INTRODUCTION:
Dahua Technology, a global provider of video-centric smart IoT solutions and services, is inching its way to the local market. The Hangzhou, China-headquartered firm recently partnered with one of the leading ICT distributors in the Philippines in an attempt to make its products more accessible to more Filipinos. Among these offerings include the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera.
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| Dahua M1pro Dash Camera |
When it comes to niche consumer tech devices like a dash camera where any option seems decent as long as it does the job, what additional features should one consider? Let's take a look at the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera.
UNBOXING and INSTALLATION:
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| Dahua M1pro Dash Camera |
The Dahua M1pro Dash Camera comes in a common-looking compact packaging with the necessary details about the device printed on its box. Inside, there's the dash camera itself, alongside a car charger, power cable, quick start guide, and extra adhesives. It's fittingly a plain bundle for a straightforward device.
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| Dahua M1pro Dash Camera packaging inclusions |
Setting up the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera is an uncomplicated task. All that's needed to do is to stick the camera to the windshield, plug the power cable and the car charger, and adjust the lens according to the user's liking. Take note that the maximum adjustment angle of the lens is at 165 degrees.
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| The Dahua M1pro Dash Camera conveniently comes with ready-to-use adhesive. |
Plus, its unassuming form factor measures 80mm x 48mm x 28.8 mm and weighs only 42 grams – definitely not an eyesore on a car windshield.
On the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera itself are hardware indicators including an LED light. A red flashing light means that the camera is recording while a steady red light implies otherwise. Users will know that Wi-Fi is enabled on the dash camera when there's a flashing blue light, while a stagnant one tells that the Wi-Fi is not connected. Lastly, the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera tells users that it's updating when a red and blue light flashes alternately.
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| Dahua M1pro Dash Camera A wise design detail on the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera comes in the form of a side-mounted function button. It's strategically placed in such a way that it remains easily available no matter how much users adjust the position of the camera lens. It's better than having a button positioned on top of the camera itself which commonly results in accidentally adjusting the camera angle when the user just wanted to access the device's functions. |
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| Dahua M1pro Dash Camera function button |
A short press on the function button will lock the recording on the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera while a three-second long press is an easy trigger to either start or stop the recording. Even restoring the dash camera into factory settings is a no-fuss task – users just need to press and hold the function button for five seconds. Even formatting the SD card can be done through the same button, as opposed to having the need to insert the memory card into a card reader attached to a laptop and do the reformatting from there.
PERFORMANCE and FEATURES:
For a dash camera originally intended to carry out a simple feature – to record videos while a car is moving on the road – the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera packs nice-to-have additional functions.
First off, the dash camera is capable of a high-resolution recording at up to 1080p and 30fps. Even at nighttime, it's designed to record high quality footage, thanks to its enhanced night vision feature with an F2.0 iris lens.
Its lens provides a field of view of 121 degrees (D), 101 degrees (H), and 53 degrees (V).
Another highlight feature on the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera is its G-Sensor module which automatically locks a current recording once it detects collisions or strong vibrations to avoid the video being overwritten. This function is especially important in securing crucial footage in case of road accidents.
There's also a built-in speaker and a built-in microphone on the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera, ensuring that audio functions are well-covered when needed.
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| USB port and SD card slot |
With an SD card support of up to 128GB, there's substantial storage for extended driving footage on the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera.
Since the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera is a smart device, it comes compatible with an app. The DH Dash Cam app, available for free download via the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, allows users to tweak a few settings on the camera and access recordings easily. Once installed, remember to enable location services for the app on your phone for it to work seamlessly.
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| Dahua DH Dash Cam app |
CONCLUSION:
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| Dahua Dash Camera M1 Pro |
Truth be told, the G-Sensor module on the Dahua M1pro Dash Camera is more than enough reason for the device to be a top choice for dash cameras. For an affordable price tag, you'll definitely get more than what you paid for.