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Thanks to more powerful and affordable camera technology, everyday drivers can use powerful dash cams for a variety of purposes in different environments. There was a time wherein you could only benefit from such technology if your car already came with cameras when you bought it, but that’s all in the past now. Many take advantage of a dash cam’s front-facing camera power to protect themselves legally in the event of a crash or accident, while others are more interested in simply capturing the scenic beauty of an extended road trip. Regardless of your reason for picking one of these intrepid cams up, there is now a seemingly endless number to choose from—making things difficult for potential buyers who haven’t necessarily decided on what they’re going to be using it for primarily. Still, some dash cams are blatantly better than others, and thanks to an increasingly powerful and budget-friendly collection, there’s really no need to break the bank if you want to land a high-quality dash cam that can both protect you in the event of a crash and act as a go-to adventure camera every time you’re on the road. We know scanning through all the options on the market can be tedious, but don’t worry; we’re here to make your life easier. We’ve gathered a list of the best dash cams around based on variables that range from camera quality and size to overall functionality and style.
The Nextbase 622GW is among the best dash cams money could buy you in 2022 because of its overall functionality, quality, and performance. You can expect to pay around $400 for the camera only, but you also have the option to get a bundle with an SD card and rear camera already. The dash cam can capture 4K footage at 30 fps, so you can trust that all your videos will look crisp and clear when the time comes you have to review them. Users can also set the resolution to 1440p at 60 fps or 1080p at 120 fps if they want to save on space. If you get the rear camera as well, you have to note that you won’t get the same quality as the front camera because it can only record 1080p videos at 30 fps. The Nextbase 622GW has what3words built-in, which tells you the exact location of where the footage was taken even if you weren’t connected to the internet. We know your drives on the road won’t always be smooth, but you can trust that the camera will get the steadiest and clearest footage possible because it has image stabilization control. When you get into an accident, every second of your video counts, and this is when you will benefit from its super-slow-motion feature. Driving at night won’t be an issue because of the camera’s enhanced night vision which allows it to capture clear footage even in dark environments. The camera has an Extreme Weather Mode that will ensure it can still capture anything critical, even when it gets foggy. You can access all your videos on your mobile devices, and the camera won’t disappoint you with its network performance because it supports dual 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi. The Nextbase 622GW offers voice control capabilities because it has Alexa built-in, which is extra helpful since you should focus on the road when you’re driving. You can ask the device to play music, call someone, find parking, get directions, and more.
4K at 30 fps recording with image stabilization controlEnhanced night vision and Extreme Weather ModeWhat3words built-inAlexa built-in
Smartphone app needs improvementsSD card sold separatelyExpensive
If you don’t want to spend too much on a dash cam, you will love the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 because it comes in a more budget-friendly price tag of $129.99. The dash cam has a discreet and compact design you can easily mount behind your rearview mirror. It has a 140-degree lens that can record 1080p video, and its Garmin Clarity HDR optics ensures your footage has crisp detail, whether it’s daytime or nighttime. You won’t have a complicated setup with the camera because it will automatically start recording once it’s plugged into your car’s power source. The camera is intelligent enough to detect when you get into an accident, and that’s when it will save your footage. You don’t have to take your hands off the wheel when you want to control or do something with the dash cam because it has voice control capabilities. You can tell it to start/stop recording, take stills, or save the footage without removing your eyes from the road. Users can access their saved footage in the Garmin Drive app, but you will need to be connected to the internet. Garmin keeps your footage securely stored in their online vault for 24 hours, and you have the option to buy a paid subscription for better storage plans. Even when you’re away from your car, you can check what your camera sees using the Live View monitoring in the app. The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 comes with a Parking Guard feature that alerts you if ever it detects any suspicious activity around your car while you’re away. Before purchasing the camera, you need to remember to buy a microSD card (at least 8GB) separately, and you’ll have to get the Constant Power Cable if you want to access its remote features. You can leave the dash cam mounted inside your car 24/7 because its durable design ensures it can survive intense vehicle environments.
More affordable than rivalsEasy and quick setup1080p video recording with Garmin Clarity HDR optics140-degree lensAutomatic alerts during accidentsLive View monitoringParking GuardVoice controlMicroSD card sold seeparatelyNo battery, display, and GPSNeed a Constant Power Cable for remote features like Live View and Parking Guard
For those looking for a more high-end option from Garmin, you can opt for their Dash Cam 67W. You shouldn’t underestimate its small size because it’s capable of recording 1440p HD video. It features the Garmin Clarity HDR optics, which deliver more crisp and detailed footage. It has an extra-wide 180-degree lens that gets more of your environment, but one downside it brings is how it warps the edge of the frame. You won’t have a hard time setting it up inside your car because it uses a magnetic mount. The dash cam offers hassle-free controls since it supports voice commands for starting/stopping audio recording, taking stills, etc. All your footage gets stored in the online vault, and all your saved videos get uploaded to it as long as it’s connected to Wi-Fi. The Garmin Dash Cam 67W also comes with the Parking Guard and Live View monitoring feature the Dash Cam Mini 2 has, but you’ll need an active Wi-Fi connection and constant power to benefit from such features. The dash cam has driver alerts that offer extra help while you drive because it lets you know about any speed cameras, lane departures, and forward collisions. The alerts aren’t for everyone, though, because some might find them annoying after getting alerts every other minute. The dash cam doesn’t come with a microSD card yet, so you’ll have to be ready to spend extra for one.
Modern and compact designRecords 1440p HD video with Garmin Clarity HDR opticsVoice controlUses a magnetic mountOn the pricier sideYou'll have to buy a microSD card separatelyFrames can have warped edges due to the extra-wide 180-degree lensNeed constant power and active Wi-Fi for the Parking Guard and Live View monitoring features
The Vantrue N4 stands out when you compare it to its competitors because it can record the front, rear, and inside of your car. You will get the main dash cam with a suction cup mount and a rear camera with a 20-foot extension cable. The dash cam has a 155-degree front camera and a 165-degree inside camera, while its rear camera has a 160-degree lens. The front camera can record up to 4K videos if it’s the only one recording or it’s used with only one of the two other cameras. If you will record footage with all three cameras, its maximum resolution downgrades to 1440p while the other two cameras record 1080p video. You won’t always need a smartphone to review footage from the dash cam because it already has a small display beside the inside camera, and you have the necessary physical buttons to navigate the dash cam’s controls. The Vantrue N4 can automatically increase the exposure of your recording when your environment turns dark, and its four IR LED lights provide lighting for the inside of your car. The dash cam comes with a 24-hour Parking Mode that allows it to automatically start recording footage when it senses any motion or collision while it’s parked. Since it needs power for such a feature, you’ll need an external battery/power source for the dash cam. Users can trust the camera can survive weather changes all year round because it was built it withstand extreme heat or cold. It even has a supercapacitor than ensures your batteries will have a longer lifespan. The dash cam has a variable sensitivity G-sensor that can detect sudden shaking or collisions. Once this happens, it will instantly lock and store your footage. You will need to purchase a microSD card for the dash cam separately, and it will only support up to a 256GB storage capacity. Some have reported issues when using a card from Transcend and Sandisk, so it would be best if you used a Vantrue microSD card.
Three cameras (front, inside, and rear)Record up to 4K footage with the front cameraHas its own displayExcellent night vision with four IR LED lightsCan survive extreme weatherLacks built-in Wi-Fi and GPSDisplay could be betterInside and rear camera only record 1080p videoFront camera is limited to 1440p when using all three cameras simultaneouslyPricey
The Thinkware Q800 Pro is a fantastic premium dash cam that is worth the price because of its superb video quality and various innovative features. It uses a 5.14MP Sony STARVIS image sensor which delivers crystal clear 2K QHD 1440p footage. The dash cam has a modern, sleek design that will blend well with your car’s stylish interior. Its video quality doesn’t depreciate while recording during nighttime because of its Super Night Vision technology. A unique feature it has is its built-in GPS antenna, which allows you to track the route history, time, and speed of your car during the time your footage was captured. It will also let you know if any speed cameras or red light cameras are coming your way. The Thinkware Q800 Pro is equipped with an Advanced Driver Assistance System that alerts you of any front vehicle departures, lane departures, and forward collisions. It has a Parking Surveillance Mode that is helpful when you want to keep track of any motion or impact that happens to your car while you’re away, but you’ll need help from a professional to get its hardwiring cable installed. You don’t have to worry about it draining your car’s battery since it has a built-in car battery protection system. The dash cam is synchronized with the Thinkware Cloud, and you can check the smartphone app for Driving Impact and Geo-Fencing alerts. While many dash cams on the market will make you purchase a microSD card separately, the Thinkware Q800 Pro already comes with a 32GB microSD card. You can rest assured that your memory card won’t fail you when you need to recover footage because it has Anti-File Corruption technology.
Modern and premium designBuilt-in Wi-Fi and GPS2K QHD 1440p recordingSuper Night Vision technologyAdvanced Driver Assistance SystemComes with a 32GB microSD cardHardwiring cable needs professional installation for the Parking Surveillance ModeSmartphone app could be betterPricey
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