Dashcams are compact video cameras mounted on a car’s dashboard or windshield to record the surroundings while driving. A USB port typically powers them. A dashcam records video onto a memory card which can be accessed easily.
Dashcams can be used for many purposes, such as capturing evidence in the event of an accident, monitoring a driver’s behavior, and recording scenic views. They can also be used as a security measure to deter theft and vandalism, which helps claim insurance and report theft.
Modern dashcams have standard GPS tracking, Wi-Fi connectivity, and motion detection features. Some models even have built-in screens for live viewing or playback of recorded footage. And you can easily transfer the footage file to mobile with the help of Wi-Fi.
Reasons To Use Dashcams
We have listed down the importance of the dashcam. There are several reasons why dashcams are necessary, depending on usage, technology, driver behavior, etc.
Evidence in the event of an accident: Dashcams can capture footage of an accident or any mishappening, providing valuable evidence for insurance claims or legal proceedings. This is the main advantage of the dashcam.
Protection against fraud: They can help drivers against fraudulent claims, including staged accidents or hit-and-runs. The footage acts as solid evidence in these types of cases.
Monitor driving behavior: Dashcams can be used to monitor driving behavior and skills with the help of the footage, which can help identify unsafe habits and improve driving skills.
Security: The dashcams can act as a deterrent against theft and provide evidence if a break-in or theft occurs. Security is essential while driving a car, so it is recommended to install a dashcam.
Document scenic drives: Dashcams can document scenic drives and capture beautiful views in HD or full HD. This allows drivers to capture and share their experiences.
How Dashcams Work In Simple Ways
After looking at the benefits of using dashcams, knowing how they work will give you a better understanding of the device.
Power supply: Dashcams receive power from either the vehicle’s battery or a separate internal battery. First, the dashcam is started with the help of power from these sources. Most of the dashcams in the market start automatically when the vehicle’s engine starts and stop when the vehicle’s engine is turned off.
Video recording: Dashcam has a wide-angle camera that records the wide range of areas ahead of the car. After recording, the footage in the camera is stored in the memory card or internal storage. In most dashcams, the camera records videos based on the loop where the old footage is overwritten when the new footage is recorded in the camera.
G-sensor: The G-sensor is also one of the crucial parts of the dashcam, which helps detect changes in motion because of the impact or hard braking. When these situations arise, this device part automatically saves the current video clip to prevent it from being overwritten.
GPS tracking: It is another essential part of the drive, allowing the dashcam to track the location and the car’s speed. You will see the GPS feature in most dashcams, which is a helpful feature that can record the location and the speed in simple ways.
Playback: After recording the footage in the dashcam, the footage can be accessed simply with the help of the built-in screen or transferred to a computer or mobile device to view the footage or for sharing the recorded video.
How to set up and install a dashcam in your car
Installing the dashcam in the car is simple and can be done in a few minutes. This will ultimately help the car driver in accidents or other similar situations. You can follow the below-mentioned step for installing the has come in the car.
1. Choose a place to install your dashcam: The first and most important thing you need to decide on is the location where the dashcam is to be installed. It should be located behind the rearview mirror so you can easily see the view without any obstruction while driving. So, make sure to have the proper place for installing the dashcam.
2. Clean the mounted area of the dashcam: After selecting the place of the dashcam, you need to clean it properly where you have decided to mount it in the car. For the cleaning, you can use a microfiber cloth or other non-abrasive material, which will clean the area effectively.
3. Attaching the mounting bracket: First, you need to attach the bracket to the place as per the instructions given in the manual of the dashcam, and this instruction can vary based on the model of the dashcam. Make sure to read the instructions correctly so that you don’t face any confusion when attaching.
4. Dashcam to the windshield: In installing the dashcam, remove the adhesive pad on the mounting bracket and then place the dashcam on the windshield. Ensure you attach the dashcam to the correct level so you don’t face the issue while recording the footage.
5. Connect the power cable: After installing the dashcam to the car, you need to supply the power. For this, you need a power cable to provide power from the power outlet available in the car.
6. Adjust the dashcam settings: To ensure the camera is recording and storing the footage correctly, you also need to set the dashcam correctly based on the instructions given in the camera setting.
Now that you know how to install a dashcam, here is a list of the best dashcams for you to choose from.
Nextbase 622GW Dashcam
The NEXTBASE 622GW dashcam with Alexa and Polarising Filter is the ultimate companion for your travels. With its 4K Ultra HD resolution and polarizing filter, it captures stunning footage even in bright sunlight.
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Nextbase 622GW Dash Cam and Carrying Case True 4K 30fps UHD Automatic Recording in Car Camera -… | $360.78 | Buy on Amazon |
The What3Words feature ensures pinpoint accuracy of your location, making it easier for emergency services to locate you in case of an accident. Its intelligent parking mode also detects any movement around your parked car and records it. Connect to the NEXT BASE app for easy access to your footage and to share it with friends and family.
Garmin Dashcam Tandem
Garmin Dashcam Tandem is a well-known dashcam that comes with 80-degree field of view lenses, and this is a compact camera. Regarding the camera quality, it comes with a camera resolution of 1440p. In addition, Garmin Clarity HDR has a 720p interior-facing lens.
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Garmin Dash Cam Tandem, Front and Rear Dual-lens Dash Camera With Interior Night Vision, Two… | $261.56 | Buy on Amazon |
It also has a voice control feature and GPS to help you to locate the car. It has various features, including the dashcam auto sync feature, which helps control the video’s quality and recording options.
The Garmin dashcam has been designed to look compact and can be mounted on the car in simple steps. Moreover, it comes with a charger and a USB port for a power supply.
Vantrue N1 Pro Mini
Vantrue N1 Pro Mini Dashcam Full HD 1920x1080P comes in a compact design. It can be mounted without any hurdles. The dashcam has a resolution of full HD and captures up to 30fps along with the sensor of Sony. It can capture the view from a 160-wide angle.
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Vantrue N1 Pro Mini Dash Cam Full HD 1920x1080P Car Dash Camera 1.5 inch 160 Degree DashCam with… | $67.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Furthermore, it also has the feature of Loop Recording, which helps the camera overwrite the oldest recordings and record the new footage automatically.
It also supports the memory storage of 256GB via microSD cards that can record and store a large amount of footage in the camera. The build quality of this camera is also excellent and rigid, built with solid material.
Nexar Beam GPS Dashcam
The Nexar Beam GPS dashcam is a game-changer in the world of road safety. With its 1080p HD camera, you can capture every detail of your driving experience, ensuring you have a record of any incidents that may occur.
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Nexar Beam GPS Dash Cam | HD Front Dash Cam | 2022 Model | 32 GB SD Card Included | Unlimited Cloud… | $169.95 | Buy on Amazon |
The included unlimited storage means you never have to worry about running out of space on your device.
But the real magic happens when the Nexar app comes into play, allowing you to easily access your footage and share it with insurance companies, law enforcement, or loved ones in the event of an accident. The Nexar dashcam gives you peace of mind on the road so that you can focus on the journey ahead.
THINKWARE U1000
THINKWARE U1000 Flagship Dual Channel has 4K Ultra HD video quality that captures at 30 fps. To capture at 60 fps, you must change the setting to 2K QHD. In most of the dashcams, you see the wide angle that captures at 160 degrees, but it records at up to 150 degrees.
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THINKWARE U1000 Flagship Dual Channel Dash Cam with Radar Module Accessory 4K UHD Front 2K QHD Rear,… | $469.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Overall the quality of the camera is phenomenal. It can also record at 4K with utmost efficiency. The design of this camera is also unique compared to other dashcams available in the market.
Nextbase 522GW Dashcam
Nextbase has some unique features, including 1440p HD recording, that make it different from the existing dashcam available in the market. It comes with built-in Alexa, which can be used to play songs and for calling purposes. The Nextbase dashcam also has the SOS emergency feature, which is handy in emergencies. It has Wi-Fi connectivity for transferring files from one device to another.
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Nextbase 522GW Dash Cam – 1440p HD Recording in Car Camera – Wi-fi GPS Bluetooth Alexa Enabled -… | $179.95 | Buy on Amazon |
It comes with built-in software which helps to transfer the footage to the computers in simple steps. Furthermore, one of the cool features of this dashcam is that it has the Intelligent Parking Mode, which assists you in parking.
Garmin Dashcam Mini 2
Garmin Dashcam has a wide-angle view of 140 degrees, recording up to 1080p with a full HD resolution. It also has voice control features that support the control of video recording in various languages. Moreover, it can also save videos automatically with the help of Wi-Fi connectivity.
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Garmin 010-02504-00 Dash Cam Mini 2, Tiny Size, 1080p and 140-degree FOV, Monitor Your Vehicle While… | $129.99 | Buy on Amazon |
If you face difficulties while parking a car, then this dashcam will help you at the time of parking. With an amazing feature of the Parking Guard, you can monitor the activity during parking.
Nexar Pro Dual Dashcam
Nexar Pro has all the standard features that can fulfill your needs. It can be connected to smartphones, including the iPhone seven and above. The dashcam has a video resolution of 1080p and can capture the view of 135° wide video. If you want to capture a lot of footage in the dashcam, you can do this with the help of a memory card supporting up to 256 GB.
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Nexar Pro Dual Dash Cam – HD Front Dash Cam and Interior Car Security Camera – Nexar Dash Cam Front… | Buy on Amazon |
You get the Parking Mode, a feature available in most dashcams and is one of the essential features that must be available. Moreover, if you want to see the video footage on your phone, it can be directly transferred. You can consider this dashcam for your car because of its quality and support service.
Vantrue E1 Lite 1080P WiFi Mini
If you have checked out all the options mentioned in this guide and want to consider some other options, then you can go with Vanture E1 Lite.
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Vantrue E1 Lite 1080P WiFi Mini Dash Cam with GPS and Speed, Free APP, Voice Control Front Car Dash… | $89.99 | Buy on Amazon |
It has a wide angle of 160 degrees and can capture a video in a resolution of 1080p. The connectivity in this dashcam is also impeccable. It comes with 2.4G Wi-Fi & Free APP, which helps transfer the video footage to other devices in just a few minutes.
Final words
If you are looking for a perfect car dashcam, research and study before buying any product. The best way is to list your priorities, such as budget, connectivity, support, software update, etc., and then search for the dashcam. Choose one that is durable, best-in-class, and as per your expectation.
