For years, I drove around with a knot in my stomach, constantly worrying about proving my innocence in the event of an accident or encountering aggressive drivers. Near misses were common, and the thought of being blamed for something that wasn’t my fault, with no evidence to back me up, was incredibly stressful. Having a reliable witness to the road was no longer a luxury; it was a necessity I wished I had addressed sooner, potentially saving me significant hassle and expense.
Before investing in any dash cam, especially one that replaces your rearview mirror, it’s crucial to consider your needs and driving habits. People typically seek dash cams to provide irrefutable video evidence in accidents, deter theft or vandalism (with parking mode), record scenic drives, or simply enhance overall driving safety and awareness. An ideal customer for a feature-rich mirror dash cam like this one is someone who spends a good amount of time on the road, perhaps commutes frequently, and prioritizes both high-quality recording and advanced safety features. They might be driving older vehicles lacking integrated ADAS or BSD systems, or simply want an extra layer of security and information. This type of device might not be the best fit for someone who rarely drives, is on a very strict budget and only needs basic front recording, or finds the large screen mirror distracting. If you only need a barebones front-only recording, a smaller, traditional windshield-mounted camera might suffice. Key things to think about include desired video resolution (front and rear), field of view, essential features like GPS, WiFi, parking monitoring, and crucially for mirror types, screen size and anti-glare properties. Installation complexity, especially for the rear camera and optional hardwiring, should also be factored in.
Introducing the AZDOME PG17 Max
The AZDOME PG17 Max is designed as a comprehensive driving companion, replacing your standard rearview mirror with a smart display and dual recording system. Its core promise is to provide clear, wide-angle video evidence of everything happening in front of and behind your vehicle, augmented by advanced safety features to help prevent incidents in the first place. When you purchase the PG17 Max, you receive the main mirror unit, a rear camera, necessary cables (including a long 20ft rear camera cable and 12ft Type-C power cable with car charger), an external GPS antenna, mounting straps, cable clips, a pry tool, cleaning wipes, the user manual, an anti-glare film, and conveniently, a 64GB TF card to get you started immediately. Compared to older or basic dash cams, the PG17 Max steps up with higher rear resolution (2.5K vs often 1080P), a larger 12-inch touchscreen, faster 5.8GHz WiFi, and a suite of integrated safety assists like ADAS, BSD, and LCA. It’s specifically for drivers who want these advanced features integrated into a discreet mirror form factor, valuing enhanced safety and connectivity alongside high-quality recording. It might not be the best choice if you prefer a minimalist setup or need a dash cam primarily for off-road use.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
* Excellent 4K front and 2.5K rear video resolution
* Large, responsive 12-inch touchscreen display
* Useful advanced safety features (ADAS, BSD, LCA)
* Fast 5.8GHz WiFi for quick file access
* Convenient voice control functionality
* Includes a 64GB SD card
Cons:
* 24H parking monitor requires a separate hardwire kit
* Some reviews mention potential screen glare in bright sunlight
* Installation, especially the rear camera and hiding cables, takes time and patience
Diving into the Features
Having used the AZDOME PG17 Max 4K+2.5K Mirror Dash Cam for a significant period, I’ve had ample time to evaluate its many features and how they hold up in real-world driving conditions. This isn’t just a simple recorder; it’s a system designed to integrate into your driving experience and provide layers of safety and documentation.
Crystal Clear Recording: 4K Front + 2.5K Rear
One of the headline features is the high-resolution recording. The front camera captures footage in stunning 4K (3840×2160) at 30fps, while the rear camera records in 2.5K (2560×1440) at 30fps. This isn’t just marketing speak; the video quality is genuinely impressive. During the day, footage from both cameras is sharp, detailed, and captures license plates and road signs clearly, even at moderate distances. This level of clarity is absolutely crucial if you ever need to rely on the footage as evidence. At night, the performance is also solid. While not as bright as daytime, the cameras manage low light well, picking up details surprisingly effectively without excessive noise. The wide 150-degree field of view on both cameras means you capture a broad perspective of the road and surrounding lanes, which is vital for documenting multi-vehicle incidents or capturing events happening just off to the side. The benefit here is obvious: you have high-fidelity, detailed video proof of incidents, ensuring that you have the best possible documentation for insurance claims or legal disputes.
Advanced Safety Systems: ADAS, BSD, & LCA
This is where the AZDOME PG17 Max goes beyond basic recording. It incorporates Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), and Lane Change Assist (LCA). The ADAS features include warnings for forward collision (if you’re approaching the vehicle ahead too quickly), pedestrian collision, lane departure (if you drift without signaling), and front vehicle start (alerting you when traffic ahead moves). BSD and LCA specifically monitor the zones to the sides and rear that are often hard to see in standard mirrors. The system can highlight vehicles in your blind spots on the screen and provide alerts when it detects a potential rear-end collision risk or when you attempt to change lanes with a vehicle in your blind spot. While these systems shouldn’t replace attentive driving, they act as helpful co-pilots, providing audible and visual alerts that can give you that extra fraction of a second needed to react or reconsider a maneuver. For older cars without factory-installed safety tech, these features are a fantastic addition, enhancing your awareness and safety on busy roads.
Seamless Connectivity: 5.8GHz WiFi & App Control
Accessing footage from dash cams can sometimes be a hassle, involving removing the SD card and finding a computer. The PG17 Max simplifies this with built-in 5.8GHz WiFi. This is an upgrade over older 2.4GHz WiFi found in many devices, offering faster connection speeds and potentially less interference. By connecting your smartphone to the dash cam’s WiFi network and using the dedicated AZDOME app, you can view a live feed, browse recorded videos, download files directly to your phone, and even share them. This is incredibly convenient if you need to quickly access footage after an incident or want to save a video clip on the spot without fiddling with the camera itself. It makes managing your recordings much more efficient.
Hands-Free Operation: Voice Control Functionality
Driving requires your full attention, and interacting with a device, even a touchscreen, can be distracting. The AZDOME PG17 Max rearview mirror camera addresses this with voice control. It supports about 10 simple voice commands, such as “Turn on WiFi,” “Take picture,” “Lock the video,” and “Turn on/off audio.” Being able to lock a video of a specific event simply by saying a command, or take a quick snapshot, is a great safety feature. It means you don’t have to take your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road to perform these basic functions. While the list of commands is limited, the ability to instantly lock a video clip without touching the screen is particularly valuable.
Always On Guard: Parking Monitor & G-Sensor
Vehicle security doesn’t end when you park. The AZDOME dash cam mirror includes a parking monitoring feature. With the optional hardwire kit (sold separately), the camera can stay active after your ignition is turned off. It can then detect impacts (via the G-sensor) or motion (if enabled) and automatically wake up and record a short video clip, helping to capture hit-and-runs or vandalism while your vehicle is parked. The built-in G-sensor is also active while driving; it detects sudden impacts or hard braking and automatically locks the current video file, preventing it from being overwritten by the loop recording feature. Loop recording is standard, ensuring that the camera continues recording by overwriting the oldest non-locked files when the memory card is full. These features provide peace of mind, knowing your vehicle is being monitored even when you’re not in it, and that crucial incident footage is automatically protected.
Essential Navigation & Data: Built-In GPS
The included external GPS antenna connects to the mirror dash cam and logs your vehicle’s speed and location data. This information is embedded in the video files and can be viewed during playback using specific software. This feature provides valuable context for any recorded incident. Being able to show exactly where and how fast you were going at the time of an event can be essential evidence in insurance claims or legal proceedings. It adds another layer of factual data to the visual record.
User-Friendly Interface: 12″ Touch Screen
The entire system is controlled via a large, 12-inch IPS touchscreen that replaces your standard rearview mirror. This size is significantly larger than typical dash cam screens and provides a wide, clear view of the rear camera feed, essentially acting as a digital rearview mirror. The touch interface makes navigating menus, changing settings, and reviewing footage intuitive and easy. You can swipe between front and rear views, view both simultaneously in a picture-in-picture mode, and access all the camera’s functions directly on the screen. The large display is a major advantage for usability, although as noted, direct sunlight can sometimes cause glare, making it slightly harder to see. The inclusion of an anti-glare film is a thoughtful addition to help mitigate this.
Beyond these main features, the AZDOME PG17 Max utilizes a supercapacitor instead of a traditional lithium battery. Supercapacitors are generally more durable and reliable in extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) than batteries, which is a significant advantage for a device living in a car windscreen. The included 64GB card is also a great starting point, though heavy users or those wanting longer recording times might consider upgrading to the maximum supported 256GB card.
What Users Are Saying
Having scoured various online platforms, it’s clear that many users share my positive experience with the AZDOME PG17 Max. People consistently praise the exceptional video clarity, highlighting how sharp both the front 4K and rear 2.5K footage is, even in low light or at night. The advanced safety features like ADAS and blind spot detection are frequently mentioned as valuable additions that enhance driving confidence and safety. Users also appreciate the large 12-inch touchscreen and the convenience of voice control for hands-free operation. While installation requires some effort, many find it manageable, especially with available tutorials. The overall consensus leans towards the PG17 Max offering great value for its feature set.
Final Thoughts
Driving today comes with inherent risks, and ensuring you have a reliable record of events is more important than ever to protect yourself from false claims and potential legal complications. The AZDOME PG17 Max offers a powerful solution, integrating high-quality front and rear recording with advanced safety features into a convenient rearview mirror form factor. Its crystal-clear video captures critical details, the ADAS and BSD systems provide helpful alerts to prevent accidents, and features like voice control and fast WiFi make it easy to operate and access footage. If you’re looking for a comprehensive, feature-rich dash cam system that enhances both your safety and documentation on the road, the AZDOME PG17 Max is definitely worth considering. To learn more and check it out for yourself, Click here.