Latest news with #Vantrue
Geek Vibes Nation
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- Geek Vibes Nation
More Than A Recorder: Dash Cam Features You Didn't Know You Needed
Photo Credit: Freepik When it comes to driving safety and security, dash cams have become essential tools for modern motorists. But did you know that these devices offer more than just basic recording? As technology evolves, dash cams are packed with innovative features that can enhance your driving experience in ways you might not expect. From advanced driver-assistance systems to built-in GPS tracking, these hidden gems can provide invaluable support on the road. Imagine having a dash cam that alerts you to potential dangers or captures stunning scenic drives without you lifting a finger. Dive into the world of dash cam technology and discover the features you didn't know you needed, but won't want to drive without. Source: Dash Cam Fundamentals Dash cams are compact cameras mounted in vehicles that continuously record your drive. They enhance road safety by capturing critical events, making them valuable tools for drivers. What Is a Dash Cam? A dash cam, short for dashboard camera, records video footage of your driving experiences. It typically features a wide-angle lens to capture a broad view of the road and surroundings. Most dash cams save footage onto an SD card, enabling easy retrieval for later review. These devices range from basic models to advanced systems equipped with GPS tracking, collision detection, and motion sensors. Why Use a Dash Cam? Using a dash cam provides various benefits for drivers. It offers crucial evidence in case of accidents, helping to determine fault and assist with insurance claims. Dash cams also discourage reckless driving, as footage can act as a deterrent against road rage or other dangerous behaviors. Additionally, certain models come with features like parking surveillance and alerts for potential collisions, enhancing driver awareness and vehicle protection. Essential Technical Features Modern dash cams come equipped with crucial technical features that enhance their functionality and reliability, making them indispensable for drivers. Video Resolution & Frame Rate Video resolution and frame rate impact the quality of captured footage. Look for dash cams with at least 1080p resolution for clear images. Higher resolutions, such as 2K or 4K, provide even more detail, especially during incidents. Consider the Vantrue N4 Pro S because it can capture 4K front footage at 30 fps, delivering sharp visuals even in challenging lighting. Frame rates of 30 frames per second (fps) or higher ensure smoother video playback. This clarity proves vital when presenting evidence after an accident. Field of View (FOV) The field of view determines how much your dash cam records at once. A wider FOV, typically between 120 and 180 degrees, captures more of the surrounding area, including side lanes and cross traffic. This increased visibility helps in documenting accidents and other road events more effectively, providing a broader context for incidents. Low‑Light Performance & Night Vision Low-light performance and night vision enhance recording quality in the dark. Look for dash cams equipped with advanced sensors for optimal performance at night. Infrared or enhanced low-light capabilities allow clear video capture in conditions where visibility is poor. This feature ensures crucial footage is available even during nighttime driving. Multi‑Channel Recording Multi-channel recording allows simultaneous recording from multiple cameras. You can monitor both the front and rear of your vehicle for comprehensive coverage. Dash cams with this feature often include cabin cameras as well, providing an in-depth view of incidents. This capability is essential for accurate documentation of all perspectives during a driving event. Smart & Connectivity Features Modern dash cams come equipped with smart and connectivity features that enhance functionality and convenience on the road. GPS Logging GPS logging provides precise location tracking during drives. This feature records speed, route details, and location data, giving context to video footage. Accurate GPS coordinates allow you to prove where an incident occurred, adding credibility to your claims in disputes. Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth & Smartphone Apps Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity enable seamless interaction between your dash cam and smartphone. You can easily transfer video files, manage settings, and access footage through dedicated apps. These apps often offer features such as live streaming and remote operation, ensuring you stay connected to your device. Voice Control & Touchscreens Voice control functionality allows you to operate your dash cam hands-free. This feature is especially useful while driving, enabling you to start or stop recording without taking your hands off the wheel. Touchscreen interfaces enhance usability, providing intuitive navigation through settings and playback options. Cloud & LTE Connectivity Cloud and LTE connectivity facilitate real-time data uploads and remote access to recorded footage. This feature ensures you can retrieve crucial evidence even when your dash cam isn't physically with you. Additionally, some models offer theft recovery options, alerting you if your vehicle or dash cam is compromised. Safety & Parking Capabilities Modern dash cams include features that enhance safety during driving and parking, offering peace of mind for drivers. Loop Recording & G‑Sensor Loop recording ensures continuous video capture by automatically overwriting the oldest footage when storage is full. This guarantees essential recordings remain accessible. The G-sensor detects sudden impacts, automatically saving the current video segment for later retrieval. This dual functionality creates a reliable safety net for unexpected incidents. Parking Mode & Motion Detection Parking mode activates automatically when your vehicle is stationary, continuously monitoring the surrounding area. If any motion is detected, the dash cam triggers recording, capturing any potential incidents while you're away. This feature acts as a deterrent to vandalism and hit-and-run incidents, providing vital evidence should an event occur. Advanced Driver‑Assistance (ADAS) Features ADAS features enhance safety by alerting you to potential hazards. Lane departure warnings notify you when drifting from your lane, while forward collision warnings help prevent accidents by detecting imminent threats. These proactive notifications not only improve overall driving safety but also promote better driving habits, reducing the likelihood of collisions. Conclusion Investing in a dash cam with advanced features can truly transform your driving experience. You'll gain not just a reliable recording device but a comprehensive safety companion that enhances your awareness on the road. With features like GPS tracking and smart connectivity, you can easily manage your footage and stay informed about your driving habits. These innovative tools provide peace of mind by monitoring your vehicle even when you're not around. As you explore the market for dash cams, consider how these essential features can make your journeys safer and more secure. Embracing technology can help you navigate the road with confidence, knowing you're prepared for whatever comes your way.
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Vantrue's E360 Dashcam Gets The Whole Picture While You Drive
The Vantrue E360 camera captures a solid surround version of the situation inside and outside your ... More vehicle. William Roberson Dash cams are improving all the time, but for a while now, they've mostly been the same, just with better resolution and more cameras recording footage to a memory card or cloud storage, or both. However, there have been a few recent innovations, and one that has impressed me is the Vantrue E360. Taking inspiration from popular 'spherical' video cameras like the Insta360 X5, the Vantrue E360 captures 360-degree video and stills… just not in quite the same way as the Insta360 and other 360 cameras. But it still offers advantages over most typical dash cams, and I've been testing it out lately both inside - and outside - of my own vehicle. Like the Insta360 cameras, the Vantrue E360 features dual fisheye camera lenses that capture video and still in 180-degree images and then stiches them together into a seamless video or image. The difference is that the Insta360, GoPro and other 360-degree cameras create a 'sphere' of imagery you can then browse around in during recording or playback. The Vantrue E360 does not work quite in the same way. Instead, it's more similar to the panorama feature on your smartphone: It creates a single image that is knitted together to form a photo or video that spans 360 degrees, but not in a sphere format, it's flat, like a panorama photo (below). While it might look odd, the entire inside and outside of the car is in this image. Vantrue However, you can still see everything happening in that image, there are no 'blank' or unseen areas. In a typical installation, the E360 captures everything out the front and sides of the vehicle, as well as inside the car. This does leave the rear of the vehicle with less coverage (especially in a van or when the windows are obstructed), so Vantrue has wisely added a third camera that can be mounted inside or outside on the back of the vehicle, providing a 'second" more detailed wide-angle view out the back of the vehicle. Setup is fairly straightforward and a quick-release mount is standard so the camera can be used outside the vehicle. A small touchscreen on the camera module makes dialing in settings easy, and videos can be transferred to your phone using the built-in wifi on the camera and the Vantrue app. The camera will also record to memory cards up to 1tb in size for logging a lot of clips. It also has built-in GPS logging and a parking security function when hardwired to a vehicle battery. What's The Advantage For Drivers? Even the most high-resolution modern dashcams can have gaps in coverage, typically to the sides. The advantage of the E360 is that it covers those gaps, so if something happens off-angle, it's still captured in the wide, wide 360-degree image. And with dual 4K sensors (the rear camera is 2k), the E360 captures a huge amount of detail, such as license plates or people using their phones instead of watching the road ahead. Vantrue includes a wand with internal batteries for using the E360 outside a vehicle, plus a small ... More folding tripod. William Roberson Since the E360 can record in 360, Vantrue includes a wand with a tripod base (above) for mounting the camera for use outside of the vehicle. A large battery in the wand powers the camera so you can capture adventures in 'flat' 360 degree video and photos, or in dual 180-degree videos and stills. The wand does not telescope but it will power the E360 for a couple of hours of 360-degree recording ... More fun. William Roberson Very clever and a good reason to splurge on this unique camera. Again, it does not stitch the images into a sphere like Insta360 cameras but the images it does produce are fun, useful and very clear. Observations The vertical format means it hangs down a bit from the mounting location. Vantrue It took about 30 minutes to run the wires under the headliner and out to the back of my car for the rear camera. Setup was simple using the small touchscreen and the E360 automatically linked to GPS to set the correct date and time. It can also log your location. After that, it began recording when I started the car and shut off when I got down driving. I used the 12-Volt plug adapter for power; users also have the option to hardwire the E360 to their vehicle's battery to enable full-time monitoring while the vehicle is parked, a common feature on most dash cameras. Overall I was impressed with the Vantrue E360's crisp image detail and wrap-around 360 image capability. More than a novelty, that kind of coverage in a dash cam is extremely useful if an incident occurs as it can tell more of the story than dashcams with one, two or even three cameras that still don't capture side angles inside and outside of the vehicle. Also, the Vantrue E360 gets high marks for ease of operation and that goes for the Vantrue app as well, which could use a little polish as far as translation goes but is otherwise easy to to use and reliable. I really don't have any complaints but uses should be aware that because of the E360's 'vertical' design, it will hang down from its mounting spot lower than most horizontal format cameras, and lowering your sun shade will block the lens recording the car's interior. Horizontal format cameras can be mounted (at least in my car, a typical economy car) is such a way that the sun shade can fold down and up in a way that allows the inside camera to continue to capture video. It's not a big deal, just something to be aware of, and your vehicle may allow placement that avoids this issue. Otherwise, this is a great camera for rideshare drivers and other driving professionals to invest in, and the inclusion of the wand and tripod for use outside the vehicle is a bonus that further expands its capability and fun factor. Recommended.
Scotsman
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Vantrue E1 Pro review: Small 4K dash cam now just £103.99 on Amazon
The Vantrue E1 Pro Dash Cam is one of the smallest on the market | Vantrue This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Motoring writer Gareth Butterfield tests the latest dash cam from Vantrue - and it's a mini marvel Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of my favourite things about dash cam technology is the fact that ongoing technical advancements are allowing devices to get smaller and smaller. I've reviewed a few "stealth" dash cams over the years, and the smaller the better as far as I'm concerned. They're the only ones I use in my own vehicles. While I do like a small dash cam, I'm also keen to see a few important features built in. Firstly, they really should have 4K these days. A Sony Starvis 2 sensor would be ideal, please. Obviously a good parking guard system is becoming something of an industry standard, as is decent night vision, and maybe an LCD screen. Imagine my delight, then, to find all these features packed into the extremely small Vantrue E1 Pro. Vantrue is a brand I've tested before, but not for a while, and I'm very impressed to see how far things have come. The camera's size makes setting it up on-screen a bit fiddly, but the app helps | Vantrue Firstly, it's priced very competitively. I've just checked and there's a discount on Amazon, so it's £103.99. That's impressive for a 4K dash cam, let alone an absurdly small one with a trick Sony sensor. That small size does make it a tad tricky to set up. There is a screen, and its as big as it can possibly be, but it doesn't offer any room for touch screen controls, and navigating the settings with the buttons takes some doing. The Vantrue app is a happier place to take on some of these duties in, though, and the WiFi connection worked well and stayed stable. Once set up, you have the option to hard wire it into your car, and this is ideal for the parking monitoring system. This works as well as you might expect, and syncs up to the app easily. Once you've downloaded footage from the dash cam, it's very easy to view them, and the quality is just as good as you'd expect from a 4K Sony sensor. There's an HDR mode that seems to get a bit confused by some lighting conditions, but the night mode works well, and the clarity is top notch. The PlatePix system is a neat touch, and works very well | Vantrue It would have been icing on a cake to have had 60FPS, but it's not a deal-breaker, especially at this price. You'll find the 30FPS adequate, thanks largely to the sensor, and there's a clever "PlatePix" setting to help you pick out details. Although at the slight compromise of some brightness. While it is possible to buy the unit for £103.99 at the moment, it's worth budgeting for a few accessories. A memory card is a great idea, for example, and a hardwire kit costs another £20, but it's worth having to unlock the best bits of the parking system. Altogether this package would cost £173.97, but I think that's actually terrific value for money for such a small, competent dash cam from a quality brand that offers decent customer support and wide availability. Most people will buy a dash cam and stick with it for years, but it honestly is worth checking out the latest technology, if only to downsize to a compact device. The Vantrue E1 Pro has the latest technology, and it's incredibly small. It feels super-modern and works exactly as well as it should, even punching above its weight a bit considering the price. It's definitely one of the best all-round packages I've tested in a while. Selling your car? Here's the fastest way to get cash – and how it compares to rivals Thinking of selling your car this summer? It all starts with a valuation – and you can get one in under a minute with WeBuyAnyCar. With over 500 branches across the UK and same-day payment available, it's one of the quickest ways to find out what your vehicle is worth and get the cash if you're ready to sell. Used car prices have stayed surprisingly strong, especially for economical hatchbacks and SUVs. Whether you're upgrading for road trips or switching to a hybrid, a fast online quote can give you a solid starting point – even if you're still weighing up your options. To see how WeBuyAnyCar stacks up against other top car-selling platforms like Motorway, Carwow and Auto Trader, read our full article comparing the UK's most popular car sales sites here.
Scotsman
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Vantrue E1 Pro review: Small 4K dash cam now just £103.99 on Amazon
The Vantrue E1 Pro Dash Cam is one of the smallest on the market | Vantrue This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Motoring writer Gareth Butterfield tests the latest dash cam from Vantrue - and it's a mini marvel Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of my favourite things about dash cam technology is the fact that ongoing technical advancements are allowing devices to get smaller and smaller. I've reviewed a few "stealth" dash cams over the years, and the smaller the better as far as I'm concerned. They're the only ones I use in my own vehicles. While I do like a small dash cam, I'm also keen to see a few important features built in. Firstly, they really should have 4K these days. A Sony Starvis 2 sensor would be ideal, please. Obviously a good parking guard system is becoming something of an industry standard, as is decent night vision, and maybe an LCD screen. Imagine my delight, then, to find all these features packed into the extremely small Vantrue E1 Pro. Vantrue is a brand I've tested before, but not for a while, and I'm very impressed to see how far things have come. The camera's size makes setting it up on-screen a bit fiddly, but the app helps | Vantrue Firstly, it's priced very competitively. I've just checked and there's a discount on Amazon, so it's £103.99. That's impressive for a 4K dash cam, let alone an absurdly small one with a trick Sony sensor. That small size does make it a tad tricky to set up. There is a screen, and its as big as it can possibly be, but it doesn't offer any room for touch screen controls, and navigating the settings with the buttons takes some doing. The Vantrue app is a happier place to take on some of these duties in, though, and the WiFi connection worked well and stayed stable. Once set up, you have the option to hard wire it into your car, and this is ideal for the parking monitoring system. This works as well as you might expect, and syncs up to the app easily. Once you've downloaded footage from the dash cam, it's very easy to view them, and the quality is just as good as you'd expect from a 4K Sony sensor. There's an HDR mode that seems to get a bit confused by some lighting conditions, but the night mode works well, and the clarity is top notch. The PlatePix system is a neat touch, and works very well | Vantrue It would have been icing on a cake to have had 60FPS, but it's not a deal-breaker, especially at this price. You'll find the 30FPS adequate, thanks largely to the sensor, and there's a clever "PlatePix" setting to help you pick out details. Although at the slight compromise of some brightness. While it is possible to buy the unit for £103.99 at the moment, it's worth budgeting for a few accessories. A memory card is a great idea, for example, and a hardwire kit costs another £20, but it's worth having to unlock the best bits of the parking system. Altogether this package would cost £173.97, but I think that's actually terrific value for money for such a small, competent dash cam from a quality brand that offers decent customer support and wide availability. Most people will buy a dash cam and stick with it for years, but it honestly is worth checking out the latest technology, if only to downsize to a compact device. The Vantrue E1 Pro has the latest technology, and it's incredibly small. It feels super-modern and works exactly as well as it should, even punching above its weight a bit considering the price. It's definitely one of the best all-round packages I've tested in a while. Selling your car? Here's the fastest way to get cash – and how it compares to rivals Thinking of selling your car this summer? It all starts with a valuation – and you can get one in under a minute with WeBuyAnyCar. With over 500 branches across the UK and same-day payment available, it's one of the quickest ways to find out what your vehicle is worth and get the cash if you're ready to sell. Used car prices have stayed surprisingly strong, especially for economical hatchbacks and SUVs. Whether you're upgrading for road trips or switching to a hybrid, a fast online quote can give you a solid starting point – even if you're still weighing up your options.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Now is the Best Time to Buy a Dash Cam
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." This article was updated in February 2025. Our dash cam is marked down to a lower price than we've ever seen. Today only, you can pick up the Vantrue N4 dash, cabin, and rearview camera bundle for more than $100 off its regular price. Normally $289.99, right now it's marked down to an astonishing $199.99. If you've been thinking about buying a dash cam, now is the ideal time to pull that proverbial trigger.$199.99 at That viral dashcam video from last October that captured the nation's attention by catching a potential car-insurance scammer red-handed has made dash cams one of the hottest commodities in retail, not just among auto enthusiasts but regular, everyday commuters. If you or someone you know saw that video and said "I need to get a dash cam," Cyber Monday is the perfect time to pick up that ideal holiday gift. To help our readers make the right choice when purchasing a dash cam, earlier this year our Gear Team pitted a bunch of dashboard cameras against each other in a hands-on, behind-the-wheel test to find out which one was the best. After days of driving and recording, we chose the Vantrue N4 as our Best Overall dash cam, citing its "exceptional value" and calling it a "strong competitor at a great price." While other pricier dash cams may have offered sharper resolution or more features, we found the N4 to be a perfectly workable option that's ideal for most people. It's not too techy, it's easy to install and use, and it's supremely affordable. Especially today! In our test, the Ann Arbor-based Gear Team installed and used a selection of popular dash cams at various price points. They compared specs and video recordings side by side. They also took notes on the user experience of each device, along with their companion apps. Here are some other factors that impacted their picks: Resolution Field of view Clarity in various conditions (sunshine/overcast/night) License-plate clarity at various distances (5, 10, 25, and 50 feet) Installation Usability (including app, if applicable) Quality-of-life notes After driving with the Vantrue (see the full video here), here's what we found: "The Vantrue N4 is an exceptional value, offering a dash cam, cabin-facing camera, and rearview camera. It attaches to the windshield with a suction mount, and its cameras can be adjusted for optimal coverage. The front dash cam records at 2560 by 2160 pixels but drops to 2560 by 1440 when all three cameras are used. The cabin and rear cameras have 1920 by 1080 resolution. The cameras have wide fields of view with minimal distortion, and the cabin camera includes infrared lighting for low-light conditions. "The N4's integrated screen features a picture-in-picture mode that displays all three cameras' feeds simultaneously, along with settings and recording modes. It offers low-frame-rate and low-bit-rate recording modes, but we found these can drain the car battery. The device also includes collision and motion detection, automatically saving relevant footage. A 128-gb micro SD card holds about 6.7 hours of footage. "We picked the Vantrue N4 as our Best Overall Dash Cam mainly because of its value. It's a strong competitor at a great price, with three cameras and lots of features, and it came in only slightly behind our top pick in image quality. Video quality was impressive across various light conditions, with good dynamic range and minimal noise reduction." This bundle includes a 155-degree front camera, 165-degree inside camera, and 160-degree rear camera. This way you can keep a full view of your vehicle to protect you from potential liability issues. The rear camera can be adjusted up to a full 360-degree angle with its 20-foot extension cable, so it's perfect even for large SUVs, Jeeps, and trucks. The 2160P resolution front camera can seamlessly record up to 4K when used alone, ensuring crystal-clear visibility of license plates and road signs. The adjustable inside camera is ideal for ride-share drivers who may need to present proof of activities within their vehicles. It also boasts a Parking mode that turns on when it senses an impact while parked and g-sensors to record automatically when it senses an impact on the road (in case you forget to turn it on). Vantrue provides an extendable 18-month warranty. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
