A 3-channel (3CH) dash cam records to the front and rear of your car, and additionally, it has a camera facing the passenger cabin. This interior camera generally comes with infrared (IR) lights that allow it to record what’s going on in the car even at night, with the cabin light switched off.
Recording inside the car is incredibly useful for anyone working ride share, such as taxi and Uber drivers. But it can also be fun to record your family and friends on a road trip.
Furthermore, the interior camera also picks up some of the view through the side windows of the car, effectively giving you an extra angle of view for added security.
In this article, we compare four of the most popular 3-channel dash cams available in 2024.
At A Glance
Winners:
- Viofo A229 Pro 3CH: Best video quality
- Viofo T130: Best best value for money, good video overall
Runner-Up:
- Vantrue N4: Most popular, easy to use
Not Recommended:
- Vantrue E3: Disappointing video
4-Channel Dash Cam
In case you didn’t know: The first 4-channel dash cams are now starting to appear on the market. We have a review of the Vantrue Nexus 5, which has 2 exterior and 2 interior channels.
How To Make Your Choice
Here are some questions you want to ask yourself when choosing the best 3-channel dash cam:
- Do I want a separate unit for the interior camera, or do I prefer it to be included in the main unit that also houses the forward facing lens?
- Do I need a screen on the dash cam?
A screen helps with setting up the camera and playing back videos on the spot. However, if the camera supports Wi-Fi, you can also operate it using the smart phone app.
A separate interior camera means one more cable and one more device being installed on your wind shield (or wherever you prefer to place the interior camera). If the interior camera is part of the main unit, installation is easier, but the drawback is that you have less freedom as to where you point your interior lens.
Our Two Favorite 3-Channel Dash Cameras For 2024
There are two clear winners this year, and both of them are from the well-known Chinese mid-price brand, Viofo.
One of them is the Viofo A229 Pro, which records 4K to the front, 1440p to the rear, and 1080p interior. It’s equipped with Sony Starvis 2 sensors, both front and rear. However, it’s also quite pricey, at just below $400 currently.
Our other winner is the compact Viofo T130. It has the front and rear camera integrated in the same unit, making for easier setup. It doesn’t have a screen and it’s video quality isn’t quite as good as the A229 Pro’s, but it is available for approximately half the price.
We’ve picked these cameras because they are both reliable, and record decent video.
If you’d like to see each of these camera’s features listed side by side, check out our detailed comparison table of 3-channel dash cams.
The Two Best 3-Channel Dash Cams Of 2024
Viofo A229 Pro 3CH – Best Video Quality
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – more countries & vendors (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Very good (4.0/5)
Rear Video: Good (3.0/5)
Interior Video: Very good (4.0/5)
Total Video Score: 11/15
Reliability: Very good (4.0/5)
Separate Interior Camera: Yes
Screen: Yes
Parking Modes: Buffered, time-lapse, low bit rate
Other Features: Integrated quad-band GPS, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5GHz), capacitor, lock file button, optional CPL filter, optional remote Bluetooth button
Pros: Best video quality, very reliable, app easy to use
Cons: Large size of the front camera, picky with memory cards
Full Review: Viofo A229 Pro Review
The A229 Pro is the first 3-channel dash cam that uses Sony Starvis 2 sensors, both for the front and rear camera. These sensors are larger, and more light sensitive, than older sensors, resulting in much better video.
This camera records at a very high bit rate, so we recommend you use at least a 256GB memory card. The maximum supported size is 256GB.
Speaking of memory cards, it is important to know that the A229 Pro only works with two brands: Viofo’s own, and SanDisk Max Endurance cards are the only two that the manufacturer says will work fine. So make sure to get one of those to avoid stability issues.
As you can see in the picture, this camera comes with a 2.4″ screen on the rear, making it easy to operate. Of course you can also configure it over Wi-Fi using a smart phone app. The app is quite well designed, and more intuitive to use than some of the competition.
Viofo T130 – Best Value For Money
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – more countries & vendors (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Good (2.5/5)
Rear Video: Good (3.0/5)
Interior Video: Good (3.0/5)
Total Video Score: 8.5/15
Reliability: Good (3.0/5)
Separate Interior Camera: No
Screen: No
Parking Modes: Event triggered, time-lapse, low bit rate
Other Features: Integrated GPS, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz), capacitor, lock file button, optional CPL filter, optional remote Bluetooth button
Pros: Best video quality, great price, slick design
Cons: No screen
Full Review: Viofo T130 Review
This is an older 3-channel dash cam, but great value for money. While not as good as the A229 Pro, the Viofo T130 records decent quality video with all of its 3 channels. Its footage is good enough to be able to read license plates of nearby cars in most situations, even at night.
It’s also the 3-lens dash cam with the most appealing design, in our opinion. The interior camera is integrated with the main unit, and it can be swiveled left and right.
Buttons to toggle video and audio recording, as well as Wi-Fi, are located on the rear of the camera. To their right, there is a big round lock-file button to safeguard important videos.
The T130 doesn’t have a screen, so you need your phone to access the setup menu and to review video.
Alternatively, you can use Viofo’s remote Bluetooth button (optional) to save files.
When hard-wired to the car’s fuse box with an optional hard-wiring kit the T130 supports 3 different parking modes: Event-triggered (wake-upon-impact), time-lapse (low frame rate), and low bit rate.
Runner-Up
Vantrue N4 Pro – Top Seller, Easy To Use
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – more countries & vendors (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Good (3.0/5)
Rear Video: Fair (2.0/5)
Interior Video: Very good (3.5/5)
Total Video Score: 8.5/15
Reliability: Good (3.0/5)
Separate Interior Camera: No
Screen: Yes
Parking Modes: Buffered, event triggered, time-lapse, low bit rate
Other Features: Capacitor, lock file button, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5GHz), GPS
Pros: Large screen, easy to set up and use
Cons: Large size of the front camera. Needs a Vantrue memory card
Full Review: Vantrue N4 Pro Review
Vantrue were the first company to offer a 3-way dash cam, back in 2020. The Vantrue N4 Pro was released in 2023, and it is an upgraded version of that first 3-channel dash cam.
It is also the best selling 3CH dash cam, maybe because its large 3.19″ screen. It also supports Wi-Fi, either at 2.4 or 5GHz for ultra fast video transmission. The large screen, together with the smart phone app, make this camera quite straightforward to set up and use.
The Nexus 4 Pro sports a Starvis 2 sensor for the front channel, resulting in good video quality day and night. HDR is supported for all 3 channels, further enhancing visibility of license plates when it’s dark.
The interior camera is integrated with the main unit.
Most users are happy with the N4 Pro, and it is getting great customer reviews on Amazon. However, it has to be said that its video quality is not as good as the Viofo A229 Pro’s, even though both models cost approximately the same.
With a hard-wiring kit, the N4 Pro supports 4 different parking modes. We recommend using buffered or time-lapse parking mode for best video quality.
A CPL filter is available separately, but not included.
Not Recommended
Vantrue E3: Disappointing Video
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Fair (2.0/5)
Rear Video: Mediocre (1.0/5)
Interior Video: Good (3.0/5)
Total Video Score: 6/15
Reliability: Good (3.0/5)
Separate Interior Camera: No
Screen: Yes
Parking Modes: Buffered, impact, time-lapse, low bit rate
Other Features: Integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, capacitor, lock file button
Pros: Best parking mode options
Cons: High price, low video quality
Video Samples: Vantrue E3 Video Samples
The Vantrue Element 3, or E3, was released in 2023. It is part of Vantrue’s Element series which comprises a 1-channel, a 2-channel, and a 3-channel dash cam. They are named E1, E2, and E3, respectively.
At around $300, this camera is almost as expensive as the Viofo A229 and Vantrue N4, but it doesn’t even come close to either of those two in terms of video quality.
Forward video is only fair even at day time, and you will be hard pressed to make out any license plates. Rear video during the night is downright poor.
So, especially bearing in mind its price, we recommend you avoid the Vantrue Element 3 dash cam.
