Thinkware U3000 vs. BlackVue DR970X Plus 2-Ch 4K UHD

Looking for a premium 4K dash cam? Look no further than BlackVue or Thinkware. While Thinkware continues to make waves with its flagship Thinkware U3000, BlackVue has recently launched their most premium dash cam, the BlackVue DR970X Plus equipped with the hotly awaited Sony STARVIS 2 image sensors.

Both the Thinkware U3000 and the BlackVue DR970X Plus are fully equipped with the most innovative and advanced features in terms of video quality, parking mode, Cloud connectivity, and overall convenience. The question is, how close is the competition between these two 4K premium dash cam gods? Let’s find out.

Like other Thinkware dash cams, the Thinkware U3000 looks sleek in its smooth matte black finish. Compared to the Thinkware U1000, the front lens area is bigger, with a ‘RADAR’ label beside the lens, and a front plate that hangs lower off of the windshield, while the rest of the body stays slim. Its rear camera is wider than a standard rear camera, to accommodate the built-in radar module in this rear camera, something wholly unique to the U3000.

While the front camera of the U3000 doesn’t rotate, the plate with the lens can be rotated ~60 degrees. Plenty for the vast majority of vehicles, but a bit short for vertical windshields. For its rear camera, we found that it’s designed to be rotated with a coin slot, where you can also use your key to do so. More importantly, we appreciate that the Thinkware U3000 has a new ventilation system on the underside of the front unit. It has a stylish crossed ventilation grill design for better cooling.

On the other hand, the BlackVue DR970X Plus keeps its award-winning all-black tube-shaped design like the previous DR970X. The matte black finish keeps it low-key, perfect for hiding behind your rearview mirror. We also noticed that the body of the front unit is no longer perfectly cylindrical, Instead, there's a flat strip with horizontal stripes One thing to note is that the new design means the existing CPL filter won't fit due to the longer snout, and BlackVue has stated there won’t be a release of a new CPL filter. The rear camera is also unchanged, and typically small.

Moreover, the DR970X has a USB type-c port for the CM100 LTE Module, a port for the rear camera, and a microSD card slot. What's interesting is the new Format button, replacing the old wifi button. It's a small change, but it makes using third-party cards much easier, a welcome improvement. The front camera of the BlackVue DR970X Plus is also designed with a larger aperture lens to capture and let in more light, causing the front unit’s body to be larger to accommodate. When more light is let in, it produces a shallow depth of field that improves overall video quality, which leads us to the next segment.

Regarding resolution, the major upgrade for both these dash cams is the Sony STARVIS 2 image sensors. The Thinkware U3000 carries an 8MP Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 for its front camera, covering a 158-degree field of view, which we learned is the widest among Thinkware dash cams. For the Thinkware U3000’s rear camera, the secondary cam is equipped with a 2K QHD 5-megapixel Sony STARVIS IMX335, covering an angle of 128-degrees.

On the other hand, the BlackVue DR970X Plus dash cam sports the same 8MP Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensor for the front camera at a 146-degree field of view, with its rear full HD camera covering 131°, an 8° decrease compared to the previous model, due to a slightly different lens. Still, the BlackVue DR970X Plus’ main camera has a new aperture lens, upgrading from F/2.8 to F/1.7, that captures more light resulting in clearer and more vibrantly coloured videos.

The DR970X Plus series also boasts a shutter speed three times quicker than its predecessors, giving more stable and smoother details in the dashcam videos, especially when capturing important elements like license plates and road signs. While these models do not feature High Dynamic Range (HDR) for a broader range of colours, both compensate by tuning the camera for optimal low-light performance.

Another noteworthy improvement is the adoption of better video compression technology. The DR970X Plus camera now uses H.265 compression, which allows it to record at a higher speed of 60 megabits per second. Considering these enhancements, the DR970X Plus has also addressed storage concerns by upgrading its capacity to support a 512GB SD card – a huge leap from the former 256GB limit.

Checking both dash cams, we noticed the enhanced white balance, dynamic range, and overall video exposure in daytime and nighttime videos. Thanks to their significant upgrades, a new SigmaStarCPU with ISP tuning software. However, regarding low light conditions and night driving, the Thinkware U3000 delivers the greatest with its Super Night Vision 4.0!

Both the Thinkware U3000 and the BlackVue DR970X Plus have parking mode. BlackVue included a hardwiring kit in its DR970X package to enable these features. Meanwhile, quite different from all previous models, the Thinkware U3000 comes standard with an OBD power cable. This OBD cable allows for a plug-and-play connection, while offering the exact same functionality as the hardwire kit. But don’t worry, because if you want to hardwire your U3000, you can still get a hardwiring kit separately. BlackVue does not have an OBD cable option, a point for Thinkware there.

Now, regarding parking mode recording options, the BlackVue DR970X Plus has standard motion and impact detection, buffered recording, and time-lapse recording. While we already find BlackVue’s parking mode advanced, the Thinkware U3000 beats the BlackVue standards. It can do motion and impact detection, buffered recording, Energy Saving Parking mode, and a super useful feature called Smart Parking mode.

Aside from having more parking mode options, the Thinkware U3000 now has dual built-in RADAR sensors- yup, external radar needed no more! This means that when a person or vehicle is detected in a low-power recording situation, the U3000 immediately wakes up and starts recording.   more energy efficient than any other camera on the market, more than tripling the duration of parking mode. Read more about RADAR here. On top of these features, both have built-in voltage monitoring systems, ensuring that your vehicle battery stays protected.

Still, if you are looking to extend parking mode for either of these cameras, a battery pack is firmly recommended. Learn more about the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 here.

We can say that both the Thinkware U3000 and BlackVue DR970X Plus have gathered all the premium features of a dash cam and squeezed them all together in these sleek devices. For example, in terms of connectivity, both are equipped with GPS, 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, and Bluetooth. With these options, connecting to the Thinkware App and BlackVue app is easier compared to other dedicated dash cam smartphone apps.

However, we want to put stress on Bluetooth connectivity. While other premium dash cams heavily rely on Wi-Fi for pairing, both the BlackVue DR970X Plus and Thinkware U3000 have been integrated with Bluetooth technology that allows hassle-free dash cam pairing with your compatible Android or iOS device. Once paired, manage your dash cam’s settings and check on recording notifications with the app even without connecting to the Wi-Fi. Once wifi is needed, the Bluetooth of the camera will seamlessly pair to the camera’s wifi. The Thinkware U3000 is the first Thinkware to have built-in Bluetooth, while the DR970X Plus boasts BlackVue’s Seamless Pairing technology. Regardless, these are both kings of connection.

Beyond that, the Thinkware U3000 also has Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Speed Camera Alerts. With its Safety Camera Alert feature, you will receive audio warnings from your U300 when approaching a wide variety of road safety cameras, including Red Light Warning system, Speed Camera Warning system, Red Light and Speed Camera Warning system, Average Speed Warning system, and a Mobile Zone warning system. For the Advanced Driver Assist System, it keeps you protected with the standard Thinkware ADAS like Forward Collision Warning system, Front Vehicle Departure Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and a new addition, Rear Collision Warning system.

We love the fact that on top of the safety features of the U3000, it also added Cloud connectivity through Thinkware Connected. Going over the features, the U3000 lets you enjoy Impact Notifications when Parked and driving, Send Emergency Messages, Remote Live-View, Vehicle Status and Geo-Fencing. Some recent add-ons that we think are particularly impressive are the ability to monitor the live voltage of the vehicle, and remotely turn off the camera through the app as needed. Beyond that, they now have a full driving history map too, which using the Cloud, can provide multiple months' worth of driving data, if needed.

On the other hand, there’s our all-time favourite BlackVue Cloud for the BlackVue DR970X Plus. Compared to Thinkware Connected, we must say that the BlackVue Cloud is way more advanced in terms of overall features.

Talking about the Cloud features, it has Video Playback and Remote Live View feature that allows you to check on your car from anywhere. This is useful if you leave your car unattended, when someone else drives your vehicle, or when you’re managing a fleet for your business. Moreover, the moment an impact or even motion is detected, your BlackVue will automatically send a notification to your phone or your web browser, accompanied by a snapshot for reference.

The latest addition to the BlackVue Cloud features is the Event Map. It combines data from the dash cam with a crowd-sourced map to display events such as impacts, hard brake incidents, and even playback videos - making it ideal for both fleet management and personal driving. It also has Two-Way Voice Calls, and a Cloud Storage that can support up to 5GB of storage for free.

If you wish to connect to the Cloud instantly, the DR970X Plus is compatible with the CM100G LTE module, which you will get for free if you purchase a new BlackVue from us during this period!

Both are under the premium dash cams segment, so expect a high price tag for both compared to other budget 4K dash cams like VIOFO A229 Pro. The BlackVue DR970X Plus 2CH is priced at $469.99 USD, while the Thinkware U3000 2-channel costs $549.99 USD. This price difference can be attributed to the built-in radar sensors, and included OBD cable with the Thinkware U3000.

The Thinkware U3000 and BlackVue DR970X Plus are the frontrunners for each brand, and we highly appreciate how these 4K dash cams have taken standards way up high. Both will have a long-lasting home in our catalogue. However, since this is a comparison review, we will emphasize the areas where we think one excels at over the other. First, they are both designed to be discreet, just like how most premium dash cams do.

Next, video resolution. While both the Thinkware U3000 and BlackVue DR970X Plus carry the world’s most advanced 8MP Sony STARVIS 2, there are still a few differences in terms of capturing images and footage. The Thinkware U3000 has Super Night Vision 4.0, so it can record clearer videos even in low-light conditions. Beyond that, the 2K rear camera with a 5MP image sensor of the U3000 is quite the jump up from BlackVue’s 1080p rear. Still, we want to commend how the DR970X Plus has larger lenses and quicker shutter speeds, which we think will do a very good job in highway driving.

Regarding parking mode and security, the built-in radar detector, energy saving mode, smart temperature parking mode, and ADAS and Safety Camera alerts of the Thinkware U3000 also had our votes. These are all super advanced features that no other dash cam can offer, so we believe it’s worth noting, especially for those who want to go big in car security. Connectivity wise, we love how both are equally equipped with Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. However, the built-in Bluetooth of the U3000 has made our lives easier.

The one thing that made us prefer BlackVue over Thinkware is the Cloud. The BlackVue Cloud is still the best for us, especially for its Cloud features that keeps you in the know of your vehicle, wherever you are in the world. And of course, in terms of pricing, BlackVue DR970X Plus is still more affordable than Thinkware U3000 - but we can’t really question it as the U3000’s superior features are totally worth every cent.