KDLinks X1 Review - Is this Full-HD Dash Cam Worth Price?
July 30, 2023 by Zach Harmon
The KDLINKS X1 Full-HD is an e-commerce based dash cam product company who sells primarily on Amazon. If you’re a long-time reader of Dash Cam Discount, you know we typically dislike the Amazon-based companies. They tend to be dropship-only online brands with barely any customer service.
With that being said, I put my past experiences aside for this review to give the company an unbiased rating. I used the KDLinks X1 Full HD car dash cam for one month, this was my experience.
At A Glance
Pros
- Wide Dynamic Range Angle Lens
- GPS software function with CDs
- Superior Night Mode & Night Vision
- Simple Firmware & Software install.
- Windshield suction cup with GPS module
- 8GB microSD card
- Accident Auto Detection Feature
- Dashcam Starts Recording Immediately
Cons
- Massive File Sizes
- Pricey
- Suction cup without GPS module
- Poor Customer support
- No touch screen
- Not a large screen
- Full HD Videos Isn't Up to par with Competition
- More Tangled Cables
- Only a Cigarette car charger with cable
- Wide Angle Lens Doesn't Do Well in Poor Lighting Conditions
- Polymer Battery Performs Bad in Heat
Product Highlights
Product
Features
* MicroSD card adapter
* G-Sensor to Lock Current Video File
* Cool Design
Price
My Experience With The KDLinks X1
The first thing I noticed is that the KDLINKS X1 is a stylish dash cam that’s pretty small and light compared to most dash cameras in this price range. I liked the design of the X1 but was unimpressed by the dash camera screen size.
Most dash cams at this price point have very big screens to show off the video quality of the clips. The KDLinks X1 only has a 2.7 inch screen, and doesn’t have a touch-screen implemented.
Takeaway: The auto-power on feature on the X1 dash cam is quite helpful. As soon as I turned on the ignition, it began to record.
I found the 360° rotation of the camera extremely helpful, so enjoyed this aspect. I was in a situation where a police officer was next to my car, and I was able to quickly rotate the dash cam to capture the entire interaction. It’s a very mobile dash cam unlike some recent dash cameras I’ve used.
On the KDLinks website and Amazon sales page, the company brags about this dash cam can withstand extreme temperatures ranging from 165 degree Fahrenheit heat tolerance and -40 degree Fahrenheit cold.
Since we’re based out of Texas, heat tolerance is a big deal to me. However, the KDLinks X1 let me down in this aspect. The 3.7 V 110 mAh Li-polymer battery started malfunctioning on a very hot day during my third week of using the dash camera. The video clips from this time was completely fried and nothing was recorded.
Alternatives - Other Brands
Nextbase 622GW 4K Dash Cam
This award winning dash cam is great due to the Image Stabilization tech and the 622GW’s superb 4K quality. Features:
- Front and Rear Dash Cam
- Ultra High-Definition
- Wi-Fi
- GPS
- Alexa Enabled
Cobra SC 400D
More expensive than the X1, however the 400D dash cam outperforms it in every metric in our opinion.
- Rear-View Accessory Camera
- 4K Smart Dash Cam
- Actually Full HD
- Free Shipping
Nextbase 222x
This is a great alternative for a similar price. We wrote a full review of the Nextbase 222x recently, be sure to check it out. It has these features:
- Front and Rear Dash Cam
- Full HD
- Wi-Fi
- Alexa Enabled
- Bluetooth
Redtiger F7N
The F7N has the qualities that the X1 claims it has, and even more. We wrote a review on the F7N as well. Features:
- 4K Dash Cam
- Suction Cup
- Wide Angle
- Live GPS Tracking
KDLinks X1 Dash Cam Features
The AR0330 KDLINK X1 sensor and Novatek NT96650 CPU are both used in this device, which can record in 1080p (full HD) at 30 frames per second. Let me break that down for the non-technical people.
Full HD Dash Cam Video Clips
The KDLINKS X1 full HD dash cam produces clear, detailed footage. At a distance of ten to twenty meters, one can read the license plates of the vehicles. The footage that the x1 dash cam recorded is decent, but not the finest. The WDR technology was average at best, and I seriously doubt the X1 is fully capable of true wide dynamic range.
Videos shot using the default settings have a small overexposure. The X1 boasts the greatest field of vision, 160 degrees, of any dash cam currently on the market. It is a useful function on a dash cam, but regrettably it also gives the videos a “fish-eye” look.
KDLinks X1 Dash Cam Software
KDLinks currently only offers their desktop software to windows users. There’s a way to get it on a Mac, but it involves an extensive process. The user interface is really straightforward and simple to comprehend.
With that being said, the camera can still be used without the software. The program allows you to play recordings while also checking tracked MPH average and top speed, and the distance of the remaining road. You can access the dash cam footage from the SD card, but without the software on your computer you won’t be able to get the in-depth statistics the company boasts about.
KDLinks X1 GPS
The camera’s GPS module incorporates the position and pertinent data into the video recordings. One may utilize Google Maps to follow the position, speed, and route of the car by utilizing the KDLinks Player Software. The Google Map route was implemented pretty well into the GPS feature. All in all, it did the job but it was quite buggy at times. I was underwhelmed with this aspect of the dashboard camera.
The time and date are also updated by the GPS capability, although the KDLINKS X1 dash cam requires manual setting. It can also be turned off if you want to, I turned it off because I noticed it was having some negative effects on the video quality and frame rate.
G-Sensor - HD Video Proof
A G-sensor, also known as a gravity sensor is a motion detector that identifies sudden acceleration or deceleration within your vehicle. Accidents are immediately detected by the built-in G-sensor and uses an emergency lock button locks high quality recordings to prevent video files from being rewritten.
Why is an inbuilt G-Sensor important? Video files tend to be extremely large and take up a lot of storage on your memory card. In order to counter-act this, continuous loop recording is implemented to overwrite the oldest stored footage on the memory card. Getting a quality sensor is vital to store proof of an unfortunate event to provide to your insurance company.
Storage
The dash cam supports microSD cards up to 32 GB storage capacity. KDLinks X1’s micro-USB connector can be used to charge the device and transfer recorded footage to a compatible computer or mobile device. By doing this, you can transmit videos from a dash cam using an external microSD card without needing a micro USB port reader. You can view the footage on the tiny LCD screen without needing to transfer it to an external device, but I found excellent quality detail escapes without viewing it on a desktop.
Customer Support
Like most Amazon dash cam companies, the customer support team was basically non-existent. On their sales page they speak in-depth about their ‘worry free solutions’, ‘outstanding customer service’ and ‘quick response support team’. I didn’t experience that at all.
As I mentioned previously, the battery in my KDLinks X1 dash cam stopped working after 3 weeks. After not receiving an email response for about a week, I got an unapologetic email asking if I had tried using the charger cables to charge it.
We exchanged a few more email back and forth but no helpful advice was given. I ended up giving up, it was frustrating and I decided it was best I didn’t waste any more time.
Installing the KDLINKS X1 Dash Cam
Installing the X 1 dash cam isn’t very simple but it has a suction mount that is adjustable. For some people, the interface could be a little scary because it has a lot of icons and is challenging to navigate.
The user will need to frequently visit the user manual throughout installation. The installation procedure was extremely challenging me, a dash cam expert, so I can’t imagine how bad it is for the average person. Learn how to install a dash cam here.
KDLINKS X1 User Manual
Find and download the manual here.
How We Rate Dash Camera Products
The Dash Cam Discount team rates all dash camera products by the following features:
Value For Money – 0 to 5 stars
Are you getting you money’s worth?
Is the product priced comparably to competitors?
Ease of Use – 0 to 5 stars
How difficult is the dash cam to install?
Is it easy to playback the video recording?
Camera Resolution & Lens Quality – 0 to 5 stars
Do the manufacturers use high quality parts? (camera lens, SD card, G Sensor)
Is it possible to read license plates and street signs from the video recording?
Additional Features – 0 to 5 stars
Does the dash cam have parking mode?
Is there a built-in GPS?
Can the dashcam use radar detection to inform you on your driving speed?
Read more about how we rate all of the products we review on our product criteria page.
Overall KDLINKS X1 Dash Cam Review
2 out of 5
2/5
The X1’s camera outperforms some of the competition since the night time HD video proof is pretty unmatched, however I don’t think the price is justified. Its lack of a touch screen, cloud storage and poor battery power, are something that take away from our final score.
The KDLINKS x1 dash cam is more money than its competitors and it’s a hefty investment for most. This is far from the worst dash camera we’ve rated, just take a look at our iTrue X6D review if you don’t believe me. Amy recently did an in-depth review of the KDLINKS R100 Ultra HD rearview mirror dash cam, and it’s safe to say she had a similar experience with another KD Links product!
Based on my experience, I’d recommend doing more research on dashboard camera brands. Since the X1 is an older dash camera, you’ll definitely more modern solutions for a better price. Check out all our reviews if the KDLinks X1 is above your price point, or read our Dash Cam Basics educational articles to learn more about dash cams.
About Post Author
Zach Harmon
Zach Harmon founded Dash Cam Discount to pursue his passion. He created the site to share his experience in the industry & provide quality information to the people. Connect with Zach on LinkedIn or send an email to zach@dashcamdiscount.com.
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