A 3-channel (3CH) dash cam not only records to the front and rear of your car, it also has a camera facing the passenger cabin. This interior camera has 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. Of course, it can also be fun to record your family and friends on a road trip.
As a plus, the interior camera picks up some of the view through the side windows of the car, especially during the day. So it effectively gives you an extra angle of view for added security.
In this article, we’ll compare four of the most popular and effective 3-channel dash cams on the market as of spring 2025.
At A Glance
Winners:
- Viofo A229 Pro 3CH: Best video quality (2160p / 4K Ultra HD)
- Viofo A229 Plus 3CH: 2nd best video (1440p / Quad HD)
Runners-Up:
- Vantrue N4 Pro: Easy to use (4K)
- Redtiger F17: Most popular low-cost (1440p)
Not Recommended:
- Vantrue E3: Disappointing video
NEW: 4-Channel Dash Cams
In case you didn’t know: The first 4-channel dash cams are now starting to appear on the market. Typically they consist of a front and a rear unit, to be mounted on the respective windows. Both of those have 2 channels each, one filming outside, and on inside the car.
4CH dash cams are beyond the scope of this article, but if you’re interested check out the 4CH dash cams we’ve reviewed so far.
How To Make Your Choice
Here are some questions you want to ask yourself when choosing which 3-channel dash cam best fits our needs:
- Do I want a separate unit for the interior camera?
- 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 — this is slower though.
A separate interior camera means one more cable and one more device being installed on your wind shield. 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.
The Two Best 3-Channel Dash Cams Of 2025
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. This camera definitely has the best video of the lot.
It’s equipped with Sony Starvis 2 sensors, both front and rear. However, it’s also quite pricey, at just below $400 currently.
The Viofo A229 Plus is almost as good as the A229 Pro, but it’s cheaper, and it can record only 1440p with its front camera. All other features are the same.
Viofo A229 Pro 3CH – Best Video Quality
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – more countries & vendors (ad)
Forward Video: Very good (4.0/5)
Rear Video: Good (3.0/5)
Interior Video: Very good (4.0/5)
Total Video Score: 3.7/5
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 A229 Plus 3CH – Second Best Video
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – more countries & vendors (ad)
Forward Video: Very good (4.0/5)
Rear Video: Good (3.0/5)
Interior Video: Very good (4.0/5)
Total Video Score: 3.7/5
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: Very reliable, app easy to use
Cons: Large size, picky with memory cards
Full Review: Viofo A229 Plus Review
Feature-wise, the A229 Plus is pretty much the same as the A229 Pro. The big difference is that the front lens records at a lower resolution. Instead of 4K, it records at 1440p only. Nevertheless, video quality is still great. You obviously won’t get the same level of sharpness, but you’ll still be able to read license plates in most situations.
Runners-Up
Vantrue N4 Pro – Easy To Use, But Expensive
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – more countries & vendors (ad)
Forward Video: Good (3.0/5)
Rear Video: Fair (2.0/5)
Interior Video: Very good (3.5/5)
Total Video Score: 2.8/5
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. needs a Vantrue memory card, high price
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 of its large 3.19″ screen. It 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.
Redtiger F17 – Most Popular Low-Cost
Price: Amazon US / CA – more countries & vendors (ad)
Forward Video: Good (3.0/5)
Rear Video: Fair (1.5/5)
Interior Video: Very good (3.5/5)
Total Video Score: 2.7/5
Reliability: Fair (2.0/5)
Separate Interior Camera: No
Screen: Yes
Parking Modes: Impact, time-lapse
Other Features: Capacitor, lock file button, Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5GHz), GPS
Pros: Easy to install, large 3″ screen, great price
Cons: No CPL filter, mediocre night video, fake 4K
Full Review: Redtiger F17 Review
The F17 is not the best in terms of video, but still great value considering that it costs less than half of some of the other dash cams featured above.
Its cabin camera is integrated into the main unit, and swivels left and right as well as up and down. A large 3″ screen makes the F17 easy to operate. Installation is also straightforward, since it’s only 2 camera units and not 3 like with the Viofo models.
Bear in mind this is not a true 4K camera though. Night video quality also leaves to be desired.
Interior video is good, and all in all, the Redtiger F17 is an okay deal for its price if you’re a ride share driver and don’t want to spend several hundreds of dollars.
Not Recommended
Vantrue E3: Disappointing Video
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – more countries & vendors (ad)
Forward Video: Fair (2.0/5)
Rear Video: Mediocre (1.0/5)
Interior Video: Good (3.0/5)
Total Video Score: 2/5
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.
Comparison Table
If you’d like to see each camera’s features listed side by side, check out our detailed comparison table of 3-channel dash cams.