The APEMAN C660 is a Chinese single channel dash camera released in Apr 2020. This dash cam is gaining popularity on Amazon and has many positive reviews.
Unfortunately APEMAN does not indicate what processor the C660 uses but they do claim it has a Sony STARVIS IMX307 CMOS sensor. The IMX307 is a popular 1080p sensor and can be found in many dash cams.
Video Quality
The APEMAN C660 records 1080p video at 30fps with an average bitrate of 12 Mbps. Video quality during the day is average and night quality is disappointing. Details are hard to pick up and the colors appear to be off in many scenarios. The night videos often have a strange green color to them as well.
The C660 has 8 infrared lights around the lens which they claim improves night video quality. While infrared lights do improve illumination for a camera recording inside a vehicles cabin (i.e. rideshare internal cabin), they do not work well in front facing cameras. This gimmick was popular in the early days of dash cams (2011-2013) when many cheap dash cams sported infrared lights. Users realized quickly that this made video quality worse since the infrared lights reflected off of the windshield. We are very surprised APEMAN has included this in the C660.
Features
As the C660 is a basic camera it comes with a 3″ screen and g-sensor. GPS is an optional module and WiFi is not available. The C660 provides non-buffered parking mode if you hardwire the dash cam to your vehicle (optional hardwire kit required). Unfortunately, the camera only comes with screen error notifications which can easily be missed by the user.
The camera comes with a suction mount which allows it to swivel 360° to record interactions at your side windows (i.e. police traffic stop). The C660 is not the smallest camera with dimensions of 87 x 52 x 36mm and the hanging rectangular form factor is not the most discreet. The build quality is average and the camera is lightweight.
Support
APEMAN appears to be responsive to questions but beyond that, the camera has limited support. We have not seen any firmware updates for this camera since it has launched.
Like other APEMAN dash cams, the seller provides a free gift in exchange for 5-star Amazon reviews. A free GPS module is typically the gift offered. This may be a key factor influencing the good reviews there.
Known Problems
Since this camera has recently been released we are not aware of any widespread problems.
Sample Videos
There are quite a few videos on Youtube for this camera. Pay close attention to the night videos and you will notice the off colors and limited ability to see details. Day videos, while better lack detail capture when compared to better quality cameras.
Should I Purchase?
While the APEMAN C660 is a popular camera on Amazon, we are not impressed with the video quality. The 8 LED lights make the video quality worse in many scenarios. Build quality is not the greatest as well. It is too early to comment on reliability, but the use of a battery instead of a capacitor is not ideal for hotter environments.
We suspect the free gift in exchange for positive reviews has influenced the Amazon rating for this camera. The only positive for the camera is the low price tag but spending a bit more for a better camera is recommended.
Specifications
Detailed Specifications
| Read Review |  |
| Camera Type | Single Channel |
| Form Factor | Hanging - Rectangular |
| Country | China |
| Processor | Unknown |
| CMOS Front | Sony STARVIS IMX307 |
| CMOS Rear | N/A |
| Channels | 1 |
| Screen | 3" |
| Touchscreen | No |
| GPS | Optional |
| G-Sensor | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Parking Mode | Non-Buffered |
| Lock Files | Auto or Button |
| Max Resolution Front | 1920×1080p |
| Front Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Front (Mbps) | 12 |
| Max Resolution Rear | N/A |
| Rear Frames Per Second | N/A |
| Max Bitrate Rear (Mbps) | N/A |
| Video Format | MP4 |
| Compression | H.264 |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Front | 170° |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Rear | N/A |
| SD Card Type | MicroSD |
| Max Size (Spec) | 64GB |
| Max Size (User) | 128GB |
| Size Front (mm) | 87 x 52 x 36 |
| Size Rear (mm) | N/A |
| Mount | Suction |
| Power Supply | 5V |
| Operating Temp | -20°C to 60°C |
| Battery | 450mAh |
| Error Notification | Screen |
| Swivel (To Record Side Windows) | Yes |
| Apps | None |
| Cloud Connectivity | No |
| Release Date | Apr 2020 |
| Unique Features | None |
| Advantages | Low Price |
| Disadvantages | Poor video quality (greenish / pinkish color at night) Battery instead of capacitor Limited support / no firmware updates |
| Final Word | Not impressed with the video quality and and infrared LEDs makes the quality worse. Outside of the low price, not many positives |
Published: November 6, 2020
APEMAN C660 - DashCamTalk
Not impressed with the video quality of the APEMAN C660 and and infrared LEDs makes the quality worse. Outside of the low price, not many positives.
Product SKU: APEMAN C660
Product Brand: APEMAN
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 47
Price Valid Until: 2023-01-01
Product In-Stock: SoldOut
5.2