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I decided to try a dash cam after a minor fender bender turned into a long debate at a stoplight near my office. The other driver claimed I rolled forward into their bumper, and I insisted they had reversed without looking. No witnesses, no clear security footage, and no easy way to prove what actually happened. The entire experience dragged on for weeks, and the stress of not having evidence outweighed the cost of a simple in-car camera. I promised myself that the next time anything happened on the road, I would have video to back it up.
Because I am not interested in juggling apps, cloud subscriptions, or a complicated hardwire project, I went looking for a simple, budget-friendly dash cam that covers the basics well. The TERUNSOUl immediately caught my attention because it promises Full HD recording, impact detection that locks important clips, and a windshield mount that is easy to place. Most importantly, it ships with a microSD card, which meant I could get it running minutes after opening the box without buying anything extra.
After several weeks of daily commuting, a few nights of city driving, and a weekend highway road trip, I have a clear sense of where this compact camera shines and where it shows its limits. It is not trying to be a premium, feature-stacked gadget. It focuses on reliably capturing the moments that matter at a price that does not make your wallet flinch. And for a lot of drivers, that is exactly the point.
The Bottom Line
- Full HD 1080P recording with WDR keeps daytime footage clear and balanced.
- 170 degree field of view covers adjacent lanes and reduces blind spots.
- Built-in G-sensor locks impact footage so critical clips are not overwritten.
- MicroSD card included and simple mount make it ready to use in minutes; night quality is average and there is no GPS or Wi-Fi.
Rating: 4.1/5
First Impressions
The box is straightforward and no-nonsense. Inside I found the TERUNSOUl camera body, a microSD card, a simple windshield mount, a car power cable, and a quick start guide. The first relief was seeing that card in the package. Too many budget cams assume you have a spare card in a drawer, but most people do not. Here, you insert the included card, attach the mount, plug in power, and you are already on your way.
The camera itself is compact and discreet. It does not scream for attention, which I appreciate because anything that clutters my windshield wears out its welcome fast. The plastic feels solid enough, the buttons have a positive click, and the screen is just large enough to frame the view and adjust settings without squinting. The mount grips firmly and positions the camera so it tucks behind the rearview mirror with minimal obstruction. Nothing about the build hints at luxury, but it also does not feel flimsy or like it will sag on a hot day.
Living With It
From box to windshield in minutes
Setup is exactly what I wanted: painless. I attached the mount near the center of the windshield, ran the power cable along the headliner to the 12V socket, and inserted the microSD card. Once the car powered on, the camera began recording automatically, and loop recording handled the rest. There was no wrestling with an app or scanning a QR code. The on-device menu is simple to navigate with physical buttons, and I set the date and time in under a minute. If you want a dash cam that just starts recording and keeps recording, this one fits that brief.
Daytime clarity that captures what matters
In daylight, the 1080P footage is genuinely solid for the price. WDR helps balance bright skies with shaded lanes, so the image does not blow out or turn muddy when I drive from sun to shadow under overpasses. License plates are readable at close to medium range, which covers most real world needs like proving who merged into whom or who stopped short. The 170 degree field of view is wide enough to catch action in adjacent lanes, and while there is a little distortion at the far edges, it is not distracting in playback. The footage gave me confidence that routine moments and near misses would be captured clearly.
Night performance is serviceable, not stunning
After sunset, the TERUNSOUl moves from good to acceptable. City streets with streetlights and storefronts are fine, though headlight glare and noise can creep in. On darker suburban roads, small details soften and distant plates may stay unreadable. WDR does lend a hand and prevents the worst overexposure from oncoming headlights, but this is not a low light powerhouse. If you need razor sharp night performance or want precise plate reads in very dim conditions, you will likely want to step up to a pricier, more specialized camera. For everyday protection, however, you can still tell what happened and where vehicles moved, even if fine text gets lost.
Parking monitor and loop recording habits
The parking monitor is a useful safety net with an important caveat. It relies on motion or impact detection when the car is parked, but the camera needs a constant power source to stay alert. If your vehicle does not feed power to the 12V socket when off, you will want a hardwire kit to get the most out of parking mode. When it does trigger, the G-sensor steps in to lock critical clips so they do not get overwritten by loop recording. In day to day use, I liked knowing that a bump in a parking lot would not vanish from the card after a long drive.
Reliability that fades into the background
After a few commutes, I stopped thinking about the dash cam at all, which is a compliment. It turned on with the car, recorded quietly, and managed storage without drama. The locked clips from occasional hard braking or a speed bump did not get deleted, and the regular loops kept new footage flowing. I made it a habit to review and format the card now and then, which is healthy maintenance for any dash cam. The included microSD card meant there was no delay from unboxing to real world protection, and that small convenience is bigger than it sounds.
What I Love
I love that this dash cam focuses on the essentials and gets them right. The combination of Full HD recording and WDR delivers daytime clarity that makes everyday incidents easy to understand on playback. The 170 degree field of view is wide enough to catch lane changes and side swipes that narrower lenses can miss. That reach matters when traffic is hectic and you need context, not just a narrow tunnel view straight ahead.
The fact that the box includes a microSD card is a breath of fresh air. It means you can truly install and drive in minutes. There is no scrambling to find a compatible card or realize you forgot to order one. Add the intuitive on-device controls and you have a camera that anyone can set up, even if they are not tech savvy. The camera also has a compact, discreet design that does not obstruct the road. I am picky about windshield clutter, and this little unit hides neatly behind my rearview mirror, both inside and outside the car.
Most of all, the value stands out. For the price, you get core safety features like a G-sensor that locks clips on impact, loop recording that keeps storage fresh, and a parking monitor for added peace of mind when your car is idle. It is a straightforward formula that works: record cleanly, save what matters, and do it without asking the driver to babysit an app or fiddle with a phone every time.
Where It Falls Short
The obvious omissions are GPS and Wi-Fi. If you want location and speed data stamped on your recordings, or the convenience of browsing clips on your phone, this camera does not offer those features. I ended up popping the card out and using a computer to share clips with a friend after a close call, which is not a deal breaker but is less convenient than a wireless transfer. If your workflow demands instant phone previews or cloud backups, consider a different model.
Nighttime performance is also where the compromises show. The camera manages glare and exposure reasonably well, but fine details can blur and noise can rise in very dark scenes. That might not matter if your goal is to document a lane change or a sudden stop, but it does limit how often you will capture pristine plate reads after dark. The parking mode, while helpful, also depends on a constant power source or a hardwire kit. If your vehicle cuts power when off and you do not plan to hardwire, the parking features become more of an occasional benefit than a round the clock sentry.
Who Should Buy This?
If you are a budget-conscious commuter who wants trustworthy footage of daily driving without the bells and whistles, this dash cam hits the mark. You get the core protections that matter most, and you can get them working right away thanks to the included card and easy mount.
If you are a first-time dash cam buyer who feels nervous about complicated installs or fiddly apps, this is the kind of camera that will make you a believer. The controls are simple, the setup is quick, and you will have usable evidence the very first time you hit the road.
If you are a rideshare or delivery driver who needs reliable incident capture during heavy mileage, the combination of 1080P footage, wide field of view, and G-sensor locked clips provides a dependable baseline without distracting you from the job. It is a set it and forget it solution that does not require a phone to do its work.
If you are looking for a secondary camera for a family vehicle or a teen driver, the low cost and straightforward design make sense. You can equip another car with essential coverage without turning the glove box into a nest of adapters and user manuals.
Alternatives Worth Considering
APEMAN C450 1080P Dash Cam - Consider this if you want another well known budget option with a slightly different design and menu feel. It is a popular entry level pick that often competes on price and simplicity. Find it on Amazon
CHORTAU B-T13 Dual Dash Cam - Step up to this if you want front and rear coverage out of the box. A rear camera can be the deciding factor if you worry about tailgaters, parking lot taps, or rear end collisions. Find it on Amazon
TOGUARD CE41 1080P Dash Cam - Another 1080P contender for drivers who prefer a different mounting footprint or menu layout. It offers a familiar set of basics and often sits in the same budget range. Find it on Amazon
Final Verdict
The TERUNSOUl is not chasing trends or niche features. It is a practical, ready to roll dash cam that solves the main problem most drivers face: capturing clear, reliable footage when it counts. The included microSD card and simple mount remove friction from day one. The 1080P video with WDR provides strong daytime clarity, the 170 degree field of view pulls in critical context from the sides, and the G-sensor locks down important clips so they do not disappear in a loop.
It will not satisfy shoppers who want app connectivity or precise GPS overlays, and it will not win awards for low light magic. But if you want an honest, affordable camera that gets the fundamentals right, the TERUNSOUl delivers. That peace of mind when the unexpected happens is worth far more than its price tag, and that is why it has earned a spot on my windshield.
Our Rating
★★★★☆
4.1/5