![]() Sufficient field of view: We required each model to have a field of view (FOV) in the range of 140 to 160 degrees-wide enough to take in a multi-lane highway or a large intersection without creating a wide-angle effect that makes cars in front look farther away and details harder to see.To draw power when the car isn’t running, a dash cam usually needs to be hardwired to the car’s fuse box, connected to an external battery, or plugged into the vehicle’s OBD-II diagnostic port. 24-hour parked-car monitoring: We required each model to be capable of recording impacts or movement around your car, any time of day or night, whether you’re in it or not.Night vision: We made night vision a requirement for a dash cam to be considered for testing since car crashes and other incidents you may want to document can occur at any time of day or night (as well as in dark environments such as highway tunnels).We preferred models with 2160p (4K/UHD) or higher resolution, since their footage is often notably sharper than that of 1080p models, and we didn’t consider anything under 1080p. At least 1080p resolution: A dash cam’s video-whether captured in light or dark conditions-has to be sharp and distinct enough that you, a lawyer, your insurance company, or a member of law enforcement can read license plates and see other details clearly. ![]() The N4 also lacks built-in GPS tracking, but you can easily add that by buying a GPS mount ($20 at this writing) from Vantrue. But we think most people wouldn’t miss that feature, as it’s still fairly convenient to view footage on the camera itself or with a microSD card reader. Unlike some of our other picks, the N4 lacks app connectivity for you to view and download video remotely. And although it isn’t as well suited for sub-freezing temperatures as our other picks, it is designed to work even in extremely hot climates such as in the American South and Southwest. It has an intuitive menu, and its control buttons are clearly marked and readily accessible. It’s compact (a little smaller than most point-and-shoot cameras) and relatively unobtrusive on a windshield, and its 3-inch screen is bright and easy to read. In addition to a front-facing camera, it has interior and rear cameras, so it documents your car’s movements (and your surroundings) from three different perspectives. A switch on the hard-wire kit has settings for 11.8V, 12V, 12.2V and 12.4V (plus their 24V equivalents), so the camera will stop recording when the battery gets down to the level you’ve set, preventing it from becoming too discharged to start your car.The Vantrue N4 is packed with premium features such as 2160p (4K/UHD) resolution in its main camera, night vision, and 24-hour parked-car monitoring to catch hit-and-run perpetrators, yet it costs half as much as some comparable models. Plus, it may record for a shorter duration as it’s using up your car’s battery more quickly. If you park with the camera facing a busy road, you’ll find the SD card will fill up rather quickly. It will record if it detects motion or if the G-sensor is triggered by an impact. The buffered part is important, because unlike dash cams which only start recording when they detect motion, the A119 v3 can record 15 seconds prior to motion being detected through to 30 seconds after. Once the 12V and acc wires are connected to your car’s fuse box (and the earth to a suitable earth point) you’ll be able to set up the buffered parking mode. That’s why you need the HK3 hard-wire kit if you want to use the parking modes. Capacitors are better suited than li-ion batteries as they can withstand the huge temperature range that dash cams have to endure, but it does mean the A119 needs external power to operate. Unlike some dash cams which can record at a slow frame rate while parked, the A119 uses a super-capacitor instead of a battery.
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