Thinkware U1000 review

Jeremy Wong

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2015
Messages
708
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Location
Kuala Lumpur
Country
Malaysia
Dash Cam
Viofo A119, Viofo A119S, Xiaomi Mijia, 360 J511C, etc
Author's Note: The original review is found at jwtech, please head to the site to show us your support as well. Click here to view all my product reviews.

Thanks to Sicurez for letting me get the very first unit of Thinkware U1000 in Malaysia. The first 4K + 2K dual dashcam.

Point Blur_Sep202019_005755_wm.jpg

Thinkware product page: U1000
Sicurez Technologies product page: U1000


Technical Specs:
• Processor: Ambarella
• Sensor: Front: 8.42M Sony IMX 334 Exmor R Starvis; Rear: 5.14M Sony IMX335 Exmor R Starvis
• Viewing angle: Front: 150º; Rear: 156º Wide Viewing Angle
• 3-Axis Accelerometer G-Sensor (3D, ±3G)
• Resolution: Front: 4K UHD (3840x2160p) 30fps, 2K QHD (2560x1440p) 60fps; Rear: 2K QHD (2560x1440p) 30fps
• Support up to 128GB microSD card
• Built-in GPS
• Built-in 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi
• Built-in supercapacitor
• Safety Camera Alert
• Road Safety Warning System (LDWS, FCWS, uFCWS, FVDW)
• Time-lapse & motion detection parking mode
• Super Night Vision 2.0
• Energy Saving Parking Mode 2.0
• Advanced Video Clear Technology
• Geo-Fencing
• Locate Vehicle
• Driving Impact Notification
• Thinkware Cloud 2.0 Beta
• Radar module (optional)


The box
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Open box
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Contents
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• U1000
• Tape mount
• Rear cam
• Rear cam cable
• 64GB Thinkware micro SDXC card
• USB micro SD card reader
• Hardwire kit
• Cable holder x3
• Spare mounting tape
• CPL filter
• Wiping cloth
• Using the CPL filter guide
• Quick start guide
• Customer service info
• Thinkware Cloud
 
Tape mount
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Rear cam
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Rear cam cable
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64GB Thinkware micro SDXC card
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USB micro SD card reader
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Hardwire kit
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Cable holders
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Spare mounting tape
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CPL filter
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Wiping cloth & using the CPL filter guide
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Quick start guide
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Customer service info
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Thinkware Cloud
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Initial firmware out of the box
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Updated latest firmware
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Test setup
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Note - That is not the Radar module next to the U1000. It's a DDPai Mini3 dashcam.
 
Notification While Parked & Remote Live View
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Tested out U1000's Notification While Parked & Remote Live View via a mobile hotspot in the car.
 
Videos
Below is recorded in H.265 3840x2160 30fps with an overall bit rate of 27.7 Mb/s for the front cam. Rear cam will be recorded in H.265 2560x1440 30fps with an overall bit rate of 14.3 Mb/s. Without CPL filter and Super Night Vision 2.0 disabled.










 
Below is recorded in H.265 2560x1440 60fps with an overall bit rate of 27.7 Mb/s for the front cam. Rear cam will be recorded in H.265 2560x1440 30fps with an overall bit rate of 14.3 Mb/s. Without CPL filter and Super Night Vision 2.0 disabled.





Below is recorded in H.265 3840x2160 30fps with an overall bit rate of 27.7 Mb/s for the front cam. Rear cam will be recorded in H.265 2560x1440 30fps with an overall bit rate of 14.3 Mb/s. Without CPL filter and Super Night Vision 2.0 enabled. Seems that only the front cam has the Super Night Vision 2.0.








Final thoughts
Could this be the new king of the beast from Korea? I certainly think so.

Loving the new remote Live View function from the Thinkware Cloud 2.0 Beta. This feature is coming to Q800 Pro in the next update.

The 4K image quality might not be one of the best but choosing Thinkware is more for their overall features than just image quality alone.

I missed the "Knight Rider" security LED from the F800 Pro & Q800 Pro.
 
yes, the image has improved somewhat from the previous cameras,
but this minor improvement comes at a 1.5 price raise (Q800 at 390 eur against U1000 at 590)

It seems with every new camera TW loses the plot more and more.

The F750 & F 770 were pretty solid cameras (if we forget the internal battery issue),
but from there on it seems every new camera has just been the "same old same" in a new coat & with some extra (new) features

(features that they COULD give to the older cameras via FW, but which of course they don't...)
 
yes, the image has improved somewhat from the previous cameras,
but this minor improvement comes at a 1.5 price raise (Q800 at 390 eur against U1000 at 590)

It seems with every new camera TW loses the plot more and more.

The F750 & F 770 were pretty solid cameras (if we forget the internal battery issue),
but from there on it seems every new camera has just been the "same old same" in a new coat & with some extra (new) features

(features that they COULD give to the older cameras via FW, but which of course they don't...)

In Malaysia, the price difference between U1000 and Q800 Pro is about US100+-.

F770 still a good a dashcam as the previous flagship.

I guess all manufacturers are the same. New features for new models in order to sell new models.
 
the q800 is an absolute joke when you come from an f800 or even the f770.
personally i have not seen a significant change in image quality since the f770.
a significant change in price, yes...
 
the q800 is an absolute joke when you come from an f800 or even the f770.
personally i have not seen a significant change in image quality since the f770.
a significant change in price, yes...

Guessed you're right about the Q800 Pro.

I think the F770 will be phased off when the T700 comes out.
 
I just googled the T700 as was not aware of it.
so how does that one compair to the U1000?
i see the t700 will get a modem..?
 
I just googled the T700 as was not aware of it.
so how does that one compair to the U1000?
i see the t700 will get a modem..?

T700 is 1080p with an LTE sim card slot. It's not out yet.
 
This is a bit off subject and I’m not sure if it’s against the rules, but would it be worth doing the trade in program through Blackboxmycar? Swapping my q800pro for the u1000?
 
This is a bit off subject and I’m not sure if it’s against the rules, but would it be worth doing the trade in program through Blackboxmycar? Swapping my q800pro for the u1000?
To me the U1000 is worth the upgrade to 4K from 2K. The remote live view is coming to the Q800 Pro in the next update.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
 
To me the U1000 is worth the upgrade to 4K from 2K. The remote live view is coming to the Q800 Pro in the next update.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
That’s what I was thinking seeing is how some users haven’t seen an upgrade from previous Thinkware camera video quality going to the q800pro. I would love 4K and the heat resistance Thinkware cameras are known for.

T700 is 1080p with an LTE sim card slot. It's not out yet.
Is the lte band going to be carrier locked like blackvue’s lte camera? Also, will the t700 shoot in 4K? I’d be interested in something like that as well.
 
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