Thinkware Q1000 Dash Cam In-Depth Review

The Q1000 is the latest dash cam from Thinkware to capture 2K QHD footage using Thinkware's latest Super Night Vision 3.0 with HDR and Dewarping technology. Built-in Bluetooth 5.0 makes pairing your smartphone to the mobile app a breeze - you can play back videos or adjust settings on the fly. Compatible with the Thinkware Connected service, the Thinkware Q1000 is equipped with an impact notification system, which will send an SMS alert with footage to a pre-programmed mobile if the camera's G-sensor detects a significant impact.

But the Q1000 is not Thinkware's only 2K QHD dash cam, nor is it Thinkware's highest-resolution model. Where does the Q1000 slot in Thinkware's lineup, and what makes it worth the investment?

Setting a new standard for the next generation of dash cams

Equipped with advanced image technology, including Super Night Vision 3.0 with HDR and Image Dewarping, the Thinkware Q1000 delivers uncompromised 2K QHD video coverage from the front and rear cameras, day and night. The Q1000 has intelligent user accessibility at the forefront of its design. Built-in dual-band wifi and Bluetooth 5. 0 ensure the best connectivity in any environment. Compatible with the Thinkware Connected service, the Q1000 is equipped with an impact notification system, which will send an SMS alert with footage to a pre-programmed mobile if the camera's G-sensor detects a significant impact.

Key Features

2K QHD @ 30FPS
156° field of view
5.14MP Sony STARVIS image sensor
Super Night Vision 3.0
True HDR Technology
Dewarping Technology
Parking Surveillance mode
Radar Module compatible
Device pairing via Bluetooth
Safety Camera Alert
Road Safety Warning System
Thinkware Connect app
HEVC format H.265

Pros

✓ 2K QHD front and rear camera
✓ Built-in Bluetooth 5.0
✓ Energy Saving 2.0 Parking Mode with
Radar Module
✓ Emergency SOS alert with footage

Cons

❌ Not 4K
❌ The usage of 2 different mobile apps
❌ Thinkware Connected service is subscription-based

Discover all the specs and features of the Thinkware Q1000.

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Unboxing the Thinkware Q1000 2K QHD Dual-Channel Dash Cam

Thinkware dual-channel systems are supplied with a hardwire kit so that you can get straight into a proper setup for parking mode recording.

Other items you will find inside the Thinkware Q1000 dual-channel box:

- Front camera
- Rear camera
- Rear camera connecting cable
- Heat blocking film
- Adhesive windshield mount and mounting accessories
- Thinkware hardwiring kit
- 12V car charger
- Thinkware 32GB microSD card
- MicroSD card adaptor
- User manual

Measuring 3.94" x 1.18" x 2.83", the Q1000 will fit comfortably on the front windshield of all cars. You can set the vertical angle by rotating the lens. Just like the U1000 and Q800PRO, the Q1000 has no screen, and you will need to use your smartphone as a screen for placement and setup.

Like other Thinkware cameras of this style, the Q1000 mounts with a flat plastic plate that the camera slides onto. However, the Q1000 comes with the new Thinkware heat-blocking film, a sticker designed to protect the dash cam from overheating due to direct sunlight. Instead of sticking the dash cam right onto the glass windshield as you would for the Q800PRO or the U1000, you first attach the heat-blocking film to the windshield and then stick the dash cam onto the film. In case you're wondering, we reached out to Thinkware, and they have confirmed that the heat-blocking film will be included in all other premium Thinkware models shortly.

Video Quality

Equipped with the 5.14MP Sony STARVIS IMX335 image sensor, the Q1000 records 2K QHD @ 30FPS from both the front and rear cameras at a 156° field of view, covering the better part of the area around the vehicle while minimizing blind spots. You also get the option in the app to downscale the front camera to 1080p Full HD for recording at 60 FPS.

Note the rear camera is an upgraded BCQH-300 model, which is different from the BCQH-200 used by the Thinkware U1000 or X1000 - the difference? Both rear cameras have the same image sensor, but the BCQH-300 spots newer hardware better suited for the newer processor in the Q1000.

The rear camera is not the only improvement the Q1000 brings - it comes with Thinkware's latest Super Night Vision 3.0, which combines Digital Overlap High Dynamic Range (DOL HDR) and Noise Reduction technology to reduce noise and lens flare effect that typically affect nighttime footage. If you're wondering, the Thinkware U1000 and Q800PRO use Super Night Vision 2.0.

Parking Surveillance

You will need to hardwire the Q1000 to your car's fuse panel, and a Thinkware hardwire cable is included with the dual-channel bundle. Alternatively, you can use the OBD power cable or a dedicated dash cam battery pack, like the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 or the Thinkware iVolt battery pack.

Like all other Thinkware dash cams, the Q1000 has built-in voltage monitoring to monitor your car battery's health continuously. It will shut down if it detects any issues, so your car battery will not over-drain.

Regarding parking features, you get the standard motion and impact detection with buffered recording, and time-lapse recording. Energy Saving 2.0 is also available on the Q1000, and it will significantly reduce power consumption and provide up to 72 hours of parking mode runtime.

You can extend the standby period to up to 576 hours or 24 days when you pair the Q1000 with a dedicated battery pack - but you won't get pre-impact footage. For that, you will need to use the optional Radar Module. The Radar module is the same one that the Thinkware U1000 and X1000 use, so if you already have one, you can reuse it with the Q1000.

Is it heat resistant?

The Thinkware Q1000 comes with integrated thermal protection. Built-in thermal sensors and supercapacitor technology provide added safety and reliability in extreme temperatures, so your Q1000 is better protected from overheating, which can cause potentially irreversible damage to it or its data.

Furthermore, the Q1000 offers the Smart Parking Mode. This parking feature prevents heat-related damage by automatically switching the Q1000 to a low-power mode if the temperature inside the vehicle gets too high during parking mode. When activated, the Q1000 records incidents only until its operating temperature is safe again to resume motion detection or time-lapse parking mode.

Advanced Driver Assistance System and Safety Camera Alerts

With a built-in GPS antenna, you get data such as date and time, driving speed, and GPS coordinates on your footage. You also get a wide variety of alerts and warnings from the Q1000, such as red light warnings, speed camera warnings, mobile speed zone, and more, as well as safety warnings like forward collision warnings, front vehicle departure warnings, and lane departure warnings.

When paired with the optional Thinkware Connected service, you open up even more alerts and notifications, all while the Q1000 is still recording your drive.

Thinkware Connected Service

Thinkware Connected is a new suite of services introduced with the T700 that Thinkware launched in the European market in July 2022. Thinkware Connected is not the same as Thinkware Cloud, and the Q1000 is not compatible with Thinkware Cloud, but they are similar.

You get more innovative features that bring more benefits and value, especially to rideshare drivers and fleet owners. You will need the new Thinkware Connected app to use the Connected service.

Thinkware Connected features that we love:

Vehicle Status

The Vehicle Status feature allows you to monitor your vehicle's status to check whether your car is parked or driving on the road. In addition, you can also check your vehicle battery voltage and remotely turn off the dash cam to prevent battery drainage, which will come in handy in cold winter seasons. This feature also comes in handy say you want to check if the dash cam is still operating when your vehicle has been left unattended for a long time, like during a business trip.

Send Emergency Alert

The Emergency Alert feature allows you to send dash cam footage to your emergency contact without downloading the video or retrieving the microSD card. In the event of a strong impact crash or if you press the SOS button, an SOS message is sent to the dash cam's emergency contact. Included in the SOS emergency alert is the URL of a ten or 20-second video clip of the event and your dash cam's GPS location. You can pre-program your emergency contacts in the Thinkware Connected app.

Best connectivity with dual-band wifi with Bluetooth 5.0

Say you want to view and manage your videos on your smartphone and do not need the Thinkware Connected features, then you will be using the Thinkware Dash Cam Link app - it lets you replay your latest driving videos and manage your dash cam's settings with the apps.

One of the common complaints about Thinkware dash cams is problems connecting the app and dash cam, and we are happy to see that Thinkware is attempting to resolve the issue with a couple of improvements: dual-band wifi and built-in Bluetooth.

With dual-band wifi, your iOS or Android smartphone can connect to the Thinkware Q1000 via the 2.4 GHz or 5GHz bandwidth for faster file transfers. Built-in Bluetooth allows hassle-free dash cam pairing with your compatible Android or iOS device via the Thinkware Link App and the Thinkware Connected App. But you must ensure your phone is not already connected to another device via Bluetooth - this includes the CarPlay in your car or your Apple Watch if you use one.

Where does the Q1000 fit in the Thinkware lineup?

The Thinkware Q1000 fills the gap between the Q800PRO, the X1000, and the U1000. Price-wise, the Q1000 sits right between the Q800PRO and U1000, at $329.99 for the 1-Channel version and $429.99 for the 2-channel.

If you're currently using the Q800PRO or the X1000 and looking for better quality and Cloud, the Q1000 is the answer. And suppose you're currently using the U1000 and looking for more powerful Cloud features. In that case, we strongly recommend you check out the features of the Thinkware Connected service - it's more comprehensive and practical than the Thinkware Cloud service, especially for fleet owners and rideshare drivers.

Thinkware Q1000 Review: Should I buy it?

The Thinkware Q1000 is a solid dash cam. It sports all of Thinkware's latest video technology to deliver crisp 2K QHD footage. While we were happy to see the new connected services, we would've liked it more if the features were available as upgrades in the Thinkware Cloud app and not a separate service that requires a different app.

With that said, the Q1000 is a dash cam we recommend to shoppers looking for excellent video quality, powerful parking surveillance, and comprehensive Cloud/connected features from a brand you can trust.

If you're currently using the Q800PRO or the X1000 and looking for better quality and Cloud, the Q1000 is the answer.