U3000 Front (TW-U3000MU64C)

Thinkware U3000 is best right now for parking mode and battery drain I believe. Get a Powercell 8 as well, hardwired, and you should be good to go.

I would return it personally! Not to say new is always better (could be worse). Also I don’t want to tell you to wait and something happens to your car within that time frame. So you make the best decision for you. I personally have waited to buy one until they added HDR and upgraded their night time recording. The U3000 has everything I want in a dash cam but had it had no HDR and horrible night time performance. So I was waiting for this model! I just hope it delivers. I also like the form factor of the Thinkware dash cams. I don’t need a mini screen on my dash cam. I’m not going to review footage from it so to me that’s not needed. I don’t think I’ll like the price though. I’m thinking starting price will be $699.99. Maybe $649.99 on discount. $100-150 price increase from previous model.

Just got the thinkware U3000. All the bells and whistles. Black box my car is a good place to go and compare

Dashcams can record in parking mode, but there's often limitations to this. Some work by constantly having video active and looking for movement within the frame - this drains your battery and you'll be lucky for it to keep working 12 hours. Some others like Thinkware U3000 use radar when things move to activate recording, and can last a few days. Some can work in a low power mode and only activate when vibration is detected - which often may not be activated with just a scrape. Even the best Dashcam image sensors currently available, Sony Starvis 2, might struggle to read number plates in the dark. Even if you were able to get their registration and thank them with proof of causing damage to your insurance company, it would still likely increase the cost of your insurance.

Experience with various dashcams and upgrading the battery in my car to the largest AGM type that will fit in the battery tray. (096 70ah). My car was vandalised twice and both times the dashcam, a Viofo A129, had stopped recording in under 12 hours. Replaced it with a Thinkware U3000 and now get a few days.

Im on my 3rd Thinkware product. (I buy a new one for each new vehicle.) Just traded in my 2020 Honda Passport (it had the Thinkware U1000). Receiving my 2026 Passport Elite this afternoon at 3pm. Already ordered Thinkware U3000 from Amazon and should receive it this afternoon. I normally pay a local collision repair $100-200 to install the rear camera and hide the wires.