The Toguard CE35 is a Chinese dual channel mirror camera released in May 2018. This low priced dash cam is popular on Amazon.
Unfortunately Toguard does not provide the processor and CMOS sensor specs for the CE35. Given the low price point of this dual camera and very poor video quality, we suspect entry level hardware is being used.
Video Quality
The front camera records 1080p video at 30fps with an average bitrate of 15 Mbps. Video quality for the front camera during the day is average and night quality is poor. The video is choppy and not impressive. At night the video is grainy as well.
The rear camera records 480p video at 30fps with an average bitrate of 8 Mbps. Seeing a dash cam with 480p video, even for a rear camera, is surprising and rare. As expected, the video quality for this camera is very poor.
The rear camera is waterproof and can be used externally. Depending on your vehicle, mounting this externally may not be the easiest. We do not recommend investing the time and cost to mount externally due to the poor video quality and reliability of the CE35.
Features
The CE35 is a simple mirror cam with a few features. While it comes with a 7″ touchscreen and g-sensor, it does not come with GPS or WiFi. The only parking mode provided is non-buffered.
The CE35 is a large camera at 300 x 75 x 15mm but clips on to your existing rearview mirror which makes for a discreet installation. Unfortunately like most mirror cams, the CE35 suffers from a number of problems due to its design:
- You will lose any advanced features from your car’s rearview mirror (i.e. auto dimming) since the dash cam will cover it up
- The mirror is only usable when the screen is off. When the screen is on, there is still reflection from the mirror so you end up with a double image (combination of screen image and mirror image)
- At night, the reflection is very dark and in some cases not usable
- Some vehicle mirrors are not the most stable. When attaching a dash cam to the mirror there can be vibrations that cause shaky video quality
Note that the CE35 cannot swivel to record interactions at the driver or passenger windows. While the camera only comes with screen error notifications, given the large 7″ mirror screen, any errors will be easily seen by the driver. Unfortunately build quality is average and reliability has not been the best. Some owners complain that the cam is too heavy and tilts the mirror downwards. There are also complaints that the rear camera adhesive is poor and the camera falls off.
The rear camera can be used as a backup camera. It comes with a red wire which you can tap to the reverse light of your vehicle. If this red wire is connected, the dash cam’s display will automatically go full screen to the backup camera when going into reverse. Note there are many user complaints that the backup camera warning lines cannot be calibrated and make it difficult to know how far you are from objects.
Support
Toguard appears to be responsive to questions but beyond that, the camera has limited support. We have not seen any firmware updates for this camera since it has been launched. Toguard provides a 12 month warranty, which is standard for most dash cams.
One thing to be aware of is that Toguard provides a free accessory in exchange for 5-star Amazon reviews. This gift exchange for reviews likely influences the Amazon ratings.
Known Problems
Touchscreen freezes
The most common problem that has been reported is the touchscreen freezes and becomes unresponsive. There is no known cause for this problem or solution.
Heat Damage
Numerous owners indicate that the CE35 gets damaged with the heat. The warping of the camera would indicate low quality plastic materials were used. Note that the Toguard CE41 and Toguard CE18 suffer from the same problem, a common theme for these cameras.
Random shutdown
A number of owners indicate the camera will randomly shutdown or reboot. Ensure you are using the provided power supply for the camera. If that is the case, there are no known fixes for this problem.
Sample Videos
There are numerous Youtube videos and reviews for this camera. When viewing, note the choppy video quality and poor night quality
Should I Purchase
The Toguard CE35 has a great price at only $60 for a dual camera, discreet design and 7″ touchscreen. However the disappointing video quality and poor reliability (freezing touchscreen, heat damage, random shutdowns) make this a poor choice. Add the typical mirror dash cam problems of double image viewing and poor mirror quality, this is a difficult camera to recommend.
We are also disappointed with the practice of providing free gifts in exchange for positive reviews on Amazon. A common, yet unethical practice for dash cams sold on Amazon. Overall, the Toguard CE45 is not a good deal even at the low price of $60.
Specifications
Detailed Specifications
| Read Review |  |
| Camera Type | Mirror |
| Form Factor | Rearview Mirror |
| Country | China |
| Processor | Unknown |
| CMOS Front | Unknown |
| CMOS Rear | Unknown |
| Channels | 2 |
| Screen | 7" |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| GPS | No |
| G-Sensor | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Parking Mode | Non-Buffered |
| Lock Files | Auto or Button |
| Max Resolution Front | 1920×1080p |
| Front Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Front (Mbps) | 15 |
| Max Resolution Rear | 720x480p |
| Rear Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Rear (Mbps) | 8 |
| Video Format | AVI |
| Compression | H.264 |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Front | 170° |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Rear | 120° |
| SD Card Type | MicroSD |
| Max Size (Spec) | 128GB |
| Max Size (User) | 256GB |
| Size Front (mm) | 300 x 75 x 15 |
| Size Rear (mm) | Unknown |
| Mount | Clip on to mirror |
| Power Supply | 5V |
| Operating Temp | -20°C to 60°C |
| Battery | Battery - Unknown mAh |
| Error Notification | Screen |
| Swivel (To Record Side Windows) | No |
| Apps | None |
| Cloud Connectivity | No |
| Release Date | May 2018 |
| Warranty | 12 months |
| Unique Features | Waterproof exterior rear camera |
| Advantages | Low price |
| Disadvantages | Video quality is poor, particularly at night Not the most reliable Battery instead of capacitor Limited support / no firmware updates Gifts in exchange for 5-star reviews |
| Final Word | Video quality is poor, camera has not been reliable and build quality is poor. Avoid |
Published: November 22, 2020
Toguard CE35 - DashCamTalk
The Toguard CE35 has poor video quality, the camera has not been reliable and build quality is poor. Avoid.
Product SKU: Toguard CE35
Product Brand: Toguard
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 60
Price Valid Until: 2023-01-01
Product In-Stock: SoldOut
5.2