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Cobra SC 201 Smart Dash Cam

Dash cams are all about sh ting the action, and few do so a lot better than the front/interior Cobra SC 201 Smart Dash Cam (currently $179.95 on Amazon). The night that is exterior, especially, is unsurpassed in its capacity to show details in dark environments also it provides a laundry range escort service Pueblo of features including GPS and cloud uploads. The company also includes a 16GB sdcard. It’s really worth the money for what you get—just don’t try to use the cloud functionality having an older phone OS.

This review is section of our ongoing roundup of the dash cams that are best. Get there for information on competing services and products and exactly how we tested them.

Design and features

Dash cams generally are available in two basic shapes rectangular, and cylindrical. The SC 201 opts for the latter, which allows probably the most space for an camera that is interior. Both the interior and front cameras capture at 1080p. Many interior cameras are 720p, which means this is definitely an update.

While 1080p might appear a bit boring in a globe that offers 1440p and 2160p, it is more than adequate for legal and purposes that are even viewing and yes it saves that you ton of memory space and wear-and-tear. Place another way, it is a great deal cheaper in the long run.

The front digital camera has a g d 140-degree industry of view. Cobra declined to produce lots for the inner camera, merely claiming that it’s wide enough to fully capture the entire cabin. That proved accurate in screening. Four infrared lights surround the lens that is interior make sure the action is captured regardless of how the cabin is lit.

The SC 201 activities a color that is two-inch with four buttons on the underside of this digital camera, whoever present function is revealed by icons in the bottom associated with the display. We found the buttons simple to press, and navigating the menus and settings quite easy. The screen will flip to match even the orientation associated with the digital camera.

The Cobra SC 201’s display that is color handily put (bottom) buttons make utilizing the digital camera very simple. That the GPS immediately sets the date and time assists tremendously.

One very nice options that come with the SC 201 is it sets the right time automatically utilizing the GPS info, and songs speed right out from the box. Few of the dash cams we’ve tested offer that amount of sophistication. You can even turn the GPS/time and driver ID video watermarks on and off.

Name other desirable dash cam function, and you’ll likely find it on the SC 201 lane departure warnings, rate alerts, collision warnings, parking surveillance mode, et cetera. You’ll adjust nearly everything as well.

You should also take pleasure in Cobra’s established position being a dash cam vendor. That features a one-year warranty—increasingly uncommon in a field rife with 90-day restrictions.

The Driver Smarter app linked to the SC 201. The software enables a real time view, and a number of other conveniences. It to work on your phone if you can get.

Alas, there were pc software issues with the older Honor 8 phone initially found in testing, which is running the older Android 7. The mapping and software that is alert iRadar, crashed over and over repeatedly when linking with the SC 201, therefore the Cobra Drive Smarter software used for viewing, uploading, and changing settings wouldn’t connect at all. iOS 13.1 or newer is necessary as well.

Cobra cannot technically be faulted for supporting just Android 8 and s n after when G gle itself has kicked anything older towards the curb. However it could undoubtedly do a better work of permitting users know about the requirement—I found no requirement notices on the site or the container. Testing had been completed on a G gle Pixel 4X, where every thing was hunky-dory until a firmware update killed the connection once again. Cobra might want to have a sit-down using its computer software group.

Cobra’s iRadar mapping and location app. It shall demonstrate where you’ve been whenever playing straight back videos with GPS information embedded.

Video quality and battery

The SC video that is 201’s generally speaking top-tier. There’s a bit of fisheye impact (an occupational risk of wide industries of view), but it’s nicely color-saturated and detailed, plus it handles rough roads decently without the image that is appreciable or other flaws. 4K dash cams gets all of the attention, however in true to life we recommend 1080p dash cams to increase the lifespan of memory cards.

This day capture is r fed showing from the color. The GPS hadn’t initialized yet, but you can observe that in the capture below.

The GPS hadn’t kicked in quite yet regarding the capture above (most dash cams with GPS need up to five minutes to do so after powering on the vehicle), so an additional is included to show so it actually works. Keep in mind that the digital camera handles glare even when your vehicle is headed almost directly toward the sun aftern n.

This 2nd daylight exterior capture demonstrates the GPS works, and in addition that the SC 201 handles harsh glare deftly.

There’s a startling quantity of detail unveiled into the night that is exterior shown below. This might be two hours after sundown, the scene is nowhere near as bright as this indicates to stay the capture. Regardless of the high amount of information, the SC 201 manages to tone straight down headlight flare successfully.

This is certainly night video that is absolutely outstanding. The scene ended up being nowhere near this bright in real life.

Interior captures are first-rate, recording an abundance of detail regardless of the comparison between the bright outside light therefore the shaded inside.

Don’t mind the guy that is old the driver’s seat. This capture shows that the SC 201 will capture all of your cabin, even in the event Cobra wouldn’t inform us associated with real FOV.

Thanks to the four infrared lights surrounding the interior camera, night captures within the cabin also show detail that is impressive. The cabin ended up being extremely dark during the right time this was taken.