11 best DVRs by price and quality

*Review of the best according to the editorial board. Selection criteria. This material is subjective, not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to purchase. Before buying, it is necessary to consult with a specialist.

The modern driver cannot do without the DVR. If there is no such device in the cabin of the car, then in case of not even a particularly serious accident you are unlikely to be able to prove your innocence. That’s why we recommend you do not skimp. However, it is not necessary to pay too much money for a DVR, either. It is better to look at models with an optimal price-quality ratio.

This selection will introduce you to those devices that have decent characteristics. All DVRs mentioned in this article boast a wide viewing angle and detailed picture. Some of them shoot video is not worse than some action-cameras! At the same time, the devices are not particularly expensive.

All of our material will be divided into three sections. The first will include devices of classical design which are made strictly for videotaping everything that happens in front of the windshield. The second consideration is models made in the form of a rearview mirror – they do not attract the attention of intruders, such a DVR can never be taken from the cabin of the vehicle. And this kind of device is bought to save space. Finally, the third category includes models with a radar detector. They are able to warn in time about the speed cameras.

Rating of the best DVRs by price and quality

The best DVRs by price and quality of classic design

Xiaomi Mi Dash Cam 1S

Rating: 4.9

As you know, the Chinese company Xiaomi aims to produce a variety of electronics, not only smartphones and tablets. For several years from the assembly line of one of its plants comes a very good DVR, called Mi Dash Cam 1S. It collects on the Internet, including the Russian language, a lot of positive reviews. No surprise, because the device has a relatively small size and high quality optics. The lens looks like it came straight from an action camera! Light glass, 140° viewing angle, wide aperture – what more could you ask for??

The picture here is written in resolution F

l HD at 30 fps. This is quite enough to consider an accident or some interesting situation in detail. The Chinese did not integrate a more efficient processor, as it would have affected the cost. Also, they did not get fancy on the display. Here it is quite large (diagonal is 3 inches), but its resolution – only 640×360 pixels. Again, in most cases the screen is only used to navigate through the menu, and this parameter is quite enough. And the finished video can be viewed on your computer.

You can use the built-in Wi-Fi to sync with the DVR. Also available wired connection. But it’s much easier to remove the memory card and insert it into a card reader. The material to the external drive is written in cyclic mode, so it does not need to be formatted regularly. The video, by the way, is accompanied by sound, because there is a microphone in the device. This model also boasts a G-sensor that marks the moment of impact.

It remains to add that the Chinese have splurged even on the battery. Yes, its capacity is only 470 mAh. But it is enough to shoot a few minutes of video at the moment when the voltage in the car’s onboard network is lost for some reason. And often you do not need more.

Advantages

• Viewing angle is 140 degrees;
• Rich package;
• Has its own rechargeable battery;
• Available parking monitoring function;
• Built-in Wi-Fi;
• There is a microphone and speaker;
• Quite a large screen;
• It uses CMOS-matrix from Sony.

Disadvantages

• I would like a higher frame rate;
• May have problems connecting to a smartphone.

Akenori VR02

Rating: 4.8



If you like to regularly record what is happening in the car, then the best choice for you will be Akenori VR02. This car DVR has a swivel unit where the camera is mounted. As a result, you can easily direct the device to yourself like a finger. And for this you do not even have to do something with the mount, which is used as a powerful adhesive tape from the company 3M (to the site of this model clings with a magnet).

This device looks at the world through a glass lens. 160-degree view angle. The aperture is open to f/1.8, which allows you to count on excellent shooting quality even in the dark. The picture is written in resolution F

l HD at 30 fps. Good parameter, its increase would inevitably lead to a completely different cost. The image here is accompanied by sound, which with this design is very important.

Inside this device is a Sony IMX323 sensor. Its physical size is 1/2.7 inches. In short, it is a good two-megapixel sensor, which is most often found in DVRs with an ideal price-quality ratio. The result of its work is written to the memory card. The manufacturer has not forgotten the G-sensor. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi module. And this is the only way to seriously adjust the device and watch the video. The thing is that the creators decided to achieve a miniature size, so this model was deprived of the LCD display. There is also no room for the battery. That means it will be powered either from the onboard power grid or from a capacitor.

It remains to add that the device connects to your computer via USB-interface. This is one of the fastest ways to transfer the material. However, some buyers prefer to remove the memory card instead, using a card reader. If they have it on their laptop.

Advantages

• Does not detract from the road;
• A handy magnet mount;
• The unit with the camera can be easily rotated;
• Great glass lens;
• built-in Wi-Fi module;
• Good quality video;
• There is a G-sensor;
• Not forgetting the microphone and speaker.

Disadvantages

• No own battery;
• No LCD.

Dunobil Lux Duo

Rating: 4.7



Don’t trust touch screens? In this case, you might consider buying the Dunobil Lux Duo. This device includes the most common three-inch display. Its resolution – not great, but it is enough to quickly get acquainted with the result of the shooting, not to mention making all sorts of settings. This model also has a lot of buttons located on the side edges. In terms of attachment, it uses the usual suction cup. If it is firmly fixed to the windshield, you can easily rotate the car DVR to film what is happening inside the car or the traffic inspector standing near the car. However, for these purposes, it’s easier to connect a second camera, which you’re sure to find in the kit.

Despite not the highest price, the device has received at its disposal high-quality glass lenses. Viewing angle of the lens used here reaches quite an adequate 140 degrees. After passing through, the light hits the SC2368 sensor. The whole thing is then fixed, resulting in 1920×1080 pixels video at 30fps. Some buyer dissatisfaction may cause only the format MOV – the cheapest laptops are not the best way to cope with its playback. But if you have a good smartphone or a powerful desktop computer, you won’t have any problems.

Otherwise it is a familiar DVR. The picture from the second camera, he writes in 720p resolution. The result is stored on a memory card, the maximum capacity of which is 64 GB. Of course, there is a G-sensor, which captures the moment of impact or a sudden stop. The battery is not forgotten. However, its capacity does not allow you to count on any long-term video recording. You have to connect the device to the “cigarette lighter”.

Advantages

• Not a bad implementation of the mount;
• It has its own rechargeable battery;
• Modest size and weight;
• A quality glass lens;
• Comes with a second camera;
• There is no HDMI;
• Not forgetting the G-sensor.

Disadvantages

• No Wi-Fi;
• As the connector is used miniUSB;
• Not a very high frame rate;
• Average quality picture from the second camera.

70mai Dash Cam Pro

te Midrive D08

Rating: 4.7



This DVR-mirror is different in that it combines three functions at the same time. First, it captures everything that happens in front of him, recording it all on a memory card microSD. Secondly, it acts as a rearview mirror. Thirdly, the device is a fully-fledged radar detector. This means that you will be warned in time about the speed camera. You just need to remember to regularly update the database, which the device is guided by its own GPS-chip.

This model includes a quality lens. Its viewing angle is 140 degrees. Usually it is enough to record a video of the accident in all the details. You can see exactly what appears in the frame, you can use the LCD on the left side of the mirror. Its diagonal is 4.3 inches. This is much more than radar detectors with a traditional design provide. The device is also ready to boast a microphone and speaker.

Voice prompts are probably the main feature of the Artway MD-161. They will warn you in time about the approach to the next “Arrow”. You can select in the settings how many meters up to the camera to issue a voice warning. Please the buyer should be pleased with the fact that in the city the device switches to a separate mode, which activates the intelligent filter of false positives.

As for the rest, you shouldn’t expect anything extraordinary from this DVR. It records a picture in F

HD resolution at 25 fps. The license plate is easy to read even in the dark. No wonder, as inside there is a 1/3-inch 8-megapixel sensor. Under the casing there is also a place for a 500 mAh battery. This means that the device will not stop its work at the moment when the voltage in the car’s onboard network is cut.

And what did the manufacturer save money on?? First of all, there is no Wi-Fi support. Will have to update the database through a wired connection. Secondly, the device does not allow you to connect a second camera.

Advantages

• It can be used as a radar detector;
• Built-in GPS-chip;
• Implemented voice prompts;
• The screen does not take a lot of space on the mirror;
• Built-in speaker and microphone;
• Good quality video;
• The lens has a wide viewing angle;
• Has its own battery.

Disadvantages

• It is impossible to connect the second camera;
• No built-in Wi-Fi module.

Dunobil Spiegel Laus

Rating: 4.7



In the case of this car DVR the picture is displayed right in the center of the mirror. There is a 5-inch display that has a resolution of 800×480 pixels. Quite a good feature, allowing you to navigate through the menu without any discomfort. But the main feature of this model is not this, but the additional camera. This is what you wouldn’t expect to see in a box with such an inexpensive device! Additional camera can be placed even on the dashboard, even in the back of the car. It is connected via the usual composite video jack.

If we talk about the main camera, it has a relatively good lens, whose viewing angle reaches 140 degrees. After passing through its lens, the light hits the two-megapixel sensor. Then the whole thing is fixed, resulting in a video with 1080p resolution and 30fps. The quality of video recording can not be called perfect, but it fully corresponds to the cost of the device.

Dunobil Spiegel Laus included not only the usual G-sensor, but also a motion detector in the frame. The manufacturer has not forgotten about the microphone, thanks to which will be written, even conversations with the traffic inspector. Saving videos on a memory card up to 64GB. The process is not interrupted even in case of loss of power in the network, since the product has received its own battery (its capacity is 400 mAh).

Advantages

• Voice control is implemented;
• A very large display;
• Good viewing angle;
• Decent quality video recording in the dark;
• Adequate price;
• Comes with an external camera;
• Has its own battery.

Disadvantages

• Glass gets smudged with fingerprints;
• No Wi-Fi.

The best DVRs by price and quality with a radar detector

Inspector Cayman S

Rating: 4.9



If the DVR gets the function of a radar detector, its size usually scares some buyers. Fortunately, there are exceptions to the rule. For example, you can not call Inspector Cayman S particularly great. But there is still room for a laser transmitter and a corresponding receiver. However, we understand that we can’t rely on it seriously nowadays. That’s why the device has at its disposal and a GPS-chip. It allows the device to be guided by the current location and the downloaded database. As a result, it warns about every speed camera without error, unless you disable this feature.

The processor used here is Ambarella A12. The power of this chip is quite enough to write video in F resolution

HD. If the car suddenly stopped, the event will be saved in a separate file, for which you should thank the G-sensor. Not only can the picture be stamped with the time and date, but also the current speed. And videos can be accompanied by audio, because there is a microphone.

The device looks at the world with a pretty good lens. Its viewing angle is 130 degrees. Not a record, but the cars are not distorted at all and their license plates are easy to read. The material is saved on the familiar microSD card. Available in any capacity up to 256GB. It is nice that the shooting can continue even after the voltage onboard network is lost. Manufacturer says that the DVR is able to work on its own battery charge about 20 minutes.

Since the device is small, it is silly to expect a huge screen. Here its diagonal is not more than 2.4 inches, and the resolution is 320×240 pixels. It remains to be regretted that this model does not have a Wi-Fi module, which would greatly simplify viewing the resulting video.

Advantages

• You can use it as a radar detector;
• Not very large size;
• Has its own rechargeable battery;
• Built-in GPS-chip;
• There is a microphone;
• Excellent quality of video recording;
• Implemented voice prompts.

Disadvantages

• You can’t connect a second camera;
• No Wi-Fi module;
• It’s not cheap.

Roadgid Premier 2CH

Rating: 4.8



Not all DVRs are able to withstand severe temperature fluctuations. Basically, models with a supercapacitor have no problems in this regard. In particular, Roadgid Premier 2CH boasts such a design element. Also, the device has a Sony IMX335 sensor, which is able to write a high-quality picture. However, the main feature of the DVR is a second camera, which can be placed somewhere in the cabin. This means when talking to the traffic inspector you don’t have to remember to turn the device.

This model combines the functions of a video recorder and radar detector. We are pleased that it does not give out voice prompts too often – the Roadgid Premier 2CH includes a signature patch antenna, which is implemented protection against false positives. And there is a GPS-chip. So the device is also guided by the database, which contains the locations of almost all traffic police cameras.

The mount that comes with the device is placed on the windshield via a suction cup. The DVR itself is clamped with a magnet. This means that it can be removed and stowed in the glove compartment in just a few seconds.

The 5 megapixel sensor used here is ready to record video up to 2304×1296 pixels. It’s hard to find fault with the lens, which consists of six glass lenses. It is interesting that the product is equipped with a CPL-filter, which should help in difficult lighting conditions. The viewing angle of the optics used here is 170 degrees.

You can control the device with the buttons. Yes, there is a screen. And it is not even the smallest – its diagonal is three inches. However, it is not equipped with touch screen substrate. Another way to interact with the device is to synchronize it with your smartphone. For this purpose uses the built-in Wi-Fi module.

Advantages

• Built in G-sensor and GPS chip;
• Wide viewing angle;
• Comes with a second camera;
• High quality video recording;
• The lens is equipped with a CPL-filter;
• Rather large display;
• There is a Wi-Fi module;
• Implemented radar detector;
• Convenient magnetic fastening.

Disadvantages

• Overheating in the sun is possible;
• The cost will not suit everyone.

SilverStone F1 HY
ID X-DRIVER

Rating: 4.7



A very compact DVR, which is sure not to unnecessarily distract the attention of the driver. At the same time, there is room inside for a full-fledged radar detector. Most importantly, it is guided not only by the laser transmitter readings, but also on a database containing the location of traffic police cameras across Russia. As can be easily guessed, the device also has a GPS-chip.

Since the DVR is small, it’s silly to expect a huge display. The screen that is installed here has a diagonal of 2.3 inches and a resolution of 320×240 pixels. However, even this is quite enough to navigate through the menu and watch the resulting video. If you need to transfer the result of the device to your computer, it is suggested to use a wired connection, or remove the memory card. The maximum supported capacity is 32 GB.

The lens used here has a viewing angle of 130 degrees. Not much, but the picture boasts a minimum of distortion. Including because of this, all state license plates can be read without any problems. As for the matrix, its capabilities are quite enough to keep the picture in F resolution

l HD at 30 fps.

Otherwise it is a typical inexpensive DVR. You should not expect the ability to connect an additional camera. There is no wireless module, which would simplify synchronization with your smartphone. But on the other hand the price of the device was not very high.

Advantages

• Easily rotated 180 degrees;
• Adequate price;
• Good quality video recording;
• There is a microphone;
• There is a radar detector;
• Built-in G-sensor and GPS-chip.

Disadvantages

• May not recognize a large-capacity memory card;
• No Wi-Fi module;
• Can not connect a second camera.
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