While talking about dashboard cameras, the Z-Edge S3 or its successor, the S4, always come into the discussion. Though it is true that there are better cameras out there, these ones offer quite good quality. However, if you have got the choice, it would be a good idea to leave these two from your wishlist. Another point of worry is the lithium-ion batteries used in these cameras. The better cameras always go for capacitors. The lithium ion batteries are not much resistant to heat and are not that reliable.
The model looks compact and discreet. The camera blends in quite nicely due to the solid black coloring. The screen is 2.4-inches and it does not get scratches. This would allow you to view videos on the camera or change the settings according to your wish. This dash camera has a built-in battery. But they are not really that reliable in warm weather. If the device is not plugged in, the battery would last about half an hour. The device does not get a low energy parking mode which is common with the lithium-ion batteries.
It can be said that the video quality is good. The details would not be that good and you would definitely not be able to recognize the license plate unless very close to the car. This is a dual channel camera and the rear camera is quite good, considering it allows 1080p recording. The dynamic range is not that great during the night. You would be quite dependent on the light sources available nearby.
The worrying things about the device are that you do not get GPS and Wi-Fi. Though these functionalities aren’t a necessity, these features are common and most people want to connect the device to their smartphones. Knowing your location is always a bit of an added bonus.
Technical Specifications
| Display Screen Dimension | 2.4” HD screen |
| View Angle | Front view camera: 150° Rear view camera: 150° |
| Video Size | Front view camera and rear view camera connected:1920 x 1080P 30fps + 1920 x 1080P 30fps
Front view camera only: 2560x1440P 30fps 2304x1296P 30fps 1920x1080P 60fps 1920x1080P 30fps 1280x720P 120fps 1280x720P 60fps 1280x720P 30fps |
| Video Format | MP4 |
| External Storage Support | Up to 128 GB TF card |
| Microphone/Loudspeaker | Built-in |
| Still Picture/Photo Format | JPEG |
| G-Sensor | Built-in |
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 |
| External Power Supply | 5V / 2.4 A |
| Battery | 470 mAh internal Li-ion battery |
| Computer System Requirement | PC: Windows XP and above MAC: OS X and above |
| Language Selection | English, Simplified Chinese |
Pros and Cons
Most of the customers find that the Z-Edge S3 suite their needs. However, the battery might become a bit of a hassle in the long run. Besides that, it does offer good performance.
Reasons to Buy
- The video quality is good during the day.
- One of the things that people look forward is a great customer support and you surely get that here.
Reasons to Avoid
- The low light video quality or the night-time video quality is quite average.
- The device uses a lithium-ion battery instead of a capacitor.
- You do not get GPS or Wi-Fi on the device.
Considering all the points, you can try out the Z-Edge S3, but in most cases, you can avail better options quite easily.