Is Your Dash Cam Lying to You?
Real 4K vs. Fake 4K Dash Cams
Over the past decade, dash cams have become essential for drivers, providing security and peace of mind. As technology has advanced, dash cams have evolved from grainy 720p footage to stunning 4K resolution, capturing crucial details like license plates even during night drives. Investing in a genuine 4K dash cam is crucial for obtaining high-quality, irrefutable evidence.
As you may have already guessed, 4K dash cams are expensive. A basic, affordable single-channel 4K unit, like the VIOFO A229 Pro 1-CH, costs around $250 USD. However, if you look elsewhere, you may see some cheaper options that advertise 4K recording. Are these too good to be true?
In this article, we will share everything you need to consider when getting a 4K dash cam and how to avoid getting burned by a fake one.
The Rise of Fake 4K Dash Cams
As technology is being advanced further and further, demand for better and better image quality has increased. It used to be that 4k was only available from major players like BlackVue, Thinkware, and VIOFO, and they often cost a pretty penny. Unfortunately, as 4K dash cams became more prevalent and affordable, many fake 4K dash cams have appeared for sale on online marketplaces like Amazon. These systems often carry attractively low price tags that make them seem like absolute steals, and while they do create video files in the appropriate resolution, there’s always a catch.
The Rise of Fake 4K Dash Cams
Image Sensor
A true 4K camera captures at a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels (W x H), which roughly translates into 8 megapixels (MP), so it must have at least an 8 MP sensor to do so. Any image sensors smaller than 8 MP are physically incapable of capturing 4K video, yet that’s what many so-called 4K cameras claim, through upscaling.
While all true 4K dash cams are equipped with 8 MP sensors, not all of them are created equally. The Sony STARVIS 2, found in models like the BlackVue DR970X Plus, Thinkware U3000, and VIOFO A229 Pro, offers superior low-light performance, colour and contrast, clarity, noise reduction, and lower power consumption. Advanced technologies such as high-bitrate recording, faster shutter speeds, Super Night Vision, and HDR further improve video quality, making these newer models the best choice for capturing high-quality footage. Sony STARVIS 2 image sensors are currently the pinnacle of dash cam quality, and are a key factor to look for when searching for a high-recording-quality model.
Many cheaper 4K dash cams on the market use older image sensors like the OmniVision OS08A10 (launched circa 2020) and the Sony STARVIS IMX334 (launched circa 2018).
Video Resolution
True 4K resolution is 3840x2160 pixels, providing exceptionally clear and detailed footage. However, many fake 4K dash cams, such as the Rove R2-4K and Rexing V1, use upscaling to artificially enhance lower-resolution footage. Upscaling is a process where the dash cam stretches or enlarges the video to meet the 4K pixel count, often resulting in