Thinkware Q200 review: A great dash cam with ho-hum image quality

Price When Reviewed

$200 for 2 channels

Best Prices Today: Thinkware Q200 sprint cam

Thinkware has introduced a lot of improvements to the sprint cam market, reminiscent of driver aids and cellphone connectivity. The Q200 reviewed right here, options these helpful extras, but it surely’s a bit expensive for exterior GPS and the cam’s seize high quality, which is sweet, however not the perfect we’ve seen.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best dash cams to find out about competing merchandise.

What are the Thinkware Q200’s options?

The Thinkware Q200 is a $200 two-channel, entrance/rear sprint cam combo that carries on with the corporate’s phone-centric custom. In different phrases, settings are achieved by way of an app in your cellphone. This makes for a cleaner look (minimal buttons), but in addition means you want your cellphone helpful. The entrance digicam is 1440p (Omnivision OS04C20), whereas the rear is 1080p (HK Optical HK-8308J-009-1-M12-PT). Both have a 125 diploma discipline of view.

The entrance digicam is rectangular, measuring roughly 3.9-inches lengthy by 0.9-inched thick by 1.3-inches tall, and styled in darkish silver and black. The entrance of the is house to the quick lens neck, whereas the rear is occupied by the report on/off and Wi-Fi buttons in addition to their standing lights.

The proper aspect of the unit provides solely venting, whereas the left has the jacks for the rear digicam and GPS. The energy jack is on high of the unit to which attaches a proprietary 3.5mm TS (Tip/Sleeve) cable with a captive auxiliary energy adapter. Generally talking, we want Type-C to Type-A cables with a separate auxiliary adapter, ideally that includes two ports so you may energy or cost one other gadget concurrently.

The rear digicam rotates vertically, 360 levels, and connects to the entrance digicam by way of a 20-foot cable that includes TRRS (Tip/Ring/Ring/Sleeve) 3.5mm plugs. This cable is thinner and extra pliable than most, which is sweet for maneuvering.

Both the entrance and rear cameras use semi-permanent adhesive mounts, and the entrance slides off for safekeeping. The rear digicam just isn’t made to be detachable, nevertheless — inadvertently tugging too arduous had it coming out. I wouldn’t suggest doing this frequently, because the retaining grooves will doubtless bust or put on out ultimately. But in a pinch….

I discussed the GPS jack. While the Q200 options GPS, it’s carried out by the use of a slightly giant exterior unit (proven within the image above) that should even be affixed to the windshield. Along with the rear digicam, this makes for fairly a nest of wires, to not point out including to any blind spot the sprint cam creates. To restrict this blind spot, take a learn by way of our dash cam installation guide.

Thinkware was one of many first firms to supply bad-driver aids reminiscent of collision warnings, lane departure, visitors digicam alerts (security cameras, my patootie!), and many others. These are after all, current within the Q200 and you’ll hear varied beeps and alerts if you happen to allow the capabilities. While I flip off the bad-driver aids, I do just like the visitors and pace digicam alerts. Don’t ask.

Alas, in contrast to a few of Thinkware’s merchandise, the Q200 doesn’t reply to voice instructions. Why, I can’t say, however with no show, they might be very helpful.

Of course, there’s the cellphone app, Dash Cam Link (see above). Thinkware saves you the effort of getting into a Wi-Fi password by connecting by way of Bluetooth, then switching to Wi-Fi while you wish to use the dwell view mode. Live view requires extra bandwidth than Bluetooth gives, therefore the Wi-Fi.

The app additionally lets you simply alter the time, date, and time zone in addition to different settings. For some purpose, it charges solely 1.7 stars out of 5 on the Google Play Store, however that should mirror previous points or some anomalies that I didn’t expertise. It was simple to make use of and labored completely in my testing.

Note that you could hit the “Dash Cam Registration” button to connect with the digicam. Perhaps not essentially the most intuitive preliminary instruction ever, however 1.7 stars? If you expertise any points, let me know.

How are the Thinkware Q200’s captures?

The Q200’s captures general are common, with the perfect being the daylight entrance captures — par for the course. The rear captures had been sufficient, however considerably missing intimately throughout the day, and even weaker at night time.

The low-light seize under isn’t full night time; nevertheless, it’s significantly darker than it seems within the picture. Ambient gentle within the quick space is actually the identical. Detail is sweet, and headlight flare is dealt with nicely by the Q200.

The rear captures sport wealthy colours, however element isn’t notably apparent as you may see from the license plate within the picture under. There’s additionally a good quantity of fish-eye. Not unhealthy, however not nice.

Again, at night time (late night actually), the difficulty with the rear captures is element. You’ll get the massive image on occasions, however doubtless not the license plate quantity.

In complete, the Thinkware Q200’s entrance captures are greater than workable, whereas the rear digicam’s will suffice, however may use enchancment. I do surprise if a few of the element is being misplaced in compression. By default, the Q200’s 1440p generates solely 127MB per minute, and the 1080p 70MB per minute. Most cameras will generate round 150MB per minute for 1440p.

A fast observe on seize high quality — it’s the results of a mixture of decision, optics, and processing. If any one among these is weak, high quality suffers. By method of comparability, the 2160p from the lately reviewed Rove R2-4K was considerably worse than the Q200’s 1440p, whereas the 1440p from the upcoming Viofo VS1 Tiny 2K was fairly a bit extra detailed.

The upshot? Don’t purchase on specs (particularly decision) alone; learn the opinions and feedback.

The Q200 employs an excellent capacitor to energy the digicam when the ability is minimize off. This permits the Q200 to avoid wasting any recordings in progress, but it surely doesn’t run the digicam lengthy sufficient to seize any extra motion.

Should you purchase the Thinkware Q200?

Though a bit expensive, the Thinkware Q200 is an efficient sprint cam combo. For those that want or need them, the purple gentle and pace digicam alerts are the stand-out promoting level. That mentioned, we’d wish to see inner slightly than exterior GPS, and as there’s no show, voice management also needs to be included. Put it on the record, however store round.