DR970X-2CH Plus Specifications
Changes from DR970X-2CH in bold
– Dual channel dash cam
– Released 2024
– Max. resolution: front 4K (2160p), rear 1080p
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– GPS, GLONASS
– Wi-Fi (2.4 or 5 GHz)
– Bluetooth
– USB-C port
– Lock file button
– Video format: MP4
– Codec: H.265
– Time and date stamp on video
– Supports up to 512GB MicroSD cards (over 15 video hours)
– Loop recording, auto on/off, G-Sensor, motion detection
– Parking modes: Time-lapse and Buffered
– Operating temperature: from -20℃ to 70℃ (-4°F to 158°F)
– Storage temperature: from -20℃ to 80℃ (-4°F to 176°F)
– High temperature cutoff at approx. 75℃ (167°F)
– Apps for Android / iOS
– Internal capacitor instead of battery
– Internal microphone and speaker
– Adhesive mount
– Optional LTE connectivity (4G)
– Optional infrared (IR) rear camera
Front Camera:
– Resolution: 3840×2160 @ 30fps
– Bit rate: 60 Mbps
– Size: 118.5mm x 47mm x 36mm (4.67″ x 1.85″ x 1.42″)
– Weight: 108g (3.81oz)
– 8 Megapixel Sony Starvis 2 CMOS Sensor
– Angle of view: 146° diagonal, 125° horizontal, 68° vertical
Rear camera:
– Resolution: 1920×1080 @ 30fps
– Bit rate: 10 Mbps
– Size: 67.4mm x 25mm diameter (2.65″ x .98″ diameter)
– Weight: 25g (.88oz)
– STARVIS™ CMOS Sensor (Approx. 2.1 M Pixel)
– Angle of view: 131° diagonal, 107° horizontal, 55° vertical
BlackVue DR970X Plus Review, And Comparison To Its Predecessor BlackVue DR970X
BlackVue are one of the most innovative dash cam manufacturers, and release new models very frequently. In 2023, their flagship 4K camera was the DR970X. In 2024, they presented an upgrade of the DR970X, called DR970X Plus.
We’ve already published an in-depth review of the BlackVue DR970X, so we won’t repeat it all here. The DR970X Plus has mostly the same features, with only a few changes.
This article focuses on the differences, so you can see how the DR970X Plus has evolved from its predecessor.
Sony Starvis 2 Sensor
The most important upgrade is that the DR970X Plus uses a Sony Starvis 2 sensor for the front camera. These sensors are larger, and more light sensitive, than older photographic sensors.
But there are also some other changes, such as an increased bit rate and a bigger aperture. Below, we will show you how much impact you can expect these changes to make.
Variants
Like its predecessor, the DR970X Plus comes in several variants. It’s available as a one or two channel dash cam (forward only, or front and rear). Those are called DR970X-1CH Plus and DR970X-2CH Plus, respectively.
As described in the DR970X review, BlackVue also have an LTE and an IR version of the DR970X Plus. As you may have guessed, they are simply called DR970X LTE Plus and DR970X IR Plus, respectively.
Design
The DR970X Plus maintains BlackVues trademark cylinder shape, but the front camera has grown in size to accommodate for the larger optical sensor.
Here’s a comparison:
BlackVue DR970X front camera (old)
The older DR970X is 119mm wide, and 36mm in diameter. That’s 4.67″ x 1.42″.
BlackVue DR970X Plus front camera (images not to scale)
The DR970X Plus has a larger lens, and its dimensions are 119mm x 43mm x 36mm (4.67″ x 1.85″ x 1.42″), with the lens protruding a little bit more.
Also notice the different design of the heat sink: It’s now made up of horizontal lines instead of small holes.
Note that the DR970X LTE Plus is even larger, measuring 138mm x 60mm x 43mm (5.43″ x 2.36″ x 1.85″).
The rear cameras are the same in all cases, no change here.
Video Quality
The main improvement that the DR970X Plus brings to the table is its upgraded optical sensor for the front camera, along with a higher bit rate. The bit rate is now 60Mbps instead of 25Mbps.
As a result, video quality of the front channel is increased. During the day, forward video is very good (4.0/5), with a slight improvement over the predecessor. At night though. We see much less glare from street lights and such, and license plate readability is noticeably improved. Night video quality is good (3.0/5).
Rear video quality hasn’t changed: It is good overall (3.0/5), both at day and at night.
You might notice that these rankings are exactly the same as the ones we gave for the DR970X. That’s because while there is an improvement to video quality, we found that the improvement isn’t big enough to take the quality to the next level.
No CPL Filter Available
There will be no CPL filter coming out for the DR970X Plus, which is very disappointing. So we will have to live with windshield reflections when driving towards the sun.
Due to the camera’s larger size, the old CPL filter for BlackVue cameras won’t fit on the the DR970X Plus.
Technical Differences
The DR970X Plus has a much larger aperture of f/1.7, as compared to the DR970X’s f/2.8. This basically describes the sensor’s enhanced light sensitivity.
Field of view (FOV) is slightly reduced, from 155° diagonal to 146° for the front camera. The rear camera has a FOV of 131° (previously 139°). These changes shouldn’t make a big difference though.
No HDR
Another disappointment with this camera: It doesn’t support HDR, either for the front or the rear cameras. Competing camera like the Viofo A229 Pro offer HDR for both channels, which is one of the reasons why their video quality is better at night.
Codecs
The BlackVue DR970X Plus claims to support H.264 and H.265 codecs. While this is technically true, the H.264 can’t be used with a bit rate of 60Mbps. You probably won’t want to use a lower bit rate than maximum, so using the H.264 codec doesn’t make sense for this camera.
This won’t make a difference for most users though, unless you have a picky video playback software that doesn’t support H.265. If you have problems, download the free VLC Player which works fine with any codec.
Memory Card Size
The DR970X Plus can take memory cards of up to 512GB (previous maximum: 256GB). This is a welcome improvement. 512GB should be state of the art for a 4K dash cam in 2024.
According to BlackVue, a 512GB SD card can hold 15 hours and 20 minutes of 2-channel video at the highest quality.
Since BlackVue cameras now come with a dedicated “Format” button (on the right-hand side of the camera), it should now work with all brands of memory cards. Make sure to always use a high endurance SD card with dash cams though.
Upgrading
The rear camera and cables are the same as for the previous camera, so if you’re upgrading from a BlackVue DR970X, you can do so by just replacing the front camera unit.
Conclusion
It’s great to see that BlackVue are now using a higher bit rate and a better sensor. HDR and a CPL filter are unfortunately missing though.
That said, BlackVue are still the industry leader in terms of cloud features. If cloud connectivity is important for you, then the DR970X Plus is the best option in 2024.
Pros:
- Excellent cloud capabilities
- Elegant design
- Reliable
Cons:
- High Price
- No CPL filter
- No HDR
Alternative High-End 4K Dash Cams
If you’re looking for the best video quality, the Viofo A229 Pro is our current favorite. It can’t connect to the cloud though, so you won’t be able to watch video remotely or receive alerts on your phone.
For a versatile high-end dash cam with cloud connectivity and enhanced parking mode options, check out the Thinkware U3000.
Video Samples
Here’s a comparison of video samples form the DR970X and DR970X Plus:
Forward video quality at day is very good (4.0/5). The improvement is minor with regards to the older version.
At night, we see less glare from traffic lights, street lights, and the like. License plates are clearer to read. You have a better chance of reading licences plates of cars driving by, but it’s still a bit hit and miss.
So while there is a notable improvement to the DR970X, we are giving it the same ranking (good, 3.0/5)
Rear video is the same (see the DR970X review): Good (3 points out of 5), both at day and at night.
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