Thinkware ARC 900 Dash Cam

W Rene

October 8, 2026

Automated dashcam with continuous recording capability, and excellent picture quality.

This THINKWARE ARC 800 dash cam offers a whole lot of features, and the bottom line is, it's worth it.

The kit arrives with the front camera, small rear camera, and a collection of installation accessories. Cables are included to connect the rear camera to front, hardwire to power source, or a USB C cable to connect to your own power source. A self adhesive mounting pad for your windshield and trim tool help keep things secure and neat. Installation instructions are via a QR code mobile download. A 32GB microSD card was included and I swapped it for a 256GB.

For install I chose the hardwire option. A generous length of power cable can be routed to wherever you choose to hook up. It's a 3 wire connection with a constant +12VDC, switched +12VDC, and ground. Inline fuses are integrated into the hardwire kit, but you should connect to protected power sources. It connects to the cam with a USB C plug. After that I ran the cable to the rear of the vehicle for the rear camera. The included trim tool helped tuck it away, and it was easier than expected. Once the wiring was complete I powered up the cam, went through initial setup, connected to my phone via wifi, and finished adjusting simple settings. I wanted to use my phone(Android) to view the camera image for aiming, but it wouldn't display after repeated attempts. I ended up using the camera's display and it was adequate. I got the front and rear cameras functioning, and in place, and moved on. The main camera can be placed so it's not distracting while driving, and the rear camera is hardly noticeable.

The nice thing about this camera is that it's a set and forget type of product. You can adjust settings for continuous recording, or incident only. After that it will do it's thing until you need to review footage. No need to push buttons before/after you drive, or fiddle with it in traffic. That's a huge asset.

To review footage you can go through the camera display with simple taps and up/down left/right swipes, or connect your phone and review/save it on your mobile device. Both are simple to navigate, and reletively intuitive. The memory card can be removed and data extracted with a PC.

The recorded footage is very good quality. The images are clear and low light performance is excellent. Both cameras provide an excellent field of view to capture as much of the surrounding environment as possible. Sound can also be set to be recorded for a full record of any saved event. The recorded footage is what having this is all about, and it doesn't disappoint.

So, if you want a dash cam that doesn't need constant attention with great picture quality, this is an excellent choice. I've installed a lot of mobile electronics in the past, and this was surprisingly easy to put together. Combine the performance, ease of use, and excellent recorded footage, and you have a top quality product that's better than it's price point suggests. 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Excellent dash cam with great video quality

Excellent dash cam with great video quality!

I’m very happy with this dash cam. The 4K video quality is excellent, and both the front and rear cameras provide very clear footage. The night vision is also impressive and gives me extra peace of mind when driving at night. I really like the touchscreen, GPS, Wi-Fi connection, and parking mode features. The app is easy to use, and the overall setup was straightforward. It feels like a high-quality, well-made product and has everything I was looking for in a dash cam. Definitely worth the purchase and I would highly recommend it!

Excellent picture quality and easy to use

Excellent picture quality and easy to use

I’m really impressed with this dash cam. The 4K video quality is excellent and captures a lot of detail, even while driving at higher speeds. I also really like having the rear camera for extra coverage.

The camera has a clean, compact design and was easy to install. The app makes it very convenient to view and download videos without having to remove the memory card.

Overall, it’s a great dash cam and gives me extra peace of mind every time I’m on the road. Very happy with this purchase!

Excellent Dash Cam - Clear, Reliable, and Easy to Use!

I’m very happy with my Thinkware dash cam! The video quality is clear during both the day and night, and the camera is reliable and easy to use. Installation was straightforward, and the app makes it simple to access and download recordings. It gives me extra peace of mind whenever I’m driving. I highly recommend Thinkware to anyone looking for a dependable, high-quality dash cam!

Solid Dash Cam with Great Screen Features But Be Ready to Tuck Extra Wires

This dash cam arrives in clean, well-organized packaging that makes unboxing effortless. Every component has its own dedicated spot, making it easy to sort through the parts, and nothing was missing from the box. Assembly itself is intuitive thanks to the tidy layout, though it is worth noting that the product relies entirely on a QR code for digital setup instructions rather than printed manuals, so having a smartphone on hand is required. While the online instructions are clear and easy to follow, the setup process could be improved with better labeling on individual parts or a key in the guide, as it wasn't immediately obvious what a few pieces were for. The most tedious part of the installation was managing the extra wiring. The cords are quite long, leaving a lot of slack, and the instructions offer no tips or recommendations for wire management.

​In terms of performance and everyday functionality, this unit really shines. The responsive touchscreen interface makes navigating settings easy, and adjusting the camera angles once mounted is smooth and simple. When the car turns on, the display shows views from both cameras before darkening after a few seconds, which is a thoughtful design touch that minimizes night-driving distractions while a small indicator light confirms it is still active. Having continuous recording offers great peace of mind for every trip, though Android Auto users should note that wireless connection to the phone temporarily drops when connecting directly to the camera to review video clips.

​Despite the minor wire management hassle and lack of part labeling, the sleek design, reliable continuous recording, and user-friendly features make it an excellent choice overall. (Note: As of this review, I have not yet tested how many seconds before an impact the emergency clips save, nor have I hit memory capacity to see how data retention/overwriting warnings function).

A feature-packed, high-performance dash cam

It certainly lives up to its title as a premium dash cam—it's packed with high-end specs. It features a 4K front camera paired with a 1080P rear camera, with both supporting HDR. Thanks to the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor and AI Night Vision, its nighttime performance is exceptionally sharp and clear.

The contrast with my old setup is night and day. In pitch-black conditions without streetlights, my previous dash cam couldn't even capture grass or trees clearly. The THINKWARE ARC800, on the other hand, recorded everything with striking clarity. Beyond the impressive hardware, it comes packed with features like speed camera alerts, driver assistance systems (ADAS), and parking surveillance modes. Overall, it's an exceptionally powerful, well-rounded dash cam

Angel Smurf

August 29, 2026

Easy Installation with Clear, Clean Video

This dash cam was easy to install and set up. I was impressed with how straightforward the process was without a lot of frustration.

The image quality is excellent. The front camera produces clean, clear video, and the rear camera also provides a good picture. Having both front and rear coverage gives me added peace of mind while driving.

The video looks sharp and detailed, which is exactly what I want from a dash cam if I ever need to review footage.

Pros:

* Easy installation

* Clean, clear image quality

* Sharp 4K front video

* Front and rear coverage

* Good-quality rear image

* Straightforward setup

Cons:

* None so far

Overall, this is a quality front and rear dash cam that’s easy to install and delivers clear, detailed footage.

0:34

Feature-Packed Dash Cam with Excellent Video Quality

This dash cam feels like a substantial upgrade from the more basic models I've used in the past. It has a lot of useful features, including a 4K front camera, 1080P rear camera, enhanced night vision, an easy-to-use touchscreen, and Wi-Fi capabilities for convenient remote viewing.

I found it easier than my previous dash cam to get everything set up and working the way I wanted. The touchscreen makes navigating the settings straightforward, and the video quality is very nice, with clear footage that feels like a significant step up from an entry-level camera.

I especially appreciate having both front and rear coverage rather than relying on a front-facing camera alone. Overall, this feels like a well-equipped model with enough current technology and features that I expect to be happy using it for years before feeling the need to upgrade again.

Good image quality, some potential drawbacks

I've had two Thinkware dashcams so far (F200 and Q200), and when this ARC800 popped up, I figured I'd see whether the higher end ones are worth their cost. The video I've attached compares all three, back-to-back in similar lighting conditions.

To cut to the chase- video quality is nice, definitely a huge step up from a1080p cam. Overall, contrast and clarity is higher than the F/Q200, though at night, you'll still have a hard time making out license plates. It really is more of a tool for capturing events, rather than details. Considering that simple functionality, I feel like springing for a camera that's twice the cost of the Q200 is a tough sell. The app, once you get it working, is pretty easy to use. You can adjust sensitivity of the collision detection to suit your car and road conditions.

This ARC800 is pretty easy to install, and the adhesive used is INCREDIBLY strong, even in Phoenix's summer heat- it took an hour to remove the old mount using floss and isopropyl alcohol, after it had been attached for 5 years. Even so, if you only lightly touch your new adhesive to the windshield, you can get it off again as you figure out initial positioning. Once you press it hard though, it's stuck.

Be aware that The ARC800 kit does NOT come with everything you need to get running, which is a bit disappointing for the price. It has a USB C cable, and a hardwiring kit, but no 12V outlet USB C charger, ODB kit or fuse wiring kit. Depending on your needs, you'll probably have to buy one of those to use this. I thankfully already had a 12V outlet USB C charger.

A 32GB card is included. Considering that each one-minute front-camera video is 240MB, you might want to get a larger, high endurance SD micro card, especially if you are using both front and rear cameras.

The cables that are included are very long, however, so they'll be able to get wherever you need them to go, tucked into the trim of the car. The rear camera cable is easily long enough to get to the back of my hatchback.

For the hardwire kit- I'm not using it, because it slowly drains the car battery and I don't drive regularly enough. You need to drive for an hour or something every 2 days to keep the battery topped up. My car also gets too hot in Phoenix for the supplementary lithium battery Thinkware sells AND the ARC800's regular parking mode, though I do appreciate there is a low power mode that maintains some level of functionality inside of an extra-hot car.

Setup was a little clunky, since the first QR code the app tells you to scan actually doesn't work- I had to hit "next" or "skip" which brought me to a usable one. The fact that you have to scan the QR to connect to it is also a huge problem if you're in a state where you have to mount the cam in the front corner of the windshield, since you won't be able to reach it or access the screen. This cam is also somewhat large, and if you have an instrument cluster around the mirror, you might not be able to use it in a state with restrictive positioning rules.

I also find it annoying with Thinkware cameras that you have to save your video in the app, then export it to your videos, otherwise it's hidden on your phone, taking up space.

All that said, it's still a good camera, there are just a lot of considerations to make as to whether the ARC800 is the right fit for you and your vehicle.

0:26

Best dashcam I’ve used!

Finally stopped worrying every time I park

I'm a personal trainer in NYC and I'm driving between Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens pretty much every day. My car is basically my office at this point. It's also been broken into before, and they took my airbag, so I've spent a lot of time parking somewhere and just hoping for the best.

The THINKWARE ARC900 fixed that.

Radar parking mode and real-time alerts were the main reasons I bought it. Radar parking mode keeps watch while I'm inside with a client, so I'm not sitting through a session wondering what's going on outside. If something happens, I get a real-time alert on my phone. Super Night Vision 4.0 is genuinely clear too, which matters more than people think. A lot of my sessions end after dark, and grainy night footage is useless if something actually happens.

The other thing I was worried about was battery drain, since the car sits parked for long stretches between clients. It hasn't been an issue once. Starts every morning.

Installation was straightforward and pulling footage off the app is easy.

If you park on the street in a city, this is worth every penny.

Glad I switched, totally worth it!

Everything arrived quickly and well-packaged. Found a shop near my relatives' place, about 20 minutes away, install took roughly 3 hours and I just worked remotely on my laptop while they handled it. Staff walked me through everything before I left.

The Radar Parking Mode has honestly surprised me most. It picks up motion from 23 feet away and wakes itself up if there's an impact, recording 10 seconds before and after. So it's not running non-stop draining my battery or filling my SD card, it only kicks in when something actually happens. After someone clipped my mirror once with zero footage to show for it, having this now is a real relief.

The LTE Module might be my favorite feature though. With the THINKWARE CONNECTED app, I can check on my car in real time from anywhere. Got an impact alert on my phone once, pulled up Remote Live View, and saw it was just a shopping cart bumping my bumper, nothing serious, but knowing instantly was worth a lot. Also used it to find my car in a packed garage more than once.

App is easy to use, video's sharp with clear audio, and it works great with Apple CarPlay. Make sure you read the manual and contact their customer support because it can be a little confusing at first.

Overall, highly recommend the ARC900, especially with the Radar and LTE add-ons. Way more peace of mind than my old dash cam ever gave me.

Impressive image quality

I’m not the type of person who writes reviews unless a product really impresses me.

My husband and I decided it was important to install dash cams in both our cars. After doing some research and reading reviews, the image quality sold me on this model; we bought two different versions, and surprisingly, both are excellent. The image quality is top-notch.

We’ve only been using them for a few days, so I plan to come back later with an update.

Excellent image.

Easy to install and set up. The image quality is excellent, both during the day and at night. Connecting to the app over Wi-Fi was quick and hassle-free. Overall, it’s a great dash cam with solid performance and very good value for the money. Highly recommended!

DM

March 13, 2026

Excellent dash cam with outstanding video quality

First, this dash cam is a bit more expensive than many other cameras you’ll find here. There’s a reason for that. I’ve owned several different brands and models over the years with prices ranging from $50 to $300. The cheaper cams ranging from $50 to $150 cram in lots of bells and whistles but fall short when it comes to video quality, which is actually the most important part of a dash cam. They tend to upscale their video to 4k size, but they’re not true 4k, and once you experience higher end cameras you’ll realize that pretty quickly.

The last $300 cam I bought, before I got the Arc 900, had very good video quality but reliability was lacking. At times it would overheat and the double sided adhesive would fail because the mount was too small for the weight of the camera. The Arc 900 has a decent size mount more than capable of keeping the camera on the windshield and not dangling from its wires.

Another advantage is the ability to remove the camera from the mount if you ever decide to not leave the camera in the car.

Connecting to the cameras WiFi is pretty straightforward. You hit the WiFi button on the screen and it generates a QR code. With the app open, you select connect, aim your phone at the code and it connects. Downloading recorded video takes about 15 to 20 seconds. There’s also road safety options that will alert you to a vehicle starting to move in front of you when stopped at a light. An alert when your stop light turns green is also nice. This works pretty consistently, even when 3 or 4 car lengths back.

I did purchase the parking mode cable and that option works very well with motion detection and any movement or banging on the car.

One thing the app does not have is the ability to view a map with your GPS information. The video will display your speed but not location when viewed in the app or when viewing downloaded video on your phone. It will display this information if you view it on your PC or MAC using Thinkwares computer software, which is free to download. So that information is there, it’s just not as convenient as being able to see it on the phone application.

Overall this is a great, high quality reliable dash cam.

1:41

RW

January 19, 2026

Looks good, works and doesn't feel cheap

This camera system was easy to install in my 2019 F250. It came with all the cables and hardware needed to install it. I like the design as it blends in well with the newer vehicles that it looks like its supposed to be there. I Installed this unit during the winter so I have been unable to see if it holds up in the heat of summer. The setup was pretty straightforward and well documented on the website. So far the only couple of issues I have had with this is sometimes when I remote start the truck or when I enter the truck before starting it will trigger the parking recording and will continue to record even after I start driving. The only way to stop it and reset is to pull the power connecter and plug it back in. The other issue I have is connecting to the device from my phone is clunky and tends to disconnect frequently. If only it would stop the recording when it senses the ignition powering up or shortly after that could be easily avoided. The video quality is is really good and the wide angle provides excellent coverage. I like the parking mode recording since I do tend to park in public lots from time to time. overall this seems like a decent camera that feels and looks well made and not cheap plastic garbage.

0:09

Alex

December 28, 2025

Best camera yet, tons of features and looks great

Best dash cam yet. I have tried several of these over the last couple of years, and this one is definitely high-end for sure. To be fair, the others were in a much lower price range, but when I saw this come up, I thought I would give it a try, and I was not disappointed.

This is the first camera I’ve had that records parking events, which was a big plus for me. Unfortunately, this requires you to wire this into your car’s fuse box as it needs constant power and accessory switch power to know when you are parked or driving. Overall, this does make for a much cleaner install, but it just takes a little more time and requires minimal knowledge of automotive electrical. The instructions do explain this very well. They also give you the option to power this with a standard 12V power adapter, but if your vehicle turns off the accessory power port like mine does, then you won’t be able to record parking events. If your car has an always-on 12V port, then the camera will be able to monitor the car’s battery voltage so I can smartly tell whether the car is running or not and switch to parking mode as needed. It also has low-voltage detection so if your car is out in the cold and the voltage drops too much, it will shut down the camera. From my testing, I measured about 200mA draw from the camera during parking mode; this is minimal, but over a long period of time, I can see how it would pull down your battery without the built-in battery protection.

The user interface is quite nice, and the app control is much better than other ones. The buttons are well designed to function with the system’s UI. It also pops up little hints when opening things like replaying recorded events; it reminds you how to scan faster or zoom in.

One of my favorite things is how it segments the memory card and reserves space for different events. This way, it will always keep a certain amount of driving, parking, and motion events. For example, I was driving and hit a huge pothole, and the camera made a little beep. Later, I looked at the files on the SD card, and the motion events of hitting the pothole were recorded and saved separately from the normal driving. This makes it really easy to find out things that happen while driving.

I find the parking mode to be a little sensitive, but I guess I’d rather have that than it never recording when it should have. Just opening the car door is sometimes enough to trigger a parking event record, not a big deal, but then when you start the car, it lets you know how many motion and event triggers were recorded.

If you’re looking for a sleek high-end camera that has all the features, then this one is for you. My one small complaint is that I wish it came with a larger SD card for the price they charge. I suppose I will upgrade it someday, but honestly, it holds several months’ worth of driving for me, so in reality, that is plenty of time.

Premium Front & Rear Dash Cam With Everything You Need

This THINKWARE ARC 900 2CH is an excellent, truly premium front and rear dash cam system. From the moment you open the box, it’s clear this kit is designed to be a complete, no-compromises solution.

The 4K front camera paired with the 2K rear camera delivers outstanding detail, which is exactly what you want from a high-end dash cam. If capturing license plates, fine details, and overall image clarity matters to you, this system absolutely delivers. The dual STARVIS 2 sensors and HDR make a noticeable difference, especially in challenging lighting conditions.

What really sets this kit apart is that it includes everything you need for a full, professional install. The included memory card and hardwiring cable mean there’s no need to buy extra accessories just to get started. Advanced parking mode, GPS, fast 5GHz Wi-Fi, and the responsive 3.5" touchscreen all contribute to a very polished user experience.

This is not a budget dash cam, but it’s also not trying to be. If you’re looking for maximum detail, reliability, and a complete front-and-rear setup right out of the box, this system is well worth the investment. If you want one of the best dash cam systems available and don’t mind paying for premium quality, this is the one to get.

customer

December 14, 2025

A great front and rear full featured dash cam that provides crisp videos, even in low light.

The Thinkware ARC 9000 is an awesome dash cam. It has a sleek design and both front and rear facing cameras. The front camera records in crystal clear 4K UHD and the rear camera delivers an impressive video in 2K, which is more than adequate to record what's going on behind your car. The unit can be installed via either the included hardwire kit, which I didn't do because it's a little tricky to hook up in my particular vehicle, or a 12V adaptor. The adaptor works great so I'm just going to use that. I ran the cable beneath the carpet and up around the car's trim to hide it. I then ran the cable for the rear camera through the car to the back through the trim. Installation was very easy and took me about 30 minutes total.

The video quality on this camera is fantastic, going as high as 60FPS to capture motion with less blur. It has 2 channel recording, so you can record both the rear and front cameras at the same time. The video is recorded with high dynamic range to help improve contrast and clarity. The night vision is excellent snd provides crisp, clear images and it does not 'blow out' due to headlight/street lamp glare like some other older units. The dual Starvis sensors work very well in low light, picking up great detail.

The unit connects to your phone over built in WIFI via the app (no bluetooth), allowing you to download videos, change settings, etc. The unit does not connect to cellular, so you won't get real time alerts. You need to be close to the vehicle with the unit powered on to receive data from the dash cam. The dash cam's touchscreen interface is responsive and clean with a large display that makes it super easy to play back videos, change settings, or switch modes right there on the camera.

The dash cam does have parking surveillance mode, which is great for monitoring the vehicle when you are not around (like if someone bumps your car in the parking lot or tries to break in) but this only works with the hard wire kit, and not the 12V adaptor because it needs constant power. Also, again, you won't get real time alerts when you aren't at your vehicle, but it is still useful for identifying what happened after the fact.

The dash cam comes with a 64GB card, which is fine and will store several hours of video, but it is on the small end of storage, so if you want to keep more videos for longer you will need to upgrade to a larger card.

The dash cam also offers smart driving alerts, to alert you of traffic lights, cars starting to move ahead of you, etc.

This dash cam is great. Yes, it's a little on the pricey side ($419.99 at time of review) but it is more than worth it for the build quality, rich features, and peace of mind that it provides.

Good Performing Camera

This is my 2nd Thinkware camera (my first is the 5 year old Q800pro, still in use) and a welcome addition to my new Chevy Trax. There are so many dash cams available it's overwhelming. I find Thinkware to be a reputable dash cam name that's been around. Feels like the other odd named dash cams disappear when the bad reviews pile up, only to reappear with a new name and brand.

The THINKWARE ARC 900 is an improvement to my 5 year old Q800PRO. It has many more features and capabilities, and a step up in video quality. At this price it's not a casual purchase and is a small investment in car accessories but one I consider necessary to legally protect myself. It can be connected to the car's 12v power adapter but a hardwire cable is included for a much cleaner and professional looking installation. The rear camera must be connected to the front unit by wire. It does not have wireless connectivity.

The front camera can record 4K UHD (3840×2160) and the rear records up to 2K QHD. You can choose framerate options, 4K/30 fps or 2K/60 fps up front and support for 60 fps in some front/rear combinations, so you can pick your balance between resolution and motion clarity. If you want to read license plates or capture fast-moving events, that sensor/framerate combo helps but don't plan on reading plate numbers at night, and even daytime can be iffy unless your really close. I could read plate numbers while stopped at lights.

Video quality is good just don't expect it to play like a movie. Night footage is noticeably cleaner and better exposed than older generations and cheaper cameras. Glare from headlights is better compensated for but still noticeably present. The video has better natural color and contrast and not oversharp. So many dash cams produce a video with an odd "feel" , but this video looks more real and believable. Practically, this produces clear daytime footage with strong detail and usable night clips on roads with at least some ambient lighting, a nice step up compared with many 1080p dash cams.

Hardware and build: the ARC 900’s 3.5-inch touchscreen is a big plus for on-device control and quick playback without having to go to your phone app. Although this does make the device larger and much more noticeable. The panel is responsive, not requiring hard or multiple pushes, and bright enough for menu navigation and video playback. Connectivity is with built-in 5 GHz Wi-Fi for device control, file transfers, video playback and live view on the Thinkware Dash Cam Link app. You need to connect your phone to the Thinkware Wi-Fi, this isn't Bluetooth. The device has GPS so recorded files include time/speed/location data and can trigger alerts when enabled. The package includes a hardwiring cable and a 64 GB microSD card, a welcome addition as I had to buy these separate with my older dash cam.

Multiple parking and power features are included and one of the ARC 900’s selling points. Parking modes include energy-saving motion/impact detection, time-lapse/low-fps recording to extend parked monitoring duration, and a “smart” mode that protects the unit from heat by switching power behavior if the car gets too hot. These modes require the hardwiring cable or optional OBD-II cable and can capture hit-and-run or vandalism events without constantly draining the car battery. Continuous 24/7 monitoring is not recommended.

The software and app are mostly intuitive and self explanatory. The app connects via the ARC 900's own wi-fi network. File management and GPS overlays are straightforward, and the on-screen menus are well organized. Thinkware’s ADAS-style alerts: front vehicle departure, traffic signal warnings and safety-camera alerts are useful if you want to enable them. The included 64 GB card is adequate for typical loop recording with the front at 4K and rear at 2K for several hours of footage before older files are overwritten. This is enough to pull a recording of an event that just recently happened but I would use a larger card.

This model does not have cell network connectivity. There is no real-time alerts or remote live view. You will have to be within the cameras built in wi-fi range to access the camera.

Overall I am very pleased with this camera.

Be aware the video I uploaded is with a very bright first light sun shining right at me during most of the video, and a little shaking because it was not solidly mounted. I had not yet decided exactly where I wanted it to mount permanently.

1:00

Not bad at all but far from perfect either

I’ve been using this dash cam for a month now, and I must admit, I have mixed feelings about it. On the positive side, it’s well-built, looks and feels sturdy, and is very reliable. It also provides very good image quality, both at night and during the day (although it’s not superior to other IMX415 sensor-based cams, like the 70mai A800S, for instance). However, there’s a downside. It uses only proprietary cables, which means if you already have some wires left in your car from your previous dash can set, you’re out of luck — you won’t be able to reuse those cables, which could save you time (and probably money) on installation. This dash cam set uses a mini-USB to micro-USB cable to connect the rear camera to the main one, and a barrel-type power connector on the main camera. This eliminates the possibility to use any alternative power sources like USB-A or USB-C connectors inside your car. You’re forced to use either the cigarette lighter adapter or the fuse box hardware kit (both included in the box). Overall, I don’t think I can recommend this dash cam set. The proprietary cables and connectors make it somewhat irrational to buy.

Meh considering the price

Short version: the night-time image performance isn't bad, but it suffers a little bit from glare and the overall image fidelity feels very fuzzy. All the other accessories are nice-to-have but both the power and rear camera are pretty proprietary when it comes to cables/power, the camera swivels aren't "infinite", it uses teeth which limits swivel adjustment. It does come with a hardwire kit but it doesn't use fuse taps, meaning you're meant to manually insert a cable with a fuse. The app can be temperamental (requiring the app to be restarted) but functionally is useable. Overall, it works fine but it doesn't feel like it's worth the $330 price at the time of this review

Long version:

This dashcam feels a bit underwhelming, especially given the price. I'll start off with the night time image quality. It can identify plates decently well, but if you got headlights shining directly on a plate, you'll have issues that other dashcams I've tested w/ a Sony IMX678 sensor (e.g. Vantrue S1 Pro Max, 70mai A810 and T800, Ombar T1) handles a lot better. The other parts of the video during night time is somehow more fuzzy. Rear camera works fine, but isn't anything too special.

The hardware is also a bit of a mixed bag. The build quality isn't bad but the use of cheaper-feeling plastic makes this thing feel less premium. Unlike most other dashcams it uses 12V input through a barrel jack instead of 5V over USB-C. You do get a cigarette lighter for power, but this also means you're stuck with that for power if say, you wanted to remove your dashcam away from the car and power it on by your desk. This dashcam doesn't have a display, so if you're adjusting the dashcam's adhesive mount you'll have to power it on in the car and enabling the wifi.

You do get a hardwire kit but there are no fuse taps, meaning you're meant to take the cable ends and just squish it in along side with your fuse which feels a bit unpolished. There is a plug for "Radar" but it's an active radar emitter for parking mode that detects motion, rather than a radar detector. The rear camera also for some reason uses a micro-USB cable on the dashcam side and a mini-USB on the rear-camera side. Functionally this isn't an issue, but it is when it comes to compatibility with other dashcams, and using microUSB/miniUSB in 2025 feels a bit...outdated and it forces you to use a somewhat proprietary cable. You do get a 64GB microSD card, which feels a bit on the small side but it works fine otherwise. This dashcam is physically pretty wide, but it's pretty squished so finding somewhere to install is less of an issue. I'd like to point out though the adhesive mount plate is pretty flimsy, thankfully it keeps the dashcam installed very well and during use this isn't an issue.

The app is a bit of a mixed bag. Thankfully you don't need an account, and even though it doesn't have an easy-to-remember default password, you can pair it through the app (the app will require bluetooth and wifi permissions, once you push the wifi button for 3 buttons, the dashcam enters pairing mode). Once paired though it might require a few app restarts to actually get it to display the picture via the app and for you to adjust the settings, but once that's done you're functionally done with the app.

At the time of this review this dashcam is $330. Even though it comes with a hardwire kit, I'd rather spend an extra $10 to get the 70mai T800 (even if I have to deal with 70mai forcing you to create an account to use the dashcam app) which has better image quality front and back, has an extra cabin camera, and even though it doesn't come with a hardwire kit it comes with a 512GB microSD card. A lot of other dashcams I've tested like the Ombar T1 and the Vantrue S1 Pro Max have better image quality for less price. The Vantrue S1 Pro Max for example is $250 for the 2.5K rear camera option and $280 (after $50 coupon) for the 4K rear camera option, this gives you enough money for a hardwire kit + 128GB microSD card and you'll end up with a dashcam with better image quality than this Thinkware Arc700. Overall, this thing is a bit of a tough sell when it comes to value. The image quality is fine but not exceptional for this price point, and the rest of the dashcam just falls short

Milind Chandwe

July 23, 2025

Amazing – Dashcam definitely Buy

Truly Impressive Dash Cam! 🚗📸

I installed the THINKWARE ARC Dash Cam in my car here in Florida, and I’m genuinely amazed! The video clarity is top-notch (even at night), the smart alerts are super accurate, and setup was a breeze. It gives such peace of mind knowing my drives are being securely recorded.

The 3X energy efficiency is a real bonus — I never worry about it draining my battery 🔋. It also blends seamlessly with my dashboard design — sleek and modern!

If you're looking for a reliable, smart, and efficient dash cam, this is 100% the one to get. Worth every dollar and more!

👉 Highly recommended without hesitation!

Very very bad dash cam

Update after using for a year.

This camera is very bad.

Set up is bad.

Camerai stopped working after a year.

DO NOT BUY THIS ONE.

Thinkware ARC Dash Cam - well-designed and compact dashcam

This well-designed and compact dashcam features an interactive touch screen with no lag. It includes a free SD card and excels at recording in 2K. Downloading footage using the mobile app is straightforward. I highly recommend this dashcam to anyone in need of reliable and high-quality recording on the road.

Amazing quality, Easy setup

I bought this Thinkware ARC dash cam on Prime Big Deals Day. I'm really impressed. Video quality is crystal clear. The wide angle view captures so much of the road. Installation was a breeze!

My Honest Review

[Updated on 10/12/24]

Customer service finally gave me an answer (after about 3 months I submitted my initial complaint). They told me to turn off night vision, and they had no other solution. But I’ve already turned it off, and I still could not record license plates at night. What is the point of advertising “super night vision” if you’re saying not to use it? Basically, this is a product that they cannot fix.

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[My Original Review]

I have tried many dashcams through the years. I have tried from $50 entry dashcams to the more expensive Starvis 2 sensor ones. I was not happy with the cheaper ones due to poor image quality. The ones with the latest Sony’s image sensor were a little better, but they did not justify the high pricetag. Also, the great reviews online about their capability to capture license plates at night — I learned you should take those with a grain of salt. Then I decided to go another direction. I decided to give the Arc, which is Thinkware’s new mid-level product, a try. Here are some things I have found after using this product extensively over the past 4 months.

Pros:

1. Good daytime images for front AND rear cameras.

2. Reliable motion detection and impact recording with trademark beep sound

3. Energy saving parking mode

4. Useful ADAS feature which alerts you when signal turns green or the car ahead of you is leaving. Also warns you of red light cameras. I love this feature. It is somewhat accurate and immediately gives notifications.

5. Nice blinking LED security light in motion parking mode.(you can also turn it off)

6. Connects to your phone via WIFI so you can view recordings or change settings.

7. Rear camera image quality during the day is as good as the front.

8. Comes with a hardwire kit

9. Sensitive sensors (you can adjust the sensitivity) — assures even minor impacts will be detected

10. Beautiful design

Cons:

1. The touch screen won’t respond many times

2. The rear camera orientation won’t reverse in the app so you need to install it correctly the first time

3. This could be a deal-breaker: Night recording tends to be blurry or over-exposed, making it almost impossible to read any license plates at night. The rear camera is even worse.

4. Volume (female system voice) is annoyingly loud even on the lowest setting.

5. Need to turn carplay off to connect to phone.

6. The dashcam body consistently remains very hot when it is on, even during parking mode. I am worried if the circuits will withstand the heat longterm.

7. Thinkware’s dashcam viewer app for Mac has issues. Also, it is recorded in km per hour, not mph even when you adjust the settings.

8. Battery low warning comes on my car after 1 or 2 days continuously parked in parking mode.

9. No option to turn on security LED lights during energy saving parking mode. Also, no LED light function at all on the rear camera.

10. Terrible customer support. It’s been 2-3 months since I asked them for help because night recording are so blurry, but all they did was keep asking me to send sample recordings to them. I responded to all their requests and sent many footages, but they suddenly stopped responding to me. They are not responding to me at all after having me send so many of my recordings. I have not seen such disrespect from any company. Looked like they wanted to keep me only until the return period ended.

This dashcam’s night time image quality is very poor and has serious issues. It’s basically night and day (no pun intended). I would not recommend this dashcam if you drive at night or want to use parking mode at night since license plate recognition is so poor that it is inlikely to capture any license plate numbers in an accident. Your headlights will over-expose any license plates in front and any darkness will blur it out — nothing in between. What’s the point of having a dashcam when it can’t read a license plate 3 feet in front of you? I have tested other cheaper dashcams and they had better night recordings than this. There are features like the ADAS feature which alerts you when the signal turns green. Or security blinking LED lights which many other brands don’t have. But there are too many cons. It was even frustrating just to set the time correctly since the Arc dashcam uses some weird time zone system. Overall, the Arc dashcam kind of feels like it’s unpolished which is why I regret buying this dashcam. I have lost all credibility in Thinkware. I have reached out to Thinkware and asked for assistance on these issues, and they still haven’t provided any real solution yet for 2 months now. They kept telling me “rest assured we will support you.” But as soon as my return window closed, they stopped replying. I was hoping Thinkware’s engineers would develop a firmware or software update to improve all or any of these issues I’ve mentioned above. But, now I don’t expect it will ever happen. I feel I’ve been tricked to keep this product and not be able to return it since the deadline passed.

My Final verdict: I do not recommend this product or the brand.

easy to set up and great quality

The cheap dash cam I had stopped working after few months of use. I spent a great deal of time looking at dash cams available on the market. I went with the ARC as it was on sale, within my price range and had features that caught my eye.

The dash cam installation and operation were straightforward, got everything up and running under an hour. The installation guide via the QR code on the little insert found in the box was easy to follow.

I decided on this model because of the Traffic Signal Alert and Front Vehicle Departure Warning feature. They've been very helpful for my driving. The picture quality is very good. It has a large display screen which makes it easy to review your footage. Overall, I'm impressed.

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Great product

This dash cam just launched this year so it has the newest technology. I am satisfied with the performance and quality.

Easy to install

I found the user manual in the support section of the Thinkware Link app, followed it and installed in a short amount of time.

Easy to connect to the app.

Clicked the WiFi icon on the screen, scanned the QR code shown with the Thinkware Link app, connected!

Smart driving alerts (recommended

Front vehicle departure warning and Traffic signal alert features are really convenient. The response time of both features are fast and alerts you right away. It notifies you when the signal changes and when the vehicle in front of you starts to drive off. I tend to get distracted easily when driving. The drivers behind can thank Thinkware for offering these features in their dash cams.

Comes with a memory card.

It is kind of nice that Thinkware included a memory card, most of the other brands don't come with one. 32GB of memory isn't a lot but at least I didn't have to hassle in buying one separately.

I will update this review in a few months after I get in some use.

saiyansrule

May 6, 2024

Comprehensive Security with a Dash of Frustration: The 2024 Thinkware Arc Review

As a tech enthusiast and vigilant driver, the Thinkware Arc edition seemed like a promising upgrade for my vehicle's security. With its dual 1440P cameras for front and rear views, the package delivered on its promise for high-resolution coverage. The front camera's touchscreen LCD was intuitive, making settings accessible directly from the dashboard.

The hardwiring power wire for parking surveillance mode is a standout, providing peace of mind with its motion and impact-triggered recording — truly a neat feature for anyone concerned about their car in the parking lot. Continuous recording capabilities further bolster this sense of security, ensuring all moments are captured without fail.

However, it wasn't all smooth driving. The initial setup of the larger memory card was cumbersome, requiring multiple reformats and unexpected restarts. Despite the easy WiFi connectivity, facilitated by a simple QR code scan, the mobile app proved to be less reliable. Bugginess in the app was evident with slow video loading times and occasional failure in settings adjustments.

Particularly vexing was the rear camera installation. Despite setting the correct orientation in the app, the feature failed to function, a stark contrast to previous models by Thinkware. This forced a manual adjustment, which was far from ideal.

In summary, while the Thinkware Arc dash cam packs substantial potential with its advanced features and superior night vision, it's currently marred by software issues. I am hopeful for future updates to resolve these glitches. For now, it serves its purpose but leaves room for improvement. Recommended with reservations.

Kofster

June 26, 2021

Definitely works!

I bought this to supplement the Thinkware U1000.

Please read this entire review before you purchase it.

The dashcam was installed by a professional while I was able to install the radar unit myself, routing the I/o cable through the rain sensor and rear view mirror housing. I am not sure wy the literature states that the module picks up sedan sized objects. I mean, I am not that big right? 🤪😂 In the attached video, you will see me approaching the vehicle, then I gently but firmly, thumped part of the fender to trigger an event recording. You will notice that the video is 20 seconds long- it got me 10 seconds in, then after the thump, it continued recording for 10 more seconds. Please note that all video incident recordings, while in parked mode, are only 15fps. The small photo I also included shows what is stamped on videos. At least, almost all. The only thing I did not include was the speed stamp. You get: Dashcam model number, the Dashcam software version, vehicle voltage, car state and the date with time- YYYY.MM.DD HH:MM:SS. For the car state, when the car is parked and the ignition is off, you will see, 'ACC_OFF.' While you're driving, nothing will be displayed.

COVID-19 has caused our government to implement certain measures. Among them, curfews and ushering amendments to the Public Health and Safety Act. As scenic and beautiful my lovely Trinidad and Tobago is, there are barely places to go. So my car may be parked for days at a time. The reading you see in the Kaiweets digital clamp meter were taken after being parked for 2 days. My U1000 is hardwired to my vehicle. I did not buy any extra battery pack. I have 1 battery for my car: an XS Power D4900 with 100Ah. I have not conducted any scientific methods of monitoring battery drainage over any specific period of time. But I want to state comfortably, at least, if you have an XS D4900 battery, you need not worry about purchasing a separate battery pack for your vehicle if you plan on hardwiring the U1000 to your car and using this radar module. I will go as far as to hypothesize that depending on your alternator- if it provides adequate power for your vehicle, its electronics and recharge your battery, the condition of your batter- its age, how capable it is and it does not discharge quickly while your car is off, you may not need an external battery. This radar unit works and allows your U1000 to sip current, only waking the dashcam to record when there is movement in front of the vehicle and an incident occurred.

ONE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE: ENABLING THIS RADAR MODULE NEGATES THINKWARE CLOUD FEATURES!!!!!

A lot of people, myself included, did not particularly see this. I am not sure if this is any fault of the manufacturer in not communicating this clearly with customers. But only after I bought it and installed it, realised that they were not working, I went online to ascertain why and then I saw it. Once you use the radar module, you will NOT be able to connect to a wifi network when Parking mode is activated. The U1000 will disconnect from whatever network it is connected to and then go to sleep until either the radar module picks up movement or the U1000 registers an impact. With the radar module installed and enabled:

1) You will BE ABLE TO connect to a WiFi network and use Live view when continuous recording is enabled.

2) You will NOT be able to connect to a WiFi network or use the Live View in parking mode.

2) You will NOT be able to connect to a WiFi network or locate your vehicle in Parking mode.

3) You will NOT get any notifications of any impact while your car is parked.

4) It is apparent that you will be unable to upload videos of incidents (where an impact was registered) while you're driving (Continuous Recording). My dashcam was connected to my mobile's hotspot (LTE network), I simulated incidents of impact by driving in potholes 😅, got the electronic chirp from the U1000 on these two occasions and confirmed that videos were saved in the incident recording file list. I received no notification on my phone and no videos were uploaded to the cloud.

While that is not cool, I guess, the main reason I bought this module, was to not just get the recording after an incident has occurred. I want the before and after. That is important to me.

If anyone at Thinkware is reading this, I have a suggestion I sincerely and fervently hope you would implement. Provide a software update in which you include an option to, 'Enable Notifications and Uploads,' when the Radar option is engaged. Give us that option. This way, only when the radar module wakes up the U1000, it will connect to a wifi network. And if an impact is registered, it sends a notification to the user's mobile phone and uploads the recorded event to the cloud. Then after the upload is complete, the U1000 goes back to sleep in it's energy saving mode. Some of us are daily drivers so connecting to the network, the negligible battery drain is an acceptable compromise. I am sure that many of us will love to have that option to chose.

I gave it 5 stars because it works as advertised- no issues.. But if I had to criticise its functionality, I would give it 3 stars because it cripples the potential and true capabilities of the U1000.

Lastly, for those who are wondering, this does not register movement in the back of the car. Even if you have the 2 channel setup like I do. Yeah, I know 🤓. But I saw some people asking about it in some other paces so I figured I'd cater to that audience here too. Here is another opportunity for Thinkware again: you can create a radar module for the back which accepts the existing microUSB I/O from the front unit and connects to the microUSB I/O of the second camera module. That way everyone who has the 2 channel setup can just integrate the new Radar module without breaking their pockets or having to buy a whole new iteration to benefit from that advantage. Just some suggestions, Thinkware.

Conclusion:

If you do not mind the loss of the U1000's cloud features, BUY IT!

If it is important to you that you capture the moments leading up to an impact to your vehicle, including the moments after, BUY IT!

If you have a separate battery that is connected to your U1000 and you use motion detection or time lapse in parking mode and you are happy with using Thinkware's cloud features- you can use Live View and also check your car's location while it is parked, you can receive notifications on impacts when you're parked and your videos get uploaded automatically, DO NOT BUY THIS!!

Even if you dont have a second battery but you live on the edge and your U1000 is hardwired to you car and you enjoy Thinkware's cloud features, DO NOT BUY THIS!!

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