3-channel (3CH) dash cams record to the front, to the rear, and inside of your car. They are incredibly useful for anyone working ride share, such as taxi and Uber drivers. They are also great if you want an extra angle for your dash cam recordings, as the interior camera also picks up some of the view through the side windows.
This type of dash cam is relatively new. The first dash cam that came with 3 lenses was the Vantrue N4, back in 2020. Since then, other manufacturers have followed suit. The N4 is still very popular and quite possibly the best selling 3-way dash cam of all time. However, companies like Zenfox and Viofo also have decent 3 camera dash cams on offer that in some circumstances outperform the Vantrue N4.
Currently we have three 3-channel dash cams on our best of list. They all lie in the same price range, costing around $250 more or less.
At A Glance
- Viofo T130: Best Video Overall
- Vantrue N4: Top Seller, Easiest To Use
- Viofo A139: Separate Interior Camera
How To Make Your Choice
Some questions you want to ask yourself when making your pick is:
- 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, but 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 you have less freedom as to where you point your interior lens.
Our Top 3 Cameras For 2023
We’ve chosen 3 three-channel cameras for this article.
One of them is the Vantrue N4, which was the first 3-channel dash cam and continues to be a best seller on Amazon and elsewhere. The N4 comes with a 2.5″ screen, and the interior camera is integrated with the main unit.
The other two are from Viofo, our trusted mid-price brand. The Viofo cameras are more reliable overall than the Vantrue N4. One of them has a separate interior camera, the other one doesn’t. Neither of the two has a screen.
All of these record 1440p (2K) resolution with the front camera, and 1080p with the interior and rear lenses.
If you’d like to see the cameras’ features listed side by side, check out our detailed comparison table of 3-channel dash cams.
Other Cameras We’ve Considered, But Not Included
We’ve also considered adding the Zenfox T3 to this list. This is a decent 3-channel dash cam in its own right, comparable in quality to the Vantrue N4. However apart from supporting Wi-Fi, it doesn’t really add much to the table, and it’s not as popular so we decided to keep our best-of list as short as we can.
Another camera we considered including is the BlackVue DR750X-3CH Plus, which is a high-end 3-channel dash cam that comes with a separate interior camera (but no screen). Starting at $450, the DR750X-3CH costs about twice as much as the other cameras you can see here. However, after evaluating the BlackVue’s video quality, we didn’t find it much better than the other cameras presented here, which is disappointing considering its high price.
Now let’s have a detailed look at the best 3-channel dash cams of 2023:
Viofo T130 – Best Video Overall
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – eBay US / AU – more countries & vendors (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Good
Rear Video: Good
Interior Video: Good
Reliability: Good
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
Full Review: Viofo T130 Review
Viofo’s recently released T130 has the best video of any 3-channel dash cam we have tested so far. It’s 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 can be swiveled left and right. Buttons to toggle video and audio recording, as well as Wi-Fi, are located to in the middle, and to the right, there is a big lock-file button to safeguard important videos.
Vantrue N4 – Top Seller, Easy To Use
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – eBay US / AU – more countries & vendors (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Good
Rear Video: Fair
Interior Video: Good
Reliability: Fair
Separate Interior Camera: No
Screen: Yes
Parking Modes: Event triggered, time-lapse
Other Features: Capacitor, lock file button, optional GPS mount
Full Review: Vantrue N4 Review
The Vantrue N4 was the first 3-lens dash cam to be released, back in 2020. It has been immensely successful, and continues to be a top seller.
The Vantrue N4 comes with an integrated 2.5″ screen, making setup and operation a breeze. This is by far the easiest 3-channel dash cam to install and use, as there’s no need to configure Wi-Fi or connect a 3rd camera.
Most users are happy with the N4, and it’s getting excellent reviews on Amazon. That being said, its video quality isn’t quite as good as the Viofos’. Also, there’s no CPL filter available to reduce glare when driving in bright sunlight.
GPS is optional, and integrated in the mount (if you want it).
Viofo A139 – Separate Interior Camera
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – eBay US / AU – more countries & vendors (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Good
Rear Video: Fair
Interior Video: Very Good
Reliability: Good
Separate Interior Camera: Yes
Screen: No
Parking Modes: Buffered, time-lapse, low bit rate
Other Features: Integrated GPS, Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), capacitor, lock file button, optional CPL filter, optional remote Bluetooth button
Full Review: Viofo A139 Review
The Viofo A139 is a stylish 3-lens dash cam with a sperate interior camera (the left one in the picture — if you look closely, you can see the 6 little infrared LEDs surrounding the camera lens).
It doesn’t have a screen, but it comes with integrated Wi-Fi and GPS. Unlike the Viofo T130, the A139 also supports 5 GHz Wi-Fi, which greatly speeds up playing back video on your phone.
The A139’s exterior video quality is comparable to the Vantrue N4’s. However, its interior video is a bit better, especially at night.
This is the only 3-channel dash cam that supports buffered parking mode.