Pioneer is a well-known brand in the auto parts industry. The company has a wide range of products, including audio, speakers, subwoofers, amplifiers and other categories. While the Japanese audio equipment company has made a name for itself in the above areas, it’s also dabbling in dash cams. The company recently launched a new range of smart dash cams to enhance its presence in the market. The new product portfolio includes four models: VREC-H120SC, VREC-H320SC, VREC-H520DC and VREC-Z820DC, meeting the needs of different price segments. In this review, we’ll be discussing the entry-level option called the VREC-H120SC.
This budget dash cam is priced at Rs 5,399. It brings some interesting features and specifications, including up to 1.5K video recording, microSD card support up to 128GB, 120-degree field of view (FoV) camera, and more. So, is it worth the money? Let’s find out in this in-depth review.
Pioneer VREC-H120SC Design and Installation: Fully Featured and Easy to Install
- Dimensions – 31.12 x 28.8 x 37.33mm
- Power supply – 5V, 1.5 A cigarette lighter charger
The Pioneer VREC-H120SC is one of the compact dash cams on the market. You get a unique design that will definitely look different from other products in a similar price range. The front houses a 2-megapixel camera and speaker grille, while the back has a Pioneer badge. The right side has a red power button, an LED indicator, and a microphone for recording audio. There is a microSD card slot and a DC IN port on the left side.
This dash cam is compact and easy to install.
The device also comes with a stand that allows users to adjust the camera to their needs. The installation process is also relatively simple. You get a three-meter long USB Type-A to Type-C cable, USB 5V 1.5A power supply, and double-sided tape for installation. Install it yourself; simply remove the cover from the adhesive pad and stick it where you want. Or if you want a cleaner installation, then you can go to the nearest auto parts store for repair.
Pioneer VREC-H120SC Features and Companion App: Easy to Use
- Expandable storage – up to 128GB
- Companion App – Android, iOS
The Pioneer VREC-H120SC can be controlled using the ZenVue app. The app is available for download on Android and iOS platforms, which is a good thing. To pair, you first need to open the app and connect to the dash cam’s Wi-Fi network. Once done, you need to slide out the micoSD card slot. The camera will then automatically format it and you’re good to go.
The dash cam can be operated via the ZenVue app.
The app interface is very basic and easy to use. You can view the live stream in the app, as well as some recording options. Then there’s the Incident page, which stores videos from emergencies or incidents. In the gallery section you can view all recorded videos, photos and time-lapses. The settings menu helps you open different settings such as volume and gravity sensor settings, reset the device, change SSID and password, turn on/off parking mode, etc.
Talking about features, the Pioneer VREC-H120SC offers video recording up to 1290p. The camera features a 2-megapixel sensor with a 120-degree field of view. It also features automatic event recording in emergency situations, optional parking mode, support for up to 128GB of external storage, and more.
Pioneer VREC-H120SC Performance: Overall good
- Image sensor – 2 megapixels
- Recording – up to 1296P video recording
Speaking of performance, the Pioneer VREC-H120SC performs well in daylight conditions. You can choose recording options at different resolutions, which can only be changed from within the app. I used the highest recording option during my review. I found the performance to be satisfactory for the price range.
Pioneer VREC-H120SC daylight sample. (Click to expand)
In daylight conditions, video output is good, but colors are a bit washed out. Essentially, you get a wide field of view in your video, which is helpful. You can identify the license plate number of the vehicle ahead. However, if the distance exceeds 10 meters, it becomes a bit difficult to obtain the license plate information.
Pioneer VREC-H120SC low light sample. (Click to expand)
The low-light performance of the dash cam is passable. The quality has dropped slightly, which is acceptable considering the price point. The number of license plates that can be recognized in a vehicle is within the above range. That said, if the light is low, you can still get a lot of information from the video. The good thing is that the dash cam can also capture audio and video, which can be helpful in an emergency.
The dash cam also comes with an optional parking mode, but for this mode you need to connect the dash cam directly to the vehicle’s battery. Interestingly, there is another great feature called automatic event logging.
The dash cam uses the built-in G-sensor to record video in the event of an accident and saves it in a separate folder for easier access by the user. However, during testing, I found that the G sensor’s sensitivity was high at its lowest setting. So if a car goes over a pothole or speed bump, sometimes it will automatically record this emergency video.
To continue downloading videos and photos, you need the ZenVue app. One needs to first connect to the dash cam’s Wi-Fi network and then manually download each video to a smartphone for sharing, which sometimes becomes a painful process.
Pioneer VREC-H120SC Verdict
Considering the price tag, the Pioneer VREC-H120SC dash cam is a good choice. The dash cam is even available at a lower price during the sale, I noticed it can be brought down to around Rs. Rs 3,000. 3,500 during online sale. Therefore, considering this price point, Pioneer’s entry-level dash cam is undoubtedly one of the good choices in this price range.
This dash cam has a compact design and is relatively easy to install in your car. Daytime video quality is decent, and low-light performance is passable for this price. So, if you are looking for a reliable dash cam without spending a lot of money, then you can consider this device.
price: rupee. 5,399
advantage
- Compact design
- Easy to install
- Up to 128GB expandable storage
- 1.5K video recording
shortcoming
- App experience could be better
- You can only download one video or photo at a time
- G-sensor sensitivity is high even at lowest setting
