Dashcams are becoming an integral part of our daily life. Even small video evidence can save you from big troubles as car insurance rules are getting complicated day by day. At the end of the day spending around £100 on a dashcam sounds better than paying thousands for a stranger’s mistake. Below, we explain the things you need to keep in mind while choosing the best product as not all dash cams on the market are worth your money. We’ve reviewed dozens of dash cams to find the most reliable, and give you the most authentic recommendation out there. There are numerous things to consider when purchasing a dashcam. We recommend dash cams with screens and at least 1080P video recording as video quality is the most prominent factor in the performance of these devices.
Let’s start with a mini dashcam that is not so mini in features. The Garmin dashcam mini is a brilliant, tiny, no-nonsense dashcam featuring 1080p video recording at 30fps through a 140-degree lens, not so bad for a budget mini dashcam right? But there are more – if you hardwire this device for continuous power supply, you can use the park sensor which will start recording if someone drives into your vehicle. This dashcam doesn’t have a display screen and an internal battery which is fine for a mini dashcam. it is designed to tuck neatly behind your windshield mirror and boot up with the ignition of the vehicle. The Garmin dashcam mini can be connected to your phone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and the Garmin Drive app helps you get a live feed straight from the camera.
Key specs –
Max video recording resolution: 1080p, 30fps
Field of view: 140°
Display: No display
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
NextBase is the undisputed king in the dashcam world and their budget model 322GW is the best dash cam you can purchase under £100. The 322GW dashcam offers 1080p video recording at 60fps and the recordings are crisp and clear in our testing. This feature-rich dashcam also has built-in GPS, along with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, auto-sync to share videos to NextBase’s smartphone app, and an Emergency SOS feature. The SOS feature will alert the emergency services if the driver is unresponsive after an incident is registered by dashcam sensors, this feature comes with a 12-month trial.
Key specs –
Max video recording resolution: 1080p, 60fps
Field of view: 140°
Display: 2.5in
Connectivity: GPS, G-Sensor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Garmin’s compact dashcam 66W is the best wide-angle dashcam on our list. Priced at £169, dashcam 66W is a value for money product sporting a 1440p video recording and a huge 180-degree angle of view. The video quality is spectacularly good at 1440p and it performs well in sun and headlight glare also.The design of the Dash Cam 66W is beautifully compact and it can easily fit behind the central rearview mirror of most vehicles. The 2-inch display is not touch-sensitive, it is operated through the 4 buttons on the side of the camera. Overall, the Dash Cam 66W is an excellent device with good video quality, voice control, and helpful driver assistant features.
Key specs –
Max video recording resolution: 1440p, 30fps
Field of view: 180°
Display: 2in
Connectivity: GPS, G-Sensor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
The flagship 622GW from NextBase is our choice of the high-end dashcam. It packs all the features you can expect from a dashcam, starting from 4K recording to Alexa integration this device is a true workhorse for its price. The camera gives you a choice of recording in 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 120fps, or 1440p at 60fps, and the recorded footage is impressive with its details and color tones. The built-in polarizing filter on the front of the camera helps in glare from the windscreen on sunny days. NextBase 622GW dashcam is also equipped with digital image stabilization which helps smooth out those bumps and shakes caused by potholes and poor road surfaces. The user-friendly touch screen is 3-inches and the display is crisp and clear. This flagship dashcam comes with a one-year free subscription to NextBase’sEmergency SOS feature.
Key specs –
Max video recording resolution: 4K at 30fps;
Field of view: 140°;
Display: 3in;
Connectivity: GPS, G-Sensor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Alexa voice controls
The Thinkware Q800 Pro is a dashcam without a display and 4K recording but it still made it to our list, wonder why? Because it packs a long list of features and some may call it a feature overkill. The camera records videos at a high-quality 1440p and sports advanced night vision. This futuristic dashcam is equipped with a number of safety features including speed camera alerts, lane departure, and forward-collision warnings. The Q800 Pro dashcam features a wide dynamic range and auto exposure which will help to keep footage clear in harsh or low lighting. There is an optional extra rear-facing dashcam if you want complete surveillance for your vehicle. The features don’t end there, this dash cam also includes a smart parking mode to record incidents while parked but you need to hardwire the device for continuous power supply to enjoy this feature. Overall if you want the best feature-rich compact dashcam in the UK market, the Thinkware Q800 Pro is our recommendation.
Key specs –
Max video recording resolution: 1440p at 30fps
Field of view: 140°
Display: No display
Connectivity: GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
