Once viewed as a niche or premium car accessory, dash cams are becoming increasingly necessary due to a combination of factors. Overcrowded roads, more cars than pedestrians, poorly maintained infrastructure and outright negligence are just some of the reasons for the staggering number of road accidents in India every year. Now, if you want to minimize the risk of a road accident, there are two ways to do it: obey all traffic laws and stay away from other drivers on the road. While the former can still be controlled by taking responsibility and staying vigilant, the latter is rarely under our control. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate the risk of an accident, there is one way to ensure that if the worst happens, you have an impartial co-passenger by your side – a dash cam.
In this case, a dash cam becomes a necessity, providing you with indisputable video footage that can protect you from false accusations and the financial and legal consequences that come with it.
However, with so many options on the market, choosing the one that best suits your needs can become quite a challenge. In addition to popular brands such as 70mai, CP Plus, and Qubo, Pioneer has also entered the driving recorder market. Today we bring Pioneer VREC-H320SC, priced at Rs. 6,000. But is it enough to satisfy your basic need for peace of mind? I’ll explain it in our Pioneer VREC-H320SC review.
Pioneer VREC-H320SC Design and Installation: Simple and Straightforward
- Dimensions – 90 x 34.8 x 54.25 mm
- Power supply – 5V, 1.5 A 12V socket
Unlike the VREC-H120SC model we reviewed previously, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC can in no way be considered a compact dash cam. Viewed from the front, the dash cam could easily be mistaken for a compact digital camera with a 2-megapixel sensor. The overall construction of the accessory is sturdy and features a soft black texture that adds to the upscale appeal. However, it can sometimes attract dust particles, so be sure to give it a thorough cleaning every now and then.
The Pioneer VREC-H320SC can be rotated 360 degrees via the included linkage mechanism
Now, the back of the dash cam is where things get interesting. It comes with a large 3.0-inch LCD screen. You can adjust the screen brightness manually, but it doesn’t have an auto-brightness feature. The screen lets you watch recorded footage or enable live view while driving. While it’s not a touchscreen panel, there are four capacitive buttons below the screen for performing a variety of actions, including browsing recordings, adjusting settings, and capturing stills on the go.
There are two ports on the top of the dash cam: a USB Type-C port for power, which connects to a 12V outlet via a car charger, and an auxiliary camera port. The latter is for connecting the auxiliary camera, as this is a dual-channel dash cam; however, you’ll need to buy it separately. The included cable is long enough that you can tuck it into your car’s headliner so it doesn’t stick out. Surprisingly, there’s no pry tool in the box, which means you either have to buy one or don’t use it.
The driving recorder is equipped with a 3.0 LCD display
The installation process of Pioneer VREC-H320SC dash cam is very simple. Adhere the transparent film to the appropriate location on the windshield, install the 360-degree bracket to the dash cam, and then secure the entire package to the transparent film. Now, plug the dash cam into a 12V charging socket, complete the initial setup process via the companion app, and you’re good to go.
Pioneer VREC-H320SC features and companion apps: easy to use
- Expandable storage – up to 512GB
- Supporting application platform – Android, iOS
The Pioneer VREC-H320SC is compatible with the ZenVue dash cam app, available on Android and iOS platforms. Pairing your phone with your dash cam is easy; just connect your phone to your dash cam’s Wi-Fi network and open the app. It will automatically format the SD card you inserted earlier.
The interface of the ZenVue app is very simple. It presents the real-time information of the driving recorder through the live view function. You can view activity recordings, toggle emergency recordings, and take still photos. On this screen, you can also select video resolution quality, enable/disable video and voice recording, and toggle parking mode.
You can view and download clips through the ZenVue companion app
Next is the Events page, which displays emergency recordings stored on the dash cam’s microSD card. In the gallery, you can view stored videos, photos, and time-lapse videos. Finally, the Settings page allows you to change settings such as G-sensor sensitivity, volume, SSID, and password.
In terms of features, Pioneer VREC-H320SC supports Full HD video recording up to 1080p. It comes with a 2-megapixel sensor with a 139-degree field of view (FoV) and a 3-inch IPS LCD screen. GPS recorder function can record your route in detail.
Other features include automatic event recording, selectable parking mode, up to 512GB storage support and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) capabilities.
Pioneer VREC-H320SC Performance: Correct
- Image sensor – 2 megapixels
- Video recording resolution – up to 1080p
While features do matter, the most critical parameter to judge a dash cam is its video recording capabilities. The Pioneer VREC-H320SC excels in this regard. During testing, I set video recording to the highest resolution available, 1080p.
Pioneer VREC-H320SC daylight still photo sample (click to expand)
Video output quality is good in daytime conditions. You get a wide field of view, helping you see your vehicle even in blind spots. It captures intricate details of the surrounding environment with good clarity and dynamic range. The license plate is quite clear and easy to read even at a distance of about 10-12 meters from your car. But go a step further and the numbers become a little harder to identify.
The dash cam’s nighttime performance is also satisfactory considering its price range. The video quality is decent, and it can read the license plate information of the vehicle ahead within 10 meters. However, this is not the case when I try to get the license plate of a vehicle that is driving by quickly.
Pioneer VREC-H320SC night still photo sample (click to expand)
One of the great things about the Pioneer VREC-H320SC is that it can record audio and video simultaneously, which can protect you from false accusations and simplify insurance claims.
The dash cam also has a GPS recorder function to save your route. Additionally, the company has equipped it with two ADAS features – Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Indication, both of which sound a beep as a warning. However, they’re almost gimmicks and don’t add any real value to the overall package.
Pioneer VREC-H320SC dynamic example (click to expand)
There’s also an automatic event recording feature that utilizes the built-in gravity sensor to activate emergency video recording in the event of an accident or emergency. You can choose between three different sensitivity levels. However, during my use of the dash cam, I found it to be overly sensitive. Even if I set the dash cam to the lowest sensitivity setting, the dash cam would often start emergency video recording even if I hit a pothole or speed bump.
The final feature of the Pioneer VREC-H320SC is the selectable parking mode. The company claims it can record photos even when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off. Additional kit is required to use this feature. It connects the dash cam directly to the car’s battery. However, I was unable to test this as the kit does not come in a box and needs to be purchased separately.
Pioneer VREC-H320SC Verdict
The Pioneer VREC-H320SC retails at Rs. 11,399, but can be purchased for as low as Rs. 5,973 units were sold during various promotions throughout the year. At this price point, it’s certainly a good option worth considering. It has a sturdy design and good video output quality in daylight conditions. Low-light video recording is also okay, and the dash cam can also record audio alongside video.
Features like automatic event logging using the built-in gravity sensor can improve overall safety, albeit a bit sensitively. It also supports dual-channel connectivity and can be paired with an auxiliary dash cam for added protection.
All in all, if you are in the market for a new dash cam, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC dash cam is a solid choice.
advantage:
- Easy to install
- Good daytime video recording
- Up to 512GB storage support
shortcoming:
- G sensor is too sensitive
- Fancy ADAS features
NDTV Rating – 7
