DR970X-2CH
This is a great insurance-like product that allows you to view and monitor your car from virtually anywhere. Protect it against damage or monitor a teen driver when they're away from the house.
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Design
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Mobile App
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Functionality
I drive an Audi S4 daily, which I’ve come to enjoy and cherish. The luxurious interior with the stylish exterior set it apart from other cars and brands.
However, with my day job being in the downtown city, I often get worried about where I park the car. Increased break-ins, theft, and property damage make it so I only feel reasonably safe when the vehicle is parked in a parking garage. And even still, things can happen.
With electric cars rising, one of their strong selling points is integrated technology. Tesla’s Sentry Mode is a one-of-a-kind tool that allows the owner to use the car’s exterior cameras to monitor events happening around it. It can report back if the car was touched or damaged, and it can all happen in real-time. If only we could add that to our cars…
BlackVue is a Korean dashcam manufacturer and one that I’ve come to be very close with. After reviewing nearly every dashcam in their lineup, they’re a brand that continues to grow and innovate in one market. With that experience, they’ve become the golden standard when comparing dash cams.
Today, we’re taking a look at their top-end DR970X with front and rear 4K UHD camera protection. Combined with their 4G LTE connectivity module, we can take that respected Tesla Sentry mode and add it to virtually any vehicle.
Welcome to my overview of the BlackVue DR970X-2CH.
Design
The famous “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” motto is something that I feel like BlackVue really respects. From their early days (all the way back in 2014!) when I first got to review them, to today, the design of their dashcams has remained relativity unchanged.
The matte black cylinder tubed shape has become iconic for BlackVue, and we see it showcased here. Whether you buy their lower end or this model, they all keep the same familiar shape and look. With this design, it stealthily hides away when mounted toward the top of the windshield. Personally, unless I point it out to passengers or others outside the vehicle, nobody seems to ever notice it, and that’s the ultimate goal here.
These top-tier models get a classy bronze ring that wraps around the camera’s lens, which help include a taste of premium. It’s not very noticeable, but is a neat touch.
The cylinder tube contains the I/O we’d expect here, with the left side housing a MicroUSB accessory hookup, rear camera input, and a DC-IN jack. We also now have an easy-to-reach physical microSD format button.
I’d like to see BlackVue make the change to USB-C rather than MicroUSB in future products and then allow the USB-C to also double as the power input instead of the barrel plug.
On the back, we get a bronze plate that houses the status LEDs for recording, GPS, and Bluetooth, as well as a speaker grille.
Then on the right is the capacitive touch sensor that allows for quick actions to be performed, such as WiFi toggle or Voice recording toggle. This sensor has to be one of my favorites as I often keep Voice Recording disabled, but in a pinch can quickly enable it.
BlackVue’s windshield mount hasn’t changed too much. It still attaches to the DR970X-2CH on a ratcheted mechanism that gives optimal viewing angles once mounted.
The mount has reapplied 3M VHB tape/glue for ultra-strong securement to the windshield. This is seriously strong tape and be sure you have it level and correct before sticking it to the windshield. If you get it wrong, that’s okay. It can be removed with some floss and reapplied with the extra pad included by BlackVue.
The rear camera is the same that is included in BlackVue’s 2CH models. Tiny, matte black, and easily mountable.
An optional inclusion for the DR970X-2CH is the Cloud Connectivity Module. It’s a little big, in my opinion, but it can be mounted on either the windshield or somewhere else with the same 3M VHB tape. Just remember that while the cable length is fair, the module needs an easy light of sight to the sky for the best possible 4G connectivity.
The module is matte black and plastic. The SIM card slot is held in by a tiny Philips screw which is fine for those adding this device to a carrier plan, but if your SIM card is only valid for X number of months, it can be annoying to constantly change.
BlackVue provided me with a SIM card to use, but those purchasing the DR970X-2CH may want to consider a SIM card through their network carrier or an inexpensive one on eBay.
Lastly, BlackVue included every possible accessory you would need to get started. As I outlined in my last review on their Power Magic Ultra, they care about making sure you have the tools needed for a successful installation.
A 64GB microSD card is included along with cable clips, an additional 3M tape, a plastic wedge for cable management, fuse tap hookup cables, a main power cable, and the ultra-long rear camera connector cable.
I’ll sound like a broken record here if you’ve read my other BlackVue reviews, but BlackVue’s design on the DR970X-2CH is superb and something they show pride in. From the bronze inlays to the stealthy shape, BlackVue really does make some great dash cam designs.
Especially when compared to the hundreds of weirdly shaped Chinese-Amazon attempts.
Functionality
It wasn’t that long ago when 4K anything was a rare technology. Now, we have 4K imagery in small dashcams such as this one.
Inside the DR970X-2CH is an 8MP Sony Starvis CMOS sensor that records in 4K UHD at 30 Frames Per Second (FPS). In the rear, the sensor captures 1080p quality on a 2.1MP Starvis sensor at 30FPS.
I personally would like the rear to also be 4K as accidents can often happen more in the rear, but BlackVue’s 1080p is significant quality.
I personally would like the rear to also be 4K as accidents can often happen more in the rear, but BlackVue’s 1080p is significant quality.
Getting started is fairly straightforward. Simply mount and choose a power method for the dash camera through either a fuse tap or the car’s cigarette lighter socket. BlackVue provides a great user manual with detailed instructions and pictures for any novices.
Once turned on, you’ll need to connect to the DR970X-2CH via WiFi and set up the device through the BlackVue iOS or Android app.
I’ve expressed my gripes with the application before, with it being slow or having a few bugs, but as with most apps, things get fixed over time. For the most part, the app is well-designed and straightforward.
Now that the device is configured in the app, you can follow BlackVue’s guide on getting connected to the Cloud.
The whole point of a device like this is to act as insurance. You don’t want to use it, and it’s only there when you need to. Often, it will capture bad drivers, but when one of the bad drivers does something bad to you, you now have it on video for the police, insurance, and/or a court.
The image quality on the DR970X-2CH is excellent. Outranking other dash cameras, I’ve used and even some other models in BlackVue’s lineup. I do like the 60FPS of the DR750S-2CH, but 30FPS also suffices for most situations.
The DR970X-2CH contains all of the bump, crash, and human proximity sensors as standard and records each “event” as a specific type in the App or Desktop client.
When connected to the Cloud, and the dash cam is powered, preferably through the BlackVue Power Magic accessory, you can view the camera in real time through your phone or web application. In addition, you can use the camera’s speaker and microphone to communicate with someone if they are driving or attempting to break into the car.
Owners can track the car in real-time, too, with the built-in GPS. When viewing events on the microSD card, they are tagged with where and when the event was taken, including speed and G-shock sensor data.
I’m beyond happy with the DR970X-2CH for it being a great all-around dash camera. It’s packed with all of the features someone would want for either their car’s protection and/or maybe using it as a monitoring tool for a new teen driver.
GPS, 4G, WiFi, data collection, front and rear protection, and a strong Sony sensor make this a great device for recording everything happening around the car while stationary or on the go.
My Final Thoughts
I mentioned at the beginning of the view how BlackVue is known for its design and quality. They’ve become the golden standard when comparing dash cameras, but that also comes with a hefty cost.
Some BlackVue models can cost nearly $800 and maybe more if you include all of the accessories. However, the DR970X-2CH is a more reasonable price at $490, which includes the 4G LTE connectivity module, and I find that this is now a must-have for me.
Allowing me to connect to my car to see how it is in the parking lot or garage, or I lend it to a friend, is a huge benefit that I can’t simply forgo.
Its strong image capture and well-built design easily justify the $490 price tag, and with the mobile app getting better with each update, it’s something that I’ll continue to use for years and years between cars.
Once again, my broken record is coming into play here; if you’ve read my other views, you can’t go wrong with a BlackVue product.
