The Venture 4 dash cam is a game-changer for road safety. It's equipped with advanced features that can help prevent accidents and protect you in case of an incident.
One of the standout features of the Venture 4 dash cam is its 1080p resolution, which provides clear and crisp video footage even in low-light conditions. This means you'll have a detailed record of any incident, which can be invaluable for insurance purposes.
The Venture 4 dash cam also features a wide-angle lens, allowing you to capture more of the road and surrounding environment. This is particularly useful for city driving or navigating tight corners.
With the Venture 4 dash cam, you can drive with confidence, knowing that you're protected by advanced safety features.
Verdict and Review
The Vantrue N4 Pro is a top-notch dashcam that captures action from all angles, including the front, inside, and back of the vehicle.
It's perfect for ride share drivers or harried parents who want to keep an eye on their surroundings while on the road. The Vantrue N4 Pro's ability to see what's going on in all directions is invaluable.
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The camera's video output is excellent, with several resolution options and HDR enhancements available. It's one of the most expensive dashcams around, but its features make it a worthwhile investment.
You'll get three cameras for front to back coverage, which is impressive, but the wired rear camera requires some demanding cable hiding. However, you only have to do this once.
The Vantrue N4 Pro is a decent performer that comes recommended, especially for those who want the flexibility of three different angles of view.
Design & Features
The Vantrue Venture 4 dash cam is a powerhouse of features and design. It's significantly more complicated than a single stream dash cam, but it's capable of recording the windshield, cabin, and rear.
The main unit is about the size of the Nexar beam2, measuring 4.9 x 2.3 x 1.6 inches and weighing 7.2 ounces. It's housed in two black sections, with the main unit including the GPS module, power connection, and front and cabin cameras.
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One of the standout features of the Vantrue Venture 4 is its ability to record in 4K, but only if you switch off both the interior and rear-view camera. Otherwise, you're limited to 2160p + 1080p or 1440p + 1080p + 1080p.
The camera has a full-colour 2.45-inch screen, but it's not touch-sensitive. You'll also need to provide your own MicroSD card, as one is not included in the box.
Here are some key features of the Vantrue Venture 4:
- 3-channel recording (front, interior, and rear-view)
- 4K recording (but only with both interior and rear-view cameras switched off)
- Full-colour 2.45-inch screen
- USB-C connectivity
- Compatible with MicroSD cards (but not Transcend or SanDisk cards, for some reason)
The rear-view backup cam is a separate unit, measuring 2.4 x 1.3 x 1.1 inches and weighing 1.3 ounces. It's powered by a 19-foot cable and comes with Velcro straps and stick-on cable holders to help hide excess cabling.
The Vantrue Venture 4 has a super capacitor that charges up when the car's running and slowly discharges to operate the camera. This allows the camera to stay active for recording if the car is bumped while parked.
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Setup
Setting up the Vantrue N4 Pro dash cam can be a bit of a challenge, but it's doable. The process starts by opening the hatch under the power switch and inserting your micro-SD card.
You'll need to insert a 256GB Samsung micro-SD card, just like the one used in the review. The two camera modules come with adhesive, but the reviewer used suction cups.
Loosely wiring everything together before hiding the cables is a good idea. This will save you time and effort in the long run.
It took the reviewer 9 minutes to install the dash cam, followed by an hour of hiding cables. The setup process is relatively quick, but the cable management part can take some time.
The Vantrue app is available for both Android and iOS devices. You can download it from the app store and start the setup process.
The app will format your micro-SD card and prompt you to select the N4 Pro from a list of available devices. You'll also need to choose between 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi.
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Media Quality
The Vantrue N4 Pro delivers exceptional video quality, rivaling that of a smartphone with only a hint of barrel distortion. Its color balance is spot on, accurately capturing the hues of freshly planted green grass and bluestone gravel.
The camera's ultra-wide aspect ratio makes it easy to fit the front view on the screen, with the cabin and rear video displayed on the left. The device also shows GPS speed in the lower right corner, matching your car's speedometer.
Viewing the video on the app, you'll notice sharp visuals with minimal jagged edges, although some moire patterns may appear on certain surfaces like a home's roof.
Media Quality
The video quality of dash cams like the Vantrue N4 Pro is impressive. It's every bit as good as what you'd get from your phone, with only a slight barrel distortion.
The N4 Pro's color balance is spot on, making it perfect for capturing a wide range of scenes, from freshly planted green grass to bluestone gravel. It's a feature that's hard to find in many dash cams.
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Viewing the video on the app, you'll notice that it's sharp with minimal jagged edges. However, it can render certain scenes with annoying moire patterns, like a home's roof.
The N4 Pro's HDR enhancements make a big difference, making everything appear richer and more saturated. This is especially noticeable in scenes with a lot of detail.
Low Bitrate Recording
The N4's low bitrate recording feature is a game-changer for those who want to save storage space without sacrificing video quality.
It will enter parking mode if it doesn't detect any movement within 5 minutes, which helps conserve battery life.
In this mode, it continues recording at 720P 15FPS.
Performance and Detection
The Venture 4 dash cam delivers impressive performance, especially when it comes to recording driving and traffic incidents. Footage from the camera is very good, with enough detail to see important details like numberplates, even when using lower resolutions on the other cameras.
The camera's exposure is well-balanced, and colours are generally accurate, making it ideal for capturing evidence in case of an incident. However, the sound quality is only passable, so it's not the best choice for vlogging or capturing high-quality audio.
Three cameras record simultaneously once motion is detected around your car, providing all-round protection for your vehicle.
Performance
The VanTrue N4 delivers very good footage, especially for recording driving and traffic incidents. This is especially true when using the front-facing camera, which can capture 4K resolution.
The footage is generally very steady, with little jumping or jolting, even in slightly patchy environments. This makes it ideal for capturing important details like number plates.
Exposure is well-balanced, and colours are generally accurate. This is great for capturing clear footage of incidents, but it's worth noting that colours may not be as vibrant as you'd expect.
The sound quality is passable for an insurance claim or similar purpose, but it's not suitable for vlogging or other applications where high-quality audio is important.
Motion Detection
Motion detection is a crucial feature for any security system, and this product delivers. Three cameras record simultaneously once motion is detected around your car.
This comprehensive coverage ensures all-round protection for your vehicle. Hardwiring is required to ensure continuous operation, which is a small price to pay for the added peace of mind.
The cameras are designed to capture any suspicious activity, providing you with valuable evidence to share with authorities if needed. This feature is a game-changer for car owners who want to deter thieves and protect their investment.
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Collision Detection
The collision detection feature is a game-changer for anyone who's ever been in a car accident. Any scratches or impacts will be detected by the G-sensor and recorded accurately.
This feature alleviates concerns about compensation disputes, which can be a huge relief. The G-sensor ensures that any incident is documented with precision.
With the external GPS mount, you can accurately log the live speed in KM/H or MP/H, as well as the location and driving route.
Low Frame Rate
In Low Frame Rate Recording mode, N4 continuously records at 1FPS, which means one frame per second. This mode is perfect for parking mode where you don't need high-quality video.
The playback speed is 30FPS, so each 1-minute video represents a real-time period of 30 minutes. This is a great feature for reviewing footage without feeling rushed.
N4 will not record sound in this mode, which is a minor trade-off for the benefits of continuous recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the #1 dash cam?
The #1 dash cam is the Viofo A229 Pro, offering clear 4K video and useful features like GPS and parking monitoring. This top-rated dash cam comes in 1-, 2-, and 3-channel versions for various needs.
Is Vantrue a Chinese company?
Yes, Vantrue is a Chinese company. Founded in 2015, it has since gained a global presence.
Does the Vantrue N4 have night vision?
Yes, the Vantrue N4 dash cam features infrared night vision for clear video recording in low-light conditions.
Why don t cars have built-in dashcams?
Most carmakers have not yet adopted built-in dashcams due to low demand. As a result, aftermarket dashcam units are often the only option for drivers.
Sources
- https://www.tomsguide.com/vehicle-tech/vantrue-n4-pro-dash-cam-review
- https://www.vantrue.net/product/x4s_duo
- https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/vantrue-n4-dashcam-review
- https://venturebeat.com/ai/nextbase-unveils-ai-based-smart-dash-cam-as-driver-guardian/
- https://www.vantrue.com/products/vantrue-n4
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