BlackVue DR970X-2CH LTE review

We'd look at this one if live view and cloud alerts are why you're buying. If you want a 2K rear camera, or radar parking without relying on a data plan, we'd choose something else.

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Two cylindrical dash cameras on dark slate

Illustrative image

The DR970X-2CH LTE is BlackVue’s connected 4K dual. The front is 4K from an 8MP sensor, and the rear is 1080p on a Sony STARVIS chip. It's the usual BlackVue cylinder, which sits neatly behind your mirror. The LTE modem is the whole point: you put a nano SIM in the camera and reach it from the BlackVue app, even when your car's nowhere near your Wi-Fi.

Parking mode is built in, but BlackVue's spec is clear that you need a Power Magic Pro hardwire kit or a battery pack. ACC from the hardwire kit is what drops the camera into parking when you switch off. Cloud alerts while you're away need the LTE plan as well, so we'd budget for both extras.

Next to the Thinkware U3000 PRO, you gain live view and a SIM, but you lose built-in radar and a 2K rear. If your car's parked on the street, radar that lasts several days on a battery is a different thing from a camera that streams when something happens. They solve different problems, so we've kept both.

We haven't run this one on a UK SIM ourselves, so before you order, make sure the LTE version matches UK bands. And budget for the hardwire kit and a data plan on top.

Who this suits

You'll fit a hardwire kit and a SIM.

You want to check on your parked car from your phone.

When another camera fits better

You don't want a mobile data plan.

You want the best rear-camera evidence, or built-in radar without a SIM.

What works well

Built-in LTE, so cloud alerts do not depend on the car being near your home Wi-Fi
4K front and a STARVIS rear in a discreet cylindrical body
Parking mode is a native BlackVue feature rather than a late menu addition

What to watch for

Rear is 1080p, not 2K
LTE needs a compatible SIM and a plan
No built-in radar — overnight recording still draws real current

Common questions

Does LTE replace hardwiring?: No. LTE sends the alerts, but the camera still needs a hardwire kit or battery pack to record once the ignition's off.
What is the rear resolution?: It's a 1080p STARVIS rear, which is weaker than a 2K VIOFO rear.
Should I choose the U3000 PRO or the BlackVue?: We'd pick the U3000 PRO if you want radar that can stay mostly asleep overnight, and the BlackVue if you want a SIM and live view on your phone.

Also consider

Thinkware U3000 PRO Front + Rear
If parking mode's the big reason you want a dash cam, the U3000 PRO pairs a 4K front with a 2K rear, both on Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, and has radar built into both cameras. You'll need to hardwire it before it can keep recording while you're parked. This Amazon kit includes a hardwire lead.
VIOFO A229 Pro 2CH
If footage quality is what you care about, this front-and-rear kit is built around it: 4K and 2K STARVIS 2 cameras, with buffered parking once you've fitted a hardwire kit.
Thinkware Q1000 Front + Rear
If you want Thinkware's parking modes on a matched 2K dual, the Q1000 has STARVIS sensors front and rear. The catch: radar is an optional puck, not something in the box.
Nextbase iQ 1K
If you want to check on your car from your phone, the iQ 1K is Nextbase's always-connected 4G camera, with a 1080p front camera and an infrared cabin camera in one unit. The catch: live view, Smart Sense Parking and cloud storage need a monthly subscription.