Digital Camera World Verdict
The Thinkware U1000 has been a popular dash cam since it landed back in 2021. But, while the new U1000 Plus sounds like a well-timed upgrade, it carries over a very similar design to its predecessor, while also producing no better video quality. The price is now lower, thankfully, and tech upgrades include the addition of Bluetooth and HDR. But ultimately – although still a solid dash cam – it’s not the upgrade U1000 owners might have been hoping for.
Pros
- +
4K video with HDR
- +
Low-profile design
- +
Cheaper than predecessor
Cons
- -
Imaging sensors downgraded from U1000
- -
Benefits from professional installation
- -
Windshield mount favors left-hand-drive vehicles
Why you can trust Digital Camera World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out how we test.
The Thinkware U1000 has been one of my favorite dash cams for years now. Ever since it arrived back in 2021, the U1000 has proven itself to be a highly capable 4K dash cam, with a screen-less design that makes it look like a factory-fitted part of your car instead of an aftermarket accessory.
Four years on, and the U1000 Plus is here as a successor – but it’s actually a bit more complicated than that. Because, while the latest model has new features, like Bluetooth and HDR video, Thinkware has reduced the price and fitted lower-spec imaging sensors to both the front and optional rear camera.
So, while the price is more palatable and new features are always welcome, the U1000 Plus isn’t the obvious upgrade it seems, especially if you already own the older Thinkware U1000.
Is the new U1000 Plus still worth buying if you’re in the market for a high-end 4K dash cam? Read on to find out.
Thinkware U1000 Plus: Specifications
Resolution | 4K, 3840 x 2160 (front) / FHD, 1920 x 1080 (rear) |
Frame rate | 30 fps (front and rear) |
Field-of-view | Not stated |
HDR | Yes |
WiFi | Yes |
GPS | Yes |
Display | No |
Battery | No |
Parking mode | Yes, hardwiring required |
Thinkware U1000 Plus: Price
Despite being four years newer, Thinkware has actually lowered the price of the U1000 Plus compared to its U1000 predecessor. The old model was £300 on its own, or £410 when bundled with the rear camera – but the new U1000 Plus is just £249 / $300, or £339 / $400 with the rear camera.
Both variants come with a 64GB microSD card included – a kind gesture from Thinkware that is increasingly rare among dash cam makers.
The U1000 Plus comes with a hardwiring kit as standard, which is used to power the dash cam from your car’s fuse box. This is a more complex installation than simply plugging into a USB port or the 12-volt lighter socket, but it gives the dash cam a constant source of power, even when the car is switched off. Since I frequently switch between dash cams for testing purposes, I installed the U1000 Plus using Thinkware’s 12-volt power adapter, which is sold separately for around £20 / $30.
I’m impressed to see Thinkware has lowered its prices, but the change of imaging sensors means this shouldn't be taken entirely at face value.
Thinkware U1000 Plus: Design & Handling
I’ve grown to really appreciate this screen-less design of dashcams like this U1000 Plus. Dash cams with displays have their place, and it can be handy to quickly dive into a sub-menu to change a setting, or check the camera’s point-of-view. But for the vast majority of the time these screens are best switched off, so not having one at all – and benefitting from a lower-profile design as a result – makes a lot of sense.
The way the U1000 Plus mounts tight against the windshield gives it a clean, unfussy and factory-fit aesthetic. Opt for a professional installation (or do a careful job of hiding the wires behind your car’s interior trim) and it can be a seriously tidy dash cam with minimal mess.
The camera adjusts horizontally to compensate for various windshield angles, while the rear houses buttons for power, Wi-Fi and microphone mute, plus a big central record button to manually save the most recent portion of footage. This is handy for when you’ve witnessed an incident ahead, but not been physically involved.
Mounting the U1000 Plus to your windshield is the work of a moment. The included mounting plate sticks to the glass with an adhesive pad, then the dash cam itself slides onto the plate, locking into place. Drivers in right-hand-drive countries take note: the dash cam slides onto the plate from the left, so you can’t mount it right next to your central mirror, or there won’t be enough space to slide it off again. Either mount it further to the right of the mirror, or on the left-hand side instead.
Thinkware’s included rear camera is the common cylindrical shape you’ve probably seen before. It sticks to the rear windshield with an adhesive pad and connects to the front camera with a microUSB cable.
Thinkware U1000 Plus: Performance
Like other 4K dash cams, the U1000 Plus’ resolution doesn’t automatically mean it produces pin-sharp, cinematic footage. Colours look fairly muted, especially on an overcast day, and details aren’t quite as sharp as I’d like from a 4K sensor.
Footage recorded by the U1000 Plus is still perfectly usable, but it lacks the clarity and general wow-factor of video shot by other recent 4K dash cams, like the (admittedly more expensive) Viofo A329. Vehicle registration plates are legible at short distances – but, again, Thinkware’s latest dash cam lacks the clarity of some of its closest rivals.
Recordings are smooth, and you’re sure to capture enough detail to see who’s to blame in a collision. But video shot by the U1000 Plus doesn’t pop the way I hoped it might.
That said, HDR (a part of Thinkware’s Super Night Vision 3.0 technology) is a welcome feature that helps retain detail in harsh lighting. With HDR enabled, your recordings are more likely to show license plates at night without them being blown out by the reflection of your own headlights. I also like how wide the rear camera is, at 160 degrees, but limiting the secondary camera to 1080p instead of 4K, or even 2K, is a little disappointing. Recordings from the rear camera are a little muddy, and you’ll really need to keep your rear windshield clean to help mitigate against it. Even at just a couple of car lengths’, license plates become illegible.
In better news, I found the set up and installation process to be very easy. The U1000 Plus connected quickly and reliably to my smartphone via the app, and it took just a few minutes to set everything up. That speedy connection is especially useful here, given the Thinkware’s lack of a display means you have to adjust settings via the app.
As with most other dash cams, the U1000 Plus has a parking mode. This is enabled when installed using either the included hardwiring kit or Thinkware’s OBD-II cable, sold separately. Both give the dash cam a constant source of power from your car’s battery, ensuring it’s ready to start recording the moment nearby motion or a parking collision is detected. A timelapse mode is also available while parked, which captures footage at two frames per second.
Integrated GPS is table stakes for today’s high-end dash cams. This adds speed and locational data to your recordings, and can be used in conjunction with a data base to alert you to local red light cameras and speed cameras.
Lastly, while the U1000 Plus has a suite of driver assistance features – like forward collision and lane departure warnings – I prefer to leave these switched off, which they are by default, since they lack reliability and tend to annoy more than aid the driver.
Thinkware U1000 Plus: Verdict
Given the performance of the original U1000, I had high hopes for the new U1000 Plus. But, four years on, Thinkware’s latest model struggles to improve on what was already a winning formula. The U1000 Plus is perfectly good, and the reduced price is very welcome, but it does little to move the game on from its predecessor.
That said, I like the design of the U1000 Plus. Its lack of a display means it takes up less windshield space than some rivals, while offering a neat installation that looks as if it was installed at the factory. The rear camera requires a bit more work, since the cable needs routing behind interior panels, but this is the same with all two-channel systems.
If you own the U1000, then there’s no need to upgrade to this model. But if you’re in the market for your first dash cam, or want to replace a lesser model with something better, the U1000 Plus is a good place to look – especially if you want a clean installation and no display.
Features ★★★★☆ | There’s plenty here to help elevate the U1000 Plus above simpler dash cams. Other than the 4K imaging sensor, this model boasts Thinkware’s third-generation night vision tech, plus timelapse recording while parked, GPS and a handful of driver assistance systems. You might not find all of these useful, but there’s no pressure to enable them if you want to keep things nice and simple. |
Design ★★★★★ | For those who don’t want a dash cam with a screen, its simple, low-profile design is arguably the U1000 Plus’ biggest feature. Go for a hardwire installation (or buy the optional OPBDII cable), and you have a dash cam that looks like it was fitted the day your car was built, rather than stuck on afterwards. My only criticism, as someone who lives in the right-hand-drive UK, is how the cable connections being on the left favor installation in a left-hand-drive vehicle, since on that side of the windshield they aren’t obscured by the central mirror. |
Performance ★★★★☆ | I had hoped for more, given this is the successor to a four-year-old dash cam. But I appreciate that Thinware has significantly undercut the price of the older U1000 with the Plus, so shortcuts had to be made somewhere. Footage is still 4K resolution, but it’s not particularly sharp or vivid – and the Full HD rear camera is rather muddy. It’s fine, but far from exceptional. |
Value ★★★★☆ | A two-channel dash cam with GPS, 4K resolution (for the front camera), HDR and a bunch of recording modes to choose from feels like decent enough value at $400 / £339, especially compared to the older, yet more expensive, U1000. |
✅ Buy it if...
• You want a factory-fit finish: Take the hardwiring approach, carefully hide all the cables, and you’ll have a dash cam that looks like the car maker fitted it themselves. This is especially beneficial for cars with small cabins and shallow windshields.
• You prefer a hardwire installation: The U1000 Plus comes with a hardwiring kit as standard, rather than a 12-volt power cable. This makes it best for drivers who want a permanent installation, and who intend to use the dash cam’s various parking modes.
• You’ll make use of extra features: Some dash cams major in simplicity. But if you want one that offers much more, including various parking modes and a suite of driver assistance functions, this is the dash cam for you.
❌ Don't buy it if...
• You need the very best image quality: It’s got 4K, but the U1000 Plus fails to leave much of an impression, especially since the four-year-old U1000 original was so good. The rear-facing 1080p camera is especially mediocre.
• You want a screen: If you prefer your dash cams with a screen, then you’re best going elsewhere. The slim, factory-fit design of the U1000 Plus will tick boxes for some buyers, but the lack of a screen means you’ll need to fire up the phone app to adjust settings.
• You expected an upgrade on the U1000: The new model gains HDR and Bluetooth, but video quality is broadly the same as its four-year-old predecessor. The price has dropped, which is great news for newcomers, but for owners of the original U1000 there is little reason to upgrade.
Alternatives
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
