Vantrue N4 Pro S Review: A Powerful 3-Channel Dash Cam That’s Almost Perfect

Overview: Why Vantrue N4 Pro S Targets the Premium Dash Cam Market

Premium dash cams promise higher image fidelity, more advanced sensors, and robust hardware compared with budget models. Vantrue N4 Pro S enters this space as a feature-rich, three-channel solution aimed at drivers who demand comprehensive recording, strong low-light performance, and advanced features like license plate enhancement. At $399 it sits firmly in the premium tier and competes with other high-end dash cameras for demanding car owners and professional users.

Key Specifications

Core hardware

• Three-channel design with Sony STARVIS sensors for front, rear, and cabin coverage
• Resolutions: front 4K, rear 1440p, cabin 1080p (combined up to 4K+1080p+1440p at 30 FPS)
• HDR support across channels and LTRE support
• PlatePix license plate enhancement technology
• 3.19-inch IPS display for live view and playback
• 5 GHz Wi-Fi for faster transfers and pairing
• GPS logger via Vantrue GPS mount
• IP67-rated water resistance for external components

Mounting and connectivity

• Vantrue GPS mount included (suction-based option available)
• Mobile app for settings, pairing, and OTA firmware updates
• Voice control for hands-free commands
• Parking monitoring and collision detection built in

Design and Installation

The N4 Pro S is unmistakably a large dash cam. Its footprint and visible display make it a prominent addition to any windshield. That has pros and cons: the big screen is convenient for configuration and review inside the car, but the unit is obvious from the outside — a consideration for owners who frequently park on the street or prefer a discreet installation.

Installation can be more involved than with compact single-channel units. The included GPS mount offers secure attachment but has limited articulation. On many cars with steep windshield curvature or shallow dash-to-windshield angles, achieving a front-facing shot that excludes the dashboard is tricky. Many user recordings online show a portion of the dash appearing in the frame because the mount does not allow sufficient upward tilt to capture the outer hood edge.

If you want the cleanest field of view, plan time for careful placement. The camera often performs best if centered on the windshield and adjusted carefully to avoid interior reflections and capture a broad view of the road.

Performance: Daytime, Nighttime, and PlatePix

Daytime driving

Daytime footage from the front Sony STARVIS sensor is very impressive. Colors are vivid, dynamic range is strong thanks to HDR, and fine details like road signs and license plates are sharp. PlatePix enhances plate legibility when you zoom, which helps for evidence capture and identification. Important tip: PlatePix interacts with HDR settings, so you should configure HDR correctly when using PlatePix to avoid darker clips or unexpected contrast shifts.

Nighttime recording

Night performance is one of the N4 Pro S’s strongest areas. The system manages exposure shifts quickly — oncoming headlights can temporarily overwhelm sensors but the camera recovers fast. Night recordings retain clarity and license plates remain readable without excessive sharpening artifacts. The combination of Sony STARVIS sensors and HDR tuning produces clean low-light results for the front view.

Rear camera color balance issues

The rear camera performs well in daylight, but many examples show a pronounced blue cast when filming through tinted rear windows. Since rear window tint is common, this color balance shift is noticeable and distracts from overall consistency between front and rear footage. Vantrue should address calibration or offer a color profile option to correct blue shifts in future firmware updates.

Software, App, and Usability

Once physically installed, the mobile companion app is essential. The onboard menus are usable, but pairing via 5 GHz Wi-Fi and using the app to fine-tune settings is far easier. OTA firmware updates are delivered through the app, so you will need it for future improvements.

Voice control is present but imperfect. It can handle basic commands, but the recognition and responsiveness are not yet reliable enough to replace manual control entirely. For most users, voice commands will be a convenience rather than a core workflow.

Driver Assistance and Event Detection

Parking monitoring and collision detection are important safety features, but collision detection on the N4 Pro S needs further refinement. In default sensitivity settings, minor impacts such as going over speed bumps or hitting potholes frequently trigger events. This results in many unnecessary clips that fill storage and require time to review. Calibration or sensitivity presets would improve real-world usability.

Market Positioning and Comparison

Vantrue positions the N4 Pro S as a premium offering. At $399, it packs flagship-class sensors, multi-channel recording, and advanced features like PlatePix and IP67-rated components. Compared with compact single-channel options and even some dual-channel rivals, the N4 Pro S delivers superior image quality and richer hardware, but also demands more from buyers in terms of installation effort and configuration.

Compared to smaller models like the Vantrue E1 Pro, which shares a front sensor in some variants, the N4 Pro S trades compact discretion for expanded capability. If you prioritize a discreet dash cam for day-to-day minimalism, the E1 Pro or similar compact cameras may be a better choice. If you need comprehensive documentation — front, rear, and cabin — and can tolerate a larger device, the N4 Pro S is a strong contender.

Who Should Buy It?

• Car enthusiasts and owners who want high-resolution, multi-angle recording and are comfortable with a visible dash cam.
• Professional drivers, fleet operators, and rideshare drivers who benefit from cabin and rear coverage plus GPS logging.
• Users willing to spend time configuring HDR, PlatePix, and collision sensitivity to maximize reliability.

If you want a plug-and-play, unobtrusive dash cam that you can mount and forget, the N4 Pro S may feel intrusive. But for those who will invest time tuning settings and mounting precisely, it offers excellent image quality and a feature set designed for evidence-grade recording.

The Bottom Line

Vantrue N4 Pro S is a compelling premium dash cam with standout daytime and nighttime performance, Sony STARVIS sensors, PlatePix license plate enhancement, and extensive hardware. Its drawbacks are mainly ergonomic and software-related: the large form factor, limited mount articulation, rear camera color balance through tinted glass, over-sensitive collision detection, and imperfect voice control.

At $399 the N4 Pro S delivers near-flagship imaging and rich features. With firmware refinements to collision detection and color calibration for rear footage, it could become one of the most complete multi-channel dash cams on the market. For now, it is best suited to power users and professionals who will take time to tune settings and live with a prominent windshield presence.