The Z-Edge R1 is a Chinese dual channel dash cam released in Nov 2020 by the manufacturer Zero Edge Technology. The Z-Edge R1 utilizes the Huawei HiSilicon Hi3556 V200 processor and apparently a Sony CMOS sensor, most likely for the front camera. The specific CMOS sensor is not disclosed by Zero Edge. No details are provided for the rear camera CMOS sensor.
Video Quality
The front camera records 1296p video at 30fps with an average bitrate of 12 Mbps. Video quality for the front camera during the day is good and night quality is average. The video quality is reasonable for the price point of this dual camera.
The rear camera records 1080p video at 30fps with an average bitrate of 8 Mbps. Unfortunately the quality of the rear footage is significantly worse than the front camera. Many users complain of blurry or grainy video for the rear camera. The following video stills give examples of front and rear video quality for both day and night.
Features
The Z-Edge R1 has a 2.7″ screen, g-sensor but does not have GPS. The camera comes with WiFi and apps for Android and iOS. There are also apps available for the PC and MacOS. The Z-Edge R1 provides non-buffered parking mode if you hardwire the dash cam to your vehicle (optional hardwire kit required).
The camera comes with a suction mount which can swivel 360° to record interactions at your side windows (i.e. police traffic stop). The Z-Edge R1 is a medium sized camera at 89 x 51 x 30mm. The build quality is good for both the front and rear cameras. Unfortunately the R1 does not come with audio error notifications. It does provide error notifications on the screen but these can easily be missed by the driver.
Support
Zero Edge has a website and is responsive to customer questions. Another positive is that you can extend the 12 month warranty to 18 months if you register the dash cam on their website. One negative is that we have not seen any firmware updates since the camera was launched.
Known Problems
Micro SD Card Speed Low
A number of owners have indicated they have received an “SD speed is low, Please replace the card!” error. While this often resolved by changing Micro SD cards, so owners indicate the camera no longer functions regardless of card used.
Sample Videos
There are numerous videos on Youtube for this camera. While the front camera performs reasonably well, particularly in the day, the rear camera is disappointing for both day and night.
Should I Purchase
The Z-Edge Z1 is an average all around dual camera. Video quality for the front camera is good but the rear camera struggles. Reliability has been ok, but not the best. While Wifi is a nice feature, the app is not rated the highest. Overall a reasonable camera but not outstanding.
User Manual
The English User Manual Can be downloaded here.
Specifications
Data Sheet No specs match that search. Hardware Layout ScoresTechnical Specs
Spec Z-Edge R1 Brand Z-Edge Model R1 Channels 2 Channel Setup Front, Rear Form Factor Hanging Release Date Nov 2020 Country China Warranty 18 months Spec Z-Edge R1 Processor HiSilicon Hi3556 V200 Video Format MP4 Compression H.264 Screen Size 2.7" Touchscreen No Mount Suction Power Supply 5V Battery Type Battery – Unknown mAh Spec Z-Edge R1 Parking Mode Non-Buffered Wi-Fi Yes GPS No Apps Windows, macOS, Android, iOS Cloud Connectivity No Voice Commands No Spec Z-Edge R1 SD Card Type MicroSD Max Card Size 256GB Operating Temperature -10°C to 70°C Swivel Yes Error Notification Screen Camera Units
CMOS Unknown Max Resolution 2304 x 1296p (2K) FPS 30 Bitrate 12.0 Mbps Viewing Angle 155° Dimensions 89 x 51 x 30 HDR No CMOS Unknown Max Resolution 1920 x 1080p FPS 30 Bitrate 8.0 Mbps Viewing Angle 110° Dimensions Unknown HDR No Ratings
Published: June 13, 2022