Vantrue OnDash N4 review: Versatile 3-channel dash cam captures with 4K

Price When Reviewed

$259.99

Best Prices Today: Vantrue OnDash N4 sprint cam

If you want the thought of complete (or near-total anyway) protection inside and out of doors your automobile, you received’t discover a cheaper approach to scratch that itch than Vantrue’s OnDash N4. This three-channel entrance/rear/inside unit has the slightly good worth of $260 although a GPS mount is one other $22.

Note that the sprint cam I examined is the one discovered once you click on on the Dash Cam tab, then N4 from Vantrue’s web site. Browsing round Vantrue’s web site, I came across another N4 product page with different specs. The distinction is that the mannequin I reviewed—presumably the extra present mannequin—has 4K help. Even nonetheless, that spec is a bit deceptive when expressed as “3-channel 4K.” While the N4 can certainly seize 4K UHD entrance video, it will possibly solely accomplish that when capturing entrance/inside, or entrance/rear—i.e, in two-channel mode, not three-channel.

Note additionally that the trade typically refers to solely the entrance digicam when promoting decision. Interior and rear cameras are invariably decrease decision when 4K is touted.

This evaluate is a part of our ongoing roundup of the best dash cams. Go there for extra evaluations and shopping for recommendation. 

Vantrue OnDash N4: Design and options

At simply over 4 inches lengthy and 1.5 inches deep and huge, the flattened-cylindrical N4 is a bit on the massive measurement. It needs to be to suit each the entrance and inside cameras, in addition to a crisp 2.45-inch IPS colour show. It’s not a monster by any means, however it’s not svelte like Garmin’s Dash Cam Tandem.

On prime of the unit are 5 buttons (menu, okay/file, left, proper, energy) to navigate the onscreen menus. Said menus are logically organized and simple to browse. On the left facet of the primary physique you’ll discover: a USB Type-C port for the rear digicam or attaching the unit to a pc to dump video; a micro-HDMI video port for outputting to a TV, and so forth; an SD card slot; and a tiny reset button.

There’s nothing on the correct facet, however on prime is the connection for the included suction mount, which is totally adjustable horizontally and vertically. The whole deal is powered by way of one other USB Type-C port on the mount. The nub for that port additionally serves as a deal with to rotate the mechanism to assist safe the suction cup to the windshield.

The entrance digicam is 2160p/30 frames per second most (when recorded alone) with a area of view of 155 levels, however as talked about, drops to 1440p when each the inside and rear cameras are additionally in use. It will keep at 2160p when used with both the inside or rear cameras, however drops from 30fps to 25fps.

The inside digicam is 1080p with a 165 diploma FOV, and the rear digicam is 1080p with a 160 diploma FOV. Why the slight mismatches between the FOV of three cameras, I can’t say, however collectively they cowl a number of actual property. All characteristic Sony STARVIS sensors for good colour and night time efficiency.

There are 4 infrared lights surrounding the vertically swiveling inside digicam to reinforce night time captures within the cabin. Alas, Vantrue doesn’t allow them by default so my first night time captures have been darker than they need to’ve been. Vantrue ought to make a better effort to make the N4 usable underneath all circumstances proper out of the field.

The energy cable is auxiliary (cigarette lighter) to Type-C and a 20-foot cable is supplied to attach the rear digicam. It’s that lengthy since you’ll seemingly be snaking it round/underneath seats, up and inside inside moulding, or each. As with most sprint cams, a moulding spudger/crevice software is supplied.

The rear digicam is prominently labeled, one thing I really recognize. I’ve put in much less clearly labeled items the wrong way up on accident. Tip: If you’ve a rear digicam that doesn’t make its orientation obvious, connect it to the primary digicam, energy it on, and observe what’s proven on the show earlier than sticking it in place. (Nearly all use sticky pads.)

There’s no SD card included with the N4. Speaking of which, you’ll be utilizing a number of storage with three channels always working, or just capturing 2160p. Buy as giant as you may.

The N4 presents three parking modes: movement detection (utilizing the digicam), impression detection (utilizing the G-sensor), and a low-resolution (720p at 15fps) steady seize mode. There’s additionally a time-lapse picture seize characteristic to save lots of cupboard space.

Onboard is a brilliant capacitor slightly than a battery for extra cost cycles and a broader working temperature vary (14 to 158 levels Fahrenheit). Unusually, it retains the show working for a second or so after energy is pulled, that means it’s of respectable capability. Many final solely the milliseconds it takes to shut the present video.

Vantrue OnDash N4: Performance

I first examined the N4 as a three-channel digicam, leading to 1440p entrance captures. Overall, the 1440p/1080p high quality is suitable if on no account aggressive with the pricier, however glorious Cobra SC 400D. I then switched the digicam to entrance/rear solely and grabbed some 2160p footage from the entrance.

The colour is spot on in each circumstances, however I discovered the element in all of the captures a bit blurry for the resolutions concerned—particularly the inside and rear cameras. Vantrue appears to go for smoothness over sharpness in processing the captures. Either that, or it’s within the optics or sensors. I’ve seen just lately that the cameras with Sony sensors do lean in direction of eradicating jaggies.

Right-click on the photographs and choose “Open in new tab,” then swap to the brand new tab to see them full decision.

The huge FOV for the inside digicam (proven beneath) makes certain you’ll seize the entire cabin irrespective of how giant the automobile. I left the facility wire dangling to spare you from yet one more stare upon my mug.

There’s fairly a little bit of fisheye from all of the cameras. The huge fields of view (FOV) makes certain you’ll seize extra occasions, however it does end in the sort of artifact. The inside and rear digicam particulars are slightly muddy for 1080p captures. The rear digicam shot beneath is also a bit missing intimately general. That’s certainly one of our constructing’s safety guards checking to ensure Giants followers from the stadium simply down the road aren’t utilizing our parking.

Night captures are extra of the identical. There’s good if not improbable element on the entrance captures, however inside and rear captures are barely muddy. Also, headlight flare is extra intense than with some cameras. Note that a number of the distortion is because of the night time circumstances right here in foggy San Francisco.

As with the day captures, there’s a sure bluriness to the rear digicam’s night time captures. You’ll must be very shut to choose up particulars resembling license plate numbers.

As talked about, for some motive, Vantrue doesn’t set the infrared lighting to auto or on by default. Hence the darkish seize proven beneath. Expecting the infrared to work routinely, I needed to head out on but anther night to seize with the infrared on.

Below is the outcome from my second foray. I stepped outdoors as I’m uninterested in taking a look at myself in these pictures. Note that you could truly now inform that there are seats in my MX-5.

One small subject with the N4 is that it doesn’t routinely begin recording once you exit the settings menus as most cameras will. You should hit the okay/file button. I missed a number of captures initially due to this. Niceties.

Conclusion

As lengthy as you perceive that the N4 is 1440p when utilizing all three channels, it’s a superb deal, although it might be a greater one with GPS already on board The captures are hardly the very best we’ve seen, however they’re colourful and current a serviceable quantity of element. A reliable if not spectacular digicam system for a superb worth.