Customer Ratings & Reviews

Cobra - SC 120 QHD Universal Dash Cam I got the Cobra - SC 120 QHD Universal Dash Cam about a week ago. First thing that you need to know is that your car must have a cigarette lighter port. It does not give you an option to hardwire the device to your fuse box or use a USB connection, without the purchase of a separate hardwire kit. It is easy to install and comes with a tool that helps you hide the cable behind the different panels in the car as it makes its way down to the cigarette lighter, and 6 adhesive wire clips. In my vehicle, the cable was just long enough to reach, with very little cable left. The camera has an adhesive pad that you can attach directly to the window, or to an easy to remove electrostatic film. It is a very small one-way camera. The size keeps it out of your way so it doesn’t obstruct your view when driving. It is a forward facing camera only. It has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 (QHD). The video it records is stored on an internal Micro-SD card. It’s a nice, clear 1440p image that can show all of the details in case of an accident. The camera is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You download an app called “Drive Smarter” and pair the phone to the dash cam. You use the built in mapping program, Mapbox, in place of Google Maps. It works great with Android Auto, but don’t have an iPhone to try it on the Apple CarPlay platform. Drive Smarter tracks notifications generated by the camera related to security, incidents, and alerts. It also allows you to setup a Mayday contact which will be contacted in case of an accident. It also gives you a place to enter your insurance information in case it is needed. When connected to the dash cam, you have the ability to look at your videos or view what the camera is recording at that time. You also have the ability to control all of the settings for the software and the camera. While recording you have the ability to mute the audio recording with the press of a button. It also has the ability to create time lapse videos of your drives to easily share with others, as well as snapshots. With the use of an optional hardwire kit, the camera can provide protection, even when the car is off. If the camera has access to WiFi, it can alert you to security events when away from the car. When driving, the camera and software can provide you with 360 alerts. This feature allows users to view real-time and shared alerts that have been gathered by the DriveSmarter Network. You can get audio or visual alerts through your phone or in-car display when approaching speed camera or red light camera areas. Using the DriveSmarter App, you can automatically upload important video and snapshots to the DriveSmarter Network Cloud. A shock sensor built into the camera detects hard braking, collisions, and potential damage to the car when it is parked. These videos get flagged and backed up when a WiFi connection is available. Overall it a very nice camera with a good set of features. It produces high quality images and peace of mind that, should an accident occur, it will be recorded. The one thing that it is missing, is a rear facing camera, but for this size of a unit, that is a minor complaint.

The Cobra SC-120 Dash cam works as it should. It is not something that stands out from what is already available in the market. The Drive Smarter app is very decent I personally had issues with it not loading or freezing on me. The app is a great idea because you are able add other devices that will help with information such as alerting you when police are ahead. The picture quality I cannot complain about it is very clean and crisp. It captures the whole front end of my big truck and a little more to the sides. It does come with a mini-SD card and a bigger one can be purchased separately to extend the recording capabilities but is not technically required since the camera will override any saved video if it runs out of space. The design is very compact and setting it up is very simple. The mounting options seem to be very limited with just a double-sided stick tape but it is very stable. The camara seems to be built well and it does what it should and that is captures clear driving video.

The Cobra SC 120 is a very capable Dash Cam, The small footprint makes you forget you even have it. Installs in seconds behind the rear view mirror. The more than enough supplied power cord fits perfect in my headliner of my F150. The pillar panel comes off with ease and I was able route the wire under my dash and did not need the included cable holders for the install. When paired with the app, It will automatically install new firmware updates. I was able to add the device to the drive smarter app without issue BUT the app is a little unstable in my opinion. There was multiple times when starting the app that it was lost and couldn't connect to security services. I had to restart multiple times to get it to connect. once connected I no longer had any issues. The Android phone connected to my truck and could view the map. I used the app to make a few tweaks to the camera. I tested it next to another well known brand of comparable price. I was impressed, the Cobra won me over with the quality video and sound. The ease of use will make this great for everyone. I love the fact that I can download on the go and able to share the video as needed and not have to pull the card to download the video. Note, you can use this camera as a standalone unit if you do not like apps, you will have to pull the card to retrieve video. The file structure has events for auto detected events, Regular for just standard capture that overwrites when card fills up and one for pictures that you can take. This unit can fit anywhere in any vehicle. you will not be disappointed. I would recommend this to friends and family

I've been using this Cobra SC 120QHD Dash Cam for few days now. Overall, I am satisfied with its performance and would recommend it to others for many reasons like: Price and size (discreet on windshield). I like it more than the other dashcam I have that has a mini-display screen. As for Pros: - Compact design: That's a very strong point. It makes the camera very discreet. It fits nicely on the windshield. - Easy to install: Cobra includes pre-cut 3M tape and temporary mount sheet (static) that makes the installation straight forward. - Complete product: The kit comes with all necessary wires, USB cable and tools for installation and hiding the cable in your car's trims/panels. - Intuitive Interface: You may take some time to get used to it but the interface is generally user-friendly. It can connect to your car's smart hardware (Android Auto and Apple carplay). - Mic disabling feature: As privacy feature, the microphone on/off button is conveniently located on the back of the dash cam. Easy to access. The cam will play a sound confirming the mic status. - Android Auto: I've tested it with Android Auto. Well played. No connection issues. I know it also supports Apple CarPlay but I don't have it (to test). As cons: - Video quality is not the best. Some 4K cams are obviously better... Then they are more expensive and bigger size. - Camera struggles with License plate capturing. If your car has LED headlights, you might have a better night videos. I've noticed that. - Accident detection feature is overly sensitive. I am not sure if it is the way I am mounting the dash cam or if there is a way to reduce its sensitivity. - Dash cam really gets hot. I think it could be normal. But compared to my other Dash Cam, that's a bit high temp. Overall, the Cobra SC 120QHD is a solid choice for those who are seeking a budget friendly option. While it may have some limitations, such as below 4K video quality, it offers good value for the price. It is strongly recommended to have a dash cam in your car as your witness. If you are looking for reliable dash cam that's easy to install and doesn't take too much place on your windshield, the Cobra SC 120QHD is really worth considering. Dash Cam saved me in many situations so far. I can't drive without one.

I am new to having a dash cam and so far, it’s a nice tool to have as a just in case event. Something to help determine who is at fault during an accident, or being able to show what someone else may have done if you happen to be witness to it, etc. The Cobra SC 120 Dashboard Camera comes with a 16GB micro SD card, plastic hooks you use in conjunction with a plastic pry tool to help you install it into the car, a power cable that plugs into your cigarette lighter socket, also known as a 12V auxiliary power outlet, and some extra adhesive in case you need to reinstall it in another spot on the windshield. Installation was okay but you do have to be patient running the cable from up around your windshield down back towards the dashboard and then forward to get back to where your power socket is located. Prior to powering it on, I downloaded the companion app called Drive Smarter which allows you to update firmware, look at captured video, and control all of the basics of the device. It also has a GPS and map that is Apple CarPlay compatible which allowed me to use it for driving directions. I did notice that there were not a lot of alerts along my route which could be because the app is newer and not a lot of people are using it yet. The micro SD memory slot can be upgraded to 256 GB. The camera itself has 140 degree view radius, records video at 2560x1440 and has night vision. The buttons on the back of the device are used to turn on and off sound recording in the vehicle, formatting the SD card, locking a recording so that it is not overwritten and turning on a feature they call “Trip Clip” that helps you record trips and create time-lapse videos that can be saved and watched later. Another feature is impact detection which can sense if you are in an accident. If this happens, there is 30 seconds prior and 30 seconds after that is locked to help ensure you have video of the incident timeframe in case its needed for future viewing. There is a park mode that will utilize the built-in motion and gyro sensors that will turn the camera on and record one minute clips until there is no further movement for five minutes. This feature does require a hardware kit that will allow the unit to remain powered when the vehicle is off. That kit is sold on the manufactures site for around $30. Overall, I am happy with this dash cam. It is a sturdy device that should last a long time. I feel that the app could be improved but I’m sure that will happen as time goes on. Overall, I would certainly recommend this for anyone wanting a bit of extra piece of mind when driving.

One of the things that I enjoy about this cameras is the fact that it is small enough to not take up space on my windshield. Equipping you with extra sticky patches to be able to remount them is a plus This dah cam is small enough to be able to mount behind my rearview mirror. which is a plus considering I have a phone charger mounted on the dash as well. One of the things that I don't particularly like is the fact that I have to plug this into my cigarette lighter which in turn, I also have to plug my charger into this as well. I wish there was some way I could use both. I assume there is something out there where I can plug in two things at once. Setting up the app was effortless and easy to manage. one of the challenges was it seems as though car play does not work as is was suppose to, I could not get it to work at all. The pictures are pretty clear and I like the loop recording. I like the fact you can immediately lock a recording. I would love to b able to have wiring kits to be able to plug this into my fuse box and not everything into my cig lighter. overall, this is a good little camera and does not take up much space at all.

Pulling the camera out of the box, you see that its nice and small. The SD card is in, so all you need to do is plug it in an set it up with the app. Be careful though as it needs a cigarette litter type plug to work, even though it then connects with a USB-C (I didn’t try just a USB-C, but wonder if it would work and then why not give that option?). The wire is pretty long, so getting it in place isn’t hard. However, if you haven’t had a dash cam before, the instructions are not great at how to get the cable around to the right place. They also are not great at how to get the app set up. On the app side, when you open it up, it tries to be a navigation app. I thought I had downloaded the wrong one at first, until I found you can go add a device and added it. Once I figured that out, getting the camera added was easy, but from there I’m not really sure how useful the app is. You do end up connecting to the camera through Wi-Fi, took me a few tries, so you can get faster video loading then on just Bluetooth. However, the videos are just clips you need to go through, so if I ever needed one I’m more likely to use my computer with the SD card connected. The app is also trying to sell you navigation service and cloud services too, which is a bummer especially as you don’t get any free period with getting a device. On the navigation side, Google Map, Waze and Apple Apps all do a better job getting me where I need to go. So the app does work with CarPlay, but beyond seeing what it does, I never use it as the navigation isn’t great and you cannot actually vide the videos on it anyway. Overall, while I’m not sure why the app can’t just be one to show you what the camera recorded and maybe a tag of location if connected to your phone, the camera does work and records as you’d expect. So, if there are improvements this maybe a decent cam, or if you don’t mind just taking the SD card out and downloaded the videos it will be decent too.

Cobra combines its signature radar and speed detection with a small camera in a compact, easy-to-setup SC 120 dash cam. Built with a low-profile design, the camera works with the free Drive Smarter app to be your extra set of eyes and ears to give you confidence and a sense of protection on the road. Oddly enough, what’s most noticeable about Cobra’s dash cam is its inconspicuousness. Barely bigger than the 12V accessory plug packed with it, the SC 120 is designed to be discreet. When placed onto your windshield with the super-strong 3M adhesive, tucked neatly beside your rear-view mirror, it is truly a set-and-forget device. Cobra packs the dash cam with the aforementioned plug and power cord, along with cable routing tools, wire clips, and a 16 GB micro SD card. It also comes with some rudimentary windshield mounting instructions to give you an idea of how to route the cable out of view and unobstructed. All in all, it only takes around 10-15 minutes to set the cables around your dashboard and windshield. Plugging in the dash cam powers it on and you’re good to go. The free Drive Smarter app gives you a plethora of options, from mapping your routes, to setting notifications for incidents and alerts, to live viewing and saved history lookup. You can remotely view your dash cam video feed live from anywhere as well as add multiple dash cams to keep more than one car safe and visually accessible. On the move, the app alerts you of speed limits, red light cameras, and radar. I really like the “over speed limit alert” that you can set at multiple speed overages to help you maintain your target speed. The onscreen map gives you a heads up on upcoming routes, and the camera is constantly recording footage from your trip that you can go back to view (and save if needed) on the app. The video feed is clear and presents a wide angle view with high visibility. There is even a Mayday Alert setup where you can enter an emergency contact who would be notified of any incidents on your route. I do want to mention this device connects pretty well with Android Auto (my experience) and is advertised to work with Apple CarPlay as well, depending on your mobile device of choice and how integrated these apps are in your vehicle. I found the device to work seamlessly with my newer car that has a more developed Android Auto experience when my mobile is plugged into it. One drawback to the design of the cam itself is its lack of a cabin-view camera. The back of SC 120 has a large action button used to lock video recordings and a mic button to toggle sound recording on and off. However, it leaves no space for a rear-facing camera to capture incidents inside your vehicle - not a deal-breaker by any means but something to consider when compared to other current market dash cams. Cobra’s SC 120 Universal Dash Cam gives you low-profile protection with high visibility of your surroundings. Ultra compact combined with some really smart features integrated into the free Drive Smarter app, this dash cam is an eagle eye that gives drivers the peace of mind to keep their eyes on the road.

I recently installed the Cobra SC 120 dash cam in my vehicle and have been testing it for a couple of days now. The package included everything needed for installation including cables, a trim tool to help with concealing the cable in my car’s trim, cable clips and cable holders. Also included was an SD card which was very much appreciated. The last dash cam I bought did not include one, you had to buy it separate, so this was a welcome addition. Setup was very straightforward which includes downloading the Drive Smarter app. I had no problems connecting to the app, setting up an account, and downloading/installing the firmware update. The Drive Smarter app has a lot of functionality in it, and I’m still in the process of learning what all it can do. Surprisingly, the app also includes navigation with voice prompts and I found that it works well. Uploading clips to the cloud and downloading them to my phone is seamless and quick. A couple of things that could use a little improvement. One, connecting my phone to the dash cam’s Wifi in order to view recordings is rather slow, you gotta be patient until it finally connects. And two, the recordings are all dated two months ago. As I write this on October 8, all of the recordings from today are dated August 8. I reviewed the online manual for the camera and it says under General Settings you can modify the date/time. I have gone through every menu and setting in the app and I cannot for the life of me find anything related to date/time adjustment, and certainly not under General Settings. There is a user support link in the app so I submitted a question to see if Cobra can help. I haven’t heard back yet, its only been a few hours, but I’ll update this if/when I hear from them. After testing in my vehicle for several days I’ve found it to be a solid dash cam that does everything I need it to do and at a good price point. The inaccurate date/time setting is annoying, I’ll guess I’ll just have to adjust for that if necessary.

These days having a record of everything you do is more important than ever. When driving around, anything can happen so having a video recorder on board capturing every moment can be very important. This unit is very small and light weight, partly because there is no integral display. I was not sure if I would like this feature and the verdict is, yes I do! Frankly the screen can be distracting especially at night. Here the unit just goes about its business with no distractions. But you CAN have a screen. Just download the app and now your phone can show live images so, the best of both worlds. The app is handy though a little clunky. My only complaint is sometimes it takes a moment to connect the phone to the cam for live view - mostly though it connects as fast as my earbuds. As mentioned above, this is a really compact unit. If you choose to install it behind the rear view mirror it is hardly noticeable. It however notices the view well. Day time recordings are better than night time but both have video quality that should suffice if an event needs to be reviewed. When recording, this also captures audio which is quite clear and easy to understand. This can be helpful if you might be talking to someone that is next to the car with your window down. Im not sure when this might happen, but should things occur outside of view, clear audio might be very helpful. This comes with a "tucking" tool and adhesive clips making instillation very easy even for a non professional. For this price, I can hardily recommend this for my and your safety.

The setup of the camera was not too difficult, no different than connecting to a smart home device. It might take a couple of tries, but eventually it will connect. Installing is not that difficult, a tool was provided to help tuck the wire away so it is not hanging loosely allover the car. Note if you only have one power source in the vehicle (cigarette lighter), you might want to invest in a splitter. Once the camera was mounted, I noticed the camera had only two buttons. One to switch the mic on and off, and the other button is to mark footage not to be erased, this button is also used to format the SD card if you did not do that somewhere else. The led light has three colors: blue to indicate it is powered on, flashing red when it is recording and purple to show that a file is being saved. The video quality is very good at 1440p, nothing will be missed. At first I did not play around with the app too much because I was taking the SD card and putting it in my laptop to grab the files. I did use the Cobra app for navigation, it was nothing special, but I liked that it gave radar band alerts like my old radar detector. The reason I'm only giving this camera four stars is due to the lack of a screen. I would like to look at footage on the device directly and not have to go through my phone to do it, but this is still an excellent dash cam for the price point.

The Cobra SC-120 is an incredibly small dash cam. When I took it out of the box it felt like a small child's toy. Packaged in this tiny form factor is a feature packed device that you should consider putting in your car. What I really like about this dash cam is that it is so ridiculously small. I had been using a front and rear camera for a while and I hadn't realized how much space those two cameras were taking up. I feel that my view is less obstructed with this device. It is so small that I was able to place it behind my rear view mirror. This helps because I can now use my sun shade again! The devices comes with everything you need to get started. The power cable is plenty long enough to route through the car and to your DC outlet. It also comes with an SD card. The storage capacity is low for this day, but it can be upgraded to a larger storage capacity . Set up was rather easy. Download the app that appears in the instruction manual. Following the prompts in the app made it very straight forward, The app is pretty easy to use. You can review past recordings and do a live preview so you can make sure you are getting the full view out of your windshield. Before I get into this it should be noted that there are so many variables when it comes to software and hardware that your experience may differ. I am using app version 4.0.1 on an iPhone. This dash cam boasts that it works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. I was so confused on how the dash cam would interface with CarPlay. After downloading the Drive Smarter app it becomes apparent what the features entail. You use the app as you navigation tool. It would seem that it also acts as a communication network between other drivers using this same app to report any unwanted attention. I couldn't get it to load a route to my work so I went back to using Apple Maps.

I am new to Cobra products and upon unboxing the Cobra SC120, I was immediately surprised at how compact the dash camera is. I appreciate this because it fits behind my rearview mirror, and I honestly forgot it’s there. Right away I also noticed the box came with accessories that I have found super helpful in setting up the camera. It comes with these M3 attachments to help you guide the cables around your car and keep the cable connection clean. This is huge for me because I personally dislike seeing clutter or just cables on my dashboard. Now as far as setting up the camera. It was extremely fast. I had it up and running in less than 5 minutes including creating my account. It did have an update, so this took a couple more minutes. The app is intuitive and easy to navigate. It has a lot more features than just giving you a gallery to view your recorded videos. It can serve as a navigation app including alerts such as where radar detection may be at. I can’t say that I will be using this map feature because it likely uses more data than the native Maps app, but it’s a welcomed feature for sure. Finally, and probably the most important, the quality of the camera at day and night. It’s Full HD and my phone quickly shows me any footage that I am interested in seeing. No hassle. I do recommend this dash camera as someone new to Cobra products! I am enjoying thus far.

When I got this dash cam I was eager to install it and see what it would do. I have a 2018 Chevrolet Cruze and the install went fine although I am considering moving it just a tad. The camera connected to my phone and car through the app and everything seemed fine. Then, I ran into issues. I couldn't connect to the video or photos through the app because it said I was connected to Android Auto. I turned the car off and tried again. Then I got the message that the app couldn't connect to the camera. But when the car is turned on, it automatically connects to Android Auto like it's supposed to. Then there's the firmware update which has been trying to install since the day I got the camera. The app connects to the camera and the file downloads but then it gives me an error. I've tried at least ten times and tried different ways to do it. It is very small so I like that since my last one was much bigger and took up a big chunk of real estate on my windshield. I can barely tell this one is there. I want to like it but I don't because I feel I'm not getting the features I should due to the app not working with the camera correctly.

Summary: Set it and forget it, that’s where the Cobra SC 120 shines as a dash cam with a decent camera and storage options. If you are looking for a more hand’s one experience with bells and whistles (like a built-in screen), there are other more expensive units out there. Comes with an App for fine tuning and works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Pro’s: - Compact, unobtrusive design. - Easy to install. - Good 1440P video resolution. Con’s: - So so wireless connectivity. Matter of Taste: - The App could use some work. - Ultra-wide camera with a ‘fishbowl’ output. - Do it yourself installation. - Can’t connect with CarPlay (or Auto) and the included App at the same time. - Your CarPlay has a larger user group for road alert functions. More Words: Some dash cams have so many options and frills they almost double as an entertainment system, but the actual picture is no better than what the Cobra SC 120 can provide. It is a competent camera that is so small that it won’t distract you. The lens is ultra-wide, which has pluses and minuses. On the plus side, you record a lot of the action around you, on the bad side, things will seem further away with less detail than you might remember it. The fishbowl effect is so prominent you won’t be using the footage as home movies but it’s insurance in case of a negative road experience. The App, well, make sure it’s up to date and the firmware is the most recent, and that means connecting inside to a strong WIFI source first. It does connect with your phone, to adjust settings and presumably download footage. I found it faster and easier to just use the included micro SD card (16 Gb) with a card reader. It’s a revolving loop, erases the oldest footage, so you will probably want to upgrade to a 256 card for long trips. Bottom line is if you want a dash cam that is just a dash cam (records usable footage), this is a good price for a compact unit.

Dash cams are becoming more of a necessity to protect yourself and your insurance premium. This dash cam is perfect for providing quality clarity and performance in a small package that doesn't take over your dash. Good * 1440P (2K) quality of video * Price * Easy install in little format * Cloud storage and local storage * Good quality app *. Pair with a Cobra radar detector for shared speed traps (I have a Cobra radar detector and it works well) * Bluetooth connectivity to phone Needs Work * No included direct power (through lighter charger) * 16GB only card included. Larger would be better to be included The price point is solid and a good entry point for dash cams. Cobra is known for quality and support and I have found the quality to be great so I haven't had to use the support yet. The included cloud storage is a handy add to access your video from many devices easily. I was able to install the unit in less than an hour. Overall I am very pleased with the cam and would recommend it for everyone

Like other reviews have stated, the app has issues. It takes quite awhile to even get it to connect and everything is delayed. This was just trying to set this thing up and get it to work. Very frustrating. When you try to look up this model number for assistance, in almost every instance it brought back a different model of camera. One that has a more cylinder type of style. When I powered this up, it showed that I recorded videos back in August of 2024, and I only received the camera today, October 5, 2024. Installation of the app wasn't too bad, but again trying to get a steady connection and maintain the connection is terrible. I was 5 feet away from my wireless router, and still no good. Everything is done via the app. For someone so small and should be easy to use, this product is far from it. Was very excited to receive this and get it in my car right away. Almost 2 hours into setting this up and I'm still having issues. Very disappointing and unfortunately I would have to say, avoid this device and look for something different.

Small camera and easy to download videos. Liked the video quality.

Love the look. Records well and allows me to download videos to my phone

Fantastic little camera, great video and easy to install