Thinkware Q1000 vs. 70mai A810s
Dash Cam Comparison Review

The 70Mai A810S has been the latest model to hop on the Sony STARVIS 2 trend, allowing for clear and crisp image quality, joining the Thinkware U3000, VIOFO A139 Pro, and VIOFO A119 Mini 2. But there’s more to a camera than image quality, and can it’s features and software hold-up?

In this article, we’ll check out the features and specifications of the 70Mai A810S, and compare it with another dash cam within the mid budget range, the Thinkware Q1000. Let’s dive in!

Measuring only 3.94" x 1.18" x 2.83" inches, the Thinkware Q1000. is a screenless dash cam that’s designed with a matte black finish, discreet enough to hide behind the rearview mirror. What’s cool about this dash cam is its lens can be adjusted vertically, depending on which angle you would want to cover. While the 70mai A810S also has a small form factor at 3.49” x 1.5" x 2.35", it includes a 3-inch touch screen for viewing footage and adjusting settings. Now, in terms of the hardware, it’s worth noting that the 70mai A810S is still built with a lithium-ion battery, just like old school dash cams which are more prone to overheating. This is not a problem with the Thinkware Q1000, as it is built with a supercapacitor.

Find out why you shouldn’t choose lithium-ion battery dash cams here.

In terms of dash cam footage quality, the 70Mai A810S takes pride in its Sony STARVIS 2 8MP IMX 678 image sensor, which provides impressive 4K quality in both bright and low-light conditions. Compared to the previous 70Mai dash cams, we believe that the A810s delivers the more vibrant, colourful and crisp footage – thanks to Sony STARVIS 2.

While the Thinkware Q1000 is equipped with the first generation Sony STARVIS 5MP Exmor sensors for its front, it does not lag behind with its Super Night Vision 3.0 and Dewarping Technology. The Q1000’s 156° field of view, wider than 70mai’s 150°, minimal but slightly wider. For the rear camera, the A810s delivers 1080P Full HD footage, while the Q1000 captures a sharper 2K QHD recording, enabling you to record clear footage for both front and rear.

For the framerate, the Thinkware Q1000’s 5MP front delivers 2K QHD (2560X1440) @ 30 fps or FHD (1920×1080) @ 60FPS. Meanwhile, the 70mai A810S offers a framerate of 60FPS @ 1080P. However, if you activate the two-channel system of the A810S, we found out that its frame rate gets reduced to only 25 frames per second, which is an example of dash cam corner-cutting.

Both dash cams have HDR features, but if you wish to have a clearer view of your footage, without the glare and reflections, the Thinkware Q1000 is also compatible with a CPL filter – which the 70mai A810s doesn’t have the option for. However, both dash cams are compatible with the BlackboxMyCar Aqua Shield if you wish to protect your dash camera videos from harsh environmental elements such as rain and dust.

In parking mode, both cameras offer advanced features like auto event detection and time-lapse, but the Thinkware Q1000 takes the lead with buffered parking mode. Although the A810s is also equipped with this feature, it’s only a 2-second buffer, which is way shorter than the Q1000’s 10 seconds before the incident, and 10 seconds after. This extra time in buffered recording could be crucial in capturing events leading up to an incident, giving you a full picture of what happened before the incident, and the Energy Saving mode allows the Q1000 to reduce its power consumption and remain in Parking mode for a longer duration.

Learn more about Energy Saving Parking Mode on Thinkware Dash Cams here.

Both dash cams offer separate hardwire kits for a continuous power supply, but the Thinkware Q1000 provides more flexibility with selectable cutoff voltage options. This is ideal to fine-tune the dash cam, and set a proper cut-off that fits best with your vehicle, the 70Mai on the other hand has a voltage cut-off pre-set to 11.4V. This is too low in our opinion, as we recommend a cut-off of 12V, and runs the risk of draining and damaging different car batteries, depending on the vehicle.

The Q1000 has intelligent user accessibility at the forefront of its design. With dual-band wifi, your iOS or Android smartphone can connect to the Thinkware Q1000 via the 2.4 GHz or 5GHz bandwidth for faster file transfers, compared to the 70mai A810S’s 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. It also has a built-in Bluetooth that allows hassle-free dash cam pairing with your compatible Android or iOS device via the Thinkware Link App and the Thinkware CONNECTED App.

Yes, the Thinkware Q1000 supports the Cloud, which the 70mai does not have. If you want to watch over your car even when you’re away, the Thinkware CONNECTED features include Strong Impact Notifications, Impact Notifications When Parked, Emergency SOS, Remote Live View, and Geofencing. Best of all? It’s free.

Know more about the Thinkware CONNECTED features here.

The two-channel Thinkware Q1000 is priced at $349.99 while the 70mai A810S is priced at only $179.98, without the hardwire kit. While the price is higher, we still stand by the advanced features and reliability of the Q1000, which has been shown to make sure your vehicle stays protected in the long-term, day or night. In the package, the Thinkware Q1000 comes with a front-rear camera, a 32GB micro SD Card, a Heat Blocking Film, and most importantly, the Thinkware Hardwire Kit for 24/7 parking mode security – so you no longer have to worry about anything!

We’re glad to see that the 70mai A810S has been making waves in the community, especially for those drivers looking for Sony STARVIS 2 while still being budget friendly. While image quality is a major thing to consider, the video performance of the Thinkware Q1000 is also a winner with true HDR and Super Night Vision. And the features of the Q1000, especially the Cloud, makes the Thinkware Q1000 a better option for those who are looking for superior protection and long-term reliability.