Every niche has its’ superstar players, those products which may break the bank but are worth it for the features and attributes provided. While the Transcend DrivePro 520’s price tag may veer some away, delving into the specifications will certainly draw them back. Coined ‘another pair of eyes’, this dash cam is certainly above the average in the line-up for convenience, functionality and design. It’s no surprise it’s featured as the ‘top seller’ on Amazon for it’s category. This is certainly a dash cam that should be considered for all Uber, Lyft and Taxi drivers who will have passengers in their vehicles.
The purchase provides you with the dash cam, of course, but also with a free 32GB micro SD card. This is also the maximum size of an SD card which can be placed in the camera, but it’s no issue. A 32GB card can easily hold footage of a day without great interruption, so it is perfect for those constantly on the road. Additionally, included are the built in Lithium Polymer battery (note: the battery is not meant to provide stand alone power, it is only used to quickly save a video file when you turn your car off) and a suction cup mount. While another version of this camera comes instead with adhesive mount, many prefer the suction cup because of the ease in application and reuse.
The device itself is the usual black and thick enough to feel sturdy and unbreakable. The thick, square shape stands out when installed. A striking white ring outlines the lens, along with white lettering on the front side. Something to keep in mind is this camera was not made to be discreet. If inconspicuously is high on your list of required features, this camera might not be for you. However, the white accents may be taped over or blacked out to configure the camera to your needs. The unique cylindrical design on the side houses the rear camera. A unique feature is that the rear lens is rotatable, allowing users to record other passengers or different situations. The screen is next to this camera and sized at a nice 2.4”. There are bigger screens, but this size is big enough to be visible yet small enough to not be a distraction. Additional buttons are placed just below the screen, positioned so they are easy to reach when needed.
Of course, the dual lenses are the crowning glory of the DrivePro 520. The front camera, aimed at the road, records 1080p footage at 16Mbps. Meanwhile, the back camera for the car interior records 720p at 7Mbps. Daylight shots turn out extremely high quality, and low-light or night-time feed is not bad at all. When night falls, infrared LED’s switch on automatically for better video. The video feed is accompanied by the built-in microphone. Like usual, a snapshot option is included as well to quickly take pictures when needed. For taxi drivers or Uber drivers, the dual and rotating lenses are extremely valuable. The ability to record both the car interior and the road, both in day and night, is an opportunity not many will miss.
An important internal feature is the device’s wifi connectability. Through the custom DrivePro520 smartphone app, users can easily share, send or download footage straight from the camera. The dual lenses record two streams of footage at a time, labelled ‘A’ and ‘B’, for the front and rear camera respectively. This attribute works well for shorter clips, but for those that are longer than a few minutes, wifi connectivity will be too slow to be helpful. Still, it is convenient to have the option available if needed.
The DrivePro 520 has a long list of handy features and components that, detailed together, create the perfect taxi cam. The specifications are worth the high price point, and so is the relief of owning a camera that will not fail.
View Our List of the Best Uber Dash Cams
Full Specs
Dimensions: 3.8 x 1.7 x 2.5 inches
Weight: 3.8 ounces
Video: Front lens: 1920 x 1080P (30fps) Max.
Rear lens: 1280 x 720P (30fps)
Video Format: .MOV
Display: 2.4″ color LCD
Lens Angle: 130°
Storage: MicroSD, up to 128GB (class 10)
Battery or Capacitor: Battery, Li-Polymer 430mAh
GPS: Yes
G-Sensor: Yes
Operating temperature: -20°C (-4°F) ~ 65°C (149°F)
Audio: Yes
Dual Dashcam: Yes
Model Number: DrivePro 520
Drive Pro 520 Firmware
DrivePro 520 Firmware can be downloaded from the manufactures website here
User Manual
PDF Manual: DrivePro 520 User Manual
What’s in the box?
- DrivePro 520
- Power Adapter
- Adhesive Mount or Suction Mount
- 32GB High Endurance microSDHC Memory Card
Sample Videos of the Transcend DrivePro 520 DashCam
Daytime video footage
