Prido i7 Pro test. How is the Polish 2.5K high-end video recorder doing?

The offer of the Polish manufacturer Prido includes three video recorders – Prido i5, Prido i7 and Prido i7 Pro. The last two models, although they have a lot in common, differ in price (over PLN 100) and this additional price is definitely worth considering due to the higher quality of recordings. The Prido i7 Pro, tested today, records as the only one in a resolution higher than Full HD.

Prido i7 Pro box and accessories included

Simple, a bit banal, but at least succinct in terms of the most important information. This is how you can briefly describe the box in which the Prido i7 Pro comes to us. Inside there are six main elements, because in addition to the video recorder and suction cup, as well as the user manual and USB-A to microUSB power cord, we also find five small “hangers” for the cable. These are attached either to the cabin elements or directly to the glass, thanks to the pre-applied double-sided tape, and then we lock the cable on them.

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The most noteworthy addition is the car cigarette lighter plug, which offers two instead of a single USB connector. This, in turn, allows for e.g. smartphone charging while driving. I also like the design of the suction cup itself, because after installation it allows you to adjust the position of the video recorder in two planes (up / down and “to the sides”). Locking it in one place is also simple and comes down to screwing the screw with your bare hands.

Prido i7 Pro appearance, materials and workmanship

The whole family of Prido video recorders has a certain characteristic when it comes to their design. They are simple and even minimalist and kept to a minimum. Just as the Prido i5 additionally emphasizes it with its modest size and gains in its compactness, the much larger Prido i7 Pro loses a bit of it. As the second project presented by the company, which belongs to a much higher shelf, it does not match other video recorders in this segment. Its execution, however, does not raise any doubts. Even despite the ubiquitous plastic.

On the one hand, it makes it stand out on the market, but on the other hand, it makes it dangerously close to “kitschy Chinese”. It is a bit of an exaggeration, but simply at this price, competitors’ video recorders usually make a better visual impression. However, this does not mean that the Prido i7 Pro “lies” physically. On the contrary, because it has everything you can expect from a video recorder … and even something extra – a special “Reset” button, the presence of which on the housing is completely beyond me.

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It is accompanied by an on / off button, unfortunately not fulfilling the function of securing recordings, because this is assigned to pressing the Menu button twice, which is a bit less intuitive. Especially that similar “double-clicks” also allow us to activate / deactivate the microphone, or switch between modes (recording, taking photos, viewing materials) of activities. In other words, at least Prido should rethink and simplify the use of its video recorders in the next iterations, because the competition has already done so.

Moving on, as I mentioned, the Prido i7 Pro is very simple in terms of design. At its front there is a lens with a 6-layer glass element and a pair of oblong holes for the loudspeaker. On the left edge you will find only a microSD card slot with a capacity of up to 256 GB, the upper one is a microUSB port and a gap for inserting a suction cup, and a microphone on the bottom. On the other hand, there was a 2.7-inch LCD display of average quality, a set of four buttons and a pair of functional LEDs.

Recording quality and features of the Prido i7 Pro

Although the interior of the video recorder is not particularly interesting, it is worth mentioning that in the i7 Pro there is a Novatek NTK96663 chip, a 320 mAh lithium-ion battery, a shock sensor and a Wi-Fi module. It is thanks to the latter Prido i7 Pro that you can connect with a smartphone and the appropriate application.

This significantly simplifies the process of configuring the video recorder, because it frees us from the need to click through the simple and intuitive menu, but a bit outdated. The application also allows us to save routes and view our position, thanks to the integration of Google Maps, as well as view saved materials. From there, you can disable / activate the microphone, parking mode, WDR mode, motion detection functions, or set the sensitivity of the shock sensor.

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Both the Sony Starvis IMX291 matrix and the lens with a 6-layer lens with f / 2.0 aperture and an impressive viewing angle of 150 degrees are responsible for the recordings. The recordings are saved in quality [email protected] FPS or [email protected] FPS in MP4 format and photos in JPG and 12 Mpx resolution. How does it work in practice? You can see it above.

Prido i7 Pro test – summary

You can buy Prido i7 Pro for PLN 499. It is hard to say if this is the best choice in this price segment, but looking at the features and possibilities, it seems to be worth the amount. Of course, this equipment has its drawbacks (unintuitive controls, outdated design, low screen quality, the impression of lower-end equipment), but also advantages (good additional equipment, recording in 2.5K, 150-degree viewing angle, application support and 256 GB memory cards), which overwhelm the product’s ills and hence the command: