Vantrue N4S - The budget 3-channel, Starvis 2 solution

[Julian23]

After about two months with the Vantrue N4S, I have plenty to report. This triple‑lens dashcam (front, cabin, rear) has been put through testing in city traffic, highway runs during the day and night.
Over those weeks, I paid attention to video clarity, app use, and overall reliability. I’ll try to cover everything from unboxing to final thoughts in a way that’s useful to someone considering this camera.

Specifications​

• Cameras: 3-channel (Front + Inside + Rear)
• Video Resolutions: Front 2.7K (1944p); Cabin 1440p; Rear 1440p; all three at 30 fps
• Sensors: 3× Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675
• Lens FOV: Front 158°; Cabin 160°; Rear 160°
• HDR & IR: Triple-HDR imaging; Cabin camera has IR LED lights for night interior recording
• PlatePix Mode: Improves license plates capture (toggle in app)
• Wi-Fi / App: Built-in 5 GHz Wi-Fi (also 2.4 GHz) for fast video download and live view via the Vantrue app
• LTE Support: Optional LTE module available for remote monitoring and alerts
• GPS: Dual-channel built-in GPS logger
• Storage: MicroSD card support up to 1 TB (card not included)
• Power: Built-in supercapacitor
• Mount: Sticky windshield mount with magnetic quick release, optional suction cup mount
• Other: Voice control (multi-language), loop recording, G-sensor (impact auto-lock), 24/7 parking mode with buffered recording.

Unboxing & Build Quality​

The N4S arrived neatly packaged. Inside the box, I found the main front/cabin camera assembly, the waterproof rear camera with a 20 ft cable, an 11.5 ft power cable, adhesive GPS mounts, a user guide, and cable clips. Build quality feels solid, the housing is robust plastic (no squeaks or rattles). The sliding magnetic bracket clicks firmly onto the mount, and the dashcam doesn’t feel loose. The rear camera is small and IP67-rated, with a metal body that’s actually the same unit used on the N4 Pro S. The wiring harness is thick but handles well. Overall, it looks and feels like a well-made product. The front unit is on the smaller side. In my case, it’s barely noticeable above the mirror.

Optional suction cup mount that will allow for vertical mounting:

Daytime Video Quality​

In daylight, the N4S delivers very clear footage. With a 2.7K front camera, details like road signs and distant license plates are sharp. I could read license plates from oncoming cars at speeds of 100km/h each! Colors are saturated but not too much. The overall image tuning is good. Street signs and markings are legible, and dynamic range is good, bright skies don’t usually blow out darker road areas. The cabin camera (1440p) captures interior detail nicely and is very sharp. Faces and objects in the car are in focus and color-balanced.

Interior:

The rear camera (1440p) also performed well in day. It’s mounted on the inside of a factory tinted window facing back. I could make out license plates of cars behind me under normal driving with good lighting. At night it wont be able to capture plates that are driving away.
Objects directly behind it will be captured without issues.

Nighttime Video Quality​

Night driving has been impressive thanks to the STARVIS 2 sensors and HDR. The front camera picks up a lot of detail under streetlights and headlights. Glare from oncoming cars is nearly non-existent. Road lines remained visible. License plates at night are still readable at moderate distances, depending on the speed and lights. Using PlatePix mode (which shifts exposure to improve plate detail) made plates even crisper, though it also darkened the overall image a bit.
The cabin IR LEDs light up the interior nicely. I tested with no additional lights on, and the cabin view shows occupants in grayscale pretty clearly.
At night, the rear camera won't be able to capture plates that are driving away.
Objects directly behind it will be captured without issues.
In summary, the N4S provides high-quality video, even after dark. It’s easy to make out crucial details like plate numbers and road signs in typical night conditions.

Based on my personal experience, I would recommend not using a CPL with it for better plate capture. The CPL will add more motion blur and reduce the amount of captured plates.
The reflections are worth it.

Features and Connectivity

• HDR & PlatePix: HDR works on all channels to balance bright/dark scenes. With the HDR timer, you can really improve the image. Enable HDR on sunset and disable it on sunrise. PlatePix is to improve plate contrast. PlatePix did make footage look darker overall, so there is a trade-off (you may need to play with it to get the effect you want).
• Wi-Fi & App Stability: The 5 GHz Wi-Fi is a big plus. In my tests, the Vantrue app paired easily. Downloading video is fast. With one-minute segments, it only takes a few seconds to transfer to my phone. The app (Android version) is stable, and it finds the camera quickly. No frequent crashes or bugs to report in two months of use.
• LTE (4G): With the optional LTE box (LT01), you can remotely view live feed and get alerts.
• Parking Mode: With a hardwire kit, the N4S provides 24/7 parking surveillance. It has buffered motion detection, which means it continuously records into a short loop and can save video from just before an event. There’s also the low-bitrate parking mode that will capture anything.
• GPS & Statistics: The built-in GPS logs route, position, and speed. The overlay can show the speed and coordinates depending on the setting and is additionally added onto the video. When viewing videos in the app or in the Vantrue Player software, it generates a map of where you have driven.
• Audio: The microphone records the interior sound. Voices and other important sounds are picked up without issues. It will also handle loud music fairly well. So far, I have no complaints about the sound.
• Heat Handling: I’ve run the N4S through summer heat, with the windshield getting very hot in the sun. The unit does warm up (especially the black body on the dash can get hot to the touch), but I didn’t have any shutdowns or resets.

Pros and Cons​

Pros:

• Fast 5GHz Wi-Fi and app make file transfer quick
• Excellent image quality from the 3× Starvis sensors (sharp details, good HDR)
• License plates are very legible (especially with PlatePix)
• Waterproof, 2.5k rear camera
• Solid build and simple magnetic mount
• Full feature set (GPS, voice control, parking mode) all work as advertised
• IR cabin lights help in total darkness

Cons:

• PlatePix mode can darken scenes
• The 12V power supply is less firm in the socket than older models
• Rear glass reflections can affect footage if mounted inside (no CPL available)
• The G sensor is very sensitive. Even on low settings
• LED is blinking while recording instead of glowing solid. It can be slightly distracting, but it can be disabled.
• Front camera could benefit from a higher bitrate

Final Thoughts​

Overall, I’m quite happy with the Vantrue N4S. The image and plate capture quality stand out to me, which was my main concern. In two months, I’ve had no failures or issues. The camera has been stable and reliable.
I think Vantrue hit the mark for a triple-camera system that does not break the bank. This dashcam has covered every angle very effectively, day or night, and that peace of mind is worth it.
For anyone that does not need a 4k dashcam or and wants a cheaper unit that still performs well, the N4S is a good unit to consider.

My full testing with more pictures can be found here.