Is There A Car Dash Camera That Captures Front, Inside And Rear
The research
- Why you should trust us
- Who should get this
- How we picked
- How nosotros tested
- Our pick: Vantrue N4
- Flaws only non dealbreakers
- Upgrade option: Nextbase 622GW
- Also great: Garmin Dash Cam Mini ii
- Budget pick: Vantrue N1 Pro
- Other good dash cams
- What to await forward to
- How to gear up upwardly a nuance cam
- The competition
Why you should trust us
Rik Paul, who contributed reporting for this guide, has been testing and writing well-nigh automotive electronics and accessories for the past 25 years. To go the legal perspective on dash cams, he interviewed Ben Schwartz, a personal injury chaser and managing partner of Schwartz & Schwartz Attorneys at Law.
Who should get this
If your routine drive always turns into a life-altering consequence, you'll probably appreciate having a nuance cam to show what happened. This continuously recording, windshield-mounted device can document an accident or other incident you're involved in, providing you with show that could (ideally) assist prove your innocence to a lawyer, an insurance visitor, or law enforcement.
Case in indicate: One Wirecutter staffer was able to apply his dash-cam footage to prove that he wasn't at fault after he was rear-ended in a parking garage. Although the forward-facing camera couldn't tape the vehicle in back actually striking his car, he said, "It showed that I was driving appropriately, and captured the sound, jolt from touch, and mine and my girlfriend'south reactions."
In improver, a nuance cam can help other drivers who need objective eyewitness evidence following a crash, a hitting-and-run incident, a road-rage state of affairs, or police misconduct. Yous can utilize it to record unsafe roadway conditions or to monitor the driving habits of someone else in your auto—with their consent, of grade—such as an inexperienced driver or an older developed. A nuance cam tin can also come in handy if yous merely desire to capture and share a funny scene, a memorable trip moment, a beautiful vista, or unusual happenings similar streaking meteors (video).
"In that location are thousands of people who are injured and killed every year past hit-and-run drivers," said Ben Schwartz, a personal-injury attorney we interviewed. "If those hit-and-run victims had a dash cam in their car, maybe the video would record the tag number of the vehicle that hit them, and then that would lead police to the bad guys."
But at that place are potential disadvantages, Schwartz noted: "Not but will a nuance cam certificate other people'southward mistakes, but it's going to document yours." Whether or not you think you're at fault, Schwartz said, you should first show the footage to your lawyer. "Let the attorney determine whether the footage is favorable or not favorable to [your] case, and allow the attorney advise you lot on what to do with the footage."
Finally, there are some practical considerations. Learn how to set up a dash cam, and start thinking about how yous would install a dash cam in your car before deciding that you want i. Almost all dash cams record video on a removable microSD card, and many don't come with one, adding cost (a good microSD card costs near $35 at this writing). Likewise, you lot should confirm that you can legally mount a dash cam on your windshield where you live, and larn your state's sound- and video-recording laws.
How we picked
Before choosing which dash cams to test, nosotros spent hours researching the specs and features of near 380 models. We read reviews from Autoblog, BlackBoxMyCar, CNET, Digital Trends, PCMag, Popular Mechanics, T3, and TechRadar (though many of them were sparse on easily-on feel), as well as customer reviews and ratings (later on we checked their reliability on Fakespot). We besides perused some driving legislation and insurance claims, and nosotros watched hours of dash-cam footage on YouTube.
Most dash cams work in a like way. They record to a microSD card and utilize loop recording, then the newest video overwrites the oldest. They have built-in Yard-sensors (or accelerometers) that find an impact, and in the event of a crash they automatically salvage that footage from being overwritten. Typically, y'all can also manually save footage by pressing a button or giving a voice command. Yous tin can review footage on the unit'south display, on a smartphone app, or on any device that tin can read a microSD card. Some nuance cams come with an 8, 16, or 32 GB microSD card, simply most can support up to 256 GB if y'all desire to back up or delete your files less often. Dash cams can likewise tape audio, if you want, and most models let you capture a withal photo.
We narrowed our search based on the following criteria:
- At least 1080p resolution: A dash cam's video—whether captured in calorie-free or dark atmospheric condition—has to be sharp and distinct plenty that you, a lawyer, your insurance visitor, or a fellow member of law enforcement can read license plates and run into other details conspicuously. We preferred models with 2160p (4K/UHD) or higher resolution, since their footage is often notably sharper than that of 1080p models, and nosotros didn't consider anything under 1080p.
- Dark vision: We made night vision a requirement for a dash cam to exist considered for testing since car crashes and other incidents you lot may desire to document can occur at any fourth dimension of day or dark (as well as in dark environments such as highway tunnels).
- 24-hour parked-car monitoring: We required each model to be capable of recording impacts or movement around your car, any time of day or night, whether you're in it or not. To draw power when the car isn't running, a dash cam normally needs to exist hardwired to the motorcar's fuse box, connected to an external battery, or plugged into the vehicle's OBD-Two diagnostic port.
- Sufficient field of view: We required each model to have a field of view (FOV) in the range of 140 to 160 degrees—wide enough to have in a multi-lane highway or a large intersection without creating a broad-angle effect that makes cars in front end look farther abroad and details harder to see.
Nosotros also preferred (only didn't require) models to take the following features:
- Easy-to-apply controls: We looked for models with clearly labeled, easily reachable controls (particularly the video-lock push). We besides preferred models with buttons nosotros could identify in the night, as well equally intuitive menus and a functional companion app.
- Easy-to-read display: Most dash cams have a display that'southward one½ to 3½ inches diagonal; displays that are at to the lowest degree 2 inches go far easier for you to conform settings on the fly and to preview footage. Models without a display—more often than not non our preference—require you to use a phone or figurer to set up the photographic camera and to view video footage.
- Effective mounting arrangement: We looked for mounts that held the camera securely withal allowed us to aim information technology easily, equally well as to remove information technology hands. Mostly nosotros've found suction-cup mounts to exist the easiest to use. Mounts that attach to the windshield with adhesive pads are frequently more meaty and very secure, but they can exist difficult to remove for repositioning or swapping between vehicles. Most dash-cam makers give y'all a pick betwixt mount types or sell other mount options separately.
- Wi-Fi and smartphone app: We like an integrated Wi-Fi network because it allows the dash cam to connect to a compatible smartphone app, through which you tin can view, download, or share video. The best apps too have a map that shows the auto'south location, speed, and other details. As with all cyberspace-connected devices, using this feature comes with the risk of getting swept upwards in a data breach. But information technology could come in handy if your footage is deleted accidentally, or if the microSD card gets corrupted or damaged in a crash.
- GPS receiver: A GPS receiver lets a dash cam record a machine's location, the trip history, and the speed and direction of travel—all valuable information for figuring out how an incident occurred. The best models have the receiver integrated into the camera torso or mount, rather than needing a split plug-in device. A dash cam's GPS receiver doesn't provide turn-by-turn directions, though; you need to use a smartphone automobile mount and a mapping app or a dedicated car GPS navigator for that. The nuance cam as well shouldn't share GPS data unless you specifically opt in to doing and then in a connected app.
- Multiple cameras: In addition to a front-facing camera, some dash cams include a pocket-size, dissever camera that you mount to the car's rear window to tape video of what'southward behind you, and/or a second lens that points toward the auto's cabin and passengers. Nigh people are fine with just a front-facing camera, just having multiple cameras gives you even more footage that tin exist useful in the event of a crash.
- Driver assistance: Basic driver-assistance and safety alerts tin can include forwards-standoff warnings, which sound an warning if y'all are following too closely; lane-departure warnings, which let yous know if your car is crossing a lane marking on the road; and other features such every bit stop-sign recognition, reminders to turn on your headlights, and driver-fatigue reminders.
- Capacitor power supply: For power, some dash cams forgo a lithium-ion battery and instead use a capacitor, which stores energy in an electric field rather than chemicals and generally allows them to handle extreme estrus better. Although we haven't had any bug with the lithium-ion-powered nuance cams nosotros've long-term tested—even during summer heat waves in Southern California and New York—a capacitor-based power supply can provide actress peace of mind in very hot climates.
Our pick procedure left us with xiv models to compare confronting our existing picks for our 2022 round of testing: the BlackVue DR900X-1CH Plus, the Cobra SC 400D, the Garmin Dash Cam 57, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2, the Garmin Dash Cam Tandem, the Rexing M2, the Rexing V1 Basic, the Rexing V5, the Sylvania Roadsight Mirror, the Thinkware F200 Pro, the Thinkware F70, the Vantrue N1 Pro, the Vantrue N4, and the Vantrue X4S.
How we tested
While setting up each dash cam, we first evaluated the layout of the controls, the size and location of the buttons, and the ease of navigating the menus. Nosotros checked the brightness and clarity of the display, downloaded and connected to the app (if applicative), and performed mutual tasks. We too took notes on the camera's build quality and overall blueprint.
We and then set up the dash cams in a car, evaluating how easy information technology was to attach the mounts to the windshield, connect the dash cams to their mounts, adjust the aim of the cameras, and then remove them. We tested the cameras in bright sunlight and at night, and on highways and suburban streets, racking up hours of driving time. To make sure we could accurately compare the dash cams with 1 another, we drove the same routes, which we chose for the corporeality of particular available for the cameras to capture.
Then nosotros spent many more hours playing dorsum the video footage on a computer so that we could examine and compare details and overall image quality. Based on all of this, we finally made our picks.
Our pick: Vantrue N4
Our option
Vantrue N4
The best nuance cam
This nuance cam delivers crisp, super-high-resolution footage 24-hour interval or night. It also has key features such every bit 24-hour parked-car monitoring and GPS tracking despite costing half as much as another contenders.
Buying Options
The Vantrue N4 is an unfussy, accommodating bang-up dash cam. Information technology offers the all-time range of features for the price—$260 at this writing—that we've found. It's minor and sleek, so it won't obstruct your view while you're driving, only its 3-inch screen is large and bright plenty to permit y'all to easily navigate the card. It's especially simple and straightforward to set up and use, and it reliably captures crisp, clear video. If yous want tri-directional visibility (front, interior, and rear) and tin live without luxury features like app connectivity, this is the dash cam to get.
The N4 has a forepart-facing camera with 4K resolution (the all-time possible resolution available in whatsoever nuance cam being sold today), as well every bit interior and rear-facing cameras with 1080p resolution. In our testing, the principal camera recorded clear footage with true-to-life, appropriately saturated colors. It was able to pick upwardly on license plate numbers and other of import details fifty-fifty in dim or night environments.
The mountain clips onto the top of the nuance cam, and a creepo on the dorsum of the mountain affixes it firmly to the windshield. A knob on the neck of the mountain lets you lot aim the N4 at the angle that works best for you lot, and the suction cup has a modest lip so you tin hands remove information technology and adjust the placement.
The N4 comes with a 12-volt car charger, the base of which flips open to reveal a USB-A port. This feature is invaluable if you want to charge your phone or another minor device from the car port while the dash cam is in use (otherwise yous need to use a socket splitter or bring forth a power bank). Information technology also has a helpful round light that lets you know whether the charger is properly plugged in and powering the nuance cam. The Mini-USB cable attached to the charger is 12 feet long, as on most models we tested, so you have plenty of flexibility as to where you place the dash cam in your vehicle. The camera also comes with a Mini-USB–to–USB-A cable, which you'll need to plug the photographic camera into almost computers or a wall charger.
The screen of the N4 measures three inches diagonally, and equally it takes upwards most of the back of the main camera torso, there's not much extra bulk. The unit every bit a whole is slim, as well; together, the lens and body are simply over 1½ inches deep. It has a power button on meridian, so yous don't accept to unplug it (or plough off your car) to power information technology downward. The charging cable can plug into a port on acme of the unit of measurement or a port on the mount.
Located above the screen are five conspicuously marked and hands accessible control buttons, which let you lot to rapidly turn the audio on and off, format the microSD carte du jour, and practise other basic tasks. The screen is brightly backlit, and the menu interface is intuitive and simple to navigate. Also, the main photographic camera'southward FOV is 155 degrees, right in the sweet spot of our preferred viewing-angle range; it's wide plenty to capture cars parked on both sides of most streets, every bit well every bit traffic coming from the left or correct at an intersection.
Like the rest of our picks, the N4 has a 24-hour parked-car monitoring way to go on tabs on your car when it's parked. This espionage tool is helpful when information technology comes to documenting hitting-and-runs or other damage to your vehicle when yous're not around. The camera turns on and starts recording anytime it detects move inside or right around the vehicle, such as when a neighbour's car taps your bumper (as with all our picks, you need to buy a separate external battery pack or hardwiring kit if you want to employ this feature).
Since the N4 is powered past a capacitor instead of a lithium-ion battery, it can function in extreme estrus, which is a nice asset if you programme to drive in places with particularly hot climates. Information technology's designed to exist able to role in temperatures from 14 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, the latter of which is hotter than a summer day in Decease Valley, so you should exist able to rely on information technology in virtually instances.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Although the Vantrue N4 works groovy in warm atmospheric condition, it's less suitable for very common cold climates. If you think you might be using your dash cam in temperatures below 14 degrees Fahrenheit, you'd be meliorate off with the Nextbase 622GW (which is rated to operate in temperatures as low equally -22 °F).
Another notable downside of the N4 is that it doesn't have congenital-in GPS tracking (though you can add that role with a GPS-equipped mount, sold separately) or a built-in Wi-Fi network to connect to a smartphone app. This means that yous can't check your car's speed and location remotely, or view, download, and share video when you lot're abroad from your dash cam, as you lot can with the 622GW and some other models we've tested. But the absenteeism of these features also ways that the N4 doesn't pose whatever privacy or security concerns related to how the company might use collected data. And although with other dash cams a company may decide to stop supporting or updating an app at any time, causing your dash cam to lose some functionality, you lot don't run that take a chance with this model.
The N4 also lacks some of the convenient commuter-assist features that the 622GW has, such as Alexa support, Bluetooth connectivity, and emergency calling. Yet, every bit this Vantrue model is ofttimes one-half the toll of the Nextbase, we recall well-nigh people wouldn't miss those luxuries.
Hither are samples of the testing footage from the Vantrue N4.
Upgrade pick: Nextbase 622GW
Upgrade pick
Nextbase 622GW
Pricier, but packed with features
This dash cam has all the bells and whistles of our tiptop pick (4K resolution, nighttime vision, 24-hour parked-car monitoring, GPS tracking) and adds Bluetooth and app connectivity, built-in Alexa support, and emergency calling. Plus, its capacitor power supply allows it to operate in temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit, and so it's your best bet for extremely cold climates.
If your budget allows for it, the Nextbase 622GW represents a big step upwardly from our meridian selection. For twice the price, you become equally great image quality and a wider range of features. Born Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity lets you lot sync the camera with a smartphone app to admission speed, location, and other data remotely; Alexa vocalisation control allows you to play music, place calls, check the weather, get directions, and more than while keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road; and the uncommon Emergency SOS characteristic can automatically notify emergency services in the event of a crash, providing your location and other critical information. To boot, the 622GW has the best mounting system of any dash cam we've tested, information technology's rated to operate in colder temperatures than any of our other picks, and it has an assortment of handy add together-ons that don't come with most of the cheaper models.
The Nextbase 622GW has a unmarried, forepart-facing photographic camera with 4K resolution (different with our top pick, its 1080p interior and rear cameras must be purchased separately). Both during the solar day and at nighttime, information technology can capture crucial visual information such as street signs, license plate numbers, and even car makes and models in brilliant detail. Although its 140-caste FOV is a bit narrower than that of the Vantrue N4, that amount is however within our ideal range for viewing equally many objects as possible at the same time.
The 622GW comes with a suction-loving cup mounting organisation that'south similar to the N4's just better in a few cardinal ways. Offset, the mount attaches to the body of the camera with magnets, a design that'southward exponentially easier to attach and detach than the N4'southward plastic clips, and the whole setup stays together but as sturdily. To aim the dash cam, it has a ball-and-socket hinge, which is slightly easier to employ than the knob on the N4'southward mountain, as well every bit a minor lever to lock the mountain in place on the windshield. If yous prefer a more permanent setup, you tin can but remove the suction cup and swap in an adhesive attachment. Nextbase conveniently includes extra stickers for the agglutinative mount, so yous tin replace them, equally well as a small plastic prying tool for when you lot desire to remove it (even with the tool, unsticking an adhesive mount is difficult, so y'all'll be glad to have it).
The 622GW has the lowest minimum operating temperature (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) of any of our picks, which is helpful if you lot live in an peculiarly cold climate. It doesn't fare every bit well in extreme heat, however: While our top option and upkeep pick are both condom to use in environments upward to 158 °F, this Nextbase dash cam'due south tolerance tops out at 140 °F. So if you plan on using your dash cam somewhere very warm—keeping in listen that a auto parked in direct sunlight acts like a greenhouse and gets much hotter than its environment—you may want to consider one of those other models instead.
Other than the Garmin Nuance Cam Mini 2, the Nextbase 622GW is the only model among our picks with built-in Wi-Fi, letting you connect to a smartphone app. The app allows you to perform basic tasks, such as viewing, downloading, and sharing video, remotely. Nevertheless, at this writing it has a dismal rating of two out of five stars on both the Google and Apple app stores, with many complaints nearly slow or spotty Wi-Fi connections. And as with any app, the company could make up one's mind to cease providing support or updates at whatsoever fourth dimension.
Similar all of our picks, this nuance cam offers 24-hour parked-car monitoring, so (with an external battery pack or hardwiring kit, sold separately) information technology tin can record if your car gets bumped or damaged while parked. It also has congenital-in GPS tracking so you lot can become back and review your location, your speed, and other relevant details from the time of a disquisitional incident. You tin can access your information from the app or upload data to Nextbase's deject storage service, but both actions are optional (if you're concerned about being surveilled by your dash-cam app, don't opt in).
The 622GW is one of the few models we've tested with congenital-in Alexa support and Bluetooth connectivity, besides as an SOS characteristic that (with a paid subscription through the app) tin can send your location and other critical information to emergency services in the issue of a crash. The latter functionality is rare to see in dash cams, and that feature alone would probably justify this model's relatively high toll if y'all ever needed to use it.
Like our top choice, the Nextbase 622GW is sleek and compact. Its screen, just like that of the Vantrue N4, measures three inches diagonally. The display is brightly illuminated, and the menu is fairly intuitive to navigate. The controls are mostly touchscreen based except for a pocket-size home button at the bottom of the screen and a power push button on the side of the unit. A rubber port protector attached past a tiny tether is helpful for keeping dust and moisture out of the Mini-USB port on top of the unit, though the port on the mount lacks this characteristic. Also, we wish the HDMI port'south protector had a tether, too, equally most people are probable to find it hard not to lose the small piece of rubber.
In add-on to a Mini-USB–to–USB-A cable, the 622GW includes a 12-volt auto charger with a lengthy cablevision attached (13 feet, a human foot longer than the N4'southward). A small light helpfully indicates when the charger is properly plugged into the car's port and powering the dash cam. Unfortunately, Nextbase's automobile charger doesn't have a congenital-in USB-A port, as Vantrue's chargers do, and then you need to use a socket splitter or pack a ability bank in your purse if you want to accuse your phone and power the dash cam simultaneously.
Here are samples of the testing footage from the Nextbase 622GW.
As well corking: Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2
Besides great
If you lot're looking for a dash cam that people aren't likely to notice, nosotros recommend the Garmin Nuance Cam Mini 2. Measuring only about 2 inches high and ane¼ inches wide (about the size of a key fob), it'south i of the smallest and most discreet models nosotros've tested, virtually disappearing on a windshield. You lot should always let passengers know they're being recorded—even if notification is not legally required in your state, information technology'south merely good etiquette—but that doesn't mean your nuance cam must be overly obtrusive. The Mini 2'south streamlined wait reduces unsightly clutter, and its simplistic controls and screenless design help minimize potential distractions.
The Mini 2 has a single, front-facing photographic camera that records at 1080p resolution, yet it delivers surprisingly good video quality compared with similar models. It has the same 140-degree FOV as the Nextbase 622GW, on the narrow side but still within our ideal range. Like all our other picks, it has a 24-hour parked-motorcar monitoring mode to observe motility and impacts whether the motorcar is running or not (and as with our other picks, you lot have to buy a separate external bombardment pack or hardwiring kit to use this feature).
In our testing with the Mini 2, we found it harder to read license plates on parked and oncoming cars than with the all-time 4K models, but the images had brilliant colors and bold highlights and shadows. At dark, headlights and other bright lights had minimal glare—which can't exist said for what we've seen in the nighttime video of many other nuance cams—and the footage had good contrast.
Because the Mini 2 is so small-scale, information technology doesn't have a brandish; you take to use the Garmin Drive smartphone app to aim the device correctly (through its live-view role) and to adjust settings. Y'all'll likewise find only 2 control buttons on the Mini 2's body. An like shooting fish in a barrel-to-reach push on the dorsum of the unit saves the near recent video and takes a nonetheless photo when pressed or syncs with the smartphone app when held downward. A push button on the side turns the audio on and off or (with a long press) formats the SD card. Since the Mini ii has no concrete power button, the only way to plough off the camera is to plough off the machine or unplug the ability string.
The adhesive mount that comes with the Mini 2 provides a wide range of adjustment, and you can easily pop the device on and off, leaving but a small-scale plastic disc on the windshield. This mount doesn't include the handy magnetic attachment that other Garmin models and the Nextbase 622GW accept, but we like that it stays in place more firmly.
The Mini 2's charger is more than like a standard automobile charger than the ones that come up with our other picks: Instead of a born charging cable, it has two USB-A ports and comes with ii separate, removable charging cables (one is xiii feet long, the other 5 feet long). This design makes it a more versatile charger, since you can use a longer or shorter cable to power your nuance cam, and you tin can utilize both USB-A ports to accuse other devices when the dash cam isn't in apply.
Like our peak choice, the Mini 2 is powered by a capacitor rather than a lithium-ion battery. It'south rated to operate in temperatures between -4 °F (like our upkeep pick) and 140 °F (like our upgrade pick). Although it's non much better suited to extreme climates than our other picks, it should still work normally in nearly places at near times of yr.
Different our other picks, the Mini two doesn't offering built-in GPS tracking (nor the ability to add together it with a dissever mount, as our budget pick does). However, it does have voice command and built-in Wi-Fi, both of which are rare features—even amidst dash cams costing hundreds more than.
The Garmin Drive app is more express than the Nextbase app, and in our tests the recorded video was a flake inclement when nosotros played it dorsum on the app. However, at this writing the Garmin Drive app has a rating around iv.v stars (out of v) on Google Play and the Apple App Store, whereas the Nextbase app has just two stars on both those platforms. And then peradventure about people prefer the simplicity of Garmin'due south app.
In 2020, Garmin suffered a ransomware assault that took its services down for 3 days. The visitor claims that no client data was stolen, but this incident reinforces our general concerns virtually how companies handle data. Garmin's privacy policy says its apps do not upload video, location, or other data to its servers (or 3rd-party servers) unless you lot opt in. But since this dash cam's lack of a screen makes information technology about impossible to utilise without connecting to the app, these risks are especially of import to consider before yous buy.
Here are samples of testing footage from the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2.
Budget option: Vantrue N1 Pro
Upkeep pick
Vantrue N1 Pro
The best dash cam under $100
Vantrue's N1 Pro has a unmarried, front-facing, 1080p-resolution photographic camera. It costs much less than our other picks, yet information technology has key features similar night vision and 24-60 minutes parked-car monitoring, a bright brandish, and a well-designed mounting system.
Ownership Options
If you're on a tight budget, the Vantrue N1 Pro is the only dash cam listed for under $100 that nosotros recommend—or take always recommended—since it cuts costs without sacrificing most of the features nosotros prize in our other picks. It has the same mounting system and charger equally our tiptop pick, it's just as like shooting fish in a barrel to utilize, and it'southward one of the smallest and lightest dash cams we've tested.
Like the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2, the N1 Pro has a single, front end-facing, 1080p-resolution camera, and information technology lacks the option to add a 2d or third camera—the same is true of every sub-$100 option we considered for testing. Although its footage wasn't every bit clearly defined or vividly colored equally that of our top choice and upgrade pick (both of which have 4K-resolution main cameras) in our testing, it still managed to tape crisp, detailed imagery in both light and dark environments. Also, its 160-degree FOV is the widest of our picks, which means information technology shows more than objects from a single viewpoint than the others do.
Measuring just i by ½ by ¾ inches, the N1 Pro is not much bigger than an Oreo cookie. It's slightly larger than the Mini 2, especially in combination with its mounting organization and charger, but it's withal much more meaty than our meridian pick and upgrade option (and most of the nuance cams nosotros tested). Its screen is 1½ inches diagonal, so it fits less information than the 3-inch screens of our tiptop pick and upgrade pick, but information technology's vivid and relatively easy to read.
The N1 Pro is dead simple to utilize. To the right of the screen, information technology has four well-marked command buttons: power on/off, up, down, and select. On the top of the unit is a unmarried push that lets you easily save video clips and yet photos while the photographic camera is recording (otherwise, like almost dash cams, it saves footage automatically when it detects a crash).
Similar the residue of our picks, the N1 Pro has 24-hr parked-automobile monitoring, so (with the help of an external bombardment pack or hardwiring kit, sold separately) information technology tin assistance you go on tabs on your machine even when yous're not present. And, as with our top option, y'all can add GPS tracking by buying a separate mount. It doesn't accept built-in Wi-Fi compatibility like our picks from Garmin and Nextbase do, simply we don't call back that's a must-accept characteristic for most people.
Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the N1 Pro is rated to operate in temperatures between -4 and 158 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a super-cold climate, y'all might be amend off with the Nextbase 622GW (which functions in temperatures equally cold equally -22 °F), simply for extreme estrus the N1 Pro and our pinnacle pick are equally smashing options.
Here are samples of testing footage from the Vantrue N1 Pro.
Other adept dash cams
If our top pick is unavailable, and you want something with a like array of features in the same toll range:
- Like the Vantrue N4, the Rexing V5 has a 4K-resolution front-facing camera, nighttime vision, and a 24-hour parked-machine monitoring mode. Plus, it adds built-in GPS tracking and Wi-Fi connectivity. However, it has a clunkier mounting system than our top pick, as well every bit a less intuitive interface. Also, its 1080p-resolution interior and rear cameras must exist purchased separately—they cost $lx and $40, respectively, at this writing—making it a pricier option if you lot desire all three cameras.
- Like the N4, the Vantrue S1 and Vantrue X4S each accept a 4K-resolution front-facing photographic camera, a 1080p-resolution rear-facing camera, nighttime vision, and 24-hr parked-machine monitoring. The S1 also has built-in GPS tracking, and the X4S adds that as well as Wi-Fi connectivity—both features you lot'd ordinarily meet in models costing hundreds more. Yet, neither has an interior photographic camera, nor do they accept the option to add one.
- Like the N4, the Vantrue N2S has a 4K-resolution forepart-facing camera, night vision, and 24-hr parked-machine monitoring. Also, its interior camera is a slightly higher resolution than that of our top pick (1440p compared with 1080p), and it adds born GPS tracking, but information technology doesn't have a rear camera and offers no option to add 1.
If our upgrade pick is unavailable, and you're willing to cede some usability to proceeds a wider range of features than our other picks offering:
- Choose the Cobra SC 400D. We found this model more difficult to set upwards and use compared with our picks, just it has many of the same features as the Nextbase 622GW, including a 4K-resolution front-facing camera, the option to add a 1080p interior camera, night vision, 24-hour parked-car monitoring, voice command, Alexa back up, Bluetooth compatibility, emergency alerts, GPS tracking, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Information technology also includes a 1080p-resolution rear-facing camera (whereas, with our upgrade pick, you lot accept to buy that component separately). Unlike any of our picks, this model also offers the benefits of Cobra's iRadar app, which gives you access to user-submitted notifications about nearby accidents, construction zones, roadway hazards, constabulary surveillance, and more. Almost people don't need this characteristic, but if you'd similar to accept it, this dash cam is your best bet.
If our incognito choice is unavailable, and you don't mind a slightly larger, pricier camera as long as it comes with a few actress features:
- Similar the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2, the Garmin Dash Cam 57 has dark vision, 24-hour parked-motorcar monitoring, Wi-Fi connectivity, voice control, and a car charger with two USB-A ports and removable power cables. Nosotros elected not to arrive a pick because it'south about twice the size of the Mini 2 (it weighs 2.i ounces compared with 1.i ounces) and at this writing it costs nearly twice equally much. However, it's however much smaller than nearly of the nuance cams nosotros tested, and information technology adds born GPS tracking, an like shooting fish in a barrel-to-employ mount with a magnetic fastener, a 1440p-resolution forepart-facing camera (the Mini 2's is 1080p), and a vivid, readable, 2-inch display screen. If yous recollect these extra features are worth the added bulk and cost, the Dash Cam 57 is a corking alternative to the Dash Cam Mini 2.
- Similar both the Dash Cam Mini 2 and the Nuance Cam 57, the Garmin Dash Cam Tandem provides night vision, 24-hour parked-car monitoring, Wi-Fi connectivity, vocalization command, and a car charger with two USB-A ports and removable power cables. Information technology too is bigger (two.three ounces) and more than expensive ($300 at this writing) than the Mini 2, only it likewise adds born GPS tracking, a magnetic mount, and a 1440p-resolution front end-facing photographic camera. Additionally, it has a 720p-resolution interior camera; that's lower than our minimum requirement, but an interior camera of any resolution is rare among the incognito options we tested. If this range of features better suits your needs, buy the Tandem without hesitation.
What to look forwards to
Nextbase announced in January 2022 that it would release a new model subsequently in the year called the iQ Smart Dash Cam. According to Nextbase, the iQ has 3 cameras—showing the front, interior, and rear of the vehicle—with impressive resolutions of 4K, 1440p, and 1440p, respectively. It'southward equipped with features we prize in many of our current picks, including nighttime vision, parked-car monitoring, GPS tracking, wireless connectivity, and an emergency-alert system. It also adds a few we haven't seen before, such as Witness Mode (which lets you tape and share live video with a voice prompt), Driver Aware (which detects when your eyelids start to droop or stray from the route), and Valet Mode (which allows you to keep tabs on your vehicle when it'due south being valet-parked, undergoing work at a body shop, or out on loan to another commuter).
How to gear up a dash cam
To get the all-time view of the road ahead, mount a dash cam high in the centre of the windshield, near the rearview mirror. You should be able to run into the unit of measurement's screen and easily achieve its controls, merely the photographic camera shouldn't cake your forward view. Some states have regulations regarding what you can mountain on a windshield and where, then cheque your local laws. Also, don't skip the car launder: No affair how good your dash cam'southward resolution is, it won't be able to capture crisp, detailed footage through a muddied windshield.
Most dash cams have a long cord that plugs into a car'southward 12 V DC outlet (also known every bit a cigarette lighter). To get the unit of measurement's dangling cord out of your fashion, we suggest running information technology to the passenger side and tucking it into the molding between the height of the windshield and the car's headliner. From at that place, you tin run the string downwardly along the edge of the windshield and the front pillar, into the gap on the side of the nuance, and underneath the dash to the power outlet. Securing the cord isn't hard to do, just information technology can require patience. Some nuance cams come with small cable-holding clips that adhere to the drinking glass and hold the cord, as well every bit a small-scale tool for fitting the cord between the trim or molding. This video does a decent task of showing how to perform a tidy installation.
If your dash cam'south charger doesn't have a built-in USB-A port, and y'all want to exist able to accuse a telephone or other device while the dash cam is in apply, you lot have a few options. If the power cord unplugs from its adapter, you could plug it into a multiport USB car charger, which leaves a port open for other devices. If non, you lot could utilize a 12-volt splitter; in our testing, we had success with these three-outlet splitters. Almost dash-cam companies also sell hardwire kits that tin connect directly to a vehicle's fuse box; in fact, this is ofttimes the all-time way to get reliable power for using a dash cam's parking way. If you're comfortable doing bones automotive wiring and using a excursion tester, you can easily hardwire the nuance cam to the fuse box yourself. But any car-stereo shop (and some big-box retailers like Best Purchase) can exercise it for you.
The contest
The BlackVue DR900S-2CH has a 4K-resolution front-facing camera that delivers first-class sharpness and wide dynamic range. In our tests, the front end and rear cameras both shot very good dark video, but nosotros also saw more glare than in our upgrade choice's video. The unit has no display and minimal physical controls, so changing fifty-fifty basic settings requires an app, which had connection issues in our tests (and has been shown to publicly rail users' locations).
The BlackVue DR900X-1CH Plus has many of the features we value in our upgrade pick: 4K resolution in the forepart-facing camera, the option to add 1080p rear and interior cameras, night vision, a 24-hour parked-car monitoring mode, built-in GPS tracking, and Wi-Fi connectivity. Information technology's as well 1 of the few models we tested with a congenital-in mobile-hotspot feature. Nevertheless, its mount is less user-friendly than that of our upgrade pick, and it lacks that model'south Alexa back up, voice control, Bluetooth connectivity, and emergency-alert system.
The Cobra DASH2316D tin can link to Cobra'south iRadar app to alert you to the locations of speed cameras and red-light cameras, equally well as live police locations. Simply in our tests, the 1080p front video lacked sharpness and was too contrasty, which resulted in too much glare at night and a lack of detail in darker areas. The 720p rear camera's video was fifty-fifty worse. The DASH2316D also includes frontwards-collision and lane-divergence alerts, only we establish them to be annoyingly sensitive and switched them off.
The Cobra Route Scout is basically a radar detector with an integrated dash cam. With 1080p resolution and a reasonable 154-degree FOV, the Road Scout captures decent video, and a strong magnetic mount makes it easy to pop on and off the windshield. But at about iv by 4 inches, the Route Picket is large by dash-cam standards, and it's i of the nigh expensive models we've tested. On top of that, y'all can't review video on its minor radar-detector display; you have to employ the phone app.
The Garmin Speak Plus is an unusual, voice-activated device that includes a 1080p dash cam, Garmin navigation, and Amazon's Alexa capability. It'southward effective for navigation, simply if yous primarily want a dash cam, yous have ameliorate choices. It has a very narrow, 82-degree field of view, the compact display does not testify nuance-cam video, and the unit of measurement needs to pair to your phone via Bluetooth to part at all.
In our testing, video from the Geko S200 Starlit wasn't as precipitous every bit we expected, considering the photographic camera'due south 1296p resolution. This compact unit has a cheap, plasticky feel, with small buttons that tend to wiggle when pressed, besides every bit a black-on-black blueprint with minimal labeling that'due south hard to read at a glance. The S200 likewise lacks GPS, Wi-Fi, and a smartphone app.
The Klashwerks Raven combines a dual-cam setup with navigation, security, and vehicle tracking. But it's hard to get both cameras aligned, and it's difficult to consistently salvage video using this model'south gesture controls. We also found that in hot weather the adhesive mountain had trouble holding the large, vii-inch device on our windshield.
The MyGekoGear Orbit 960 (from the company formerly known every bit Geko) has a 4K forepart-facing camera and some premium features such as GPS tracking and app connectivity. You can also buy a hardwiring kit separately to add together 24-hour parked-car monitoring. In our testing, the Orbit 960 was easy to set up and use, and footage from both day and night was crisp and clear. However, at this writing it has simply nine customer reviews on Amazon (and a rating of 3.eight out of five stars), which makes us hesitant to recommend it.
The 1440p Nextbase 522GW is a former summit choice, and the 1440p Nextbase 422GW is a sometime runner-upwards pick, but neither tin can compete with the lower-priced 4K dash cams that are now bachelor. We've too tested their less-expensive counterparts—the 1080p Nextbase 322GW and the 720p Nextbase 222—but our budget pick offers a broader range of features.
We used to recommend the Owlcam (which the company has since replaced with 2 similar versions, the Owlcam Classic 4 and Owlcam Classic v) because its ability to discover impacts or break-ins and record video to the cloud—equally well as to stream a alive feed even while the automobile was parked—made information technology cracking for 24-hour monitoring. Nevertheless, the visitor temporarily suspended support for existing customers when it went out of business in early 2020 (information technology has since been caused by Xirgo Technologies). Because of this hiccup, and the fact that other dash cams at present offering similar features for the same cost or less, we no longer recommend these cameras.
The inexpensive Papago GoSafe 228 has the worst image quality of any model we've tested, as well as a fairly narrow, 120-degree FOV.
The rear photographic camera of the Papago GoSafe S780 mounts on the rear window (to record behind the car) or on the windshield (to record the interior). But the rear camera is only and so-so, and if there's no ambient low-cal, the interior prototype is nearly totally black. Too, we had a hard time tightening the mount's plastic locking nut without the cam going crooked.
The Rexing M2 and Sylvania Roadsight Mirror are virtually identical models that, rather than mounting onto the windshield, clamp onto the rearview mirror. It's a neat idea—it effectively turns your rearview mirror into a touchscreen, making information technology almost impossible to detect unless y'all know information technology's there—and, in addition to the 1080p front-facing photographic camera our incognito pick has, they add together a 1080p rear-facing camera. But in our testing both models produced adequately washed-out, low-contrast footage, making them a poor replacement for a typical rearview mirror. Also, if for some reason the dash cam malfunctioned or lost power while you were driving, you lot'd lose visibility out of the back windshield.
The Rexing V1 Gen 3 records at 2160p (4K) resolution, but its rate of 24 frames per 2nd isn't as smooth every bit the usual 30 fps. And the video, with muted colors and excessive glare, wasn't as crisp equally the Nextbase models' footage in our testing. At night, the video was contrasty and grainy. Nosotros also found information technology hard to arrange the lens position or connect the app.
The Rexing V1 and Rexing V1 Basic are ii of the least expensive dash cams we've tested. Each i has a 1080p-resolution forepart-facing photographic camera and a 170-degree field of view, equally well every bit night vision, 24-60 minutes parked-car monitoring, and the option to add GPS tracking with an antenna (sold separately). However, in our testing, both cameras showed too much contrast in their video footage, specially at night.
The Rexing V1P Gen 3 has a 1080p-resolution front-facing camera that nosotros found to have a lot of dissimilarity and glare in our testing. Its buttons illuminate when pressed, just unless you impact ane, they're invisible at night. Though y'all can adjust the lens in whatsoever direction by physically moving it, doing and so is hard when the unit of measurement is mounted on the windshield.
The Thinkware F200 Pro offers night vision, a 24-hour parked-automobile monitoring mode, and Wi-Fi connectivity, and it weighs just 2 ounces. You tin can also add together GPS tracking with an antenna (sold separately). However, its cameras are a lower resolution than those of our pinnacle choice and upgrade pick: It has a 1080p-resolution front-facing photographic camera and gives you the option to add a 1080p rear camera for $80 and a 1080p interior photographic camera for $80 at this writing. Information technology's also a scrap bigger than our incognito pick (about the size and shape of a Snickers bar) and besides pricey ($140 at this writing) to be a good budget pick contender, and its mounting system is less adjustable and more difficult to remove than any of our picks' mounts.
The Thinkware F70 is nigh as tiny equally our incognito pick (information technology weighs 1.5 ounces) and equally inexpensive every bit our budget pick ($xc at this writing). It has night vision, a 24-hour parked-car monitoring mode, the option to add together GPS tracking with an antenna (sold separately), and a 1080p-resolution front-facing camera (no choice to add a rear or interior camera, though). Yet, every bit with the F200 Pro, its mounting organisation is less adjustable and more hard to remove than any of our picks' mounts.
The Thinkware U1000 has a 4K front end camera, and you can add a 2K rear camera for $100 more at this writing. But it's more finicky to use and more expensive than models we tested with a wider range of features.
The Vantrue N2 Pro Dual used to be i of our picks, but its front and interior cameras have worse resolutions (1440p and 1080p, respectively) than those of our top pick and upgrade pick, and it offers no additional features.
The Vava VA-VD009 has a 1600p forepart camera and a 1080p interior photographic camera, both of which produced articulate and vivid footage in our tests. We also found this model easy to gear up and use, and relatively unobtrusive on the windshield. But it costs simply as much as other models with the aforementioned features and higher-resolution cameras.
The Viofo A129 Pro Duo has a 4K forepart camera and a 1080p rear camera. It offers a good mix of features (including GPS tracking, 24-hour parked-car monitoring, and app connectivity), just in our tests it was much more difficult to set and use compared with less-expensive models offering the same capabilities.
This article was edited past Phil Ryan and Erica Ogg.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-dash-cam/
Posted by: wilcherinizing.blogspot.com
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