1080P vs 2K vs 4K

When shopping for a Dash Cam, one of the first numbers you will see is the video resolution.

There are many different resolutions you will see on the market such as 720P, 1080P, 2K, and most recently 4K. 

Which resolution is best for you? 

Determining which resolution is the right choice can be a difficult task. We have outlined the differences between 1080P, 2K, and 4K, to make your choice easier. 

1080P (FHD) Resolution

1080P refers to FHD or Full-HD Resolution. 1080p was, and still is a standard for many devices, including Blu-Ray, Televisions, Computer Screens, and Mobile Device displays. 

The resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the video/image. A single pixel is one tiny dot on the screen. 1080p resolution is characterized by 1,080 pixels down the screen vertically and 1,920 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally.

Most Thinkware Dash Cams come standard with 1080P/Full HD Footage. The Dash Cam  models that record in 1080P are the; F50, F70, F70PRO, F100, F200, FA200, F200 PRO, X330, X500, X550, X700, F790, F800, and F800PRO.

1080P Sample Footage

2K (QHD) Resolution 

2K resolution is 2560 pixels horizontally and 1440 pixels vertically, compared to the 1920 x 1080 pixels from Full-HD Resolution. 

It is referred to as QHD because it has 4 times the pixels as 720p. These added pixels allow for a wider image and more detailed recording. When you zoom in on a 2K video, it will retain more clarity compared to a 1080p video.

2K is great for reading license plates or street signs as you will have less noise and artifacts when you zoom in. 

Our ARC, Q800PRO, QA100 Elite, X800, Q1000, Q200, and Q850 are a few of Thinkware's 2K Dash Cams.

2k Sample Footage

4K (UHD) Resolution

4K resolution, also known as Ultra High Definition or UHD, refers to one of two high-definition resolutions. The term "4K" is generic and refers to any resolution with a horizontal pixel count of approximately 4,000. 4K is either 3840 horizontal pixels by 2160 vertical pixels or 4096 horizontal pixels by 2160 vertical pixels.

In television and consumer media, 3840 × 2160 is the 4K standard, whereas the movie projection industry uses 4096 × 2160 due to the larger projection size.

4K is four times the pixel resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels). With 4 times the pixels, the image will be 4x as detailed.

Due to the number of pixels, the image can be viewed on a larger screen without distortion. 

The 4K resolution features fewer visible pixels than 1080p when zooming in on the footage. 

Native 4K Resolution

You might have noticed some 4K Dash Cam Footage looks better than others. With cheap 4K Dash Cams, it turns out some manufacturers have cheated the true 4K resolution. These manufacturers use poor chipsets which instead of recording in 4K, are resizing a Full HD video to the 4K size. 

The Thinkware U3000, U1000Plus, and U1000 uses Native 4k Resolution to increase detail when capturing license plates at faster speeds, and for capturing detail in low-light conditions.

4K Sample Footage

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the resolution of your Thinkware Dash Cam, please reach out to our team at support@thinkware.com or 1-844-865-9273.