ZOSI 3K Lite 8CH CCTV DVR Recorder with AI Human/Vehicle Detection, 8 Channel 1080p H.265+ Hybrid 4-in-1 Home Surveillance Wired DVR for HD-TVI/CVI/CVBS/AHD Analog Security Camera (No Hard Drive)

After doing extensive research and comparing various DVR options, I decided to go with the ZOSI 3K Lite 8CH CCTV DVR Recorder, and I'm genuinely impressed with what it offers—especially at this price point. I’ve been using it for about a month now, and here’s my honest experience so far:✅ Setup and CompatibilityEven though I’m not a tech expert, setup was straightforward. The unit came well-packaged with clear instructions. I already had a few older analog cameras (TVI and AHD formats), and I was relieved to see how easily they worked with this DVR. It’s truly plug-and-play for supported camera formats. Just remember: this model doesn’t come with a hard drive, so you’ll need to install your own (I added a 1TB WD Purple drive without any issues).🔍 Video Quality & AI DetectionThe video output is clean and crisp—significantly better than my previous DVR system. While it supports up to 3K resolution, my existing 1080p cameras look fantastic, especially with the H.265+ compression, which saves a lot of space on the hard drive without compromising video quality.The standout feature for me is the AI Human/Vehicle detection. This drastically cuts down on false alerts (like animals, shadows, or blowing trees). I have it set to notify me when a person or vehicle is detected on specific cameras, and it’s been very accurate. No more sifting through hours of useless footage!📱 App and Remote AccessThe ZOSI Smart app is solid—basic, but reliable. I can easily check live footage or play back recordings from my phone. Setup was easy with the QR code pairing. Remote viewing works even on slower mobile data, which is a big plus. There’s also the option to configure alerts and playback via browser or their desktop software, which I’ve used a few times.💡 Other Notable FeaturesHybrid 4-in-1 Support: This unit supports HD-TVI, CVI, AHD, and CVBS—perfect for those who are mixing different types of analog cameras.Motion Zones & Schedules: I appreciate the customization—motion zones can be drawn manually, and you can set schedules for each camera. I’ve set mine to only record during nighttime hours for certain zones.Build Quality: The DVR itself feels well-made and doesn’t overheat or make noticeable noise.⚠️ A Few Things to Note:No hard drive included, so factor that into your budget.Not compatible with IP cameras (this is strictly for analog camera systems).The user interface is a bit dated, but it gets the job done.⭐ Final Verdict:If you’re upgrading an older analog system or building a custom wired setup from scratch, the ZOSI 3K Lite 8CH DVR is a rock-solid choice. The AI detection is surprisingly good for the price, and the overall system is reliable, customizable, and user-friendly. Once you add a quality HDD and your preferred cameras, you’re looking at a powerful DIY home security solution at a fraction of the cost of full-package systems.Highly recommended!

I thought my old DVR for my Samsung cameras broke because all my camera screens went black. Turns out it was just the power cable that supplied power to the cameras. However I ended up keeping this DVR anyways because the app was more user friendly than my old DVR and the image quality was also better too. You will need to transfer your storage device from your old DVR to your new DVR for this one to work but that process only takes a few minutes

This product worked okay for about a year and a half as a replacement for another DVR that was in the house we moved into. Once the issues started with this DVR, they didn’t stop, right up until their support offer zero tangible troubleshooting or effort, other than suggesting I try another cable, following that up with “Then there must be something wrong with your DVR.I suggest you can directly open the following link to buy a new DVR to use…” To be transparent, I was offered a 10% rebate after purchasing a new Zosi DVR, but I won’t be doing that if I can avoid it.Just to give clarity into the issues, the first issue started when our VGA connected display started showing a purple/pink view. Support suggested we buy new cables with no troubleshooting related to their product. This issue ended up being with the VGA port on the DVR, but we were able to switch to an HDMI cable which resolved that. Fast forward a few months and the monitor would start to go blank every 6 seconds, and again, the Zosi support offered no help. In talking with people offline, they said it could be something with their software and inability to know how to write over the hard drive once you’ve filled up space. I kind of dismissed this as I’ve been used to things like Time Machine on Apple computers and other software that simply overwrites the oldest versions and keeps running. After being unable to get a fix, I decided to go ahead and format the drive, which resolves the blank screen happening every 6 seconds.Sorry, I know it’s a long-winded review, but I wish I would have paid closer attention to the bad reviews, so I want to be thorough, for those looking, and maybe even for those struggling with this Zosi product that they can’t return any longer.Be prepared for all of your support tickets to have to re-upload proof of purchase, for every single support ticket!Lastly, we have run into the issue of not being able to see the video feeds over HDMI as well, and because their support system/reps seem to have zero insight into previous tickets, their only advice was to go back to VGA, the broken connection that I started with. Anyway, Zosi support will suggest you replace everything connecting to their product without offering any troubleshooting.Couple all this with the fact that their iOS app requires you to re-enter your password at almost every move throughout the app, and you have yourself a terrible product!Overall, I would highly suggest finding an alternative company for your DVR needs, unless you’re happy with replacing your DVR every 1-1/2 to 2 years.

This camera set works, but don't expect it to last long. I've bought three of them, and none have lasted more than two years, but I'm happy with the cost/benefit ratio overall. The DVR is very easy to replace as long as you already have the cameras installed.Considering the price, I'm happy with the UI.The app for viewing the cameras from your phone sucks, and I'm not sure I should trust that no one else can access the cameras, so I keep mine disconnected from the internet.

Value for money:Also had an issue with the power supply and I spoke with Irish from zosi customer service and she went beyond to replace it, great customer service, KUDOS for the team, keep the good work and great customer service.

Still working to this day easy to use and setuo