Thinkware - U3000 Series

Thinkware from Canada,  get dual channel aka front and rear.  They have nice features like battery voltage cut down to save your car battery or parking/driving recording when hardwired.

They are but worth it in my opinion,  especially the extra features they come with,  like the battery voltage monitor I mention earlier

Im on my 3rd Thinkware product. (I buy a new one for each new vehicle.) Just traded in my 2020 Honda Passport (it had the Thinkware U1000). Receiving my 2026 Passport Elite this afternoon at 3pm. Already ordered Thinkware U3000 from Amazon and should receive it this afternoon. I normally pay a local collision repair $100-200 to install the rear camera and hide the wires.

Just got the thinkware U3000. All the bells and whistles. Black box my car is a good place to go and compare

I don’t know what affordable would be considered here, but I’ve been using ThinkWare U3000 installed by EZ Dashcam in SD. I’ve had 0 issues with it and it sits parked in the sun every day.

I actually mainly had lower end Thinkwares, so go figure… but it was well worth the investment. I’ve never had a proper setup with parking mode before but motion detection works very well and I attibute that in part to the RADAR

U3000. although any with a parking mode should still record with the engine off.

I also have a Pilot ('20). I will be installing a U3000. We have a U1000 in our Santa Fe.

Thinkware brand. I don't know the model offhand, but it's a front and rear unit and works very well.

I second this. They did a great job - picked up a Thinkware front and rear dash cam set.

I just installed a Thinkware U3000 front and rear with a iVolt mini battery backup. I chickened out of the hard wiring for now and am charging the iVolt mini using the 12v plug in the passenger footwell (it charges while I drive for battery power use after I park). I park in the garage at night but wanted cameras for driving and parking around town. I have the hardwire cable and fuse taps etc but wasn't ready to take that on just yet and the space behind the fuse box cover looks tight for fuse taps but I know others have successfully installed it that way, so eventually I'll look to hardwire. I just did the install last week so still getting used to the setup and having some difficulty synching with the Thinkware Connect app.

If you want parking monitoring the top camera in the reviews is consistently the Thinkware U3000

Yes my crash was at night and rear camera which is only 2K had what I consider perfect night vision. I could clearly see her facial expressions as she plowed into the back of my car. I install commercial security cameras and license plate recognition is challenging with fixed 4k cameras with much bigger lenses and ccd chips with parked cars and fixed cameras. So I put little faith in Internet reviews claiming brand xyz can read license plates better than 123 so this did not influence my choice. No I have never done side by side tests in a controlled environment between brands which I never found online only options. I am happy with my choice. So buy whatever brand you trust, your money your car

I use a Thinkware U3000 2ch plugged into the OBD port on my car. It did fully catch a hit and run in parking mode earlier this year. I plugged it in directly on a 1999 Honda CR-V for over a year and now on an 04 cr-v and I’ve never had any battery issues with it

In my WRX I use a Garmin DashCam Mini 2.  In my Outback I use a Thinkware U3000 dual camera setup with Thinkware iVolt Mini battery for parking mode.  Thinkware setup is excellent and has advanced parking mode features. Garmin is good enough for when you just need a camera while you are driving.   I typically use the Outback for road trips. WRX is driven much less and I did not find the bulkier/more expensive Thinkware setup to be necessary for how I use it. 

For the most part, dashcams have the same internals, so do your research. I'm sure there's newer videos, but I remember LTT did a roundup pointing this out a while ago. A few years ago I ended up getting a Thinkwear "brand" front and rear.

Rather than supporting Amazon's evil ways and potentially getting a counterfeit product, I recommend supporting a smaller retailer that's going to offer you a decent price, actual support, and knowledgeable reviews. I usually order from [https://www.blackboxmycar.com/](https://www.blackboxmycar.com/) and have been very happy with their service. Now, since you asked for "best" and not "best at a reasonable price" I think you'll be looking at a Thinkware U3000 Pro (4K front and 2K rear), BlackVue DR970X-2CH (4k front and HD rear cameras) or VIOFO A329T (4K front and 2K rear cameras). I personally like the Viofo ones better because of the screen, but they don't have cloud capabilities. So, if you want to protect yourself from auto theft, where the camera leave along with the car, then you'll want something that's cloud-enabled like the BlackVue. In reality, each of the options above are way more cameras than anyone needs and are likely more expensive than what you're willing to pay. Each manufacturer also offers decent cameras with similar specs for much less. But without knowing your price point and you looking for "the best", those are it. For me, I'm more concerned about recording while driving and watching out for parking lot dings, so I'm fine with the Viofo. I have the A229 Pro in two of my cars and they have been flawless (https://www.blackboxmycar.com/products/viofo-a229-pro-4k-uhd-3-ch-dash-cam). It's available as a front (1ch), front+rear (2ch), or front+rear+inside (3ch) option.

I have a Thinkware U3000 with battery pack.

Youre not gonna get a "decent setup" for a hundred bucks. I got the U3000 front and rear professionally installed all in $750 CAD

I think you can adjust the sensitivity of the features as well. Might be able to tone that down a bit. I park in the garage and also just started using the camera this past weekend and have been frustrated trying to get on the Thinkware Connected app. I like the camera, image quality, and features. Now I need to learn how to use them.

It’s a lot better compared to cams I’ve had in the past, especially with the rear cam / no headlights. I decided to turn off Super Night Vision when I first got it (Idk if I heard it’s improved since then?). Parking mode works perfectly with the OBD port, I will note that it doesn’t seem to be buffered.

I have U3000 and night vision is great. I was rear ended 3 days after install at night and footage shows every expression on the ladies face as she slammed into me. Tech support is amazing, I work in IT and deal with support companies all day and THINKWARE support is better than 90% of computer software vendors

Thinkware U3000. Front 4K. Rear 2K. You can plug it into the OBD-II outlet. It can record while in motion and while parked and can highlight incidents such as impact or irregular driving by others. Clips can vary from 20secs (impact mode) to 1min (continuous mode) long. I’ve used it for almost 6 months. I like it.

Thinkware U3000: I just purchased two and can't be happier. As an IT guy, I spent a ton of time reading forums like this to narrow down the list. Then, I spoke with a couple of local installers and the two big online dashcam stores about installation and warranty-related issues and made my choice. Price was not a big factor in my decision, as I like the features and simple design. The OBO connector installation would be simple for installers, and the parking mode is energy-saving radar stuff. It is currently on sale for $479, which is about what I paid at the end of the December sale. It is also available online without sales tax or shipping. I had them installed on a Saturday in the middle of January, and on Tuesday, I was rear-ended. I had not even installed the app on my phone. I pulled out the memory card and put it in my PC. I was actually impressed with the video quality during my daily driving before the accident. The nighttime footage of me being stopped at a signal light, the car never slowing down, and the details of the driver's face were amazing. I install 4K 8mg security cameras for business and never thought my dashcams would be as good as they are. I called tech support to ensure best practices to save the footage since I had not had time to load the app, and they answered in minutes and were super helpful.

Just got mine from Amazon yesterday so it’s available now

I tapped mine into the power above the mirror. Different Hyundai, but same concept.

Thinkware U3000. Hands down the best.

THINKWARE U3000 with OBD ii cable has the best parking mode function with dual radar to identify activity. They just released U3000 Pro with HDR and improved rear camera. I have 2 of them and very happy with quality and support. Ordering the Pro for my new car next week with OBD as well

FitcamX is nice because of the fit, but something like a Thinkware U3000 or Viofo a329 is going to capture better video. I am getting the A329. I don’t plan on doing any monitoring during parking, but it’s compatible with battery packs if you want that feature. It would probably be easy to run the wiring down the passenger A pillar and to the fuse box the secure the battery down there somewhere.

Thinkware U3000. choose the option with the OBD2 plug and that makes the power connection cake, will record in parking mode as well as while driving. I sell and install these for a living and am a big fan, personally.

I love my Thinkware U3000 paired with a Powercell 8 parking mode battery bank. It has outstanding video quality and in parking mode would last weeks with the truck turned off.

I have a Thinkware U3000 2ch, love it overall, great at reading license plates

Depending on the dash cam some will eat power for breakfast. To know how long you can have parking mode for will depend on that, the condition of your battery and how many events get triggered. I tested the Thinkeate U3000, BlackVue DR770X Box, VIOFO A129 Plus Duo, and Akeeyo EYES AI dash cams to show how much power is used by each in parking mode. Watch for more info: https://youtu.be/52nfmtyEEQ8 I also am trying to use a solar panel to potentially have unlimited parking mode. Find out more about the solar dash cam project here: https://youtu.be/BI-fhD5w0m8

Great question! The Viofo A229 Plus is rated to handle temps up to around 149°F (65°C), but parking in direct sun for 7+ hours daily at 113°F can still push any dash cam to its limits over time. If you're not using parking mode, the cam will be off while parked, which helps reduce heat stress. But if you are, we’d suggest a heat-resistant cam like the Thinkware U3000, which uses supercapacitors and has excellent heat durability. Also, using a reflective windshield cover and parking in the shade when possible can really help. If you have any doubts or need more guidance, feel free to reach out via our Live Chat or contact support at [info@blackboxmycar.com](mailto:info@blackboxmycar.com) or 1 (888) 978 6560. We're here to help!

Thinkware U3000 with OBDII plug. we sell these and install them at my work all the time. Qualified installation absolutely required, wire needs to be routed behind all airbags, and wiring for rear dash cam on tailgate needs to be routed through the rubber boot and boot seated properly to prevent water intrusion and other future issues. We charge for about three or 3 1/2 hours at my work. any decent car stereo shop should be able to do it, and if they provide the dashcam they may charge a lower labor rate versus you bringing in your own.

I have (2) THINKWARE U3000 dual Dashcams and consider them excellent. Customer service is next level too. Parking mode with the OBD ii connector and dual radar provides the longest parking protection without buying expensive battery pack. I just sold my Honda so selling my U3000 and buying the U3000 Pro to install in new car next week. So yes happy user. But now 3rd. Camera, and no brand is going to give you that 360 view. If interior camera was wide angle never be in focus inside and outside, lenses don’t work like that

Have you checked thinkware u3000? I saw the oven heating video and was impressed. I bought it and hardwired it into my car.

Go to r/dashcams and/or blackboxmycar.com. That is where I went. I bought my own and took it to a local shop for the install. Make sure to check with the shop that they will install something else if you don't buy from them. I am running a Thinkware 4k front and 2k rear dual channel set up. I did have to buy a little mounting bracket off of Amazon to mount the rear camera, but there are plenty of options. Mine just had some small screws to help secure it. I am loving it so far and I hope to only need it to record drives though some amazing locations and not have to worry about a wreck again.

THINKWARE U3000 just purchased a pair for both cars. 3 days after install was rear ended, was amazed at quality of video as I had not even installed the app or checked video before. Tech support was super good and explained how to transfer video to PC, as I did not want to lose anything by missing a step. The obo connection and parking mode efficiency help me chose after weeks of research. Called a couple installers and same model was in their top 2

I professionally fit Dashcams. No not at an orange vendor. I run a Thinkware u3000 in all my vehicles. Love it. Thinkware or blackvue are the way to go IMHO

r/Dashcams is a good resource. Check their sidebar for recommendations. I personally use a Thinkware U3000.

I use the Thinkware U3000 front/rear dashcams. Good picture quality during day/night.

I would disagree that the Fitcamx is the blanket "recommended dashcam". It might be the recommended dashcam if you want a dashcam that doesn't take up any additional windshield space. However, there are several MUCH better dashcams in terms of video quality and other features such as robust parking mode. For example, the Thinkware U3000