Rove R2-4K Review

The Rove R2-4K is the perfect road trip companion for those who don't want to miss a beat. Driving through a beautiful canyon at sunrise, or on a bumpy dirt road in the mountains? Well, have no fear because the continuously saving 4K footage is sure to impress. This device scored well across the board, though there's room for improvement in regards to the interface and footprint.

Performance Comparison

Video Quality

The Rove R2 offers 4K, 2160p resolution which is the highest in our test suite. It provides crisp and clear footage when lighting is optimal. The 150° field of view is wide enough that you won't miss much out of your front windshield. This optimal video quality is perfect for capturing long scenic drives or, on the less recreational side of things, license plates or an accident.

While things may look crisp and clear in the daytime, long shadows can make things tricky. None of the cameras we tested blew us away with their night vision, but the R2 scored just below our top performer in this category — even though we had to squint a little to make out passerbys' license plates, it provided a clear enough shot to make them out. We did notice that when our headlights reflected off of neighboring license plates, the flare hindered our ability to read the plate. Once we got closer, however, we were always able to make it out. This shouldn't be an issue for video as you will likely have several seconds, or potentially even minutes, in which the plate is in your field of view as the Rove is constantly saving its footage.

Video Capture

The R2 performs well here. Unlike most of the other cameras in our test suite, this one not only records constantly but also saves each recording automatically. It records in three-minute clips and simply knocks off the oldest one to make space for the newest. The saving capacity you have will completely depend on the size of your secure digital (SD) card and how often you utilize the built-in WiFi to empty the contents of the camera to some sort of exterior storage.

The R2 does not have an interior camera, which is why it scored slightly lower than some of the dual-camera models. This feature may feel trivial if you are not a rideshare worker, but there are certainly benefits to having an interior-facing cab camera.

Interface

Finally, we come to a metric where the R2 falls very short. The slightly larger LCD screen makes things easier to see, but sadly that does not make up for how difficult the interface is to use. The menus caused us some pretty serious frustration as it appears you can toggle back and forth between them, but you actually can't. There are also some questionable button choices. To enter pairing mode, you have to press the emergency button. This is not only counterintuitive but could cause issues. Overall we were very disappointed with the lack of user-friendliness that this device offers and would love to see some serious improvements in the future.

Visual Footprint

Here too the R2 could stand to be improved. It was not awarded the lowest score in our test suite, but it was pretty close. While the larger LCD screen is easier to see, this medium-sized dash cam may get in the way of your ability to see this road. This is, of course, dependent on the size of your windshield, how high you are above the ground, and where you place it, but it's definitely worth noting that if you are looking for something with a very low profile, this is not the camera for you.

We also noticed that it can be a little tricky to adjust the angle, and the suction cup mount is not the most reliable on warm weather days.

Value

The value of this device completely depends on what your priorities are, though it is on the high side of cameras in our review. If your main concern is obtaining stellar daytime footage of your scenic road trips then this R2 is a steal. If you simply want something in your car in case you are involved in an accident, there are less expensive models you should explore.

Conclusion