This isn’t just another dash cam. The VANTRUE N5S puts a professional-grade security system right in your car — recording everything happening outside, inside, in front, behind, and at your sides in crisp video. Drivers who want full peace of mind on the road, as well as serious footage for insurance or evidence, will find a lot to like here.
Here’s the thing: most dash cams record only forward and maybe backward. The N5S throws that limitation out the window by using four independent cameras working together for 360-degree coverage — eliminating blind spots and protecting every angle during every drive.
Table of Contents
Design & Build Quality
Right out of the box the N5S feels solid and intelligently designed. It’s compact but thoughtful in the way it mounts and integrates with your vehicle’s windshield. The hardware itself doesn’t grab attention in the cabin — which is good, because most drivers would rather not deal with bulky devices blocking their view.
The body houses four wide-aperture lenses that work together seamlessly. There’s a main forward-facing camera, an interior cabin camera, a rear camera, and a fourth side-angled lens. This setup means you’re not just recording what’s ahead but capturing every critical zone around your car.
What stands out here isn’t flashiness — it’s thoughtful engineering. Each camera is adjustable and built to stay secure even on rough roads. Unlike entry-level dash cams with wobble on bumps, this feels anchored and stable.
Picture Quality That Holds Up
The core of this dash cam is its recording ability. You’re not getting blurry footage that’s only “kind of useful.” Instead you’re looking at a mix of:
2.7K resolution on the front lens
1080p resolution on interior and secondary cameras
1440p resolution on rear capture
That combination gives you real detail where it matters most — like when reading license plates, labels, or street signs.
And picture quality isn’t just about resolution. The cameras use STARVIS 2 sensors — a Sony-backed technology that dramatically improves low-light performance. Late-night driving, shaded streets, dusk, tunnels — the N5S handles them with a level of clarity you usually see in higher-end standalone cameras.
This is important: grainy video is useless when you really need it. With STARVIS 2, nighttime footage becomes intelligible instead of noisy. If your priority is accurate recording when lighting is tough, this is a material upgrade over typical dash cams.
Night Vision & Dynamic Range
Let’s be honest: most accidents don’t happen in perfect lighting. That’s where the N5S shines.
There’s an IR (infrared) capability built into the interior and rear cameras. What this really means is that recordings at night — whether it’s sudden brake lights or street lamps far down the road — remain clear. Even details inside the cabin (which can be important for rideshare drivers or monitoring passengers) show up cleanly.
The dash cam also uses HDR/WDR processing — technologies that balance exposure so bright highlights don’t wash out shadows. At dawn or dusk, when lighting is uneven, this keeps important details from disappearing into glare or darkness.
If you’ve ever reviewed dash cam footage only to find dark areas completely unreadable, this feature alone might justify the cost of the unit.
Smart Features That Matter
A dash cam can sit there and record, or it can actually make life easier. The N5S lands firmly in the second camp with features that drivers will use:
Wi-Fi & App Control
You can connect your phone to the camera via 5GHz Wi-Fi. Once linked, you’re able to:
Preview recordings
Download clips without removing the SD card
Change settings on the fly
Share footage immediately
This means no fumbling with microSD cards or cables — the convenience factor here is big.
GPS Tracking
Every video file can include GPS data — location, speed, and route. This isn’t just cool; it can make insurance claims stronger and more accurate. If there’s ever a dispute about what happened during an accident, GPS-tagged footage makes your side harder to contest.
24/7 Parking Mode
The N5S doesn’t just watch while you’re driving. When parked, it automatically switches into parking surveillance mode — and not just passively. It keeps a 10-second buffer before motion triggers recording, which matters because many incidents happen moments before a trigger happens.
That’s key for vandalism, hit-and-run in parking lots, or even hit-and-run while you’re shopping or sleeping. The camera captures motion around the vehicle, even when the engine is off — if you hardwire the unit (hardwire kit sold separately). This turns your dash cam into a security guard that never sleeps.
Voice Control
This feature isn’t a gimmick. If you’re driving and need to lock footage, take a photo, or toggle audio without taking your hands off the wheel, voice prompts do exactly that. Simple commands keep your eyes on the road and make hands-free control a reality.
Storage & Loop Recording
The unit supports up to 1TB microSD cards (sold separately) — enough storage to hold many hours of high-resolution video. Loop recording means once the card is full, it overwrites the oldest files automatically. No need to micro-manage storage.
You also get a built-in G-sensor. It detects sudden motion — like a collision — and automatically locks that data so it isn’t overwritten. That’s exactly how you protect footage that matters most without thinking about it.
And because the system uses a supercapacitor instead of a battery, it operates reliably in extreme heat or cold. Batteries degrade over time and perform poorly in harsh climates. This design choice is practical — the camera keeps working where others fail.
Installation & Daily Use
Installing the N5S isn’t a weekend project. It’s straightforward if you follow the steps — mount the main unit on the windshield, place the cameras where they have good views, and route the cables neatly along trim. The adhesive mount is strong, though some people prefer a suction mount (sold separately) if they want adjustability.
Once installed, daily use is simple. The screen turns off when you start driving so it’s not distracting, and controls are intuitive whether you use the buttons or the app.
Real-World Benefits
Here’s what this camera does in real scenarios:
Accident documentation. Multiple angles mean you can show fault clearly, not just a front view.
Rideshare peace of mind. Interior and cabin coverage adds an extra layer of safety when passengers are in your vehicle.
Parking incidents. Buffered motion detection catches hit-and-runs or vandalism even when you’re away.
Night driving clarity. STARVIS 2 dramatically improves low-light footage.
For someone who logs lots of miles — whether commute, road trip, or work — this camera turns your car into a trusted witness.
Final Verdict
The VANTRUE N5S isn’t the cheapest dash cam you can buy, but it’s one of the most capable. If your priority is comprehensive protection, clear evidence, and smarter driving security, this setup delivers.
Pros
360° recording with four cameras
Excellent night and low-light performance
Advanced sensors and HDR for detail
Wi-Fi and app control
GPS tagging and voice control
Parking mode with motion buffer
Large storage support and loop overwrite
Cons
Hardwiring for parking mode requires extra purchase
Higher complexity than single-camera dash cams
Installation takes a bit of time
If you drive often, care about safety, and want strong documentation for incidents — this isn’t just a dash cam, it’s a road-ready security system you’ll use every time you get behind the wheel.
