Vantrue N5S 4 Channel Dash Cam

Updated October 22, 2026. Based on the Amazon listing and owner reviews, not a hands-on test.

Quick verdict: The Vantrue N5S is a 4-channel dash cam for drivers who want the road ahead, the road behind, and both halves of the cabin on record at once, which makes it a strong fit for rideshare drivers, parents, and anyone worried about break-ins. Its main strength is coverage: all four cameras use STARVIS 2 sensors, and both cabin cameras have infrared lights for dark interiors. The catch is that the front camera tops out at 2.7K, so it is not the sharpest choice for reading distant license plates, and parking mode needs a separate hardwire kit.

Who should buy it (and who should skip it)

Good fit if you

• Drive for Uber, Lyft, or a delivery service and want the front seats and back seats recorded, day and night.
• Want a record of the rear cabin, trunk area, and side windows, for example to keep an eye on kids, pets, or cargo.
• Plan to hardwire the camera and use buffered parking mode to catch dings and break-ins.
• Like using an app and voice commands instead of digging through menus on a small screen.

Skip it if you

• Mostly care about reading plates on the car ahead. A 4K front camera, such as the one on the Vantrue N4 Pro S, is the better tool for that.
• Want a small, hidden camera. The front unit holds two cameras and a 3.19-inch screen, so it is bigger than a single-lens cam.
• Do not want to run a long cable to the rear window or wire anything into the fuse box.

Key specs at a glance

What it does well

True all-around coverage

Most dash cams record one or two views. The N5S records four: a 2.7K front camera, a 1080P front cabin camera, a 1080P rear cabin camera, and a 2.5K (1440P) rear camera. The listing says you can also drop to 1, 2, or 3 channels if you do not need all of them.

Owners on Reddit and dash cam forums often cite this as the main reason they bought it, and a few say the footage helped them identify a driver who scraped their car.

Interior cameras that work in the dark

Both cabin cameras have infrared lights, and the listing says they stay clear even in complete darkness. A detailed long-term forum review backs this up, describing the front cabin view as one of the sharpest interior cameras the reviewer had seen, with faces visible in a pitch-black cabin thanks to the IR LEDs.

A better-than-usual rear camera

Many dual cams pair a sharp front camera with a weak 1080P rear camera. The N5S uses an IMX675 sensor with HDR at 2.5K for the rear, which the listing pitches as useful evidence in rear-end collisions. Forum reviewers note that the rear view handles night scenes reasonably well because it has HDR processing, and that daytime footage from all channels shows natural color and smooth transitions between bright and dark areas.

Fast app, GPS, and voice control

The 5GHz Wi-Fi is there to move large multi-channel files to your phone faster, and reviewers describe the app as stable, with smooth live view and straightforward downloads. GPS logs speed and location, and the app can generate mileage reports. Voice commands cover saving a clip, taking a photo, toggling audio, and turning the screen on or off. The listing supports English, Russian, Chinese, French, and Japanese.

Parking mode with a pre-record buffer

Once hardwired, the N5S switches to parking mode when you turn off the ignition. Its buffered motion detection keeps 10 seconds of footage from before an event, so you see the approach and not just the aftermath. Several owners say parking mode works well for them once it is wired correctly.

Built for heat and cold

A super capacitor replaces the lithium battery found in some cheaper cams, and the listing rates the unit from -4°F to 140°F. With a 1TB card, Vantrue says you can keep up to about 40 hours of 4-channel recording before loop recording overwrites the oldest files.

Common complaints and limitations

Front camera detail is the trade-off

To add the fourth camera, Vantrue settled on 2.7K up front instead of 4K. Forum regulars who own several Vantrue models are blunt about it: the N5S is great at showing what happened all around the car, but it does not capture the fine detail a 4K front camera can. One long-term reviewer also found that night plate capture from the front camera was very difficult. The listing advertises clear plates at 20 MPH with HDR/WDR, so treat that claim as a best case.

Some reliability reports

Most feedback is positive, but there are complaints. A few owners on Reddit report freezes and glitches, including a unit that dropped into parking mode while the car was still moving on a hardwire kit. One reported the issue persisted after a replacement unit and a firmware reflash. These look like a minority of cases, but it is worth registering for the 18-month warranty and keeping firmware current.

Rear camera angle limits

The rear housing holds both the rear-facing and rear cabin cameras. A detailed forum review notes that the bracket has limited up and down movement, so it works fine on an angled rear window but may not aim correctly if you try to mount it on a flat headliner. Check your car's rear glass before buying.

Extra costs to plan for

• The hardwire kit for parking mode is sold separately.
• There is no microSD card in the box.
• A CPL filter, which reviewers recommend for cutting windshield glare on the front camera, is optional.
• Remote cloud features such as live view away from the car need an optional 4G LTE module.

Setup and everyday use

1. Pick the right card. Four streams write a lot of data. Use a high-endurance microSD card made for dash cams, and format it in the camera before first use. Larger cards give you more hours before loop recording kicks in.
2. Mount the front unit behind the mirror. Clean the glass with alcohol, let it dry, and press the adhesive mount firmly. Keep the lenses inside the wiper sweep so rain does not blur the front view.
3. Plan the rear cable route. The rear unit connects by a long cable. Tuck it along the headliner and down the pillar trim, and avoid airbag zones.
4. Hardwire for parking mode. Parking mode only works with a hardwire kit. If you are not comfortable with the fuse box, a car audio shop can do it quickly. Set a low-voltage cutoff so the camera does not drain your battery.
5. Tune the G-sensor. Some owners find the default sensitivity too high, which fills the event folder with locked clips from bumps and potholes. Lowering it a step usually helps.
6. Update firmware. Vantrue offers OTA updates through the app and a manual update by copying the firmware file to the card. New firmware is the first fix to try if you see freezing or odd mode switching.

How it compares

Vs. the Vantrue N4 Pro S 3 Channel Dash Cam: This is the most common cross-shop. The N4 Pro S records 4K up front, with front cabin and rear cameras, while the N5S trades front resolution for a second cabin camera. Forum advice is consistent: if reading plates on the car ahead is your priority, the N4 Pro S is the better pick. If you want the rear seats, trunk area, and side windows recorded too, the N5S covers more.

Vs. the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2: These are very different products. The Garmin is a tiny, single-lens 1080P camera that hides behind the mirror and has no rear or cabin view. It suits commuters who want simple, discreet front recording. The N5S is a full system for drivers who need evidence from every direction and do not mind a larger unit and more installation work.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Vantrue N5S need a hardwire kit?

Only for parking mode. The camera records while driving using the included power cable, but the listing states that 24/7 buffered parking mode requires hardwiring with a kit that is sold separately.

What memory card size does the Vantrue N5S support?

It supports microSD cards up to 1TB, sold separately. Vantrue says a 1TB card holds up to about 40 hours of continuous 4-channel recording. Choose a high-endurance card designed for dash cams.

Vantrue N5S vs N4 Pro S: which should I get?

Get the N4 Pro S if front detail and plate reading matter most, since it records 4K up front. Get the N5S if you want four views, including a rear cabin camera, and accept 2.7K on the front channel.

Can the N5S record inside the car at night?

Yes. Both the front cabin and rear cabin cameras have infrared lights, and owners report clear interior footage even in a completely dark cabin.

How do I update the Vantrue N5S firmware?

You can update over the air through the Vantrue app, or download the firmware file from Vantrue's support page, copy it to the microSD card, and let the camera install it on restart.

Bottom line

The Vantrue N5S is the dash cam to consider when you want the whole car on record, not just the road ahead. Four STARVIS 2 cameras, IR-lit cabin views, a 2.5K rear camera, GPS, and buffered parking mode make it a capable package for rideshare drivers and families. Go in knowing the front camera is 2.7K, that parking mode needs a hardwire kit, and that a small number of owners report glitches. If those trade-offs work for you, check the current price and confirm your rear window suits the rear camera mount.

Compare

• Vantrue N4 Pro S vs N5S

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