We’re 70mai — Ask Us Anything About Our Dash Cams!

[Oliver_70mai]

Hi everyone,

We’re the official 70mai team, the maker of dash cams like the Omni, A810, T800, and more. Our goal has always been to make driving smarter, safer, and more enjoyable.
We’d love to hear from you — whether you’re curious about:
How our dash cams capture 4K HDR footage
The differences between our models
New features or future updates
Installation or app setup tips
Or even just your honest feedback and ideas

Drop your questions below 👇 — our product and engineering team will be here for a week (From now to 31th October) to answer as many as we can!
We’re excited to chat with the DashCamTalk community and learn what matters most to you. 🚗✨

 

[Oliver_70mai]

💬 We’ll be checking in daily, so feel free to jump in anytime!
We will also be waiting for you during this year's SEMA! (No.: 72516)

 

[Augustus]

Thanks Oliver, appreciate you and the team being here, and for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions! 🙂

I have a couple of questions off the bat:

1. do you have plans to implement HDR timers, and the option to turn HDR on/off manually?
2. Are there future plans to have multiple devices able to be bound to UP04/UP05 instead of only one?
3. What goes into choosing a chipset (usually Novatek) for a dashcam, and do you have the specifications of said chipsets? (It's hard to find information on the Internet 🙁)
4. What does the team predict the future of dashcams will be for 2026? (For example, 2025 seemed to be the year of the 4K rear dashcam)

 

[Oliver_70mai]

Thanks Oliver, appreciate you and the team being here, and for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions! 🙂

I have a couple of questions off the bat:

1. do you have plans to implement HDR timers, and the option to turn HDR on/off manually?
2. Are there future plans to have multiple devices able to be bound to UP04/UP05 instead of only one?
3. What goes into choosing a chipset (usually Novatek) for a dashcam, and do you have the specifications of said chipsets? (It's hard to find information on the Internet 🙁)
4. What does the team predict the future of dashcams will be for 2026? (For example, 2025 seemed to be the year of the 4K rear dashcam)

1. We have received many requests from European and American users for this, and we have also specifically tested the image quality comparison with HDR on/off during the day and at night. Indeed, in few specific scenes, the effect of turning HDR off is better than turning HDR on, but the overall performance is still better with HDR on. Next year, all our mid-range and high-end new models will support HDR switches and timers.
2. Can you be more specific about this scenario? Generally, consumers will only install one front dashcam in a car. Regarding the 4G function, I can reveal that there will be many new products and functions related to 4G for 70mai next year.
3. The third question is more complicated, I need to sort it out and then answer this question.
4. The current resolution of dashcams is trending towards 4K, with dual-recording still the largest growth market. While 4K rear cameras are being released by many brands, to be honest, due to the limitations of rear window tint, 4K rear cameras performance isn't much better than 2K/1080P. The focus in 26 years should still be on low-power parking surveillance, better image quality, better view coverage, and higher cost-effectiveness.

 

[Oliver_70mai]

Thanks Oliver, appreciate you and the team being here, and for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions! 🙂

I have a couple of questions off the bat:

1. do you have plans to implement HDR timers, and the option to turn HDR on/off manually?
2. Are there future plans to have multiple devices able to be bound to UP04/UP05 instead of only one?
3. What goes into choosing a chipset (usually Novatek) for a dashcam, and do you have the specifications of said chipsets? (It's hard to find information on the Internet 🙁)
4. What does the team predict the future of dashcams will be for 2026? (For example, 2025 seemed to be the year of the 4K rear dashcam)

Question 3
Picking a dash-cam chipset (Novatek or otherwise) is mostly about matching video/image quality & codec needs, sensor/ISP features, performance (fps, bitrate, thermal/power), and system/ecosystem (memory, interfaces, SDK, peripherals, cost & supply).

1. Target resolution & frame rate — the chip must support the native sensor resolution and desired fps (e.g., 4K@30, 1440p@30, 1080p@60).
2. Codec & bitrate support — H.264 is common; newer chips support H.265/HEVC which reduces file sizes for the same quality (important for long loop recordings and SD card sizing).
3. ISP features (image signal processor): WDR/HDR, noise reduction, low-light (STARVIS/IMX sensors pairing)
4. Sensor compatibility & camera stack — chipset must support the sensor interface (MIPI / DVP) and recommended sensors (Sony IMX series, OV4689, GC4653, etc.).
5. Memory / storage throughput — DDR size/speed (e.g., 1–2 GB DDR3) and SD card interface limits determine how high a sustained bitrate you can record without dropped frames.
6. Peripheral support — built-in or external Wi-Fi, GPS, 4G, CAN/ADAS sensors, G-sensor/gyro and parking-mode features.
7. Power & thermal — higher resolution + high bitrate = more heat and higher power draw.
8. SDK / firmware & vendor support — some chipsets have better third-party firmware support / reference code, which shortens development time.
9. Cost & availability — chips that meet spec but are cheaper or easier to source get chosen for price-sensitive products.
   

In summary, we will select chipsets with different performance and costs for dashcams in different price ranges to meet the needs of buyers and sellers. In fact, we have corresponding products for every price range of $50, from tens of dollars to hundreds of dollars.

 

[Oliver_70mai]

Regarding Novatek's specifications, some detailed data cannot be made public. Engineering selection requires requesting complete information and evaluation boards from chip suppliers. Here are some public information:

Model / Series	Target Segment	Key Features / Remarks
NT96220 Series	Entry-level dashcams (≈720P)	Early, cost-oriented SoC. Limited video compression and dynamic range compared with later generations.
NT96630 / NT96632 Series	Mainstream mid-range: 720P ~ 1080P	Improved over entry-level chips; supports H.264 compression, 720P@30fps recording, etc.
NT96650	1080P-oriented series	The NT96650 (around 2013) marked Novatek’s milestone in achieving true 1080P dashcam processing.
NT96663 / NT96675	Higher-end positioning: 2K / high-resolution / night-vision optimized	The NT96663 supports “2K @30fps or 1080P@60fps”.
NT96670	Used in “4K” or higher-end product solutions	- Supports front-end 4K (3840×2160) @30fps (H.264/H.265) - Main frequency approximately 900 MHz - External RAM 2 Gb DDR3 (typical module) - Supports dual-channel: front 4K + rear 1080p (appears in certain specifications) - Supports integration of modules such as WiFi/GPS (within the module specifications)
NT98529	Up to 30 fps in 3840 x 2160 resolution; 30fps in all other resolutions	Codec: H.265, H.264, Motion JPEG Resolutions: 3840 x 2160 to 480 x 272 Frame rate: up to 30 fps in 3840 x 2160; up to 30 fps in all other resolutions Streaming: triple
NT98530	Support up to 3 HDR sensor (Two HDR with 3 frames or three HDR with 2 frames) Support a variety of image resolutions of 8Mp60.	It can support higher resolution/frame rate/multi-channels + AI processing capabilities (such as multi-camera stitching, etc.). It also offers higher image quality, low bit rate/low power design, and support for complex imaging/AI processing.

 

[Augustus]

1. We have received many requests from European and American users for this, and we have also specifically tested the image quality comparison with HDR on/off during the day and at night. Indeed, in few specific scenes, the effect of turning HDR off is better than turning HDR on, but the overall performance is still better with HDR on. Next year, all our mid-range and high-end new models will support HDR switches and timers.
2. Can you be more specific about this scenario? Generally, consumers will only install one front dashcam in a car. Regarding the 4G function, I can reveal that there will be many new products and functions related to 4G for 70mai next year.
3. The third question is more complicated, I need to sort it out and then answer this question.
4. The current resolution of dashcams is trending towards 4K, with dual-recording still the largest growth market. While 4K rear cameras are being released by many brands, to be honest, due to the limitations of rear window tint, 4K rear cameras performance isn't much better than 2K/1080P. The focus in 26 years should still be on low-power parking surveillance, better image quality, better view coverage, and higher cost-effectiveness.

Thank you for answering my questions very helpful 🙂, with my question 2. I guess it would be helpful for those that have more than one dashcam in their car or are testing, so your answer makes sense.

This is a fair point about rear 4k, I believe it is only marginally better than 2k but definitely a lot better than 1080p. I would love to see 70mai implement extremely low power modes (2/-10mA power consumption), that some of their competitors are starting to implement. Just imagine how much battery life you would get out of a dashcam battery pack! 🙂

Exciting news that HDR timers and switches are going to be implemented soon 🙂

 

[Augustus]

Question 3
Picking a dash-cam chipset (Novatek or otherwise) is mostly about matching video/image quality & codec needs, sensor/ISP features, performance (fps, bitrate, thermal/power), and system/ecosystem (memory, interfaces, SDK, peripherals, cost & supply).

1. Target resolution & frame rate — the chip must support the native sensor resolution and desired fps (e.g., 4K@30, 1440p@30, 1080p@60).
2. Codec & bitrate support — H.264 is common; newer chips support H.265/HEVC which reduces file sizes for the same quality (important for long loop recordings and SD card sizing).
3. ISP features (image signal processor): WDR/HDR, noise reduction, low-light (STARVIS/IMX sensors pairing)
4. Sensor compatibility & camera stack — chipset must support the sensor interface (MIPI / DVP) and recommended sensors (Sony IMX series, OV4689, GC4653, etc.).
5. Memory / storage throughput — DDR size/speed (e.g., 1–2 GB DDR3) and SD card interface limits determine how high a sustained bitrate you can record without dropped frames.
6. Peripheral support — built-in or external Wi-Fi, GPS, 4G, CAN/ADAS sensors, G-sensor/gyro and parking-mode features.
7. Power & thermal — higher resolution + high bitrate = more heat and higher power draw.
8. SDK / firmware & vendor support — some chipsets have better third-party firmware support / reference code, which shortens development time.
9. Cost & availability — chips that meet spec but are cheaper or easier to source get chosen for price-sensitive products.
   

In summary, we will select chipsets with different performance and costs for dashcams in different price ranges to meet the needs of buyers and sellers. In fact, we have corresponding products for every price range of $50, from tens of dollars to hundreds of dollars.

Wow what a detailed answer and fantastic knowledge 🙂

 

[Oliver_70mai]

Thank you for answering my questions very helpful 🙂, with my question 2. I guess it would be helpful for those that have more than one dashcam in their car or are testing, so your answer makes sense.

This is a fair point about rear 4k, I believe it is only marginally better than 2k but definitely a lot better than 1080p. I would love to see 70mai implement extremely low power modes (2/-10mA power consumption), that some of their competitors are starting to implement. Just imagine how much battery life you would get out of a dashcam battery pack! 🙂

Exciting news that HDR timers and switches are going to be implemented soon 🙂

Next year, our high-end products will also support ultra-low power parking mode and fast startup. This mainly requires the chipset to support these two functions, and then develop this firmware function accordingly. Some of our existing dashcams models also support ultra-low power consumption, and we will also introduce this function in subsequent OTA. We are also looking at how to balance low power consumption + fast startup + stability

 

[Augustus]

Next year, our high-end products will also support ultra-low power parking mode and fast startup. This mainly requires the chipset to support these two functions, and then develop this firmware function accordingly. Some of our existing dashcams models also support ultra-low power consumption, and we will also introduce this function in subsequent OTA. We are also looking at how to balance low power consumption + fast startup + stability

Oooh this is exciting that these features are coming next year, and that also means new Novatek chipsets I'm guessing 🙂

Also exciting to see that the older models won't be left behind either...

 

[TonyM]

1) Does 70mai have any plans to introduce a telephoto camera, either built-in or as an optional plug-in? Do you think there is enough demand to make this specialist option available?

2) Can you update on potential availability of the 70mai dashcam battery pack in the UK?

3) Have you experimented with 3-frame HDR? I doubt it would be effective on fast-moving dashcam video.

 

[Oliver_70mai]

1) Does 70mai have any plans to introduce a telephoto camera, either built-in or as an optional plug-in? Do you think there is enough demand to make this specialist option available?

2) Can you update on potential availability of the 70mai dashcam battery pack in the UK?

3) Have you experimented with 3-frame HDR? I doubt it would be effective on fast-moving dashcam video.
View attachment 86855

1. We will launch a 1080P and 2K telephoto cameras alongside our new products next year. Overall, this market is not very large, and we've conducted market research. Many users are confused about the usage scenarios for this product, but this doesn't affect our commitment to promoting it as an option to users around the world.
2. You can buy it on our official website: https://uk.70mai.store/products/battery-pack?_pos=1&_psq=battery&_ss=e&_v=1.0
3. Sorry, my English may be wrong. The 3 HDR sensors I mentioned here refer to the NT98530's support for front, internal and rear with HDR enabled. The effect of 3-frame HDR is indeed not very good. I can expand on this:
For high-speed license plates, we rely on low target brightness and increase the brightness through the ISP backend. Some other brands' solutions may use relatively long exposure times, relying on short exposures to capture license plates. While these solutions do produce clearer license plates in some special scenarios, the shorter exposures may also sacrifice quality in more common scenes.

Our strategy is to achieve a more balanced approach to achieve the best overall effect. We've begun adopting these solutions on some models and are considering offering both options on some new products next year, allowing users to choose the image quality they want.

 

[Oliver_70mai]

1) Does 70mai have any plans to introduce a telephoto camera, either built-in or as an optional plug-in? Do you think there is enough demand to make this specialist option available?

2) Can you update on potential availability of the 70mai dashcam battery pack in the UK?

3) Have you experimented with 3-frame HDR? I doubt it would be effective on fast-moving dashcam video.
View attachment 86855

Ah, sorry, I understand your third question. Actually, 3-frame HDR is more powerful than 2-frame HDR, which is why only dual can achieve 3-frame HDR, while triple cameras can only achieve 2-frame HDR. (Yes, there are technical differences between HDR and HDR.)

Item	2-frame HDR	3-frame HDR
Number of Frames	Two frames with different exposures (High + Low)	Three frames with different exposures (High + Medium + Low)
Dynamic Range Performance	Limited improvement; mid-tone details may be lost	Wider dynamic range; preserves highlights, mid-tones, and shadows
Image Fusion Complexity	Lower; less processing delay	Higher; requires stronger ISP and optimized algorithm
Sensor Requirement	Basic sensors can support it	Requires sensors and ISP capable of triple-exposure output
Low-light Performance	Noticeably improved compared to SDR	More balanced, better suppression of overexposed lights at night
Processing Power Consumption	Lower, suitable for mid-range SoCs	Higher, suitable for high-end SoCs
Typical Use Cases	Mid-tier dashcams (1080P)	High-end dashcams (2.7K / 4K, premium night vision)
Visual Example	May retain headlight detail but lose shadow details	Retains both headlight and shadow details, closer to human vision

Therefore, low-priced and high-priced dashcams with the same resolution must make some trade-offs in various parameters to meet the competition in different price markets.

 

[lisabon_Q3]

Hello, @Oliver_70mai 😎.
Please tell us if it is planned to implement pre-event recording in parking mode (collision detection) and what developments are already in this direction? What problems have you encountered and why is this feature still not implemented? Is it worth waiting for this feature in existing products or only in new models?

P.S. My English is not perfect either, so I'll clarify. I'm talking about recording the impact source on a parking video. For example, 5 seconds before impact and 25 seconds after during parking mode. I think this is important because it affects the proof of guilt. Currently, 70mai models record parking only after a collision. Thank you in advance for your reply.

 

[Oliver_70mai]

Hello, @Oliver_70mai 😎.
Please tell us if it is planned to implement pre-event recording in parking mode (collision detection) and what developments are already in this direction? What problems have you encountered and why is this feature still not implemented? Is it worth waiting for this feature in existing products or only in new models?

P.S. My English is not perfect either, so I'll clarify. I'm talking about recording the impact source on a parking video. For example, 5 seconds before impact and 25 seconds after during parking mode. I think this is important because it affects the proof of guilt. Currently, 70mai models record parking only after a collision. Thank you in advance for your reply.

Hi, I understand your needs! We have also evaluated it seriously. Today's ultra-low power parking mode is actually shut down the dashcam under parking monitoring, and the camera is turned on as quickly as possible through fast startup technology to record collision events (this is why the power consumption is so low). However, if you want pre-event recroding of parking monitoring videos, it is technically not difficult to achieve, but this requires the dashcam to be in normal recording state under parking mode. The power consumption will be greater than motion detection, and the heat will be more serious. The current trend of 4K + multi-channels has led to higher and higher voltage consumption. We are still unwilling to sacrifice the user's parking monitoring time to record pre-events. We have also been looking for technologies to achieve dual benefits of power consumption and parking monitoring time.

 

[Oliver_70mai]

Haha, guys are caring about the current technologies and difficulties in the dashcam industry 😵
The weekend is coming soon here. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a message and I will reply to you as soon as possible on Monday Beijing time!

 

[Julian23]

Very interesting information here.
I'm definitely interested and excited for the future.
Will there be a V2 version of the battery pack that will also allow for an extension of 2 units?
Maybe with app support and so on?

 

[shal008]

My queries (apologizes if they are too noob)

- Lat/Long is not shown on watermark, Speed also is blank.
- 4K logo is not shown on watermark, does that mean recording is currently set to lower resolution ? where can I check
- Maps on the bottom shows China Map & location, is there anyway we can use google map and current location here ?

 

[SafeDriveSolutions]

Do you have an install technician on staff or do you have professional installers that give feedback about wire management? A lot of your choices of wiring dont make the finished product look clean.

Thanks