Thinkware M1 Dual Channel vs. Blueskysea DV988 Motorcycle Dash Cam Review

The Blueskysea DV988 is a dual-channel motorcycle dash camera capable of recording 1080p full HD videos at 30 frames per second in both front and rear. This has a 140-degree field of view and a high dynamic range feature added to cover more of the scenes on the road. The footage is adequate during the day, but it is difficult to see at night and in low-light conditions.

For easier viewing of the videos, the DV988 includes a 4-inch 800x480 DPI touchscreen. However, if you will have the main unit installed under the seat, there’s no point in having a touch screen display. In the DV988’s case, the display is also dim, particularly in bright light. It can't compete with the sun outside, and there's no way to adjust its brightness.

The dash cam comes with a mobile app called RoadCam that allows you to watch and share your recordings. This is also the system where you can change the settings on your DV988. We looked at this app, and it appears to be very basic, especially considering it is a third-party app.

We also hope you can make the most of this feature, especially given Blueskysea's known Wi-Fi connectivity issues. If you’re one of the many customers who experienced this, the only way to get videos out is to dismantle the unit and access the micro SD card on your computer.

GPS is also built into this camera. However, there are times when the data does not correspond to the display. For example, we've seen many users who were testing the dash cams at home, but the display indicated that it was running at 240 KPH. This may sound funny, but not having the correct information while driving can lead to confusion and danger.

Blueskysea claims that its lenses are made of high-quality, weather-resistant materials - but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be cautious.

If you encounter water splashes, heavy rain, or floods, the dash cam is not durable enough to withstand this. The DV988 is also temperature sensitive, particularly in the summer and winter. Users have reported that on cold days, the display also freezes and never operates again.

The DV988 is equipped with Shock Recording - whereas when impact is detected, the recorded file will automatically be locked and won’t be overwritten.

It's also one of the few motorcycle dash cams with Parking Mode. However, do consider that if you install the main unit on the dashboard (so you can use the touchscreen), everything will be visible during parking mode, posing a high risk for theft.

Compared to cars, motorcycle batteries are smaller. Therefore, parking mode is something that we don’t really find necessary.

Launched in 2019, the Thinkware M1 is considered as one of the premium motorcycle dash cams in the market. In terms of capturing image and footage, the Thinkware M1 records 1080p full HD videos at 30 fps at 140-degree wide angles for both front and rear cams - similar with the Blueskysea DV988.

Although the video resolution and framerate of these two dash cams are similar, the quality is obviously different, in favor of the Thinkware M1. A 2.13 MP Sony STARVIS image sensor powers both the M1’s front and rear cameras, plus its new Super Night Vision 2.0 feature ensures crystal clear quality during day or night, and even in low light.

Image Stabilization is another feature of the Thinkware M1. Not all dash cams have this option, and Thinkware is advanced enough to address customers' concerns about shaky footage during their rides.

The M1 Motorsport Dash Cam's Image Stabilization feature employs advanced real-time image enhancement technologies to reduce device shakiness and motion blurring, ensuring smooth and steady recording regardless of terrain.

While the Blueskysea is sensitive to harsh environments and climate conditions, you should not be concerned when using the M1 dash cam. The IP66-rated M1 is designed for durability and water resistance, and it can withstand and record in extreme environments and temperatures. Whether you're riding on a hot summer day or in the midst of the cold, the Thinkware M1 is sure to capture your adventures.

The Thinkware M1 cam also includes WiFi, allowing you to connect to it remotely via your smartphone. You can save videos to your smartphone, phone, or tablet to share with friends and family instantly. The M1’s settings can also be configured on this app.

If you’re using a laptop or desktop, Thinkware also allows you to playback your footage with the Thinkware Viewer - showing your location, time and GPS data so you're always in the know.

The Thinkware M1 has a control pad, which you can also use to manually record specific moments. These manual recordings will be saved in a separate folder to avoid being overwritten by the camera's overwriting function.

Unlike most other motorcycle dash cams, the M1 also has the GPS antenna built right into the main unit, freeing up more space on your bike.

If you want a budget security dash camera for your motorcycle, the Blueskysea DV988 can do the job with its parking mode function - although it also gives you a high risk of theft as you will have to leave the unit in plain sight. We also know that motorcycle batteries are small, so activating the parking mode is not really a good idea.

In terms of storage - don’t be fooled. While the Blueskysea DV988 supports larger SD cards, the storage capacity of the SD card is fixed at 69% for normal videos, 30% for emergency videos, and 1% for photos. So, for a 128GB microSD card, you’re technically limited to just 88GB for normal driving footage.

And the Thinkware M1 has an exact solution for that concern - its Memory Partitioning feature. Aside from ensuring that you have enough storage space, the M1 also guarantees clearer footage with its Image Stabilization.

So if you want to record great quality footage, or have a reliable dash cam that will record your ride - in both relaxing and extreme environments? The Thinkware M1 is what you need.

There. We mentioned reliability because it is an important consideration before purchasing a dash cam or any other product that you will use on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it is also the most common source of complaints about the DV988.

A bunch of the reviews we've seen on the Blueskysea are about its durability and lifespan. It's unfortunate that these complaints did not come from just one, two, or three customers. Some people were able to use the DV988 for months, weeks, or even hours, while others received a defective unit right out of the box. What’s worse is that, since it's being shipped from China and is mostly available online, other customers had no choice but to spend again for the shipping and returns.

This is not the type of experience we want you to have, and obviously, this is not something that Thinkware would allow you to go through. Thinkware has been an established brand in manufacturing car and motorcycle surveillance devices - and we’re confident that its decades of experience in engineering premium dash cams have already satisfied thousands of customers worldwide.

In terms of image quality, weather and temperature resistance, connectivity, and dependability, the Thinkware M1 is unquestionably the superior choice. Sure, it costs a little more than the Blueskysea, but the dash cam's performance and long-term usability are guaranteed.

Furthermore, Thinkware is widely available in the market, so whatever experience you have with this dash cam, there is always a team of experts available to ensure that your ownership experience is worth it.