Thinkware Q800 Pro

Thinkware Q800 Pro front and rear cams

Technical Specifications

– Dual channel dash cam
– Max. resolution: front 1440p, rear 1080p
– Price: Amazon CAmore countries & vendors (ad)
– Live view over cloud
– GPS
– Wi-Fi
– No screen
– Video format: MP4
– Supports up to 512 GB MicroSD cards
– Time and date stamp on video
– Loop recording, auto on/off, G-Sensor
– Parking modes: Buffered, time-lapse, energy saving
– Lock file button
– Optional CPL filter (not included)
– Operating temperature: from -10°C to 60°C (14°F to 140°F)
– Apps for Android / iOS
– Wide Dynamic Range (WDR)
– Internal capacitor instead of battery
– Internal microphone and speaker
– Adhesive mount
– Road Safety Warning System (LDWS, FCWS, uFCWS, FVDW)

Front Camera:
– Max. resolution: 2560×1440 @ 30fps
– Bit rate: 20 Mbps
– Size: 107 x 61 x 33 mm (4.2″ x 2.4″ x 1.18″)
– Sony Exmor R STARVIS CMOS sensor (5.14M, IMX335)
– Angle of view: 140° diagonal
– Weight: 105g

Rear camera:
– Max. resolution: 1920×1080 @ 30fps
– Bit rate: 20 Mbps
– Sony Exmor R CMOS sensor (2.13M, IMX291)
– Angle of view: 140° diagonal

Thinkware Q800 Pro Review

The Thinkware Q800 Pro is a high-end, dual-channel dash cam that records at 1440p resolution forward, and 1080p to the rear. A distinguishing feature of this camera is that it can connect to Thinkware’s cloud, thus allowing you to watch video from your car remotely from anywhere, over the internet.

Video Quality

The Q800 Pro’s video quality is disappointing for a dashboard camera of this price. As you can see in the video samples featured below, during the day, video quality (both front and rear) is still acceptable, if not great. At night though, both the front and the rear camera’s videos are rather grainy, and it’s hard to impossible to make out other cars’ license plates at all.

Cloud Features

Remote live view is only available when the camera is in “Continuous Driving Mode” (so not when it is operating in parking mode). The resolution of the live-stream is 768x452p, at 15 frames per second (fps).

Apart from live streaming, Thinkware’s cloud features also include:

  • Geo Fencing: Receive a notification when your vehicle leaves a pre-defined area
  • Locate Vehicle: Receive the GPS location of vehicle to your phone
  • Strong Impact Notification: Receive a notification when an impact is detected

To connect to the cloud, you need a separate internet access point in your car (not included).

Parking Mode

The Q800 Pro supports buffered, time-lapse, and energy saving parking modes.

  • Buffered: When an impact is detected by the camera’s G-sensor, a video clip starting 10 seconds before the event is saved to a protected folder on the memory card.
  • Time-lapse: Video is recorded at 2 fps, resulting in a time-lapse effect when reviewing it. This saves a lot of space on the memory card.
  • Energy saving: When an impact is detected by the internal G-sensor, the camera wakes up within a second and starts recording for a period of 20 seconds, then goes back to sleep.

Other Features

A CPL filter for this camera is available separately (not included), to reduce reflections on the windshield when driving in bright daylight.

The Q800 Pro comes with a Road Safety Warning system that includes the following alerts: Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Front Collision Warning System (FCWS), Urban Front Collision Warning System (uFCWS), and Front Vehicle Departure Warning (FVDW).

A voice warning will notify you of the situation at hand. Some drivers love this, others turn it off so as not to be bothered by the notifications, or because their car already has those features.

Conclusion

We’re not terribly excited about the Q800 Pro, because of its surprisingly mediocre video quality. Both of Thinkware’s other high-end dash cams, the Thinkware U1000 and the Thinkware F800 Pro, record better video than the Q800 Pro.

The U1000 is a 4K dash cam that also supports remote viewing over the cloud. The F800 Pro records 1080p front and rear, but doesn’t allow remote viewing. Check out our reviews of the U1000 and F800 Pro if you’re interested in alternative options.

Thinkware Q800 Pro 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

Forward video at day is good. All details are clearly visible, and most license plates of cars driving by are readable when you pause the video. Video courtesy of The Gamer With Kids

Day Time Rear Video Sample

Rear video at day is fair. License plates of other cars are readable when they are right behind you. Video courtesy of Jeremy Wong

Night Time Front Video Sample


Night time front video quality is mediocre. While the road and cars around you are clearly visible, it’s often not possible to read license plates. Video courtesy of The Gamer With Kids

Night Time Rear Video Sample



Rear footage at night is poor. Video is grainy, and there is lots of glare from other cars’ headlights and street lights. Making out license plates becomes almost impossible under these conditions. Video courtesy of Jeremy Wong

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The Thinkware Q800 Pro is available for sale from the following vendors:

Amazon CA

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Alternatives

The Thinkware U1000 has similar features, and records better video quality, both front and rear.