Miofive 4K + 2K Dash Cam vs. Thinkware U1000

Miofive is a relatively new brand established in 2020, and brought their 4K dash cam to market after a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in Q4 2021.

As the name implies, the Miofive 4K + 2K Dash Cam is equipped with a Wide Dynamic Range and rich color 4K UHD (3840×2160) and 2K QHD (2560x1440) QHD resolution powered by a Sony STARVIS IMX415 that ensures cinematic video recording in both day and night. This dash cam comes with a 140 degree field of view to capture the road ahead and the traffic behind.

In terms of recording, this dash cam captures driving time in one minute segments, which typically consume between 200-250MB each of the built-in 128GB storage.

The 4K clips are around 234 megabytes, 2K clips take up 120 MB and the 1080p clips take up around 60 MB. Recording at the 4K resolution, you can only store a little over two hours of video before the overwriting begins.

If you choose to hardwire the Miofive to your car's fuse box, you can take advantage of the 24-hour parking mode and time lapse.

Parking mode uses a built-in G-Sensor to record any bumps in both a 16-second and 60-second video, even when the car is unattended.

The handy 'Time Lapse' feature lets you go back over 24 hours of content after the ignition has been powered down. Trimming longer clips into bite-sized chunks is easily done within the app itself, too.

Unusually, the Miofive has only one physical button—a multi-function power button.

However, if you look very closely at the back of the camera, there are three small dots to the right of the 2.2-inch color display that simulate button presses electrostatically, allowing you to configure and control the camera locally.

There is a built-in 500 milliamp-hour battery to keep things running for a bit after you turn off your car.

The Miofive 4K + 2K camera has its own GPS, and the clips are tagged with GPS information on where you were when the clip was recorded.

When you download the clips to your phone and play them back, you can turn on a map view that will show you the route you drove during that clip. The playback window for your clips can also show the speed you were driving and the exact time and date of the trip.

In addition, this dash cam is also supported by a 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity. This helps transfer footage quickly through the dedicated Miofive mobile app - where you can also view your footage and configure your dash cam's settings.

In terms of technology, the Miofive 4K + 2K dash cam is also equipped with AI Algorithms such as Go Assist to monitor traffic conditions, and receive alerts of sudden braking and turns.

Considered as one of the best all round dash cams, the 2019-launched Thinkware U1000 has been sought-after because of its exceptional image quality and reliability. Delivering crystal-clear, high-quality video coverage, the Thinkware U1000 dual-camera has a 4K Ultra HD at 30FPS front camera that can be switched to 2K QHD at 60fps. 

The U1000, which is equipped with an 8.24-megapixel Sony STARVIS image sensor for an improved Night Vision mode, can record high-quality videos in low-light environments such as dark backcountry roads and dim parking lots.

For best-in-class protection day and night, a 2K QHD rear camera and a free Thinkware Anti-Glare CPL Filter are also included in every purchase. For additional coverage, the dash cam is equipped with a 150º-degree front view and a 156º rearview wide-angle. Its installed camera lenses are also rotatable to accommodate a wide range of windshields and mounting angles.

When in Parking Surveillance mode, the U1000 saves energy by going to standby and only recording events triggered by impacts.

Thinkware's Energy Saving Parking Mode 2.0 provides three times the video recording time of standard parking mode. It also comes with a free hardwiring kit to maximize this feature.

The internal GPS of the Thinkware U1000 provides precise location information, while the comprehensive safety camera and driver assistance warning systems keep you safe on the road.

Its Safety Camera Alert function is always on the lookout for red lights, speed traps, and other traffic enforcement cameras. It also has an Advanced Driver System such as Forward Collision Warning System, Front Vehicle Departure Warning, and Lane Departure Warning.

Its Thinkware App and Thinkware Cloud - also included in the purchase - allow you to playback footage, check the location of your vehicle and receive geo-fencing and impact notifications directly on your compatible iOS or Android smartphone.

The U1000 can come with a Radar Module, which has to be bought separately. The Radar Module enables the dash cam to increase the time it spends in Parking Surveillance mode by using less power when it is in Energy Saving Mode 2.0. The dash cam activates and prepares to record when the Radar Module detects motion.

A 20 second video (ten seconds before and ten seconds after the collision) is saved in a special folder on the memory card if an impact is detected. The dash cam restarts Energy Saving Mode 2.0 when there are no detected impacts and stops saving the video.

The Miofive 4K + 2K dash cam made an aggressive move in competing with the Thinkware U1000. In terms of image resolution, the 4K and 2K capabilities, plus the Sony STARVIS sensors brought the two dash cams to a close fight.

However, for the Miofive, users must note that the dash cam has no expandable storage, so to stretch the storage capacity, you can either disable parking monitoring or reduce the resolution in the camera settings.

In terms of app and desktop compatibility by users, Android and Windows had no issues reading the Miofive. Meanwhile, iOS and macOS users had some errors connecting Miofive, saying that the disk was not readable - even after reformatting using macOS’s Disk Utility. This is something that we hope that Miofive can fix along the next few months.

This makes the U1000 - still - the defending champion for us. With its strong brand reputation for years, Thinkware has already mastered how every product and service should be efficient and useful for every customer.

For the image resolution, aside from the 4K + 2K and 8 MP Sony Starvis Sensors, the Thinkware U1000 also has a CPL filter to minimize the glare and produce ultra sharp videos. It also has a wider field of view compared to Miofive.

And for safety and convenience, the U1000 also offers Energy Saving Mode, ADAS and GPS. You can also get a Thinkware Radar module to maximize the parking surveillance system.

Clearly, the Thinkware U1000 is difficult to defeat. If you want to experience how powerful this dash cam is, go and get yours by clicking the button below!