BlackVue dash cam comparison

Start with the views you need

We recommend choosing the camera views first, then the connection and recorder layout. A road-facing rear camera and an infrared cabin camera answer different needs. LTE changes how the dash cam reaches the internet; it does not add another recording view.

This guide compares the original DR970X Plus, DR970X-2CH LTE Plus, DR970X Box Plus and DR770X families. These are the generations pictured below, separate from later Plus II and DR770X II models. For models available now, browse our current BlackVue range.

The product illustrations show period app screens, and some carry a historical "Best of 2024" badge. The badges are historical; the phone and SIM illustrations are not a current package checklist.

Compare the front-and-rear models

On a narrow screen, swipe horizontally to compare all four models.

Four front-and-rear configurations from the original families

Feature	DR970X-2CH LTE Plus	DR970X-2CH Plus	DR970X-2CH Box Plus	DR770X-2CH
Camera layout
Front recording	4K UHD	4K UHD	4K UHD	Full HD at 60 FPS
Rear recording	Full HD	Full HD	Full HD	Full HD at 30 FPS
Cabin camera in this configuration	Not included	Not included	Not included	Not included
Front image sensor	Sony STARVIS 2, Plus generation	Sony STARVIS 2	Sony STARVIS 2	Approximately 2.1MP Sony STARVIS
LTE hardware	Built into the camera	Optional external LTE module	External connectivity required for Cloud	Optional external LTE module
Recorder placement	In the main camera	In the main camera	Separate lockable recorder	In the main camera
Best starting point when you want	4K front/rear and integrated LTE hardware	4K front/rear with optional remote connectivity	4K front/rear with a recorder placed away from the cameras	Full HD front/rear, with 60 FPS front recording

The table compares the named two-channel road-front/road-rear kits. The 1CH and IR alternatives below change that coverage. BlackVue's March 2024 Plus-family overview identifies the STARVIS 2 front sensor across its 4K Plus models; the original DR770X specifications document the Full HD frame rates. Neither resolution nor a sensor name guarantees readable plates in every scene.

DR970X-2CH LTE Plus: LTE hardware inside the camera

The pictured DR970X-2CH LTE Plus is the Plus-generation model, with 4K front and Full HD rear recording. It is distinct from the earlier non-Plus DR970X-2CH LTE. That full suffix matters when comparing hardware, accessories or mobile service.

Choose this layout if you want front-and-rear recording and prefer the LTE hardware built into the main camera. You still need compatible regional hardware, a suitable SIM and data service, and the account or plan required for the Cloud features you want. A built-in modem does not itself provide internet service.

If you are moving from a DR750X-2CH LTE Plus or a non-Plus DR970X-2CH LTE, identify the exact old and new models before carrying anything over. A familiar LTE name is not enough to establish SIM, cable or accessory compatibility.

DR970X Plus: front-only, rear or cabin coverage

The standard DR970X Plus family is the starting point when you want 4K front recording without building LTE into the camera body. Its updated front sensor, lens and image processing distinguish this Plus generation from the earlier non-Plus DR970X. Local Wi-Fi access and optional internet connectivity serve different jobs, explained below.

Choose the DR970X-1CH Plus for the road ahead. Choose the DR970X-2CH Plus when you also need a separate view through the rear windshield. The rear view gives you another angle on activity around the vehicle.

DR970X-1CH Plus

Front-only 4K recording. This is the one-channel configuration, not a front/rear kit.

DR970X-2CH Plus

4K road-front recording and a Full HD road-rear camera. Choose the second view for activity behind the vehicle.

The IR Plus option records the cabin

The DR970X-2CH IR Plus pairs its 4K front camera with an infrared interior camera. IR means an interior view here, not a rear-road view. It is the relevant configuration when recording people or activity inside the vehicle matters more than filming through the rear windshield.

Decide where the interior camera will look before choosing the kit. Plan a suitable mounting position and cable route for that interior view.

Box Plus: put the recorder away from the cameras

We would start with Box Plus when recorder placement is a priority. Its cameras connect to a separate recording unit, allowing the recorder and memory card to sit away from the visible cameras. Plan that location and the camera cable runs together.

BlackVue describes a lockable recorder cover and secured camera mounts on the original Box Plus design. These make access more difficult and allow a more concealed recorder installation. They do not make the system theft-proof or guarantee that footage will survive every incident.

Both pictured Box Plus configurations have a 4K STARVIS 2 front camera. The standard kit uses a Full HD rear camera; the Box IR Plus uses a Full HD infrared driver-facing camera instead. BlackVue's March 2024 overview also identifies the f/1.7 front lens and updated image processing in this 4K Plus family.

DR970X-2CH Box Plus

Choose this configuration for road-front and road-rear coverage with a separate recorder.

DR970X-2CH Box IR Plus

Choose the IR configuration for a driver-facing interior view in place of the road-rear camera.

DR770X: Full HD with 60 FPS front recording

The original DR770X is a useful alternative when you want Full HD recording and prefer its 60 FPS front video over choosing a 4K front camera. The DR770X-1CH records the road ahead. The DR770X-2CH adds a Full HD rear camera at 30 FPS; the front remains Full HD at 60 FPS.

The original manual lists approximately 2.1MP Sony STARVIS sensors, with a 139-degree diagonal view for the front and rear cameras on the two-channel model. Built-in Wi-Fi and GPS support local footage access and location information.

For remote Cloud access, the original DR770X needs an internet connection, such as a compatible external LTE module or a suitable hotspot. The historically named CM100 LTE or CM100G module still needs an exact hardware and region check before reuse.

Wi-Fi, LTE and Cloud do different jobs

Use local Wi-Fi when you are near the vehicle and want to view or transfer footage through the BlackVue app. GPS adds location data; it does not provide an internet connection.

Remote Cloud access needs a powered camera, a working internet connection and the applicable account and service. The LTE Plus supplies its modem internally. Standard Plus and DR770X use an external connection route; a Box Plus installation also needs suitable connectivity. Confirm the original hardware region and current mobile service together.

For Remote Live View, automatic uploads, impact notifications, Event Map or two-way communication, compare the exact camera with the current Cloud plan. These are not an unlimited bundle included with every camera. Features and allowances can differ, and a camera without power or connectivity cannot send a remote notification.

Mobile Hotspot is another function: sharing a mobile internet connection with other devices. It depends on the supported LTE hardware, configuration and data service. It is separate from using Wi-Fi to connect your phone to the dash cam locally.

Before arranging mobile service, confirm the supplied SIM, plan and regional carrier support for the exact camera. Historical free-SIM or trial offers do not establish current inclusions.

Plan parking power alongside the camera

For parking recording, we recommend planning the power supply before fitting the cameras. Native parking modes still need continuous power after the vehicle is parked. Motion and impact recording can capture relevant activity; recording does not prevent an incident or promise uninterrupted coverage.

The original DR770X manual distinguishes ignition-based parking entry through a three-wire hardwire connection from G-sensor-based entry with other powered methods. A socket connection must remain powered for parked recording. Use the exact model instructions for the other families rather than assuming that every battery or cable supplies an ignition signal.

A suitable dedicated battery, including our PowerCell 8 with the correct output connection, can supply a dash cam while parked. Choose the battery revision and cable for the installation. Available runtime depends on the camera load, settings and battery capacity; a voltage cutoff or battery pack is not a guarantee that recording will continue indefinitely.

Questions before choosing a configuration

Choose the layout, then ask us about the exact setup

For 4K front/rear coverage, start by deciding between standard Plus, integrated LTE Plus and a Box Plus recorder layout. Choose the matching IR variant when your second view needs to face the cabin. If Full HD at 60 FPS in front fits your needs, compare the original DR770X alongside those 4K choices.

Browse the current BlackVue range for available models. If you already own an older camera, we can help you identify its generation and plan the next setup without assuming that its rear camera, LTE module or power cable will carry over.

Tell us which views you need and how you want the camera powered while parked. We can help you narrow down the camera and installation choices.