Thinkware U1000 4K Dash Cam Review

The U1000 is Thinkware’s latest flagship dash cam. It is a 2-channel boasting all the features of its predecessor, the Q800PRO. But with a 4K UHD resolution for its front-facing unit and a 2K QHD resolution for its rear camera, the U1000 is currently the highest resolution 2-channel dash cams available on the market.

With the U1000, Thinkware has gone with a completely different design from their previous cameras. Dimensions-wise, the U1000 is very similar to the Q800PRO. But instead of having the camera lens on the long side, it is now on the narrow-side of the unit. This way when you attach it on your windshield, the U1000 looks less bulky and more discreet.

The front camera is excellent. The lens has an 8.42MP Sony Exmor R Starvis image sensor to deliver crystal clear 4K UHD video quality at 30FPS. Ultra high definition is twice more detailed than 2K quad high definition and 4x more vivid than 1080p Full HD.

The 150° wide-angle lens view minimizes blind spots so you can capture every little detail you may have missed before.

Advanced video enhancement technologies including Advanced Wide Dynamic Range (WDR), Intelligent Automatic Exposure and Super Night Vision 2.0 cover a good span between day and night, bright and dark environments to ensure videos are of pristine-quality during the day, and crisp and clear with good definition and minimal noise and blurring at night.

Unlike the Q800PRO which simply adopted the F800 Pro rear camera, Thinkware developed a new rear camera specifically for the U1000.

The U1000 rear camera is equipped with a 5.14MP Sony Exmor R Starvis image sensor. It is essentially the same image sensor that was used in the Q800PRO front camera, allowing the U1000 rear camera to record in 2K QHD. The rear camera also comes with a 150° wide-angle lens view and the advanced video enhancement technologies found in the front camera to deliver crystal-clear quality in all lighting situations.

Currently no other 4K or even 2K dash cams on the market offer such a powerful rear camera, making the U1000 the most powerful front-and-rear dash system you can purchase at this tim

The U1000 is Cloud-enabled so you can stay connected anytime, anywhere as long as you have the THINKWARE CLOUD app on your smartphone and an Internet hotspot in your car.

The mobile app for the U1000 is the same THINKWARE CLOUD app that the Q800PRO, and the F800 Pro use. The app is available for download on the Apple Apps Store and the Google Play Store. Both the THINKWARE CLOUD service and mobile app are free.

The U1000 brings to the table all of the premium CLOUD features that the Q800PRO, had on board, including Geo-Fence, Locate Vehicle and Driving Impact Notification.

There are a couple of new CLOUD features that are currently exclusive to the U1000: Remote Live View and Parking Impact Notification with Video. With Remote Live View, you can follow your vehicle and watch what is happening in real-time with your THINKWARE CLOUD app. With Parking Impact Notification, not only will you get a push notification of the incident, but you can also access the recorded incident footage through the THINKWARE CLOUD app.

Just like the Q800PRO, the U1000 comes with all the advanced parking mode features with Energy Saving recording mode, Time Lapse, Motion and Impact detection.

• Time Lapse - Records footage at a lower frame rate to cover surveillance and reduce power consumption and video file size
• Impact Detection - Built-in G-Sensor to monitor any impact to the vehicle and will wake up the U1000 within a second to start recording
• Motion Detection - Motion detector with customizable sensitivity level to monitor any motion around the vehicle

As an optional add-on, the RADAR Sensor gives you the option to extend the U1000's parking mode capabilities for a longer period of time. The RADAR Sensor detects moving objects within a 7m (23ft) range using a feature called Ultra-High Frequency Radar Motion Detection.

If an object is detected, it will trigger the U1000 to go from Energy Saving Parking Mode to a recording standby mode for 30 seconds. If an impact is detected within this 30 seconds period, the U1000 will save 20 seconds before and after footage. With the Parking Impact Notification feature enabled, the U1000 can send a push notification of the incident through the THINKWARE CLOUD app, along with the recorded incident footage. But if no impact or motion is detected within the 30-second standby mode, the U1000 will automatically switch back to Energy Saving Parking Mode.

As you can see, with this Ultra-High Frequency Radar Motion Detection, the U1000 can stay asleep longer, waking up only when an impact has actually been detected. Power consumption is greatly reduced, allowing the U1000 to remain in Parking Mode longer than before. Thinkware calls this Energy Saving Parking Mode 2.0 and is designed to extend parking mode runtime for a long period of time for peace of mind. Thinkware stated the duration in RADAR mode is around two weeks, but exact duration depends on the size and charge of your vehicle's battery as well as any external battery packs you have in place.

Radar motion detection requires the optional Thinkware U1000 Radar Sensor, which is purchased separately.

In addition to the Driving and Parking Impact Notifications, the U1000 has several driver assistance systems that can deliver audible warning alerts through the front unit to prevent potential impediments in your journey. These alert systems rely on the U1000’s built-in GPS, which can track the vehicle’s location, speed, and direction of travel.

As the dash cam industry embraces 4K and other high-resolution imaging formats with high bitrates, video file compression has become one of the main challenges for both the manufacturers and users. Luckily, the U1000 records in the newer H.265 compression format, so that a 4K footage file can be compressed to the size of a Full HD file.

However, please note that some older computers may lag when viewing H.265 files. To ensure a smooth viewing experience, we recommend updating your computer's video viewer to the H.265 codec. If you are using the Thinkware Desktop Viewer, you can visit the Thinkware website to download the suitable PC/MAC viewer.

The Thinkware U1000 will make a lot of sense for a lot of different types of drivers.

For those who demand the best recording quality: We're talking about 4K Ultra HD. The U1000 is currently the highest resolution dash cam system in the market. With a solid 4K Ultra HD front-view and 2K Quad HD rear-view recording capability, impressive night vision and exposure correction features, your drive will be captured in crystal-clear, movie-like quality.

For those who demand the best parking surveillance: The U1000 comes with all the advanced parking mode features with Energy Saving recording mode, Time Lapse, Motion and Impact detection. Pair it with the optional RADAR sensor and you can further extend parking mode runtime as well as record a longer pre- and post-incident footage.

For those who demand the most inclusive road safety systems: The U1000 comes with several driving assistance systems that can deliver audible warning alerts to prevent potential impediments in your journey, including red light and speed camera alerts as well as lane departure and front collision warning.

For those who demand 24/7 connectivity and control: The U1000 is Cloud-enabled so you can stay connected anytime. You can literally open the mobile app and take a look through the camera in real time, driving or parked.