When shopping for or using a dashcam, most drivers focus on resolution — such as Full HD, 2K, or 4K. However, there’s another crucial factor that determines how clear your videos look: recording bit rate.
Many users confuse bit rate with resolution, but these two parameters work together — not interchangeably — to shape the overall recording quality and file size.
Let’s explore how bit rate affects video clarity, memory usage, and why choosing the right balance matters for both everyday and fleet users. What Is Recording Bit Rate? Bit rate refers to how much data your dashcam writes to the memory card every second during recording. It’s usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps). A higher bit rate means more video information is captured per second, resulting in:
Bit Rate vs. Resolution — What’s the Difference? Here’s where many users get confused.
You can have a 4K resolution (large canvas), but if the bit rate is low (less paint), the video will still look soft or blocky. Conversely, a high bit rate at the same resolution delivers richer detail and smoother motion. 
How Dashcam Users Can Balance Quality and Storage
Our latest dashcam, DR970X-2CH LTE PLUS II records at up to 60Mbps, ensuring premium clarity — ideal for users who prioritize fine details, such as license plates or night scenes. However, all BlackVue dashcams allow you to adjust the recording quality, effectively controlling the bit rate while keeping the resolution unchanged. This flexibility benefits:
New Elite 8-2CH: Sharper Rear Footage with Higher Bit Rate The new ELITE 8-2CH takes balance to the next level. Both its front and rear cameras record in 2K QHD resolution, offering a major step up from previous models that featured a Full HD rear camera. In addition to higher resolution, the Elite 8-2CH also records with a rear camera bit rate of 20Mbps — double that of older models (previously 10Mbps). This improvement translates into noticeably better video clarity, color accuracy, and detail, especially for identifying vehicles or incidents behind your car. Now, you can enjoy sharper, more defined rear footage without sacrificing reliability or performance. Watch the rear camera footage here:
How Higher Storage Capacity Supports High-Quality Recording
A dashcam that supports larger-capacity memory cards (such as up to 1TB) provides more flexibility. Higher bit rate videos consume more space, but larger cards help mitigate this by extending total recording time. For example:
If your dashcam supports high bit rate recording, using a high-endurance, compatible memory card is essential to maintain stable performance. Choosing the Right Memory Card Even branded memory cards may not work reliably in high-performance dashcams. Factors such as controller design, write speed, and endurance rating affect compatibility. At BlackVue Singapore, we recommend BlackVue and Wow! Extreme Endurance microSD memory cards — both tested and optimized for continuous dashcam recording. Using incompatible cards may lead to:
To save time and avoid trial and error, you can purchase compatible memory cards directly from the following links:
Final Thoughts A high recording bit rate ensures your dashcam captures every important detail, but it also consumes more storage. The key is to find the right balance — depending on your needs, storage capacity, and usage patterns. Whether you prefer top-tier clarity or extended recording hours, BlackVue gives you full control to choose what matters most. You can compare video quality and recording time across different bit rate settings here. BlackVue — Simple. Reliable. Connected. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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8/10/2025
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