The concept of the device was first shown at CeBit in March 2016. A year later, the first specialized DVR for off-road vehicles Akenori NX01 begins to be sold in Russia. The preliminary date for the start of sales is March 2017. It turns out that Akenori NX01 got to our review, still being a concept, not a production version. Let's see what awaits us.
The car DVR is equipped with Ambarella iOne i180 624-FBGA processor and Sony Exmor IMX222LQJ matrix. GPS and GLONASS are responsible for tracking, and communication is provided by a built-in Wi-Fi module.
The rich stuffing and the relatively low price provided the NX01 with positive reviews, thanks to which the novelty got into rating of the 5 best DVRs of 2017 according to reviews and value for money.
Specifications
The main technical feature of the device is the presence of separate ARM processors, which are responsible for external connections and video processing separately.
| Manufacturer: | Akenori |
| Model: | Akenori nx01 |
| CPU | Ambarella iOne i180 624-FBGA |
| Matrix, lens: | SonyExmor IMX222LQJ, 1 / 2.8 ”(CMOS), 2.43 effective megapixel, |
| Shooting mode: | 1920 * 1080 @ 30fps |
| Codec: | H.264 (.mp4) |
| Optics: | F2.0, 3.4mm, 82.8 (HFOV) - Horizontal FOV |
| White balance: | Auto |
| Exposition: | Auto |
| Microphone sensitivity: | -44dB |
| Speaker: | 0.5W, 8ohm |
| Geolocation: | built-in GPS, GLONASS SK52M |
| Shock sensor (G-sensor): | 3 - Axis 222 |
| Wi-Fi module: | Embedded Qualcomm Atheros AR6003 |
| Voice prompts: | there is |
| LED indication: | there is |
| Memory card: | microSDHC (up to 32 GB) |
| Screen (optional): | 4.3 "TFT LCD |
| Connectors: | HDMI 1.2, Mini USB 2.0 |
| Food: | DC 12 / 24V - 5V / 2A |
| Battery: | 200mAh, Polymer Lithium-ion |
| Dimensions / weight: | 100.4 x 76.1 x 37.8 mm / 150 g. |
| Working temperature: | from 0 ° С to + 60 ° С |
| Languages: | Russian, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean |
| Country of Origin: | China |
Key features
- Concealed installation
Installing the DVR on 3M double-sided tape behind the rearview mirror fits into the interior and does not block the driver's view. - Wireless control
The presence of Wi-Fi allows you to control the DVR from Android and iOS devices using the "NX01-Client" application. - Sony Exmor ™ sensor
For shooting video of maximum definition in any road conditions and time of day. - Dark Room ™ technology
Eliminates glare on the windshield and improves the quality of night video thanks to the features of the body, which cut off the interior lighting of the vehicle interior. - GPS and GLONASS
Sensors constantly record your location and speed. - Camera alerts
Voice notification about cameras and radars, exceeding the permissible speed level on the road section. - Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
LDWS - Lane departure warning system, informs the driver about leaving the oncoming lane or off the side of the road. The camera analyzes the road markings and warns the driver if they cross. (According to the manufacturer, this functionality will not be included in the serial delivery).
Contents of delivery
The appearance of the package immediately says that we have a very unusual device in front of us. On the side edges of the box are the technical characteristics and main features of the DVR.The front side contains a photo and a list of technologies used. Unusual packaging is also expressed in the use of magnetic fasteners for opening / closing.
Content:
- DVR Akenori NX01
- MicroSD memory card with SD adapter
- Dual USB car charger
- Windshield mount
- USB-miniUSB power cable
- Cable for direct connection to the on-board network miniUSB-12V / Ground
- User's manual (serial version).
Akenori NX01 appearance
The DVR is very compact and fits in the palm of a man's hand.
On the side there is a slot for a memory card and an HDMI connector. On the front side there is a camera direction regulator. On the front side there is a power button, Wi-Fi activation and a button for saving the current recording to a separate folder with protection against overwriting.
Installing the DVR on the car
Since the mounting pad is equipped with quality 3M double-sided tape, installation is straightforward. The main thing is to correctly position the mount on the windshield. The dimensions of the device allow it to be placed directly behind the rear-view mirror or slightly to the side of it, while not blocking the driver's view.
It is worth noting that Akenori NX01 is positioned as an off-road video recorder, so it is doubtful to put such a device on a windshield with a small installation angle, even with the maximum lowering of the lens down, you will lose part of the frame in front of the car.
The DVR snaps into place well and tightly, there are no backlash or bounce at all. The mount is quick-release.
The only gripe is the length of the USB-miniUSB cable, it is not enough to lay the cable around the glass perimeter to the power connector, but it is too long for direct connection in a "hanging" way. Fortunately, the kit contains an additional cord for direct connection to the on-board network, and given the excellent quality of Akenori NX01, it should be connected in this way, counting on its long work in the car.
Real-world testing (day / night)
All the reviews about Akenori NX01 that we managed to find speak about the excellent quality of both day and night shooting. The video has good sharpness and saturation, and the automatic white balance and exposure adjustments do their job great. Yes, it is almost impossible to make out the license plates at high speed, but during parking and slow driving, state registration plates are read without problems.
After turning on the ignition, it takes 15-60 seconds to start recording. Perhaps this is due to severe frosts. We tested the dash cam when it was -30 ° C outside and in the cabin. At this temperature, the recording stopped several times, but immediately resumed. When the device warmed up to -20 ° C and above, the recording did not stop, which corresponds to the declared specifications for the operating temperature range.
The beginning of the recording and the fact of establishing a connection with satellites are displayed on the display and duplicated by a voice message.
There are no "gaps" between individual video files and this is a definite plus.
The sound is loud, clear. The noise level is acceptable and allows you to easily make out speech in the cabin and even outside it.
The DVR turns off 10-30 seconds after the ignition is turned off.
NX01-Client App for Android and iOS
Another key feature of the Akenori NX01 is smartphone connectivity. With the help of a special application "NX01-Client", you can control the DVR: start and stop recording, take photos, adjust the resolution, manage voice messages, download to a smartphone and watch videos. The developer is constantly improving the application, so new features will be added to it.
View DVR Recordings on PC
There is no special Akenori application for working with recordings on a PC at the moment, but Registrator Viewer does an excellent job with this task, allowing you to view not only the video sequence, but also the tracking map with the speed of movement at any time.
conclusions
It is difficult to say in what condition the DVR will be released in a month. In the form in which it came to us, being a test sample, Akenori NX01 showed itself perfectly within its main purpose - to work stably and record high-quality video.
Of the undoubted advantages, it should be noted the small size of the device, a convenient mounting method, lens control, and recording quality.
Of the minuses - flaws in the software for the smartphone, such as the need to download a video file to the phone for viewing.
We were also unable to test the Speedcam and LDWS functions. Among other things, the manufacturer has already announced that the latter will be absent in the final release, and Speedcam will start working in the near future.
As a reminder, Akenori NX01 sales began in March 2017. On the official website of the manufacturer, a pre-order with a 10% discount was opened. The cost of Akenori NX01 is 15,900 rubles, taking into account all the pros and cons, the DVR is recommended for purchase.