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
Detailed Specifications
| Read Review |
 |
| Camera Type | Dual Channel |
| Form Factor | Hanging - Rectangular |
| Country | China |
| Processor | Huawei HiSilicon Hi3556 V200 |
| CMOS Front | Unknown |
| CMOS Rear | Unknown |
| Channels | 2 |
| Screen | 2.7" |
| Touchscreen | No |
| GPS | No |
| G-Sensor | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Parking Mode | Non-Buffered |
| Lock Files | Auto or Button |
| Max Resolution Front | 2304×1296p |
| Front Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Front (Mbps) | 12 |
| Max Resolution Rear | 1920×1080p |
| Rear Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Rear (Mbps) | 8 |
| Video Format | MP4 |
| Compression | H.264 |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Front | 155° |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Rear | 110° |
| SD Card Type | MicroSD |
| Max Size (Spec) | 256GB |
| Max Size (User) | 256GB |
| Size Front (mm) | 89 x 51 x 30 |
| Size Rear (mm) | Unknown |
| Mount | Suction |
| Power Supply | 5V |
| Operating Temp | -10°C to 70°C |
| Battery | Battery - Unknown mAh |
| Error Notification | Screen |
| Swivel (To Record Side Windows) | Yes |
| Apps | PC, OSX, Android, iOS |
| Cloud Connectivity | No |
| Release Date | Nov 2020 |
| Warranty | 18 months |
| Unique Features | None |
| Advantages | Decent front video during day |
| Disadvantages |
Not the most discreet Rear video and night video quality is not the greatest No GPS Battery instead of capacitor |
| Final Word | An average dual camera for video quality, reliability and available app. |
Published: June 13, 2022
Z-Edge R1 - DashCamTalk
The Z-Edge R1 is an average overall dash cam. Front video quality is decent while rear video quality is poor. Reliability is average as well.
Product SKU: Z-Edge R1
Product Brand: Z-Edge
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 100
Price Valid Until: 2023-01-01
Product In-Stock: SoldOut
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