Rating of high-quality car DVRs for 2020

The road by car to your home office or to your grandfather in the village can suddenly become difficult. Accident, attempted robbery or other attack - no one is 100% insured. But you will be able to prove your case if you install a car DVR! Then you don't have to scour corners looking for witnesses.

But so that the device does not disappoint, you need to understand how to choose it, study the characteristics and functionality. The rating of high-quality DVRs and new products in 2020 will guide you in the range.

History and features of the device

The device has a lot in common with a personal computer. At the dawn of its existence, DVRs were large systems that were equipped with military vehicles in the United States. Then they migrated to police cars and special services vehicles. Civilian car owners were able to appreciate the beauty of the device only in the late 90s. And even then they got not the best equipment. Not only did the DVR remain rather large in size, but the recordings were of poor quality and short.

Modern devices have improved markedly. They save the owners from the frames and help resolve controversial situations on the road. In addition, they are even used to preserve memorable travel moments.

The car DVR consists of:

• cameras, one or two (front and rear);
• processor;
• SD card as a storage device;
• microphone;
• display;
• fasteners;
• battery and wires for connecting to the vehicle's on-board network;
• housings with connectors.

Some models also have sensors.

The device is usually on the windshield, but if necessary and depending on the wishes of the owner, you can find another place.

The recorded video contains everything that happened around the car, the time of the events, the speed and location of the car. Additional options vary by model.

Device types

By design, DVRs are divided into:

• monoblocks are usually rectangular in shape, where the display and the camera are combined in one housing. The device is reliable and functional, but easily identifiable by intruders;
• devices with a flip-up display are compact and therefore less noticeable;
• mirror devices that are considered the most invisible. They are both mirrors and recording devices.

By function, they are classified into:

• Simple. The most inexpensive devices with one camera. There are no speakers, and shooting and functionality are limited. The minimum price is 1 thousand rubles or more.
• Multifunctional. Equipped with different sensors and multiple cameras. They are excellent assistants in road accidents, as they record everything that happens around the car, determine the location, speed of the car and react to wrong events (impacts, hard braking, etc.).
• Universal ones are considered impractical, but they are suitable for recording what is happening outside the car.
• Professional consists of multiple microphones, cameras, SD cards. Shooting is excellent day and night. You can record to external hard drives. The downside is the high price, which reaches several tens of thousands of rubles.

There are many DVRs that differ in price, country of manufacture and brand. But the best manufacturers and the most famous are Xiaomi, SHO-ME, Roadgid, Digma, Neoline, CARCAM.

Specifications and functions

Before wondering which company is the best device, you should get acquainted with the "filling" and functionality. New items with newfangled gadgets are constantly on sale. But we must not forget about the basic characteristics.

These include:

• video recording options. They depend on the resolution, which is Full HD (1920 × 1080), HD (1280 × 720), maximum Super HD (2304 × 1294). To get a good image, especially when shooting at night, you should select the highest resolution. The second important aspect of video recording is frame rate. The higher it is, the smoother the picture. But then more space on the SD card is required. In order to have enough memory, the recording format is important (MPEG4, MOV, AVI). Then the video will be compressed to a compact size.
• type of matrix, which is a microcircuit with photodiodes. Its resolution is measured in megapixels (Mp). But not always a high matrix parameter provides a clear picture. Under the influence of other characteristics, a device with a resolution of 2 megapixels will be the best.
• cameras. The more of them, the better the view around the car. But a device with multiple cameras will cost more. The angle of view is important in the camera. If it is equal to 90 °, only what happens in front of the car will be saved in memory. The viewing angle of 120 ° allows you to record what happened on and on the adjacent road sections. In this case, the picture is distorted on the sides, and the image is small. The shooting angle can be changed if the camera body rotation function is available. It is worth paying attention to the additional characteristics (wide-angle lens or LED backlight, WDR, HDR).

Car DVR performs several functions at once. Their number depends on the model. The device records time, date and speed by imprinting information on the image. Alarm events are sent to a special folder that cannot be deleted. The DVR can continuously record until it runs out of memory. Or save events at intervals of 5-10 minutes as separate files.

New items are often equipped with a Wi-Fi function. With this function, you can connect a smartphone to the device and copy the recordings. DVRs are capable of night shooting. Image quality will not deteriorate due to poor lighting.

Convenient operation, as well as the correct positioning of the device, depends on the mounting. A common method is a suction cup that attaches the device to the windshield. In this case, it is easy to reinstall it. The minus of the suction cup also easily falls off and makes the recorder visible to a prying eye. A more reliable version is a special tape with which the DVR is attached to the dashboard of the car or built into the rear-view mirror.

What is the best model to buy

An inexperienced car owner wants to buy a device with many functions at a bargain price. The smart owner of the vehicle knows that this cannot be in nature. The lower the price, the more quality problems. Therefore, if finances are limited, then you should choose a device with good recording quality. And let it not have radar detectors. Hybrid devices at a very low price do not fully fulfill any of the functions presented.

The recording cycle time depends on the size of the SD card. In addition to the characteristics, drivers are worried about where to buy the device. It can be ordered on Aliexpress, but there is a guarantee that the device will come from China in working order. Therefore, do not discount professional auto shops. Though the prices are slightly higher!

Best Car DVRs for 2020

Popular models have long ceased to be a luxury item, even despite the price. After all, safety on the road is worth paying.In addition, budget devices can be found on the world famous Aliexpress website.

BlackVue DR900S-2CH

The Korean company has released a premium video recorder with a viewing angle of 162 ° and a GPS tracker and with two cameras, front and rear. Both record in HD quality. The first camera is mounted on the windshield, and the second on the rear. They are connected with a durable coaxial cable. The presence of a wireless module allows you to connect the device with a tablet or smartphone.

• excellent image quality;
• 4K shooting resolution;
• automatic upload of video to the "cloud";
• MicroSD card included.

• high price;
• difficult installation.

Average price: 42,990 rubles.

Atrway MD-161 Combo 3 in 1

The device in the form of a rear-view mirror is equipped with many useful functions. For example, a radar detector, which, if desired, can be turned off. At the same time, it completely merges with the rear-view mirror. The device picks up radar signals thanks to the built-in antenna. Fixed camera warnings come from a wide range of operating frequencies (K, X, Ka). The diagonal of the display is 4.3 inches, so it is convenient to view records. SD-card capacity - no more than 32 GB.

• prompt notification of the need to reduce speed;
• combo device (radar with GPS, recorder);
• pleasant sounding accompaniment;
• backup battery with a capacity of 500 mAh.
• new radar base.

• setting up a radar detector is not easy;
• warns about cameras only 500 meters away.

Average price: 6 750 rubles.

Slimtec Dual Z7

Another DVR with 4K resolution and a rear camera. The device with clear color reproduction also has GPS, so it records the speed and coordinates of movement. The device records everything that happens in front and behind the car. When viewing the material, even the smallest detail can be discerned. Compact dimensions play only into the hands of the vehicle driver. The device does not immediately catch the eye of intruders.

• OmniVision OV4689 matrix;
• high-quality shooting at any time of the day;
• recognizes SD card up to 128 GB;
• with a wide viewing angle;
• convenient operation;
• reliable fastening.

• small display.

Average price: 5,990 rubles.

RoadGid CityGo 2

The model with a remote camera, which is not an obstacle to frost and heat, has a 170 ° viewing angle. The manufacturer replaced the conventional battery with a heat-resistant supercapacitor. The camera records events at a resolution of 2880 × 2160 megapixels. The device has a second Full HD camera.

GPS is built into the mount and warns about cameras in time. The base is constantly being updated. Thanks to Wi-Fi, you can transfer recordings at any time. Suitable for city or highway travel.

• optical stabilization;
• night shooting mode;
• excellent camera resolution;
• SD card failure warning.

• sensitive shock sensor.

Average price: 9 490 rubles.

Xiaomi 70mai Dash Cam Midrive D01

A budget DVR up to 5,000 rubles, but without a display, received many positive reviews. The device with a motion sensor is compact. It can be placed under the rearview mirror where it will hide discreetly. Video is recorded for 1 minute. But you won't be able to view them quickly. A 68 GB SD card is suitable for it, which is enough for 6-8 hours of recording.

• there is an instruction in Russian;
• good quality of shooting;
• built-in microphone.

• Factory settings and Chinese voice control. Therefore, you have to reflash;
• small viewing angle.

Average price: 3 490 rubles.

Digma FreeDrive 303 Mirror DUAl

The main unit "dissolves" in the rear-view mirror, or rather is attached to it with two rubber ties. Irregularities in the road will not knock him out of place. It is difficult for outsiders to recognize the DVR.

The 4.3 ”color screen is located on the right. It can be disabled manually or checked in the settings. A display connected to the reversing light power supply will assist with parking.A glass lens is a hinge in which you can change the angle and horizon.

• reliable fastening;
• can be connected to PC via USB;
• simple control;
• built-in speaker;
• high-quality assembly;
• easy setup.

• not identified.

Average price: 3 490 rubles.

How to choose a DVR for the car

Price does not rank first in the selection criteria. Manufacturers offer devices for any wallet. Therefore, instead of the question "how much it costs" you should ask another "what to look for."

The main parameters include:

1. Shooting quality. It is best to give preference to devices with HD or FullHD resolution. The optimal shooting speed is 30 frames / second (fps), and the format is H.264 or MPEG-4. It is worth clarifying how the quality is achieved (optical or software). In the second case, it gets worse during video processing.
2. The viewing angle, which is 40 to 150 degrees. Limit values ​​are absolutely inappropriate. If it is 40, then this is not enough for a high-quality recording. At 150 degrees, the image is blurred. The most suitable is from 90 to 120 degrees. It should be remembered that the viewing angle is considered in width, and not diagonally, as some crafty manufacturers do.
3. G-sensor, that is, shock sensor. A sharp bump or jolt will prompt the device to record. The data is saved in a non-erasable folder.
4. GPS tracker is one of the useful functions thanks to which you can compose and view a route. Although the program records the speed of the vehicle, the information is not taken into account in the event of an accident. However, the traffic police cannot also use them against the driver. GPS-informer is useful when stealing a car, when you need to determine its location.
5. Having your own battery. Power supply from the on-board network is built into each DVR. But the battery will help out in an emergency.

A device with a display is always rated higher. But not every model will be able to see the details on the screen. In addition, the driver is the driver. Someone needs a device with a radar detector or Full HD 1080p resolution. Others pay attention to size, weight and autonomy. Built-in memory or SD card capacity worries others.

The "form factor" parameter refers to the dimensions of the device, the ability to quickly remove and rotate it. All of this affects the installation method. Most often, the attachment is carried out with a suction cup. But there are stationary models that are held by double-sided tape. This method is more reliable, but it makes turning and dismantling difficult.

Seamless video is another great feature that will keep virtually no moment overlooked. Since the recording is done in small blocks, it is better to keep the pause between them as short as possible.

If the device is chosen primarily for the price, then it is better not to save much. A device worth up to 3,000 rubles will make you get nervous about "breaks, won't break". The popularity of models at a low price is understandable, but they often cost more. Because in a year and a half the driver will change two or three vehicles.