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.
We compared the five most popular 3-channel dash cams of 2023, to find which one(s) records the best video.
We were in for quite a surprise: The two most expensive cameras performed worst. And, as you may be delighted to learn: The dash cam that records the best video overall is actually the least expensive of the lot!
At A Glance
Winners:
- Viofo T130: Best overall video, best value for money
- Viofo A139: Most reliable, separate interior camera
Runner-Up:
- Vantrue N4: Easiest to use
Not Recommended:
- BlackVue DR750X-3CH Plus: High price, low video quality
- Vantrue E3: Disappointing video
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. 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 2023
There are two clear winners this year: Both of them are from the well-known Chinese mid-price brand, Viofo.
Both the Viofo T130 and the Viofo A139 record 1440p video with their front cameras, and 1080p with the interior and rear lenses. Their video quality is better than that of the Vantrue N4, and much better than what the BlackVue DR750X-3CH Plus and the Vantrue E3 record.
The Viofo cameras are also quite reliable.
The main difference between our two winners is that the A139 has a separate interior camera, while the T130 integrates the interior camera into the main unit.
If you’d like to see the cameras’ features listed side by side, check out our detailed comparison table of 3-channel dash cams.
The Two Best 3-Channel Dash Cams Of 2023
Viofo T130 – Best Value For Money
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
Pros: Best video quality, great price, slick design
Cons: No screen
Full Review: Viofo T130 Review
The Viofo T130 has the best video of any 3-channel dash cam we have reviewed 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 on the rear of the camera. To their right, there is a big round lock-file button to safeguard important videos.
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.
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: Very 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
Pros: Very reliable, good video quality, buffered parking mode
Cons: No screen
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 Viofo A139 is very reliable, and its video quality is good overall. Its rear camera isn’t quite as good as the Viofo T130’s, though.
This camera supports buffered parking mode, which is a plus.
Runner-Up
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
Pros: Top seller, easy to use
Cons: Not the most reliable
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 is getting great customer reviews on Amazon. However, it seems to be less reliable than the two Viofo models. Also, its video quality isn’t quite as good as the Viofos’.
GPS is optional, and integrated in the mount (if you want it).
Not Recommended
BlackVue DR750X-3CH Plus: High Price, Low Video Quality
Price: Amazon US / UK – eBay US / AU – more countries & vendors (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Fair
Rear Video: Fair
Interior Video: Fair
Reliability: Very Good
Separate Interior Camera: Yes
Screen: No
Parking Modes: Time-lapse, motion activated
Other Features: Cloud connectivity, integrated GPS, Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), capacitor, lock file button, high-temperature cutoff
Pros: Cloud connectivity, high reliablity, elegant design
Cons: High price, low video quality, no screen
Video Samples: BlackVue DR750X-3CH Plus Video Samples & Specs
BlackVue’s DR750X-3CH is a high-end dash cam with many cutting-edge features like cloud connectivity, Wi-Fi, and intelligent parking mode. Unfortunately, it records lower video quality than the other 3-channel dash cams featured here.
Bearing in mind the the BlackVue camera is far more expensive than its competitors by Viofo and Vantrue, its video quality is just disappointing. So this is not a 3-channel dash cam that we would recommend.
Vantrue E3: Disappointing Video
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK (affiliate links)
Forward Video: Fair
Rear Video: Average
Interior Video: Good
Reliability: Good
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 only recently 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 $400, this camera is almost as expensive as the BlackVue 3CH, and its video quality is almost as bad.
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, this is another 3-way dash camera we recommend you avoid.