Vantrue Nexus 5S 4-Channel Dash Cam Review

The Vantrue Nexus 5S dash cam is for those who want a 4-channel system that can capture the front and rear of the vehicle, while also recording an inside view of all seats. It goes without saying that, in this day and age, a dash cam is all but necessary when on the roads. With the Nexus 5S, there’s the potential for complete capture of almost everything going on outside and inside of the car. It all sounds promising, but how does it hold up during real-world testing? This is my review. 

The 4-camera advantage

As mentioned in the intro, the Nexus 5S’ biggest feature is its 4-camera setup that supports a front and rear view, in addition to two interior angles. If all four angles aren’t required, they can be disabled to avoid taking up SD card storage, which is a nice option to see. 

With all four cameras enabled, storage is going to quickly fill up. Vantrue doesn’t include an SD card in the box, so users will need to buy this separately. The Nexus 5S supports up to 1 TB cards, though obviously these can get pretty pricey. 

High-quality capture

It’s not all about quantity, either, as the quality is on point with 4K quality providing excellent capture of crucial details like number plates. It supports HDR and WDR, helping to maintain image clarity in tough recording conditions. While more basic cameras struggle in the dark, resulting in footage that resembles a blurry mess, the Nexus 5S hangs on well.

If you can, it’s well worth paying extra for a premium camera that records well in low light conditions. With clear footage being helpful for expensive insurance claims and other important events, investing that bit more into quality capture seems justified. 

Additional key features include built-in GPS for speed and route syncing, as well as 5 GHz WiFi for quick file transfer. 

A smooth experience

In use, the Nexus 5S works well in its capture of the four angles. The ability to save a clip or adjust settings using a voice command also works consistently, which is especially handy while driving as hands-free is much safer. 

The Vantrue app is also surprisingly capable. This is a big advantage, as I usually hate having to remove the SD card or plug the camera in via USB. With the Nexus 5S, I can reliably connect to the camera through the app to review clips, downloading and sharing them as I please. 

The downsides

When it comes to downsides, the Nexus 5S can take some time to set up carefully. Users will need to consider the angles of all four cameras, making sure they are well-positioned to get good footage of both outside and inside the vehicle.

I’ve already mentioned the storage consideration, which is my other key downside. The additional cost of a large SD card can make an already expensive outlay even more costly. 

Disclosure: Review sample provided by Vantrue.