Vantrue N4S - 3x STARVIS 2 IMX675 with Waterproof 2.5K Rear camera - Unboxing & First Impressions Europe

[Julian23]

I was recently sent Vantrue’s new Nexus 4S (N4S) triple-channel dashcam to check out.

Specs:

• 3-channel HDR Clear Recording
• Triple STARVIS 2 IMX675 CMOS Sensor
• Exclusive PlatePix™ Technology
• Compatible with LTE Module (LT01)
• IP67 Water-resistance for the rear camera
• 5GHz WiFi
• Smart Voice Control
• 24/7 Parking Mode
• Built-in Dual-Sys. GPS Logger

Recording Resolutions:

• Front camera only: 2592×1944P @30 FPS
• Front + Cabin: 2592×1944P + 2592×1944P @30 FPS
• Front + Cabin + Rear: 2592×1944P (front) + 2592×1440P (cabin) + 2592×1440P (rear) @30 FPS

Given these specs, I expect the N4S to be a nice upgrade to the E3 that has been around for some time. But now with Starvis 2 and the clarity-boosting PlatePix technology, known from the recent releases, to improve the plate capture.
The N4S supports microSD cards up to 1 TB and is also compatible with Vantrue’s optional LTE module, LT01, for cloud features (live view, alerts, etc.).
Like other Vantrue cams, the Nexus 4S uses a supercapacitor (not a battery), so it can safely survive heat and provides a few seconds of runtime after power is cut.

Unboxing

The Nexus 4S packaging is similar to the packaging we saw in the last few years. We see much cardboard instead of plastic. Everything inside, the cameras, cables, and mounts are snugly held in place. The box includes the main dashcam unit (with built-in interior camera), a waterproof rear camera module, the power supply, mounting brackets with 3M adhesive pads, and quick-start guides.

Everything that is included:

The camera and mount

Rear camera and rear camera cable, power supply and mount for rear camera

The rear camera

Double hinge mount for the rear camera

Single hinge mount for the rear camera and spare sticky pad

The new power supply. It will supply 5V 3A to the camera.

More in the next post!

 

[Julian23]

Now to the main unit.

Side view

Front side view with the SD slot and rear camera connector

Without the GPS mount

Bottom view

Two more pictures without the protective stickers:

Vantrue also offers a suction cup mount that is compatible with the N4S.
It has a very low profile and hides very well.

Overall, my first impressions of the Nexus 4S are positive: decent video specs, sturdy build, and thoughtful features (smart voice, LTE-ready, buffered parking, etc.). I’ll be testing it further soon, but from the unboxing to initial setup, it seems to be a nice mid-range 3-channel unit.

 

[haiou_f]

The workmanship of the N4S is very exquisite, and I really like this magnetic structure bonding method

 

[Julian23]

The workmanship of the N4S is very exquisite, and I really like this magnetic structure bonding method

The mount is nice and solid. Very easy to mount, and it doesn't have any play.
I absolutely can't complain about the build quality.

 

[Julian23]

Here is the first batch of screenshots from the N4S!
PlatePix is enabled, HDR off, CPL off.

At daytime, the N4S doesn't fall that far behind the 4K units. Plates can be nicely identified.

I wanted to check how the N4S deals with reflections without the optional CPL.
The dashboard can be seen quite a bit. Plates are still visible. From my past tests, a CPL will greatly benefit the image quality during the day.

In areas with trees, the images start to have artifacts. This is likely caused by the bitrate of only 14,5Mbit/s.
Plates can still be read.

 

[Julian23]

And now for some nighttime screenshots.

PlatePix on, HDR on, CPL off.

All plates above can be nicely read. Very good performance for the little N4S!

While this is not a perfect capture, the plate can still be identified.

 

[haiou_f]

Thank you for providing the screenshot. According to the official statement and testing by other forum members, is it meaningless to turn on Platepix while HDR is turned off during the day?

 

[Julian23]

Thank you for providing the screenshot. According to the official statement and testing by other forum members, is it meaningless to turn on Platepix while HDR is turned off during the day?

From my experience with the E1 Pro I know that PlatePix did positively impact the plate capture.
I will have to check if that's the case with the N4S as well.

 

[Julian23]

I have some more screenshots.
This time with the CPL on. The camera does struggle more to catch plate. Even at daytime it misses a lot more than previously without it.
It also seems like the low bitrate does not help. In areas with many trees, there are visible artifacts.

Bad frame:

Good frame (only one frame further):

Bad frame (only one frame further)

 

[Julian23]

Some more

Rear camera seems decent:

Can't really complain about it. It does it's job.

Night time with CPL:

Only partly visible.

Interior camera:

The interior camera is a very impressive upgrade over the Vantrue E3.
It is much much clearer and sharper.

From my current testing, I would advise against using a CPL if the reflections of the windshield allow it.

 

[kamkar]

Yes high detail areas can be murder on detail capture as the captured world turn to minecraft simulation..

With the 1S pro MAX i just did a cruise around town hoping to capture some plates at 50 km/h town speed, but not very many people on the road at 1 Am
So i changed to cruising past parked cars, with and without platepix, and OMG at 20 - 25 km/h there are a significant difference, platepix for sure the winner

Also cleaned my windows inside and out before cruise, and OMG i think i have skipped on that for too long, one clean now and another one a few days ago, not at all enough
so still some blooming on bright lights, also keeping in mind my car / glass are old.

This new stuff a major step up from the E1 and N5 i have sampled before.


I do also get the partly visible plates, and it is freaking me out CUZ the crisp parts are like OMG daytime sharp almost, but sadly only 10 % of the plate, and most often the bottom part of it.

 

[Julian23]

Here are some more nighttime screenshots.
PlatePix on, HDR on, CPL off.
Plates are partly blurred to comply with privacy laws.

 

[Julian23]

And some more

The rear cam can not be used to identify plates at night:

I have to admit that I'm impressed by the performance of the N4S.
All the plates can be identified with either the one posted frame or a bit of frame skipping.
The N4S does its job.

I did find a negative thing.
When playing loud music, the microphone starts to distort. N4 Pro S at the same volume has no issues. No deal breaker obviously.

 

[Julian23]

The past few weeks we had hotter temperatures. After the car was parked in the direct sun for several hours, the N4S happily started to record without any issues. No focus shift either.
I never had any Vantrue unit shutdown because of heat. They are very heat resistant.

 

[Julian23]

Here are some more plate capture images

Rear:

Interior during daytime:

Very nice and sharp interior image!

 

[Julian23]

I spent enough time with the N4S to wrap up my experience. The thread will be posted soon.

The N4S is a very fair priced unit that performs absolutely nice for the specs.
My personal preference is to not use a CPL with it for better plate capture. The reflections are worth it.

 

[EricSan]

That's a curious conclusion to go without the CPL. I've always valued the reduced glare and reflections, but I haven't done any direct comparisons with and without. Might be a fun thing to try...

 

[Julian23]

That's a curious conclusion to go without the CPL. I've always valued the reduced glare and reflections, but I haven't done any direct comparisons with and without. Might be a fun thing to try...

It surprised me as well.
I did some checks with CPL on and off during day and night time.
During day without HDR, the plate capture was noticeable better without the CPL.
Same thing at night.
The CPL add more motion blur.
Maybe this can be fixed in an update.

From all the footage I checked, the missing CPL was not such a big issue. The advantage of the better plate capture is worth it.

If you have time, try it yourself and let us know what you find. Maybe you can confirm my findings.

 

[EricSan]

Logically, the CPL reduces light transmission, necessitating longer exposures. Makes sense that less motion blur would occur without the CPL.

 

[Julian23]

Vantrue released a new firmware for the N4S a few weeks ago:

Front camera:

Release time: 09/22/2025
Version: N4S_VT-EEI151

1. Important Update: Updated the LTE module activation process and improved LTE connection stability.​

2. Fixed the customer-reported issue where the app could not set license plate, speed, and GPS location.​

3. Optimized the LTE file upload process.​

4. Added UI logic related to the image quality timer.​

5. Corrected the Japanese translation for parking mode enter/exit.​

6. Added support for exFAT format memory cards.​

7. Disabled certain 5G Wi-Fi frequency bands to comply with regional regulations.​

8. Certification update: Removed UKCA and PSE certifications​

Rear camera:

Release time: 08/21/2025
Version: RC09_VT-EEE281

​

After updating the main unit software, please also update the RC09 rear camera software to version RC09_VT-EEE281.​

If the rear camera software is not updated simultaneously, the watermark on the rear camera footage may appear incomplete.​

Vantrue N4S | Product Manuals, Firmware Upgrades, and FAQs

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