After our car was hit, I realized how valuable a dash cam can be, especially when filing an insurance claim. I didn’t plan to buy one right away since owning a car already comes with so many expenses, but the incident pushed me to make the investment. After extensive research, I chose the DDPAI N5 Dual 4K Radar Dash Cam with an OBD kit and radar (microSD card not included).
Contents
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What’s in the Box
- 1 × N5 Dual 4K front camera
- 1 × 1080p rear camera
- 1 × Car charger
- 1 × Prying tool
- 1 × User manual
- 2 × 3M adhesive stickers
- 9.84 ft front power cable
- 18 ft rear power cable
Some retailers also include: a USB car charger, Type-C power cable, 5.5 m rear extension cable, crowbar tool, and electrostatic stickers.
Key Features
4K UHD Front Camera + 1080p Rear Camera
The video quality is excellent—clear both day and night. The rear camera is 1080p, which is more than enough for backup coverage.
Advanced Parking Mode with Radar
Even while parked, the dash cam detects movement around the car. When you return, it notifies you of suspicious activity, and you can review the footage through the app.
Built-in WiFi and GPS
The WiFi lets you view clips in real time, while the GPS logs speed and location. The tracking feels almost like playing a game.
Supercapacitor for Heat Resistance
I considered the 70mai, but reports of overheating made me switch to the DDPAI. All dash cams get hot, but this one handles heat better thanks to its supercapacitor design.
Voice Control & Alerts
You can give voice commands like “take a photo” to capture scenery or plate numbers without touching the cam. Alerts, like reminders when the car in front moves, can feel annoying—but they’re easy to disable.
App Support
The DDPAI app allows:
- Live view
- Video playback
- Device settings
- GPS tracking
Note: only one phone can manage the dash cam at a time.
Loop Recording & Emergency Lock
The dash cam overwrites old clips automatically, but collision or impact events trigger an emergency lock to save those recordings.
Design and Build
The dash cam is compact and sleek, with curved edges that don’t obstruct the windshield. It doesn’t have a built-in screen—footage is only viewable via the app.
Storage and Power
Built-in 32 GB eMMC storage for emergency backup
Supports up to 512 GB microSD (use a high-endurance card)
Powered by 12V with supercapacitor technology
I bought a SanDisk High Endurance 256 GB card (₱2,950). Endurance cards are essential for dash cams due to continuous recording.
Installation Tips
I had mine installed by a technician I found on Facebook for ₱600. We don’t personally know each other, but I decided to trust his page and give it a try. He offered home service, and the hardwire installation turned out to be neat and reliable.
Placement
- Mount the front cam behind the rearview mirror.
- Install the rear cam at the top center of the rear windshield.
- Use the app’s live view to align both cameras.
Wiring
- Tuck cables into the headliner, A-pillar, and door weather strips.
- Avoid airbag paths when routing wires.
- Use cable clips and the pry tool for a cleaner look.
Power
- Easiest: plug the OBD kit into your car’s OBD port.
- Best: hardwire kit for full parking mode (yellow = always-on, red = ACC, black = ground).
Setup
- Format your microSD in the app before use.
- Test G-sensor, parking mode, and live view before finalizing.
- Update firmware through the app when available.
Hardwire Kit Advantages
From my end, I chose the hardwire kit installation so I could fully maximize the DDPAI N5 Dual’s features, such as the parking radar and its AI technology. Another benefit of the hardwire kit is that the dash cam has a built-in setting to help save the car battery when parked for long periods.
Enables 24/7 Parking Monitoring
With a hardwire kit, the dash cam can draw power directly from the car’s fuse box even when the engine is off.This activates radar-based parking mode (motion detection + event recording), so it can monitor your car while parked.
Battery Protection (Low-Voltage Cutoff)
Most hardwire kits include a voltage cutoff feature. This prevents your car’s battery from draining by automatically shutting off the dash cam if voltage drops below a set level.
Cleaner Installation
Wires are neatly hidden in the car’s interior, unlike cigarette lighter adapters which leave cables dangling.
Looks more professional and avoids clutter.
Auto Power On/Off
Dash cam automatically powers on/off with ignition if set up that way. No need to manually plug/unplug.
Full Use of Advanced Features
Some DDPAI features (like time-lapse parking recording or radar-triggered event recording) only work properly with constant power from a hardwire kit.
Safer for Long-Term Use
Uses the car’s fuse box instead of the cigarette lighter port, reducing wear on the port.
Better heat management and stability for high-power features like 4K recording.
Real-World Performance
The dash cam automatically saves clips when it detects impact or sudden shaking (e.g., potholes). Parking mode uses time-lapse recording to save storage, but switches to full-speed recording when detecting motion nearby.
Video quality is consistently sharp, and voice commands make capturing key moments effortless.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Crisp 4K front video
- Reliable radar-assisted parking mode
- Strong app features
- Heat-resistant supercapacitor build
Cons
- No built-in display
- Occasional app lag
- Full features require hardwiring
This is a test
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