Is this the poshest dash cam you've ever seen? Testing the Thinkware U3000

24 October 2023 , 20:14

725     0

Is this the poshest dash cam you've ever seen? Testing the Thinkware U3000

You could buy a dash cam for about £20 these days, and it'll do a reasonable job of recording your journey. So what do you get for around £500? Thinkware, a brand synonymous with premium smart car technologies, is now offering its ultimate dashboard recording device, the U3000.

So what does £500 get you? Firstly, it's two cameras in one package. This is a two-channel dash cam, so you get one camera to face forward, and one to face backwards, both running off the same power source. A single-camera version is available for £379.

Both cameras in the dual setup I've been testing have built-in radars, which detect motion and allow the dash cam to use its motion sensors to capture recordings if something happens to your car while it's in parking mode.

Let's say someone bumps into your car while it's parked up. Rather than relying on shock sensors and GPS to detect any movement, Thinkware says the radars are more accurate, and you'll return to a dented car, but also a 20-second clip showing 10 seconds before the impact, and 10 seconds after it.

It's a tricky thing to test, but it essentially means the Thinkware U3000 is one of the cleverest dash cams you can get. And there's more.

Apple TV release MLS Season Pass worldwide and announce free opening weekend

The front camera has a 4K UHD sensor and, it's fair to say, it's one of the best in the business. Using a Sony Starvis 2 sensor, something to look out for in any premium dash cam, the colours are perfect, the clarity is superb, and it handles darkness really well.

There's a polarising filter included in the package, along with thermal protection to keep the sensors and electronics safe in hot weather.

The rear camera only has 2K QHD, but it's also beautifully clear, and the two sensors together can give you a time-lapse recording while parked, showing what's happening at either end of the vehicle. It's like having CCTV installed.

Thinkware has recently upgraded its energy-saving tech, you'll be pleased to hear. I've found, in practice, you wouldn't want to keep a dash cam running for too long, but short stints of maybe up to a day or two will be fine, as long as your battery's strong.

That said, the new Energy Saving Mode 2.0 that is bundled in with the U3000 is said to be good for up to 22 days, for a single-channel installation and approximately 20 days for a two-channel installation. But I'd still advise disconnecting it if you're car's going to be standing for over a week.

So the U3000 gets on with the dash cam's most important job, recording clear footage, very well. And it's also very easy to install.

The comprehensive package it comes with includes all the hard-wiring tools you'll need, even down to a trim tool for hiding cables and, although there are no fitting instructions bundled in, the app-based guide is excellent.

Both cameras are stuck to the windscreen with double-sided tape. I much prefer this method, but you do need to make sure your positioning is spot on first, as it's a nightmare to adjust.

You can opt to plug the dashcam into the car's OBD port with an additional accessory, but I'm not sure why you would. It's fairly easy to hard wire and a doddle to plug into a cigarette lighter adaptor.

And that's another thing I like about it. The amount of kit you get included. Even down to a 64GB micro SD card and a cloth to wipe the windscreen, everything you need is in the box. It's those little touches that make it feel worth the premium price.

Woman's blood boils as date stands her up over her response to innuendo text

Of course, it also has a few smart features. Speed camera monitoring is a welcome addition, as is the shock sensor to start recording automatically.

There's also a lane-departure warning and, while I'd say it's one of the best I've used, these always tend to be inaccurate and take ages to set up right. I usually turn them off.

A rear proximity sensor is a nice addition though, letting you know about tailgaters. The beeps and messages it gives you are a bit tinny, but no worse than some of the other brands I've tested.

Truth be told, there are cheaper dash cams out there that can do everything the Thinkware U3000 does. But I'm not convinced they necessarily do it quite so well. And when you see the Knight Rider-style swooshing blue light on the front camera to show the radar is watching you, you'll start to get the feeling you've spent your money wisely.

And that's the thing with the U3000. It's got such a quality feel to it. Very little about it feels cheap, it's absolutely a premium device. I've been using it for a few weeks now and found it easy to connect up to the app, easy to get footage from, easy to adjust settings on and easy to see details in its video recordings.

And that's ultimately what we want from a dash cam. Reliability and ease of use. Sure, it's a lot of money, but it works brilliantly. And you can't ask any more than that.

Gareth Butterfield