Nice option for a dual-camera dashcam.
Lately, this world has gotten crazy. Let me say it again, people have gotten crazy. This is why it’s even more important than ever to have a dashcam recording you and the road at all times. Having one gives you the peace of mind that if or when an accident happens that you have video evidence that you did everything right in the situation. I say this as someone who had to deal with a complicated accident a few years ago. I was driving across a narrow 2-lane bridge and the driver of the other truck claimed I was on my phone and that I crossed the center line. I was not on my phone and he was the one who crossed the center line. This was a heads-up moment for the insurance company who happened to represent us both. Since there was no way to tell who was at fault both claims got paid out. Needless to say that if I would have had a dashcam – like the REXING V3 Basic – I would have been in a place to show that I wasn’t at any fault.
DETAILS
The Rexing V3 Basic is designed for ‘professional drivers’ according to their website. It features front and in-cabin full HD cameras that record 1080p video at 30 fps. The camera has a g-sensor (gravity sensor) built-in to detect collisions when they occur. When the g-sensor is triggered, the current video clip is locked so that it doesn’t get recorded over. During the day, the camera records in full color, but at night, or when there is decreased light in the cabin, the V3 uses infrared night vision to ensure there is absolute clarity with the recorded video. The camera uses Wi-Fi connections in order to transfer videos to phones or tablets through the use of an app interface. In addition to all its video recording features, the V3 Basic also has an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) to alert drivers when they are encroaching on another car’s space or moving out of a lane. The camera is powered with ‘capacitor power’ which is an alternative to a lithium-ion battery. The supercapacitor has enhanced resistance to hot and cold climates and it provides long-term reliability over battery-operated dashcams.
Image Sensor | Front – Sony STARVIS, In Cabin – IMX323 |
Display | 2.7 inch, 16:9 LCD |
GPS Logger | Optional |
Max Resolution – Front + In Cabin | 1080p 30fps |
Lens | 170º FOV, f1.8 aperture |
Wi-Fi Connect | Supported |
Battery Type | Supercapacitor |
Max Resolution – Front Only | 2160p 24fps / 1440p 30fps / 1080p 60fps |
CPU Class | Novatek |
Operating Temperature | -20°F to 176°F |
Memory Requirement | UHS-I / Class 10 or higher Micro SD card (up to 256GB) |
Video Format | h.264 (MOV) |
USER EXPERIENCE
The Rexing V3 Basic Dashcam comes in a nondescript cardboard box. There is some writing on it that describes the product housed inside, but it’s not super eye-catching. When I unboxed the camera and its accessories, I was left with an overwhelming amount of plastic bags. The camera comes with a quick start guide, safety guide, other pamphlets, an in-car power cable with DC power adapter attached, 3M adhesive mount, cable clips, a cable management tool, and a USB computer cable. One of the things that I was unhappy about was the USB interface that was selected for powering the camera. It is a USB Mini port – not even Micro USB. The most modern choice for powering devices these days is usually USB-C, but you still see a fair share of Micro USB powered devices in the market. I was shocked though to see a USB Mini port on the side of this camera.
The first step in the process is to ‘install the camera.’ You will want to place the 3M adhesive and mount it on your windshield so that it’s square to the roof. You will want to wait 20 minutes before snapping the camera in place on the mount. Personally, I would have rather seen a suction cup included as a mount rather than this semi-permanent adhesive option. The diagram in the quick start guide shows the dash camera being placed directly next to the rearview mirror. In my car, I have an advanced censoring system that is housed in an assembly directly behind my mirror. So, I ended up having to place it to the side a bit farther away than the diagram shows.
The next step is to insert a memory card. The camera needs a Class 10/UHS-1 or higher Micro SD card up to 256GB capacity. I have a Class 10/16GB Micro SD card that seems to work well for this purpose. The final step in the installation process is to power the camera on. To do this, you will need to use the power cable. The camera will automatically power on when plugged into a 12V accessory socket once the vehicle is started. The camera should automatically start recording when the device is powered. The LED lights will blink to indicate it’s in operation. There are several ways to review the video clips that have been captured – video playback on the camera, insert the Micro SD card into a computer, or plug the camera directly into a computer using the PC cable provided. As described above, users can video a live preview of the dashcam screen, start/stop recordings, or view and save captures through the mobile app and a direct Wi-Fi connection.
When I started looking for a dash camera, I definitely wanted a dual camera option. I wanted to record the inside of the cabin as well as what was happening as the car was driving down the road. The Rexing V3 Basic does a really nice job filling this feature. I love that the camera has both in-cabin and exterior views on one unit. There are some dual dash cameras that have a separate unit for each view and that gets cumbersome really quickly. I also really like that Rexing included such a long power cable. Even though it seems like out-dated technology (USB Mini), I’m glad to have the 12-foot extension for management purposes. There is plenty of cable to be able to route it around the border of your windshield and then around the dash so that it’s as hidden as it can be. The quality of the video – for both camera views – is also very good. I have included a couple of video clips below. Audio has been taken out of these clips, but the camera does record it.
Even though the basic operation of the camera and video capture quality is satisfactory, my user experience was not as excellent as I hoped for. One key element I’ve been wanting in a dashcam is the app interface. I was excited to work with Rexing’s system because it has that feature as part of its system. Unfortunately, it didn’t work as well as I hoped. The app will connect to the camera but each time I go to connect to the dashcam I have issues. It’s never been a smooth process. Once I am connected to the dashcam, the load times of the videos are not bad. I have been able to preview them through the app, but I have not been able to save videos to my iPhone. This diminishes the experience for me. I want to be able to pull the files to my phone and share them quickly if need be. I don’t want to have to pull the SD card out and transfer files to my Mac first. The other issue I had was with the buttons on the camera. The buttons on the camera are hard to see at night so I am forced to use a flashlight to know what I am pressing and I have to press these buttons each time I need to connect my iPhone.
CONCLUSION
I am always looking for that device – no matter what it is – from coffee makers to dashcams – that is made to work well and have the features that I want as a consumer. How does this dashcam hold up for me? It records, the video clips save to the card, its basic functions work automatically – and that’s more than I can say for the last two dashcams I have used (reviews were not written for those). The app does work but I find it to be more of a pain in the rear than an experience-enhancing tool.
The lack of a suction-cup mount and the issues I’ve had with the app will lead me to continue on my search for a better product. Should you buy this dash camera? Yes and no. I am extremely picky when it comes to tech. I love what it can do for your life and safety and I think this is an excellent dashcam for recording the audio and video. So for someone who is not looking for iPhone connectivity, the dash camera records very well and it has an easy set-up. Is it perfect? No, but it does do what it says and if I was to be in some sort of collision, I feel good about knowing I have time-stamped video of both the inside and outside of my car.
For more details, visit Rexing, Facebook, and Twitter.