But it should be noted that everything is not at all as simple as it seems, and in order to fulfill the plan, a number of issues will need to be resolved. And not every smartphone is suitable for such a role. The device must be of high performance and have a good, fast camera.

A smartphone that does not have sufficient performance simply cannot cope with such a task. The shooting process should be performed as a background task without problems, because there is a high probability that the device will have to perform some other tasks at the same time. For example, to provide a normal conversation on a Bluetooth headset.

However, the performance of the top models of modern smartphones is such that they are able to record video, play the role of a navigator, and even make voice calls. In this case, the load on the battery will be such that it will be discharged literally before our eyes. And connecting to the cigarette lighter will only slow down the discharge process, but not stop it. That is, if you got into a car with an already partially discharged battery, then it is possible that you will have to refuse to use your smartphone for additional functions. While in the case of even the simplest DVR, you can generally forget about the battery level.

There is also another problem - heating. The fact is that performing a whole range of tasks, and even while being on charge, the smartphone can get very hot. In the summer, under the bright sun, this heating can be so strong that the device can simply freeze. In this case, all captured data may be lost. However, the level of heating largely depends on the device itself. And on a hot day, you can simply direct a stream of cold air at it.

In addition, a smartphone, like any other computer, can simply “glitch”. Due to some software error. The probability of failure in the case of a conventional DVR is much lower, since the device itself is much simpler.

A lot depends on the quality of the camera used in the smartphone. Just because it delivers superb image quality doesn't mean it's great for video recording. This question is especially acute when using the device in the dark. And you can find out only by experience, by testing the smartphone in action.

And finally, it is very important to choose a good mount. The fact is that most smartphone mounts on the market do not provide sufficient shock absorption, the captured image will shake very much. Choosing a good mount and a place for it (the level of shaking also depends on the location) is one of the primary tasks if you want to use your smartphone as a DVR.

As for software, today there are quite a few applications that differ in capabilities and cost. There are both completely free and quite expensive solutions. Among the popular ones are DailyRoads Voyager and VideoReg for Android, as well as Car Camera DVR, iSymDVR for iOS. In fact, the range is much wider, there are applications for other systems.

It is simply impossible to choose one best programme. And there is no guarantee that the selected application will work with your device. In the case of iOS, it is easier, since the number of devices with this system can be counted on the fingers. But it will be more difficult for Android users, because there are hundreds of different devices, sometimes the same application behaves differently on models from the same manufacturer. In addition, it may take time to find the most convenient software, because what is good for one is completely unsuitable for another.

From the foregoing, we can draw the following conclusion - using a smartphone as a DVR is possible, and quite successfully. However, the user is required to have certain skills. And if you have no desire to solve additional problems, spending a lot of time on it, then just get yourself the most ordinary DVR, it will be much easier. If you have knowledge and skill, then it makes sense to try to figure it out - get one universal device.