REASONS TO BUY
Budget-friendly
Parking mode
Auto-on
Small profile
REASONS TO AVOID
Confusing controls
Grainy night vision
Small screen
Vantrue N1 Pro Review
An affordable device that offers a small footprint, minimal convenience features, and sub-par night vision
Credit: Vantrue
RELATED: Best Dash Cam
Our Verdict
The N1 Pro is not only budget-friendly but is also space-friendly too. The small footprint fits nicely in any vehicle, and the strong suction cup mount allows you to move it around with ease. Unfortunately, the smaller footprint makes the 1.5-inch LCD screen a little difficult to see. The grainy night vision also negatively affects this dash cam's visibility. It offers some user-friendly features like auto-on and parking mode, but the buttons and commands can be a little confusing at first. There are many more high-tech models in our tests of top-ranked dash cams that have similar or smaller footprints and significantly outperform the N1 Pro.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Vantrue N1 Pro | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $80 List $67.99 at Amazon | $120 List | $60 List | $100 List $94.99 at Amazon | $48 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Budget-friendly, parking mode, auto-on, small profile | Very good video quality, relatively inexpensive, very slim profile | User-friendly, inexpensive | Very good video quality, small visual footprint, built-in Wi-Fi | Inexpensive |
| Cons | Confusing controls, grainy night vision, small screen | No built-in Wi-Fi, no rear or interior camera | Average video quality | Somewhat frustrating interface | Odd blue hue on all footage, slightly larger visual footprint |
| Bottom Line | An affordable device that offers a small footprint, minimal convenience features, and sub-par night vision | The best performance and value for those who only want to record the road in front of them and don't need a second, rear-facing camera | This user-friendly model features a nice interface and a reasonable price tag | A great camera that is somewhat held back by quite a frustrating user interface | Unfortunately, the strong points of this model begin and end with its low price tag |
| Rating Categories | Vantrue N1 Pro | AUKEY DR02 | Roav A1 | Rexing V1 | APEMAN C450A |
| Video Quality (40%) | |||||
| Video Capture (25%) | |||||
| Interface (25%) | |||||
| Visual Footprint (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Vantrue N1 Pro | AUKEY DR02 | Roav A1 | Rexing V1 | APEMAN C450A |
| Field of View | 160 degrees | 170 degrees | 140 degrees | 170 degrees | 150 degrees |
| Resolution | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Event Detection G Sensor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cabin Camera | No | No | No | No | No |
| Camera Dimensions L x W x H | 2 1/2" x 2" x 1 3/8" | 3" x 2" x 1.5" | 3.3" x 2.2" x 1.3" | 6.6" x 5" x 3.4" | 2" x 1.6" x 1.4" |
| Built-in Wi-Fi? | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
This low-profile camera is 2 1/2" x 2" x 1 3/8". It does not offer WiFi or a cabin camera and has generally average performance across our testing. Read on to see how it holds up.
Performance Comparison
The N1 Pro is a budget-friendly, low profile dash cam.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Video Quality
Video Quality consists of several sub-categories: Camera Specs, License Plate ID, and Subjective Image. The N1 Pro offers a 160-degree field of view and 1080p resolution rendering its performance in Camera Specs somewhat average. The 160-degree field of view falls right in between our highest and lowest performers.
License visibility during the day is also average, but the N1 Pro suffers significantly in the evening. The lens flare is pretty standard, but the license plates appear very grainy. Our subjective image section does not bode well for the N1 Pro. It does not offer a clear picture throughout, and the colors are washed out by excessive brightness during the day, resulting in a loss of details.
The N1 Pro camera works decently during the day.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Video Capture
Some dash cams offer event detection sensors and other features that ensure reliable recording. Others offer built-in WiFi for easy uploading, or interior cameras, for added security. These are the features we focus on while testing video capture.
The power source cord is a little bulky, however the battery lasts a long time, so you don't need to leave it plugged in indefinitely.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The N1 Pro automatically turns on when you turn your car on if it is plugged into a power source, which is very convenient. The 130mAh 3.7V Polymer Li-ion battery ensures plenty of camera life for a long drive, but it also comes with a car charger and an 11.5-foot mini USB cable so that you always have the option to plug it in. The clip lengths are conveniently offered in one, three, and five minutes. It also supports up to 256GB micro SD cards, offering roughly 40 hours of recording time.
The N1 Pro does have an event detection G sensor; however, during our hands-on testing, hard breaking with the default settings failed to set off the sensor. The N1 also lacks WiFi and an interior camera. Overall this dash cam offers an average performance in Video Capture as well.
Various clip lengths are a convenient feature that the N1 Pro offers.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Interface
During our Interface testing, we subjectively rate how user-friendly the menu is. The N1 Pro main menu consists of four options: Record Setup, Files, GPS Setup, and System Setup. The buttons and their functions can be confusing at first, but it is simple and relatively easy to navigate once you get the hang of them, offering an intuitive experience for the user.
Navigating the buttons takes a minute to get used to but overall the N1 Pro is relatively intuitive.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
We also take into account the size and visibility of the LCD screen. It is very bright, so it's not too hard to see, even in the presence of ample ambient light. Unfortunately, the N1 Pro rocks a very small, 1.5-inch screen. This makes things a little difficult to see. Overall the interface is easy to use, but the small screen makes things a little difficult to navigate.
That tiny little screen can be difficult to see while driving.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Visual Footprint
The N1 Pro is 2 1/2" x 2" x 1 3/8", offering a mid-sized footprint. This camera is roughly the size of a large egg, so it doesn't take up too much real estate on your dash. It is important that your dash camera does not affect your field of view, especially if you like to pair it with other driving devices like radar detectors. There are, of course, downsides to a small profile, like small screens and buttons that make navigating the device more difficult, so it is important to consider where your priorities lie before purchasing a dash cam.
Should You Buy the Vantrue N1 Pro?
The N1 Pro is a compact, budget-friendly dash cam with the performance to match. The battery life and auto-on feature are the only two attributes to write home about. It is very inexpensive, but at what cost? The sub-par camera quality and average video capturing capabilities make this dash cam one to pass on.
What Other Dash Cams Should You Consider?
If you're looking for a small dash cam, the Rexing V1 and AUKEY DR02 may be up your alley. Of the two, the DR02 offers higher performance and is a little less expensive. If you're not looking for something compact, the Vantrue N2 Pro Uber Dual is a must-have.
A small, budget-friendly dash camera that struggles to keep up with its competitors.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
—
Hayley Thomas and Matt Spencer
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