In today’s fast and hectic world, every driver really needs a dash cam. Having a dash cam is more than just a tech upgrade for your car. Whether you’re doing the daily commutes to work, the busy school runs on busy city streets or cruising leisurely down quiet country roads, a dash cam provides invaluable evidence in case of accidents, disputes or insurance claims. With video evidence, you can safeguard yourself against fraudulent claims, document the facts in an accident, and even capture memorable road trips. But you don’t want something too big obstructing your view or becoming a distraction. That’s where the Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam is an excellent compact guardian for your car.
The Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam is a compact yet powerful dash cam that has been designed to keep an eye on the road, sitting discreetly behind your rearview mirror – it may be small, but it is mighty!
The Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam is a compact dash cam with 1080p Full HD, recording at 30fps. It features night vision, parking surveillance mode and connects to your phone. It is available in two options: hardwired (required if you want to use the parking surveillance mode) or Plug & Play (powered through the cigarette lighter).
I received the hardwired kit. In the box:
- Thinkware F70 Pro Front Camera
- 32gb MicroSD Card
- Adhesive Mount
- Adhesive Cable Holders (x3)
- Hardwire Cable Kit
Specifications:
- Resolution: Front – Full HD (1920 x 1080)
- Camera: Front – CMOS Image Sensor
- Frame Rate: 30 fps
- Viewing Angle: 140° (Diagonal)
- Dimensions(WxDxH): 82 X 33.8 X 34.6 mm (3.22 x 1.33 X 1.36 inch)
- Weight: 42.4g (0.096 lb)
- Storage Temperature: -20°~ 70°C (-4°~ 158°F)
- Operating Temperature: -10°~ 60°C (14°~ 140°F)
- Capacity: MicroSD card 8/16/32/64/128 GB (UHS-I)
- Input Power: DC 12/24V, Built-in Super Capacitor
- GPS: GPS Antenna [Optional]
There is no real manual or installation instructions in the box, but there are QR codes to download them from the Thinkware website (the QR codes in my box didn’t work, the URL had changed, but they are easy to find on the their website).
With the hardwired kit, unless you are competent with auto electrics it is best to get it professionally installed. There is a video on the Thinkware website but they are not authorized to provide in-depth technical information on the hardwiring installation because every vehicle is different. For more information and to watch the video, click here).
Why get the hardwired kit rather than the Plug & Play kit? If you want to use the dash cam with the parking surveillance mode (it will record if anyone hits your car while you are parked with the engine off) you will need it hardwired to take power from the battery. If you don’t want to make use of the parking surveillance mode then the Plug & Play kit allows you to plug directly into the cigarette lighter (will only record with the engine on).
Once you have installed the dash cam into your car, you can pair it to your phone. Download the free Dash Cam Link app (Android or iOS) and follow the on-screen instructions. It is quick and easy to do.
The compact design of the F70 Pro Dash Cam allows it to be fitted behind the rearview mirror. As it does not feature a viewing screen, the camera is quite small, minimalistic and distraction free. Any interactions with the dash cam happen through the Thinkware app or by transferring any recordings to a computer.
As you drive, the dash cam will record. It has full HP recording (1080p) which captures footage clearly and smoothly at 30fps. While the night time recordings aren’t as good as the daytime images, it does have Super Night Vision to enhance visibility in low-light conditions to capture clearly the road and any incidents.
Footage is captured onto the 32gb memory card that comes supplied with the dash cam. If you want more storage, you can pop out the memory card and replace it with a larger card, up to 128gb.
Playback is viewed through the phone app (Android and iOS) or through the PC Viewer (you can download this for PC or MAC from the Thinkware website).
You can also receive Safety Camera Alerts to provide warnings for speed and red-light cameras (using your Smartphone GPS or by purchasing the optional GPS antenna).
Overall, I think the Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam is great. It won’t suit everybody’s needs due to no screen and having to buy optional extras such as the antenna to make full use of it. But as a basic dash cam it is quality, unobtrusive and the video quality is sharp and clear in the daytime footage and has great nighttime recordings, allowing you to capture number plates clearly. With its 140-degree field of vision it easily captures the road and pavements.
The parking mode, if you are using the hardwired kit, is great. It allows the dash cam to start recording when it detects movement or impact when you are parked. If someone hits your car in a car park, the details will be recorded.
The Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam is a budget-friendly dash cam with great features. It is discreet and unobtrusive and as it has no screen, it doesn’t distract you while driving. The app and the PC Viewer make it easy to access the camera footage with its Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity.
With the hardwired kit you might be worrying about battery draining, but you don’t need to. It features an energy-saving low-power mode (will go to sleep and after an impact has been detected by the built-in G-sensor, it will wake up within a second and start recording for the next 20 seconds ).
Now for the downsides. While it is a great camera, the hardwire kit needs to installed by someone competent, which is an added expense, although it does give you more features with the parking mode. The plug & play kit still gives you the same quality footage, without the expense of paying for someone to install it, but you don’t have the parking mode function then. If you want to make full use of the camera you will also need to purchase the GPS antenna, another added cost – although you can use your smartphone instead.
The Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam is a reliable and reasonably budget-friendly (depending on your choice of options) dash cam. While it doesn’t offer 4K resolution or built-in GPS, its ease of use, safety features and its discreet design, it is a very good no-frills dash cam. The image quality is great and as it can be placed behind the rearview mirror, there is no windscreen clutter.
Rating: 4/5
RRP: from £99.99
For more information, visit thinkware.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.