10 m at the camera with sensible mounting. The Smart PA algorithm trims the speaker output so the live-deterrence voice clip is audible at the intruder, not just at the camera.
We covered Audio 2.0 in detail in our Audio 2.0 explainer — the five site-selection rules (mount 2.5–3 m, avoid soffits, angle 10–15° down, ≤ 100 m PoE, mind reflective surfaces) apply unchanged to every G3 Hybrid Light SKU in this guide.
Motorization 2.0
What it does: Motorization 2.0 extends Hikvision's motorised lens platform from the existing pan-tilt-rotate-zoom (PTRZ) bullets into the new G3 turret bodies, and adds 5-axis adjustment + supplemental lighting steering on the dual-lens models. The practical installer payoff is that fine angle adjustment happens from the iVMS-4200 client or the Hik-Connect app — no second trip up the ladder.
The visible SKUs are the motorised varifocal bullets DS-2CD2647G3-LIZS2UY/SL and DS-2CD2687G3-LIZS2UY/SL (2.8–12 mm), the motorised turret DS-2CD2346G3-IZS2UY/SL and the new dual-lens turret DS-2CD2346G3D-IZ2UY/SL, which exposes two independently steerable 4 MP optical paths in one housing.
The three buyable sub-families inside the platform
For a real install the EasyIP 4.0 Plus range splits cleanly into three groups. Pick by camera role, not by tech-spec sheet.
1. G3 Hybrid Light (the flagship tier)
These are the -LI*, -LIS*, -LIY and -LIZS* turrets, bullets and domes. They carry the full four-tech stack — ColorVu 3.0 + AcuSense 3.0 + Audio 2.0 + Smart Hybrid Light (IR for long range, warm white LED kicks in on motion for colour). They're the default Pro Series tier for new installs in 2026.
Stocked at Netview: turrets DS-2CD2347G3-LIS2UY/SL (4 MP) and DS-2CD2387G3-LIS2UY/SL (8 MP); domes DS-2CD2147G3-LIS2UY (4 MP) and DS-2CD2187G3-LIS2UY (8 MP); fixed-lens bullets DS-2CD2T47G3-LIS2UY/SL (4 MP) and DS-2CD2T87G3-LIS2UY/SL (8 MP). Spec datasheets are on the Hikvision product page — for example the DS-2CD2387G3-LIS2UY/SL global page.
2. G2H Smart Hybrid Light (the predecessor — still current)
The G2H Smart Hybrid Light cameras were the first Hikvision IP cameras to combine ColorVu (2.0) with AcuSense (Gen 2) and a Smart Hybrid Light. They're not deprecated — Hikvision still ships them, Netview still stocks them, and on a budget refurb where the customer wants ColorVu + active deterrence without the F1.0 lens premium they're still the right answer.
Stocked at Netview: DS-2CD2T46G2H-IS2U/SL (4 MP bullet w/ siren/strobe/mic/spk), DS-2CD2T86G2H-IS2U/SL (8 MP bullet), DS-2CD2386G2H-IS2U/SL (8 MP turret w/ full active deterrence) and the Smart Hybrid varifocal DS-2CD2747G2HT-LIZS(eF). For the long-form HiLook-vs-Pro tier decision (and where the G2H stops earning its premium) see our HiLook vs Hikvision Pro Series guide.
3. G3 AcuSense Darkfighter (high-MP, IR-only)
The G3 12 MP and 16 MP turrets use the same EasyIP 4.0 Plus silicon as the Hybrid Light models, but skip the white-light hybrid in favour of a larger 1/1.8" sensor and IR-only night vision. They're the cameras to reach for when the customer wants more pixels on the frame — ANPR pre-screening, retail wide aisles, large-format car park overview — not active deterrence.
Stocked: DS-2CD23126G3-IS2UY/SL (12 MP, 4000×3000) and DS-2CD23166G3-IS2UY/SL (16 MP, 4608×3456) — both fixed 2.8 mm or 4 mm with mic and speaker, both in white and black. The 16 MP holds the same horizontal width as the 12 MP and adds 864 vertical pixels — the framing logic is covered in our 16 MP vs 12 MP turret guide.
Sub-family comparison at a glance
| Sub-family | Resolution | Night vision | Audio | Active deterrence | Where it wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3 Hybrid Light (-LIS*) |
4 MP / 8 MP | ColorVu 3.0 + Smart Hybrid Light | Audio 2.0 dual-mic + Smart PA | Strobe + siren + 2-way audio (on /SL) | Default Pro Series spec for new 2026 installs |
| G2H Smart Hybrid Light | 4 MP / 8 MP | ColorVu 2.0 + Smart Hybrid Light | Dual-mic | Strobe + siren + 2-way audio (on /SL) | Budget refurb, swap-out, like-for-like replace of older G2H |
G3 AcuSense Darkfighter (-IS2UY/SL) |
12 MP / 16 MP | IR (no white-light hybrid) | Mic + speaker | 2-way audio (no strobe) | More pixels on wide scenes — ANPR pre-screen, retail aisles, car parks |
How to decode the G3 model numbers
Hikvision's G3 naming has a logic that's worth memorising before you go quoting from the price list. Take DS-2CD2347G3-LIS2UY/SL as the worked example:
DS-2CD2— Hikvision Pro Series IP camera prefix.34— 4 MP turret. (38= 8 MP turret;04/08= bullet;14/18= dome;T46/T86= bullet with extended IR.)7— "ColorVu" generation marker.G3— the G3 EasyIP 4.0 Plus platform.-LI— Smart Hybrid Light (IR + warm white LED).S— siren / strobe / speaker variant.2UY— the dual-microphone + alarm I/O option./SL— SD card slot + audio line (and on bullets, also the integrated speaker).
So a -LIS2UY/SL camera carries every Pro Series option: Smart Hybrid Light, dual-mic, strobe/siren, alarm I/O and SD slot. A -LIY variant (e.g. DS-2CD2T87G3-LIY) drops the speaker and siren — cheaper option for sites where deterrence comes from a separate IP horn at the building.
Pairing G3 cameras to the right NVR
EasyIP 4.0 Plus cameras run on the same ONVIF / Hikvision protocols as the rest of the Pro Series catalogue — they onboard cleanly to every current Hikvision recorder. Three sensible pairings:
- 1–8 cameras: DS-7608NXI-K1/8P(D)/Alarm4+1 — 8-PoE K-series with AcuSense, 1 HDD bay, 80 Mbps incoming, integrated 4+1 alarm I/O. The default starter recorder for a 4–8 camera Pro Series install.
- 9–32 cameras, mixed-MP: DS-7732NXI-I4/16P/VPRO — 32-channel AcuSeek VPRO, 4-bay, 16-PoE, 384 Mbps incoming, Large Multimodal AI Model for AcuSearch on the recorder side. The right pick when you've got mixed 4/8/12/16 MP cameras and want one recorder that handles all of them at full frame-rate.
- Long retention or face/ANPR: jump to the Ultra 9000 or DeepinMind tier — covered in detail in our Hikvision NVR Buyer's Guide 2026.
For the recorder ↔ client decision (iVMS-4200 vs Hik-Connect vs Hik-Central Pro), see our iVMS-4200 installer guide.
When the Panoramic ColorVu makes sense
The DS-2CD2387G2P-LSU/SL sits in the EasyIP 4.0 Plus family as the 8 MP Panoramic ColorVu turret — a 180° horizontal field-of-view at 4 mm using three stitched 1/2.8" sensors with ColorVu and strobe. It's not a substitute for a normal G3 turret. It's a substitute for two cameras pointed at the front of a building, where the customer wants one entry-zone shot wider than 110° can deliver. The bullet equivalent is the DS-2CD2T87G2P-LSU/SL.
Dual-lens turret — Motorization 2.0 worked example
The DS-2CD2346G3D-IZ2UY/SL dual-lens turret is the most visible Motorization 2.0 product. It houses two independently steerable 4 MP optical paths in a single bracket; the installer can angle one lens at the door and the other at the till in a small retail unit and stream both to a single NVR channel as one 8 MP combined view. It's the right answer for sites where two camera positions are needed but cable count, NVR channel count or planning approval limits you to one drop.
The G3 vs G2H decision in two sentences
If the customer is paying full Pro Series money in 2026, default to G3 Hybrid Light — you get the F1.0 lens, HikAI-ISP, AcuSearch and 2× pickup distance from Audio 2.0 over the older platform. If they're swapping out a single 2–3-year-old G2H camera mid-site or budget-constrained on a single new build, G2H Smart Hybrid Light is still good kit — ColorVu 2.0 with strobe/siren/audio at a lower per-camera price.
UK installer's 5-question pick list
- How many channels? — sets the NVR ceiling. 8 / 16 / 32 / 64.
- Dominant resolution? — 4 MP or 8 MP G3 Hybrid Light for active deterrence; 12 MP or 16 MP G3 AcuSense Darkfighter for wide-scene coverage.
- Active deterrence required? — yes →
-LIS*/SLwith strobe + siren + speaker; no →-LIYbody without speaker is fine. - Fixed or motorised lens? — fixed 2.8 mm for wide; 4 mm for medium; motorised 2.8–12 mm
LIZSbullets where the customer might want angle changes later without a ladder. - Two-way audio at the camera? — yes →
-LIS*/SLSmart PA speaker; no →-LImic-only or external IP horn.
NDAA, warranty and UK supply
Hikvision Pro Series cameras (G2H and G3) are not NDAA-compliant — they are explicitly designed for commercial and private installs and are restricted from sale into US federal contracts. In the UK they are sold and installed without restriction in the private sector and are the volume choice for residential, retail, hospitality, light-industrial and SME installs.
Every Hikvision Pro Series camera in this guide ships with a 3-year UK warranty handled through Hikvision UK & Ireland. Netview is a Hikvision UK authorised wholesaler — we sell direct from Leicester, hold the full Pro Series range on the shelf and same-day-dispatch every order placed before 3 pm. Trade desk: 01163 800 838.
FAQ
What is the difference between EasyIP 4.0 and EasyIP 4.0 Plus?
EasyIP 4.0 (2018) added AcuSense and ColorVu as separate technologies on different camera bodies. EasyIP 4.0 Plus (October 2024) bundles four newer technologies — ColorVu 3.0, AcuSense 3.0, Audio 2.0 and Motorization 2.0 — into the same Pro Series chassis (PR Newswire, 14 Oct 2024).
Is the G3 Hybrid Light the same thing as Smart Hybrid Light?
Yes, with a generation marker. "Smart Hybrid Light" is Hikvision's name for the IR + warm white LED night-vision pair. G2H cameras carry the first-generation Smart Hybrid Light; G3 -LI* cameras carry the same idea on the EasyIP 4.0 Plus platform with ColorVu 3.0 and Audio 2.0 added.
Can I mix G3 and G2H cameras on the same NVR?
Yes. Both run the same ONVIF and Hikvision-private protocols and both onboard to the K-series, AcuSeek VPRO, Ultra 9000 and DeepinMind NVRs without firmware constraints. Recording bitrate budgets are unchanged — budget ~6–8 Mbps per 4 MP H.265 stream and ~10–12 Mbps per 8 MP H.265 stream with 1.4× headroom.
What's the difference between -LIY and -LIS2UY/SL?
The -LIY body is the mic-only variant — it has the dual-mic but no speaker, no strobe and no siren. The -LIS2UY/SL body adds the Smart PA speaker, strobe, siren and alarm I/O. The body itself is the same, so you can swap mid-cycle if the deterrence requirement changes. Both onboard identically to the NVR.
Do the 12 MP and 16 MP G3 turrets also carry ColorVu 3.0?
No. The DS-2CD23126G3 and DS-2CD23166G3 are AcuSense Darkfighter cameras — the EasyIP 4.0 Plus platform without the white-light hybrid. They give you IR night vision with the AcuSense Gen 3 classifier on a larger 1/1.8" sensor. If you need 8 MP colour-at-night, use a G3 Hybrid Light 8 MP turret. If you need 12 or 16 MP wide-scene coverage, use the AcuSense Darkfighter.
How does AcuSearch work in practice?
AcuSearch lets a user drag an image of a person or vehicle into the iVMS-4200 search panel (or the Hik-Connect mobile equivalent on the AcuSeek NVR side) and the camera or recorder returns every clip in the archive containing a matching subject. It runs the on-camera AcuSense classifier in reverse against the recorded index — ten seconds of search instead of twenty minutes of timeline scrubbing. The NPU running it sits on the camera, not the NVR, so it works on any current Hikvision recorder.
Can I get a G3 camera with a varifocal motorised lens?
Yes. The DS-2CD2647G3-LIZS2UY/SL (4 MP) and DS-2CD2687G3-LIZS2UY/SL (8 MP) are motorised varifocal bullets with the full Smart Hybrid Light + Audio 2.0 + AcuSense 3.0 + strobe stack. The motorised turret is the DS-2CD2346G3-IZS2UY/SL.
Order or get advice
The full Hikvision EasyIP 4.0 Plus range is in stock at Netview Leicester for same-day dispatch — G3 Hybrid Light, G2H Smart Hybrid Light, G3 AcuSense Darkfighter and Panoramic ColorVu. We're a Hikvision UK & Ireland authorised wholesaler. Trade installer? Open a wholesale account at netviewcctv.co.uk or call the trade desk on 01163 800 838 — we'll spec the right G3 SKU and matching NVR for the job before you commit to the order.
Published 27 May 2026. Sources: Hikvision Global newsroom (EasyIP 4.0 Plus launch, October 2024), Hikvision Pro Series with ColorVu 3.0 product page, Hikvision DS-2CD2387G3-LIS2UY/SL and DS-2CD2347G3-LIS2UY/SL product pages, PR Newswire 14 Oct 2024 release.
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