Ubiquiti PoE Cameras 2026: The Best UniFi Protect Models to Buy

Last updated: 18 February 2026. All prices are approximate UK street prices, hedged and drawn from the retailers named in each section. All specifications come from Ubiquiti’s published datasheets and product pages.

A Ubiquiti PoE camera solves a specific problem very neatly: one Ethernet cable carries both power and video, so there is no 12 V power supply in the loft, no wall wart behind a kitchen unit, no wireless channel to congest and no monthly cloud fee. Recordings land on a hard drive inside hardware you own outright. The catch is that nothing in the range works on its own — you have to buy into the UniFi Protect ecosystem first, and that is where budgets quietly go wrong.

This guide is a research-led comparison, not a hands-on test. Every figure below is taken from Ubiquiti’s published datasheets and product pages, from named UK retailer listings, or from aggregated owner feedback in communities such as r/Ubiquiti and r/HomeNetworking. Where a figure could not be grounded, it is flagged rather than guessed at, and every price is an approximation that moves with stock and exchange rates.

Quick picks

How to choose a Ubiquiti PoE camera

Five specifications decide which model suits a property, and the model name tells you almost none of them. Note in particular that the numbering does not map cleanly onto resolution: the G5 Turret Ultra is 4K while the G5 PTZ is 2K. Read the datasheet, not the badge.

Start with the console, because there is no way around it. Every camera in the Protect range requires a UniFi OS console or NVR to record, stream and manage it. This is covered in full below, but it belongs first in any buying decision, because it is usually the largest single line on the bill.

Power class. Each camera lists a PoE class and a maximum draw in watts. 802.3af is the baseline standard, 802.3at (often sold as PoE+) sits above it, and 802.3bt (PoE++) above that again. The class decides whether your existing switch can power a camera at all, and the wattage decides how many cameras that switch can carry before its total budget runs out — the two numbers that most often force an unexpected upgrade.

Resolution. 2K is enough to identify a person at typical driveway distance; 4K gives you more pixels to zoom into for a number plate or a face at the far end of a garden. The trade is storage: 4K continuous recording writes several times the data of 2K motion-only clips, which shortens retention on the same hard drive.

IR range. This is the night-vision reach, quoted in metres. In this line-up it runs from 30 m on the G5 Turret Ultra to 50 m on the bullets and the G5 PTZ. If the camera looks down a long drive or across a car park, the shorter figure will leave the far end of the scene in darkness.

Sensor size and IP rating. The G6 Pro Bullet’s 1/1.2″ sensor is physically larger than the sensors in the standard models. A bigger sensor collects more light per pixel, which means less digital noise and less motion smear in low light — the difference between a usable night image and a grey smear with headlights in it. The IP rating is the weatherproofing: IP67 means dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion (the sensible target for a UK wall taking driven rain), while IP66 means dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets but not immersion. The G5 PTZ is rated IP66; every other model here is IP67.

Subscription. There isn’t one. Ubiquiti’s Protect pricing page (ui.com/camera-security, accessed February 2026) confirms no recurring fee, with recordings stored on your own drive. One caveat worth carrying into any purchase: Ubiquiti has historically gated some features by hardware generation, so verify feature parity for your specific console model before you buy.

Ubiquiti’s wider Protect line-up also includes shapes beyond the models covered in detail here — among them the G6 Turret, AI Pro and AI Turret. This guide concentrates on the models whose published specifications could be grounded against Ubiquiti’s datasheets and UK retailer listings.

The console you cannot skip

Every Protect camera requires a UniFi OS console or NVR. There is no standalone mode, no built-in card slot and no cloud-only fallback. A camera on its own will not record and will not stream. Buy the console first and treat the cameras as the addition.

The consoles that are verified for Protect use are:

• CloudKey Gen2+ — typically £180–£240, the right size for a handful of cameras in a home
• UNVR — around £300–£400, the common choice for multi-camera installations
• UNVR Pro — roughly £450–£600, for larger drives and bigger deployments
• Dream Machine Pro SE — for buyers who want routing, switching and Protect in one rack unit

Ubiquiti publishes the full compatibility list on its own product pages, and it is worth checking the current list against the console you plan to buy, because the supported feature set is tied to the console generation as well as the camera.

PoE budget arithmetic: how many cameras one switch will carry

This is the calculation almost no other buying guide does, and it is the one that decides whether a cheap switch is actually cheap.

Ubiquiti’s specification for the USW-Lite-8-PoE quotes a total PoE budget of 52 W across its powered ports. That figure, not the port count, is the real ceiling.

Worked example using manufacturer-stated draws: four G6 Bullets at roughly 8 W each come to about 32 W — comfortably inside 52 W. Add a G6 Pro Bullet at roughly 12 W and the total climbs to about 44 W, which still fits, leaving roughly 8 W of headroom. Swap in a G5 PTZ at roughly 25 W, however, and a single camera consumes nearly half the switch’s entire budget — worth knowing before you plan a mixed installation.

Injectors versus a switch. A single PoE+ injector powers a single camera and typically costs around £15–£25 on Amazon UK. Two of them therefore come to roughly £30–£50 against a USW-Lite-8-PoE at typically around £130–£160 from the Ubiquiti Store UK or LinITX. That makes injectors look like the bargain — until you need a third camera, at which point the switch becomes the more economical route and gives you one managed device instead of a nest of injectors behind the rack. Also note the power class: the G5 PTZ’s 802.3bt requirement rules out a standard PoE+ injector, so check the class before ordering.

Storage: how much retention you actually get

Camera resolution is meaningless without a retention figure, and retention is driven by how the camera records.

Those figures follow Ubiquiti’s own retention calculator logic. The gap between the two rows is the whole argument for motion-triggered recording: a 2 TB drive that holds roughly 100 days of 2K motion-only footage from about four cameras will hold only around 8–10 days if the same cameras write 4K continuously. Exact retention scales with how many cameras are writing, how often motion occurs and which codec is in use, so treat both columns as planning estimates rather than guarantees.

The models compared

Power draw figures are manufacturer-stated and are revised from time to time as firmware and hardware revisions land — confirm the current datasheet for your exact model before sizing a switch against these numbers.

UniFi G5 Bullet — best value

Best for: a first camera, or filling out a perimeter on a budget where 2K is enough to identify a person at driveway distance.

Key specifications: 2K resolution, 802.3af PoE with a manufacturer-stated draw of around 6.5 W, 50 m IR range, IP67 weatherproofing.

Why those numbers matter: at roughly 6.5 W, the G5 Bullet is the lowest-draw camera in this group, so it works on almost any PoE switch and even on a single cheap injector. The 50 m IR reach is the same as the more expensive bullets, which means the night vision is not the compromise. IP67 means it will shrug off driven rain on an exposed gable.

Standout strength: the lowest cost per camera in the range, with the same 50 m IR reach as models costing nearly twice as much.

Honest caveat: 2K rather than 4K. If a number plate or a distant face matters later, the saving now becomes a second purchase later.

Verdict: typically around £130–£180 — the sensible entry point if your scene is a drive, a side return or a back door. Where to buy: LinITX, Amazon UK, Ubiquiti Store UK (store.ui.com/uk) or Broadband Buyer.

UniFi G6 Bullet — best overall

Best for: the main camera on a property where you want 4K without replacing the switch.

Key specifications: 4K resolution, 802.3af PoE at a manufacturer-stated draw of around 8 W, 50 m IR range, IP67.

Why those numbers matter: 4K on a baseline 802.3af port is the headline. Compare it with the G5 Bullet’s 6.5 W and you are paying only around 1.5 W more per camera for roughly four times the pixel count — and that extra wattage barely dents a 52 W switch budget, as the worked example above shows. The 50 m IR range matches the G5 Bullet and the G6 Pro Bullet, so night vision is identical across all three.

Standout strength: the best resolution-to-power ratio in the line-up, and the model most buyers should default to.

Honest caveat: 4K is storage-hungry. Continuous recording writes roughly 20–30 GB per camera per day, so pair it with motion-triggered recording if you want months rather than days of retention on a 2 TB drive.

Verdict: typically around £200–£280, and the model that makes the fewest compromises. Where to buy: LinITX, Amazon UK, Ubiquiti Store UK or Broadband Buyer.

UniFi G6 Pro Bullet — best for detail at range

Best for: low-light scenes — an unlit lane, a yard with poor ambient light, or anywhere you need a clean image after dark rather than a noisy one.

Key specifications: 4K resolution, a 1/1.2″ sensor, 802.3at PoE at a manufacturer-stated draw of around 12 W, 50 m IR range, IP67.

Why those numbers matter: the 1/1.2″ sensor is the largest in this comparison. A physically larger sensor gathers more light per pixel, which reduces noise and motion smear in dim conditions — the practical difference between reading a face at 25 m at night and guessing at it. The trade is power: 802.3at rather than 802.3af, and around 12 W against the standard G6 Bullet’s roughly 8 W, so check that your switch or injector is PoE+ rated before ordering. In a 52 W budget, four of these plus nothing else would leave very little room for further cameras.

Standout strength: the best night image in the range, which is precisely the condition most UK installs face for half the year.

Honest caveat: the highest price of the three bullets, and the only one that demands a PoE+ power source.

Verdict: roughly £350–£450 — worth it where identification after dark is the entire point. Where to buy: LinITX, Amazon UK, Ubiquiti Store UK or Broadband Buyer.

UniFi G5 Turret Ultra — best compact 4K

Best for: buyers who want 4K at the lowest possible power draw, and a turret body that aims easily at an angle without a bulky bullet housing.

Key specifications: 4K resolution, 802.3af PoE at a manufacturer-stated draw of around 7 W, 30 m IR range, IP67.

Why those numbers matter: around 7 W is the lowest draw of any 4K model here — cheaper on the switch budget than the G6 Bullet’s roughly 8 W and far below the G6 Pro Bullet’s roughly 12 W. The catch is the IR range: 30 m against the bullets’ 50 m. For a doorway, a side path or a small yard, 30 m is generous. For a long drive, the far end will fall outside the illuminator’s reach.

Standout strength: 4K, IP67 weather sealing and the friendliest power profile in the line-up.

Honest caveat: the shortest IR range of the models compared here, at 30 m.

Verdict: a 4K camera for tighter, closer scenes where the bullet’s 50 m reach would be wasted. Where to buy: Ubiquiti Store UK and LinITX typically stock this model — check the current listing for UK pricing, as no figure could be grounded for this guide.

UniFi G5 PTZ — best for active coverage

Best for: a yard, forecourt or parking apron where a single camera needs to follow activity rather than stare at one fixed angle.

Key specifications: 2K resolution, pan, tilt and zoom, 802.3bt PoE at a manufacturer-stated draw of around 25 W, 50 m IR range, IP66.

Why those numbers matter: pan, tilt and zoom mean one mount can cover ground that would otherwise need several fixed cameras. The 25 W draw is the heaviest here — against the G5 Bullet’s roughly 6.5 W, it is a different order of demand entirely, and it sits inside the 802.3bt class, so many cheaper switches simply cannot power it. The IP66 rating protects against powerful water jets but not immersion, one step below the IP67 sealing on every other model in this comparison, which is worth noting for a fully exposed coastal or upland install.

Standout strength: mechanical coverage — a single moving camera doing the work of several static ones.

Honest caveat: 2K rather than 4K, the highest power requirement of the group, and a switch upgrade is likely if you are running standard PoE hardware.

Verdict: the right choice when coverage angle matters more than pixel count, provided your switch can deliver 802.3bt. Where to buy: Ubiquiti Store UK and LinITX typically carry it — check the current listing for UK pricing.

UniFi G6 Mini Dome — best discreet option

Best for: doorways, eaves and tight corners where a bullet’s bulk would be conspicuous, and where a low-profile housing matters more than maximum night reach.

Key specifications: a 100 mm diameter housing — the smallest body in the range — 4K generation, and a typical UK price of around £190–£260.

Why that matters: at 100 mm across, the Mini Dome is the least visible camera Ubiquiti makes, which suits entrances, porches and heritage frontages where a full-size bullet would draw the eye. Being a G6-generation model, it shares the family’s 4K approach.

Standout strength: the most discreet footprint in the line-up at a mid-range price.

Honest caveat: the source set behind this guide could not ground a full datasheet comparison for this model — sensor size, exact IR range and PoE class should all be confirmed on ui.com before you buy, particularly if night reach is a deciding factor.

Verdict: typically £190–£260 for buyers who value concealment. Where to buy: Ubiquiti Store UK, LinITX, Amazon UK or Broadband Buyer.

Buying in the UK: retailers, VAT and ONVIF

Where stock sits. The four UK routes for these cameras are the Ubiquiti Store UK (store.ui.com/uk), LinITX, Broadband Buyer and Amazon UK. Availability varies by model — the smaller turret and PTZ bodies are less consistently listed than the bullets — so check more than one source before assuming a model is unavailable.

VAT. Prices shown on Ubiquiti’s UK store are inclusive of VAT. If you are comparing against a trade listing that quotes ex-VAT, add the VAT back before you decide anything, or the comparison is meaningless.

ONVIF and third-party cameras. UniFi Protect accepts third-party ONVIF cameras alongside Ubiquiti’s own hardware, which matters if you already own a unit from another brand. The trade, confirmed on Ubiquiti’s compatibility page at ui.com/camera-security, is that ONVIF devices lose AI event detection, app-push parity and firmware OTA updates — you get the video, but not the smart layer that makes Protect worth running. Check that page against your specific model before assuming a mix-and-match setup will behave.

When a Ubiquiti camera is the wrong answer

Ubiquiti is not the cheapest way to get 4K over Ethernet, and it is not the right answer for every property. Three alternatives are worth weighing honestly.

Reolink RLC-810A. 4K PoE with no console required, typically around £50–£70 on Amazon UK. That is a fraction of the total Ubiquiti outlay once a console is added. If you have no existing UniFi network and no intention of building one, this is the rational call — with Ubiquiti you are buying an ecosystem, and the ecosystem is the expensive part.

Hikvision DS-2CD2T47G2. ONVIF-compliant with wide installer support and a UK distributor network that includes CEF and Screwfix Trade. Choose this route if you want a professional installer to specify, fit and maintain the system — a route that is far easier to arrange for Hikvision hardware than for Protect.

Self-hosted Frigate with any ONVIF camera. Zero licence cost and GPU-accelerated AI detection, provided you already run Home Assistant. For homelabbers, the software does what Protect’s AI layer does, without tying you to a single vendor’s console — the trade being that you maintain it yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Does UniFi Protect need a subscription? No. Ubiquiti’s Protect pricing page (ui.com/camera-security, accessed February 2026) confirms there is no recurring fee, and recordings are stored on a hard drive inside a console or NVR that you own. The caveat worth remembering is that Ubiquiti has historically gated some features by hardware generation, so verify feature parity for your specific console model before buying.

Can a Ubiquiti camera work without a console? No. Every camera in the Protect range requires a UniFi OS console or NVR — a CloudKey Gen2+, UNVR, UNVR Pro or Dream Machine Pro SE — to record, stream and manage it. A camera bought on its own will not function as a standalone recorder, so budget for the console first and treat cameras as additions to it.

How many cameras can a USW-Lite-8-PoE power? Ubiquiti rates the switch’s total PoE budget at 52 W. Four G6 Bullets at roughly 8 W each draw about 32 W; add a G6 Pro Bullet at roughly 12 W and you reach about 44 W, still within budget. Lower-draw models like the G5 Turret Ultra at around 7 W stretch it further, while a single G5 PTZ at roughly 25 W consumes close to half the budget on its own.

Are Ubiquiti cameras ONVIF-compatible? Protect itself accepts third-party ONVIF cameras, so a Reolink or Amcrest unit can be brought into the system — but per Ubiquiti’s compatibility page at ui.com/camera-security, those devices lose AI event detection, app-push parity and firmware OTA updates. If your plan is the reverse — running a Ubiquiti camera inside a third-party NVR — check that compatibility page for your specific model first, because the polished experience is a Protect-native one.

How much storage does a 4K camera use per day? Continuous 4K recording typically writes around 20–30 GB per camera per day, whereas 2K recording motion-only clips uses roughly 3–5 GB. On a 2 TB drive, about four 2K cameras recording motion-only retain around 100 days, while the same drive filled with 4K continuous footage lasts roughly 8–10 days. Real retention scales with camera count, how often motion triggers and which codec is in use.

Can I use PoE injectors instead of a PoE switch? Yes, one injector per camera — PoE+ injectors typically cost around £15–£25 each on Amazon UK, so two come to roughly £30–£50 against a USW-Lite-8-PoE at typically around £130–£160. The switch becomes the more economical route from three cameras onwards. Watch the power class, though: the G5 PTZ’s 802.3bt requirement rules out a standard PoE+ injector.

Where can I buy these cameras in the UK? The main UK routes are the Ubiquiti Store UK (store.ui.com/uk), LinITX, Broadband Buyer and Amazon UK, with stock varying by model. Prices on Ubiquiti’s UK store are shown inclusive of VAT, so add VAT back to any ex-VAT trade quote before comparing. All prices in this guide are approximations and move with stock and exchange rates.

Sources

• Ubiquiti product pages and datasheets for the UniFi Protect camera range and consoles (ui.com), accessed February 2026
• Ubiquiti Protect pricing and third-party camera compatibility page (ui.com/camera-security), accessed February 2026
• Ubiquiti specification page for the USW-Lite-8-PoE switch (ui.com), accessed February 2026, for the 52 W total PoE budget
• Ubiquiti retention calculator, accessed February 2026
• Retailer listings and pricing: Ubiquiti Store UK (store.ui.com/uk), LinITX, Broadband Buyer, Amazon UK — checked February 2026
• Aggregated owner feedback from r/Ubiquiti and r/HomeNetworking, accessed February 2026