THINKWARE Q800 PRO

This do-it-all dash cam shoots in 2K and offers a wide range of driver safety systems

From $559 thinkware.com

Dash cams come in all shapes and sizes, and the Thinkware Q800 Pro is certainly one of the largest on sale today. It doesn’t have a display, but makes up for this by offering QHD resolution video, a wide range of driver safety features, and the option of a secondary rear-facing camera.

Video quality is where the Q800 Pro sets itself apart from much of the competition. Unlike most other dash cams, which record video at 1080p Full HD, the Q800 offers QHD. This means a resolution of 2560x1440, which in turn means sharper, higher-quality video with key details like number plates being easier to see than with an HD camera.

The Q800 Pro we were provided for review came with an optional rear-facing camera, which increases the price from $559 to $689, and increases the included memory card from 16GB to 32GB. The secondary camera records 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second, so isn’t quite as sharp as the front camera, but is perfectly adequate for recording footage through the rear windscreen.

The Q800 Pro has a large footprint compared to most dash cams, but its relatively low profile means it is subtle and neatly out of sight once fitted to the windscreen using the included 3M adhesive. It should fit neatly behind the rearview mirror of most cars, but if yours already has a camera there for its own lane departure warning system, then the dash cam might have to sit in a more prominent position.

Despite its lack of display, the Q800 Pro has a wide range of driver safety and assistance features. These include its Super Night Vision 2.0, which brightens nighttime footage without blowing out the highlights. Meanwhile, its integrated GPS antenna means your location and speed can be added to every video recorded, along with the time and date.

The camera can also warn you about red lights and speed cameras, as well as alerting you if you drift out of your lane, or if it thinks you are going to run into the vehicle ahead.

Ultimately, it depends what you want from your dash cam. If all you want is a way to record video in the event of a collision, there are many cheaper, smaller and simpler options. But if you want all of the driver assistance and safety features offered by the Thinkware Q800 Pro, then few others that fit the bill so well.