Panzer Platform
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2022
- Messages
- 2,925
- Reaction score
- 2,921
- Location
- California
- Country
- United States
- Dash Cam
- 2024 Minimum Requirements: STARVIS 2 & HDR
If this is your first time reading one of my lame reviews keep in mind I am not a professional dash cam reviewer.
I often reveal my intelligence showing how little I know.
I have no education, training, or experience in computers, electronics, or photography.
I aspire to be the average “dumb guy”.
I have no idea why companies keep asking / sending me dash cams to test & review.
I continue to bring attention to unacceptable image quality performance.
Often times after spending 30 days testing a dash cam I realize there is nothing good I can say about the unit, and send it back to the manufacturer.
This time around I don’t even think the 70mai S500 is ready for an unboxing let alone spending 30 days testing it.
But I still kind of like it because I think the 2nd Gen model has potential to be a good rental car / travel unit.
70mai offered to send me some dash cams for test & review.
I declined the A810 because it uses a battery instead of a capacitor.
However, the S500 caught my eye;
After getting hold of the full specifications from the 70mai representative I declined this model too, but I think the 2nd generation with some improvements would be worth taking a look at for the rental car / travel segment.
Like most testers here I regularly get emails from the worst companies making the absolute worst garbage / junk products sold on Amazon, eBay, AliExpress etc. asking me to “promote” their product, and make a YouTube Video Review about it.
I would say for every for every 50 junk products, there is only 1 that is actually good.
70mai is not one of those companies churning out garbage / junk dash cams.
My top 3 favorite “best” Chinese dash cam manufacturers are;
1.) Viofo
2.) Vantrue & 70mai (tie for 2nd place).
For the most part almost everything else is counterfeit, junk / garbage.
Of course you will see these junk brands have thousands of fake reviews on Amazon, and there is no shortage of YouTube influencers giving rave reviews never providing any “cons” whatsoever.
I call these YouTube channels Home Shopping Network / QVC, or Lifestyle Vloggers.
There’s only a handful of true dash cam Subject Matter Experts on YouTube.
My favorite ones are;
There’s a few more but these are my go to experts.
OK, enough ranting more about the S500.
SPECIFICATIONS:
US MSRP: Unknown At This Time (I’m guessing $150)
FCC ID: 2AOK9-S500; https://fcc.report/FCC-ID/2AOK9-S500/
Processor: SigmaStar 8826Q
Front Image Sensor: IMX675 STARVIS 2
Front Resolution: (2592 x 1944) 30fps
Front Bitrate: 24 Mbps
Optional CPL Filter: Yes (model # S500/M300)
Rear Image Sensor: SC200AI (RC13)
Rear Resolution: (1920 x 1080) 25fps
Rear Bitrate: 12 Mbps
HDR: Yes (front & rear)
Aperture: F1.8
FOV: 138° (both)
Max SD Card: 128GB
Power Cable Connection: USB Micro (yuck)
Parking Mode: Collision Detection & Time Lapse (no Low Bitrate)
Super Capacitor: Yes
Voice Control: Yes
GPS: No
Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz only (no 5GHz)
Video Codec: H.265
Video Format: MP4
Audio Format: AAC
Loop Recording: 1/2/3 Minutes
APP: 70mai (iOS & Android)
OTA Firmware Updates: Yes
Hardwire Kit Available: Yes (UP02)
Cloud Connectivity: No
PROS:
Temporary installation of front camera is a good option for rental car / travel, (forget the rear cam).
IMX675 STARVIS 2 (front camera)
HDR
Super Capacitor
CONS:
Only one Front Camera resolution setting, and it’s the “wrong” one (2592 x 1944) this means the Aspect Ratio is 4:3 (yuck)
Rear Camera - SC200AI Image Sensor
Rear Camera - 25fps
USB Micro power connection (not Type-C)
“Small” 128GB SD Card capacity
Only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, (no 5GHz)
No GPS for speed & coordinates
No Low Bitrate Parking Mode
No H.264 Codec
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Looking forward to testing the 2nd Gen model with suggested improvements c’mon 2025!
IMPROVEMENT WISHLIST:
1.) IMX675 STARVIS 2 Both channels (front & rear)
2.) 2560 x 1440p 30fps Both channels (front & rear)
3.) USB Type-C power connection
4.) 512GB SD Card max capacity
5.) Dual Band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz)
6.) Built-in GPS (not external) with GPS Coordinates & Speed on recorded footage
7.) Low Bitrate Parking Mode (continuous recording at 4 Mbps with audio)
My most hated Aspect Ratio, the dreaded 4:3
I often reveal my intelligence showing how little I know.
I have no education, training, or experience in computers, electronics, or photography.
I aspire to be the average “dumb guy”.
I have no idea why companies keep asking / sending me dash cams to test & review.
I continue to bring attention to unacceptable image quality performance.
Often times after spending 30 days testing a dash cam I realize there is nothing good I can say about the unit, and send it back to the manufacturer.
This time around I don’t even think the 70mai S500 is ready for an unboxing let alone spending 30 days testing it.
But I still kind of like it because I think the 2nd Gen model has potential to be a good rental car / travel unit.
70mai offered to send me some dash cams for test & review.
I declined the A810 because it uses a battery instead of a capacitor.
However, the S500 caught my eye;
70mai
dashcam.70mai.com
Like most testers here I regularly get emails from the worst companies making the absolute worst garbage / junk products sold on Amazon, eBay, AliExpress etc. asking me to “promote” their product, and make a YouTube Video Review about it.
I would say for every for every 50 junk products, there is only 1 that is actually good.
70mai is not one of those companies churning out garbage / junk dash cams.
My top 3 favorite “best” Chinese dash cam manufacturers are;
1.) Viofo
2.) Vantrue & 70mai (tie for 2nd place).
For the most part almost everything else is counterfeit, junk / garbage.
Of course you will see these junk brands have thousands of fake reviews on Amazon, and there is no shortage of YouTube influencers giving rave reviews never providing any “cons” whatsoever.
I call these YouTube channels Home Shopping Network / QVC, or Lifestyle Vloggers.
There’s only a handful of true dash cam Subject Matter Experts on YouTube.
My favorite ones are;
Vortex Radar
Welcome to Vortex Radar. Expect detailed and in-depth tests, comparisons, and reviews of radar detectors, laser jammers, and dash cameras to keep drivers protected. Disclosure: Some of the links in the description of videos on this channel are affiliate links. This mean Vortex Radar earns a...
www.youtube.com
OK, enough ranting more about the S500.
SPECIFICATIONS:
US MSRP: Unknown At This Time (I’m guessing $150)
FCC ID: 2AOK9-S500; https://fcc.report/FCC-ID/2AOK9-S500/
Processor: SigmaStar 8826Q
Front Image Sensor: IMX675 STARVIS 2
Front Resolution: (2592 x 1944) 30fps
Front Bitrate: 24 Mbps
Optional CPL Filter: Yes (model # S500/M300)
Rear Image Sensor: SC200AI (RC13)
Rear Resolution: (1920 x 1080) 25fps
Rear Bitrate: 12 Mbps
HDR: Yes (front & rear)
Aperture: F1.8
FOV: 138° (both)
Max SD Card: 128GB
Power Cable Connection: USB Micro (yuck)
Parking Mode: Collision Detection & Time Lapse (no Low Bitrate)
Super Capacitor: Yes
Voice Control: Yes
GPS: No
Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz only (no 5GHz)
Video Codec: H.265
Video Format: MP4
Audio Format: AAC
Loop Recording: 1/2/3 Minutes
APP: 70mai (iOS & Android)
OTA Firmware Updates: Yes
Hardwire Kit Available: Yes (UP02)
Cloud Connectivity: No
PROS:
Temporary installation of front camera is a good option for rental car / travel, (forget the rear cam).
IMX675 STARVIS 2 (front camera)
HDR
Super Capacitor
CONS:
Only one Front Camera resolution setting, and it’s the “wrong” one (2592 x 1944) this means the Aspect Ratio is 4:3 (yuck)
Rear Camera - SC200AI Image Sensor
Rear Camera - 25fps
USB Micro power connection (not Type-C)
“Small” 128GB SD Card capacity
Only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, (no 5GHz)
No GPS for speed & coordinates
No Low Bitrate Parking Mode
No H.264 Codec
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Looking forward to testing the 2nd Gen model with suggested improvements c’mon 2025!
IMPROVEMENT WISHLIST:
1.) IMX675 STARVIS 2 Both channels (front & rear)
2.) 2560 x 1440p 30fps Both channels (front & rear)
3.) USB Type-C power connection
4.) 512GB SD Card max capacity
5.) Dual Band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz & 5GHz)
6.) Built-in GPS (not external) with GPS Coordinates & Speed on recorded footage
7.) Low Bitrate Parking Mode (continuous recording at 4 Mbps with audio)
My most hated Aspect Ratio, the dreaded 4:3
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