The 70mai Smart Dash Cam (MiDrive D01) is a small, cylindrical Chinese dash cam that has gained popularity due to its low price. While some sites claim this is a Xiaomi product, there is no evidence that this camera is manufactured by or for Xiaomi.
The camera uses an Mstar MSC8328P processor and Sony Exmor IMX323 CMOS sensor. This combination allows for 1080p at 30fps video recording using a bit rate of 16Mbps. Video quality is very good during the day and average at night. While video quality is not as good as some pricier cameras, particularly at night, for the price, video is impressive.
The 70mai has a nice cylindrical design and is small at 100 x 55 x 32 mm. It does not come with a screen and can be mounted discreetly in your vehicle. The form factor is very simple with one power button providing multiple functions (power on, power off, turn on WiFi, turn off Wifi, format SD card and restore default settings).
Beyond the button, the primary way to configure the camera is via the available iOS or Android app connected via Wifi. The camera also accepts voice commands but many owners have indicated this is not a reliable way to control the camera. The camera also has a G-sensor which locks files when the sensor is triggered. Note there is no way to manually lock the files.
The camera does not come with GPS or any form of parking mode. It also uses a battery rather than a super capacitor making it not ideal for very high temperature environments.
The 70mai can be mounted directly to the windshield or on a provided electrostatic sticker. The electrostatic sticker allows you to remove the camera from the windshield without leaving any residue. Sticking directly to the windshield without the electrostatic sticker will provide a firmer mount.
Note that there is a Chinese version and English version of this camera. We recommend purchasing the English version. The Chinese version can be updated to have English announcements but voice commands will remain Chinese. If you happen to have the Chinese version, the Chinese voice commands are as follows:
- wo yao pai zhao – I want to take photo
- wo yao lu xiang – I want to take video
- da kai lu yin – Turn on voice recording
- guan bi lu yin – Turn off voice recording
- da kai re dian – Turn on hotspot
- guan bi re dian – Turn off hotspot
Known problems
Cannot connect to Wifi
Some owners have had problems connecting the Smartphone App to the camera Wifi. Try turning off the mobile data when attempting to connect to the camera. This has resolved the connection problem for some owners.
Sample Videos
Day Video
Night Video
Should I Purchase?
If you are looking to spend the lowest amount possible on a dash cam, the 70mai for just over $30 is a reasonable choice. Other dash cameras at this price or lower will likely be inferior from a video quality and build quality perspective. Reliability appears to be good for such a low priced camera. The small size, discreet form factor and Wifi capability are all positives as well
That being said, there are a number of drawbacks to consider. The camera has no GPS, limited manufacturer support, uses a battery instead of a super capacitor and has no parking mode. For many people, investing a little bit more in the Blueskysea B1W is a better choice given the greater support, super capacitor and parking mode. Overall the 70mai is a good value given the rock bottom price as long as you are ok with the drawbacks.
Firmware
WARNING! MAKING CHANGES TO YOUR FIRMWARE ARE PERFORMED AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR DASH CAM AS A RESULT OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Firmware Update Instructions
- Unzip the file
- Copy SD_CarDV.bin to the root of the MicroSD card
- Put the MicroSD card in the 70mai
- Connect the 70mai to an external power supply and switch it on
- The 70mai will start blinking with a blue light.
- After a successful firmware update the device will say something and turn the blue LED off
English Firmware
OTA_9_FULL_DR002_v1.0.6.eu_20180817-1641_full.zip
Chinese to English Firmware (Add English voice to Chinese cameras)
Many users who have purchased Chinese cams want to change the voices to English. The following firmware can be used to change the Chinese voice to English. Note that this does not change the voice commands to English. Full details can be found on this thread on our forum.
User Manual
The English User Manual can be downloaded here.
Specifications
Detailed Specifications
| Read Review |  |
| Camera Type | Single Channel |
| Form Factor | Cylindrical |
| Country | China |
| Processor | MStar MSC8328P |
| CMOS Front | Sony IMX323 |
| CMOS Rear | N/A |
| Channels | 1 |
| Screen | No |
| Touchscreen | No |
| GPS | No |
| G-Sensor | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Parking Mode | No |
| Lock Files | Auto |
| Max Resolution Front | 1920×1080p |
| Front Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Front (Mbps) | 16 |
| Max Resolution Rear | N/A |
| Rear Frames Per Second | N/A |
| Max Bitrate Rear (Mbps) | N/A |
| Video Format | MP4 |
| Compression | H.264 |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Front | 130° |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Rear | N/A |
| SD Card Type | MicroSD |
| Max Size (Spec) | 64GB |
| Max Size (User) | 64GB |
| Size Front (mm) | 100 x 55 x 32 |
| Size Rear (mm) | N/A |
| Mount | Adhesive |
| Power Supply | 5V |
| Operating Temp | -20°C to 60°C |
| Battery | 240mAh |
| Error Notification | Audio |
| Swivel (To Record Side Windows) | No |
| Apps | Android, iOS |
| Cloud Connectivity | No |
| Release Date | Dec 2017 |
| Warranty | 12 months |
| Unique Features | Electrostatic mount |
| Advantages | Good video quality during day Wifi Very low price |
| Disadvantages | No parking mode |
| Final Word | Good value for such a low priced camera. Won't find better at this price but may be worth it to buy a B1W for a few dollars more. |
Published: Jan 4, 2019
70mai Smart Dash Cam - DashCamTalk
The 70mai Smart Dash Cam is a good value for such a low priced camera. Won't find better at this price.
Product SKU: 70mai Smart Dash Cam
Product Brand: 70mai
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 35
Price Valid Until: 2023-01-01
Product In-Stock: SoldOut
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