Technical Specs
– Dual channel dash cam
– Max. resolution: front 4K (2160p), rear 1080p
– Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – more countries & vendors (affiliate links)
– GPS built-in (also supports GLONASS)
– Wi-Fi (2.4 or 5 GHz)
– Cloud connectivity
– Optional external LTE module
– Video format: MP4
– Supports up to 256 GB MicroSD cards
– Time and date stamp on video
– Lock file button
– Parking modes: Buffered, time-lapse, simple
– Loop recording, auto on/off, G-Sensor, motion detection
– Operating temperature: from -20°C to 70°C (-4°F to 158°F)
– High temperature cutoff (approx. 75°C / 167°F)
– Storage temperature: from -20°C to 90°C (-4°F to 194°F)
– Apps for Android / iOS
– Internal capacitor instead of battery
– Internal microphone and speaker
– Adhesive mount
Front Camera:
– Max. resolution: 3840×2160 @ 30fps
– Max. bit rate: 25 Mbps
– Size: 119mm x 36mm diameter (4.67″ x 1.42″)
– Weight: 106g (3.74oz)
– 8MP CMOS sensor
– Angle of view: 162° diagonal, 136° horizontal, 77° vertical
Rear camera (optional):
– Max. resolution: 1920×1080 @ 30fps
– Max. bit rate: 10 Mbps
– Size: 67mm x 25mm diameter (2.65″ x .98″)
– Weight: 25g (.88oz)
– Sony Starvis CMOS sensor (2.1MP)
– Angle of view: 139° diagonal, 116° horizontal, 61° vertical
BlackVue DR900X-2CH Review
The DR900X-2CH is BlackVue’s most advanced dashboard camera in 2020. It records true 4K resolution to the front, and 1080p to the rear. It also offers advanced cloud features such as remote live viewing and push notifications to your phone.
BlackVue hail from South Korea and are one of the oldest and most prestigious dashboard camera manufacturers in the business. Their X series introduces native cloud capability to BlackVue’s dash cam portfolio, eliminating the need to run a separate mobile hotspot in your car if you use the optional LTE module.
BlackVue’s X series includes the following three devices:
- DR900X: 4K front, 1080p rear – replaces the older DR900S
- DR750X: 1080p front, 1080p rear – replaces the DR750S
- DR590X: 1080p front, 1080p rear – replaces the DR590 and DR590W
This review is about the 4K DR900X-2CH, the most high-tech of the series.
There is also a one-channel-only version (just the front camera), called DR900X-1CH. It is the same as the DR900X-2CH, but it doesn’t have a rear camera.
Top Feature: Cloud Connectivity With Optional LTE Module
BlackVue’s CM100 LTE module
The BlackVue DR900X, along with the DR750X and DR590X, are the first dash cams on the market that can connect to a cloud service without requiring an internet hotspot in your car.
If you get the optional 4G LTE module (valued around $150), you can just plug this directly into the dash cam so it can connect to the internet. The LTE module is called CM100. It needs a valid SIM card to work, which you can get from most major telecom companies.
Of course, you can also connect to BlackVue’s cloud with a regular mobile hotspot, if you prefer to go without the LTE module.
BlackVue’s cloud features are the most advanced on the market. They include remote live view, push notifications to your phone in case of an incident, cloud storage and playback, GPS tracking (also for vehicle fleets), and more. For more information, you can refer to this article.
Video Quality
The BlackVue DR900X-2CH records at 4K resolution (3840×2160 pixels) with the forward camera, and 1080p (1920×1080 pixels) to the rear.
Video quality of the front camera is very good at day, and fair at night. For the rear camera, video quality is good during the day, and fair during the night.
BlackVue make a point of compressing the video to relatively low bit rates, in order to improve the reliability of their Wi-Fi and Cloud services. This reduces video quality in comparison to some other high-end dashboard cameras, but allows for smoother video streaming to your phone and over the internet.
With the DR900X, you can choose between the following bit rates:
- Highest (Extreme): 25 Mbps front, 10 Mbps rear
- Highest: 12 Mbps front, 10 Mbps rear
- High: 10 Mbps fron, 8 Mbps rear
- Normal: 8 Mbps front, 6 Mbps rear
Parking Modes
BlackVue cameras support excellent parking mode functionalities, including buffered parking mode, time-lapse parking mode, and a simple (energy-saving) parking mode.
- In buffered parking mode, when visual motion or an impact is detected, the DR900X will save a video starting 5 seconds before the event, and ending whenever the motion stops, or 25 seconds after the impact if one was detected.
- In time-lapse parking mode, the camera records continually at a frame rate of 1 fps to save memory space. Additionally, if it detects an impact at any moment, it will save a buffered clip as described above.
- In simple parking mode, the camera will only come alive if an impact is detected, and start recording a video clip.
The DR900X comes with a hard-wiring kit included.
Unlike older BlackVue dash cam models, the DR900X doesn’t need a Power Magic Pro device to run in parking mode. Low-voltage cutoff and timer functions are now built into the camera.
A unique BlackVue feature is that you can select which areas on the screen can trigger recording in buffered mode. For example, you can set it up so that trees moving in the wind within view of the camera can’t trigger a recording.
Other Features
The DR900X doesn’t have a screen, so you configure it via Wi-Fi using an app on your smart phone. The app is available for Android and iOS systems. Wi-Fi is supported at 2.4 and 5 GHz.
GPS is built into the camera. Alternatively, the GLONASS system can also be used.
The DR900X will give you an audible alert if an SD card failure is detected. It uses MicroSD cards, which can be up to 256GB in size.
Conclusion
As of this writing in November 2020, the DR900X is the 4K dash cam with the most advanced cloud features on the market today. Thinkware are the only other dash cam manufacturer that support cloud connectivity, but their cloud service is much less advanced.
BlackVue’s parking mode is also top-of-the-shelf.
So to sum it up, if you’re looking for a 4K dash cam with great cloud features and excellent parking mode options, this camera is the one to go for. That being said, if you’re looking for a device with better video quality, you may want to check out its competitors.
2022 Update: BlackVue’s latest DR900X-2CH Plus records better video quality, especially at night.
BlackVue DR900X-2CH Video Samples
For full original video quality, make sure to watch on full screen and select maximum video resolution (use the cog icon in lower right corner). You may have to rewind the video after changing the resolution.
Front Video Sample (Day & Night)
Forward video quality is very good during the day, and fair at night. At day time, it is easy to read other car’s license plates, even when driving by. At night, overall visibility is still good (night video starts at 4:06), but it becomes harder to read license plates.
Rear Video Sample (Day & Night)
Rear video quality is good during the day, and fair at night. Even though the rear camera’s video feed looks a bit grainy due to compression, you can still read most other cars’ license plates by pausing the video. At night, it becomes almost impossible to read license plates except when you’re stopping at a red light. Night video starts at 2:10.
Both videos courtesy of: Wideorejestratory24.pl
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