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Summary –
Gone are the days when you had to poke your head out of the side window of your car to see who is behind you. It’s difficult to judge the distance through the side mirrors sometimes as objects might appear closer than they really are. Looking at the front rear view mirror, on the other hand, has its own problems. Today dash cams are all the rage as they provide not only convenience but safety as well. It’s essentially the CCTV of vehicles and with the advancement of technology; a lot of them come with various unique features that may surprise you. Here are some of the best dash cams you can find online.
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Best Dash Cams
One of the Best Compact Dash Cams from Garmin
Garmin Dash Cam 55
The Garmin dash cam 55 comes with a 2 inch LCD screen, a 3.7-megapixel camera with a wide-angle lens, forward collision/lane departure warnings, alerts for red lights, and voice control capability. One of the best aspects of this dash cam is how small it is. All you have to do is mount it on your windshield using a magnetic mount and you will be good to go. Design-wise, the Garmin dash cam 55 looks pretty cool and very retro. Unlike other dash cams, this one isn’t bulky at all and is only 2.2 x 1.4 x 1.6 inches in size.
By using voice controls you can perform a number of functions easily and conveniently. All you have to say is “Ok Garmin” and you can save a video, take pictures, start or stop audio recording, and other functions. It even creates a time-lapse video so that you can see everything that happened in a condensed and short duration of time.
Other features include forward-collision warnings as well as lane departure warnings. You also get alerts on nearby red light cameras and speed cameras; however, you will need to subscribe to Garmin’s service, “Cyclops” for that. The camera can record in 1440p resolution at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps and 720p at 30 fps. The quality is excellent, especially when you consider its price. The automatic exposure level is solid in this dash cam allowing you to get perfectly clear images. All in all, this is a great compact dash cam that not only looks great but functions excellently.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for those who are looking for a compact dash cam for their vehicle.
- It’s ideal for people who are seeking a dash cam with excellent video quality.
- It’s a great choice for those looking for a dash cam with a wide field of view.
One of the Best Affordable Dash Cams with Night Vision Capability
YI Nightscape Dash Cam
This dash cam is the perfect choice for those who are looking for an affordable option. The Yi Smart dash cam comes with a 2.4-inch LCD screen. It is super simple to set it up. The camera comes with built-in Wi-Fi which guarantees instant connectivity. You can use a dedicated app for the camera, and you can easily back up or share the footage. All of the backing up and sharing is done true a secure wireless platform.
You will always get clear and colorful footage thanks to the internal Sony STARVIS imaging sensor. The same is possible even in the low light conditions. This camera is 100 % battery-free. You can always count on the reliable operation. Yi Nightscape Dash Cam works in temperatures between -22°F to 185°F. The camera has a nice and sleek design. It will improve the look of your dashboard.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for those who are looking for an affordable dash cam.
- In addition, it’s ideal for people who are seeking a dash cam with good low light recording capability.
- It’s a great choice for those looking for a dash cam with great video quality.
One of the Best Dash Cams under $100
Rexing V1-4K Ultra HD Car Dash Cam
Rexing V1-4K Ultra HD Car Dash Cam comes with a 2.4-inch LCD display. The cam has a nice, discreet, and low-profile design, and thanks to it the cam can be very well hidden. You can use the cam to capture 2160p videos and you can do that even when driving fast. It supports micro SD memory cards and you can choose the card up to 256GB in memory size.
The cam features Wi-Fi connect. This option allows you to not only view your recordings but to save them or share them using your mobile device. The videos can be recorded in 1,2 or 3 minute intervals. Keep in mind that if you are out of storage on the memory card you are using, the new recordings will automatically overwrite the oldest ones. Since the camera comes with a gravity sensor, it will detect the collision. If that happens, the current video will be automatically locked and it will be kept protected. Such videos can not be overwritten.
Rexing V1-4K Ultra HD Dash cam is using supercapacitor which is why it can withstand extreme temperatures. There is also a parking monitor. This dash cam comes with a 12-month warranty.
Who should buy this?
- The cam has a low-profile design and can be very well hidden
- It has a gravity sensor that detects collisions and instantly locks the current video that will be kept safe.
- The cam has some interesting features such as the supercapacitor and the parking monitor.
One of the Best Dash Cams for Road Trips
Vantrue N2 Pro
The Vantrue N2 Pro comes with a 1.5-inch screen, dual front and inside the camera, infrared night vision, IMX323 sensor, 24-hour parking mode, G sensor, screen rotation, and a heat/cold resistant body. Design-wise, the Vantrue N2 Pro looks great with its futuristic vibe. At 3.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches, it’s pretty compact in size too. You also get a suction mount with this product which is always a plus when it comes to buying a dash cam.
The front camera can record in 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution at 30 fps and the passenger camera can record at 2560 x 1440 pixels at 30 fps and 1920 x 1080 pixels at 60 fps. One of its best features is, of course, the dual cameras. The front-facing camera is able to capture images and videos in 170 degrees whereas the passenger camera can do so at 140 degrees. The video quality you get with this dash cam is quite honestly amazing. The Sony IMX323 sensor, 4 IR LED lights and f2/0 aperture allows you to record videos even in darkness. As for the front-facing camera, it comes with F1/8 6 glass lens and HDR system to really balance the light and dark areas to give you a very clear video quality. One unique feature this dash cam is its 24/7 parking mode which automatically starts recording video as soon as it detects any motion in front of your car. However, it will need a constant power supply either through an external battery or hardwire to perform this function.
The LCD screen also has rotational functionality which allows you to play with different screen orientations for your convenience. You also get date and time stamps on the video it records which is very useful as evidence whenever you may need it. Another cool feature is that it also creates time-lapse videos which would be perfect for capturing fun memories on any road trips; you can thank the passenger facing camera. All in all, this is a great dash cam for those who like to capture footage of not only what is happening in front of the car but inside too.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for those who have to drive their kids to school due to the dual camera modes.
- It’s ideal for people who want to buy a premium dash cam with lots of cool features.
- It’s a great choice for those looking for a dash cam that can record road trips as it has a passenger facing camera as well as the ability to create time-lapse videos.
One of the Best Inexpensive Dash Cams
Crosstour CR300 Dash Cam
The Crosstour CR300 dash cam comes with a large 3 inch LCD screen, 170 degrees wide-angle lens, built-in G sensor, WDR technology, loop recording, motion detection capability, license plate stamp, and burst photo functionality. The design looks simple yet elegant. At 3.5 x 2 x 1.4 inches in size, it isn’t too small or too big. You also get a suction cup mount with this product which is very handy. Similar to most dash cams, it is quite easy to set up and the interface is easy to understand. You also get a user manual with it that can easily clear any confusion you may have. The large 3-inch screen is great for viewing all the recorded and live footage.
The 170-degree wide-angle lens provides you with a larger viewing angle so that you can see everything clearly and properly. This is especially useful when you traveling on a road that has 4 or more lanes. The WDR technology also helps to really pop up the colors and gives you vibrant visuals for better clarity. The loop recording feature is pretty useful as it will automatically write over old footage making sure that your storage space isn’t filled too quickly. The F1.8 aperture helps to see visuals more clearly at night time.
The 12 MP camera provides you with crisp 1080p resolution visuals which are always great. For a dash cam, clear and high-quality images are a necessity. If you ever need footage for insurance claims or to use in court, having a fuzzy and hard to see the video would definitely backfire on you. The clearer the visuals, the safer you will be. All in all, the Crosstour CR300 dash cam isn’t unique by any stretch of the imagination. It has the basic necessary features and good image/video quality, but where it shines is in its pricing. At this price range, there are very few dash cams that can compete with the CR300 in terms of sheer value.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for those who are looking for an inexpensive dash cam with basic features.
- It’s ideal for people who want to buy a dash cam that provides great value for its price.
- It’s a great choice for college students due to its low and affordable price.
One of the Best Value Non-GPS Dash Cams with Great Video Quality
APEMAN C450 Dash Cam
The APEMAN C450 dash cam comes with a 3 inch 1080P LCD screen, super high resolution 1080P camera with 170 degrees wide-angle lens, F1.8 aperture, WDR technology, parking monitor, loop recording, motion detection, and a built-in G sensor. The design looks sleek with a matte finish which always suits a dash cam more than a glossy one. The buttons are found on the right side of the camera for easy access. It also comes with both a suction mount and an adhesive mount so you can set it up according to your preference. However at 4.9 x 4 x 3.8 inches it is a bit on the larger side as far as dash cams are concerned, although this is no cause for worry.
Feature-wise, you get everything that you need in a dash cam. The large 3 inch LCD screen has ample space to display images and video clearly and with great visibility. It can capture images with a resolution of 4032 x 3024 pixels which is great. One notable aspect of this dash cam is how easy it is to both mount and dismount it. Unlike some of its competitors, you can easily take it on and off whenever you want and you won’t find any difficulty or complications whatsoever. The 24/7 parking monitor will be able to protect your vehicle when it’s parked by detecting any unusual or sudden movements near it. This will, of course, require an external power source; so, don’t depend on the battery for this feature.
Though it doesn’t come with night vision in the strictest sense, the F1.8 aperture along with WDR technology helps to capture more light while recording so that you always get a bright and clear video quality. You also get color accurate and sharp images which is a necessity when it comes to a good quality dash cam. All in all, the APEMAN C450 dash cam is a great affordable dash cam that can fulfill any and all needs you may have when it comes to safety and convenience.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for those who are looking for an affordable good quality dash cam.
- It’s ideal for people who want to buy a dash cam that can be mounted and dismounted easily.
- It’s a great choice for those who seek crisp and clear video quality in their dash cams.
One of the Best Compact Dash Cams with Alexa
Garmin Speak Plus Dash Cam
Garmin Speak Plus dash cam comes with a compact design, 1080p image/video quality, HD camera with 82-degree field of view, loop recording functionality, and Alexa built-in. This is definitely one of the more unique dash cams out there today due to Alexa being integrated into it. At 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches in size it is one of the smallest ones in its category. Though this may prompt you to hide it more easily, you won’t get the full use of this product by doing so. Moreover, the design actually looks pretty good and very different from what you usually see in dash cams. It’s basically a small cylinder with a camera on the front and a small OLED display on its back. You also see a ring around the display that will light up in various colors according to different situations.
The best aspect of this dash cam is of course Alexa. You can turn on the navigation feature by simply saying, “Alexa, ask Garmin…” and she will do the rest. All you have to do is tell her your destination and you will instantly see a map on display with arrows and audio prompts. If you have subscribed to any music services, you can just ask Alexa to start playing it. As of now, it supports Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, etc. You can also ask Alexa to help you shop by telling her what all you need in your online cart or even check your bank balance.
You can even remotely control compatible smart devices in your home such as lights, locks, thermostats, etc. all from the comfort from your own car. If you are going on long rides you can enjoy interactive games and trivia or learn about historical sites. You also get forward collision and lane departure warnings. All in all, the Garmin Speak Plus dash cam is a unique product that will not only help you to drive safely but will also allow you to multitask efficiently.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for those who are looking for a voice control based dash cam.
- It’s ideal for people who want to buy a dash cam with smart features.
- It’s a great choice for those who seek a highly versatile dash cam.
One of the Best GPS Dash Cams for Trucks
WheelWitness HD PRO Dash Cam
The WheelWitness HD PRO dash cam comes with 3 inch TFT display, Ambarella A7 processor, 170 degrees wide-angle lens, advanced driver assistance feature, GPS module, loop recording, G sensor, removable suction cup mount, 2 sticky mounts and WDR/HDR technology. Design-wise this is one of those love it or hate it ones. At 3.9 x 1.18 x 1.85 inches, it is medium-sized compared to dash cams in general, but the rounded corners and thickness make it look bigger than it actually is. However, it does suit trucks and vans a lot more than cars.
When it comes to features, you get all the basic ones necessary in a dash cam such as the G sensor, loop recording, and forward-collision warnings, etc. The 170-degree wide-angle lens is quite spectacular as you get a far wider field of view and thanks to the large 3 inch TFT display you can see everything very clearly. When you look at the camera you might feel like it’s an ordinary one but it works amazingly well both in day time and night time. The whopping 2560 x 1080 pixel and 2360 x 1296 pixel resolutions achieved by the camera is astounding and higher than 99 percent of most dash cams out there.
The GPS module works perfectly and it monitors your driving data such as speed, bearing, and altitude accurately and puts it for display. Thanks to WDR and HDR you will always get a well-balanced, clear visual quality from the camera. All in all, the WheelWitness HD PRO dash cam is easily the best option for large vehicle drivers due to its many great qualities ranging from its large display, 170 degrees wide-angle lens, huge resolution, and stunning picture quality. What’s more, it comes at a very affordable price too.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for truck and van drivers due to the large display, night vision, and GPS module.
- It’s ideal for people who want to buy a dash cam with solid features at an affordable price.
- It’s a great choice for those who are seeking a very high-resolution camera with a very wide-angle lens for better coverage.
One of the Best Dual Channel GPS Dash Cams
Rexing V1LG Dash Cam
The Rexing V1LG dash cam comes with a 2.4 inch TFT display, 1080p front camera, 720p rear camera, 170-degree wide-angle lens, built-in GPS logger, G sensor, WDR, Loop recording, and collision detection functionality. The design looks pretty sweet with a futuristic yet retro feeling to it. It looks like a contraption that came out of an 80’s sci-fi movie. It’s a little bit on the big side when it comes to size, but it’s not large enough to cause any unwanted obstruction after placement. The build quality is really awesome for this device as it feels very durable yet lightweight.
Feature-wise, you get the basic ones such as a built-in G sensor, collision detection, loop recording, etc. However, when it comes to loop recording, you can set up the time intervals by choosing 3, 5 or 10 minutes. The camera will accordingly start recording at the intervals that you set. The dual cameras do a great combined job of providing you with a complete 340 degrees footage coverage area. This, combined with the vibrant image quality via WDR, gives you a clear sweeping view of the environment around you. The front camera can record 1080p videos at 30 fps, whereas the rear records at 720p with 30 fps. The quality of the rear camera isn’t as good as some of the dash cams available on the market, but the combined range of both front and rear cameras really makes up for it.
The built-in GPS logger will track your speed, the path traveled, and time and date accurately and save them to your recordings. This is very important when it comes to cases of litigation. Another good aspect of this dash cam is that it supports up to 256 GB MicroSD which is a little rare as most only support up to 32 GB. Overall, this is one of the best dual-channel GPS dash cams on the market today with plenty of useful features.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for those who want maximum footage coverage when driving.
- It’s ideal for people who want to buy a GPS dash cam with solid features at a great price.
- It’s a great choice for those who are seeking a durable yet lightweight dash cam.
One of the Best Dual Lens GPS Dash Cams for Taxis
Crosstour Uber Dual Lens Dash Cam
The Crosstour Uber Dual Lens dash cam comes with a 1080p FHD front camera, 720p inside the camera, 170-degrees wide-angle lens, built-in GPS module, parking monitoring feature, night vision, loop recording feature, G sensor, suction cup mount, 2 adhesive mounts and motion detection. Visually, it pretty much looks like a gadget you would see in old science fiction movies. The design is something that people will either love or hate. It would be difficult to find any middle ground in this regard. At 5.9 x 4.3 x 2.1 inches in size it is also quite bigger than your average dash cam. However, that is because it has both a front-facing camera and inside facing camera. It would be impossible to fit both in a smaller body.
The front camera can record videos in 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution at 30 fps whereas the rear camera records at a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. You get vibrant and color accurate image quality thanks to WDR technology. Moreover, you also get enhanced night vision quality while recording at night as it comes with 4 IR LEDs, a Sony sensor, f1.8 aperture, and WDR. In many ways, this is the perfect dash cam for taxi drivers due to the above-mentioned features. The in-built GPS module helps in displaying accurate data pertaining to your driving on the screen which is always helpful.
You also get the intelligent parking mode which provides protection for your car while it is parked by automatically recording footage after it detects any external force appearing near the vehicle. Another noteworthy aspect of this product is that it can withstand temperatures ranging from -20 degrees to 60 degrees. All in all, with awesome dual-lens cameras, vibrant picture quality, and enhanced night vision capability, the Crosstour Uber Dual Lens dash cam is easily one of the best options for taxi drivers.
Who should buy this?
- It’s perfect for taxi drivers as it comes with both a front and inside the camera.
- It’s ideal for people who want to buy a GPS dash cam with enhanced night vision capability.
- It’s a great choice for those who are seeking a great dual lens dash cam under $100.
Conclusion
Before buying a dash cam there are many important things to consider not only for your satisfaction but also for your safety. The first and foremost thing to look out for is its safety features. Does it have a G-sensor and collision detection/lane departure warnings? Does the camera capture clear images and videos? Then you can move on to other features such as built-in GPS, voice control capability, intelligent parking mode, etc. Make sure that you do proper research, read reviews from customers and websites before you choose one so that you have all the necessary information. A smart buyer is also a safe buyer and this is especially true when it comes to purchasing dash cams.