BlackVue DR900X 4K Dash Cam
In-Depth Review

The BlackVue DR900X-2CH sets a new technological standard, with its 8-megapixel CMOS sensor capturing 4K Ultra High Definition video - four times as many pixels as Full HD, and the option of always-on 4G BlackVue Cloud connectivity, with the addition of the CM100 LTE external connectivity module and data SIM.

The DR900X-2CH is a fully-functional 4K UHD dash cam, whether you choose to use the optional LTE module and Cloud features or not.

Straight out of the box, just plug the dash cam into your cigarette lighter socket and it will power on and off with the vehicle, automatically recording audio and video as you drive. If you choose to hardwire the dash cam to your vehicle's fuse box, you will unlock the DR900X's buffered parking mode recording function with motion and impact detection.

All video footage is automatically saved on the microSD card (supports up to 256GB). The loop recording feature ensures that there is always storage space for your latest videos. The DR900X does not come with a screen on it but there are many ways for you to play back your videos. You can remove the microSD card and plugged into your PC or Mac using the included microSD card reader. Alternatively, you can also access the videos using the free BlackVue mobile app and a direct WiFi connection.

Getting a dash cam is all about having video proof, and with its 8-megapixel 4K UHD sensor, you're getting 4 times more pixels compared to Full HD. Plus, with its fast shutter speed, details are frozen in place so you just have to zoom in and see it all with clarity.

For a dash cam, this all can mean the difference between an unusable pixelated blur and a readable licence plate, especially at speed or in low light conditions. The front camera’s ultra-wide 162-degree angle takes full advantage of the 4K UHD resolution, giving you incredible clarity and details from edge-to-edge. The rear camera records in Full HD at a 139-degree angle with outstanding low-light sensitivity.

With higher resolution and higher framerate come bigger files, but the DR900X-2CH offers you the option to use the High Efficiency Video Coding (H.265) technology to minimize your 4K videos so that you get the same recording time and files sizes as you would with a regular Full HD dash cam.

In other words, you get four times bigger and better images, without sacrificing recording time on your SD card.

The DR900X comes with the option for a 32GB, 128GB or 256GB microSD card.

BlackVue’s unique Intelligent Parking Mode is ideal if you worry about hit-and-runs, theft or vandalism while your vehicle is parked and left unattended. The DR900X-2CH supports Buffered Recording with Motion and Impact Detection, and Time Lapse Recording.

Motion and Impact detection mode uses your cameras image sensor to detect movement, and the inbuilt accelerometer/G-sensor to detect bumps or impacts. To reduce the number of unwanted recordings triggered by motion and movement, the DR900X can specify areas to ignore, eliminating recordings triggered by things like swaying trees, far-away moving objects, etc.

In Time Lapse mode, to reduce the size of the video files and save SD card space, the camera will continuously record at just 1FPS (one frame per second), rather than the standard 30/60 FPS. All event clips however are recorded at full resolution and 30FPS. A standard 32GB microSD card can store over 48 hours of time lapse video at the highest (Extreme) video quality level.

BlackVue Over the Cloud is a suite of innovative ‘connected’ features that takes your BlackVue experience to new levels - it unlocks the true power of your DR900X-2CH and remotely connecting you with your vehicle.

Let BlackVue watch over your car, informing you immediately of incidents such as impacts, via Push Notifications to your Apple or Android phone. Connect to your DR900X dash cam anytime, from anywhere, and check on your car with Remote Live View. Play recorded video clips remotely and back-up important ones to the Cloud or your phone. Monitor progress and access location data, GPS logs and Driving Reports courtesy of the realtime Live Tracking feature. Even broadcast Live to Facebook and YouTube.

All you need is the free BlackVue App and a mobile internet connection, such as the optional BlackVue CM100 LTE 4G connectivity module and data SIM. The CM100 LTE is compatible with SIM cards from the following network carriers (including their MVNOs):

The BlackVue App (iOS/Android) and Viewer (Windows/Mac OS) are free to download and use. Both allow you to change settings and review videos sorted by time and type (Normal/Event/Parking).

With the BlackVue App, connect via Wi-Fi to your dash​cam to retrieve videos on the spot. Our dash cam experts also like to use the app's camera Live View for easy set-up and positioning of the DR900X-2CH in the vehicle.  

For those with a lot of footage for playback, the BlackVue Viewer is probably the easiest solution. Access recordings on your camera’s microSD card, simultaneously viewing front and rear camera footage, moving maps and GPS data including time, date and speed. All video clips are listed by date, time and recording mode (Normal, Parking, Event, etc.), making it simple to quickly identify and archive important footage. BlackVue Viewer also provides access to your camera’s settings, as well as the ability to update your dashcam’s firmware when necessary. Viewer also allows you to connect to your DR900X over the Cloud, accessing Live View, Real Time Tracking etc., anytime and anywhere.

The DR900X-2CH comes with a USB port that you can plug in the optional CM100 LTE module, giving the dash cam the ability to remotely connect to the BlackVue Cloud anytime, anywhere.

The CM100 LTE Module is an optional "plug and play" add-on module that connects to the front camera of the DR900X. You can still use a built-in WiFi hotspot signal (if you already have one in your vehicle), but the CM100 LTE is superior because it will stay on while parked, when most in-vehicle WiFi hotspots turns off with the engine.

The DR900X-2CH comes with several features that help make sure your videos and dash cam are safe.

• Scheduled Reboot: Schedule a daily automatic reboot (optional—at night by default) to minimize potential errors. Reboots happen only if the dashcam is in Parking Mode and not writing data to the microSD card.
• Event Files Overwrite Protection: dashcams record in a loop, overwriting older files when the memory is full. BlackVue can prevent Event files (triggered manually or by impacts) overwriting. Up to fifty (50) files can be protected this way. You can choose to allow new Event files to overwrite past Event files, thus keeping the latest fifty.
• Adaptive Format-Free File Management: this BlackVue-developed file system improves recording stability and requires less microSD card formatting.
• SD Card Failure Alert: your BlackVue detects as soon as the microSD card fails and warns you with a “Please check SD card” voice alert.

The DR900X-2CH is essentially the DR900S-2CH with the added built-in voltage monitoring and the USB port for the CM100 LTE Module.  

With that said, upgrading from the BlackVue DR900S is as easy. The rear camera and all the connecting cables are the same - giving you the option to leave existing wiring intact and simply just replace the front unit.

Here's what you can keep from your existing 2-Channel DR900S or DR750S dash cam:

• Rear camera and rear camera mount
• Rear camera connecting cable
• CPL filter

Here's what you need to replace

• BlackVue Power Magic Pro (PMP) - you will need to use the new BlackVue 3 Wire Hardwiring Kit
• Tamper-proof case: because of the addition of the USB port, the old tamper-proof case will not work with the DR900X

The BlackVue CM100 LTE is compatible with micro-SIM cards from the following networks:

NOTE: When purchasing a SIM card for your CM100 LTE Module, you only need a data-only plan. Just ask the carrier for a data-only SIM for tablets.

You are only using data when you're connected to BlackVue Over the Cloud - video recording does not require data. In other words, until you connect to the Cloud, you're not using any data.

With that said, how much data you need depends on how often you connect to the Cloud. Here are some basic data consumption estimates from BlackVue:

In other words, if you’re a light Cloud-user and you only use the Cloud for remote live view or as backup storage, then you can get by with 2GB a month. However, if you are always connected to the Cloud, utilizing all the Cloud features to the max, then we recommend a data subscription plan that gives you more GB (i.e. 4GB). It’s also a good idea to inquire about over-usage charges or on-demand upgrades.