Thinkware F800

Technical Specifications

– Dual or single channel dash cam
– Max. resolution: 1080p @ 30fps, front and rear
– Price: n/a
– GPS
– Super Night Vision
– Wi-Fi
– Ambarella A12 processor
– Video format: MP4
– Supports up to 64 GB MicroSD cards
– Time and date stamp on video
– Loop recording, auto on/off, G-Sensor
– Internal capacitor instead of battery
– Lock file button
– Apps for Android and iOS
– Player software for Windows and Mac
– Overheat protection
– Internal microphone and speaker
– Operating temperature: from -10°C to 60°C (14°F to 140°F)
– Storage temperature: from -20°C to 70°C (-4°F to 158°F)
– Buffered parking mode with motion detection and time lapse
– Low voltage cutoff
– Adhesive mount
– Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
– Front Collision Warning System (FCWS)
– Origin: South Korea

Front Camera:
– Max. resolution: 1920×1080 @ 30fps (60fps when used without the rear camera)
– Size: 107mm x 61mm x 32mm
– Weight: 105g
– Sony Exmor R Starvis IMX291 CMOS sensor
– Angle of view: 140° diagonal

Rear camera (optional):
– Max. resolution: 1920×1080 @ 30fps
– Sony Exmor R Starvis IMX291 CMOS sensor
– Angle of view: 140° diagonal

NOTE: The Thinkware F800 has meanwhile been replaced by the Thinkware F800 Pro. If you’re looking for the older version, some units are still available on eBay.

Thinkware F800 Review

In the summer of 2017, Thinkware released a new “flag ship” dash cam, the high-end F800 front-and-rear dash cam. Compared to both its predecessor, the Thinkware F770, and to the BlackVue DR650S-2CH, which is currently the most popular dual channel dash cam out there and thus sort of a benchmark, the F800 records noticeably better video at night. Rear video quality is also better, due to the rear camera’s 1080p resolution.

Forward video quality during the day is comparable to the BlackVue’s. It’s very good for a dual-channel dashboard camera, however if you are looking for truly stellar video quality, you’re still better off choosing a single-channel dash cam such as the Vico-Opia2. As of 2017, two-way dash cams still have to compromise with regards to video quality in order to allow for simultaneous recording of both channels.

The Thinkware F800 is elegantly designed and comes with all of the features you would expect from a high-end car camera, including built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and parking mode (see below). It doesn’t have a screen, so the set-up and configuration is done via your smart phone. Free apps are available for Android and Mac.

While this camera isn’t exactly big, it isn’t exactly stealthy either, due to some shiny silver parts around the camera lens and around the camera’s sides. An all-black version, the F800 Pro, is scheduled for release later this year.

The rear camera for this device is optional — a more accessibly priced single-channel version is also available. When just one channel is used, the F800 can record 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second, allowing for more detail to be captured. Note that the F800’s rear camera is different from the one used by the Thinkware F750 and F770. Thus if you own the predecessor, unfortunately you can’t just get the single-channel version of the F800 and use your existing rear camera with it.

LEDs and control buttons are situated underneath the Thinkware F800.

In addition to its voice menu, the F800 has 3 LEDs underneath to let you see at a glance whether the device is working as it should. There’s one LED each for GPS and Wi-Fi, and one to indicate that the camera is recording.

Control buttons are also situated conveniently on the bottom of the dash cam, with a large lock file button (Thinkware call it a “manual recording button”) in the middle, surrounded by a power button, a mic on/off button, a format button, and a button to toggle Wi-Fi.

On the right-hand side there are plugs for the power cable and the (optional) rear video feed, while on the back, there’s a slot for the SD card (up to 64GB in size) and a tiny reset button, along with the camera’s microphone.

When hard-wired to the car’s fuse box, the F800 can be used in buffered or time-lapse parking mode. Time-lapse parking mode will record continuous video at 2 frames per second, while buffered parking mode will record 10 seconds before and after an event is detected, either by visual motion detection or by the camera’s G-sensor.

If you do hard-wire your camera, make sure to configure the camera’s low-voltage cutoff function to prevent your car’s battery from being drained. You may also want to consider getting an extra battery pack (not included).

To sum it up, the Thinkware F800 is an excellent two-way dash cam, with noticeably better video quality than all of its competitors (or at least all the ones we have reviewed so far, which is quite a lot). It comes with all the features a modern high-end dash cam should have, such as Wi-Fi, GPS, and buffered/time-lapse parking mode with low-voltage cutoff. Its superior video quality, along with the convenient lock file button, give it a definite edge over the current top-seller, the BlackVue DR650S-2CH.

All of these features make the Thinkware F800 a very promising newcomer, and we are already considering it one of the best front and rear dash cams of 2017.

Thinkware F800 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.

Day Time Front Video Sample

Watch this video on YouTube

Day time forward video quality is very good. License plates of other cars are easily readable even when just driving by.

Day Time Rear Video Sample

Watch this video on YouTube

Day time rear video quality is also very good. All details including license plates are clearly visible.

Night Time Front Video Sample

Watch this video on YouTube

Night front video is very good. There is some glare form traffic lights and such, but footage is good enough to read license plates of nearby cars while driving by, often even without pausing the video.