DD Pai Mini truck video samples and overview

The DD Pai Mini is a small, basic dashcam, that is fairly easy to use, and reliable, but has some shortcomings.  The overall size is roughly the size of two 'D' cells, end to end.

The overall video is 'OK', but not very sharp.
The one piece camera body and mount means you can't remove the camera body easily from where it's mounted, (assuming windshield) without replacing the adhesive tape.
The configuration of the card slot means it's a little hard to access the card with the camera mounted.  (Inset, behind the hinged door)
For use in a tractor trailer, (Or other vehicle with a more vertical windshield) the detents on the rotation camera section are spaced a little too far apart.   It's hard to get the image you want.
An additional problem in using this camera on a more vertical windshield, (Like in a large truck or bus) it's very hard to clean the windshield under the camera without removing the cam. (and replacing the tape, etc)    There's really not enough clearance between the cam, and glass.    ( I considered placing the cam further back from the glass on a flat part of some overhead trim, but  decided I didn't like the cam enough to live with it for long, and it would stay on the glass 'temporarily')    😜


Below: The camera body and mount are one piece.   You can also see the card slot, (card not fully inserted) and the hinged cover door.   I couldn't plug a USB cable into the Mini and access the card on my laptop as an 'external  drive'.   Imagine the cam mounted high on a truck windshield, and trying to get that card out!  I had to use the tip of a pen to push in on the card to get it to pop out.  Dittos, getting the card back in!

Below:  This is what's in the box!  The round 'snapshot' button is at the lower right.  Along with the camera, long USB cable, power adapter, you have some spare adhesive tapes for the button, and cam mount, a tool to tuck the wire into trim crevices, as well as some adhesive cable keepers.

Below: DDPai Mini, (left) next to Viofo A119V2.   The A119V2 is a much better dashcam.

If I was going to leave the Mini installed, I'd route the wire neatly, but it's not going to up  there much longer.   The Mini does have a nice, bright, flashing LED to let you know the cam is functioning.   It also has some voice announcements, saying 'Hello' when you turn it on, as well as remind you to format new memory cards.

Below: short cell phone video showing the Mini and A119v2 operating.  The music you hear is from the radio, not a cam.  

The Good?

• It seems to be reliable, and the file sizes are pretty small.  I'm seeing 12+ hours of video with a 64gb card.
• The 'snapshot' button is modestly useful, and works.
• The App works, and you need it.  (There's no other way to change settings on this button-less, display-less, dash cam.
• The price (around $50) is OK, but there are similar cams around the same price point that do better, overall.  (One I will be testing in a few weeks is the same, generic format, but has a comparable camera body that can be removed from the mount.)

This isn't a totally bad cam, but has some limitations.   It is probably easier to live with in a smaller vehicle, with an sloping windshield, or as a 'rear' cam in a smaller vehicle.