No Phone Needed: Kingslim D4 Dash Cam Review

New dash cam models pop up like mushrooms after rain, but after a recent incident out on the road involving some older family members, I went looking for a simple but effective dash camera setup they could use without a smartphone. They aren’t exactly technically inclined so I didn’t want to go the usual wifi-download-for-playback type of setup, I wanted something they could use immediately on the device itself if they needed video playback. After some research, I settled on the Kingslim D4, and opted for the package with a second camera (MSRP $139.99) so the back of the vehicle would be covered as well.

The Kingslim D4 has decent specifications that compete well with other dash cams out there, including 4K recording with the 170-degree field of view front camera, and 1080P (or “2K”) recording with the back 150-degree camera. There’s a “G-sensor” for detecting impacts, and GPS metadata recording so exact locations are slipped into the recorded video information. It can also record the speed of the vehicle as an option. None of those features requires a smartphone, but the D4 does have built-in wifi and uses the RoadCam app for more advanced users.

Like many dash cams, the D4 also boasts “super night vision” and uses a Sony imaging chip, but the main feature that appealed to me was the large (for a dash cam) 3-inch IPS touch screen and simple user interface of the Kingslim 4D.

It took me about 30 minutes to get the camera mounted and set up, but that included running the second camera wire to the back of the vehicle through the headliner using the included plastic upholstery pulling tool that comes in the box. Once powered up, it only took a few minutes to tick through the initial setup screens and get the camera rolling. If you opt to use just the front camera and the included 12-volt power port (formerly known as the “cigarette lighter socket”), you can have the camera up and running in about 5 minutes depending on how much effort you want to put into hiding the wiring. I also hard-wired the camera to the car’s battery using a $12 accessory kit so it would operate all of time including in “parking mode,” where the cameras are on low-power standby until an impact is felt.

The D4’s adhesive windshield mount is not adjustable horizontally, so eyeballing placement by powering up the D4 using the lighter adapter cord before picking a spot on the windshield is critical. It does adjust vertically (up and down), and I caution anyone installing a dash cam to make allowances for the full movement of sun visors for safety. There is a quick-release button on the mount but it is very small and hard to push. The mount itself is sturdy, and for my purposes, I rarely need to remove a dash camera from my vehicles, but if that’s a concern, know that it can be done with a bit of practice.

The D4 boots up in a few seconds after it receives power and begins recording automatically, and then shuts down automatically when the ignition is turned off. Like all dash cams, it records in “loops,” settable from 1 to 3 minutes, and then deletes the oldest unlocked loop as the memory card fills up. I used a $20 128gb U3 V30 micro SD card for capturing video. Cards with a U3 V30 rating are the minimum needed for capturing 4K video. The 128gb card will hold over ten hours of loop clips, which is plenty for non-commercial drivers. The D4 will accept cards up to 256gb in size.

As noted, the Kingslim D4 features a large-ish touchscreen for operation instead of tiny buttons, and the operating interface is simple to understand and manipulate, especially for playing back videos right on the dash cam screen. The larger size of the touch screen makes it easier to see detail in the video playback, and the screen is good quality and clear, as are the cameras’ optics. The screen’s touch response is accurate and quick. There is one physical button: a power button on the side of the camera, and the second camera port and card slot are under a small rubber cover above it. As noted, the camera starts up and shuts down automatically; users do not need to push the power button to begin camera operation.

Video from the D4’s two cameras is very clear and sharp during daylight hours, and decent at night, especially on streets with street lights, but like any dash cam, video shot at night is a bit grainy, especially if the only light source is the vehicle’s headlights. Still, you have a solid idea of what is happening in front of the vehicle. While video can be viewed on the D4’s screen, it can also be seen via Wifi using the RoadCam smartphone app, which is available for iOS and Android.

There is also a desktop RoadCam app for PC but not for Mac, although RoadCam also works on iPads if you want a bigger screen. RoadCam will also show GPS locations on a map as the video plays, and it can also stream the D4’s video live to a nearby smartphone or tablet (screenshot at right) if it within the D4’s Wifi signal range (about 10 to 20 feet). It does not stream video over the internet.

Conclusions

The Kingslim D4 performed well without any problems under a variety of conditions, including hot summer weather and cold Oregon fall mornings. Daylight video quality is very good and on par with most dash cams in this price range (under $150), while video shot at night is acceptable while grainy, again on par with most offerings at this price point.

But the standout feature of the Kingslim D4 is that roomy IPS touchscreen, which allowed me to show my intended users how to easily work the camera without a smartphone, which they don’t use. Fortunately, they didn’t have any more incidents and the camera continues to work automatically, dutifully recording their travels and offering peace of mind if something were to happen. That’s really all you can ask from a dash camera, and the Kingslim D4 delivers with the added benefit of a simple user experience most anyone can quickly figure out without needing a smartphone. Plus, the large screen is great for viewing recorded clips immediately if something does go sideways. It’s a very good value and a solid performer.

Highly recommended.