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The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  TW U3000-PRO = AWESOME , amazing features

  • Top 500 Contributor
  • Tech Insider Network Member

  This is just the 2nd dash cam I’ve owned. My previous unit is a 3-cam system, front, rear and cabin, has a screen which is super helpful and convenient, and I felt a non-starter necessity. I was reluctant in justifying the non-screen U3000Pro but there are a plethora of hardware upgrades, 3 years newer technology, dual radar, and dual Sony Starvis HDR sensors 4k30 2k30. Boy was this upgrade worth it, AWESOME. My wife is primary driver of the vehicle, and works in busy office park, where many an accident has been noted in the tight deck. Originally we had considered a Tesla , largely for the sentry parking record mode, but she chose Polestar 2 EV instead, with NO sentry mode which she’d been asking for about 3 years now. I had secretly hoped one of these primary dash cams first mfgs would integrate detection of police radar into the same device, (don’t ask) but Escort, Whistler and Cobra are radar detect first mfgs, with dash cam an oversight, and the roadmaps I’ve seen do not look to change that model. Installation is not as daunting as first worried. Our other dash cam takes up the cigarette lighter or the USB-C slot, here the inclusion of OBD-II is much preferred. Lack of a viewable screen does require that that you connect U3000 Pro and external mobile device to same Wi-Fi network (5 GHz and 2.4 GHz) since it’s needed to modify setup variables. Viewing on in-vehicle mounted iPhone or iPad, or pc via microSD is where superior video is immediately evident and clearly exploits weaknesses of the other vehicle dash cam. While a screen would be nice, this design is much more minimalist and sleek. I will say the ThinkWare app has a way to go, random disconnects prove quite frustrating among other idiosyncrasies. The best feature imho (ok, my wife’s humble opinion) is the sentry mode. She parks in her parking deck at a busy business park with tight spaces in an urban area. The ability to see events is invaluable, and 12v battery drain minimal. we leaned the U3000 pro does NOT keep cameras hot the whole time, instead it uses low-power radar instead and only triggers cameras to buffers recording 10 seconds before and after noteworthy subject is in proximity. SPECS: *Sony Starvis 2 sensors *4K 30 UHd front cam *2k 30 QHd rear cam *on-board dual-radar *HDR range on both cams *USB-C port for accessories *MicroSD up tp 512 GB (64 Gb incl) *wide 147 degree FOV *time-lapsed recording *dual band 5 GHz / 2.4 GHz PROS: +Sleek design +Dual Radar +ODB-II power +Parking Sentry cam +clear video with less grain +HDR reduces headlight “halo” glare +low-light exposure much better >U3000 +minimal battery drain, low-power mode +ADAS Adv Driver Assistamce System = safety CONS: -price premium -NO Screen, argh -most features off by default -no interior cabin cam (add-on) -ThinkWare app needs maturity -sentry mode requires said app, -(no in-car infotainment integration) -no radar detection so drive safely CONCLUSION: If you’re in the market for dash cam, and had been waiting for a premium top-notch product, give the ThinkWare U3000 Pro a hard look. While the non-pro model is steeply discounted now, I would not suggest sacrificing HDR in BOTH cameras, helpful in low-light and also to reduce headlight glare. I do wish it had a screen, but if video quality is your goal, you’re unlikely to do better than dual Sony Starvis sensors. Dual-radar parking assist and sentry mode are an easy sell !! RECOMMEND: Strong Buy

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  TechReviews Posted 2 months ago

• Rated 5 out of 5 stars

  Packed with safety features

  • Tech Insider Network Member
  • Top 50 Contributor

  I have used different brands of dashcams over the past 8 years, while each of these dashcams had its pros and cons, none of them was 100% the ultimate solution. Because I work in a very busy area and I park my car in a very tight parking lot where cars often bump into each other. I needed a camera with certain features that can serve the purpose such as high resolution, intuitive and fast connection, compact size, and ease of installation. After using this Thinkware U3000 Pro, I can confidently say it is one of the best options available on the market. The box comes with everything I needed to set it up: (Front camera, rear camera, rear-camera connection cable, OBD-II power cable for power + parking mode, windshield mount with 3M adhesive, heat blocking film, CPL polarized filter, cable clips / holders, microSD card 64 GB. I decided to use the OBD-II power cable because my car’s 12 V cigarette lighter outlet is inside the center console, which makes my wiring process nearly impossible. The OBD-II option, on the other hand, is also a peace of mind since the cable can be tucked alongside the windshield and down the door and then straight to the power port. After plugging everything in, I opened the Thinkware app and connected the camera using the on-screen prompts which were super easy and hassle free. Then I opened camera live-view and enabled the guidelines option (in green) to adjust and choose the best location of the camera before applying the 3m adhesive pad and the placing the mounting bracket, which is helpful. Once the front camera was mounted and everything was good, I ran the rear camera micro-USB cable (making sure to follow the labels). “F” end for the front unit and “R” end for the rear). Once connected, an audible prompt is played notifying me that the camera is restarting to apply the new setting. My first impression of this dashcam was excellent. The dashcam is well-built and feels premium. The main camera records in 4K and equipped with Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, which deliver sharp and clear footage in low-light conditions. In addition to HDR, that makes night vision super clear to the extent license plates are cleared captured. I went through every single section in the setting menu because most of the important features were turned off by default such as advanced parking alert, traffic light change alert, potential collision warning. These features are part of this Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which delivers real-time safety alerts. Overall, the dashcam performs well and intuitively. When I park, the camera plays audible prompt to let me know that it entered parking mode and begin monitoring for motion or impact. The camera handles glare and bright lights better than any model I used before, especially with the help of the CPL filter. The camera has built in GPS and the fast 5 GHz Wi Fi makes connection between the dashcam and the smartphone noticeably fast. This Thinkware provides full safety, and protection features more than what I expected. The only drawback of this dashcam is the remote live-viewing feature that requires a separate purchase of LTE module, which means the only way to view live and access the recoded clips is by connecting the smartphone to the dashcam. This makes access less convenient compared to cloud features. Aside from that, this dashcam is excellent and performs exactly as needed. I think after using it for few days now, this Thinkware U3000 Pro is a powerful and dependable dashcam.

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  Zaid Posted 3 months ago

• Rated 4 out of 5 stars

  Best image quality, but app needs work

  • Tech Insider Network Member

  PROS: The best image quality I've ever had in a dashcam Sleek, modern-looking design Parking mode is outstanding with the onboard radar Nice blue pulsing light when there's movement that adds to the security feature of Parking Mode SO-SO: Price ($550) Can't have the (purchased separately) interior cam set-up with the LTE option. I'd love to have the option of a 3-way cam, with LTE, for added security CONS: The Thinkware App (used on Android). It's clunky, doesn't load live view consistently, and you'll have to dig through menus for important options Thinkware has a solid reputation in the dashcam market. Over the years, their dash cams have become a premium choice. Most of their offerings are recognized for their long list of features, including high-quality video, radar protection for parking, cloud connectivity, and modern designs. The U3000 Pro is their newest offering, and for the most part, lives up to the Thinkware name. The U3000 Pro isn't cheap. The intro price is $550, which is on the higher end of dashcams. Though in this case, they attempt to justify its higher price tag by focusing on impressive video quality. After all, that's the most critical aspect of any dashcam (or camera for that matter). Does it lead the pack of available dashcams in terms of video quality? It may be. During the day, the camera delivers clear, high-resolution video with excellent detail. Even in bright sunlight, the camera handles exposure fantastically. You'll be able to clearly see license plates, landmarks, and street signs, even at high speeds. The front camera captures a wide view of the road. And the rear camera helps you keep an eye on tailgaters and lane changes, minimizing motion blur and providing natural colors frame by frame. Again, the excellent image quality can't be expressed enough. This is the best quality I've ever seen on a dashcam. At night, the U3000 Pro shines as well. Its low-light performance is impressive, showing clear details where other cams might struggle with graininess or poor light management. It's clear, without distortion or artifacts disrupting the image. While most people get dashcams for protection against accidents and blame, another important aspect is knowing their vehicle is "looked after" while parked. Whether from an accident or car prowlers. For its Parking Mode, Thinkware adds a radar module that detects movement around your vehicle, making it superior to many other options. It starts recording only when it senses something nearby. Instead of constantly recognizing tree branches, it does an outstanding job distinguishing between people and cars, and not unnecessary objects. In everyday use, parking mode works effectively. Unlike less advanced cameras that send constant false alarms, you'll get important events without being overwhelmed by notifications. This helps with battery drain as well, but it's always a good idea to have backup plans when your vehicle is parked for long stretches (over a week, for example). The U3000 Pro is nearly perfect, but stumbles in a vital function. The app. It's not as user-friendly as most other dash cam apps I've used. Currently, the Android app has a rating of 1.6/5. That's a bad sign. The live video feature is inconsistent and doesn't load very easily. It doesn't happen every time, but it's enough to frustrate me. It might load quickly one time and not at all another. The app's design is outdated compared to others on the market. I had to dig through the settings to find how to activate my (purchased separately) LTE module. They may improve things now that this newest cam is available. I'm looking forward to it. Overall, the video quality, especially at night, is impressive, and the intelligent parking mode works well. I had Best Buy install the cam, so I needed them to uninstall the other one first. They were able to uninstall the old one and install this one within 1 hour and 45 minutes. The excellent image clarity is the most important, but even with that, the software could use some improvement. At this price point ($550), the inconsistent live video and clunky app make it a mixed bag for users. As premium as Thinkware makes their devices, I wish they'd work a little harder to smooth out the app experience.

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  Bryan Posted 3 months ago