Pioneer VREC-H320SC Dashcam Review: Nails the Basics

Once seen as a distinct segment or premium automotive accent, dashcams have change into more and more crucial as a consequence of a mix of things. Overly congested roads, extra automobiles than pedestrians, poorly maintained infrastructure, and sheer outright negligence are simply a few of the causes behind the staggering variety of street accidents in India yearly. Now, there are two methods to go about it if you wish to minimise the danger of a street accident — obey all the site visitors legal guidelines and keep secure from others driving on the street. While the former can nonetheless be managed by taking accountability and being vigilant, the latter isn’t below our management. While it is not fully potential to get rid of the danger of a street accident, there’s a approach to make sure that if the worst happens, you’ve got an unbiased co-passenger in your facet — a dashcam.

In such situations, a dashcam turns into a necessity, offering you with indeniable video footage that may probably safeguard you from wrongful blame, together with accompanying monetary and authorized fallout.

However, with a plethora of choices accessible on the market, it will possibly change into fairly a problem to decide on the excellent one in your wants. In addition to fashionable manufacturers like 70mai, CP Plus, and Qubo, Pioneer has additionally entered the dashcam market, and in the present day we have now the Pioneer VREC-H320SC, priced at Rs. 6,000. But does it provide sufficient to convey the elementary necessity in your peace of thoughts? I’ll clarify in our Pioneer VREC-H320SC assessment.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC Design and Installation: Simple and Straightforward

• Dimensions – 90 x 34.8 x 54.25mm​
• Power Supply – 5V, 1.5 A 12V socket

By no means can the Pioneer VREC-H320SC be thought-about a compact dashcam, in contrast to the VREC-H120SC mannequin that we reviewed beforehand. From the entrance, the dashcam can simply be mistaken for a compact digital digicam, outfitted with a 2-megapixel sensor. The total physique of the accent has a stable construct and includes a soft-touch black texture, which lends an upmarket enchantment. However, it will possibly appeal to mud particles infrequently, so you’ll want to give it a pleasant clear now and again.

The Pioneer VREC-H320SC may be rotated 360-degree with the accompanying attachment mechanism

Now, the again of the dashcam is the place issues get fascinating. It sports activities a big 3.0-inch LCD show. You can alter the display brightness manually, though it would not have an auto-brightness characteristic. Through the display, you’ll be able to watch the recorded footage or allow a real-time view when you’re driving. While it is not a touchscreen panel, there are 4 capacitive buttons positioned under the display for varied actions, together with searching by way of recordings, adjusting settings, and capturing nonetheless photos on the street.

The dashcam options two ports on prime: a USB Type-C port for energy which connects to the 12V socket by way of a automotive charger, and a secondary digicam port. The latter is used to attach a secondary digicam, as this can be a dual-channel dashcam; nevertheless, you’ll need to buy it individually. The provided cable is lengthy sufficient you could tuck it inside the roof lining of the automotive, in order that it doesn’t stick out. Surprisingly, there is not a pry instrument in the field of contents, that means you’ll have to both go and purchase one or make do with out it.

The dashcam has a 3.0 LCD show

The set up technique of the Pioneer VREC-H320SC dashcam is simple. Stick the clear movie onto your windshield at an acceptable location, connect the 360-degree holder to the dashcam, after which safe the entire package deal to the clear movie. Now, plug in the dashcam into the 12V charging socket, full the preliminary setup course of by way of the companion app, and also you’re good to go.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC Features and Companion App: Easy Going

• Expandable Storage – Up to 512GB
• Companion app platforms – Android, iOS

The Pioneer VREC-H320SC is appropriate with the ZenVue Dash Camera app, accessible on each Android and iOS platforms. Pairing the telephone with the dashcam is simple; merely join the telephone to the dashcam’s Wi-Fi community and open the app. It will robotically format the SD card you beforehand inserted.

The ZenVue app’s interface is fairly simple. It presents a stay feed of the dashcam with the Live View characteristic. You can see the energetic recording, toggle emergency recording, and take nonetheless photographs. From this display, it’s also possible to choose the video decision high quality, allow/ disable video and voice recording, and toggle the parking mode.

You can view and obtain footage by way of the ZenVue companion app

Next up is the Events web page, which reveals the emergency recordings saved on the dashcam’s microSD card. In the Gallery, you’ll be able to see the saved movies, photographs, and time-lapse movies. Lastly, the Settings web page means that you can change settings corresponding to G-sensor sensitivity, quantity, and SSID and password.

In phrases of the options, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC affords help for as much as 1080p full-HD video recording. It is supplied with a 2-megapixel sensor that includes a 139-degree subject of view (FoV) and a 3-inch IPS LCD display. The GPS logger characteristic can hold an in depth report of your routes.

Other options embrace computerized occasion recording, optionally available parking mode, as much as 512GB of storage help, and superior driver help system (ADAS) options.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC Performance: Gets It Right

• Image Sensor – 2-megapixel
• Video Recording Resolution – Up to 1080p

While options are certainly vital, the most vital parameter on which a dashcam is judged is its video recording functionality. And right here, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC fares properly. During my testing interval, I set the video recording to the highest accessible decision, 1080p.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC daylight nonetheless photograph pattern (faucet to develop)

In daylight situations, the video output high quality is nice. You get a large FoV, which helps hold a watch on autos even in your blind spots. It can seize intricate particulars of the environment with good readability and dynamic vary. Number plates are pretty readable, even at a distance of about 10-12 metres out of your automotive. But any additional than that, and the numbers change into barely tough to recognise.

The night-time efficiency of the dashcam can also be passable, contemplating its worth vary. The video high quality is satisfactory, and I used to be in a position to learn the automobile’s license plate data of these in entrance inside a 10-metre vary. However, the similar was not the case after I tried to get the quantity plate of quickly passing autos.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC night-time nonetheless photograph pattern (faucet to develop)

A giant plus level of the Pioneer VREC-H320SC is that it will possibly report each audio and video concurrently, which may defend you from false accusations and streamline insurance coverage claims.

The dashcam additionally options GPS logger performance, which saves your routes. Further, the firm has outfitted it with two ADAS options — Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure indication, each of which concern an audible beep as a warning. However, they’re virtually gimmicky and don’t add any actual worth to the total package deal.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC in-motion pattern (faucet to develop)

Additionally, there’s an computerized occasion recording characteristic that leverages the built-in G-sensor to activate emergency video recording in the occasion of an accident or emergency. You can select between three completely different sensitivity ranges. However, in my time utilizing the dashcam, I discovered it to be overly delicate. The dashcam typically began emergency video recording even when I hit a pothole or velocity bump, regardless of being set to the lowest sensitivity setting.

The final characteristic on the Pioneer VREC-H320SC is an Optional Parking Mode. The firm claims it will possibly report photographs even when the automobile is parked and the engine is turned off. Using this characteristic requires an extra package. It hooks the dashcam on to your automotive’s battery. However, I used to be not in a position to check this out since the package doesn’t are available the field and must be bought individually.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC Verdict

The Pioneer VREC-H320SC has a retail worth of Rs. 11,399, however may be bought for as little as Rs. 5,973 throughout varied sale occasions all through the yr. At this worth level, it’s undoubtedly possibility to think about. It has a sturdy design and good video output high quality in daylight situations. Low-light video recording can also be satisfactory, and the dashcam additionally information audio together with the video footage.

There are options like computerized occasion recording with a built-in G-sensor that enhance the total security, regardless of being a bit of on the delicate facet. It additionally helps dual-channel connectivity and may be paired with a secondary dashcam for enhanced safety.

To sum up, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC dashcam is a reliable possibility in case you are in the marketplace for a brand new dashcam.

Pros:

• Simple set up
• Good daylight video recording
• Up to 512GB storage help

Cons:

• Overly delicate G-sensor
• Gimmicky ADAS options

NDTV Rating – 7