How Does It Perform?
- Video Quality and Resolution: The D100’s 4K front camera delivers sharp, clear footage in daylight, but its performance drops in low light, making it a mixed bag.
- Field of View and Coverage: Capturing the whole scene is critical for context in an incident. The D100 excels here with a very wide 170° front and 150° rear view, ensuring excellent coverage.
- Installation and Setup: If a camera is difficult to install, it may not be used correctly. The D100 is consistently praised for its straightforward, plug-and-play installation.
What’s It Do Best?
- Daily Urban Commuting: This camera is fantastic for the daily grind. Its compact design doesn’t obstruct the view, and the loop recording means you can set it and forget it. The 5GHz Wi-Fi and app control are genuinely useful, allowing you to pull video clips to your phone quickly without messing with the SD card.
- Personal Vehicle Protection: For documenting accidents and protecting against insurance fraud, the D100 is a strong contender. Its crisp 4K daytime video, wide 170° front field of view, and reliable G-sensor for automatic incident recording provide peace of mind. However, its underwhelming night vision means it might not capture a license plate in the dark.
Video Quality and Resolution
Video quality is the most critical aspect of a dash cam; it determines whether the footage is useful as evidence. This category covers the camera’s ability to capture clear, detailed, and accurate video under various conditions.
Resolution Capability
A higher resolution means more detail, which is crucial for identifying license plates or street signs. The Cievie D100 records in 4K (3840×2160) with its front camera and 1080p with the rear, providing excellent clarity in daylight conditions.
Night Vision Detail Retention
Many incidents happen at night, so low-light performance is key. While the D100 has night vision, its performance is only passable, and it can struggle to capture fine details like license plates in the dark.
Field of View and Coverage
The field of view (FOV) determines how much of the scene the camera can capture. A wider angle is better for seeing adjacent lanes and providing more context for an incident.
Horizontal Field of View
A wide FOV ensures you capture events happening on the periphery, not just directly in front of you. The D100 offers an outstanding 170° horizontal FOV for the front camera and 150° for the rear, providing expansive coverage of the road.
Installation and Setup
Ease of installation affects whether a user can get the camera running properly and positioned for optimal performance. A complicated setup can be a major deterrent.
Installation Complexity
A simple setup gets you on the road faster and with less frustration. The Cievie D100 is designed for easy DIY installation, and it comes with all the necessary tools, including a trim pry tool and cable clips.
Mounting Stability
The mount needs to hold the camera steady and secure through vibrations and temperature changes. The D100 uses an adhesive mount, but some users have reported it can fail in high heat, which is a critical flaw for a device that lives on a windshield.
User Interface and Operation
How you interact with the dash cam—from changing settings to retrieving video—impacts the daily user experience. A good interface should be intuitive and reliable.
Mobile App Functionality
A solid mobile app makes it easy to manage your recordings without needing to remove the microSD card and plug it into a computer. The D100 uses 5GHz Wi-Fi to connect to a mobile app that is straightforward for viewing live footage and downloading saved clips.
