VanTop H612T 4K Mirror Dash Cam Review (2023)
May 14, 2023 by John Booth
The VanTop H612T mirror dash cam drew me in with its cool design and what seemed to be a user-friendly interface. It wasn’t to appreciate the discrete form factor and the promise of a dual-camera system with 4K capabilities.
On paper, the H612T performs fairly well and is competitively priced in terms of 4K dual-camera systems. The VanTop H612T has a sleek design with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate through the menu options.
However, my overall experience using it was somewhat mixed. When it comes down to the essentials, I couldn’t help but notice the lower than average image quality from both cameras. The image quality took away from what would’ve been a stellar experience.
The H612T has some positive aspects worth considering. Without further ado, let’s dive head first into my Vantop H612T review to learn about its features and my overall experience.
Pros
- Secure Video Recording
- Touch Screen
- Voice Commands
- Easy to install
Cons
- Overhyped Video Quality
- Maximum 30 FPS
- Memory card is difficult to insert and remove
- Poor Location Data & Tracking Route
- Bulky GPS Antenna
- No SD Card included
- NOT for Pickup Trucks
- Standard Dash Cam - Not much stood out
Product Highlights
Product
Features
* GPS Records Accurate Speed
* Decent Parking Assist
* Hands Free Control / Hands Free Driving Route
* Fairly Priced to Competitors
Price
What I Liked About Vantop H612T
The VanTop H612T is a popular choice due to its time lapse feature. The touch screen captures both front and rear views of cars, offering a decent display at a reasonable price. While I might have experienced some issues, I appreciated a few things… so what makes the VanTop H612T a camera worth considering?
Discreet Design
In terms of the design, the VanTop H612T has a nice shape that fits perfectly over the rear view mirror dash cam. The inclusion of rubber secure bands ensures it stays in place, and the sleek, matte black finish adds a touch of style.
Secure Front and Rear Camera
The front and rear camera system feel secure, meaning I never felt like the dash cam was going to slide off the windshield. This camera captures both front camera footage, recording vital info for later use.
Impressive Touch Screen
One feature that genuinely impressed me was the handy touch screen. Great for long drives on the highway, especially when compared with a 10-inch screen.
The screen responds to touch without needing to press hard and allows you to alter the angle of the screen by sliding your finger up and down. Overall, I’m impressed by the responsiveness of the touch screen.
What I Didn't Like About This Dash Camera
One feature that genuinely impressed me was the handy touch screen. Great for long drives on the highway, especially when compared with a 10-inch screen.
The screen responds to touch without needing to press hard and allows you to alter the angle of the screen by sliding your finger up and down. Overall, I’m impressed by the responsiveness of the touch screen.
Camera Quality
Vantop’s marketing team overhyped the ultra HD front camera, but in my experience it doesn’t live up to the hype! The rear cam is even worse and is obviously not 4k when compared to other dash cam video resolutions.
Both cameras lack details from a distance. In all cameras, video clarity is determined by the the internal sensor, which makes me doubt the hardware is even capable of true 4K. It feels as if they’re essentially stretching pixels to meet frame size demand.
Additionally, the camera doesn’t appear to have built-in exposure accessibility. The sensor in the back camera is even smaller, resulting in grainy footage at lower resolution.
At the end of the day, the video quality is equivalent to a normal rear view mirror dash camera recording at 720p. Nothing stood out about the camera quality other than the fact that it was bad in other resolutions.
Night Vision
Moving on to Vantop’s night vision claims – the H612T is marketed to be “equipped with an 8MP Sony STARVIS sensor IMX415”, which is supposed to improve night time footage. But there is an obvious disparity between the front and back camera when it comes to performance in low light.
While the front camera is good at using light to keep exposure levels in check, both cameras struggle to retain clarity at night. Neither camera offers full night vision – it’s not authentic night vision where the camera can see in the dark or generate its own source.
Voice Settings
The voice commands aren’t convenient in the slightest and are often unresponsive. It constantly messes up simple voice commands, forcing your to take your hands off the wheel, completely countering Vantop’s claim of “hands-free access”. The visual experience compared to the voice control paired with this camera is truly disappointing.
Parking Mode & G-Sensor
The VanTop H612T has a parking monitor feature that doesn’t detect motion as advertised. I rarely got parking alerts.
Advertisers brag about the integrated G-sensor, which is supposed to lock the film in case of an accident or sudden movement. I decided to pressure test it with a violent stop and it completely failed my testing, bringing me to my final complaint… storage.
File Storage & Memory Card
The VanTop H612T features loop recording, allowing it to constantly record as you drive. Ideally, it should split the footage into equal segments, but I discovered that this function was not dependable.
When using a memory card, the loop recording should automatically overwrite older clips while preserving the most recent ones.
However, I frequently found my SD card filled to capacity, suggesting that the loop recording might not be functioning as designed. Although the device can accommodate a memory card with a capacity of up to 256 GB, it doesn’t come with an SD card included with the purchase.
What is the best SD card for VanTop h612t?
The best SD card for the Vantop H612T dash camera is Transcend Information 64GB due to the card’s high endurance when processing 4K ultra HD footage. Other great options include the Samsung EVO plus & SanDisk 128GB Extreme because of their microSDXC capabilities.
What size SD card should be used for VanTop Mirror dash cam?
For optimal 4K recording performance, SD card size should be a minimum of 64 GB in the mirror dash cam. As for the rear & backup camera, any dash cam SD card over 32 GB will do the job since it isn’t capable of recording at 4K video resolution.
What We Look For in a Car Camera
Car cameras serve multiple purposes, such as capturing video evidence during accidents or parking situations and enhancing rear visibility. Certain models offer extra features, which make them even more useful and appealing to potential buyers.
When searching for the ideal car camera, it’s important to determine if you want one that simply replaces your rearview mirror or provides views from both the front and back of your vehicle. Some cameras even offer a dual setup that lets you monitor your car’s interior, which can be particularly helpful if you need to keep an eye on small children in the backseat.
A good car camera should be able to record crisp images from a distance, allowing you to identify license plates and street signs clearly. It’s essential to find a camera that supports at least 1080p video recording, as grainy or choppy footage won’t be beneficial. Some car cameras also come equipped with infrared technology, enabling you to use the camera effectively during nighttime driving.
Our Verdict
2 out of 5
2/5
The VanTop H612T comes with its fair share of advantages & disadvantages. While it has some appealing features, it didn’t live up to the expectations I had for it. It’s an affordable option but is decent at best performance-wise, especially when compared to other dash cams on the market. With that being said, it’s priced fairly compared to other 4K car cameras.
For these reasons, we’re giving the H612T a 2/5.0 stars – based on our site’s review rating procedure. While it has a neat design, the low quality video recordings are a deal-breaker for me. All in all, it performed similarly to the Zero Edge Z3 dash cam.
In the end, the VanTop H612T is only for people looking for affordability instead of high performance. I’d recommend checking out the Redtiger F7N or our Cobra SC 400D review for dash cams in a similar price bucket as the Vantop H612T without the issues I had when using it.
About Post Author
John Booth, CETma
John is our go-to guy for all the technical aspects of a dash cam. He's a happily retired Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) and pours his tech-loving soul into writing for Dash Cam Discount.
John's crazy about dash cams & thinks everyone should have one for road safety. He's breaks down the technical jargon into easy actionable advice. Contact him directly via his Reddit account or through email.
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