Blackvue DR750-2CH LTE

The DR750-2CH LTE is a dual channel dash cam released in Jul 2020 by the Korean manufacturer Blackvue. This camera has almost identical specs to the Blackvue DR750S-2CH released in 2017 with some key changes. The main improvement is that the DR750-2CH LTE includes built in LTE functionality to access the Blackvue cloud features.

The DR750-2CH LTE is based on the same hardware as the older DR750S-2CH. It has a HiSilicon Hi3559-V100 processor, Sony STARVIS IMX291 CMOS sensor for the front camera and a Sony STARVIS IMX291 CMOS sensor for the rear camera. While these are decent components, they are starting to show their age in 2020.

Video Quality

The front camera records 1080p video at 60fps with an average bitrate of 25 Mbps. Video quality for the front camera during the day is very good and night quality is above average. Video quality is marginally better than the original DR750S-2CH due to the higher bitrate available but still lags many cheaper competitors.The rear camera records 1080p video at 30fps with an average bitrate of 10 Mbps. The video is very good during the day but average at night.

While the original DR750S-2CH had good (but not the best) video quality in 2017, releasing the DR750-2CH LTE in 2020 with the same video specs is underwhelming. Many dual cameras in the $100 to $200 range have better video quality which could be disappointing for buyers expecting top notch video quality given the $400+ premium price tag.

Features

While video quality may not be Blackvue’s forte, very few dash cams come with as many features as the DR750-2CH LTE. The camera comes with g-sensor and has built in GPS. It does not come with a screen so you will need to use the Android or iOS Smartphone apps to interact with the camera. The Android app has above average reviews but not great reviews and iOS reviews are worse. This could be a concern for some users since it is the primary way to interact with the camera. You could also use the PC, OSX apps but this is not very user friendly.

Like all Blackvues, the DR750-2CH LTE provides one of the best parking modes in the industry. It has buffered parking mode based on motion or impact. Alternatively you can use timelapse parking mode. You will need hardwire the dash cam to your vehicle (optional hardwire kit required) or connect it to a battery pack for this to work.

We like the cylindrical form factor of Blackvue cameras, including the DR750-2CH LTE. But note that the DR750-2CH LTE is a larger camera at 138 x 43mm and is noticeably bigger than the original DR750S-2CH. This is likely due to extra hardware for LTE support and also to improve heat dissipation. The camera has many more holes in it for ventilation than previous Blackvue cameras.

The DR750-2CH LTE comes with an adhesive mount and cannot swivel to record interactions at the driver or passenger windows. The build quality is very good and initial reliability appears ok. Another positive is that the camera comes with audio error notifications.

Blackvue Cloud with LTE

Blackvue has one of the best cloud services available for dash cams today. The cloud feature provides:

1. Alert Push Notifications (Immediate notification on your smartphone when an event happens, such as a bump in parking mode)
2. Remote Live View (see your car in real time from the app)
3. Video Backup / Auto-Upload (auto-upload event files to the cloud)
4. Two-way Voice Communication (talk to people in the vehicle via the app)
5. GPS Tracking (see the real time location and speed of your vehicle)
6. Remote Video Playback (watch videos from the app)

On the non-LTE Blackvue cameras, you require a WiFi hotspot in your car for these cloud features to work. The DR750-2CH LTE builds the WiFi hotspot directly into the dash cam which simplifies the solution. However you are still required to purchase a SIM card and a monthly data plan (tablet plans work well) for these features to work.

While Blackvue offers a Free Plan for their cloud services, you should check the table below to see if it meets your need. Moving to the Smart Plan adds another $10US per month.

While the cloud features are impressive, costs add up quickly. $400+ for the camera, $10+ per month for a data plan and $10 per month for Blackvue Smart Plan is not the most affordable. But could be worth it if you own an expensive vehicle or want to monitor your teenage kids driving.

Another big drawback is that only one device (Smartphone, tablet, etc.) can connect to the dash cam at a time. While most dedicated car Wifi hotspots allow multiple devices to connect, the DR750-2CH LTE does not allow this which is disappointing.

Support

Blackvue appears to be responsive to questions and has adequate support. They also provide firmware updates which is a positive as well.

Known Problems

As this was recently launched, there are no common problems reported with this camera.

Sample Videos

Should I Purchase?

If you are looking for an excellent cloud based camera with built in LTE connectivity and top notch parking mode, the BlackVue DR750-2CH LTE hits the mark. The use of capacitor, nice design and decent Android app are strong positives as well.

Just be aware of the drawbacks. The camera is pricey at over $400 and you will need to pay monthly for a data plan to use the Cloud Features. Video quality is worse than some dual cams under $200. Also the fact that only one device can connect to the dash cam’s LTE connection at a time is not ideal if you wanted to use this as your car’s WiFi hotspot.

The DR750-2CH LTE should be a consideration if it meets your needs. See what other owners have to say about the BlackVue DR750-2CH LTE on our forum.

Specifications

Published: Oct 28, 2020