My Apeman C450 Dash Cam Review

August 7, 2023 by Amy Mitchell

There’s a sense of comfort I get from my latest driving companion, the Apeman C450 Dash Cam. But it does a whole lot more than just record.

I should start by saying that the unboxing itself was an exciting experience. The dash cam comes in a neat little package, with everything I needed to get started, other than the microSD card. Let’s jump in to the pros and cons of my experience.

Article Contents

At A Glance

Pros

1080p Full HD Uninterrupted Recording
Great Inexpensive Option
Ultra Wide Field High Resolution Recordings
Record Videos with WDR and HDR Technology
LCD Screen with Color Accurate Images
Wide Angle Motion Detection Night Vision Videos
Loop Recording for Oldest Files
User Friendly Design

Cons

Product Highlights

Product

Features

* Super Night Vision Great in Low Light Environments

* Built in G-Sensor

* Wide Angle for Vehicle Interiors

* Parking Monitor Satisfy My Video Quality Requirements

Price

My Apeman C450 Experience

Wide Angle Lens

The moment I fixed the dash cam onto my windshield using the provided suction cup mount, the real fun began. Its 3-inch LCD screen took the place of my regular rearview mirror and surprisingly, it didn’t distract me while driving. The screen projected crisp, clear images, making me feel as though I was watching a movie of the road.

Talking about the big picture, the Apeman C450 is fitted with a 170-degree wide-angle lens. This meant no more blind spots. One would think that such a broad perspective might create a fish-eye effect, but no. The vehicles in front didn’t look unnaturally far, and I didn’t miss a single detail on the road.

Super Night Vision

The real test of a dash cam is in low light conditions, and the C450 didn’t disappoint. The combined power of the WDR and HDR technology is a thing of beauty. My nighttime drives became less of a chore thanks to the Super Night Vision feature. The C450 does not need any auxiliary light source, the low-light environment notwithstanding. Images at night were sharp, color-accurate, and the overall quality of the video was remarkable.

Accident Scene Proof G-Sensor

But a dash cam isn’t just about the aesthetics of video recording. It’s about safety too. One feature that truly stood out to me was the G-Sensor or the Gravity Sensor. A sudden jolt or collision and the C450 would automatically detect it and lock the footage. This means that the video won’t be overwritten in loop recording.

Takeaway: If there was an accident (heaven forbid!), this cam would be my perfect witness, preserving the scene as it happened.

Record Video in Parking Mode

Speaking of safety, let me mention the parking monitor. When the car is parked and the motion detection feature is activated, the cam serves as a diligent guard. However, to use this function round-the-clock, you’ll need an optional hardwire kit (CH45). To me, this felt like a slight downside since I would’ve preferred if the kit came bundled with the product.

Loop Recording

The loop recording was seamless, it really impressed me. Loop recording makes sure my drives are continuously recorded without any storage issues. When the memory card is full, the new footage will overwrite the oldest available. It’s like a self-cleaning video library, getting rid of the unimportant footage so you don’t have to do it manually.

The Verdict & Why

3.5 out of 5

 3.5/5

After spending a few weeks with this dash camera, I’m comfortably giving the Apeman C450 a 3.5 out of 5-star rating. Considering its budget-friendly price, the Apeman C450 impressed me with its capabilities. But by no means is it a top-tier dash cam. It’s great for a beginner who’s looking to start slow & not make a huge purchase right away.

Despite the numerous great things I said about this dash cam, at the end of the day I’m still comparing it to other dash cams in this price range. It’s one of the top budget dash cams on the market but it’s not built to last. Speaking of budget dash cams, make sure you catch our best black Friday dash cam deals this year if that’s what you’re looking for. Always bargains to be found.

The 1080p FHD resolution, super night vision, and the built-in G-Sensor for collision detection, among other features, still make it a solid contender in the dash cam market. However, the necessity for an optional hardwire kit for parking mode and the suction mount did lower my enthusiasm a lot.

The camera body is made of premium ABS materials and the design is user-friendly too. Despite its features, I found the Apeman C450 to be a bit lacking in the mounting department. The only option provided is the suction mount. I’d have loved a more permanent mounting solution. It has proven to be a reliable companion for my daily driving, and for that, it certainly gets my thumbs-up!

Our Dash Cam Rating Process

Our team evaluates each dash cam product based on the following criteria:

Value for Money – 0 to 5 stars

Does the product offer good value for its price?
How does the price compare to similar products from competitors?

Ease of Use – 0 to 5 stars

How easy is it to install the dash cam?
Is the video playback process straightforward?

Camera Resolution & Lens Quality – 0 to 5 stars

Are high-quality components used, such as the rear camera lens, G-Sensor, and SD Card?
Can license plates and street signs be clearly read from the recorded video?

Additional Features – 0 to 5 stars

Does the dash cam include a parking mode?
Is there a built-in GPS?
Can the dash cam utilize radar detection to provide driving speed information?

To learn more about our rating process, visit our product criteria page.

About Post Author

Amy Mitchell

The newest addition to the Dash Cam Discount team is Amy. With her degree in writing & her passion for technology, Amy has a talent for breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand articles. When she's not working she loves spends quality time with her adorable puppy and writing for her own wordpress blog, "Amy Does Tech". Reach her there, or though email at amy@dashcamdiscount.com.

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