I wish every tech review online would be as detailed and well explained as this one. A lot of 4K reviews are still published in 1080p and just show a few seconds of captured footage. At least I get the feeling that I understand and know what I'm getting into should I buy one. It's really honest, even though it may be "the best" dash cam you stay real and discuss all the things that are not so great about this model too. Well done, you should have a lot more subs, esp. when I see those other worthless channels with half a million subs or more🤔
You nail on almost every aspect on my experience with this Dashcam. The sensitivity on the sensor can be lowered to eliminate some of the false detections. Everything else on this video is on point and my exact experience.
Just got this dashcam mainly to protect my brand new car it’s a bit pricey but I’m sure it’ll be worth it especially when it’s park and I’m away to the car. Thanks for an amazing in-depth review!
Hello I watch your review about the u1000 from thinkware my question is. Is a good dash cam to install in an 18 wheeler specifically a Volvo. Thank you for your time
It definitely has amazing features and quality but it is so huge and has more wires sticking out of it then when I last had my EKG. It's time for them to figure out how to downsize this wonderful dash cam
I've been looking at dashcam videos and hoping someone would to do a clear and comprehensive review of dashcams and their features. This review is the best. It's even better than the videos done online by Thinkware. Made my decision to buy the U1000 because of this video.
There are 2 things thinkware and EVERY other dash cam needs to improve upon. 1 audio, they need to have software control on the audio like smart phones, so that if you listen to LOUD music the audio level needs to be reduced so that the audio isn't horribly horribly distorted. I have mentioned that to them. 2 the g sensor REALLY needs to be calibrated to the axis, and NOT just to vibration. Loud audio systems especially those that have subwoofers will just end up recording and locking every file until you run put of space on your card These are the 2 things that need major improvement
For me country of origin is important as I'm trying to minimise my reliance on China. This dashcam comes from Korea, and hopefully components are mainly sourced from countries other than China. I know I won't make a difference, but it's something I feel I should so.
@@monash4250 Here's my view. In the past 20 years or so Australia has become too dependant on China for both exports and imports. We need to diversify our reliance on foreign countries to ensure reliable trade. Australia should also rebuild its secondary industries for increased self-reliance. What do you think?
Just installed mine this weekend bought it after watching your video only issue I have is the connection to a smart phone and App software needs refining.
Great review and comparison with the Blackvue. In the end, I bought the U1000 because software can be improved after the fact at no cost to customers (typically) but hardware cannot. Hoping that Thinkware catches up to Blackvue at some point.
Great video! In the market for my first dash cam, and conflicted between this model and the BlackVue 900X Plus. Leaning this way; would love additional content on the two.
@@CalBTC I compared this one to the blackvue when I was in the market. I still have my U1000. I am into it for about 400 so I plan on keeping it a while and will just have to live with the crappy sw.
I've been wanting to see this review. Thank you. This pretty much reaffirms my choice to buy a U1000 in the future. I don't like the lack of customization for voice notifications or the whole situation with WiFi connectivity but I like the video quality, automatic parking recording and it not being from China.
I got it, but I had no plans on using the cloud. If you do, best to get one that takes a SIM card so you don’t have to do these dedicated car hotspot thing that the video mentioned. I’m sure thinkware will be coming out with one that takes a SIM card soon. Blackvue already has one. But as I said, I had no plans to use the cloud when I purchased. I got the radar module and the dedicated dashcam battery from bbmc because I wanted that long period of time of up to a week to record and also have that time before the impact recorded as well. This is the best review covering the radar module that I’ve seen so far. It be nice to see him make that dedicated video about the radar module. That be awesome.
Better get a working dash cam from china !!! How you watch the recording, when you dash cam never connects to your phone ??? Think about it. Or after it finaly connects, and you need to go to the gym first to beat the shit out of something, before you get down again and remember what recording you are looking for. As long the u1000 has these connection problems, its not worth to buy it !!! That's a Fakt !
Wow talk about in-depth, what a great review! I have a new Audi Q8 being delivered shortly and was going to have a UTR fitted. I think I'm going for the U1000 with radar sensor instead now.
Reliability! Yes. My thinkware f800 pro is Going on 4 years straight running around the clock with the backup battery pack and a Samsung endurance card summer fall winter spring never ounce day or night have I had an issue…and not to mention the number of activities caught on it is mind blowing how stupid ppl can be. I’ll be getting the U1000 to upgrade for the extra image power
the u1000 is really awesome but it records at a smaller bit rate so the resolution is really high and with a smaller file size but the dynamic range of colors wont be as detailed as some of the other cameras like the Viofo 129 series. It's awesome and has a ton more features than the rest of them.
really blown away by the quality and detailedness of the review, would subscribe instantly but since being in Europe the main focus of the channel (radar detectors) is not applicable to me
Man🤯🤯🤯. I've bought a Kia Ev6 and want to put in a dash cam, front and rear with parking. Torn between the blackvue and u1000. Sounds like the u1000 connectivity and app functionality would drive you insane🥺
I've had this dashcam (front and rear) for about 3 weeks and found the user manual lacking in both information and clarity (where info is supplied) especially with regard to the Cloud connectivity and functionality. My anticipation when buying after reading loads of reviews would be that recordings are synchronised in the Cloud simultaneously when the camera is connected to my phone while driving and then when I return to the car and the camera and phone 'see' each other. Also that I could use the App to view those recordings from the Cloud. This doesn't seem to be the case. I had an excellent technician install the cameras and give me some tuition on how to use the App, but we were parked outside with the engine running (ignition on) at the time. I thought that I 'got it' from his instruction, but when I tried at home to access the data and functionality it all went south... :-( Trying to distinguish what is a Hotspot in Thinkware terms (my definition is that it is a place where a WiFi Connection is available (free or paid) to which phones, iPads, laptops can connect) and Wifi to me is a connection to something that will let me browse and connect to the internet wirelessly). It (at least to my understanding presently - I haven't followed these instructions yet, just reviewed th evideo - that's not how Thinkware define them. Not problem with that, per se, but please Thinkware, put it in the manual in clearly findable and understood terms. However I will now faithfully follow your instructions in the video, which I agree seems very well constructed and explained, as to how to set up a Thinkware Cloud account and see how it performs both while driving and when I am not in the car. I shall update this in due course after I've played around more. I like the hardware - It's more compact than it appeared in some of the on line adverts and reviews. nd it's way better in terms of image quality than the BMW camera I had in my last car. This one is in a Volvo XC60 and I have turned off most of the other functionality like lane assist, speed and camera warnings as this is all in the built in tech from Volvo. So my only hesitation on saying it's 'fantastic' is over the Cloud capability (the reviewer's comments in this video about BlackView make me wonder what I read about theirs that put me off them in favour of the U1000 - I know there were quite a few. For me image clarity is primarily important - the BMW one was next to useless at capturing licence plate number details in general use.
I mounted my Q800 Pro almost two years ago on the top right side of my windshield, in front of the passenger. I always wondered why it couldn't read plates of vehicles that were in front of me when I reviewed footage as good as it could read plates towards the right lol. Definitely going to mount it in the middle next time (can't do that because my hardwire cable is stretched to the max).
Your video was influential in my decision to buy the U1000 dual channel, and I have to say I am excited based on using it for just three days. I wanted the UHD quality not just for safety but also to use as B-roll in my videos. I also wanted to be covered for any parking lot incidents, but was deflated a bit when the installer warned of limited standby duration on my Kluger/Highlander Hybrid. Reason? These hybrids have only a very small 12V batter.
@@VortexRadar I didn't really want to spend another AU$300 plus installation. I'll check how long it will run on the hybrid first. If it's a couple of hours that's good enough for the mall.
The search continues for a 200 buck 2 channel cam that connects to android, records people who key the car or run into it + roadside issues. Glad to see the tech evolving to be more featured, and better, and you can really see a spike in quality and features just by surfing youtube back a year. Battery packs btw....cost more than a second car battery, but im a noob here and i suspect/hope that objection is overcome by something i missed. Thanks for the review, Vortex Radar.
They also charge much faster than a Sealed Lead Acid battery, and SLA batteries only have 1/2 usable Ah. So if you have a 60Ah lead acid battery, only 30Ah are actually usable. They also charge slow as a fart.
Battery packs are required when you leave your for long periods of time. This is especially important when you park on the street, outdoors, or don’t have a garage - which is the case for a lot of urban folks. Put that together with the radar module and you can go a week easily. Good luck trying that with a car battery.
I should have watched your video before I get that damn BlackVue! After 1 year & half of use, my BlackVue DR900 is now dead due to a well known hardware issue, $500 down the drain :(
awesome video - just installed the u1000 front and rear cams with ivolt mini. Super curious what settings I should enable or disable? I turned off battery protection since im running the ivolt mini but other than that not sure if there is anything else I should enable or disable.
Now ‘m down to 2 dash cams, the Thinkware U1000 and the Blackview DR750 2Ch LTE. By the time my new Boxster arrive 11/5/21 perhaps there will be upgrades.
Very well informed and structured video but one thing the gentleman failed to mention is that the U1000 has a max SD Card size limit of 128GB whereas the Blackvues are 256GB. So if you're someone that drives for hours and hours on end, this may be something to consider between the two in terms of 4K resolution and memory card limits.
The U1000 supports 256 gig cards just fine. It’s always a balance with long videos like this. You gotta cut some stuff to make it 30 min and not 1-2 hours, lol. :)
18:05 I have a BI-750 and BE-750. They work well on their own. I added a second and third BE-750 a couple of months ago for extra capacity, and have had significant problems getting their app to recognize that there is more than one extended battery present. BBMC is still working with me to try and figure this out. I'd be interested to hear if there are known issues with that type of setup.
Thanks for the feedback! I hadn't heard that before. It works fine with my single BE-750. I'm surprised to hear you're having issues with multiple batteries. Does it at least power for 3x as long even if the app doesn't show things properly?
When I hooked up a second BE-750, the runtime stayed at ~30 hours which is about what I’d get with one BE-750. I suddenly started getting runtimes in the mid-40s a few weeks ago (not sure why it suddenly decided to work). I connected the third BE-750 yesterday, and so far, given what the battery drain is over time it’s still looking like mid-40s. The app also reports a total capacity of 12000 mAh with either two or three BE-750s connected, which is odd as it should be 7500 * number of batteries connected.
@@royquitter I got 15,000 mA when I hooked up my 1st BE750. Double of what I got with the BI-750. It’s weird I haven’t been able to fully charge it lately. The app does not recognize the BE-750.
thank you for your knowledge its a lot of useful information i am a little concered learning how to operate this camera i did decide to order thinkwear battery pack thank you
Viofo a129 pro may have better video quality while in motion but the quality control seems very poor. So what good is better video quality if it doesn’t even work to record? Looks like I’m going with this. Now to narrow down my radar lol. On to the next vortex video 😂
haha yeah Thinkware does seem to have better QC and reliability. They make some solid dashcams. 👍 By the way, they’re $100 off for Black Friday now. www.vortexradar.com/2021/11/black-friday-deals-2021-radar-detectors-dashcams/
This is the best, most thorough product review I’ve seen and all of the details I was expecting to watch hours of TH-cam videos for were all in your one video. One question though, in your recommendation in the comments, you link to a 256 GB memory card but the manual on page 60 shows the supported memory cards only go up as high as 128 GB. Does it work with a 256? My last dashcam (Garmin) would really freak out if you tried to use a larger than supported memory card especially after it filled and started overwriting. It would take usually forever to start recording, sometimes reboot out of the blue and sometimes fail to record.
Thanks! Yeah lots of dashcams list 128 as the max, but 256’s still work great. :) Sometimes it’s a result of new firmware that comes out after the manual was written, other times it works regardless. 👍
@@VortexRadar thanks for the quick reply. I’m having my 2ch U1000 installed next Sunday. I just cancelled my 128GB memory card order and replaced it with a 256GB card. Thanks for such a high quality review and a quick response to my comment!!
A video that informa and tests all in one, very good. I have reviewed dash cams debating... Vantrue N4 A friend bought one recommended it Next base 622GW Gets praise has weather and other adjustments Thinkware U1000 Is a strong candidate, I have company truck, advertising carpentry don't keep tools in it for if to be targeted by thieves How about shootout on the 3 listed?
Great review. I’ve ordered the radar module and looking to get a battery pack. The only thing the U1000 is giving me headaches is anything cloud related - I can’t get it to connect to the cloud 😵💫 I hoped to get some tips here but seems you had similar challenges
Same here. Switching from WiFi to hotspot and can’t get any connection. Just keeps throwing network error messages. Otherwise it was super easy to install and can’t wait to try it out!
If I want to use the rear cam as a cabin camera, is this good for recording traffic stops? I am in Florida and have a healthy fear of unethical police. This is the one of the primary reasons I want a camera. The the other reason why I like it is 2k60fps recording for the front. I noticed in a friends car that the cops treat you different when they see the cabin camera. I dont have many traffic stops but I want the added insurance to protect myself and my dependants.
Thanks again! Great detailed knowledgeable vid as usual! Just ordered the U1000 from bbmc yesterday..a day too early?!?.. I mean I’m super stoked about the 4K and parking modes and quality.. but really thought .. just learned from your post.. that footage stays inside the cam?!? Oh no I really though it would be safely stored in the cloud in case.. bummer Now I’m second guessing if I should go with the Blackvue!! Oh well It’s my first cam I have a BMW and heard hard wire connecting it to the batt might freak the system out So external battery is next on the list and maybe the radar add on Thanks you again about the detail and thoughtfulness of your posts It doesn’t go unnoticed!! Have the best day ever! Watched some radar detector videos.. most likely my new future hobby 😉
Congrats! Yeah if you'd like the parking mode to upload to the cloud, set the U1000 to motion detection instead of energy saving mode and it'll work. You'll need to be parked near a wifi hotspot too so it has a way to upload.
A typical car battery has between 50 and 80AH depending on the size of your car. A low internal R battery will reliably start a car with less than 50% capacity. This means you have perhaps 30AH to run your dash cam. At 0.5A, this means 60hours, perhaps upto 3days, and your car should start no problem. If you are prepared to spend $350 on a smalll capacity dashcam battery, why not use that $350 and fit the largest capacity low R battery you can under the bonnet instead, eg, buy an 80AH 1000CCA Hawker Odyssey battery (I did) - your car will start with a touch of the key, and you may be able to run your dash cam for a week, and your wifi hot spot, and still start your car. Those small accessory batteries are incredibly poor value.
Yeah that's what I did on my wife's Honda, my old Mazda, and my mom's Hyundai and it's worked fine. As I mentioned in the video though, other brands of cars start having issues and/or throw errors when tapping into the car battery like that. Not all car batteries like being drained and you don't always have access to power sources you need (some Teslas are a good example) not to mention you can't start adding on expansion batteries. However, if you can tap into your existing car battery, that's a better value for the dollar, I agree.
It depends. Sometimes I don’t feel like spending time fitting something like a second battery and wiring it back into the cabin - my time is definitely worth the small difference in getting something like a PowerCell with all the built in connections and wiring pre-spliced, with a nice battery monitoring app and USB ports. With the radar module, I can easily get more than a week off it while also running a hotspot, and it charges incredibly fast.
I didn't have a good time with my U1000. It ended up breaking on me after 1 year of use. One day it wouldn't connect or recognize my wifi hotspot. I also found the cloud features lacking and the interface wasn't as user friendly. I would give it a 3/5 stars.
the cam is great, but the radar module is not really useful apart from the long term parking recoding, because when i try to test which kind of impact can be recorded, i found that when i hit the bumper/ push the car in front, the radar module cant be detect any impact (but when i close the door, the cam can detect the impact) and of course there are no video recorded. I am not sure the radar module only wake up when any big object be detected (not include people), so i never know whether my car was hit by anyone if the impact is not big.
If a incident is recorded is there a way to enhance video of subject vehicle? Example driving on interstate….incident/accident occurs in view of either front or rear camera. The incident I am referring to does not involve your vehicle other than event occurred in field of view of your camera. Is there way to zoom in the video to possibly get closer detail of identifying characteristics like license plate, Mark’s on vehicle, mismatched paint. Body part missing etc…..? Zoom in on license plate does the camera automatically zoom into the license plate or does it have to be done manually? Incident is different than accident. With accident there is contact and probably one or both vehicles will be immobilized? With incident like, passing or unsafe lane changes can the video zoom in for license plate recognition!
If you have video editing software, sure you can zoom, sharpen, boost exposure, or whatever else. Dashcams record video. You can do whatever you want afterwards with that video. I don't have any recommendations for software, but I do use FinalCut Pro for Mac to make TH-cam videos and it can do that stuff.
So I bought a new Dodge Ram and park it in my driveway mostly. I am most interested in recording while driving and front motion view as there are some hoodlums in the neighborhood (I back into my driveway). I am only interested in hardwiring it also. I do not drive my truck daily and am a little concerned about the drain on the battery. Due to cost a dedicated battery is not an option right now. I see it has a battery protection mode but wondering if you think this is a good option for what I am looking for. Also as a side note, nice to see a video from a fellow Washingtonian.
Excellent review of the U1000, you covered everything 👍🏼.. the u1000 would be just perfect if only they allowed us to use cloud features together with the radar module running. I really wish I could use the two together!!! That's one thing that sucks 👎👎. As I speak my DashCam is set to energy-saving mode... I really wish I could see the camera view remotely from my couch right now also 😔
Fantastic video! Answered every single question I had, and more. Really easy face to watch, and pleasant voice. Really helps. What I'm wondering is, do Thinkware ever do firmware updates, or is it as is? There's a few of the live view features that the Blackvue has that I'd be after, that are what I'm looking for, essentially, but this has some seriously good features. All in all though, I'm still torn between both.
Juuuust ordered it by BBMC It’s on its way as we speak THANkS to YOU!! I will buy a battery pack as soon as I have money safes bc it’s $$$ as you know I’m so exited about the parking functions ! That was my deal maker actually apart from 4K and all the other cool stuff Push notification when your car is messed with .. so great 😀 Ordered 128 GB card and will get the “ radar “ which I do not know much about as yet.. hint hint..later I think for extended parking function Thank you for your awesome work!!
Does it have a PC based interface for the cloud features? Could you use your influence to persuade Blendmount to offer a solution for this camera? Maybe a universal solution with a simple plate to attached this camera or other adhesives based windshield mount devices would be more likely, considering it could apply to more devices/people. You mention better reliability... could you elaborate on that in comparison to the latest Blackview cameras? Can it be set it up to record continously, without any parking mode features or energy saving (even when the vehicle is parked for extended periods)? Obviously video quaility is paramount when it comes to dashcams, and reliability which you mentioned but didn't elaborate on. Beyond those things, did I miss any advantages this has, in your opinion, over the latest Blackviews, which you actually use, or I would use if I want to record continously while the vehicle is parked? TIA for any answers and the exceptional quaility of your content.
It is interesting that support believe that the energy saving mode will run longer without the radar. According to them if you use their iVolt battery pack(smaller mAh than the Powercell) that you will get 21 days of parking mode on energy saving mode and only 4 days when using energy saving mode + radar. Would it be better to run it without the radar?
Sure but you also lose the buffered impact detection up front which I find very helpful. It uses only a small amount of power so I like using it as a balance between record time and functionality.
Can someone please make a 4k 60fps dashcam! This is a great review and the camera would be perfect for me if only it could do 4k 60fps. We're well past the stage now where file size or storage space is an issue and even a cheap PC can handle 4K footage now. Thanks for the great review, I never realised you could remove this from the windscreen and thought it was just stuck for all eternity once fitted.
My friend purchased this cam, and states that although you can turn off the speed print on the surface, the speed data is embedded, and becomes visible when viewing the video with the online Thinkware viewer. Is this correct and is there a solution to completely removing the embedded speed?
Really Awesome review video ! Question , when entering inside your car to drive off do you have to connect to your dash cam every time to open the app to view ?
These are ok not as good as some reviews claim. Mine failed 9 months after I got it. I contacted support and they were very helpful, however when it came time to replace it, the warranty department waited a month before finally telling me to bad your out of warranty. This was even after I proved to them in the email that I sent the first time that it failed, Two months before the warranty was up doesn’t matter they say you’re still out of warranty. I’ll never buy from that company again buyer beware.
The de facto channel for radar detectors and dash cams. As for the Thinkware, I'm ready to switch from Blackvue as it causes a Ka false on my Uniden (which is cured by shutting wifi off on it) but I just don't get the weird, large shape of the Thinkware. It's so large it should at least have an lcd. Just way too big.
Great review. Something that I noticed that you keep showing the 256gb card. Actually that is not supported by the U1000. It only 128 and lower is supported. I made that mistake when Amazon recommend SD cards and the Samsung 256 was on the list.
It supports 256’s just fine. I’ve run it in both of my U1000’s just fine, as have many others. Because people keep thinking this though, I may just change the link to a 128. dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/larger-sized-microsd-cards-for-thinkware-u1000.43565/
Any problems hardwiring dashcams on hybrids? I'm about to buy for a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and will now probably choose the U1000 because of its video quality.
Your reviews are always great, Sir. What a talented reviewer! Can't wait to get Thinkware for my both cars. Meanwhile, my major concern is the security of the dash cam itself, which brings me to my querry as to whether the Thinkware U1000 can be tracked or traced if stolen. Please is it equipped with GPS to be tracked when stolen? Thanks a lot.🎉
Can I use my 12 volt lithium batteries in my camper van that is separate from the van's starter battery to power the U1000 for the constant power and just install a fuse tap to the van's fuse panel to connect the accessory wire (power only when the ignition is on)? Also do you have a location suggestion on mounting the rear camera on the ford transit's rear doors ie which door and height ( I have the tallest roof)
I wish every tech review online would be as detailed and well explained as this one.
A lot of 4K reviews are still published in 1080p and just show a few seconds of captured footage. At least I get the feeling that I understand and know what I'm getting into should I buy one. It's really honest, even though it may be "the best" dash cam you stay real and discuss all the things that are not so great about this model too.
Well done, you should have a lot more subs, esp. when I see those other worthless channels with half a million subs or more🤔
What an amazing review! The most detailed product review I have ever watched!
U1000s have a real problem with android right now
@@rabfallon4507 hehehe L
I bought you one thousand a year ago works very well. I highly recommend it.
Glad to hear it’s served you well!
You nail on almost every aspect on my experience with this Dashcam. The sensitivity on the sensor can be lowered to eliminate some of the false detections. Everything else on this video is on point and my exact experience.
Best review I've found. Everyone else just talks about the video quality and the most basic stuff. This was so in depth. Well done!
This guy has a way of explaining anything in a way you can understand! I wish people were all that good.
Most underrated reviewer. He is Worth a million sub
haha thank you! I try and pack a ton of useful info, testing, and analysis into each review. Each video is a project unto itself. :)
@@VortexRadar Appreciate the efforts you put in. Lot of Details & good work
In depth, clearly explained, and highly informative. Thank you for such a helpful review!
Just got this dashcam mainly to protect my brand new car it’s a bit pricey but I’m sure it’ll be worth it especially when it’s park and I’m away to the car. Thanks for an amazing in-depth review!
Vortex, great presentation. I don't know how you are able to articulate all this technical information so well. Totally impressed.
Hello I watch your review about the u1000 from thinkware my question is. Is a good dash cam to install in an 18 wheeler specifically a Volvo. Thank you for your time
It definitely has amazing features and quality but it is so huge and has more wires sticking out of it then when I last had my EKG. It's time for them to figure out how to downsize this wonderful dash cam
It was one of the best and most complete reviews I ever saw.❤
I've been looking at dashcam videos and hoping someone would to do a clear and comprehensive review of dashcams and their features. This review is the best. It's even better than the videos done online by Thinkware. Made my decision to buy the U1000 because of this video.
How is the u1000 so far
There are 2 things thinkware and EVERY other dash cam needs to improve upon.
1 audio, they need to have software control on the audio like smart phones, so that if you listen to LOUD music the audio level needs to be reduced so that the audio isn't horribly horribly distorted. I have mentioned that to them.
2 the g sensor REALLY needs to be calibrated to the axis, and NOT just to vibration. Loud audio systems especially those that have subwoofers will just end up recording and locking every file until you run put of space on your card
These are the 2 things that need major improvement
liked, subscribed, and notifications are turned on. Mad respect for the non sponsored ad free video.
Welcome aboard!
9:38 Thanks for bringing this up. I don't think I can tolerate this on a daily basis LOL. Hopefully Thinkware can improve on this.
For me country of origin is important as I'm trying to minimise my reliance on China. This dashcam comes from Korea, and hopefully components are mainly sourced from countries other than China. I know I won't make a difference, but it's something I feel I should so.
100% with you
Why r prejudiced against the Chinese?
@@monash4250 Here's my view. In the past 20 years or so Australia has become too dependant on China for both exports and imports. We need to diversify our reliance on foreign countries to ensure reliable trade. Australia should also rebuild its secondary industries for increased self-reliance. What do you think?
Wow!!! That is probably the best dashcam I’ve seen. Great review sir👍
Thank you! It was a lot of work. :) Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow! Thank you! This is the best review I've ever watched. Very informative.
Your dedication is amazing. Keep up the good work.
Fantastic, real world review. Thank you!
Just installed mine this weekend bought it after watching your video only issue I have is the connection to a smart phone and App software needs refining.
Great review and comparison with the Blackvue. In the end, I bought the U1000 because software can be improved after the fact at no cost to customers (typically) but hardware cannot. Hoping that Thinkware catches up to Blackvue at some point.
Have they updated the software to help with the lag for the cloud feature @ 24:40 ?
Have they updated the software to help with the lag for the cloud feature @ 24:40 ?
Have they updated the software to help with the lag for the cloud feature @ 24:40 ?
Great video! In the market for my first dash cam, and conflicted between this model and the BlackVue 900X Plus. Leaning this way; would love additional content on the two.
Hello. Did you find what is the best for you ?. Im getting my first dash cam and dont know what to pick.
@@lami.77 yes, I’m going Blackvue because of the cloud features and the ability to add on LTE
Great review man. I own this dashcam front and back. I absolutely hate the software. You nailed it.
Can you recommend a better cam?
@@CalBTC I compared this one to the blackvue when I was in the market. I still have my U1000. I am into it for about 400 so I plan on keeping it a while and will just have to live with the crappy sw.
I've been wanting to see this review. Thank you. This pretty much reaffirms my choice to buy a U1000 in the future. I don't like the lack of customization for voice notifications or the whole situation with WiFi connectivity but I like the video quality, automatic parking recording and it not being from China.
I got it, but I had no plans on using the cloud. If you do, best to get one that takes a SIM card so you don’t have to do these dedicated car hotspot thing that the video mentioned. I’m sure thinkware will be coming out with one that takes a SIM card soon. Blackvue already has one.
But as I said, I had no plans to use the cloud when I purchased. I got the radar module and the dedicated dashcam battery from bbmc because I wanted that long period of time of up to a week to record and also have that time before the impact recorded as well.
This is the best review covering the radar module that I’ve seen so far. It be nice to see him make that dedicated video about the radar module. That be awesome.
Better get a working dash cam from china !!! How you watch the recording, when you dash cam never connects to your phone ??? Think about it. Or after it finaly connects, and you need to go to the gym first to beat the shit out of something, before you get down again and remember what recording you are looking for.
As long the u1000 has these connection problems, its not worth to buy it !!! That's a Fakt !
Thank you for the information! It is going to help me in the long run with my current vehicle.
Thanks!
Happy to help Jose, and thank you! 👍
Wow talk about in-depth, what a great review! I have a new Audi Q8 being delivered shortly and was going to have a UTR fitted. I think I'm going for the U1000 with radar sensor instead now.
Oh yeah, the Audi UTR isn’t all that great. The U1000 is way better.
Reliability! Yes. My thinkware f800 pro is Going on 4 years straight running around the clock with the backup battery pack and a Samsung endurance card summer fall winter spring never ounce day or night have I had an issue…and not to mention the number of activities caught on it is mind blowing how stupid ppl can be. I’ll be getting the U1000 to upgrade for the extra image power
the u1000 is really awesome but it records at a smaller bit rate so the resolution is really high and with a smaller file size but the dynamic range of colors wont be as detailed as some of the other cameras like the Viofo 129 series. It's awesome and has a ton more features than the rest of them.
really blown away by the quality and detailedness of the review, would subscribe instantly but since being in Europe the main focus of the channel (radar detectors) is not applicable to me
they should add certain sound for each function when starting up, and ability to disable each function individually.
Man🤯🤯🤯. I've bought a Kia Ev6 and want to put in a dash cam, front and rear with parking. Torn between the blackvue and u1000. Sounds like the u1000 connectivity and app functionality would drive you insane🥺
I've had this dashcam (front and rear) for about 3 weeks and found the user manual lacking in both information and clarity (where info is supplied) especially with regard to the Cloud connectivity and functionality. My anticipation when buying after reading loads of reviews would be that recordings are synchronised in the Cloud simultaneously when the camera is connected to my phone while driving and then when I return to the car and the camera and phone 'see' each other. Also that I could use the App to view those recordings from the Cloud. This doesn't seem to be the case. I had an excellent technician install the cameras and give me some tuition on how to use the App, but we were parked outside with the engine running (ignition on) at the time. I thought that I 'got it' from his instruction, but when I tried at home to access the data and functionality it all went south... :-( Trying to distinguish what is a Hotspot in Thinkware terms (my definition is that it is a place where a WiFi Connection is available (free or paid) to which phones, iPads, laptops can connect) and Wifi to me is a connection to something that will let me browse and connect to the internet wirelessly). It (at least to my understanding presently - I haven't followed these instructions yet, just reviewed th evideo - that's not how Thinkware define them. Not problem with that, per se, but please Thinkware, put it in the manual in clearly findable and understood terms. However I will now faithfully follow your instructions in the video, which I agree seems very well constructed and explained, as to how to set up a Thinkware Cloud account and see how it performs both while driving and when I am not in the car. I shall update this in due course after I've played around more. I like the hardware - It's more compact than it appeared in some of the on line adverts and reviews. nd it's way better in terms of image quality than the BMW camera I had in my last car. This one is in a Volvo XC60 and I have turned off most of the other functionality like lane assist, speed and camera warnings as this is all in the built in tech from Volvo. So my only hesitation on saying it's 'fantastic' is over the Cloud capability (the reviewer's comments in this video about BlackView make me wonder what I read about theirs that put me off them in favour of the U1000 - I know there were quite a few. For me image clarity is primarily important - the BMW one was next to useless at capturing licence plate number details in general use.
By far the best review of this thank you so much!
Someone finally also shows how it would look in my car. Thank you!
lol 👍👍
I mounted my Q800 Pro almost two years ago on the top right side of my windshield, in front of the passenger. I always wondered why it couldn't read plates of vehicles that were in front of me when I reviewed footage as good as it could read plates towards the right lol. Definitely going to mount it in the middle next time (can't do that because my hardwire cable is stretched to the max).
Never have I seen a review video where I recognized almost every location! Small world 😄 also great review!!
Great review! Greetings from Italy!
Your video was influential in my decision to buy the U1000 dual channel, and I have to say I am excited based on using it for just three days. I wanted the UHD quality not just for safety but also to use as B-roll in my videos. I also wanted to be covered for any parking lot incidents, but was deflated a bit when the installer warned of limited standby duration on my Kluger/Highlander Hybrid. Reason? These hybrids have only a very small 12V batter.
Makes sense. Have you considered using a Cellink Neo dedicated battery pack instead? That would solve your problem. geni.us/CellinkNeoThinkware
@@VortexRadar I didn't really want to spend another AU$300 plus installation. I'll check how long it will run on the hybrid first. If it's a couple of hours that's good enough for the mall.
The search continues for a 200 buck 2 channel cam that connects to android, records people who key the car or run into it + roadside issues. Glad to see the tech evolving to be more featured, and better, and you can really see a spike in quality and features just by surfing youtube back a year. Battery packs btw....cost more than a second car battery, but im a noob here and i suspect/hope that objection is overcome by something i missed. Thanks for the review, Vortex Radar.
They also charge much faster than a Sealed Lead Acid battery, and SLA batteries only have 1/2 usable Ah. So if you have a 60Ah lead acid battery, only 30Ah are actually usable. They also charge slow as a fart.
Have you managed to find a cam that records people who key the car?
Battery packs are required when you leave your for long periods of time. This is especially important when you park on the street, outdoors, or don’t have a garage - which is the case for a lot of urban folks. Put that together with the radar module and you can go a week easily. Good luck trying that with a car battery.
You want a $200 2 channel cam that does all that with Slow Joe and Heels Up pushing inflation to over 8% a year? Good luck with that.
@@bobbybarnes1652 Not everything is political. Seek help.
Great video - no mention of the ODBII power option for parking mode power. Working great for me and much easier than hardwiring.
Excellent review, as always. Little too pricey for my old Jeep, but if I buy a new Bronco, I will look into this again.
Good review. I hope you got that guy who's banging on your windshield
I should have watched your video before I get that damn BlackVue! After 1 year & half of use, my BlackVue DR900 is now dead due to a well known hardware issue, $500 down the drain :(
This Thinkware is my next dash cam!!! Expensive yes! But looks like a winner!!
Another camera to consider when replacing an older one, thanks.
What's you end up picking?
awesome video - just installed the u1000 front and rear cams with ivolt mini. Super curious what settings I should enable or disable? I turned off battery protection since im running the ivolt mini but other than that not sure if there is anything else I should enable or disable.
Thank you, great question! Got mine today and it's connected to the car so I'm interested in all the battery saving options 😅
Now ‘m down to 2 dash cams, the Thinkware U1000 and the Blackview DR750 2Ch LTE. By the time my new Boxster arrive 11/5/21 perhaps there will be upgrades.
Very well informed and structured video but one thing the gentleman failed to mention is that the U1000 has a max SD Card size limit of 128GB whereas the Blackvues are 256GB. So if you're someone that drives for hours and hours on end, this may be something to consider between the two in terms of 4K resolution and memory card limits.
The U1000 supports 256 gig cards just fine. It’s always a balance with long videos like this. You gotta cut some stuff to make it 30 min and not 1-2 hours, lol. :)
Really wish they had an LTE solution - that’s why I bought 900x. Also wish some things were a little more polished.
Agreed on both counts
EXCELLENT REVIEW IS THE U1000 BETTER THAN BLACKVUE'S LATEST MODEL?
18:05 I have a BI-750 and BE-750. They work well on their own. I added a second and third BE-750 a couple of months ago for extra capacity, and have had significant problems getting their app to recognize that there is more than one extended battery present. BBMC is still working with me to try and figure this out. I'd be interested to hear if there are known issues with that type of setup.
Thanks for the feedback! I hadn't heard that before. It works fine with my single BE-750. I'm surprised to hear you're having issues with multiple batteries. Does it at least power for 3x as long even if the app doesn't show things properly?
When I hooked up a second BE-750, the runtime stayed at ~30 hours which is about what I’d get with one BE-750. I suddenly started getting runtimes in the mid-40s a few weeks ago (not sure why it suddenly decided to work). I connected the third BE-750 yesterday, and so far, given what the battery drain is over time it’s still looking like mid-40s. The app also reports a total capacity of 12000 mAh with either two or three BE-750s connected, which is odd as it should be 7500 * number of batteries connected.
@@royquitter I got 15,000 mA when I hooked up my 1st BE750. Double of what I got with the BI-750. It’s weird I haven’t been able to fully charge it lately. The app does not recognize the BE-750.
@@benefactionhindrance I also got 15000 mAh with just one BE-750. It seems to be able to handle one, but it gets really buggy with more than one.
thank you for your knowledge its a lot of useful information i am a little concered learning how to operate this camera i did decide to order thinkwear battery pack thank you
Viofo a129 pro may have better video quality while in motion but the quality control seems very poor. So what good is better video quality if it doesn’t even work to record?
Looks like I’m going with this.
Now to narrow down my radar lol. On to the next vortex video 😂
haha yeah Thinkware does seem to have better QC and reliability. They make some solid dashcams. 👍 By the way, they’re $100 off for Black Friday now. www.vortexradar.com/2021/11/black-friday-deals-2021-radar-detectors-dashcams/
@@VortexRadar I love you internet technology man. I’ll be using that link
Thank you for all of your great videos!
This is the best, most thorough product review I’ve seen and all of the details I was expecting to watch hours of TH-cam videos for were all in your one video. One question though, in your recommendation in the comments, you link to a 256 GB memory card but the manual on page 60 shows the supported memory cards only go up as high as 128 GB. Does it work with a 256? My last dashcam (Garmin) would really freak out if you tried to use a larger than supported memory card especially after it filled and started overwriting. It would take usually forever to start recording, sometimes reboot out of the blue and sometimes fail to record.
Thanks! Yeah lots of dashcams list 128 as the max, but 256’s still work great. :) Sometimes it’s a result of new firmware that comes out after the manual was written, other times it works regardless. 👍
@@VortexRadar thanks for the quick reply. I’m having my 2ch U1000 installed next Sunday. I just cancelled my 128GB memory card order and replaced it with a 256GB card. Thanks for such a high quality review and a quick response to my comment!!
@@delsk Did the 256GB memory card work out OK in your U1000?
@@bobbybarnes1652 Yes! Use it every day. I use a SandDisk Extreme PLUS
A video that informa and tests all in one, very good.
I have reviewed dash cams debating...
Vantrue N4
A friend bought one recommended it
Next base 622GW
Gets praise has weather and other adjustments
Thinkware U1000
Is a strong candidate, I have company truck, advertising carpentry don't keep tools in it for if to be targeted by thieves
How about shootout on the 3 listed?
Great review. I’ve ordered the radar module and looking to get a battery pack. The only thing the U1000 is giving me headaches is anything cloud related - I can’t get it to connect to the cloud 😵💫 I hoped to get some tips here but seems you had similar challenges
Same here. Switching from WiFi to hotspot and can’t get any connection. Just keeps throwing network error messages. Otherwise it was super easy to install and can’t wait to try it out!
Such a shame that such an expensive product has such a terrible app
This was an excellent review.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. 👍
If I want to use the rear cam as a cabin camera, is this good for recording traffic stops? I am in Florida and have a healthy fear of unethical police. This is the one of the primary reasons I want a camera. The the other reason why I like it is 2k60fps recording for the front. I noticed in a friends car that the cops treat you different when they see the cabin camera. I dont have many traffic stops but I want the added insurance to protect myself and my dependants.
Thanks. Used your link to order.
That's a great review. Liked and subbed. Thanks!
Thanks again!
Great detailed knowledgeable vid as usual!
Just ordered the U1000 from bbmc yesterday..a day too early?!?.. I mean I’m super stoked about the 4K and parking modes and quality.. but really thought .. just learned from your post.. that footage stays inside the cam?!? Oh no
I really though it would be safely stored in the cloud in case.. bummer
Now I’m second guessing if I should go with the Blackvue!!
Oh well
It’s my first cam
I have a BMW and heard hard wire connecting it to the batt might freak the system out
So external battery is next on the list and maybe the radar add on
Thanks you again about the detail and thoughtfulness of your posts
It doesn’t go unnoticed!!
Have the best day ever!
Watched some radar detector videos.. most likely my new future hobby 😉
Congrats! Yeah if you'd like the parking mode to upload to the cloud, set the U1000 to motion detection instead of energy saving mode and it'll work. You'll need to be parked near a wifi hotspot too so it has a way to upload.
Good Review very detailed plus the time stamps helps alot!
A typical car battery has between 50 and 80AH depending on the size of your car. A low internal R battery will reliably start a car with less than 50% capacity. This means you have perhaps 30AH to run your dash cam. At 0.5A, this means 60hours, perhaps upto 3days, and your car should start no problem.
If you are prepared to spend $350 on a smalll capacity dashcam battery, why not use that $350 and fit the largest capacity low R battery you can under the bonnet instead, eg, buy an 80AH 1000CCA Hawker Odyssey battery (I did) - your car will start with a touch of the key, and you may be able to run your dash cam for a week, and your wifi hot spot, and still start your car.
Those small accessory batteries are incredibly poor value.
Yeah that's what I did on my wife's Honda, my old Mazda, and my mom's Hyundai and it's worked fine. As I mentioned in the video though, other brands of cars start having issues and/or throw errors when tapping into the car battery like that. Not all car batteries like being drained and you don't always have access to power sources you need (some Teslas are a good example) not to mention you can't start adding on expansion batteries. However, if you can tap into your existing car battery, that's a better value for the dollar, I agree.
@@VortexRadar What's the car battery you recommend or the ones you bought for your cars?
Agreed! I would consider adding a second car battery befor spending the money on a recharchable LI battery.
It depends. Sometimes I don’t feel like spending time fitting something like a second battery and wiring it back into the cabin - my time is definitely worth the small difference in getting something like a PowerCell with all the built in connections and wiring pre-spliced, with a nice battery monitoring app and USB ports. With the radar module, I can easily get more than a week off it while also running a hotspot, and it charges incredibly fast.
I didn't have a good time with my U1000. It ended up breaking on me after 1 year of use. One day it wouldn't connect or recognize my wifi hotspot. I also found the cloud features lacking and the interface wasn't as user friendly. I would give it a 3/5 stars.
I totally agree - disappointment - no cloud functions on parking mode
the cam is great, but the radar module is not really useful apart from the long term parking recoding, because when i try to test which kind of impact can be recorded, i found that when i hit the bumper/ push the car in front, the radar module cant be detect any impact (but when i close the door, the cam can detect the impact) and of course there are no video recorded. I am not sure the radar module only wake up when any big object be detected (not include people), so i never know whether my car was hit by anyone if the impact is not big.
If a incident is recorded is there a way to enhance video of subject vehicle?
Example driving on interstate….incident/accident occurs in view of either front or rear camera. The incident I am referring to does not involve your vehicle other than event occurred in field of view of your camera.
Is there way to zoom in the video to possibly get closer detail of identifying characteristics like license plate, Mark’s on vehicle, mismatched paint. Body part missing etc…..?
Zoom in on license plate does the camera automatically zoom into the license plate or does it have to be done manually?
Incident is different than accident. With accident there is contact and probably one or both vehicles will be immobilized? With incident like, passing or unsafe lane changes can the video zoom in for license plate recognition!
If you have video editing software, sure you can zoom, sharpen, boost exposure, or whatever else. Dashcams record video. You can do whatever you want afterwards with that video. I don't have any recommendations for software, but I do use FinalCut Pro for Mac to make TH-cam videos and it can do that stuff.
One thing to note is that if you’re using android auto wireless, you can’t use your hotspot.
So I bought a new Dodge Ram and park it in my driveway mostly. I am most interested in recording while driving and front motion view as there are some hoodlums in the neighborhood (I back into my driveway). I am only interested in hardwiring it also. I do not drive my truck daily and am a little concerned about the drain on the battery. Due to cost a dedicated battery is not an option right now. I see it has a battery protection mode but wondering if you think this is a good option for what I am looking for. Also as a side note, nice to see a video from a fellow Washingtonian.
Thanks for a great video and great information 👍
Coming back to this I'm shocked how long this thing can stay on with how big it is especially compared to blackvue's
Great content! Love your work. 👍
Excellent review of the U1000, you covered everything 👍🏼.. the u1000 would be just perfect if only they allowed us to use cloud features together with the radar module running. I really wish I could use the two together!!! That's one thing that sucks 👎👎. As I speak my DashCam is set to energy-saving mode... I really wish I could see the camera view remotely from my couch right now also 😔
Yes, only reason I bought it and I'm already regretting it.. Live view was the #1 thing I needed 😩😔
Fantastic video! Answered every single question I had, and more. Really easy face to watch, and pleasant voice. Really helps. What I'm wondering is, do Thinkware ever do firmware updates, or is it as is? There's a few of the live view features that the Blackvue has that I'd be after, that are what I'm looking for, essentially, but this has some seriously good features. All in all though, I'm still torn between both.
Thank you! Yeah Thinkware has released multiple firmware updates for the U1000. :)
@@VortexRadar thanks for your reply. The big question is though, Blackvue DR900x Plus or the U1000?
Did you see the new BlackVue DR750X Plus? Wonder how it compares?
Yeah, I don't have one yet though. I'll take a look at it later once I get one in. Basically an improved DR750X with an upgraded 1080p sensor.
Juuuust ordered it by BBMC
It’s on its way as we speak THANkS to YOU!!
I will buy a battery pack as soon as I have money safes bc it’s $$$ as you know
I’m so exited about the parking functions !
That was my deal maker actually apart from 4K and all the other cool stuff
Push notification when your car is messed with .. so great 😀
Ordered 128 GB card and will get the “ radar “ which I do not know much about as yet.. hint hint..later I think for extended parking function
Thank you for your awesome work!!
Sweet, congrats!
Yes! please? options for turning off her announcing that I'm recording & how to connect to it 🤣
Does it have a PC based interface for the cloud features?
Could you use your influence to persuade Blendmount to offer a solution for this camera? Maybe a universal solution with a simple plate to attached this camera or other adhesives based windshield mount devices would be more likely, considering it could apply to more devices/people.
You mention better reliability... could you elaborate on that in comparison to the latest Blackview cameras?
Can it be set it up to record continously, without any parking mode features or energy saving (even when the vehicle is parked for extended periods)?
Obviously video quaility is paramount when it comes to dashcams, and reliability which you mentioned but didn't elaborate on. Beyond those things, did I miss any advantages this has, in your opinion, over the latest Blackviews, which you actually use, or I would use if I want to record continously while the vehicle is parked?
TIA for any answers and the exceptional quaility of your content.
Can you make a dash cam comparison with a TeslaCam sentry mode? I wish they make it straight from the factory. like Tesla.
At 3:58 you have zoomed in blocks showing the clear view of licenses plates. How did you do this? What editing software do you use for these effects?
I do that manually in FinalCut Pro, my video editor.
Does it have a usb power source or only cigarette lighting connect?
Awesome detail review, Thank your effort! 🙏
It is interesting that support believe that the energy saving mode will run longer without the radar. According to them if you use their iVolt battery pack(smaller mAh than the Powercell) that you will get 21 days of parking mode on energy saving mode and only 4 days when using energy saving mode + radar. Would it be better to run it without the radar?
Sure but you also lose the buffered impact detection up front which I find very helpful. It uses only a small amount of power so I like using it as a balance between record time and functionality.
Can someone please make a 4k 60fps dashcam! This is a great review and the camera would be perfect for me if only it could do 4k 60fps. We're well past the stage now where file size or storage space is an issue and even a cheap PC can handle 4K footage now. Thanks for the great review, I never realised you could remove this from the windscreen and thought it was just stuck for all eternity once fitted.
That would be a huge heat generator as well as power drain.
Have you ever taken a look at the Audi UTR 2? It has radar in front and back
What a review! Sub! Why not roasting Thinkware for confusing micro SD situation?
haha welcome aboard! This review was already half an hour long and there’s so many things I felt like I could include. It’s all a balance I suppose. 😄
@@VortexRadar Good job, man. A real purchase decision helping review. One of a kind
Thank you so much for your great videos!
Please recommend which camera would be the best for license plate clarity at night
My friend purchased this cam, and states that although you can turn off the speed print on the surface, the speed data is embedded, and becomes visible when viewing the video with the online Thinkware viewer. Is this correct and is there a solution to completely removing the embedded speed?
How about you tell your "friend" to slow down?
Great job and video like always
Really Awesome review video !
Question , when entering inside your car to drive off do you have to connect to your dash cam every time to open the app to view ?
These are ok not as good as some reviews claim. Mine failed 9 months after I got it. I contacted support and they were very helpful, however when it came time to replace it, the warranty department waited a month before finally telling me to bad your out of warranty. This was even after I proved to them in the email that I sent the first time that it failed, Two months before the warranty was up doesn’t matter they say you’re still out of warranty. I’ll never buy from that company again buyer beware.
The de facto channel for radar detectors and dash cams. As for the Thinkware, I'm ready to switch from Blackvue as it causes a Ka false on my Uniden (which is cured by shutting wifi off on it) but I just don't get the weird, large shape of the Thinkware. It's so large it should at least have an lcd. Just way too big.
Great review. Something that I noticed that you keep showing the 256gb card. Actually that is not supported by the U1000. It only 128 and lower is supported. I made that mistake when Amazon recommend SD cards and the Samsung 256 was on the list.
It supports 256’s just fine. I’ve run it in both of my U1000’s just fine, as have many others. Because people keep thinking this though, I may just change the link to a 128.
dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/larger-sized-microsd-cards-for-thinkware-u1000.43565/
@@VortexRadar Thanks. I might try it then and reading the posts, 128 might not be enough.
Lots of good information…thanks.
Awesome review
Do you know if any of the cons you mentioned, have been updated by Thinkware since you made this video ??
Any problems hardwiring dashcams on hybrids? I'm about to buy for a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and will now probably choose the U1000 because of its video quality.
Your reviews are always great, Sir. What a talented reviewer! Can't wait to get Thinkware for my both cars.
Meanwhile, my major concern is the security of the dash cam itself, which brings me to my querry as to whether the Thinkware U1000 can be tracked or traced if stolen. Please is it equipped with GPS to be tracked when stolen? Thanks a lot.🎉
Can I use my 12 volt lithium batteries in my camper van that is separate from the van's starter battery to power the U1000 for the constant power and just install a fuse tap to the van's fuse panel to connect the accessory wire (power only when the ignition is on)? Also do you have a location suggestion on mounting the rear camera on the ford transit's rear doors ie which door and height ( I have the tallest roof)