Thinkware - U3000 Series

Thinkware U3000 is best right now for parking mode and battery drain I believe. Get a Powercell 8 as well, hardwired, and you should be good to go.

I would return it personally! Not to say new is always better (could be worse). Also I don’t want to tell you to wait and something happens to your car within that time frame. So you make the best decision for you. I personally have waited to buy one until they added HDR and upgraded their night time recording. The U3000 has everything I want in a dash cam but had it had no HDR and horrible night time performance. So I was waiting for this model! I just hope it delivers. I also like the form factor of the Thinkware dash cams. I don’t need a mini screen on my dash cam. I’m not going to review footage from it so to me that’s not needed. I don’t think I’ll like the price though. I’m thinking starting price will be $699.99. Maybe $649.99 on discount. $100-150 price increase from previous model.

I have the Thinkware U3000 2 channel. It fits my needs but I miss the screen my viofo a129 pro had. The rear camera on the Thinkware fits under my rear sunshade which is why I went with this one.

Just got the thinkware U3000. All the bells and whistles. Black box my car is a good place to go and compare

Dashcams can record in parking mode, but there's often limitations to this. Some work by constantly having video active and looking for movement within the frame - this drains your battery and you'll be lucky for it to keep working 12 hours. Some others like Thinkware U3000 use radar when things move to activate recording, and can last a few days. Some can work in a low power mode and only activate when vibration is detected - which often may not be activated with just a scrape. Even the best Dashcam image sensors currently available, Sony Starvis 2, might struggle to read number plates in the dark. Even if you were able to get their registration and thank them with proof of causing damage to your insurance company, it would still likely increase the cost of your insurance.

Experience with various dashcams and upgrading the battery in my car to the largest AGM type that will fit in the battery tray. (096 70ah). My car was vandalised twice and both times the dashcam, a Viofo A129, had stopped recording in under 12 hours. Replaced it with a Thinkware U3000 and now get a few days.

Thinkware from Canada,  get dual channel aka front and rear.  They have nice features like battery voltage cut down to save your car battery or parking/driving recording when hardwired.

They are but worth it in my opinion,  especially the extra features they come with,  like the battery voltage monitor I mention earlier

r/dashcam has a great sidebar breaking down this question based on your budget. I use a thinkware u3000 in my 25 ST Hybrid and absolutely love it.

Im on my 3rd Thinkware product. (I buy a new one for each new vehicle.) Just traded in my 2020 Honda Passport (it had the Thinkware U1000). Receiving my 2026 Passport Elite this afternoon at 3pm. Already ordered Thinkware U3000 from Amazon and should receive it this afternoon. I normally pay a local collision repair $100-200 to install the rear camera and hide the wires.

Great question! The Viofo A229 Plus is rated to handle temps up to around 149°F (65°C), but parking in direct sun for 7+ hours daily at 113°F can still push any dash cam to its limits over time. If you're not using parking mode, the cam will be off while parked, which helps reduce heat stress. But if you are, we’d suggest a heat-resistant cam like the Thinkware U3000, which uses supercapacitors and has excellent heat durability. Also, using a reflective windshield cover and parking in the shade when possible can really help. If you have any doubts or need more guidance, feel free to reach out via our Live Chat or contact support at [info@blackboxmycar.com](mailto:info@blackboxmycar.com) or 1 (888) 978 6560. We're here to help!

Have you checked thinkware u3000? I saw the oven heating video and was impressed. I bought it and hardwired it into my car.