This is a review by a friend, Danny, who bought this DDPai Mini3 during the 11.11 sales from Taobao and have installed it in his car using the hardwire kit and reviewed it. Photos of the DDPai Mini3 and review type out on behalf of Danny by JW.
DDPai product page: Mini3
Technical Specs & features:
• Processor: HiSilicon Cortex A17 + Cortex A7
• Sensor: OmniVision 05A10 image sensor
• Memory: 4GB
• Viewing angle: 140° wide angle 6G lens F1.8
• Resolution: 2560×1600 30fps
• Built-in 32GB eMMC 5.1
• 3rd Generation remote button
• Built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
• 360° rotatable camera
• Parking mode (requires hardwire kit)
• Creative SR (Sense Reality) technique
The box
Open box
Contents
• Mini3
• Mount
• USB car charger
• 90° angled microUSB cable 3.5m
• MicroUSB cable
• Spare mounting tape
• Remote button
• Pry tool
• User guide in Chinese
Mini3
Mount
The Mini3 can rotate 360° using this mount.
3rd generation remote button
2 port USB car charger
90° angled microUSB cable 3.5m
MicroUSB cable
Spare mounting tape
For mount and remote button
Pry tool
User guide
Hardwire kit
The DDPai hardwire kit comes with high-quality fuse taps for use with low profile mini fuse, mini fuse, and ATO fuse types.
User guide
HU USB cable
This HU USB cable is to connect to your car head unit to show the Mini3 on HU’s screen. Zebra Intelligent compatible HU only. This cable is NOT available for the Mini3 international version.
User guide
DDPAi app
Initial firmware version 42016 out of the box. Latest firmware version 42021.
Videos
Recorded in 2560×1600 30fps with an overall bit rate of 12.9 Mb/s.
Danny’s final thoughts
Low light performance dropped after update to the latest firmware. But image has lesser noise. Details of objects can be seen/determined.
The DDPai app is a battery drainer. Hopefully, future updates would fix that.
31 Comments
ryan · February 7, 2018 at 9:11 pm
price detail, pre order?easy install ?thanks
Jeremy Wong · February 8, 2018 at 3:58 pm
You can order from Taobao for the China version or get locally the international version from EA Auto as got ready stock. Sicurez is the official importer. EA Auto is their dealer.
Karim · March 1, 2018 at 7:19 am
Please I have some questions:
1-What is the difference between the chinese and international version
2-How much hours the version of 32GB will record?
Thank You
Jeremy Wong · March 1, 2018 at 2:20 pm
1 – Voice prompts is in different languages. The international version has some features which are not usable outside of China is disabled in the firmware. Like Zebra Intelligent (it’s like Apple Car Play & Android Auto) is disabled as the HU cable not included.
2 – About 3+- hours for normal recording. But for the time lapse parking mode, I can still retrieve back recordings 3 days back.
Vincent · March 1, 2018 at 11:20 am
how can i access my camera under parking mode? i turn on my phone wifi but can’t detect my camera, is it due to wiring issue? The installer didn’t use all cables shipped by taobao.. My car is the 5th Gen CR-V, how to connect the dashcam to the HU? Appreciate your advice..
Jeremy Wong · March 1, 2018 at 2:06 pm
If the mini3 is on, there’s a yellow/orange led. When in parking mode, it will change to blue led.
Mini3 can be accessed at any the time. Can you check if your mini3 has any led on when the engine is off? If no led could mean installation error, probably the grounding not touching any metal surface properly.
The HU cable only works with Zebra Intelligent compatible HU which I couldn’t test it out.
specter · March 21, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Would the unit purchased from Tabao (China version) speaks mandarin and can this be flashed to an English firmware? What about language in application?
So far, I do not see english version sold in tabao.
Many thanks
Jeremy Wong · March 21, 2018 at 3:39 pm
I think taobao only sells China version. The ddpai app is in English. Not sure about firmware. Maybe later someone will get hold of the international firmware and flash it to China version.
specter · April 26, 2018 at 12:52 am
Thanks for the info. Got the Chinese version from tabao and got it installed. Pretty good video quality. Mine was shipped with v4.2.0.21 and they seem to have an update on website here https://pan.baidu.com/s/1dGcdz9Z
I was not able to upgrade it through app as it says i’m running the latest firmware. I have another unit running v4.2.0.16 but that too cant be update through the app. Any idea how to fix this ?
Jeremy Wong · April 26, 2018 at 10:28 am
Checked on the app and there is no new firmware available too.
Maybe the firmware in the baidu link is beta or pre-release version? Or maybe not yet updated to the app server?
Maybe can try to connect the mini3 to a computer and copy the firmware from baidu then power on and see if it will update or not? But do this at your own risk.
Andy Wong · March 23, 2018 at 7:41 am
Very tempting device i would like to have in my car.
Jeremy Wong · March 23, 2018 at 7:55 am
Buy
Elvin Wong · March 23, 2018 at 9:37 am
Nice… is there any CPL filter that can fit with this model?
Jeremy Wong · March 23, 2018 at 10:00 am
Haven’t seen any CPL accessories by DDPai. Maybe can mod a CPL to fit on.
nikki liang · March 23, 2018 at 10:11 am
this is very good for a women like me coz help me less alert while driving and can observe surround my car ,so cool 😄
Rich · May 2, 2018 at 1:47 am
I just installed the hardwire kit for the Mini3. Prior to that I remember seeing an option for the parking mode that allowed me to change from 1fps to normal recording. I also had an option to set the amount of time that parking mode would run. Those have all disappeared now. Any ideas? I’ve uninstalled and re-installed the app, and tried another phone. Same missing options now.
Jeremy Wong · May 2, 2018 at 11:23 am
Same on mine. Think the new version of the ddpai app have removed those options. Maybe can try installing back the previous version of the app and see.
Rich · May 2, 2018 at 8:30 pm
FYI. If I disconnect from the hared wired cable, and connect using just the 12v acc., those options return in the app.
Shan · May 31, 2018 at 4:17 am
How would you compare DDpai Mini 3 vs Blueskysea B1W vs Xiaomi 70m?
Jeremy Wong · May 31, 2018 at 7:42 am
The Mini3 is considered high spec dashcam. The B1W and the 70mai is budget dashcams.
Parag P · September 12, 2018 at 12:39 am
Hey,
Thanks for the nice reviews. Would you mind telling if this is a GPS version or non GPS? I can see there is some event recording and wanted to check with you. Would you know how much it costs in SG?
Jeremy Wong · September 12, 2018 at 11:43 am
There is no GPS version of the Mini3…
You can check the price in their official store in Aliexpress:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/DDPai-mini3-1600P-Ultra-HD-Wifi-Dash-Cam-Built-in-32G-eMMC-Storage-Car-DVR-Wireless/513625_32919658569.html
Eric Gao · October 16, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Do you have a video about hard wiring mini3 onto the fuse box?
Jeremy Wong · October 17, 2018 at 10:41 am
I followed those on Youtube… You’ll need a tester to check which fuse is ACC and BATT…
gohr · November 4, 2018 at 6:58 pm
What happened when the 32 GB is full, I am assuming its starts rerecording on the old files
first. Does it has loop recording. Only issue is as you mentioned only maintain approx 7 hrs.
Jeremy Wong · November 4, 2018 at 7:02 pm
All current dashcams have loop recording. Older files get overwritten first.
Mike · February 26, 2019 at 6:27 am
How do you install the battery to the fuse box? I was struggling. I got everything right but when I turn on my engine, the DDPAI MINI 3 doesn’t turn on.
Jeremy Wong · February 26, 2019 at 9:15 am
You’ll need to get good contact with the grounding or else it won’t turn on.
Dusan Knezevic · August 16, 2019 at 2:57 pm
Have in mind that ddpai is not selling this version of the ddpai mini 3 camera anymore.
The current selling camera has lower specs: 2gb ram, 3.5mm jack, f1.8 aperture. It is made out of plastic. It is called mini3c.
Jeremy Wong · August 16, 2019 at 3:47 pm
I can see that it is still selling in their official store in Aliexpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000048079748.html
Need to find out more.
Dusan Knezevic · August 16, 2019 at 7:11 pm
Yes it is still selling, but if you take a closer look at specifications it is stated that it has 2GB ram and F1.8 aperture size, although the info about sensor is still wrong (is says Sony).
On the other hand, on the ddpai official website http://en.ddpai.com/product/mini/3.html it is clearly stated that the specs are different now.