Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam Review: Excellent Video Quality in a Compact Footprint

Cobra is a more than 60-year-old American company that produces various vehicle electronics, including CB radios, radar detectors, two-way and marine radios, power inverters, and dashcams. I was sent the Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam to test; the 250R is a dual-view dash camera with true 4K, 360 alerts, and a rear camera.

The Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam’s front camera is small and light at 2.56″ high by 3.27″ wide and 1.3″ deep and weighing 0.36 pounds. It is small enough that it can comfortably sit above a windshield-mounted radar detector, for instance. The screen, although small with a 3″ display, is sharp and bright and easy to read.

The front camera resolution is 2160p (4K UHD) with a 140-degree viewing angle. The back camera connected via wired USB is 1080p (full HD) with a 120-degree viewing angle.

The system supports (but does not include) an optional third camera for interior or exterior monitoring. The front camera records audio within the vehicle.

What’s in the box?

• Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam
• Rear Camera and Extension Cable
• 32GB SD Card
• Cable Management Kit
• Temporary Install Film
• Power Cable

The forward-facing camera unit features a front camera that can swivel up and down to adjust the shooting angle once it is mounted.

The left side of the dash cam features the SD card slot and a cover for the port for the optional cabin camera. Next to the port for the rear camera, the right side has the USB-C port for the power cable, a reset button, and an action button.

The face of the Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam features a 3″ display screen with four touch navigation buttons and an LED status light. The four buttons are white dots below the screen and are the main way of interacting with the unit other than through the Drive Smarter app.

Perhaps it is just me, but I continually expect the menus to be accessed through a touchscreen and then realize that I need to push these small dots and not on the screen itself.

The LED status light glows three different colors to indicate what it is doing: blue light when the dash cam is powered up, red light when it is recording, and purple light when the camera is updating its firmware (or is in the process of updating).

Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam’s Installation and Setup

Installing a two-camera dash cam involves running a cable between the two units, so it is not meant to be temporary, like a radar detector, for instance.

The first step in the installation process is to select the best location for the front camera so that it has the proper view and allows for the hiding of the two cables (cable to the rear camera and the power cable) running to it. As part of the cable management kit, the SC 250R comes with a plastic tool for pulling back car trim without damaging it.

Once a mounting spot is selected, you simply adhere the camera to that spot using the 3M tape already attached to the unit. So far, I have found that the tape makes a secure mount despite hot summer weather and direct sunlight exposure.

The kit includes electrostatic films for temporary installation and replacement 3M tape for both cameras. The SC 250R’s adhesive mount allows the unit to be slid out whenever desired.

The Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam’s power cable runs from the front camera to the cigarette lighter receptacle. In my case, this meant running the cable up to the top of the windshield, along the top trim to the right A-pillar, down the pillar, and under the dash to the center console.

The power cable includes a USB-A port for use with other accessories or charging cables; this is a nice feature to include, but the fact remains that in most cars, if you use more than one device, again, such as a radar detector, you have to get an adapter that makes your cigarette lighter socket accommodate two plugs.

Adding an option for the Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam’s power to be supplied through USB would be a great forward-thinking feature.

My hatchback’s rear-view camera is attached to the top of the rear glass, and the cable is hidden in the trim above the windows, up to the front right A-pillar, and across the top of the windshield to the front camera.

In spots where the Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam’s cable is not inserted behind the car’s trim, the installation kit comes with six adhesive wire clips that firmly hold the cables where desired.

Although this may sound a bit intensive, I was able to complete the entire installation in 20 or 30 minutes, and other than the cables running into the cameras themselves, all of the wiring is completely hidden.

My only question about the Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam’s installation is how best to configure the rear camera cable at the rear hatch. Providing enough slack to allow the camera to move when the hatch is opened results in extra cable dangling down when the hatch is closed.

After review, I believe that adding slack at the edge of the rear window with two wire clips will minimize the obstruction. Obviously, this will not be an issue in vehicles such as sedans.

The Drive Smarter App

The Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam works with the Drive Smarter app and is also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Adding the dash cam to the Drive Smarter app is quick and easy—download the free app, select “add vehicle,” and enter the desired information.

As I already use the Drive Smarter app for my radar detector, I selected “Add New Device” and followed the onscreen directions. Updating the firmware is just as simple and takes a few minutes to complete.

When connected to the app, the Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam’s screen displays a number of possible alerts, including speed traps, live police, and caution areas. While these are useful alerts to receive, they require that Apple CarPlay (in my case) and the Drive Smarter app both cooperate.

I have found that Apple CarPlay is finicky, and that is being generous.

I have three cars that have Apple CarPlay; I use an Apple iPhone 14Pro, and my success rate connecting on the first try is about 75%.

I regularly check and replace my cables and reboot my phone every once in a while, but I have found that it doesn’t seem to matter much. I find that I often can’t get CarPlay to connect to my phone regardless of what steps I take, including turning the car off and opening the doors. Then, if I park the car for a few minutes, the same cable and phone will connect on the first try.

My wife swears that her new iPhone (and required new cable) connects every time, but my sons and friends all agree that it is not a sure thing.

Then, there is the Drive Smarter app. As I mentioned before, I already had this app installed on my phone as I use it with my radar detector, and I don’t recall having as many issues with it as with the Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam. The app connects every time, but my attempts at accessing the gallery have been challenging.

The app sometimes tells me that the device is not connected even though the device list in the app shows it as connected. Also, even when fully functional, you cannot view the gallery in the app while using CarPlay.

All of this is nearly a moot point; the dash cam works very well, and it is frankly quicker and easier to remove the SD card and view its contents on your computer. Cobra is not responsible for Apple CarPlay or the Drive Smarter app, but it does rely on them for some of the functionality.

Key Features

The Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam delivers very good video quality recordings from both cameras and is configurable to show one or both on the screen. Recorded video clips can be accessed through the Drive Smarter app or by inserting the included 32GB SD card into your computer.

Video clips captured by the SC 250R are watermarked with the Cobra logo and various information, including date and time, GPS latitude and longitude, speed, and the name of the default driver. The information recorded on the watermarks is user-configurable through the app.

In fact, many of the SC 250R’s additional features are achieved through the Drive Smarter app. These include 360 alerts, where drivers can get radar, laser, red light, speed camera location updates, and real-time road conditions from the Cobra database and radar users on the system.

The Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam’s display screen can provide heads-up navigation, such as upcoming turns on routes planned through the app.

The SC 250R can be configured using a Wi-Fi hotspot and an optional direct-wiring kit (sold separately) to enable a live parking view for security.

The SC 250R automatically records when the car is turned on and stops when it is turned off. The system not only records real-time clips onto the SD card, but also “Trip Clips,” automatically creates time-lapse sequences of complete segments of your driving.

The dashcam can also automatically alert designated contacts in the event of severe impacts. Other cloud features include managing and sharing footage from your phone and updating the firmware and features without removing the dashcam from the car.

The Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam also offers a privacy mode in which users can temporarily pause video and audio recording with the push of a button.

Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam Front Camera Sample (4K)
(The front camera captures audio which has been muted in this sample.)

Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam Rear Camera Sample (1K)
(The rear camera typically includes audio captured by the front camera, which has been muted in this sample.)

Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam Trip Clip Sample (4K)
(These time-lapse segments have no audio.)

Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam Specifications

Front Resolution: 4096 x 2160 (4K)
Rear Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
Front Field of View: 140 degrees
Rear Field of View: 120 degrees
Max Capable Camera Views: 3
Screen Size: 3″
Memory: 32GB microSD Card (up to 512GB)
Built-In GPS
Dual Band Wi-Fi
Bluetooth Connectivity
USB-C
G-Sensor

Features

Heads-Up Navigation
Accessory Camera Capable
Loop-Cycle Recording
360 Alerts with the Drive Smarter App
Emergency Mayday Alert
Automatic Incident Detection & Reports
Parking Mode & Motion Detection
Trip Clips
Privacy Mode
Extreme Temperature Protection
Cloud Video Management
Night Vision (Accessory Interior Camera)
On-Screen Display Languages: English, Spanish, French

Unit Dimensions
Weight: 0.36 pounds
Height: 2.56″
Width: 3.27″
Depth: 1.3″

Final Thoughts

The Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam captures excellent quality video from both cameras without any input from the driver. It is as quick and easy to install as a wired two-camera system can be. I do not mind pulling the SD card to review and save recorded clips, but others might. I wish the dash cam screen were a touchscreen so we didn’t have to use the four buttons, but you get used to it.

The Drive Smarter app may well add very useful alert functionality, but my efforts to get all of it to work nearly always ended in frustration. I assume that most drivers who use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto also use popular apps such as Waze, which already provides similar alerts, although from its own network.

The Cobra SC 250R Dash Cam sells for $259.95 and is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon. Cobra offers a price match guarantee, free shipping, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Small footprint; Excellent video quality from both 4K and 1K cameras; Easy to set up and use

What Needs Improvement: Drive Smarter app doesn’t always allow accessing and viewing the recorded videos; I would prefer if the dash cam’s display were a touchscreen