Blackvue has been my trusted partner for years. I have been using their dashcam as my daily driver for the past 4 years. And it has always impressed me with the overall video and quality of the dash camera. The latest 2023 Blaackvue DR970X has just been launched at CES 2023, so I have to be among the first ones to try out the camera.
The Korean dash cam comes with front and rear modules, and the best thing about the latest high-end model is a proper sim tray to enable 24/7 access to the unit and hotspot when driving the car around.
Let’s not waste any time and start our comprehensive review covering everything from assembly, performance, specs, and a lot of samples.
Let’s Inspect
Summary
Pros
- Exceptional Video Quality
- Excellent design with a strong build quality
- Functional mobile app and computer software
- Handy LED indicators
- Capacitive touch area for easy usage
Cons
- Steep price
- Low-end rear module
- MicroUSB instead of Type-C
Blackvue DR970X – Price
Blackvue DR970X is quite an expensive camera, the dual-module dashcam that I have got starts at 489$ while the LTE version of the dashcam starts at 539$. Both units are pretty expensive; you can save some money by buying single-channel dash cameras, but the price is still quite high.
In the market, Blackvue is competing against the high-end models of Thinkware, Nextbase, Viofo, and Finevu.
Unboxing
The unboxing experience is pretty good; the box is made out of recycled plastic which is pretty good. Opening the box will reveal the two-camera module with almost the same design as the previous models.
The rest of the box has the cigarette lighter cable, hardwire kit, a bunch of wire holders, pry tools, and a detailed user guide.
Blackvue DR970X – Unboxing
The unboxing experience is pretty good; the box is made out of recycled plastic which is pretty good. Opening the box will reveal the two-camera module with almost the same design as the previous models.
The rest of the box has the cigarette lighter cable, hardwire kit, a bunch of wire holders, pry tools, and a detailed user guide.
Appearance and Build Quality
Immediately out of the box, the Blackvue DR970X is rocking the good old trademark design. It is a lot more identical, and the quick-release brackets are compatible across the models. Keeping the same shape and design is nice, as it has been quite successful in the past.
Another unusual thing about the 2023 DR970X is that it uses the old micro USB port to connect directly to the PC. Moreover, we have the power in port, a power port for the rear module, a function button, and a hidden SD card slot. On top, we also have a capacitive area to control the camera easily. Behind the main camera unit are three LEDs indicating Recording, GPS, and B/WL.
Overall, I am impressed with the quality of the dash camera. The plastic body feels great in hand and performs exceptionally well.
Technical Specifications
- SoC: SigmaStar CPU and ISP
- Primary Camera: OS08A10 image sensor with 8MP lens and up to 4K 30FPS video recording
- Rear Camera: 2MP STRAVIS Sensor with Full HD Video Recording
- Battery: Super Capacitor
- Mic: Yes
- Speaker: Yes
- Memory: SD Storage up to 256GB
Blackvue DR970X – Installation
Let’s start the installation of the dashcam. It is not any different than any other dash camera in the market. It just needs a little technique to hide every cable inside the lining carefully.
Start the process by finding the right spot for your car’s dash camera that does not hinder your view and covers the entire road easily. After placing the camera, connect the power cable and take it along the windshield’s edges to the cigarette lighter port. The rear camera installation is also similar; find the right spot, connect the wire, and attach it to the main unit, which powers the rear camera; after all the connections, use the pry tool to hide it under the roof’s ceiling.
If you want to power the camera for 24/7 and looking to take advantage of parking surveillance, use the hardwire kit. The installation is a little technical. So, if you are unaware of the car electrical system or have never installed one, go to your nearest car electrician to install it.
Video Quality
Let’s start with the daytime footage, in which there is hardly any camera that is not a good performer, and with enough light and sunshine, Blackvue DR970X is superb. A meticulous eye might feel a little white balance issue, but the video looks great.
The standard video is great, but the true inspection occurs when we zoom in. It records in Mp4 at 25MBps highly compressed format, allowing it to preserve much more detail when zoomed in.
The low-light footage is another strength of the dash camera. I have always said that 1080p cameras are better at low-light videos than 4K due to higher pixel density and the small size of the image sensor. Blackvue did not disclose the exact image sensor, but the low-light image quality is exceptional. You will see a lot more details compared to similar dash cameras.
The rear camera is alright, in fact, disappointing. It has the same 5 year old image sensor that is not good at the quality and the level of detail the other dash cameras are offering.
The sound recording is also decent.
For more detailed inspection and video analysis, see our YouTube video.
Blackvue App
Blackvue is also in its own league when it comes to mobile apps and computer software. It has options for languages, Wi-Fi mods, picture finetuning, voltage cutoff, etc. Using LTE with Android 13 is a little challenging to be patient in that case.
Blackvue DR970X also comes with PC software, which again looks great, and I will always prefer it over regular computer software.
Blackvue DR970X – Drawbacks
- Steep Price
- MicroUSB Port instead of Type-C
- No ADAS Support
- No Voice Commands
- The rear module is disappointing
Conclusion
Blackvue DR970X might not feel like an upgrade over DR900S or X unless you are getting the LTE version. But overall, the dash camera is great and has an excellent design, solid build quality, exceptional video quality, and a functional and handy smartphone app. The only thing I am concerned about is the price; it is not feasible for everyone.
