Boult CruiseCam X1 Review: A Must Have Device For Car Owners
2MP FHD camera, 170-degree FOV, Wi-Fi support, app support, collision detection, microSD card support and priced at Rs 2,999
Functional, easy-to-use and affordable are three words that every tech journalist is hesitant to use together. If a product is functional, it won’t be affordable, if it is easy to use, it can’t be that great (the thrill is in the complexity) and if it is affordable, well, it cannot be premium. The Boult CruiseCam X1 comes very close to achieving this trifecta. I received the non-GPS variant (the X1) and this is my experience using the product.
The box contains the following things:
A memory card included in the box would have been amazing. I had to purchase one separately to review this product. The wiring is pretty hassle-free and easy to set up. The only thing you’ll need to take care of is the presentation. You will have to get external help if you plan on getting the wiring on the inside of the car’s dashboard. Makes me wonder if this product could have been wireless.
The finish on the zinc-aluminium alloy camera body is clean and might I add, just plain and simple good. The camera has the adhesive 3M tape attached to it. It is a fairly easy process to set it up too. Unwrap the tape and place it in a position where you want to, ideally at the very centre of the vehicle. More often than not, this place will be right below the rearview mirror.
On one side, you have the heat outlet as well as the power button. While on the other side, you have the USB type C port, the microSD card slot and a 3.5mm port. The ‘Boult’ branding can be seen near the lens as well.
Adjust the camera angle. This is fairly simple as the camera is rotatable The viewing angle needs to be good as it will help the camera to do its job and this is where the app support comes into play.
The app is your way to fully utilise the CruiseCam X1 to its full potential. Simply download it on your phone. It is available on both Android devices as well as iPhones. The mobile application allows you to see the video footage in real time and hence, rectify the viewing angle if it needs rectification.
The Boult CruiseCam X1 offers decent image quality given what the purpose of this device is. This is not a vlogging camera, this is not an action camera and this certainly is not a film camera. This a very compact sensor that is meant only to be used as insurance against mishaps on the road.
The 2MP sensor on the device captures full HD video that is clear enough for everything you can think of. For insurance claims, police evidence, or just a normal video recording after a long drive in the countryside, the video quality is decent. Daytime video footage is the best due to obvious reasons. There is ample light which results in a clear video with a lot of details. Nighttime video footage is not as good but it is certainly usable and captures plenty of details. The video has very little noise even in low light conditions which is an impressive attribute.
Another important element here is the field of view (FOV). The camera offers a 170-degree FOV which is ample for the purpose it is supposed to serve. The ultrawide angle helps in covering the entire front of the vehicle and doesn’t leave a blind spot.
The CruiseCam X1 is one of those products that is just perfect for everyday car users. Given the recent rise in road accidents and related violent encounters, it is necessary that every car on road has a dashcam on it. Sometimes I wonder why aren’t dashcams made a necessity by law yet. There is so much utility in this product that it must be a part of your car’s ecosystem.
Circling back to the topic at hand, the Boult CruiseCam X1 is a good option as far as dashcams are concerned. It doesn’t have GPS or any fancy features. It is a simple device that records your travel with a 170-degree ultrawide FOV.
As mentioned above, the camera offers a 1080p video resolution which works fine for capturing everyday footage. Boult also claims that it has collision detection which essentially means that the camera will not only record crucial moments like collisions or crashes but also timestamp the exact moment of the crash and save it in the ‘event File’ folder in the memory card.
A very interesting feature of the CruiseCam X1 is that it can withstand extreme temperatures, i.e., up to 85 degrees Celsius and as low as – 25 degrees Celsius. Given India’s unforgiving summers, this works in the favour of this product to a great extent.
The mobile app support is another thing that makes a case for the Boult dashcam. The app gives a lot of options that make the user experience better.
At Rs 2,999, the Boult CruiseCam X1 is a catch. Its holistic suite of features and attributes makes it a compelling choice for those who are looking for an affordable yet quality dashcam.
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