🏆 Evaluation of features and value💰Car purchase

“When a semi-flagship is more profitable”: a review of the Playme PULSE combo device

By Lukas Müller On Jun 20, 2022

There is a rational and proven consumption tactic: learn everything about the flagship product in your segment and buy the one that is one step lower in the assortment. Such gadgets, as a rule, are very close to high-end in terms of characteristics, but their prices are noticeably lower, and there are not many compromises compared to the previous model! Let's check whether this technique is confirmed by the example of the semi-flagship “combo” Playme.

Combined vehicle devices traditionally include a video recorder, an on-board radar detector and a GPS informant that works with a camera and radar database.

Recently, however, simplified versions of the “combo” have proliferated, in which there is no real ground-based radar signal receiver, and the ambush warning function is completely taken over by the GPS informant. This format has become popular due to the requirement to reduce the dimensions of the device: healthy “bricks” in horizontally elongated cases no longer fit in the drivers…

But the detection of cameras and radars solely on the database is still not a 100% solution to the problem of fines. And in flagship devices, the ether detector is still installed, and modern technologies have made it possible to reduce the size of a full-fledged “combo” to sizes that only fit on DVRs a few years ago.

A typical example of such a new format gadget is the Playme PULSE combo device. This model is exactly one position below the top model Playme MARK. At the same time, it honestly collected all the software and hardware technologies of Playme, and it does not save on key functions, mainly only on the body and additional ones. What is the similarity with the top model?

Same matrix and processor
Identical radar modules with range X, K, Strelka
Identical software for radar detector with signature lock
Identical GPS receivers and informers with updated database
Bracket quick-turning with the ability to shoot through the window and inside

What is the difference from the top model?

Smaller display (2.31 inches vs 3 inches)
Lower video resolution (FullHD 1920×1080 and HD 1280×720 only compared to SuperHD 2304×1296 and FullHD1920x1080)
The button interface is a little simpler (the flagship has two identical sets of control buttons on the DVR and the radar part, and here is a common set of keys)
Mechanical suction cup mount (not magnetic, like the top model)
No WiFi
No CPL polarizing filter on lens

What is better than the top model?

More compact body
More affordable price – 1.4 times lower than the flagship

The Playme PULSE case is small and compact. A block measuring 92x58x24 mm (excluding a small protruding lens pancake) is a compact and lightweight device, which is important in the life of an ordinary car owner who does not want to provoke a marginal and takes the gadget with him after parking. All controls are placed on the front panel with a display, which is very convenient: the buttons are right in front of your eyes, and you do not need to touch them on the side faces, as is often the case. Navigation through settings and functions – four keys: menu, OK, up and down. Some habits require the OK button to be located on the opposite side of the display, in addition to the other three. But these are small things that you can easily adapt to.

The package bundle is not rich, but only lovers of the abundance of small accessories in the kit will notice this. In fact, in the box there is only one device, one bar, one cable and one instruction. By the way, with the old top model, everything is exactly the same.

The length of the cable in the cigarette lighter is 3.4 meters – it can be secretly laid under the casing, or you can simply hang it unpretentiously, wrapping the excess in a bay. The cigarette lighter socket has a built-in USB socket for 1A output, so if the car has a single 12V output, you will have something to charge your phone when the “combo” is connected.

Today, manufacturers of car recorders and combination devices are increasingly switching to magnetic carriers on the bracket. And, frankly, it is the most accessible of all. Here, the mount is simpler – the good old “sliders” on the device case, into the grooves of which the T-shaped tip of the bar with contacts is inserted. The connector is a bit tight at first, and the locking tab has to be pressed by feel, but the skills are quickly processed and the difficulties disappear.

However, the “Pulse” bracket is rotatable, as in the previous model. It can be easily (without loosening the latches and other manipulations) deployed towards the window (both the driver and the passenger) in case of dubious conversations (from conversations with the traffic police to car raids) and even sent directly to the salon, which is sometimes useful for taxi drivers and bla-blakarov. The angle of rotation of the hinge in the horizontal plane is 185 degrees.

Like the top model, the Playme PULSE is very manoeuvrable. Not only does it not slow down when navigating through the menu or when setting up via the mobile app, but, most importantly, it starts up very quickly! Many underestimate the time that elapses from the moment the device is powered up (ignition on) until the start of video recording. And they think that as soon as the screen flashed, the recording started. But, unfortunately, this is not the case…

In fact, this parameter is generally absent in the characteristics of devices. Although I personally know the case with my friend, when his car was hit right after the start of the movement and the accident was not recorded in the registry, since the registrar simply did not have time to “wake up”. The car started up immediately after starting the engine and literally fifteen seconds later the bumper was rubbed against it… It's good that the situation was resolved easily and the culprit did not turn around and did not blame the second participant. But it is not always the case…

Playme PULSE minimizes these risks: recording starts 8 seconds after the cigarette lighter is powered on, which is very fast by the standards of recording devices. Many devices have a much longer pause. In addition, even the most expensive Playme MARK has it for an extra second!

Playme has been at the forefront of the emergence of radar detectors with signature recognition and, in fact, has introduced this concept into everyday life. Today, such technologies are used by all leading manufacturers of radar detectors, and the signature detector in Playme PULSE is a radio signal processing unit in the air, which is maximally saturated with software filtering methods.

Playme PULSE works with all radars and emitting cameras that are used today on many roads: their typical signals are programmed into its memory, and the driver receives alarms only when a specific radar signal is detected, and not a chaotic signal with a close interference frequency. The ground detector and the GPS-informer always work in parallel, complementing each other and, in principle, simply do not leave a chance to get a fine. At the same time, there are practically no false positives.

The video recording part of the device allows you to make a standard choice of video duration, turn on or off the microphone for sound recording, adjust the G-sensor sensitivity to insert into non-erasable memory clips whose dynamics resemble an emergency in the area, adjust the exposure manually or turn on the automatic WDR mode.

Video quality in FullHD mode (simple HD mode hardly makes sense) is on par with the best at this resolution, as well as a good lens and enough processor power to transfer video to a memory card flawlessly and smoothly. The Playme PULSE comes out of backlight overexposure quickly, encountering strong contrast when entering or exiting a tunnel. The color rendition is close to natural both in the final video and in the middle – on the display of the device. 135 degrees of target cover width is enough with a margin to record not only the fact of a dangerous approach or attack, but also the beginning of an “enemy maneuver”.

Night shooting is a difficult situation for all devices, regardless of price and class, but again, PULSE, as far as possible, does its job well. The main thing is not to forget to lower the headlights with a corrector at night so that the license plates of passing cars do not glow like spotlights illuminating lenses!

sample photo

An example of a photographic day

An example of a photographic evening

Sample video of the day:

Sample video of the evening:

To summarize, if the goal is to get a device with maximum functionality and at the same time save money, then buying a semi-flagship model will be fully justified, and this tactic is acceptable for car combos, as well as for smartphones and other electronic devices. There are compromises in the Playme PULSE, but they are minor and few in number. And there are no critics among them. Later, reprimand yourself along the lines of “It would be better if you paid more and got a higher price!” definitely not needed.