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UBOX SDL500 vs. Dahua Solar Kit (IPC-PTS2649C-3E3Z-4GB20): The 2025 Buyer’s Guide

UBOX SDL500 vs. Dahua Solar Kit (IPC-PTS2649C): The 2025 Buyer’s Guide

Published: September 16, 2025
Keywords: solar security camera, 4G PTZ camera, UBOX SDL500, Dahua IPC-PTS2649C-3E3Z-4GB20, 36X optical zoom, farm security, construction site security, long-range surveillance

sdl500 solar security camera
sdl500 solar security camera

Introduction: Unmasking the Truth – The Difference Between “More Lenses” and “More Power”

In the world of advanced solar security, specifications can be deceiving. On paper, a camera with multiple lenses might seem sophisticated. But what if those lenses can’t see the one thing you need most: a clear face or license plate in the distance?

This is the central question in today’s head-to-head showdown between two powerful contenders: the innovative UBOX SDL500 with its true 36X optical zoom, and the complex Dahua IPC-PTS2649C multi-lens solar camera.

This guide will cut through the marketing noise and expose the single most important feature that separates a simple observer from a true evidence-gathering tool.


The Data-Driven Verdict: Specification Showdown

For those who trust the numbers, this chart tells the whole story.

Feature UBOX SDL500 Dahua IPC-PTS2649C Winner
Optical Zoom ✅ YES (True 36X Optical Zoom) ❌ NO (0X Optical Zoom) 🏆 UBOX
See Distant Plates/Faces? ✅ YES, Clearly ❌ NO 🏆 UBOX
Solar Panel Power 20W High-Efficiency Panel 8W Standard Panel 🏆 UBOX
Battery Capacity 20.8 AH (~77 Wh) 65 Wh 🏆 UBOX
Battery Life 10-180 Days (Flexible Modes) 90 Days (Motion Detect Only) 🏆 UBOX
Night Vision Range 262 feet (80 meters) 98 feet (30 meters) 🏆 UBOX
AI Auto Tracking ✅ Yes, Human Tracking ✅ Yes, Human Tracking /
Max SD Card Storage 128GB 512GB Dahua
PC Software Support ❌ No ✅ Yes Dahua
Packing Weight 4 KG 2.5 KG Dahua

More important details to compare

VS Solar security camera compare
Brand Dahua UBOX The Winner
Item NO. IPC-PTS2649C-3E3Z-4GB20 SDL500 /
Type 5V low-power solar camera 5V Low-power solar camera /
Solar/battery Solar panel size and weight 8W,smaller 20W,small size SDL500
Battery size and weight 65Wh 20.8AH SDL500
Battery lasts time 90days 10-180days                                                            (If Switch to 24/7 non-stop recording,lasts 10days in rainy weather,                              if switch to motion detection mode, lasts 180days) SDL500
Power display on APP function Have Have /
Power output 3.7V-5V 3.7V-5V /
Camera Resolution 3MP+3MP HD 3MP+3MP Dual lens /
Lens/focus Fixed Lens: 2.8 mm
PT Lens: 3.6 mm; 8.4 mm total 3 Lens
Fix lens:3.6mm, PTZ lens:36X motorized lens total 2 Lens SDL500
Video Compression H.265 H.265 /
Internet Connection WiFi/4G version options WiFi/4G version options /
PTZ Angle Horizontal 355 ° Vertica 100° Horizontal 355 ° Vertica 100° /
Night vision Full-color night vision Full-color night vision /
Night distance 98 foot 262 foot SDL500
Storage SD card(Max 512GB)+cloud SD card(Max 128GB)+cloud IPC-PTS2649C-3E3Z-4GB20
Recording mode 24/7 continually recording& Human Motion detection dual recording mode 24/7 continually recording& Human Motion detection dual recording mode /
Waterproof outdoor IP65 IP65 /
Support PC software? YES NO –Why UBOXCAM No PC Software IPC-PTS2649C-3E3Z-4GB20
Support FTP? / NO /
Support auto human tracking? YES YES /
Support optical zoom? NO YES SDL500
Support digital zoom? YES YES /
Can see the remote distance car plate clearly? NO YES SDL500
Can see the remote distance face clearly? NO YES SDL500
Shape More Mini size&Small&light Mini size&Small&light SDL500
Packing Weight 2.5KG 4KG IPC-PTS2649C-3E3Z-4GB20
Price Economic Economic SDL500
Shipping cost Economic Economic IPC-PTS2649C-3E3Z-4GB20
CAM can be separated use with other’s solar panels? NO NO /
Solar can be separated use with other’s CAMs? NO NO /
Installation difficulty? ** Easy&simple for end users, end user can operate and install it by self indepence ** Easy&simple for end users, end user can operate and install it by self indepence /
User&market End of users,home use End of users,home use,small commercial /business project /
Applications Home,small,medium-sized commecial/business project Home,small,medium-sized commecial/business project /

The takeaway is undeniable. While the Dahua camera is lighter and offers more storage, it fails in the most critical performance metrics. The UBOX SDL500 dominates in vision, power, range, and intelligence, the four pillars of effective security.


Deep Dive Analysis: The Three Battles That Define the Winner

Battle 1: The Vision Deception – True 36X Zoom vs. a Multi-Lens Gimmick

This is the most important distinction.

  • Dahua IPC-PTS2649C: The Illusion of Zoom
    The Dahua camera uses a complex system with three fixed lenses. It has a wide-angle lens for a general overview and other lenses for a slightly more focused view. It can pan and tilt, but it has zero optical zoom capability. This means if a target is 50 meters away, you can point the camera at it, but you cannot magnify the image without losing quality (digital zoom). You will see a blurry shape, not a usable piece of evidence.
  • UBOX SDL500: The Power of True Optical Zoom
    The SDL500 employs a professional-grade PTZ system with a massive 36X optical zoom lens. This is not a gimmick; it’s a “telescope” that fundamentally changes what your camera can do.

    • Evidence Gathering: Zoom in on a vehicle 150 meters away and clearly read the license plate.
    • Positive Identification: Capture a detailed facial image of a trespasser from across a field.
    • Active Surveillance: Proactively scan your entire property and investigate suspicious activity in real-time with crystal-clear detail.

Verdict: Dahua’s multi-lens system creates the illusion of advanced capability, but it cannot perform the single most important task of a surveillance camera: identifying distant threats. The UBOX SDL500’s 36X optical zoom is the undisputed champion of vision.

Battle 2: The Power Plant – Endurance for Real-World Conditions

A powerful camera needs a powerful engine.

  • Dahua IPC-PTS2649C: Equipped with an 8W solar panel and a 65Wh battery, this system is adequate for motion-activated recording in good weather. However, the small panel will struggle to recharge the battery on cloudy days, especially if event frequency is high.
  • UBOX SDL500: The SDL500 is built for resilience. Its 20W solar panel is 2.5 times more powerful, and its ~77Wh (20.8AH) battery is over 18% larger. This superior power system provides critical advantages:
    • 24/7 Recording Option: The robust power system allows the SDL500 to offer a continuous recording mode, providing 10 days of backup even in persistent rain.
    • Faster Recharging: The powerful panel ensures the battery recharges quickly, maximizing uptime and reliability.
    • Extreme Endurance: In motion detection mode, it can last up to an incredible 180 days.

Verdict: The UBOX SDL500’s power system is engineered for high performance and reliability, making it a far more dependable choice for serious, all-weather security.

Battle 3: Night Ops & Intelligence – Seeing Farther, Thinking Smarter

Security doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.

  • Dahua IPC-PTS2649C: Offers a respectable 98-foot (30m) night vision range and standard motion detection. It can tell you something is there, but it cannot follow it or see very far into the darkness.
  • UBOX SDL500: Operates on a higher level of awareness.
    • Superior Night Vision: It sees clearly up to 262 feet (80m)—nearly 3 times farther than the Dahua. This exponentially increases your nighttime surveillance area.
    • AI Human Auto-Tracking: When the SDL500 detects a person, it doesn’t just send an alert. It intelligently locks on, follows, and keeps the person in the frame, recording their every move.

Verdict: The UBOX SDL500 provides superior situational awareness, giving you the advantage with greater night vision range and intelligent, automated tracking.


Final Conclusion: Your Choice is Clear

To be fair, the Dahua IPC-PTS2649C is a decent choice for users who need a simple PTZ camera for a small area, prioritize PC software, and require massive local storage above all else.

However, for anyone who needs a truly effective security solution, the UBOX SDL500 is in a class of its own.

Choose the UBOX SDL500 if your priority is:

  • PERFORMANCE: You need to identify faces and license plates at a distance.
  • POWER: You need a reliable system that works 24/7 and endures bad weather.
  • RANGE: You need to cover a large area, day or night.
  • INTELLIGENCE: You want the camera to automatically track threats for you.
  • If you want to customized your own LOGO and create your own brand (MOQ 50pcs)

Don’t be fooled by a complicated feature list. For real-world security that delivers undeniable evidence, the choice is the one with the powerful vision: the UBOX SDL500.

Ready to see what you’ve been missing?

> Click Here to Experience the Power of 36X Optical Zoom with the UBOX SDL500 <<

Author Bio: Ms. Dong
Ms. Dong has over 10 years of experience in the security camera industry, evolving from a beginner to an expert. She has worked across the full spectrum of technologies—from 380TVL analog cameras to today’s 8K/16K ultra HD IP cameras, from H.264 to H.265, and from analog systems (SDI, CVBS, AHD, CVI, TVI) to AI-powered smart surveillance.

She is familiar with all major platforms including XMeye, iCSee, V380, EseeCloud, Tuya Smart and UBOX.

Since 2018, she has focused on solar-powered security cameras. She found solar cameras are not only fun and interesting, green and environmentally friendly, but also products with high commercial value and great potential.

She is now fully dedicated to this as a lifelong career.