Honestly, I had a close call with a cheap cam once that almost fried my wiring, so now I'm super cautious. For a safety-first approach in the R1S, I'd suggest the BlackVue DR970X-2CH Plus 4K Dash Cam. It's rock solid and has built-in voltage monitoring to protect your battery. Also, *always* pair it with a high-end card like the SanDisk 256GB MAX Endurance microSDXC Card to ensure it actually records when you need it!! gl!

+1 to what was said earlier. Honestly, before you drop serious cash, I gotta warn you about the 12V drain on the R1S... I've seen people brick their batteries by being careless with hardwiring. If you want a clean, pro-style look without the headache, I'd suggest the VIOFO A229 Pro 2-Channel 4K Dash Cam with 256GB Industrial microSDXC. It's pretty budget-friendly but uses the STARVIS 2 sensor which is AMAZING for night vision. Just make sure to use a Fitcamx Integrated Dash Cam for Rivian R1S/R1T shell if you want that OEM look. It's SO much safer than just tucking wires everywhere, tbh. Good luck!!

yo, congrats on the R1S!! Seriously, those things are beasts. So, basically before you just slap any camera in there, you gotta understand that 4K isn't just about resolution—it's about the image sensor. Most "4K" cams struggle at night cuz they don't have enough light sensitivity, which is why Gear Guard looks kinda grainy in the dark.

Here's what I recommend after messing around with a few setups:

1. **Sensor Tech:** For great night vision, make sure ur looking at units with the Starvis 2 tech. Honestly, it makes a massive difference for reading plates in low light compared to the older sensors.
2. **The Power Issue:** Be careful with how you tap into power. Rivians can be sensitive with their 12V systems. I'd suggest looking into a mirror tap for the cleanest install, but if you want 24/7 parking mode, you might want to consider a dedicated dash cam battery pack hidden under the seat.
3. **Cable Management:** To keep it looking OEM, you basically have to tuck the wires into the headliner. Brands like BlackVue or Viofo have really slim profiles that hide well behind the rearview mirror.
4. **Heat Management:** 4K units get hot!! Like, highkey hot. Make sure you use a high-end endurance SD card or it'll literally fry in a few months given all that glass in the R1S.

I'm not 100% sure on the latest firmware, but hardwiring into the fuse box is usually the most reliable way to go, though it's a bit of a project. tbh, it's worth the extra effort for the clean look. gl!

Oh man, congrats on the new R1S!! Gear Guard is decent for parking but definitely has its limits for actual driving footage, so I totally get the upgrade. I've been following the dash cam scene for years and honestly, it's a bit of a rabbit hole lol. Before I give you my top picks, what's your budget like? Also, are you looking for something that plugs into the OBD port or are you down to do a full hardwire setup?

For a clean look, here's what I've found works best in these trucks:
- Brands like Blackvue or Vantrue usually have the best 4K sensors for night vision.
- Look for a "wedge" shape design so it hides behind the rearview mirror.
- Get a specialized power adapter to avoid messy hanging wires... keeps it looking factory.

I'm still kinda new to the actual wiring part myself, but those brands seem to be the gold standard for high-end EVs. It really just depends on how much you wanna spend tbh... gl!

I have spent a lot of time analyzing raw footage from various sensors lately and, unfortunately, the industry standard is not as good as expected. Most of these units claim high resolution but the processing power is often bottlenecked, leading to motion blur that makes the extra pixels useless for identifying plates at speed. It is honestly frustrating to see so many premium brands still struggling with basic thermal throttling in modern cabins like the R1S. If you are looking for reliability, I would suggest looking into the Thinkware ecosystem. You can basically pick any of their flagship models and get better results than most, as they tend to have much more robust voltage monitoring than the generic alternatives. Garmin is another solid direction if you want a tiny form factor, tho you might find their night vision slightly lacking compared to some of the larger sensor units. Just make sure whatever you choose supports a high-bitrate mode or you are basically just paying for a 4K sticker.