BlackVue DR970X 4K UHD In-Depth Review

The BlackVue DR970X is a fully functional 4K UHD dash cam, whether or not you choose to use the optional LTE module and Cloud features.

The DR970X looks the same as the DR900X Plus and DR900X. But, there's a new Format button. For those using the DR900X series, you will be familiar with how picky the dash cams can be if the microSD card is not formatted to FAT32.

With this DR970X, it doesn’t matter if your microSD card is ExFAT or NTFS, the dash cam will format it over to FAT32 for you - the dash cam will automatically format the microSD card if it is the wrong type.

The proximity motion sensor on the dash cam has also been replaced with a new touch sensor. Say goodbye to unintentional manual recording triggers because of dangling air fresheners or rays of lights coming into your car. No need for a hard tap, a light one will do the trick!

The DR970X comes in two versions - 1-channel and a 2-channel. The latter includes a Full HD rear camera, the same as the rear camera in the DR900X and X-Plus models, with the same model number.

The box also includes a 12V power cable, a 3-wire hardwiring cable, a microSD card (up to 256GB), and a pry tool. If you choose the 2-Channel version, you will also receive a rear camera connection cable.

The BlackVue DR970X retains the same camera lens and 8MP CMOS image sensor as its predecessors, but BlackVue has upgraded the CPU and image processing software. These improvements are noticeable in the footage's white balance, dynamic range, and contrast.

The nighttime footage is superb. The DR970X captures clear details on the road, even when headlights are shining on them. Compared to the DR900X Plus, there is less motion blur and better highlight detail, resulting in a crisp and clear video.

The front camera records in 4K UHD at 30FPS and has four bitrate choices: highest/extreme, highest, high, and normal. Further examination of the raw video footage shows that the BlackVue DR970X records in extreme mode at a bitrate of 25.24 Mb/s, similar to the DR900X Plus (24.66Mb/s).

The DR970X has a narrower view than its predecessors, at 155 degrees versus 162 degrees, which may contribute to its improved video clarity and sharpness.

The box contains a 3-wire hardwiring kit to use for a hardwired installation. To set up the hardwiring installation, connect the dash cam to your car's battery, attach the ACC+ cable to a fuse that activates only when the engine is on, and attach the BATT+ cable to a fuse that remains powered even after the engine is off.

If you prefer not to hardwire the dash cam to your car's fuse panel, use a dedicated dash cam battery pack instead. The BlackVue DR970X works with the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 and the BlackVue B-130X Power Magic Ultra Battery, allowing you to choose the one that best suits your requirements and budget.

The BlackVue DR970X is designed to offer parking mode capabilities that can help protect your car from hit-and-runs, theft, or vandalism. Once hardwired to your car's fuse panel or connected to a dedicated dash cam battery pack, the dash cam will automatically switch to parking mode when the ignition is turned off. The DR970X features a built-in voltage monitor that helps protect your vehicle's battery, and you can customize the voltage cutoff and timer settings using the BlackVue app.

The Intelligent Parking Mode feature is unique to BlackVue and offers Buffered Recording with Motion and Impact Detection and Time Lapse Recording. Motion detection mode uses the image sensor to detect movement, while the inbuilt accelerometer/G-sensor detects bumps for impact detection mode. To prevent unwanted recordings triggered by motion or movement, the DR970X allows you to specify areas to ignore, such as swaying trees or far-away moving objects.

BlackVue Over the Cloud is a suite of innovative ‘connected’ features that takes your BlackVue experience to new levels - it unlocks the true power of your DR970X and remotely connects you with your vehicle.

You only need the free BlackVue App and a mobile Internet connection, such as the optional BlackVue CM100 LTE 4G connectivity module and data SIM. The CM100 LTE is compatible with SIM cards from the following network carriers (including their MVNOs): AT&T, T-Mobile, Telus, Rogers, and Bell.

Connect to the BlackVue DR970X dash cam anytime, anywhere, and check on your car with Remote Live View. Play recorded video clips remotely and back-up important ones to the Cloud or your phone. Monitor progress and access location data, GPS logs, and Driving Reports using the real-time Live Tracking feature.

The BlackVue DR970X also supports seamless pairing, so pretty much one tap from the BlackVue app on your phone, and you’re connected to the dash cam.

If you want to upgrade to the DR970X from the DR900X Plus from an older BlackVue model, here’s what you need to know regarding cable and accessories compatibility.

1. Power cables are compatible with the DR970X
2. Video/Coaxial cables - compatible with the DR970X
3. Rear camera - the DR970X uses the same rear camera as the DR900X and DR900X Plus
4. Battery pack - the DR970X is compatible with the BlackVue B-124X and B-130X, the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8, the BI-750, and the Cellink NEO battery packs
5. CPL Filter - the DR970X is compatible with the latest BlackVue CPL filter
6. Tamper-proof mount - the DR970X is compatible with the DR900X/X-Plus tamper-proof mount
7. CM100G LTE Module - compatible with the DR970X so if you already have one, just connect it to the new dash cam.