Thinkware F70 PRO Dashcam – Product Review

The world-leading dash cam brand Thinkware has launched its latest product, the F70 PRO. This is a great performing dashcam with a super compact size, 1080p Full HD front camera, parking surveillance, and anti-file corruption software, plus many other features.

One thing that sets this apart from many other dashcams on the market is that when you order this dashcam via the Thinkware website or other vendors such as Amazon you have the option of either plug and play or hardwire, at no extra cost ! No need to buy extra cables, just choose the option that is right for you. Plus you also get a 32GB MicroSD included, so you have everything you need to start using this dashcam.

The F70 Pro accepts up to a 128GB MicroSD card. At around 100MBps per minute with 30fps/1080p captures, that will store approximately 21 hours of video footage.

As with most products you don’t get a big thick manual in the box, there is a small booklet which has QR code links to manuals that you can view in PDF format online. One thing to note about the manuals is that they are well written and very easy to understand, there is detailed instructions on how to install the dashcam and how to download the app and connect it to your phone. The manual also covers all the relevant features and explains how each option works.

If you go for the hardwired installation option (or OBD2 Connector) you get an additional feature called “Parking mode”. This allows the dashcam to continue recording while your car is parked and turned off. The manual states that all Thinkware dashcams continuously monitor the health of the vehicle’s battery and will shut down if it detects any issues. It has a time lapse parking mode which is designed to catch any potential bumps, scrapes and other incidents by recording footage from your vehicle when you are not nearby. Time-lapse mode records at 2 frame per second (FPS) to reduce the size of the video file. This allows the dash cam to record longer than other dashcams whilst in parking mode.

This dashcam is quite small in size (3.23-inches wide, by around 1.35 inches thick) one of the reasons for this is that it does not have a screen. All the options and settings can be controlled by the app when you link it to your phone. This is a good idea, as a dashcam user for many years I find that other than the initial setup you never need to touch any of the settings. You just link the dashcam to your phone using the Thinkware dashcam link app and when required you can download any saved video footage.

It has advanced Video Clear technology, a 140° wide angle lens, and 2.1MP CMOS sensor which is able to capture footage at 30 frames per second (fps), the F70 PRO ensures that every second of your journey is covered.

Don’t know who Thinkware are ? – They are a well established manufacturer who was founded in Korea in 1997, they are one of the market leaders in various sectors such as dashcams, electronic maps, navigation, mobile applications, and tablet PCs.

Key Features

Optional Extras

You can buy an optional GPS antenna which adds date, time, position & optional speed stamp to the video. Activates safety camera alerts & ADAS features. You can also get an option of an OBD power cable which connects to your vehicles OBDII socket, this cable allows the activation of the Thinkware dash cam parking mode.

Daily use and operation

As with most dashcams once installed you just leave it running, there is nothing to do. There is only two buttons on the dashcam on one end there is a Wi-Fi-enable/Bluetooth-connect button this is next to the GPS port and just in front of the status LED. The other end has the the Rec button, which saves your current recording so it isn’t overwritten, this is the button you need to press if you have an accident or spot something that you wish to save.

There is a number of ways you can get the video files from the dashcam. You can use the Thinkware dashcam link app to view any saved recordings and download them to your phone. There is also PC viewer software which is available for both Windows and MAC (download link here) using this option requires you to remove the MicroSD card from the dashcam and connect it to your PC via a suitable memory card reader.

Setup and configuration

We found the setup and configuration to be very easy. Just download the Thinkware dashcam link app from the Apple store or the Google Play Store and install as you would any other app. Once installed, ensure that the dash cam is connected and powered up, open the app and follow the on screen prompts to setup and link the dashcam to your phone, this is done via Bluetooth and wireless. To ensure the dashcam is aligned correctly on your vehicle window you can use the “Live View” option to see a live video feed from your dashcam, and you can then adjust as required.

Video Review

In this video review we take a look at what you get in the box, a quick overview of the Thinkware dashcam link app and most important of all we will take a look at some recorded video footage from day and night.

In the box

• Thinkware F70 PRO Dashcam
• 12V Power Cable or Hardwiring Cable
• 32GB MicroSD Card
• Trim tool
• Windshield Mount
• Spare 3M Mounting Tape
• Adhesive Cable Clips
• Quick Start Guide
• [Optional] GPS Antenna (If selected)

Specification

• Resolution: Front – Full HD (1920 x 1080)
• Camera: Front – CMOS Image Sensor
• Frame Rate: 30 fps
• Viewing Angle: 140° (Diagonal)
• Dimensions(WxDxH): 82 X 33.8 X 34.6 mm (3.22 x 1.33 X 1.36 inch)
• Weight: 42.4g (0.096 lb)
• Storage Temperature:   -20°~ 70°C (-4°~ 158°F)
• Operating Temperature:   -10°~ 60°C (14°~ 140°F)
• Capacity:   MicroSD card 8/16/32/64/128 GB (UHS-I) (32GB MicroSD card included)
• Input Power:  DC 12/24V, Built-in Super Capacitor
• GPS:  GPS Antenna [Optional]

Full detailed specification can be found here