Introduction

With our roads getting more challenging, busier, and often volatile, dash cameras have become more of a must-have safety net than a novelty device. Whether it’s recording your everyday drives, mishaps, or simply capturing scenic road trips, car owners are increasingly investing in premium dual-channel dash cams with supplementary features like ADAS and GPS. Here, we have Pioneer’s VREC-H520DC dual-channel dash cam that comes with these high-end features. It’s designed for those who want a lot more than a basic recording device.

First Impressions

Dash cameras are usually snugly boxed in compact packaging. This one, though, is a little different. The packaging is pretty substantial - as it should be, considering there are two cameras inside. The box itself feels sturdy, and everything in it is neatly laid out. This isn’t a budget dash camera, and it shows as soon as you unbox it.

So what all do you get? There’s the primary front camera with a three-inch IPS touchscreen, relatively compact cylindrical rear camera, power adapter with a Type-A to Type-C USB cable for the front camera, micro USB cable for the rear camera, and an adhesive mount for the front camera. The rear camera’s adhesive mount is attached to it, like with most cylindrical dash cams.

As for the quality, the primary front camera feels sturdy and well put together. The form factor is more like a point-and-shoot digital camera than a traditional dash cam. The lens housing is snug, and the adhesive mount feels solid. The rear camera feels much lighter in comparison, although that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Specs

The front camera features a Sony sensor capable of recording in 2K resolution. This five-megapixel sensor offers a high dynamic range and a 140° diagonal field of view. Meanwhile, the rear camera records in full HD. There is also pseudo-ADAS functionality built into this device, providing alerts for front collision warning, lane departure warning, and stop-and-go traffic. Pioneer is also offering an embedded GPS logger that records location data (map routing visible through the mobile app). The three-inch display is an IPS unit for easy viewing of recorded clips. Pioneer says there is additional built-in support in the form of a G sensor for emergency/event recording and a parking mode, which requires a separate hardwire kit. Finally, the camera supports a micro SD card up to 512GB.

What’s Next?

In the next part of this review, I will install this dual-channel dash cam in my car and reveal the entire setup. I will, of course, test the video quality in real-world conditions; in traffic, on highways during day and night. I will also evaluate the app support, the IPS display’s user interface, and the effectiveness of ADAS alerts. Stay tuned for our full verdict.

The Pioneer VREC-H520DC is officially priced at Rs. 18,499, although you can pick it up for considerably less through e-commerce platforms or authorised Pioneer dealers. You can click here to check it out.