Hanwha HRX-435 vs Hanwha XRN-420S: Specification Comparison
The Hanwha HRX-435 and XRN-420S are both 4-channel, 1U Hanwha recorders running embedded Linux with H.265/H.264/MJPEG compression, 8MP maximum resolution, and SUNAPI/ONVIF protocol support—products a buyer would genuinely cross-shop for a small-site or branch-office deployment. The core distinction is recorder architecture: the HRX-435 is a pentabrid DVR that accepts analog coaxial cameras (AHD, HDTVI, HDCVI, CVBS) plus up to 6 IP channels, while the XRN-420S is a pure IP NVR with built-in PoE+ switch, targeting all-IP camera infrastructures.
In This Guide
- How do channel capacity, camera compatibility, and recording bandwidth compare?
- What are the differences in camera interface, PoE power delivery, and storage?
- How do the two units compare on redundancy, AI capability, and VMS/software integration?
- Which should you choose: the HRX-435 or the XRN-420S?
- Side-by-Side Specs
- FAQ
How do channel capacity, camera compatibility, and recording bandwidth compare?
The HRX-435 supports 4 analog coaxial inputs (BNC, up to 8MP) and expands to a maximum of 6 IP channels simultaneously, giving a hybrid total that can accommodate legacy analog cameras alongside IP units. Its recording bandwidth is capped at 30 Mbps. The XRN-420S is a pure IP NVR limited to 4 network camera channels with no analog input path whatsoever, but its recording bandwidth is rated at 50 Mbps—67% higher than the HRX-435. Transmission bandwidth on the XRN-420S reaches 64 Mbps versus 32 Mbps on the HRX-435.
For playback, both units deliver a maximum of 32 Mbps. The HRX-435 supports 6-channel simultaneous local/CMS/mobile playback and 1-channel web playback. The XRN-420S supports up to 16 channels simultaneously (4 local, 4 per remote user), a significantly higher concurrent playback ceiling despite the smaller 4-camera record capacity. The HRX-435 records analog streams at up to 30 fps per channel (NTSC); the XRN-420S decodes 8MP at 30 fps and 1080p at up to 120 fps.
What are the differences in camera interface, PoE power delivery, and storage?
The HRX-435 provides 4 BNC analog inputs, a single RJ-45 10/100 Ethernet port (no built-in PoE), 4 alarm inputs, 2 relay outputs (one NO/NC/COM, one NO/COM), coaxial control via CVBS/AHD/CVI/TVI, and RS-485/422 for PTZ. IP cameras must connect through an external switch. The XRN-420S eliminates analog BNC entirely and instead provides 4 PoE+ (802.3at) RJ-45 LAN ports at 10/100 plus a separate 1 Gbps WAN RJ-45, with a 50 W PoE budget enabling direct camera power without an external injector or switch.
Storage differs in a meaningful way: the HRX-435 has two SATA bays supporting up to 12 TB total (two 6 TB HDDs). The XRN-420S has a single SATA bay capped at 6 TB. Both units share the same per-HDD 6 TB maximum and the same 0°C–40°C operating range. The HRX-435 draws a maximum of 40 W (with four 6 TB HDDs); the XRN-420S draws up to 67 W with one HDD and PoE active. Physically, the HRX-435 is larger (370 × 44 × 320 mm, ~2.3 kg) versus the XRN-420S (300 × 47.1 × 208.4 mm, 1.06 kg).
How do the two units compare on redundancy, AI capability, and VMS/software integration?
Both recorders support ARB (Automatic Recovery Backup), SUNAPI, ONVIF Profile-S, P2P QR-code setup, iOS/Android mobile viewing, SSM, Smart Viewer, and Wisenet Mobile. The XRN-420S adds N+1 failover redundancy, which the HRX-435 does not list. The XRN-420S also lists compatibility with Wisenet AI cameras for object-attribute AI search; no equivalent AI search capability is specified for the HRX-435.
The XRN-420S viewer software list includes WAVE VMS, which the HRX-435 does not list—a relevant difference for sites standardizing on Hanwha's WAVE platform. The XRN-420S specifies web viewer OS/browser compatibility (Windows 10, macOS 10.13, Chrome, Edge, Safari); the HRX-435 does not publish equivalent web viewer OS/browser specs. The HRX-435 lists fisheye dewarping via Web and CMS; the XRN-420S limits fisheye dewarping to CMS only. PTZ preset storage is specified at 300 on the XRN-420S; this figure is not published for the HRX-435. Security feature parity is close: both implement 802.1x, IP filtering, encryption, and Hanwha Techwin Root CA certificates; the XRN-420S additionally lists signed firmware verification.
Which should you choose: the HRX-435 or the XRN-420S?
Our take: The HRX-435 is the stronger choice when the installation includes existing analog coaxial cameras or requires maximum on-site storage capacity, while the XRN-420S is the stronger choice for all-IP deployments that demand built-in PoE power delivery, higher recording bandwidth, and tighter platform integration. Three concrete spec deltas define the trade-off: (1) storage—HRX-435 dual SATA supports up to 12 TB versus XRN-420S single SATA capped at 6 TB; (2) recording bandwidth—XRN-420S records at 50 Mbps versus HRX-435 at 30 Mbps, meaningful for high-bitrate 8MP IP streams; (3) PoE—XRN-420S delivers 50 W across four 802.3at ports natively, eliminating external switch cost, while HRX-435 has no PoE. Sites migrating from analog or running hybrid analog/IP should specify the HRX-435; greenfield all-IP sites on the Hanwha/WAVE ecosystem with four or fewer cameras should specify the XRN-420S.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | Hanwha HRX-435 | Hanwha XRN-420S |
|---|---|---|
| Recorder Type | Pentabrid DVR (analog + IP) | Pure IP NVR |
| Analog Camera Inputs | 4CH BNC (AHD/HDTVI/HDCVI/CVBS) | — |
| Max IP Camera Channels | 6CH | 4CH |
| Built-in PoE Ports | — | 4× PoE+ (802.3at), 50 W budget |
| Ethernet (non-PoE) | 1× RJ-45 10/100 | 1× RJ-45 1Gbps (WAN) |
| Recording Bandwidth | Max 30 Mbps | Max 50 Mbps |
| Transmission Bandwidth | Max 32 Mbps | Max 64 Mbps |
| Playback Bandwidth | Max 32 Mbps | Max 32 Mbps |
| HDD Slots / Max Storage | 2× SATA / 12 TB | 1× SATA / 6 TB |
| HDMI Output Resolution | 4K (4K HDMI spec listed) | 3840×2160 @ 30 Hz |
| VGA Output Resolution | Up to 1080p | 1920×1080 @ 30 Hz |
| Max Power Consumption | 40 W (4× HDD) | 67 W (1 HDD, PoE on) |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 370 × 44 × 320 mm | 300 × 47.1 × 208.4 mm |
| Weight | ~2.3 kg (w/ 1× 4TB HDD) | 1.06 kg |
| Failover / Redundancy | ARB only | N+1 Failover + ARB |
| WAVE VMS Support | — | Yes (listed in viewer software) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the HRX-435 or the XRN-420S?
The HRX-435 is the stronger choice when the installation includes existing analog coaxial cameras or requires maximum on-site storage capacity, while the XRN-420S is the stronger choice for all-IP deployments that demand built-in PoE power delivery, higher recording bandwidth, and tighter platform integration. Three concrete spec deltas define the trade-off: (1) storage—HRX-435 dual SATA supports up to 12 TB versus XRN-420S single SATA capped at 6 TB; (2) recording bandwidth—XRN-420S records at 50 Mbps versus HRX-435 at 30 Mbps, meaningful for high-bitrate 8MP IP streams; (3) PoE—XRN-420S delivers 50 W across four 802.3at ports natively, eliminating external switch cost, while HRX-435 has no PoE. Sites migrating from analog or running hybrid analog/IP should specify the HRX-435; greenfield all-IP sites on the Hanwha/WAVE ecosystem with four or fewer cameras should specify the XRN-420S.
Can the HRX-435 or XRN-420S connect to existing analog coaxial cameras?
Only the HRX-435 can. It accepts AHD, HDTVI, HDCVI, and CVBS analog signals on four BNC inputs at resolutions up to 8MP. The XRN-420S has no analog inputs and only accepts IP network cameras; it cannot be used as a drop-in replacement on a coaxial camera infrastructure.
Which unit is better if I need to power IP cameras directly from the recorder?
The XRN-420S is the correct choice. It includes four built-in PoE+ (802.3at) ports with a 50 W total PoE budget, allowing direct camera power without an external PoE switch or injector. The HRX-435 has a single 10/100 Ethernet port with no PoE capability; IP cameras connected to it require external power sourcing.
Is the HRX-435 or XRN-420S better suited for a site that may expand to a larger Hanwha VMS?
The XRN-420S lists WAVE VMS in its supported viewer software, which the HRX-435 does not specify. The XRN-420S also lists N+1 failover redundancy and Wisenet AI camera compatibility for object-attribute search—features aligned with larger managed deployments. If WAVE platform integration is a requirement, the XRN-420S is the indicated model based on published specs; the HRX-435 does not list WAVE support.
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