Once seen as a niche or premium car accessory, dashcams have become increasingly necessary due to a combination of factors. Overly congested roads, more cars than pedestrians, poorly maintained infrastructure, and sheer outright negligence are just some of the reasons behind the staggering number of road accidents in India every year. Now, there are two ways to go about it if you want to minimise the risk of a road accident — obey all the traffic laws and stay safe from others driving on the road. While the former can still be managed by taking responsibility and being vigilant, the latter is rarely under our control. While it isn't completely possible to eliminate the risk of a road accident, there is a way to ensure that if the worst occurs, you have an unbiased co-passenger on your side — a dashcam.

In such scenarios, a dashcam becomes a necessity, providing you with indisputable video footage that can potentially safeguard you from wrongful blame, along with accompanying financial and legal fallout.

However, with a plethora of options available on the market, it can become quite a challenge to choose the perfect one for your needs. In addition to popular brands like 70mai, CP Plus, and Qubo, Pioneer has also entered the dashcam market, and today we have the Pioneer VREC-H320SC, priced at Rs. 6,000. But does it offer enough to bring the fundamental necessity for your peace of mind? I will explain in our Pioneer VREC-H320SC review.

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 considered a compact dashcam, unlike the VREC-H120SC model that we reviewed previously. From the front, the dashcam can easily be mistaken for a compact digital camera, equipped with a 2-megapixel sensor. The overall body of the accessory has a solid build and features a soft-touch black texture, which lends an upmarket appeal. However, it can attract dust particles from time to time, so be sure to give it a nice clean once in a while.

Now, the back of the dashcam is where things get interesting. It sports a large 3.0-inch LCD display. You can adjust the screen brightness manually, although it doesn't have an auto-brightness feature. Through the screen, you can watch the recorded footage or enable a real-time view while you're driving. While it isn't a touchscreen panel, there are four capacitive buttons located below the screen for various actions, including browsing through recordings, adjusting settings, and capturing still pictures on the road.

The dashcam features two ports on top: a USB Type-C port for power which connects to the 12V socket via a car charger, and a secondary camera port. The latter is used to connect a secondary camera, as this is a dual-channel dashcam; however, you will need to purchase it separately. The supplied cable is long enough that you can tuck it within the roof lining of the car, so that it does not stick out. Surprisingly, there isn't a pry tool in the box of contents, meaning you will have to either go and buy one or make do without it.

The installation process of the Pioneer VREC-H320SC dashcam is straightforward. Stick the transparent film onto your windshield at an appropriate location, attach the 360-degree holder to the dashcam, and then secure the whole package to the transparent film. Now, plug in the dashcam into the 12V charging socket, complete the initial setup process via the companion app, and 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 compatible with the ZenVue Dash Camera app, available on both Android and iOS platforms. Pairing the phone with the dashcam is straightforward; simply connect the phone to the dashcam's Wi-Fi network and open the app. It will automatically format the SD card you previously inserted.

The ZenVue app's interface is pretty straightforward. It presents a live feed of the dashcam with the Live View feature. You can see the active recording, toggle emergency recording, and take still photos. From this screen, you can also select the video resolution quality, enable/ disable video and voice recording, and toggle the parking mode.

Next up is the Events page, which shows the emergency recordings stored on the dashcam's microSD card. In the Gallery, you can see the stored videos, photos, and time-lapse videos. Lastly, the Settings page allows you to change settings such as G-sensor sensitivity, volume, and SSID and password.

In terms of the features, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC offers support for up to 1080p full-HD video recording. It is equipped with a 2-megapixel sensor featuring a 139-degree field of view (FoV) and a 3-inch IPS LCD screen. The GPS logger feature can keep a detailed record of your routes.

Other features include automatic event recording, optional parking mode, up to 512GB of storage support, and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC Performance: Gets It Right

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

While features are indeed important, the most crucial parameter on which a dashcam is judged is its video recording capability. And here, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC fares well. During my testing period, I set the video recording to the highest available resolution, 1080p.

In daylight conditions, the video output quality is good. You get a wide FoV, which helps keep a watch on vehicles even in your blind spots. It can capture intricate details of the surroundings with good clarity and dynamic range. Number plates are fairly readable, even at a distance of about 10-12 metres from your car. But any further than that, and the numbers become slightly difficult to recognise.

The night-time performance of the dashcam is also satisfactory, considering its price range. The video quality is passable, and I was able to read the vehicle's license plate information of those in front within a 10-metre range. However, the same was not the case when I tried to get the number plate of rapidly passing vehicles.

A big plus point of the Pioneer VREC-H320SC is that it can record both audio and video simultaneously, which can protect you from false accusations and streamline insurance claims.

The dashcam also features GPS logger functionality, which saves your routes. Further, the company has equipped it with two ADAS features — Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure indication, both of which issue an audible beep as a warning. However, they are almost gimmicky and do not add any real value to the overall package.

Additionally, there is an automatic event recording feature that leverages the built-in G-sensor to activate emergency video recording in the event of an accident or emergency. You can choose between three different sensitivity levels. However, in my time using the dashcam, I found it to be overly sensitive. The dashcam often started emergency video recording even if I hit a pothole or speed bump, despite being set to the lowest sensitivity setting.

The last feature on the Pioneer VREC-H320SC is an Optional Parking Mode. The company claims it can record photos even when the vehicle is parked and the engine is turned off. Using this feature requires an additional kit. It hooks the dashcam directly to your car's battery. However, I was not able to test this out since the kit does not come in the box and needs to be purchased separately.

Pioneer VREC-H320SC Verdict

The Pioneer VREC-H320SC has a retail price of Rs. 11,399, but can be purchased for as low as Rs. 5,973 during various sale events throughout the year. At this price point, it is undoubtedly a good option to consider. It has a robust design and good video output quality in daylight conditions. Low-light video recording is also passable, and the dashcam also records audio along with the video footage.

There are features like automatic event recording with a built-in G-sensor that improve the overall safety, despite being a little on the sensitive side. It also supports dual-channel connectivity and can be paired with a secondary dashcam for enhanced protection.

To sum up, the Pioneer VREC-H320SC dashcam is a dependable option if you are in the market for a new dashcam.

Pros:

• Simple installation
• Good daylight video recording
• Up to 512GB storage support

Cons:

• Overly sensitive G-sensor
• Gimmicky ADAS features

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.