The UK is awash with horror stories of drivers involved in ‘split-liability’ crashes despite the incident not being their fault. However, there is one way to avoid this fate and that is getting a dashcam.
There is a lot of choice out there ranging from the very high-end devices that cost a pretty packet to the cheap-and-cheerful models that often prove too good to be true. MioFive is trying to bridge that gap with the S1 Ultra, a tech-packed offering that won’t break the back.
It’s has stellar reviews from the likes of Tech Radar and PC Word, and so I was happy to give it a try. Especially as my other-half often comes back from the school run with tales of crazy driving and close shaves.
The S1 offers 4k coverage from both the front and rear cams, which already sets it apart from most competitors. This is where the cameras really shines as it gives you brilliant captures from whichever way you are looking. You can get 2160p video from the cameras, with a very decent field of view from both.
Installation of the cameras is very much like any other dashcam. The front camera fits into a mount you stick to your windscreen, then it’s just a case of running a lead to your car’s 12-volt socket. You do get a tool to tuck away the cable but I didn’t have much luck with this. To be honest that’s down to me, I would have much preferred to get it fitted professionally but found the obvious choices would only fit dashcams they sold, which was a shame. The smaller rear camera also uses adhesive which means you can’t move it around after choosing where to put it.
You don’t need to download it, but the free Miofive app is a convenient way of operating the dashcam and viewing/saving footage. It will ask you to create a Miofive account, but again this is optional.
As you would expect from two 4k cameras, the footage is excellent especially in clear weather. But even in overcast conditions and at night, the footage is more than good enough to make out, say, a license plate from a decent distance.
Night-time and low-light driving conditions are effectively addressed by the advanced night vision technology of the S1 Ultra. The front camera, with its F1.8 large aperture and 140° wide-angle 7-glass lens, and the rear camera, featuring an F2.0 aperture and 112° wide-angle lens, ensure clear and detailed footage regardless of the lighting conditions.
But having a pair of 4k lenses does mean the file sizes are very chunky. However, the supplied 64GB micro-SD card is good enough for four hours of driving, and thankfully incidents are saved in a protected folder that isn’t overwritten. You can always bump the storage up to 512GB by supplying your own card – or even switch to 2k to double the footage you can keep.
For those seeking to fine-tune their footage, the frame-by-frame video playback and app’s online editing function make it easy to select and zoom in on key moments. This feature ensures that crucial details are never missed, even when viewed on smaller screens.
At double the price I would have been well satisfied, but the fact you can get all this for below £200 makes the S1 Ultra a strong contender. And at least now my partner has video evidence for her stories!
The Miofive S1 Ultra Dash Camera is available on Amazon for £199.99 with a 30% off voucher currently available. And thanks to a Black Friday deal you can also pick up the front dash cam on its own for just £55.99.
What users say
CJ: This is a really nice, well made dash cam. It provides a good quality image and means of recording our journeys. It took a couple of hours to properly install the system, and hide the cabling. And I really wish it had a sticky suction cup to mount the cameras, rather than adhesive pads. But I guess these are minor gripes, rather than serious reasons not to have it.
Sam: This easy to set up dash cam gives crystal clear images through both the front and rear cameras. Really easy to install, and easy to set up also. I usually use the phone connection to mess with it, and that works well (though beware if you use in-car WiFi or wireless ACP or AA – you’ll have to disconnect from that to connect to the camera to configure it or download clips).
Alternatives
ANTRUE N4 Pro 4K 3 Channel Dash Cam