Vueroid has launched a new versatile dash cam available in 2- or 3-channel configurations. The S1 QHD Infinite consists of front and rear cameras, both operating at 2.5K/QHD resolution, plus there's the option to add a 1080p cabin camera.

Said to be an ideal combination of image quality, storage efficiency, affordability, and convenience, the S1 QHD Infinite is based around dual Sony Starvis 2 image sensors. Starvis 2 sensors have been designed especially for surveillance and dash cam use, where their HDR capability helps capture clearer highlight and shadow detail, whether you're driving in harsh sunlight or on unlit roads at night.

The S1 QHD Infinite also incorporates Vueroid's Infinite Plate Capture (IPC) technology. This is claimed to enhance license plate visibility in both daytime and night-time conditions, even when driving at high speeds or in challenging environments. And if IPC isn't quite enough to produce clear license plate definition, Vueroid also offers an AI-License Plate Restoration service. This helps recover and enhance the details of a blurred plate: simply select the area of the video frame in which the license plate appears, then upload the video clip to the Vueroid Cloud server for analysis via the Vueroid Hub App or PC Viewer. Alternatively, if you want to intentionally blur license plates in a video for privacy reasons, the AI tech can also do that.

The S1 QHD Infinite can be hard wired with an included hardwire kit to your vehicle to provide parking protection. As this uses you vehicle’s 12 volt battery to power the dash cam, recording efficiency is paramount to ensure the battery isn't drained. The dash cam therefore features an Extreme Low Power Mode, whereby the camera uses less than 1mA of power in standby, but can start recording in less than one second should it detect an impact or motion. In this mode, the camera can be operational for up to 6000 hours / 250 days. The system can also be customised to power off when your vehicle's battery reaches a pre-defined level of charge, so you can be confident the dash cam won't leave you with a flat battery. You can even set the parking mode to turn off automatically when the camera's built-in GPS location monitoring recognises that you're in up to three designated locations, such as home, work, or a secure garage. The radius of each safe zone is also customisable.

The S1 QHD includes everything needed for installation and parking monitoring: hardwire cable, CPL filter, and fuse tap adapters, so there's no need to purchase any optional extras. The S1 QHD Infinite 2-channel kit (front+rear cameras) is available now at Amazon, priced at $279.99. If you'd also like the 1080p cabin camera, the 3-channel set-up costs $309.99.

S1 QHD Infinite 2CH: Buy now at Amazon

S1 QHD Infinite 3CH: Buy now at Amazon

Until now, almost all dash cams with a parking mode have required a more involved installation than simply being stuck to the windshield and connected to a power socket. These modes, which wake the dash cam up when a collision is detected while your car is parked and switched off, usually draw power from your vehicle’s fuse box or, more recently, from the OBDII port. Either way, that requires running a cable and, in the case of the former, often a professional installation.

This dash cam hopes to change all that with the simple addition of a solar panel. It’s called the Baseus PrimeTrip VD1 Pro, and it has a parking mode that works just like any other – but, crucially, it doesn’t require power from the fuse box or OBDII port.

It isn’t entirely solar-powered, despite Baseus misleadingly describing it as featuring a “solar panel for cable-free use,” since it still connects to your vehicle’s 12-volt socket or compatible USB port in the normal way. But what it does offer is parking protection without the faff. It also boasts 4K video, a compact design, Wi-Fi 6 with 5GHz video transfer speeds, a rear camera recording at 1080p, and strong night vision thanks to its Sony Starvis sensor.

It sounds great on paper, but does it work in the real world? I’ve had the VD1 installed in my car for a couple of months now, so read on to find out.

Baseus PrimeTrip VD1 Pro: Specifications

Baseus PrimeTrip VD1 Pro: Price

At the time of writing, the VD1 is available from Baseus’ US website for $109.99, which is a percent reduction from the usual price of $179.99. It is currently unavailable from Amazon in the UK, but can be bought elsewhere, such as AliExpress - but prices fluctuate significantly from around £90 to £190. European pricing is from €169.99.

Unusually these days - but very welcome - is how the VD1 comes with a microSD card in the box. The sample reviewed here came with a 64GB card, while a 32GB card is included from Baseus’ US website.

Baseus PrimeTrip VD1 Pro: Design & Handling

The VD1 is impressively compact and, unlike most other dash cams, almost cuboid in shape. Excluding the windshield mount, the main unit is a cube measuring approximately 50mm across every surface; it attaches to the windscreen with an adhesive pad attached to the top-mounted solar panel housing. This then pivots to allow for vertical adjustment, and rotates by 15 degrees in each direction to adjust the camera’s view left and right.

Even in my small car (and its even smaller windshield), I found the VD1 to be one of the less invasive dash cams I’ve tested. It practically disappears from your peripheral view while driving.

There are buttons for navigating through the simple menu system, plus a pair underneath the unit for power/resetting and controlling the Wi-Fi connection; that’s used in conjunction with the Baseus smartphone app, and is how recordings are transferred from the dash cam to your phone. Alternatively, you can take out the microSF card to transfer videos manually, or plug it into your computer with a USB-C cable.

My review kit included a rear camera that connects to the side of the main unit with a long cable, and this also fires into life when a collision is detected while parked. Baseus includes a sheet of static cling film in the box, which makes it easier to fix and remove the VD1 from your car or switch it between multiple vehicles.

Overall, it feels like a high-quality piece of hardware that is pleasantly compact and nicely designed.

Baseus PrimeTrip VD1 Pro: Performance

Although the VD1’s Sony Starvis imaging sensor doesn’t technically record natively 4K, since it’s a 5MP sensor and not 8.3MP – a marketing sleight of hand played by a lot of dash cam companies – the footage is upscaled to 4K resolution and looks very good indeed.

As you can see from my sample recordings below, footage captured during daylight is particularly sharp. There’s plenty of detail, like road markings and license plates of other vehicles, while exposure levels are handled very well. It’s also relatively smooth – as far as dash cam footage needs to be, at least – and the 140-degree lens, while not the widest, does a perfectly decent job of capturing a good view of the road ahead.

Quality takes a dip after sunset, but that’s to be expected from any camera, let alone a dash cam. While license plate details are mostly lost, the VD1 continues to impress with practically zero grain, and road signs remain legible. Visibility fell during nighttime rainfall, and when driving on unlit roads after dark, but that’s to be expected. The fact remains that, had I been in an accident, evidence would have been captured in adequate detail.

The rear camera, while small and with unlimited vertical adjustability, isn’t as good as it should be. It only records at 1080p (Full HD), which is towards the lower end of what’s expected from dash cams in 2026.

Now, to the solar-powered parking mode. Is this a dash cam game changer? It would have been a couple of years ago, before models from Nextbase, BlackVue, Thinkware and Viofo started drawing power from the OBDII socket, even while parked. Baseus still deserves credit for its solar-powered approach, since this enables parking protection from a dash cam powered from the 12-volt socket in a more conventional way – and side-steps the hassle, and extra installation costs, or tapping into the fuse box.

Make no mistake – the solar panel is about the size of those found on pocket calculators, and can’t actually power the dash cam during normal use. Instead, it acts as a trickle charger, topping up the integrated lithium battery with enough juice so it can fire up and record some video when a collision is detected.

Baseus says the VD1 can record up to 20 incidents (producing 40 video clips if the rear camera is also connected), each 30 seconds long. It also says the dash cam can stay in a sleep state for up to 14 days at a time before the battery is fully depleted. In my testing, I found it woke up quickly from this sleep state and began recording in just a couple of seconds – so if someone hit your parked car, it’d likely capture footage from right after the collision was detected.

This is all exactly like the parking mode of other dash cams, but here the VD1 is using its own battery – topped up a little by the solar panel – instead of drawing power from your car’s battery via the fuse box or OBDII port.

Naturally, the solar panel is of no use if you park in a garage or shaded area, and will likely work less well during cloudy and overcast weather. While driving, the VD1’s battery is charged from its connection to your car’s 12-volt socket.

Lastly, the Baseus smartphone app is fine but nothing to write home about. Despite boasting Wi-Fi 6, video transfer speeds are unremarkable, with a three-minute clip (measuring 600MB) taking about the same amount of time to land on my iPhone. The app is handy for adjusting settings – and, bizarrely, parking protection is switched off by default – but ultimately it’s an app that your phone will automatically delete due to lack of use.

Baseus PrimeTrip VD1 Pro: Video

Above: some sample video clips shot using the Baseus dash cam during the day and night

Baseus PrimeTrip VD1 Pro: Verdict

The Baseus VD1 isn’t quite the groundbreaking new dash cam I thought it might have been. But don’t let that put you off, because even if the solar panel is a bit of a gimmick – and other dash cams neatly get around the power issue via the OBDII port – it still performs well. Footage from the front-facing camera is especially good during both day and night, thanks to that Sony Starvis sensor, and the VD1 is pleasingly compact. I wish the rear camera recorded at 2K instead of just 1080p, but at least it’s included as standard and takes up very little space. Despite the eye-catching solar panel, the biggest feature here is the VD1’s battery. Very few dash cams have an internal power source, but here is an example that proves precisely why they should. It unlocks parking protection with zero effort, meaning you’re more likely to have a recording of the aftermath of any incident.

Alternatives

Also check out our guide the best front and rear dashcams

Sony's launched a new image sensor, and while it may not be some 1-inch flagship phone sensor or a new stacked full-frame CMOS chip, it'll almost certainly become the mainstay of one particular camera sector for the next few years.

Called IMX908, it measures a relatively modest 1/2.8-inches in size and has an 8.4-megapixel resolution. But this isn't a sensor designed for capturing high-res stills. Rather, this marks the first sensor in Sony's brand new STARVIS 3 range of image sensors designed for security cameras and dash cams.

Right now, STARVIS 2 sensors can be found in almost every current mid- to high-end dash cam on the market. Their focus on high dynamic range makes them ideal for coping with the huge and unpredictable contrast variation encountered during driving.

The STARVIS 3 IMX908 sensor is a back-illuminated design with a deep photodiode layer. This is said to provide high performance in low light conditions, as well as high sensitivity to the near-infrared spectrum - both important attributes for security and dash cam implementations.

The key to its performance are newly-developed LOFIC pixels. LOFIC - Lateral OverFlow Integration Capacitor - is Sony's proprietary pixel technology developed for security cameras. Sony claims the tech can deliver nearly 20x the amount of saturated charge when compared to a first-gen STARVIS sensor, resulting in approximately 27% better low-light performance and a dynamic range of up to 96dB in a single-shot exposure. This is achieved without the use of multiple exposures - a more typical means of producing an HDR image - making the sensor better suited to capturing the kind of fast-moving subjects encountered in dash cam applications.

We'll still have to wait for STARVIS 3 sensors to show up in consumer products, but with intense competition in the dash cam sector, we probably won't have to wait long.

Read more: The best dash cams on sale today

In an effort to stand out from the crowd, dash cam manufacturers are offering systems with an increasing number of cameras. Vantrue's Nexus 5S doesn't just have forward-facing and rear-facing cameras, it also has two interior/cabin cameras, making it a 4-channel dash cam.

The inclusion of two cabin cameras isn't just useful for taxi or ride-share drivers wanting to protect their personal safety; both cameras have a wide 160-degree field of view, so they can see through the side windows of your vehicle to capture vital footage of a side impact or side swipe collision.

If you're worried all this means your car will be filled with more cameras than a subway station, rest easy. Vantrue has integrated one cabin camera into the front camera unit, and the second cabin camera is housed in the rear camera module, so there are only two physical camera units to install.

Vantrue Nexus 5S: Specifications

Vantrue Nexus 5S: Features

All four Nexus 5S cameras use Sony's latest Starvis 2 image sensors. These have been designed specifically for surveillance and dash cam implementation and promise excellent low light video quality, plus they're HDR-capable so should cope better in the kind of harsh, high-contrast lighting you encounter frequently while driving. The sensor in the front-facing camera has a maximum 2592 x 1944 resolution, while the rear-facing camera operates at QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution. The cabin cameras are both 1080p.

The forward-facing cabin camera housed within the rear camera unit shows the backs of the vehicle occupants, while cabin camera inside the front camera unit is aimed at the faces of the vehicle's occupants. In daytime the cabin cameras record normal color footage, but they also have the ability to switch to infra-red (black and white) mode during night-time driving. So it doesn't matter if your vehicle cabin is almost completely dark; the cabin cameras will still record detailed video. An ambient light sensor positioned in the front camera automatically switches both cabin cameras to infra-red mode when it detects low ambient light.

In addition to high-end image sensors, the Nexus 5S is packed with extra features. There's voice control, built-in GPS to track vehicle location, speed and mileage covered, and fast 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity for rapid video clip downloading to your phone. Pretty much any dash cam will stay recording for a few seconds after vehicle power is cut, in order to record crucial footage in the event of a crash. But where most dash cams achieve this with a small lithium battery, the Nexus 5S maintains its power with a super capacitor. This is a more reliable solution in extreme hot or cold environments, and it's said to have a longer overall lifespan.

Another key feature is 24/7 parking monitoring. The cameras will automatically wake if motion or impact is detected, then record 10 seconds of video from before the detected movement and 30 seconds after it. This can help protect your vehicle from potential vandalism or theft attempts, as well as car park collisions. Alternatively, the cameras can be configured to record continuously at a low video bit rate or frame rate to conserve memory card space and vehicle battery life. If you want to use any form of parking monitoring, the Nexus 5S (like any other dash cam with parking monitoring) will need to be hard-wired to your vehicle's 12 volt battery. This requires an optional wiring kit from Vantrue, plus the knowledge of how to modify your vehicle's wiring.

Vantrue Nexus 5S: Design & Handling

I've been using a Vantrue E1 in our family's second car for several years. It's a compact, front-only dash cam. By comparison, the Nexus 5S' front camera is much larger - roughly three times wider than the E1. Depending on your car's rear-view mirror location, and if your screen has any tint strip at the top, it can be tricky to find a suitable mounting position for the camera where it won't block your forward vision or be distracting. This is made more difficult as you can't place the camera too close to the rear-view mirror, or else it could block the rear-facing (ultra-wide angle) cabin camera's line of sight. And don't forget that the forward-facing camera also needs to be positioned within the swept area of the windscreen wipers, further limiting its positioning options.

Vantrue provides everything you could need to install the Nexus 5S, right down to adhesive hooks to keep the cabling tidy if you don't fancy trying to hide it behind your car's interior trim panels. The rear camera unit is linked by a 6-meter long USB-C cable which should be long enough for even the largest cars. Vantrue uses USB-C connections at each end, rather than proprietary connectors, which is handy should the supplied cables ever need replacing.

Only the front camera unit requires a dedicated power supply (the rear unit is powered by that single USB link with the front cam). This takes the form of a standard car power adapter that plugs into a 12v/cigarette lighter socket. The adapter has a fixed cable that supplies the front camera with power, but it also features a USB-A socket so you can still charge another device from your 12v outlet.

The Nexus 5S can be controlled via four on-board physical buttons (the screen is not touch sensitive). These work well, and the camera's menu interface is easy to navigate. Alternatively, you can adjust settings or play back recorded footage using the Vantrue mobile app. This connects to the camera via fast 5GHz Wi-Fi, enabling smooth video playback and fast footage downloads should you need to download a crucial recording immediately after a collision. The app can also display driving data over a customized time period, including distance travelled, elevation change, and speed statistics.

Vantrue Nexus 5S: Performance

But regardless of how many extra features are crammed into a dash cam, what matters most is video quality, as that's what your insurers or the authorities will see. I set my front-facing camera to a slightly lower 2560 x 1440 resolution, rather than the maximum 2592 x 1944. The difference in horizontal resolution is negligible, and the extra vertical resolution at 1944p is unnecessary - you'd simply capture more of your own dash board and the sky.

In daylight, footage from the main front-facing camera is very good, with plenty of dynamic range providing decent highlight and shadow clarity. Number plate definition is good for cars directly ahead, and if you freeze a car driving towards you, most of the time its plate will also be readable.

Night driving is a much tougher test of any dash cam, as they all use very small image sensors which can struggle in low light. The Sony IMX675 sensor in the front camera performs well in the dark though, with minimal image noise. Detail well resolved, and passing number plates are just about visible when you freeze the video.

Some front and rear dash cams have a specced-up front camera, but the rear cam is a token effort. That's not the case here, as the Nexus 5S rear camera uses the exact same type of sensor as in the front camera. Consequently image quality is equally good, so if you are unlucky enough to be rear-ended, the offending vehicle's plate should be easily visible before impact, even in the dark.

Both cabin cameras use lower resolution, 1080p Sony IMX662 sensors. Recording quality is less detailed than that from the main cameras, but not by much. I found the backward-facing cabin camera to give pretty decent daytime results, managing to capture interior detail without over exposing detail outside the car.

My forward-facing cabin camera appeared to have some sort of minor focussing issue that manifested as slight horizontal motion blur, even when the vehicle was stopped, although footage was still reasonably clear. Hopefully this issue is confined to my particular camera.

The cabin cameras automatically and reliably switch to infra-red mode when ambient lighting gets too low and then shoot in black and white. Image quality does get noticeably softer though, and don't expect to see much outside your car's windows.

I'm afraid I didn't test the parking mode recording of the Nexus 5S, as I do not want to mess with my car's electrical system. I have no doubt that the camera would perform as advertised though, as the impact detection worked reliably when my car was in motion, triggered by each and every pothole I drove through on my poorly-surfaced local roads (the sensitivity of the impact detection is adjustable).

Vantrue Nexus 5S: Verdict

I've been impressed by the Vantrue Nexus 5S. Its primary, forward-facing camera captures good quality video in all lighting conditions, and the rear-facing camera is equally competent - something that definitely isn't always the case with front+rear dash cams.

Image quality from the dual cabin cameras isn't quite on par with the main two cameras, but cabin footage is still useable, even when the interior of your car is almost completely dark. If you regularly ride share, then the cabin cameras should provide peace of mind. As for the advertised 360-degree coverage of what's outside your vehicle - well, yes, they technically do, but once you factor the large blind spots caused by a car's window pillars, exterior coverage from the cabin cameras isn't great. And at night, very little will be visible through the car's side windows.

It's also worth remembering that the front camera unit is quite large, so depending on your vehicle, it could be tricky to position it so both its front camera and cabin camera can each capture an unobscured view.

As for longevity, I've been using the Vantrue E1 dash cam for over 3 years with no issues whatsoever. Hopefully the Nexus 5S is built to the same standard.

Should you buy the Vantrue Nexus 5S? Ultimately its appeal rests on its cabin cameras, as there are plenty of front+rear (2-channel) dash cams available with similar specs for less money. If you regularly ride share and need to record the inside of your vehicle, then the Nexus 5S a compelling option that performs well and offers decent value for money. But if this was my money, I'd probably spend the same cash on a 4K front and rear 2-channel set-up, or save a few bucks and ditch the cabin cameras.

Alternatives

At the time of writing the Nexus 5s costs $400/£340. The Thinkware Q850 is around the same price, but it only has a single cabin camera, and it's a separate unit. It also requires an additional multiplexer box to manage the separate camera channels, so it's not as convenient as the two-unit Vantrue solution.

The 70mai T800 is another triple camera option like the Q850, again with a single cabin camera, though its front and rear cameras are both 4K. 70mai's pricing is comparable to the Nexus 5S, so you'll need to really value that second cabin camera to choose the Vantrue option.

Since our cars tend to be parked for more than 90 percent of their lives, it makes sense for dash cams to continue to protect them when parked up and switched off. Many already do this, and parking modes are available on dash cams of almost all prices.

But, compared to other aspects like video quality, where now 2K and 4K resolutions are commonplace, the rate of improvement has plateaued, parking modes are an area where there’s still plenty of room for innovation.

The latest dash cam to up the parking mode ante is the new Thinkware U3000 Pro. This dash cam is a two-channel system that ticks all of the usual boxes – front and rear view, 4K and 2K resolutions respectively, wide lenses, HDR, promises of superior night vision, 5 GHz WiFi and an included hardwiring cable.

But what sets this dash cam apart is its use of radar. This is fitted to both the front and rear units, and is used to actively monitor up to five meters from your car while it’s parked. If motion is detected in that zone, to the front or rear, the U3000 Pro fires into life and starts recording.

Does all this make the U3000 Pro my new favorite dash cam? Read on to find out.

Thinkware U3000 Pro: Specifications

Thinkware U3000 Pro: Price

The U3000 Pro is priced from £399 where I live here in the UK and $499 in the US. That already puts it into a high tier of dash cam, but it’s only half the story. If you add in a rear camera and the OBDII cable for continuous power (as tested for this review), you’re looking at £559 or $580 in the US. Strangely, the rear camera adds £130 in the UK but just $50 (£37) in the US.

But, whichever way you split it, this is an expensive product that sits right at the top of the dash cam market – at least in terms of price – rubbing shoulders with other flagships like the Nextbase iQ.

On top of all that, Thinkware also sells a £105 ($150) LTE module, which plugs into the U3000 Pro and gives it a mobile data connection – but remember, you’ll have to pay for a data plan too.

Thinkware U3000 Pro: Design & Handling

Like almost all other Thinkware dash cams, the U3000 Pro has a screenless design that blends in nicely with your car’s interior. Go down the hardwiring route, or neatly tuck the power cable behind interior trim panels, and the dash cam looks like it was installed at the factory, not an aftermarket add-on.

Being a flagship product with high performance, the U3000 Pro is quite large, but its shape helps it keep a relatively low profile against the windshield. There are a few degrees of vertical adjustment for the front-facing camera – enough to accommodate almost any rake of windshield – and the whole unit locks onto the adhesive mount with a sliding motion. It takes up a fair bit of the windshield, but should still fit behind the rear mirror of all but the smallest cars.

The rest of the hardware is par for the dash cam course. There are three status lights, three physical buttons, a microSD card slot and ports for connecting power, LTE and rear dash cam cables. These protrude a fair bit from the rear, so to avoid them fouling the roof lining or mirror housing you should plug them all in before fixing the adhesive mounting plate to the windshield.

The rear camera is much smaller, offers much more vertical adjustability, and has an integrated adhesive pad for fixing to the rear windshield. I’d rather this pad was on a removable mounting plate, because if you ever remove the rear camera it’ll lack the stickiness to fix securely to a new vehicle. This connects to the main unit with a long miniUSB cable. Overall, the U3000 Pro looks and feels like a quality item worthy of its high price tag.

Thinkware U3000 Pro: Performance

The setup process is quick and easy – especially since I wasn’t using the optional LTE module. Like other dash cams, the U3000 Pro will start recording right after you insert the included 64GB microSD card and start your car. But you’ll want to download Thinkware’s smartphone app, connect to the camera via Bluetooth, and go through the proper setup process.

This all went smoothly, and the 5GHz Wi-Fi connection means there’s no annoying delay when adjusting settings from your phone, and video recordings transfer more quickly than with dash cams using a lesser 2.4GHz connection.

Video quality is in line with what you’d expect from a high-end 4K dash cam. Footage is recorded at 3840 x 2160p at 30 frames per second from the front camera, and up to 2K (2560 x 1440p) at the same frame rate from the rear. Both cameras use a Sony Starvis 2 imaging sensor (IMX678 at the front and IMX675 at the rear). The viewing angles are 147 degrees and 156 degrees, respectively.

Above: sample video taken using the Thinkware U3000 Pro's front camera

Recordings are sharp and bright, with good detail and fairly accurate colours. There isn’t too much noise or grain – something many dash cams can suffer from even when they’re equipped with 4K sensors. I wouldn’t describe it as cinematic, but it’s perfectly decent for a dash cam, with important details like vehicle licence plates clearly visible during daylight, for traffic ahead, behind and passing by in the opposite direction.

A key feature of the U3000 Pro is its use of radar. This is used by both the front and rear cameras to detect motion when the vehicle is parked and turned off. This requires either a hardwired installation (where the dash cam draws power from the fuse box), or an OBDII cable, as tested for this review. Set up thus, the Thinkware snaps into life the moment motion is spotted, records a video, then goes back to sleep.

This is a welcome feature, as it’s a step ahead of other dash cam parking modes, which only start recording when motion or an impact is felt. Whereas they’ll only catch the aftermath of a collision or break-in, the U3000 Pro has the potential to record the moments leading up to such an event.

Above: sample video taken using the Thinkware U3000 Pro showing the motion detection feature

In testing, I found it responds quickly. When approaching my car from the passenger side, video was recording well before I’d reached the driver’s door. However, while this impressed, the default radar sensitivity is too high and the camera is woken up by rainfall. Turning the sensitivity down a notch helped address this.

I was impressed by how little power the U3000 Pro seemed to consume. Despite the high radar sensitivity causing the camera to record a few dozen clips of rainfall in a single night, my car started as normal and I’ve seen no issues with low voltage. There are settings to adjust in the app, but it looks like Thinkware has already configured this correctly, at least in my case.

The rear camera’s radar works in exactly the same way, and while the imaging sensor is still good, with 2K resolution at 30 fps, footage isn’t as sharp and clear as from the front. Low-light performance is good from both cameras, with the front in particular retaining detail and lacking grainy noise, even on dimly lit roads at night.

Thinkware’s new Super Night Vision 4.0 tech is doing the work here, along with those Starvis2 sensors, and while I wouldn’t describe the results as game-changing, recordings are essentially as good as you’d ever need them to be. Their clarity and lack of grain is particularly noticeable compared to lesser dash cams. There’s also HDR for both cameras to prevent over- or under-exposure and GPS for adding location and speed data to recordings.

As with all other dash cams, the U3000 Pro’s driver assistance features are best left disabled, since modern cars already cover these bases and they can’t always be relied upon. That said, I left the low-speed front collision warning active, ready to alert me if the vehicle ahead stops unexpectedly.

Thinkware U3000 Pro: Verdict

I’ve always been a fan of Thinkware dash cams, and the U3000 Pro continues that trend. It’s somewhat expensive, but brings something genuinely new (and useful) to a stagnating dash cam market, in the form of radar motion detection. This works well – arguably too well until you turn the sensitivity down – and is a reliable and surprisingly energy-efficient way of recording motion around your parked vehicle.

Add this to the rear camera and Thinkware’s OBDII cable, and you have a 4K+2K dash cam system that installs discreetly, has a constant power supply (without needing to be installed by a professional), and records parking collisions before they happen. Compared to dash cams with parking modes that only fire up after a collision is detected, this feels like a worthwhile upgrade.

Alternatives

Also see our guides to the best front and rear dashcams, and to the best budget dashcams

We're only a week into 2026, but already there's a new world-first in the world of dash cams. Vantrue has revealed the first-ever dash cam to feature a thermal imaging camera. 

The new Vantrue P2 (Pilot 2) dashboard camera can see heat signatures in order to identify pedestrians, animals, objects and potential obstacles up to 200 feet away. Whether you're driving after dark, in fog, or in heavy rain, the thermal imaging camera will detect hazards like sudden animals crossing in front of you, or a pedestrian appearing unexpectedly.

To monitor the thermal camera's video feed while driving, the Vantrue P2 kit includes a 6.25-inch high-brightness touchscreen display. This has the added benefit of built-in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, thereby adding smart-cockpit features to vehicles of any age. A built-in HUD (head-up display) and fatigue alert adds even more value.

In addition to the thermal camera and monitor, the P2 contains a combined front+cabin camera, and a rear camera. The front camera uses an up-to-date Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 sensor running at 2K resolution (1440p), while the cabin camera is Full HD 1080p. The rear camera uses another IMX675 sensor, and it too runs at 1440p, so image quality from the front- and rear-facing cameras should be identical. The cabin camera uses a STARVIS 2 IMX662 sensor, and all three cameras feature HDR to help them cope in high-contrast situations. STARVIS 2 sensors are Sony's latest image sensors designed for surveillance use (including dash cams) and promise superior low light image quality.

The Vantrue P2 4-camera dash cam also offers Wi-Fi 6 high-speed data transfer for faster video reviewing and file download, and it supports microSD cards of up to 1TB. 24/7 smart parking monitoring is also available, albeit with the use of a hardwire kit.

We await details of pricing and availability for the Vantrue P2, but this could shape up to be one of the most versatile and value-packed dash cams of 2026.

Check out our full guide to the best dash cams

DDPAI is launching a new flagship dash cam: Z90 Master. Incorporating front, rear and interior cameras, this triple camera bundle features Sony's latest STARVIS 2 IMX678 image sensors in the front and rear cameras. Both run at 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution, meaning that unlike many front+rear dash cams, the Z90 Master's rear camera image quality should be a match for the front cam's footage. The cabin camera runs at 3K (2880 x 1620) resolution, making this the first-ever 4K+4K+3K dash cam set-up.

All three cameras are HDR-enabled, promising reduced glare and sharper video, even in harsh lighting or night-time driving. The cabin camera is infra-red enabled, so it can record clear images of the vehicle's occupants when the cabin is dark, and it boasts AI portrait optimization for more natural facial rendition. With its 148-degree field of view, the cabin camera isn't just useful for recording those riding inside the car; it's also able to video through the side windows, thereby covering angles that the front and rear cameras cannot. DDPAI's πlink system promises seamlessly connectivity between all three channels and with low latency.

An unusual feature among dash cams is the Z90 Master's ability to record not just to a normal microSD card, but also to built-in eMMC memory, thereby eliminating any possible file-saving issues due to SD card corruption. The camera also contains a super-capacitor that enables it to record crucial footage should power from the vehicle be cut in the event of an accident. Many dash cams us a built-in Li-ion battery for this function, but a supercapacitor is less vulnerable to extreme summer heat.

As you'd expect from a high-end dash cam, the Z90 Master is capable of 24/7 parking monitoring: radar movement detection will wake the cameras and start recording within 3 seconds. Alternatively, the cameras can also record in time-lapse mode to save storage space and preserve battery life (an optional hardwire kit is required to enable parking monitoring).

5GHz Wi-Fi + DDPAI's Wi-Fi Turbo technology enables faster wireless connection and video transfers when you want to download footage to your smart device for review. 4G connectivity (an optional 4G module is required) allows real-time remote viewing and push notifications, keeping you connected when away from your vehicle. Built-in GPS records data such as location, speed and time, while also offering driver-assist alerts including Forward Vehicle Start Alert and Driver Fatigue Alert. There's even voice control: simply say “Take Photo” and the camera automatically saves a 10-second clip (5 seconds before + 5 seconds after) of your chosen moment, all hands-free.

The DDPAI Z90 Master 3-channel dash cam kit is officially launched at CES in January, but is available to buy now priced at $379. Add the optional 4G module and you'll pay $409, while the cameras+hardwire kit costs $429.

Thinkware has launched a new flagship dash cam: ARC 900. This front + rear dash cam pairing captures 4K footage from the front camera at 30fps, and 2K QHD (1440p) video from the rear cam, also at 30fps. Both cameras use Sony's latest STARVIS 2 image sensors for high image quality, with Thinkware's Dual HDR technology enabling precise contrast and color, whether in blinding daylight or tough night-time conditions (the latter being further assisted by Super Night Vision tech to reduce image noise). Alternatively, if you're willing to sacrifice some resolution, both cameras are capable of high frame 60fps recording. Each camera also offers an extra-wide field of view (146 degrees front, 160 degrees rear).

But it's not just video quality where the new ARC 900 brings premium performance: connectivity is also top class, with 5GHz Wi-Fi for fast footage downloads, plus built-in GPS for location tracking, and USB-C for data transfer and easy set-up.

Not only can the ARC 900 record a collision, it's also able to help your everyday driving. Smart safety features like Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS) with Forward Vehicle Start Alert (FVSA) and Traffic Light Change Alert (TLCA) can alert you when it's safe to proceed in traffic, in the event that your distracted while stopped. The ARC 900 also offers multiple parking modes, including a low-frame-rate timelapse mode to preserve battery life and reduce data storage consumption, plus a motion/impact detection mode whereby the cameras only records in the event of a disturbance (hardwiring is required to enable recording when the vehicle is switched off).

The front camera features a bright 3.5-inch, 480x320 IPS LCD display for instant video reviewing and simple settings control, though settings can also be adjusted on the go through the use of voice commands.

The Thinkware ARC 900 dash cam is available now, priced at USD $419.99. For a limited time you can get a $60 coupon discount at Amazon, bringing the price down to $359.99. The price includes a 64 GB microSD card, constant-power cable, installation tools, an optional Circular Polarizing Lens (CPL) and Bluetooth Remote accessories.

Buy now at Amazon US

Thinkware has announced what could possibly be the world's smartest dash cam, the U3000 PRO. This dual front and rear dash cam features Sony's latest STARVIS 2 image sensors in both cameras: the front cam uses a 4K STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensor, and the rear a 2K QHD (1440p) IMX675. STARVIS 2 sensors are designed specifically for surveillance applications like dash cams and are claimed to deliver superior dynamic range and low light image clarity. The wide 152-degree front cam field of vision and 128-degree rear camera viewing angle also help to minimize blind spots.

But arguably the most impressive thing about the U3000 PRO is its RADAR Parking Protection with pre- and post-event recording. This uses both cameras to scan for movement up to 5 meters away from the front and rear of your vehicle. Should a person or another vehicle be detected in this pre-set range, the cameras will immediately wake and start recording. The system is claimed to provide up to 300 hours of parking coverage.

Alternatively, the U3000 PRO can instead be used in timelapse mode, whereby the cameras will record at 2fps to save files space, or there's Energy Saving Mode 2.0 which will initiate recording in parking mode only when an impact is detected, resulting in a potential 2-channel standby time of over 20 days. Naturally, to use the dash cam in any of these parking modes, the U3000 PRO will require a hardwire cable or OBD II Power Cable.

Built-in GPS provides live location and speed monitoring, while dual-band 5 GHz Wi-Fi enables fast downloading of footage in the even of a collision. This works in conjunction with the new Thinkware Connected app that provides you with real-time alerts if the camera's parking mode detects motion or impact, and it lets you dial into the camera to view its feed (an optional LTE module is required).

Other advanced features include an Advanced Driver Assistance suite comprising Front Vehicle Departure Alert, Forward Collision Warning System and Traffic Signal Alert (available in U.S. & Canada). The U3000 PRO is even able to warn you of speed and red-light cameras.

“The U3000 Pro builds on everything that made the U3000 one of our most popular models," the manufacturer explains "adding extended radar detection, superior night vision and advanced connected features".

The Thinkware U3000 Pro Front & Rear dash cam is available now, priced at $579.99 / £479 including either a hardwire kit or OBD II power cable.

See our full Thinkware U3000 Pro review

VIOFO has launched a new accessibly-priced, yet feature-packed 4K dashcam. The A119M Pro is based around Sony's IMX678 STARVIS 2 1/1.8" 4K image sensor. This is a sensor designed specifically for use in surveillance applications and is claimed to offer wider dynamic range and improved low light performance over previous sensors. Its 4K resolution increases the likelihood that fine details such as license plates will be more easy to read, while the sensor's high dynamic range should further enhance detail in high-contrast environments like tunnels and backlit conditions. The f/1.8 140-degree wide-angle lens is said to generate minimal distortion, and a circular polarizing lens is employed to reduce windshield glare and reflections.

Read more: The best dash cams in 2025

In addition to its cutting-edge imaging hardware, the A119M Pro gets next-gen Wi-Fi 6 connectivity that delivers up to 3x faster file transfers (30 MB/s) than Wi-Fi 5. This should translate to a one-minute 4K clip downloading in just 10 seconds, should you need to share evidence quickly. Alternatively, there's also a physical USB 2.0 Type-C connection for wired data transfer and applying firmware updates. Quad-mode GPS comprising GPS, BEIDOU, GALILEO, and GLONASS satellite connectivity enables precise recording of location, speed, and time data, which can be viewed during video playback via the VIOFO App or VIOFO PC Player.

The A119M Pro can be controlled via the onboard buttons and screen menus, or the dash cam will respond to voice commands to start or stop recording, take photos or to check the device status. The A119M Pro can also speak back with status updates, alerts, and memory notifications.

Add the optional HK6 hardwire kit and the A119M Pro can also protect your vehicle when you leave it parked. Auto event detection records 15 seconds before and 30 seconds after movement or impact is detected, or you can choose time-lapse mode, which records continuously at 1–10 fps with low bitrate continuous audio to save storage and power. You can also set a timer to define the length of parking recording needed, or for extra peace of mind the hardwire kit can cut power to the dash cam when low battery voltage is detected, so you'll never return to a flat battery.

The VIOFO A119M Pro is available now, with a retail price of $189.99/£190. For a limited time only it's being offered with a $30/£30 discount at $159.99/£160. Buy direct from VIOFO.

There's a new industry-first in the world of dash cams! No, hear me out, this is actually pretty special. Baseus, a brand more associated with power banks, headphones and security cameras, has launched a new dash cam offering solar-powered parking monitoring.

Until now, if you wanted your dash cam to continue recording while your car was turned off and parked, you generally needed to install a hardwire kit, enabling the camera to be powered directly from your car's 12 volt battery. Though effective, this was a time-consuming hassle, requiring knowledge of a vehicle's electrical system beyond the scope of many DIY installers.

But the PrimeTrip VD1 Pro dash cam is different. It combines a discreet, high-efficiency solar panel with an onboard lithium battery, allowing the camera to generate and manage its own power. Despite the small size of the solar panel, Baseus claims up to 14 days of standby parking monitoring. This is made possible by the energy-efficient parking mode: when motion or impact is detected, the system automatically wakes and records simultaneous 30-second clips from both front and rear cameras, storing up to 20 incident events (a total of 40 clips).

The dual camera bundle includes a 4K front-facing dash cam with a wide 170-degree field of view. It's based around Sony's IMX335 STARVIS sensor - a sensor designed specifically for monitoring and security cameras, with real-time HDR processing to reduce noise, even in challenging lighting conditions. The rear-facing camera has a Full HD (1080p) resolution and a 120-degree field of view. Both cameras can be paired with the Baseus mobile app for easy settings adjustment and clip review/download over a 5GHz Wi-Fi 6 connection.

The Baseus PrimeTrip VD1 Pro front and rear dashcam set is available now at Amazon, with an MSRP of $169.99.

The Thinkware U1000 has been one of my favorite dash cams for years now. Ever since it arrived back in 2021, the U1000 has proven itself to be a highly capable 4K dash cam, with a screen-less design that makes it look like a factory-fitted part of your car instead of an aftermarket accessory.

Four years on, and the U1000 Plus is here as a successor – but it’s actually a bit more complicated than that. Because, while the latest model has new features, like Bluetooth and HDR video, Thinkware has reduced the price and fitted lower-spec imaging sensors to both the front and optional rear camera.

So, while the price is more palatable and new features are always welcome, the U1000 Plus isn’t the obvious upgrade it seems, especially if you already own the older Thinkware U1000.

Is the new U1000 Plus still worth buying if you’re in the market for a high-end 4K dash cam? Read on to find out.

Thinkware U1000 Plus: Specifications

Thinkware U1000 Plus: Price

Despite being four years newer, Thinkware has actually lowered the price of the U1000 Plus compared to its U1000 predecessor. The old model was £300 on its own, or £410 when bundled with the rear camera – but the new U1000 Plus is just £249 / $300, or £339 / $400 with the rear camera.

Both variants come with a 64GB microSD card included – a kind gesture from Thinkware that is increasingly rare among dash cam makers.

The U1000 Plus comes with a hardwiring kit as standard, which is used to power the dash cam from your car’s fuse box. This is a more complex installation than simply plugging into a USB port or the 12-volt lighter socket, but it gives the dash cam a constant source of power, even when the car is switched off. Since I frequently switch between dash cams for testing purposes, I installed the U1000 Plus using Thinkware’s 12-volt power adapter, which is sold separately for around £20 / $30.

I’m impressed to see Thinkware has lowered its prices, but the change of imaging sensors means this shouldn't be taken entirely at face value.

Thinkware U1000 Plus: Design & Handling

I’ve grown to really appreciate this screen-less design of dashcams like this U1000 Plus. Dash cams with displays have their place, and it can be handy to quickly dive into a sub-menu to change a setting, or check the camera’s point-of-view. But for the vast majority of the time these screens are best switched off, so not having one at all – and benefitting from a lower-profile design as a result – makes a lot of sense.

The way the U1000 Plus mounts tight against the windshield gives it a clean, unfussy and factory-fit aesthetic. Opt for a professional installation (or do a careful job of hiding the wires behind your car’s interior trim) and it can be a seriously tidy dash cam with minimal mess.

The camera adjusts horizontally to compensate for various windshield angles, while the rear houses buttons for power, Wi-Fi and microphone mute, plus a big central record button to manually save the most recent portion of footage. This is handy for when you’ve witnessed an incident ahead, but not been physically involved.

Mounting the U1000 Plus to your windshield is the work of a moment. The included mounting plate sticks to the glass with an adhesive pad, then the dash cam itself slides onto the plate, locking into place. Drivers in right-hand-drive countries take note: the dash cam slides onto the plate from the left, so you can’t mount it right next to your central mirror, or there won’t be enough space to slide it off again. Either mount it further to the right of the mirror, or on the left-hand side instead.

Thinkware’s included rear camera is the common cylindrical shape you’ve probably seen before. It sticks to the rear windshield with an adhesive pad and connects to the front camera with a microUSB cable.

Thinkware U1000 Plus: Performance

Like other 4K dash cams, the U1000 Plus’ resolution doesn’t automatically mean it produces pin-sharp, cinematic footage. Colours look fairly muted, especially on an overcast day, and details aren’t quite as sharp as I’d like from a 4K sensor.

Footage recorded by the U1000 Plus is still perfectly usable, but it lacks the clarity and general wow-factor of video shot by other recent 4K dash cams, like the (admittedly more expensive) Viofo A329. Vehicle registration plates are legible at short distances – but, again, Thinkware’s latest dash cam lacks the clarity of some of its closest rivals.

Recordings are smooth, and you’re sure to capture enough detail to see who’s to blame in a collision. But video shot by the U1000 Plus doesn’t pop the way I hoped it might.

That said, HDR (a part of Thinkware’s Super Night Vision 3.0 technology) is a welcome feature that helps retain detail in harsh lighting. With HDR enabled, your recordings are more likely to show license plates at night without them being blown out by the reflection of your own headlights. I also like how wide the rear camera is, at 160 degrees, but limiting the secondary camera to 1080p instead of 4K, or even 2K, is a little disappointing. Recordings from the rear camera are a little muddy, and you’ll really need to keep your rear windshield clean to help mitigate against it. Even at just a couple of car lengths’, license plates become illegible.

In better news, I found the set up and installation process to be very easy. The U1000 Plus connected quickly and reliably to my smartphone via the app, and it took just a few minutes to set everything up. That speedy connection is especially useful here, given the Thinkware’s lack of a display means you have to adjust settings via the app.

As with most other dash cams, the U1000 Plus has a parking mode. This is enabled when installed using either the included hardwiring kit or Thinkware’s OBD-II cable, sold separately. Both give the dash cam a constant source of power from your car’s battery, ensuring it’s ready to start recording the moment nearby motion or a parking collision is detected. A timelapse mode is also available while parked, which captures footage at two frames per second.

Integrated GPS is table stakes for today’s high-end dash cams. This adds speed and locational data to your recordings, and can be used in conjunction with a data base to alert you to local red light cameras and speed cameras.

Lastly, while the U1000 Plus has a suite of driver assistance features – like forward collision and lane departure warnings – I prefer to leave these switched off, which they are by default, since they lack reliability and tend to annoy more than aid the driver.

Thinkware U1000 Plus: Verdict

Given the performance of the original U1000, I had high hopes for the new U1000 Plus. But, four years on, Thinkware’s latest model struggles to improve on what was already a winning formula. The U1000 Plus is perfectly good, and the reduced price is very welcome, but it does little to move the game on from its predecessor.

That said, I like the design of the U1000 Plus. Its lack of a display means it takes up less windshield space than some rivals, while offering a neat installation that looks as if it was installed at the factory. The rear camera requires a bit more work, since the cable needs routing behind interior panels, but this is the same with all two-channel systems.

If you own the U1000, then there’s no need to upgrade to this model. But if you’re in the market for your first dash cam, or want to replace a lesser model with something better, the U1000 Plus is a good place to look – especially if you want a clean installation and no display.

✅ Buy it if...

• You want a factory-fit finish: Take the hardwiring approach, carefully hide all the cables, and you’ll have a dash cam that looks like the car maker fitted it themselves. This is especially beneficial for cars with small cabins and shallow windshields.

• You prefer a hardwire installation: The U1000 Plus comes with a hardwiring kit as standard, rather than a 12-volt power cable. This makes it best for drivers who want a permanent installation, and who intend to use the dash cam’s various parking modes.

• You’ll make use of extra features: Some dash cams major in simplicity. But if you want one that offers much more, including various parking modes and a suite of driver assistance functions, this is the dash cam for you.

❌ Don't buy it if...

• You need the very best image quality: It’s got 4K, but the U1000 Plus fails to leave much of an impression, especially since the four-year-old U1000 original was so good. The rear-facing 1080p camera is especially mediocre.

• You want a screen: If you prefer your dash cams with a screen, then you’re best going elsewhere. The slim, factory-fit design of the U1000 Plus will tick boxes for some buyers, but the lack of a screen means you’ll need to fire up the phone app to adjust settings.

• You expected an upgrade on the U1000: The new model gains HDR and Bluetooth, but video quality is broadly the same as its four-year-old predecessor. The price has dropped, which is great news for newcomers, but for owners of the original U1000 there is little reason to upgrade.

Alternatives

BlackVue has launched a trio of new premium dash cams with enhanced image quality and updated power cables. The flagship offerings are the DR970X Plus II and DR970X LTE Plus II. They pack an 8.4-megapixel Sony STARVIS 2 image sensor that captures 4K (3840 x 2160) video at 30fps and is capable of HDR recording to maximise detail in high contrast lighting. The optional rear camera utilizes a Sony STARVIS sensor and records in 1080p. The DR970X also benefits from completely new Image Signal Processor (ISP) tuning, which is said to offer "superior clarity by preserving details in both bright highlights and deep shadows, which is crucial for varying driving environments." Both the DR970X Plus II and DR970X LTE Plus II feature USB-C connectivity and come bundled with a 12V cigarette lighter power adaptor with 2x USB-C outlets. A hardwiring cable kit is also included as standard, to enable surveillance recording while the vehicle is parked.

The cheaper DR770X II is equipped with a Sony STARVIS image sensor and records Full HD (1920 x 1080) footage at 60fps. Like the DR970X Plus II, the DR770X can be paired with a 1080p rear-facing camera. Although the DR770X II lacks the same HDR capability as the DR970X Plus II, it does boast seamless cloud compatibility, native Parking Mode, plus built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.

The new cameras also feature:

• BlackVue Cloud Connectivity: Stay connected to your vehicle from anywhere with features like Remote Live View, Push Notifications for impacts, Live Event Upload to the Cloud, and Two-way Voice Communication.
• Native Parking Mode: All models support native Parking Mode with built-in voltage monitoring to protect your vehicle's battery. The included hardwiring cable simplifies installation.
• Seamless Pairing: Effortless setup and connection to the BlackVue App for easy management of settings and video files.
• Integrated GPS & Wi-Fi: Built-in GPS logs location and speed data, while dual-band (2.4-5GHz) Wi-Fi enables fast video downloads to your smartphone and seamless Cloud connectivity.
• Optional LTE Connectivity (CM100GLTE): For the DR770X II and DR970X Plus II, an optional LTE module provides hassle-free Cloud access. The DR970X LTE Plus II features built-in 4G LTE with a Nano SIM card reader and a Mobile Hotspot Function for up to five devices.
• Optimized File Management: Features Event Files Overwrite Protection, Adaptive Format-Free File Management for improved stability, and SD Card Failure Alerts.
• 1TB microSD card support.

The BlackVue DR970X Plus II and DR970X LTE Plus II are available to buy now, with front+rear camera bundles priced from $463.99 and $525.99, respectively. The DR770X II twin-camera kit can be had for $347.99.

Viofo has launched a multi-camera dash cam system designed to cover a multitude of recording demands and use cases. The centrepiece of the system is the front-facing A329S wide-angle camera. This records in 4K at a smooth 60fps in order to capture details in fast-moving subjects. It utilizes Sony's STARVIS 2, 8MP IMX678 1/1.8" sensor - an image sensor designed specifically for security and monitoring in high-contrast and low light scenarios.

Fast Wi-Fi 6 connectivity promises up to 30MB/s wireless transfer speeds for fast video previewing, downloading and sharing - according to Viofo, this lets you download a one-minute 4K recording in under 10 seconds. Alternatively, there’s also a USB 3.0 port for wired video transfers and firmware updates. The A329S front cam even supports recording to an external SSD, should you frequently do long-distance driving which would otherwise easily fill the internal microSD card.

Extra features include smart voice control, with simple voice commands triggering functions like recording, taking still photos, and enabling/disabling Wi-Fi. The camera can also notify you of settings changes and errors via spoken messages. GPS tracking automatically tracks your location, speed and current date/time.

If you purchase the optional hardwire kit, the A329 front cam can also record while your car is parked. In order to save both battery power and video storage space, footage captured while the vehicle is parked can be recorded at a lower frame rate, or by using Auto Event Detection. This setting means the camera will detect a moving object, automatically start recording, and saves footage from 15 seconds before and 30 seconds after the event.

The A329S front camera can be purchased individually, but for greater surveillance versatility, it’s best teamed with one or even two additional cameras to cover multiple viewpoints.

Other cameras in the A329 range include a rear camera that records at 2K (2560 x 1440) resolution and, like the front camera, supports HDR capture for improved clarity in low light and high-contrast environments.

For even greater recording coverage, you can add a third camera to the system, like a dedicated telephoto camera. A regular front-facing dashcam has to have a wide field of view in order to capture the full width of the road ahead. But even with a high quality image sensor and 4K recording resolution, it’s not always easy to read a licence plate of a distant vehicle. That’s where the A329T telephoto camera comes in. Positioned alongside the main front-facing camera, this 2560 x 1440 cam provides 4x optical zoom, giving you a clearer, magnified recording of the central portion of the front view. This front-facing camera pairing gives you the best of both worlds: a wide viewing angle, and the ability to resolve distant details.

If you’d rather have in-camera camera coverage, there’s the 210° ultra-wide angle cabin camera. Ideal for family cars or ride-sharing, this 2K camera not only captures what’s going on inside your vehicle, it’s wide enough to see outside the side windows, covering any blind spots missed by the front- and rear-facing cameras.

Finally, for vans and trucks that require a rear-facing camera but don’t have a rear window in which to mount one, Viofo also offers a water-proof, externally mounted rear camera for commercial vehicles. This A329WW camera can come supplied with 3M, 8M, 10M, and 15M cable options to suit various vehicles sizes, and you can order a three-camera pack containing the front dashcam and two waterproof rear cameras, allowing you to position a rear-facing camera on each side of your vehicle. The waterproof camera shoots at 2560 x 1440 resolution, and to ensure you get clear coverage even in the rain, the lens has a hydrophobic coating to bead away water droplets.

The Viofo A329S is available to buy now as a single camera for $330/£330. Alternatively, you can spec it as part of a two- or even three-camera bundle. A variety of combinations are available, depending on whether you want rear, telephoto, cabin, or waterproof cameras. Prices top out at around $486/£486 for a three-camera bundle.

The 70mai 4K Omni is a dash cam with a difference. It attaches to the front windshield as normal, but instead of only facing forward, this motorized dash cam can spin through 340 degrees. This helps it record to the sides and into the interior, as well as straight ahead.

While this function is less useful when driving, it comes into its own when parked, since the camera can rotate to follow and record suspicious movement, such as a person loitering around your parked car.

It also packs a Starvis 2 imaging sensor with 4K resolution, HDR, and the option for 60 frames per second. Optional extras include a rear camera and a hard-wiring kit that includes a 4G antenna and SIM card slot, giving the Omni its own data connection for remote surveillance and app notifications, alerting you to parking collisions from afar.

The Omni 4K ticks a lot of boxes and offers plenty of extra features to help it stand apart from other dash cams at this price point. But there’s a lot of setup required, which may put off buyers wanting a set-and-forget system. Is this rotating dash cam right for you? Read on to find out.

70mai 4K Omni: Specifications

70mai 4K Omni: Price

Updated for 2025 with a higher, 4K resolution, the 70mai Omni dash cam is priced from $279.99 / £267.79 for the front-facing camera on its own. It is also available with a Full HD rear-facing camera for $310.99 / £306.89. Optional extras also include a hardwiring kit with integrated 4G antenna and SIM card slot, which costs $60 / £42.29.

Unlike other dash cam companies like Nextbase and Nexar, 70mai doesn’t offer a data subscription of its own. Instead, to unlock all of the Omni’s 4G-connected features, you’ll have to pay for your own data-only SIM card.

Given the specification, motorized movement, and option for 4G connectivity, the 70mai Omni seems like decent value for money, especially when some of today’s 4K dash cams can cost more than $400 or even $500.

70mai 4K Omni: Design & Handling

The 70mai Omni is a curiously designed dash cam. Instead of being wide but shallow, 70mai has opted for a narrow but tall design that takes up more vertical space than many other dash cams. This shouldn’t pose a problem in larger vehicles, but if you drive a smaller car or have a car with an especially shallow windshield, the 70mai Omni is going to take up a fair bit of space.

It connects to the windshield with an adhesive pad stuck to a circular mounting plate. This plate can be removed from the dash cam with a twist, and the top of the camera is hinged to offer some vertical adjustability. It’s nicely integrated, but feels a bit too smart for its own good, especially when compared to smaller and far simpler windshield mounts from the likes of Garmin, which offer more adjustability yet take up less space.

There’s a small, 1.7-inch display on the rear, three buttons for navigating the simple interface, ports for power and connecting the optional rear-facing cameras, and a microSD card slot.

70mai 4K Omni: Performance

Setting up the Omni is quick and easy, especially if you use the included USB cable and 12-volt lighter socket adapter. This way, it plugs in like any other dash cam. If you opt for the hardwiring kit, you’ll have to summon your DIY skills or call out a professional, since for this type of installation, power comes from your vehicle’s fuse box. Furthermore, if you go for the 4G hardwiring kit, you’ll need to source a SIM card and set up a data plan to get the Omni connected to the phone network. In the US, you’re limited to AT&T 4G and Telstra.

It only took me about five minutes to fit the Omni to my windshield, download the 70mai app, and connect the dash cam to my smartphone. This can often be a stumbling block for dash cams, but not this one. After just a few minutes, I had the Omni recording, and I’d also had time to skim through the various settings pages in the app.

Highlights here include video resolution, which defaults to 4K with HDR at 30 fps. The alternative is 4K at 60 fps, but without HDR. Normally, I would suggest going for the higher frame rate, since that can produce high-quality footage, especially when you need to pause recordings to pick out details like license plates. However, HDR does an even better job of pulling out details, especially when it comes to license plates at night, which are often over-exposed by your headlamps. Here, with HDR chosen instead of a higher frame rate, such details remain legible.

Attaching a rear camera lowers the resolution, as it often does with two-channel dash cams, from 4K to Full HD.

On to the video footage itself, and I was initially very impressed. 70mai has clearly thought about what drivers actually want from dash cam footage. So, while the skies look blown out and over-exposed, this tweak to the HDR means there’s extra detail in the lower portion of the frame where it matters far more. I’d always take a white, blown-out sky if it meant the shadows around vehicles and pedestrians were lifted, and that’s the case here. It’s a somewhat heavy-handed use of HDR, but no one expects their dash cam recordings to be cinematic. Detail matters above all else, and it’s clear 70mai knows this.

The Omni’s footage also scores points for being incredibly sharp, thanks to that 4K resolution. There’s loads of detail, making it easy to read license plates, street signs, and everything else you want dash cam footage to capture precisely.

Less impressive is the Omni’s stability. I drive a fairly firm car, but haven’t encountered dash cam footage this shaky for quite some time. Even the smallest bump in the road causes the footage to shudder horizontally, with some blurring of the footage as a result. Again, I don’t expect cinematic quality. This isn’t an IMAX camera. But a bit of optical stabilisation would have been welcome.

Now for the Omni’s motorized, 360-degree party piece. The camera can rotate with voice commands, quickly turning to the left, the right, or backwards to face the cabin. It’s a neat trick, but I’m not sure how often most drivers would do this. I’m a car guy, so I might ask the camera to spin around and shoot footage of something interesting in the next lane – or, more seriously, you could ask it to face the driver’s side when interacting with a police officer.

But these feel like fringe cases. A better example is when the Omni is installed with a hardwiring cable. This lets you enable the parking mode, which then turns the camera to follow (and record) suspicious movement while your car is turned off. Here, the Omni’s motion starts to make more sense. A spotted subject is tracked and a red status ring illuminates around the dash cam itself, acting as a useful visual deterrent.

This footage isn’t uploaded using the dash cam’s data connection, but like all other recordings it is saved to a 128GB microSD card 70mai includes in the box. The 4G connection also alerts you, via a phone notification, when a collision is detected while parked, and you can view a live stream from the dash cam.

It’s a good feature, and one many dash cam purchases will see value in. However, there is an obvious shortfalling. The optional rear camera does not respond to nearby movement in the way the main unit does, so if someone approaches your car from behind they won’t be recorded and you won’t be alerted. If they break a rear window, the main unit might detect this and start recording, along with the rear camera, but that isn’t guaranteed.

70mai 4K Omni: Verdict

The 70mai 4K Omni produces excellent video and has a lot of scope for offering extra services, like live streaming and a motorized, 360-degree view. It’s a clever dash cam with an innovative design and a feature set that helps it stand out from many of its rivals, even at this slightly elevated price point.

I was especially impressed by the speed of the setup process and the sharpness of the 4K footage this dash cam produces. Recordings are pin-sharp and packed full of detail, thanks to HDR and the 4K sensor. While those with firm-riding cars will notice a fair bit of horizontal shake, this doesn’t rob footage of its ability to clearly show what’s going on.

The parking mode with 360-degree movement and live notifications certainly sets this dash cam apart, but it also requires 70mai’s 4G-enabled hardwiring kit, plus a SIM card and the monthly cost of a data plan. It’s a bit of effort, and extra expense, and while it still won’t spot someone loitering around the back of your car instead of the front, I can certainly see the appeal.

Alternatives

The X210 sits in the upper-middle segment of Garmin’s latest dash cam range. Of the four models to pick from, only the flagship X310 (which I awarded five stars) is above the X210, while below it you’ll find the X110 (four stars) and the entry-level Mini 3 (4.5 stars).

The latest model finds itself among a family of high-achievers – and, truth be told, Garmin’s dash cams have all performed brilliantly for years now, so the bar was always going to be high.

Does the X210 live up to expectations? On paper it looks promising, thanks to its 1440p video resolution with HDR, its integrated polarizing lens filter, and the presence of both Wifi and GPS. There’s also a screen on the back, voice control and several driver assistance features, all packed into a compact body with a tiny windshield mount.

Is the Garmin X210 the right dash cam for you, or should you consider an alternative? Read on to find out.

{Product Name}: Specifications

Garmin Dash Cam X210: Price

The X210 carries a retail price of $299.99 / £259.99. This puts it above the X110 ($199.99 / £199.99) and below the flagship X310 ($399.99 / £349.99). Garmin’s dash cam prices have crept up in recent years, with the latest generation starting to feel quite expensive when compared to rivals from lesser-known brands.

Optional extras from Garmin include a pair of constant power cables – one that plugs into your car’s OBD port, and the other attaching to the fuse box – each priced at $49.99 / £44.99. You’ll also have to provide your own microSD card, since there isn’t one in the box, and optional cloud video storage with Garmin’s Vault service requires a subscription.

Simply put, the biggest differences between this and the cheaper X110 are its improved resolution and frame rate, and a marginally more premium design.

Garmin Dash Cam X210: Design & Handling

Garmin’s dash cams have looked broadly the same for years now. Roughly the size and shape of a small matchbox, the X210 measures 7.0 x 4.2 x 1.9 cm – exactly the same as both the X110 and X310.

The rear houses a 2.4 in display, while there are four buttons on the side for navigating around the user interface (the display is not a touchscreen), and on the bottom you’ll find a microSD card slot with a maximum capacity of 512 GB. There’s a USB-C port on the side for power, and the lens with its integrated polarizing filter protrudes from the front.

Garmin’s familiar windshield mount makes a return, with its simple ball-and-socket connection that offers lots of adjustability and a tight grip. Unlike the X110, where the mount has to be stuck to your car windshield with an included adhesive pad, the X210 comes with a magnet. This sticks to the windshield, then attaches magnetically to the mount itself. It’s a fantastic bit of design and means only the tiny, coin-sized magnet remains on the windshield when the dash cam isn’t in use.

Garmin Dash Cam X210: Performance

Installing and setting up the X210 is just like any other Garmin dash cam. You simply fix it to your windshield, plug it in, select your language, then set the time and date, and you’re done. You don’t even have to download the Garmin Drive smartphone app, hand over your email address, or create an account.

That said, the app can be useful for adjusting the dash cam’s settings and transferring recordings wirelessly to your phone. And as far as dash cam apps go, Garmin’s is a good one; it’s nicely designed, easy to use and can be used to stream live video from the dash cam, even when you’re away from the vehicle. That said, you’ll need a Garmin Vault subscription and an internet connection (like a Wifi hotspot in your car) for the dash cam itself to make that work.

Video quality is what matters most with a dash cam, and to that end the X210 performs well. Daytime footage is sharp and smooth, with a good amount of detail and minimal pixelization. To my eyes, the footage is better than that of the cheaper X110, which records at the lower resolution of 1080p (1920 x 1080).

Nighttime footage captured by the Garmin X210 is also good, but details like vehicle licence plates and street signs are mostly unreadable. Realistically (and just like the X110), only the licence plate of the vehicle right in front of you can be read clearly. This is something many other dash ams struggle with too, though, so shouldn’t be considered a deal-breaker.

By default, the X210 records 1440p video at 30 frames per second with HDR enabled. Dig into the settings pages though, and this can be changed to 1080p at 60 fps and no HDR, or 1080p at 30 fps with HDR. Which is best comes down to personal preference, as some users will value a higher frame rate over a higher resolution. I am in that category, and since there isn’t a huge difference between 1080p and 1440p, I’d pick the 60 fps option. Doubling the frame rate makes your recordings smoother, and means they remain smooth when slowed down – handy if you need to closely analyze footage and use it as evidence of blame after a collision.

As with the Garmin X110 and Garmin X310, this model has an integrated polarizing lens filter. In theory this helps to remove dashboard and car interior reflections from the windshield, but since the filter can’t be removed I can’t say for sure how much of a difference it makes. That said, I’d rather it be there than not. So too the GPS antenna, which adds speed and location data to all of your recordings.

Unlike practically all other dash cams, Garmin’s have a battery. Good for about 10 minutes of use, this means you can fire up the X210 and use it for a short journey without plugging it in. This could be handy if you want to use the dash cam briefly in a second car (it comes with a spare magnet for the windshield mount), and also means it has enough power to safely save footage and shut down properly when you turn your car off. I also found that the battery means you can turn on the X210 and adjust its settings from home, without first plugging it into your car.

Like other Garmins, the X210 has a suite of driver assistance features, including lane-departure and forward-collision warnings, local red light camera and speed camera alerts, and a ‘go’ alert that beeps when the vehicle in front sets off. These have featured on Garmin dash cams for a few years now, but I’ve never found them particularly useful or reliable, and prefer to turn them all off. You might want to keep the forward-collision warning on if your car doesn’t have such a system of its own, but in practice – and especially if you drive in dense city traffic – you’ll likely find it annoying.

There’s a parking mode, where the camera quickly turns on and starts recording if a bump is detected, but like with other dash cams you’ll need to buy a constant power cable to use this.

Lastly, recordings can be automatically uploaded to Garmin’s cloud storage service (as well as being saved to your microSD card). This is called Vault, costs $9.99 / £9.99 a month or $99.99 / £99.99 a year, and uses your smartphone’s 4G/5G data connection to upload footage. I personally wouldn’t pay for this, as pulling recordings off the memory card is no effort and it prevents your phone from working with wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Some drivers will like the peace of mind automatic uploads bring, but it’s a luxury rather than a necessity.

Garmin Dash Cam X210: Verdict

Garmin’s dash cams have been among the best for years now, and that’s still true with the latest collection. Given its price and specification, I imagine more drivers will buy this mid-range X210 than the cheaper X110. The latter’s price and specification is too close to the much smaller Garmin Mini 3, in my opinion, while the X210 offers a couple of spec bumps (resolution, frame rate, magnetic windshield mount) to feel like the better all-round package.

It still isn’t cheap, and there are plenty of more affordable dash cams to pick from, including Garmin’s own Mini 3. But for a blend of compact design, high quality, and strong performance – all from a familiar brand – the X210 is an impressive dash cam.

Alternatives

The X110 is a mid-range dash cam from Garmin. It arrived in 2024 alongside the X210, X310 and the third-generation Mini. Garmin has produced some excellent dash cams in recent years, with several models ranking highly in our buying guides.

They aren’t necessarily the cheapest options around, but these dash cams come from a reputable name, and in my experience have always shone brightly against the competition, thanks to a combination of quality hardware and software.

Is the Garmin X110 the right dash cam for you? Read on to find out.

Garmin Dash Cam X110: Specifications

Garmin Dash Cam X110: Price

Today it’s possible to pick up a dash cam for as little as £20. But, while I wouldn’t recommend spending quite so little, there are plenty of decent budget options that land below the £100 / $100 mark. So why spend twice as much?

The Garmin name has plenty of weight behind it, of course, and it has built a reputation for producing quality dash cams for a good few years now. Garmin has achieved this by nailing the basics, shunning gimmicks and excelling in what really matters.

Priced at £199.99 / $199.99 and a spiritual successor to the Dash Cam 47, the Garmin X110 is about 30 percent more than the smaller Mini 3, but is the most affordable Garmin dash cam to have a screen. It also benefits from Full HD video, GPS and the company’s familiar windshield mount that’s as compact as it is adjustable. It’s £60 / $100 cheaper than the X210 and £150 / $200 less than the flagship X310.

Garmin Dash Cam X110: Design & Handling

The current generation of Garmin dash cams are slightly larger than their predecessors, but still measure up favorably compared to their rivals. The X110 measures 7 x 4.22 x 1.95 cm and weighs just 62g. It’s impressively compact, especially considering it has a 2.4-inch display on its rear.

Incidentally, the TFT LCD panel is not a touchscreen, and instead there are four buttons on the side for navigating Garmin’s simple dash cam user interface. There’s a microSD card slot on the bottom edge (but no card is included in the box), a USB-C port for power and charging on the side, and a ball-and-socket joint for the included windshield mount on top.

Garmin’s windshield mounts are probably my favorite of any dash cam maker today. They are incredibly simple and take up very little space, yet have a secure grip and offer all the adjustability you’ll ever need. The mount included with the X110 sticks to your windshield with an included adhesive pad, which is a slight downgrade on the magnetic discs used by the pricier X210 and X310 models.

That said, you’ll likely leave the dash cam installed all the time, and even if you do remove it – and leave the mount in place – it is likely to be hidden behind your rear-view mirror anyway.

Although all-plastic, the X110 feels like a quality product worthy of the £200/$200 price tag.

Garmin Dash Cam X110: Performance

Setting up the Garmin X110 is quick and easy. Like other Garmin dash cams, there’s no need to create an account if you don’t want to. You don’t even need to use the company’s Drive smartphone app, since the X110 starts working right away and its settings can be adjusted by using the display and buttons.

That said, you will probably want to install the app and connect the dash cam to your phone, which is easily done by pointing your phone camera at a QR code that appears on the dash cam’s screen. The app shows a live view over a direct Wifi connection, and this is also where you can transfer recordings from the dash cam to your phone.

Simple settings like resolution and microphone on/off can be adjusted on the camera itself, but in the app you’ll also find options to adjust the exposure value, decide what data overlays recordings, and change the sensitivity of the collision detection system. I found the default, medium, worked best. Turning up the sensitivity caused the X110 to mistake speed bumps and potholes for collisions.

You can pick from 720p or 1080p HD resolution. Both record with HDR and at 30 frames per second, so in reality you should stick to the default 1080p option.

Video quality is good enough for a dash cam at this price point. There’s a bit more pixelation than you might expect from a Full HD image, but footage is still clean enough to retain crucial details like vehicle license plates, street signs and road markings. Since it has GPS, the X110 adds your coordinates and speed to every recording, along with the date and time.

Nighttime footage has more grain, as to be expected, but details still hold up fairly well. You’ll still be able to read the license plate of a vehicle ahead of you, but those of oncoming traffic are blown out by your own headlights. I’m nitpicking here though, as footage would still clearly show who was at fault in a nighttime collision, so long as they didn’t leave the scene before you managed to grab a view of their plate.

Like all of Garmin’s latest dash cams, the X110 has a built-in polarizing lens filter to help reduce windshield reflections. This appeared to work well, as I struggled to spot a single reflection in any of my footage.

The footage is arguably no better than that of the cheaper (by £50/$50) and much smaller Garmin Mini 3, but the X110 has a screen and GPS in its favor, plus a small battery that lets it run for up to 20 minutes cable-free. The battery is also there to ensure the dash cam shuts down correctly if unplugged or when you turn your car off, and gives it the opportunity to upload saved footage to Garmin’s cloud storage service, called Vault.

This costs £9.99 / $9.99 a month or £99.99 / $99.99 a year and sees all footage automatically uploaded to the cloud via a Wifi connection to your phone. You’ll want to plug your phone in to prevent it draining on longer journeys, and check that you have enough monthly data, since footage is uploaded using your phone’s cellular 4G/5G connection.

The X110 also includes a suite of driver assistance features. It’ll warn you about local speed limits and nearby red light cameras, beep if it thinks you’ve not noticed the vehicle ahead has set off, and issue forward-collision and lane-departure warnings. These are often more of a distraction than a useful aid, and I tend to switch them all off. The ‘go’ alert suggested I drive through a red light (since the car ahead moved forward in heavy traffic), and since a lot of my local speed limits have recently changed, I wouldn’t trust Garmin’s database to be fully accurate.

In any case, these warnings are only helpful if you can see the X110’s screen, which is likely to be obscured by your rear-view mirror.

Like almost all other dash cams, a parking mode is available if you pay for one of Garmin’s constant-power cables. These connect either to your car’s fuse box or OBD port and keep the X110 powered when your car is parked and turned off. If it detects a parking prang it’ll jump into life and start recording.

Garmin Dash Cam X110: Verdict

Garmin has once again shown its ability to produce a great dash cam. The X110 looks and feels well-made, is quick and easy to install and configure, and produces good video. However, prices have crept up in recent years while dash cam technology has become somewhat stagnant. The four-year-old Garmin 67W can be bought for slightly less than the new X110, yet it works in a very similar way and records at a higher resolution (1440p) and with a wider lens (180 degrees).

That isn’t to say the X110 is bad value, but a higher resolution or frame rate would have been welcome. That’s where the pricier X210 comes in, though, and I appreciate Garmin’s desire to create clear differences between its four current models.

The Garmin Mini 3 offers better value for money and is much smaller. But if you want the advantages of GPS and an integrated screen – which is quite handy, adding simplicity by removing the need to use Garmin’s phone app – the X110 is still a strong option to consider.

Alternatives

70mai has launched the Dash Cam 4K Omni, a product that sets new standards in the dash cam industry – a stylish companion that enhances your safety.

The 70mai Dash Cam 4K Omni can be paired with a rear camera to provide comprehensive 360° coverage on the road. The front, rotating camera offers detailed 4K video quality, thanks to Sony STARVIS 2 technology, while the rear camera records in 1080P HDR.

70mai's newest dash cam is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Dash Cam Omni, which was the world’s first 360° dash cam designed for budget-conscious first-time users. The new model not only delivers superior image quality but also includes a variety of enhanced security features.

The Dash Cam 4K Omni operates with a horizontal rotation functionality. As mentioned, 70mai has introduced the option to add a rear camera, which works in tandem with the front camera for dual-channel recording. This gives you 360° video coverage at an impressive 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. The Sony STARVIS 2 technology enhances light capture with larger pixel sizes, resulting in sharper and more detailed footage even in low-light conditions.

The Dash Cam 4K Omni records high-quality videos both day and night, utilizing MaiColor Vivid+ Solution. This technology enhances details and brightens images through smart image processing, while windshield color and transparency compensation reduces reflections to achieve "truly lifelike realism."

For enhanced nighttime clarity, the 70mai Night Owl Vision technology reduces noise and manages glare, resulting in sharper details during recordings. In near-total darkness, the 70mai's Lumi Vision technology ensures detailed recording.

Next to creating high-quality footage, safety features are a top priority for this dash cam. The Dash Cam 4K Omni features dual-channel collision detection, pedestrian identification, and time-lapse recording, ensuring that every incident is documented and can be reviewed at a slower pace. It also features high-speed Wi-Fi 6 for quick video transfers and supports storage capacities of up to 512GB.

While the price of $406/£389/€457.97 for this dash cam, including the rear camera may initially seem steep, it also offers real-time vehicle protection with buffered emergency recording, built-in GPS, and Super-Sensing ADAS. It provides lane departure alerts, forward collision warnings, and pedestrian identification – features that may come at a cost but are invaluable in the event of an incident.

Tech details

We tested 70mai's previous model, the Dash Cam Omni, and we've spent two months putting it through its paces. You can read our review here. To give you a comparison from the Dash Cam 4k Omni and Dash Cam Omni, here are the tech details from both models:

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If you are interested in this type of device, check our guide to the best dash cams, the best front and rear dash cams, or the best Uber dash cams.

Viofo has a new flagship dash cam, and it’s called the A329. This system sits just above the A229 Pro and is aimed at drivers who want the best video quality possible from their dash cam. The main unit shoots 4K video at 60 frames per second – which on paper at least is seriously impressive – and since this is a 2CH kit, there’s a rear camera too, in this instance recording at 2K.

Viofo uses Sony’s Starvis 2 imaging sensor for the A329, which has already proven itself in the much cheaper Viofo VS1 Mini and promises to deliver excellent low-light performance here too.

Other features of the A329 include a 2.4-inch display, Wifi 6 for faster video transfers – a 60-second 4K recording can be sent to your smartphone in under 10 seconds, Viofo says – and even the option to connect external SSD storage. Since 4K video takes up a lot of space, this gives the option of giving the dash cam up to 4TB (4,000 GB) of storage, far exceeding its microSD card limit of 512GB.

This all adds up to promise an excellent dash cam, but with a retail price of $469.99 / £399.95 you’ll have to pay for the privilege. Is the Viofo A329 the best compact dash cam for you? Read on to find out.

Viofo A329: Specifications

Viofo A329: Price

The Viofo A329 2CH is priced at $469.99 in the US and £399.95 in the UK, although at the time of writing a Viofo sale has reduced the latter by £40. Regardless, this is one of the more expensive dash cams around even though it’s a two-channel system.

It’s more expensive than the Garmin X310 (although that doesn’t include a rear-facing camera), the Nextbase 622GW, and is broadly on par with the all-singing, all-dancing Nextbase iQ. It is more than three times the price of Viofo’s smallest dash cam, the excellent VS1 Mini.

Viofo A329: Design & Handling

Right away, the A329 feels like a premium product. From the USB-C connectivity to the soft-touch plastic finish of the cameras themselves, and how Viofo includes an optional polarizing lens filter in the box, the A329 quickly sets off on a bid to defend its price tag.

The main unit is fairly chunky, measuring approximately 10 x 4 x 6 cm, but that’s understandable given the specification of the tech inside, that it houses a 2.4-inch display. There’s a USB-C port for connecting to the included power cable and 12-volt adapter, which itself has a second SUB-C socket for powering other devices, like your smartphone. There’s also a slot for your own microSD card (one is not included in the box), a micro HDMI port for video output, and a proprietary port for connecting the rear camera.

Speaking of which, the rear camera has the same soft-touch finish but lacks a polarizing filter. Viofo sells one separately though, called the CPL-500 Rear Filter Lens, priced at $15.99. The cylindrical rear camera rotates through 360 degrees, giving it an unlimited amount of vertica; adjustment once stuck to your rear windshield.

The front camera slots onto a sturdy plastic mounting plate, which then sticks to your front windshield with an adhesive pad.

My overall impression of the hardware is how, while sporting a more functional look than an aesthetically-pleasing one, the A329 feels well made and built to last.

Viofo A329: Performance

Above: sample video shot with the Viofo A329 2CH dashcam

All you really need to know is, the A329’s performance lives up to its spec sheet. Footage from both cameras looks excellent, and the extra frame rate of the front-facer (60 fps) helps bring smoothness to every recording. This also helps maintain sharpness and clarity when pausing footage, such as when checking important details like road signs, turn signals and vehicle licence plates.

Footage from the front camera is a touch bright by default. But, while this tends to blow out the exposure of the sky, it helps to boost detail in less well-lit areas at street level, so it’s a net positive despite not being particularly cinematic.

The rear camera records 2K video at 30 frames per second. It would have been nice to see it equal the front’s 4K at 60 fps, but two channels of 4K video would eat up storage space even more quickly than the A329 already does.

Speaking of storage, each one-minute recording takes up around 500 MB of space, with about 340 MB of that being from the front-facing 4K camera. It won’t take long to fill up smaller microSD cards, so I can see why Viofo has created the option of attaching an external SSD (solid-state drive) for extra storage. That said, unless you are a professional driver who is more likely to need to keep recordings of every journey, a 64GB memory card should suffice. Especially since, like all other dash cams, the A329 locks footage captured just before and after a collision (and when you press the manual record button). You’d have to encounter a great many collisions, or other such incidents, before the card became full.

Resolution can be lowered in a bid to reduce video file size, but that somewhat defeats the point of buying this camera. More useful are options in the free Viofo app for increasing or reducing the exposure of each camera, enabling or disabling HDR, GPS and voice control, and adjusting the sensitivity of the impact sensor.

It’s handy to have easy access to such a broad range of settings. But, as is often the case with Viofo dash cams, the default setting is often perfectly fine. This sidesteps the app entirely and means you can simply mount the two cameras of the A329, plug it in, and start driving. As ever, I like how Viofo doesn’t ask buyers to share their email address and create a user account. Just connect your phone to the dash cam’s Wifi network, and the app will work right away.

Low-light performance is very good, thanks to the use of Sony’s Starvis 2 imaging sensors. As we also found in Viofo’s budget VS1 dash cam, night time recordings from the A329 don’t suffer from as much grainy noise as other dash cams. Detail is good, although it can still be tricky to read vehicle licence plates, especially when they are illuminated by our car’s own headlights. This is common among practically all dash cams.

The rear camera also performed well at night, but reminded us that you need to keep your windshields clean for best results. Since I mounted the rear camera to the perspex wind deflector of my Mazda MX-5 (Miata in the US), it records from about a foot ahead of the actual rear screen, so if that screen has any dirt on it, the camera has a hard time seeing out clearly to the road behind. That’s just how dash cams work in convertible cars, and isn’t a specific failing of the Viofo itself.

Viofo A329: Verdict

The Viofo A329 is a feature-packed dash cam that puts excellent video quality first. The 4K footage from its front-facing cameras is excellent, and smooth too, thanks to the 60 fps frame rate. This is joined by a similarly impressive 2K rear camera; both feature HDR and Sony Starvis 2 imagining sensors, which produce great low-light footage.

It’s a fairly bulky system, but the hardware feels well made and of high quality, thanks to Viofo’s use of soft-touch plastic, while the detachable polarizing lens filter is a nice no-cost addition. The system is easy to install and use, and I like how video can be transferred either via speedy WiFi6, or directly with a USB-C cable. For those who need masses of storage space, you can even attach an external SSD and record directly to that.

Overall, this is a high-quality dash cam system that delivers on its lofty promises. It isn’t cheap, but still feels like good value when compared to some other 4K, two-channel systems. All that’s missing is an interior camera, but I’d argue those are only really necessary for taxi and ride-share drivers. For everyone else, it’s hard to go wrong with this dash cam.

Alternatives

Legendary F1 racing team, Williams, might have picked up a very respectable points haul at the weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, but a videography mishap has landed the multi-championship-winning team with a hefty €50,000 fine ($54,000 / £42,000 AU$86,000).

According to the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile [FIA], the punishment was served due to the team's failure to provide stewards with onboard video footage from “forward and rearward facing cameras”. And the reason why? Missing memory cards. That's right, you can have the best front and rear dash cams in the world, but without an SD card, they're pretty useless...

It turns out that the Williams team believed the cameras would come with formatted memory cards already installed by the FIA, with F1 stewards quoting F1 Technical Regulation TD034L: “‘Teams are responsible for ensuring that cameras are fitted with a suitably formatted (...) and empty SD card at least 10 minutes prior to the start of any session”.

The stewards have revealed that a flashing LED on the cameras in question alerted Williams to a potential problem during Free Practice 1 [FP1] and that this was reported, but that the team failed to report the missing memory cards after FP1 had ended.

F1 teams are currently required to supply video footage so the sport’s governing body can monitor the flex of a slot gap in the rear wing, with more flex potentially boosting a car’s aerodynamics. However, it’s been made clear that there is no indication that wing flex in either Williams car is suspected to be illegal.

Williams has since released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that all required footage was delivered last weekend at the Australian Grand Prix and that the team was running the same wing setup in Shanghai as it was in Melbourne.

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Want to check the flex on your rear wing? Take a look at the best dash cam guide. And if you're a first-time user, here's how to install a dash cam. Finally, if you're a motorsport fan, here's my guide to motorsport photography.

Cameras are a key piece of the technology used in self-driving cars and human-driven cars with features like auto braking – but just how hard is it to fool a camera-clad car? Ironically enough, self-driving car cameras can be fooled by photographs themselves, as YouTube and engineer Mark Rober demonstrated in a crash test inspired by the cartoon antics of Wile E Coyottee.

In the crash test, Rober creates a series of tests designed to determine what a self-driving car can and cannot see, putting a Li-DAR based car against one that uses cameras to power the self-driving features. The series of tests that included everything from fog to bright headlights culminated in a test inspired by Wile E Coyote himself: Will a self-driving car crash into a wall if a picture of the road is printed on it?

Here’s what happened when the Li-DAR and camera self-driving cars come to a photograph of a road stretched across the road:

The likelihood of such a photograph being placed over the road in a real life situation is slim to none, but the crash test illustrated important differences in self-driving cars that use cameras rather than LiDAR. The LiDAR technology sends out pulses of light to measure distance rather than using cameras as “eyes” on the road.

Wile E Coyote may be a fictional scenario, but in Rober’s tests, the LiDAR-based car also passed the fog and heavy rain tests that the camera-based car did not. The LiDAR was able to detect the wall as a wall, ignoring the picture printed on it, but also saw through the fog and rain better

In the first half of the video, Rober used LiDar to map out the in-the-dark Disney World ride Space Mountain, so in addition to making safer cars, LiDAR can apparently also be used to take away some of the magic and mystery of Disney.

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The VS1 by Viofo is a compact dash cam that records 2K resolution and benefits from the improved low light capabilities of a Sony Starvis 2 imaging sensor. It lacks a screen, so is instead set up and configured via Vioso’s smartphone app.

The lack of a display makes this a pretty compact dash cam that takes up very little space on the windshield. It also has a compact mount that also takes up little space yet offers a good amount of adjustability.

Other features include HDR video, a 140-degree viewing angle and Wifi that operates at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The dash cam comes with a 32GB microSD card in the box, along with a power cable and a 12-volt power adapter with two USB ports.

Priced at about $140 (or between £115 and £135 in the UK at the time of writing), the Viofo VS1 Mini promises to deliver a lot of performance for the price, especially when compared to other compact dash cams like the pricier Garmin Mini 3.

Is the Viofo VS1 the best compact dash cam for you? Read on to find out.

Viofo VS1: Specifications

Viofo VS1: Price

The VS is priced at $139.99 in the US and £134.95 in the UK, although at the time of writing, I have seen it reduced to £114.99. For that you get a 2K dash cam with a 32GB microSD card, a full-size SD adapter, a windshield mount with two transparent films for easy application and removal, and a 12-volt power adapter with a separate USB cable.

It’s a comprehensive kit, and I was especially pleased to see Viofo include a memory card, as some manufacturers skimp on this and expect buyers to pick up their own.

This price point makes it slightly more expensive than the $149.99 Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3, while the new Nextbase Piqo can be snapped up for just $99.99 – again, that’s at the time of writing; its usual price is $129.99.

Viofo VS1: Design & Handling

The VS1 is one of the smallest 2K dash cams I’ve ever used. It measures 3in long (including the windshield mount), 1.25in wide and a little over an inch deep. It’s the sort of dash cam that can fit neatly behind your central mirror, practically out of view and providing zero distractions as you drive. Its compact size is especially useful on smaller vehicles with shorter, shallower windshields, as none of your forward visibility is obscured.

Viofo has kept things simple with the VS1. There’s a lens on the front, a microSD card slot and a button to mute the microphone on the left, and a button on the back to manually save footage – such as when you witness an incident but aren’t directly involved. The windshield mount is integrated at the top of the dash cam, and uses a hinge to offer a wide range of vertical adjustments. There’s no horizontal adjustment, however, so you’ll need to install the VS1 as close as possible to the center of your windshield.

As is increasingly common, this dash cam comes with a pair of transparent films. Stick one to your windshield, then stick the dashcam’s adhesive mount to that, and when it comes to removing the dashcam at a later date, you simply peel the film off the glass – the logic being, the film comes off far more easily than the adhesive pad of the dash cam mount.

I opted to install the VS1 using the included 12-volt adaptor. For a more permanent and discrete installation, Viofo sells a hardwiring kit separately. It also sells a polarizing lens filter to cut down on glare, and a wireless button for controlling the dash cam via Bluetooth. That’s only really useful if the dash cam and its manually-save button is out of reach, such as on the large windshield of a truck.

Be aware that, since the camera detaches from its mounting plate by sliding to the right, you shouldn’t install it close to the left side of your central mirror, as there won’t be enough clearance to remove it.

Viofo VS1: Performance

Setting up the VS1 is easy. All you do is download and open the Viofo smartphone app, then power up the dash cam by plugging it in and turning your car on. Enable Wi-Fi pairing mode with a long press of the record button, then connect to the dash cam as you would any other Wi-Fi network, and its live view will appear in the app, helping you position it correctly on the windshield.

I like how Viofo doesn’t ask you to create a user account or hand over your email address. In fact, you can sidestep the WI-Fi pairing and app entirely, since the dash cam starts working the moment it is powered up for the first time – and because the default settings use the highest resolution and frame rate, and have HDR enabled, most buyers will find nothing actually needs changing.

If you do decide to download the app, the home screen shows a live view of your camera and gives access to recordings, while the settings menu is packed with options to adjust. These include image exposure, HDR, recording length, sensitivity of the G sensor, and much more. All of this can be left to the default setting, but it’s nice to see Viofo offer the configurability to those who want it.

The VS1 produces high-quality video, with enough clarity to read license plates, road signs and the like. It isn’t quite as sharp as I was expecting, given the 2K (1440p) resolution, with some muddy pixelation diluting the sharpness. Even on a bright, sunny day it sometimes wasn’t possible to read the license plate of a vehicle just a few yards away from my own, which was a little disappointing.

That said, the footage would still be plenty good enough to understand the position and movement of vehicles ahead of an impending collision. The VS1’s night time performance is much better, with the Sony Starvis 2 imaging sensor producing footage that is clear, sharp, detailed and lacking in the usual low-light grain we see from dash cams in this price range. It really does produce excellent nighttime footage.

At 140 degrees, the viewing angle is about on par with other dash cams. This prevents footage from suffering with lens distortion but also means the camera doesn’t record much beyond the sides of your hood. A wider lens would capture more of the road at either side, too.

The VS1 boots up quickly when you turn your car on and starts recording right away, complete with a voice message to say as much. There’s a voice control system for turning functions like the Wi-Fi and microphone on or off, but I can’t see myself using this, since I prefer to leave both off.

Viofo VS1: Verdict

This is a very good dash cam. It is so small that it’ll tuck neatly behind your car’s central mirror, while also packing enough performance to shoot Full HD video with HDR, log you location and speed with GPS, respond to voice commands, and capture fantastic night time footage that is totally lacking in noise and grain.

If you prefer your dash cams to be small and without a screen, it is very hard to look beyond this one, especially given the relatively low price. It makes the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 seem fairly expensive – even though that model is even smaller and packs a polarizing lens filter. Only the Nextbase Piqo offers better bang for your buck when it comes to pint-sized dash cams, and that model has the additional benefit of recording at 60 frames per second instead of the Viofo’s 30.

You shouldn’t overlook the VS1 Mini, though. It fits a lot into its compact body and majors on simplicity, since you don’t need to hand over your email address, create an account or even use the smartphone app at all, if you don’t want to. Just stick the mount to your windshield, plug it in, and away you go.

Alternatives

Announced today, the new 360-degree 4K Omni dash cam is named after its ability to rotate, offering an all-round view. It is powered by a built-in motor that enables the camera to rotate horizontally with no blind spots, and it can assemble time lapses.

This is a new, second, higher-end edition. Perhaps the first was something of a proof of concept, allowing for parking surveillance as well as dash-cam features, but now the specs have been boosted across the board. This is now a premium device with 4K camera and this time clearly making a play for best dash cam.

Building on the success of the previous model, the Dash Cam Omni (or X200 in some markets), this new model (the X800) doesn't just bring its signature '4K' resolution – though the arrival of a system that records 4K60 using Sony Starvis 2 tech (the IMX678 sensor) is not to be sniffed at.

It should be noted that is the main camera only though – there is a 1080P HDR camera in the separate rear unit, and the system drops to 30fps if it is also recording a second camera to the (up to) 512GB storage. Still, that's dual-channel HDR.

Significantly for a device expected to be left in unattended vehicles, there is what 70mai call an "industry-first", their 'Lumi Vision' tech which uses longer exposures and a doubling of ISO. Even in driving conditions the 'Night Owl Vision' helps pick out license plates.

With this new release, there are a number of AI features highlighted too, under the heading "AI Motion Detection 2.0" – most interestingly the system can use AI to smooth any judder from the motor which rotates the camera, and to ensure any suspicious or fast-moving objectives are kept in focus.

Another nice feature (especially if you like the best action cameras) is the Road Story Filter, which can add GPS data visualisations and other info from the camera's AI onto video as it exports.

The camera also offers 4G and collision detection, including in parking mode, so a 30-second video is recorded giving insight into anyone who bumps your fender in the parking lot – whether they hit and run or not! Using the 4G, you can get live alerts, as you might from a home security camera and even stream the live video.

Another impressive feature is real-time car battery voltage monitoring. Since the camera has features like a buffer that records the 10 seconds before any bump, and the 20 after, it's useful to get app-based warnings if your car battery is not delivering (the sign of more serious issues).

The device will be available from 10 Mar 2025 for 279.99 / £268, or $406/£389 with the 4K Omni with rear cam, 256GB memory card and hard wiring kit. Until then, the X200 model – the first 360-degree dash cam – seems to have been discounted by some retailers.

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As an interesting alternative, what about an 8K camera with a dash cam mode? Check my Insta360 AcePro 2 review if that appeals!

Hot on the heels of a recall of more than 27,000 Tesla Cybertrucks last October due to a backup camera problem, Tesla has been forced to recall 239,000 vehicles due to – you've guessed it – a backup camera problem.

The Cybertruck recall was to correct the problem of the camera taking too long to engage when the vehicle was put into reverse. The latest recall affects 2024-25 Model 3 and Model S and 2023-25 Model X and Model Y vehicles, and while it's also a problem with the backup camera (aka 'reversing camera') once again, this time around it's a different issue that can cause permanent damage to the camera unless corrected.

It appears that a specific sequence of hardware and software configurations can cause a reverse current that can fry the car's computer board on powering up the vehicle, resulting in the loss of backup camera functionality, thereby affecting the driver's rear visibility and increasing the risk of collisions. Cold weather appears to exacerbate the risk of the fault occurring.

Fortunately, this can be fixed via an over-the-air software update in most cases, which Tesla has already begun rolling out. The carmaker is also contacting owners of all affected vehicles to make them aware of the problem.

However, the update can't remedy the issue if the vehicle has already had its main computer circuit board short-circuited, as the damage is permanent. In this case, Tesla has confirmed that it will replace the entire in-car computer board at no cost.

Check out our guide to the best front and rear dashcams if you want to see and record what is going on behind you as you drive, and our guide to the best backup cameras to help you reverse park like a pro

You'd be forgiven for thinking cameras weren't an integral element of driving. Sure, the best dash cams are useful, though not absolutely essential. Likewise, the best backup cameras can be handy for parking, but we managed for decades without them, simply by turning our heads to look through the rear window.

But now Stellantis, parent company of Jeep, has issued a safety recall of over 7000 Jeep Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee SUVs in Canada. However, this is not because of anything like potential brake failure or possible tyre defects, but rather for a software issue that could prevent their rear-view cameras automatically activating when engaging reverse gear. The issue affects a total of 7025 Jeep vehicles, all from 2024.

So is this a sign that we've become too reliant on cameras for driving? That's what I initially thought, but there is method behind this apparent recall madness. Since 2018, back-up cameras have been mandated by law in all new cars sold in North America, not because drivers have become too lazy to turn their heads while parking, but for genuine safety concerns.

The area of road immediately beneath the rear window of a car is a large blind spot in a driver's vision. Should a toddler or small child be playing behind a car parked on a driveway, there's a real danger a driver might not see them when reversing. Therefore, the need for a rear-view camera feed to automatically display on a car's infotainment screen when the driver engages reverse could be a real life-saver.

Owners of the affected Jeep vehicles in Canada have been instructed to take their cars to accredited dealerships for a software update that should fix the camera issue.

Nikon has developed an innovative in-vehicle camera system in conjunction with Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC). The camera features an optical lens that captures both telephoto and wide-angle imagery simultaneously, enabling users to see far-away objects while checking their peripheral vision at the same time. The camera will be exhibited for the first time at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January 7-10, 2025.

The optical axes of the far-away and periphery shots are the same, which prevents the parallax effect. When used as an in-vehicle camera, AI systems can perform image recognition to collect road information that requires tracking, such as road signs or other vehicles in the distance. The dual-camera system reduces the issue of losing track of objects or seeing a double image.

When used as an in-vehicle camera, the integrated telephoto and wide-angle lens system will mean that fewer cameras have to be installed in the vehicle while still providing seamless 360-degree surround view coverage, offering the benefit of reducing system costs and failure rates.

The camera can be integrated into advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous driving technology, helping to enhance visibility and prevent serious accidents caused by drivers not seeing signs or pedestrians.

Nikon and MFTBC have been working together on the camera system since 2020, which is initially intended for use in trucks and buses. Nikon says that it is also exploring a variety of possibilities to expand the use of the technology not only in vehicles but also in other diverse fields.

While this futuristic tech isn't available yet, why not check out the best dash cams that you can buy today…

Although it takes its design inspiration from the top-of-the-line Nextbase iQ, this compact dash cam is far simpler, smaller and more affordable. It’s called the Piqo, which is a cute name as far as dash cams go, and is a play on “pico”, a prefix that means one-trillionth of a unit, like picometer.

So it’s small, but not quite as tiny as the equally new Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3. As well as being compact, the Piqo promises to deliver everything you need from a simple, affordable dash cam, and nothing you don’t. There’s no screen, for a start, and no cellular connectivity (and none of the extra complexities and cost that brings, either).

It’s also remarkably cheap, with a retail price of $129.99 - but currently available for $99 / £99.

So far, so good. But has Nextbase done enough to create the perfect compact dash cam? Read on to find out.

Nextbase Piqo: Specifications

Nextbase Piqo: Price

I mentioned this at the start but it really is worth repeating. The Nextbase Piqo carries a retail price of $129.99 in the US and £99 in the UK for the 1K resolution model. This makes it less expensive than the $149.99 / £149.99 Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3, which I would consider to be the Piqo’s closest and most obvious rival.

At the time of writing, in late-2024, Nextbase’s UK website has reduced the Piqo 1K to just £79, which I think represents seriously good value. In the US, BestBuy has cut the price of the Piqo 2K from $149.99 to $99.99.

Nextbase Piqo: Design & handling

Being compact and unobtrusive is the name of the Piqo’s game. The dash cam measures approximately 3.35 in (8.5 cm) long, 1.57 in (4cm) wide and 1.18 in (3cm) deep, excluding the windshield mount.

The Piqo’s design means it can be almost entirely hidden behind your car’s central mirror, making for a discreet installation. There’s a small camera lens on the front, an equally compact button on the rear for manual recording – such as when you witness an incident but aren’t directly involved), a microSD card slot on one side, and a USB-C power socket on the other.

The windshield mount uses a ball-and-socket joint that is permanently attached to the top of the dash cam. It offers a great amount of adjustability, but grips tight enough for the Piqo to remain in place while driving. This then slides onto a mounting plate, which in turn attaches to the windshield with an adhesive pad. Nextbase includes two of these mounting plates in the box, so it’s easy to swap the Piqo between two vehicles.

Both plates have an integrated hook for neatly holding the power cable and channeling it upwards towards the roof liner, but I found the hook is also helpful for removing the mount from your screen, since it gives you something to pull on. Also included is a USB-C power cable and an adapter for plugging into your car’s 12-volt lighter socket. The adapter has a pair of USB-C sockets, so you can run the Piqo and charge your phone at the same time.

Like the Garmin, Nextbase does not include a microSD card in the box.

Setting up the Piqo is very easy. Simply stick the mounting plate to the windshield, s;ide the dash cam into place and plug it in. Nextbase includes a tool that helps tuck the power cable between interior panels, if you want to go for a neater, more permanent installation.

The company also sells an OBD power cable and a hardwired installation cable. Both give the dash cam a constant source of power, even when the car is switched off, and enable the Piqo’s parking mode, which automatically starts recording when a collision is detected, then alerts you when you return to your vehicle.

Nextbase Piqo: Performance

There are two models of Nextbase Piqo, but their specifications are very similar. The Piqo 1K has a 1080p resolution with a 140-degree field-of-view, while the Piqo 2K shoots at the slightly higher resolution of 1440p and through a fractionally wider 145-degree lens. The foreigner accepts microSD cards up to 128 GB in capacity, and the latter works with cards up to 256 GB.

They are otherwise identical, since both support Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 4.1 and USB-C. They also both have GPS (which adds speed and location data to your recordings), are compatible with iOS and Android phones with the free Nextbase app, and they have enhanced night vision for low-light recording.

I’m using the 2K model for this review, and I’m pleased to report that video quality is pretty good. It isn’t up there with the Nextbase iQ, of course, but that dash cam is much larger and significantly more expensive, at well over $500 for the 4K version. Footage produced by the Piqo 2K looks good, with an acceptable amount of detail, decent lighting, and colors that are accurate, albeit a little muted. I stuck to the default of 2K at 30 frames per second, but there is the option to record Full HD (1080p or 1K) at 60 fps.

Details like vehicle licence plates are mostly visible, although sometimes they are too blurred to be fully legible. Footage is smooth and stable, with the dash cam doing a good job of staying fixed in position when driving over speed bumps and uneven roads. The field-of-view isn’t as wide as some rivals but at 145 degrees for the Piqo 2K it’s enough to see the entire width of the road just a few feet ahead of the car.

There’s a bit of grainy noise in footage shot on an overcast day, and this is more noticeable at night. I used the dash cam on both lit and unlit roads after sunset, and while it’s more difficult to read license plates, the footage was otherwise impressive, with colors still visible. Low-speed city traffic was far more detailed, with plates legible, colors accurate and noise kept to a minimum. Since the Piqo has GPS, all footage includes your location (using a set of coordinates) and speed, along with the current time and date.

Like other dash cams, the Piqo constantly records to the microSD card. When that gets full, the oldest footage is overwritten first. If a collision is detected (or you press the button to manually tell it something has happened) that portion of footage is securely saved and will not be overwritten. You can then transfer that from the microSD card to your computer, or wirelessly to your smartphone using the Nextbase app and the Piqo’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.

Above: Sample video footage from the Nexbase Piqo

Extra features also include Guardian Mode Lite. This lets you set parameters like speed and geofencing limits. If these are broken – by someone borrowing your car, or a mechanic or valet, for example – you’ll be notified when you return to your car. Footage recorded during those infractions is also saved, giving you evidence of what happened.

The Nextbase phone app mostly works well, but it is rather slow. It can take around a minute just to connect to the dash cam and navigate to the settings menu, or start to scroll through video recordings. Transfer speeds are even slower, with a one-minute video taking 3min50 to transfer from the Piqo to my iPhone, despite using a direct Wi-Fi connection. It’s quicker to take out the microSD card and plug it into a computer. Firmware updates are also fairly slow, and after completing one the Piqo no longer recognized its microSD card, despite it being Nextbase’s own. I could only fix this by formatting the card with my computer – remember to safely transfer any footage you want to save before doing that.

Finally, if you use wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (or your smartphone connects to your car via Wi-Fi for some other reason), then you can’t connect to the Piqo and transfer recordings at the same time. I found my car and the dash cam would conflict with each other, causing frequent disconnections. Plugging your phone into the car for a wired connection (for CarPlay etc) should address this.

Nextbase Piqo: Verdict

The Nextbase Piqo is a very good compact dash cam at a great price. It looks and feels premium, with good video quality and excellent ease-of-use. Recordings are clear enough, with a decent amount of detail and a strong nighttime performance, especially considering the low price. Setup is easy, although the smartphone app is fairly slow, with especially slow video transfer speeds. It’s quicker to use a computer.

The extra features will be welcomed by some users, especially the guardian system that alerts you after someone borrowing your car has exceeded the speed limit or driven somewhere they shouldn’t have. Emergency SOS is also welcome, but it costs extra as it’s included with the Protect subscription, which also unlocks 180 days of cloud storage and increases the warranty from one year to do.

I imagine the optional hardwiring kit will be a more popular upgrade, since this makes for a cleaner installation and enables the Piqo’s parking mode.

Overall, this is a fantastic dash cam for the price, with high-quality video and great ease-of-use. I just wish

Alternatives

Dash cam footage of a house exploding in East London has gone viral after being circulated on social media and then by traditional media.

The explosion, apparently caused by gas, happened at 4PM yesterday in Ley Street in Ilford, in a terraced home (walking distance from this writer's home), and two people were rushed to hospital as a result of the incident. The most dramatic footage – now seen heavily cropped in other places – seems to have originated from this original:

Other trusted news agencies like the BBC were quick to assemble summaries of the incident which show both the original explosion and footage from other cameras, including security cameras in nearby homes, but it was social media that had the incident out in the world first.

The fire was reportedly brought under control before 6:30pm – though Ley Street, which is near Ilford station on London's significant Crossrail – now 'Elizabeth Line' transport artery was affected for some time afterward.

The video is a graphic reminder of the dangers of gas and fire, with the explosion clearly having the power to force masonry and the roof itself from the building.

At the time of writing, the extent of the injuries suffered by the two people taken to hospital has not been revealed, while London Ambulance Service did confirm the attendance of ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic practitioner, and an incident response officer, as well as members of the HART (Hazardous Area Response Team).

They indicated that three people were treated, but two went two hospital.

It is interesting that the best footage is from the dashcam, even if that being used by the traditional news media is a close crop from the original. It speaks to the quality of the best dash cams and, perhaps, the fact that they are more continuous compared to the sometimes slightly hesitant nature of many of even the best security cameras.

Of course – purely from an image-gathering perspective – it didn't hurt that Ley Street is relatively busy; there would be less choice of footage in a quiet residential street. That said, it might also be true that someone with a dash cam is likely to be awake and driving, so they will be instinctively quicker to pull over and share!

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Dash cams are incredibly useful in an age in which insurance scams are through the roof. It really puts the emphasis in DOOM-scrolling when you see clips of people deliberately reversing into people in the hope of making spurious claims against them, only to panic when caught out by a dash cam. But could the best dash cam actually be something else – specifically the stunning 8K Ace Pro 2?

Dash cams and other cameras were separate breeds though, or so I thought, until recently I found myself reviewing the brand new Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and finding a 'dash cam mode' on it.

The Ace Pro 2, incidentally, is one of the two cameras – alongside the DJI Action 5 Pro – which has made a legitimate claim to unseat GoPro as the best action camera. And interestingly all three brands have now taken slightly different routes.

It's not a surprise, though, that the Ace Pro 2 is the only one to specifically add a separate dash cam mode. It is also the only one that has consciously re-tthoguht the classic GoPro-inspired action cam design and considered viewing angles – with the addition of a flip screen.

To be clear, though, it's not actually an 8K dash cam. The Ace Pro 2 can capture video in 8K, when shooting as a video camera (limited to 30fps, mind). So you could actually use it like that, if you wanted, but set it to its specific 'dash cam' mode and it'll have other ideas. Dash cam mode defaults to a more practical and battery-preserving 4K – still more than enough to read license plates by.

It also captures video in one-minute clips, but it still has that excellent camera which is ideal in low light.

Of course GoPro users might be used to video coming in irritating little clips whether they like it or not, but users of other more grown-up action cameras expect a single file from the moment they hit record to the moment they press stop. For a dash cam, however, it makes sense to keep creating a new file every minute so the system can operate in a loop and start deleting them after a certain time period.

The other thing 'dash cam mode' does is apply metadata directly to the clip, just like a typical dash cam, so your evidence already has a time code.

Depending on the kit you choose, a suction cup mount from Insta360, so you fit it onto your windshield and not obscure too much of your view. Whether it's as simple as a properly fitted dash cam is another matter. You certainly need to make sure the screen is clean before you push it on!

As someone who doesn't habitually use a dash cam, though, it helped made me start to see the appeal as I caught the assorted drivers of London charging past red lights around me, knowing full well that one of these might cheerfully zap past me and take my wing mirror with them – I very much doubt they'd stop!

Oh, and if you're having problems finding the Ace Pro 2 at the moment, you can buy it directly:

• 🇺🇸 / 🇬🇧 / 🇦🇺 Insta360 Store direct – up to 47% off cameras this holiday season

If you don't need a dash cam mode, but still want an 8K action camera, the old model Ace Pro is being discounted now it has a younger sibling:

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Now in its third generation, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini is one of the smallest dash cams you can buy.

The new model has been subtly redesigned for an even more discreet installation, while still packing Full HD video, voice control, and, new for this generation, an integrated polarizing lens filter designed to cut down on windshield reflections.

As ever for the Garmin Mini series, the new model has Wi-Fi to easily transfer recordings to the company’s free smartphone app, called Drive. A parking mode is also available, and there’s the option for live remote viewing too, but that requires a subscription and a data connection.

At $149.99 / £149.99, the new Mini 3 is a little more expensive than its predecessor, but still much cheaper than Garmin’s new flagship dash cam, the X310, which costs more than twice as much.

Is the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 the right compact dash cam for you? Read on to find out.

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Specifications

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Price

At $149.99 / £149.99, the third-generation Garmin Dash Cam Mini is £30 more than the Mini 2 was when it launched in 2021. The latest model justifies its price in isolation, thanks to a very compact design and high-quality video, but it only offers a couple of small upgrades over the older model, which can now be picked up for under $100 / £100. Readers should also consider the new Nextbase Piqo, which also records Full HD and costs $129.99 / £99.

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Design & Handling

It’s as small as ever, but for the third generation, Mini Garmin has switched from a portrait to a landscape orientation. This doesn’t change how the dash cam functions, or the video it records, but it now takes up slightly less vertical space.

Drivers of smaller cars with shallow windshields will notice this more than others, and there’s more chance of this dash cam fitting entirely behind your vehicle’s rear-view mirror, making it also invisible and therefore distraction-free.

The Mini 3 is otherwise very similar to the previous two generations of Garmin’s smallest dash cam. There’s a lens on the front (this time with an integrated polarizing lens to cut down on reflections), a USB-C socket on the side, a button for manually saving footage on the back, and a ball-and-socket attachment for the included windshield mount on the top.

This mount is the same as before, giving the dash cam lots of adjustability while also holding it securely in place. The mount sticks to your windshield with an integrated adhesive pad, but unlike pricier Garmin dash cams – such as the equally new X310 – it doesn’t incorporate a magnet to easily switch between two vehicles.

Living up to its name, the Garmin Mini 3 measures 5.21 x 3.16 x 2.03 cm and weighs just 30g. A USB cable and a 12-volt adapter are included in the box, but there’s no microSD card, so you’ll have to provide your own. It supports cards with a storage between 8GB and 512GB, and Class 10 or faster.

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Performance

Anyone who has used a Garmin dash cam for the last few years will immediately recognize how the new Mini 3 works. The setup process is completed using Garmin’s free smartphone app, called Drive. This lets you adjust settings like video resolution, impact sensitivity, and whether the microphone is on or off.

Or, the Garmin Mini 3 can simply be stuck to your car and left to its default settings, since it will start recording from the moment it is powered up for the first time.

As with the three-year-old Garmin Mini 2, the new dash cam records HDR video at 1080p resolution, also known as Full HD. It shoots at 30 frames per second through a 140-degree lens with an integrated polarizing filter, which helps to reduce windshield reflections. Aside from the filter, this is exactly the same specification as the Mini 2.

The result is footage that looks great. It’s sharp and stable, with plenty of detail and accurate color reproduction. The dash cam does a great job of handling varying lighting conditions, and the polarizing filter really helped to cut down on glare.

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Verdict

The third-generation Garmin Dash Cam Mini is fantastic. It’s tiny, easy to install, set up, and use, and produces high-quality video with minimal effort. It also offers a range of options for upgrading the experience, including a parking mode with remote surveillance and automatic cloud storage.

Even if you don’t use these extra features, the Mini 3 still does a great job of recording footage and saving it securely, with bonus functions like voice control. The Garmin Drive app also works well and makes it easy to adjust settings and view or download video – crucial, since the dash cam itself doesn’t have a screen or a user interface.

However, the Mini 3 isn’t much of an improvement over its first- or second-generation predecessors. Those models are cheaper – plus the Mini 2 is still available to buy new – yet offer a very similar experience. A key difference is how the nearest model comes with an integrated polarizing lens, which helps to cut down on reflections.

Is that, and the optional remote view function (which requires a Garmin Vault subscription and a data connection) enough to justify the extra expense? If you haven’t owned a Garmin Mini before, then the third-gen model is a truly great dash cam. But, if you already have either of the previous two models, especially the Mini 2, and it still works fine,I recommend you stick with that and skip the upgrade this time.

Alternatives

Here at Digital Camera World we love a good dash cam. The best front and rear dash cams can help protect your vehicle against bad and negligent road users, or even criminals trying to commit malicious insurance scams. But such aftermarket cameras are limited to recording directly in front and behind your vehicle, leaving the sides unmonitored. That is unless you have Tesla.

A Tesla Model 3, for example, has 8 external cameras - one in each door pillar, one in each front fender/wing, three forward-facing cams cited above the rear-view mirror (including a primary, wide-angle and telephoto camera), plus there's a rear-facing camera mounted above the back license plate. If you enable Tesla's Sentry mode, these cameras and the car's sensors remain active even when you leave the vehicle, ready to detect and record suspicious activity. If required, the system can also pulse the car's headlights or sound its alarm, as well as alerting the owner via the Tesla app.

It's thanks to these smart cameras that Australian Tesla owners have been detecting individuals vandalising their parked vehicles. One owner posted Sentry footage to the Tesla Owners Australia Facebook page of their car being keyed by a passing pedestrian after they noticed "a deep scratch from the rear passenger door all the way through to the left guard”. Upon reviewing the car's camera footage, it was discovered that the culprit was not an intellectually-challenged teenager, but rather an elderly lady. Other commenters on the Facebook page have stated that such videos seem to be posted on a weekly basis, with it being claimed that the vandals seem to frequently be from older age groups: “WTF is wrong with all these old people keying cars for no reason?” and “is it always Boomers?”.

In another instance captured on Tesla cameras, a man can be seen keying one side of the car, stopping to inspect his 'handywork' for a moment, and then walking casually away.

It's not clear whether these acts of vandalism are being directed specifically at Teslas, or at luxury cars in general. But with Tesla's Sentry mode providing an abundance of video footage, it's easy to assume this premium electric car brand is being disproportionately targeted.

While the act of scratching a car's paint may seem trivial, the damage is not easy to repair, usually requiring the entirety of the damaged body panels to be fully repainted. The associated cost can easily run into four figures.

With the video footage provided by these onboard security cameras, as well as the ease at which it can be shared on social media, it's surely only a matter of time before some of these vandals are identified and prosecuted.

Story credit: News.com.au

Garmin dash cams have always appeared at the sharp end of our buying guides. They are compact yet powerful, with strong video quality, excellent ease-of-use, and a decent price.

Now, the all-conquering Garmin 67W has been usurped by a new flagship. It’s called the X310 – Garmin’s naming convention is nothing if not sporadic – and it costs more than the 67W.

In fact, at $350 / £350 it costs significantly more than the circa-$200 / £200 Garmin 67W. All that extra cash buys you 4K video, a new design with a touchscreen display, and an integrated polarizing filter to help cut down on windshield reflections.

Is that enough to justify the price tag? Read on to find out.

Garmin Dash Cam X310: Specifications

Garmin Dash Cam X310: Price

Available now, the Garmin X310 is priced at $399.99 / £349.99. For that price, you get Garmin’s new flagship dash cam, complete with a simple magnetic windshield mount, a USB-C to USB-A cable, and a 12-volt adapter that has two USB-A sockets. The X310 is a full $200 / £150 more expensive than Garmin’s previous flagship, the Dash Cam 67W, which is still available.

Garmin Dash Cam X310: Design & Handling

Despite the top-end specification on offer here, the X310 is a remarkably compact dashcam. At 7 x 4.22 x 1.95 cm it is only slightly larger than the Garmin 67W (5.62 x 4.05 x 2.19 cm).

It isn’t quite as small as the equally new Garmin Mini 3, but considering the X310 has a 2.4-inch display on its rear, plus 4K video and a lens with an integrated polarizing filter, it’s an impressively compact package.

Also tiny is the windshield mount. Just like other models of Garmin dash cam, this uses a very short plastic arm that attaches to the dash cam with a ball-and-socket joint, then sticks to the windshield with a magnetic disc. This uses an adhesive pad to stay attached to your car, but its magnetic connection to the mount (and spare disc in the box) makes it easy to move the Garmin between two vehicles.

There are two buttons on the side of the X310. One is for power and the other can be pressed to manually save a video recording – for example, when you see an incident ahead but aren’t directly involved, so the dash cam’s collision-activated save function isn’t triggered.

An included power cable attaches to a USB-C port on the opposite side, while the rear houses a 2.4-inch touchscreen display. This is a color TFT LCD panel that is bright, sharp, and clear, but which switches off while in use so the driver isn’t distracted. Finally, the front is where you’ll find the X130’s 140-degree lens and integrated polarizing filter. Garmin used to sell these filters as an optional extra, but now integrates one in a bid to cut down on windshield reflections spoiling your footage.

Overall, the Garmin X310 is a smart-looking dash cam that is small but has everything most drivers could possibly need and feels like it is designed to last.

Garmin Dash Cam X310: Performance

I’ll cut right to the chase here: the Garmin X310 produces fantastic video. And while it’s true that a glance at the spec sheet would likely tell the same story, dash cams are occasionally guilty of overpromising and under-delivering, especially when it comes to 4K.

The X310 is not one of those dashcams. The footage is smooth, sharp, and full of detail, with accurate colors and almost none of the noise that some other high-resolution dash cams suffer from.

Key details like street signs, road markings, and vehicle license plates are legible during daytime recordings, and while there’s less detail at night the X310 still produces video with remarkably little grain.

Footage recorded during both day and night benefits from the new polarized lens, which cuts down on reflections of the car interior appearing on the windshield and obscuring the dash cam’s view of the road ahead.

The X310 also scores highly for how simple it is to set up and use. Installation takes just a couple of minutes, thanks to the wonderfully simple windshield mount, and you don’t even have to use the Garmin Drive app if you don’t want to, since settings like video resolution, frame rate, and other parameters can be adjusted via the touchscreen on the dash cam itself. The app is worth installing if you want to use Vault, Garmin’s cloud storage subscription service that costs $9.99 / £9.99 a month and automatically uploads saved recordings, which are then accessible for 30 days.

The same subscription also unlocks Live View, which lets you view a live video stream from the X310 on your phone. This is a great way to remotely check in on your parked car, but along with a Vault subscription, it also requires a hardwired setup for permanent power and a Wi-Fi connection (such as a hotspot device left in your car) to get the dash cam online.

Less impressive are the driver safety assistance features. A subtle beep to let you know the vehicle ahead has set off can be helpful (if you’re not paying attention, that is), but It isn’t smart enough to understand more than the simplest of traffic-following. Pause to let a vehicle fill a gap ahead and it’ll beep at you, unaware of your generosity.

I was also disappointed to see the forward collision warning issue two false positives in quick succession. Both of these (which are supposed to warn if the dash cam thinks you’re about to crash into a vehicle ahead) occurred while I was parked, and one was triggered when no other vehicle was moving on the road ahead.

As ever, these driver assistance features of dash cams struggle to match those already fitted by law to most modern cars, and a couple of false positives are enough for me to decide to disable them. This means the X310 isn’t the perfect driver assistance system, but nor should it be. Dash cams are primarily for recording the road ahead, and then saving footage when it’s most needed. For me, the X310 wouldn’t be any less impressive if it did away with its driver assistance features entirely. Thankfully, they are easy to switch off.

Lastly, the X310 is one of the very few dash cams to have a battery. This provides up to 20 minutes of use, so while it’s handy for short cable-free journeys (and ensures the camera has enough power to save and upload recordings after your car is turned off), it isn’t a game-changer.

Garmin Dash Cam X310: Verdict

Driver assistance tech aside, this really is a fantastic dash cam. It is compact, easy to install, and feels well-made. It records excellent 4K footage or can shoot at a whopping 120 fps if you turn the resolution down to Full HD. Garmin’s voice control tech works well, although isn’t something you’re likely to use often, and the smartphone app makes it easy to transfer footage off the camera. It’s also useful for adjusting settings but, then again, the dash cam’s touchscreen and simple user interface are even more convenient.

The addition of an integrated polarizing lens is welcome, cutting down on windshield reflections and improving footage compared to other models from the Garmin Dash Cam series.

Add this to the X310’s simple magnetic mount, which attaches securely and provides plenty of adjustability, and you have a high-end dash cam with little room for improvement – but with room to grow, if you want, with parking surveillance and remote viewing both on offer if you use a hardwiring cable and give the dash cam a data connection.

Alternatives

Thinkware has launched two new dash cams: the U1000 Plus, and F790. The high-end U1000 Plus compliments the existing U1000. It's a forward-facing dash cam equipped with a Sony STARVIS IMX515 image sensor capable of recording 4K video at 30fps, or 2K footage at 60fps. The U1000 Plus also benefits from Thinkware's Super Night Vision 3.0 low-light recording technology that promises high dynamic range with low image noise when recording in low light conditions.

Read more:
The best dash cams
Best budget dash cams
The best front and rear dash cams

The U1000 Plus can work in conjunction with the Thinkware Connected (UK) and Dashcam Link (US) app. The Thinkware Connected app enables remote live viewing of dashcam footage, notifications of an impact (whether your vehicle is in motion or parked, though the latter will require the camera to be hard-wired to your vehicle's electrical system), as well as the ability to send an emergency message and monitor your vehicle's status and driving history. The app is free to use for 5 years and is available for iOS, Android, PC and Mac.

The U1000 Plus includes a built-in GPS antenna, enabling features like red light and speed camera warnings, lane departure alerts, and it can sense the position of the vehicle in front to warn of an impending collision.

The U1000 plus is available now, priced at $299.99/£239 as a standalone front-facing dash cam, or for an extra $90/£90 it can be paired with a 1080p rear camera. Both options are supplied with a 64GB microSD card.

The F790 is a front-facing Full HD camera that features the same Super Night Vision, GPS, and collision warning systems as the U1000 Plus. Installing the F790 should also be neater than a typical dash cam, as its cables have been integrated into the dash cam mount for ease of installation and a tidier fitment.

The F790 also boasts Thinkware's Dewarping Technology to straighten video footage that would otherwise exhibit bloated, barrel distortion caused by the camera's ultra-wide, fisheye lens. Video is recorded in the storage-efficient HEVC video format, and the F790 is compatible with a multiplexer box which can enable it to be used in conjunction with four additional cameras for all-round video surveillance.

Expect to pay $249.99/£209 for the F790 bundled with a 32GB SD card, while a rear camera can be added for an extra £60

A viral video has been making the rounds on social media recently apparently showing the step by step plan of insurance scammers trying to stage a car accident, all caught on the victims dash cam.

Known as a ‘Swoop-and-Squat’, in this instance the accident took place in Queens, New York, on October 16, while Ashpia Natasha was driving along the Belt Parkway talking to someone on the car speaker phone.

Suddenly, a car pulls in front of Natasha causing her to slam on her brakes before with enough time to avoid rear ending the car in front. The unknown car then rapidly reverses back, smashing into her car, making it look like Natasha has crashed into them, apparently not noticing the font and back cameras attached to her car.

In most cases without sufficient evidence, the driver of the car that hits the one in front is almost always liable for all damages in this type of situation.

According to Natasha, the insurance adjuster estimated the incident caused $8,300 in damage to her car alone. The footage reveals that she used Viofo A129 Plus dashcam to record the insident.

These types of insurance scams are not new, and people have been seeking out the best front and rear dash cams to record this type of fraud for decades.

However, what is new, and why this video has gone viral, is the sophistication with which these scams are being carried out today.

After the crash, the passengers in the back seat pull out what appears to be a trash bag, or piece of black cloth, putting it over the back window and shielding the inside of their car from Natasha’s view. It then appears that the two drivers in the front trade seats.

It’s likely they did this because the driver is the alleged ringleader of the scam, who then switches places with the passenger so as not to raise suspicion for being repeatedly caught.

A red Kia can be seen in the rear camera footage turning on its hazard lights, even before Natasha is forced to pull stop. What appears to be the same car then pulls ahead of both stationary cars, and whisks the driver away from the scene.

The two passengers then get out of the car, take pictures of Natasha’s car, and cradle their heads and bend at the waist as though hurt.

After they noticed the dashcam, the scammers quickly drove away.

Dash cams are easy to set up, and can be time stamped, making them a great source of evidence for any kind of road incident.

Phil Maltaghati of United Public Adjusters and Appraisers told ABC 7 Eyewitness News:

"Innocent people driving with their families and they've got kids in the backseat, they are not thinking someone is trying to game them or make money off them, but also risking their lives.

"This woman is very lucky to have cameras, that's all I'm going to say.”

The New York Police Department have found one of the cars, but are still looking for the perpetrators.

These insurance scams are on the rise, take a look at our guides to the best dash cams, the best budget dash cams, and the best front and rear dash cams.

The 70mai Dash Cam A510 is front and rear dash cam set. The front camera is capable of recording video at 2592 x 1944 resolution - that's a useful step up from Full HD (1920 x 1080), but some way short of 4K (3840 x 2160). The rear dashcam records 1080P Full HD footage. The kit is supplied with a 64GB microSD card for on-board video recording, and the camera can be connected to your phone and controlled by 70mai's companion app. This enables settings adjustment, along with live video monitoring and playback of recorded footage. But the stand-out appeal of the A510 is you get all this for a price that, not so long ago, would barely have got you a single, front-facing budget dashcam.

Let's see whether the A510 is good value, and not just cheap...

Key features

At the heart A510 front dashcam is a Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 Sensor. These sensors are designed specifically for security cameras and dashcams and have been engineered to have high light sensitivity while also generating low image noise. According to Sony, STARVIS 2 sensors can "demonstrate sensitivity beyond the human eye as well as outstanding low noise characteristics. These sensors can accurately reproduce colors and textures of targets which are difficult to distinguish in dark locations, drastically improving their performance in low-illuminance environments". The sensor is also capable of recording in HDR - useful when driving in strong sunlight, or at night. Factor in the generous 2592 x 1944 resolution and the front dashcam should, at least on paper, deliver respectable recording quality.

The rear dashcam does not use the same sensor. It maxes out at Full HD image quality. As we'll discover later, these lower specs do have a profound impact on the rear cam's real-world video quality.

If you purchase the optional hardwire kit, the camera is also capable of 24-hour smart parking surveillance, so it will detect a collision even when the engine is off and you're away from the car. The system will then automatically record a 30-second video of the detected event and can notify your phone via the companion app, as the hardware kit is 4G enabled. The kit can also be used for on-demand monitoring of your car, so you can remotely check its surroundings from your phone whenever you like.

Build and handling

The A510 front dashcam feels substantial and well made. Its boxy shape means you get a practically-sized rear LCD display, while the camera lens sits in a protruding cylinder on the side. This can be rotated up and down to direct the camera at the correct area of the road ahead, compensating for the angle of your particular windscreen. As with many dashcams, both the front and rear A510 cameras use a self adhesive pad to attach to your car's glass, via a transparent anti-static sticker.

The rear dashcam is far lighter than the front cam and feels almost hollow as a result, but it's likely just the sensor and lens in a plastic casing - the front camera is the business-end of the set-up containing the processing and power circuitry.

As with any dashcam, fitting the cameras is relatively easy - it's the wiring that's the tricky part. We installed the A510 cameras in a 2010 Renault Grand Scenic - a relatively long 7-seater MPV/minivan. 70mai supplies generously long cables to link the front camera to your car's 12V outlet, and to connect the rear camera to the front cam - there was comfortably enough wire for our installation. Power is supplied from a dual USB adaptor that plugs into your car's 12V/cigarette lighter outlet.

If you then want to conceal all the dashcam cabling in your car's interior trim panels and headlining so it's not visible, it will take time and patience. 70mai does at least supply a plastic spudger tool to help you tuck the wiring out of sight. If you have a hatchback vehicle (where the rear screen will move when you open the tailgate), routing the cable for the rear camera from the main body of the car across to the tailgate necessitates even more care, to ensure it doesn't get crushed every time you shut the boot. This is not an issue unique to the A510 - it's something you'll have to factor when fitting any rear dashcam to a hatchback vehicle.

Once you've got both cameras installed and wired in, the cameras automatically fire up and start recording when you car is turned on (the engine doesn't have to be running, at least in our test vehicle). The screen on the front camera can be set to display either the front or rear camera's feed, or you can display the front view with an inset thumbnail preview in the corner showing rear camera's footage.

Performance

A manufacturer can cram a dash cam full of extra features, but what really matters is the camera's video quality - after all, that's what's going to be most important for an insurance company to determine who's at fault in a collision.

In daylight conditions the A510 front dash cam's image quality is very good. When set to the maximum 2592 x 1944 resolution, video is sharp and fine detail well resolved. Reading number plates of cars ahead is easy when they're directly in front of the camera, though plates on cars driving past on the opposite side of the road are harder to read. This is an issue with most cameras, as fast motion combined with video frame interlacing and digital compression causes moving text on the periphery of a video frame to suffer from motion blur. The camera's automatic exposure metering is accurate and reliable, and I was happy with the dynamic range captured by the STARVIS 2 image sensor.

A potential downside of this high definition recording is the video file size: each minute of footage consumes 172MB of card space, so a 1 hour drive will require around 10 gigabytes of storage. And don't forget the rear camera will also be recording simultaneously and consuming even more storage space, albeit not as much as the front cam (61MB/minute). It means the included 64GB microSD card fills up fast - we'd recommend upgrading to a 256GB card if you drive frequently and want more than a few days of archive footage before the camera automatically overwrites the oldest videos.

While the front camera's image quality is commendable, the rear's is far less impressive. Judging by its relative lack of detail and higher digital image noise, it's using a significantly smaller image sensor than than in the front cam. A following car will need to be within approximately 3-4 car lengths of you for its number plate to be legible, and the rear camera doesn't have the clarity for number plates on cars passing on the opposite side of the road to be easily readable. Dynamic range is also noticeably inferior to what's captured by the front cam, with highlights much more easily blown out and shadows lacking definition.

While the rear cam's image quality is disappointing in the day, it's downright poor at night. Rear cam video is severely lacking in detail, video compression artifacts mask what fine detail is left, and the dynamic range issue becomes even more obvious. If your car is rear-ended at night, the footage from the rear camera will only be useful for identifying simply that a car has hit you - it will rarely be clear enough to identify the make/model, let alone number plate details.

Thankfully the front camera performs much better at night, thanks to its higher resolution and far better dynamic range. Number plates are still legible, albeit less so than by day, but it still gives you a fighting chance of identifying the details of an oncoming vehicle immediately prior to a night-time collision.

We did not fit the optional hardwire kit as this involves additional modification of the car's electrical system and fuses, which I didn't feel comfortable performing on my car.

Verdict

A dashcam should really now be considered an essential element of driving safety. If you're involved in a collision, the ability to prove through video evidence that you're not at fault could be invaluable. I don't say this just because I work with cameras, but because my own car was recently rear-ended and consequently totalled/written-off. Had it been equipped with a front and rear dashcam, this would have irrefutably proven that I was not to blame.

And it's thanks to dashcams like the 70mai A510 that we can now say that a dashcam is indeed "essential". Its low price is relatively insignificant when you consider all the other costs incurred when driving - fuel, insurance, etc - yet you still get two cameras and a host of extra features.

I was impressed by the performance of the A510 front camera - its day- and night-time video quality is excellent for the money. I've been using the camera in my daily driver for over two months now and it's performed flawlessly. The rear camera is more of a token effort, however. Its video quality is far inferior to that produced by the front cam, but it's better than having no camera at all. Considering the A510 set costs about the same as an entry-level, front-only dashcam, think of the rear cam as more of a bonus. If you really want top-notch video quality from your rear camera, you'll need to spend extra cash on a more upmarket product.

Overall, the 70mai A510 is excellent value and ideal if you want a low-cost front & rear dashcam.

Dashcam maker Viofo has launched the A329, the first device to capture footage in ultra-hi-res 4K video and an ultra-smooth 60fps frame rate. While other cams have been able to capture 4K, this has previously topped out at a standard 30fps, while those capable of 60fps were limited to a 1080p resolution.

The A329's 4K 60fps combination enables the camera to capture a higher frame rate and smoother video, thanks to the latest-gen quad-core ARM Cortex A53 video processing chipset, resulting in ultra-smooth and crisp visuals to capture license plates and every detail in exceptional clarity, both day and night.

The A329 comes in a standalone version with the front camera only or in a kit with an optional rear camera, which records in 2K video (still at 60fps). The front camera deploys a Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 1/1.8'' 8Mp image sensor, designed to deliver exceptional clarity in low light and with less motion blur. The rear camera deploys a Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 1/2.8'' 5Mp image sensor, featuring an impressive 2.5 times wider dynamic range to capture exceptionally clear and sharp video.

The A329 is also the first model to use Wi-Fi 6 technology, which is three times faster in the 5GHz band, at up to 30MB/s. This enables a one-minute 4K video to be downloaded in less than 10 seconds. HDMI 4K video out transmits uncompressed video to electronic devices, such as an iPad, for an even clearer view.

It also has external SSD support to significantly extend its recording capability. This allows the capture of up to three weeks of footage and enables long distances to be traveled without the worry of storage limitations or important footage being overwritten.

Other features include voice control for safer hands-free operation while driving, a parking mode that provides continuous monitoring when parked up, integrated GPS tracking to log route and speed thus adding context to recorded footage, and a CPL filter to reduce glare and improve image clarity in bright conditions. If you opt for the kit with the rear camera, a 2.8mm super-slim coaxial rear cable and miniature connectors enable a neatly hidden installation.

The two-channel version of the A329 is on sale for $399.99/ £314, with the single camera version retailing for $329.99 / £259.

You might be interested in the best dash cams, along with the best front and rear dashcams, and best budget dash cams.

The Wolfbox X5 dashcam combines three-channel video feeds for an all-around view of your car, outside and in, to capture on-the-road incidents in more detail than ever. The video streams are further enhanced using advanced HDR and 3D dynamic noise reduction (DNR) technologies for clear images even in low light, to ensure that essential details, such as license plates, are reliably recorded day and night. 

The three-channel dashcam combines feeds from 4K Sony IMX 678 Starvis 2 HDR, 1080p HDR, and 2.5K IMX 335 Starvis HDR sensors, covering the vehicle's front, rear and interior with 4K and 2.5K clarity, aiming to significantly reduce blind spots and improve overall driving safety. Or users can choose to disable the rear and internal cameras for high-resolution recording, to deliver a greater level of detail than ever before.

"The X5 stands out in the industry due to its outstanding image quality," remarked  Jonathan Smith, CEO of Wolfbox. "With every product, we're innovating in a way that addresses the needs of today's drivers. Whether it's exceptional video quality, wireless connectivity or the latest Starvis 2 sensor, we are making sure drivers get the safest and most seamless experience on the road."

The unit also integrates 5.8GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, for a fast and stable wireless connection, enabling recordings to be easily viewed, downloaded and shared, while built-in GPS tracks routes and locations.

A hands-free smart voice control feature enables safe operation while behind the wheel, and the display is touch-sensitive, for easy access to all functions, providing the X5 with a user-friendly and intuitive interface.

The device helps protect your vehicle while it's parked up, too, with two parking modes, including time-lapse monitoring and collision detection, to ensure continuous surveillance, offering further peace of mind.

The dashcam comes complete with a complimentary 128GB high-capacity card, providing plenty of storage without additional outlay.

Combining multiple cameras, high-res footage, voice control and an attractive asking price, the Wolxbox X5 could give more established dashcam manufacturers, such as Garmin who recently announced a raft of new models including a hi-res 4K X310 dashcam, a run for their money.

You might be interested in the best dash cams, along with the best front and rear dashcams and best budget dash cams.

Garmin has released four dash cams in its new X-series range, which combine a compact size while delivering crisp video of up to 4K Ultra HD resolution, acting as an invaluable eyewitness for drivers should they encounter any incidents on the road.

The Dash Cam X series introduces an integrated Garmin Clarity polarizer lens, to reduce windshield glare, combined with Garmin Clarity HDR optics to enable the camera to capture maximum detail in very bright or low light conditions, making them invaluable for motorists whatever the time of the day or night.

“When you have a dash cam, you want to be confident it will capture all the necessary details and not worry about having parts of your video washed out due to weather conditions or distracting windshield glare. These cameras bring the clarity you need,” remarked Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales.

The dash cams can also be operated via simple voice commands, to save video clips and start or stop audio recordings while keeping their hands on the wheel (and hopefully delete anything you don't want anyone to see!). The devices also offer advanced driver notifications, such as forward collision and lane departure notifications, 'go' alerts to notify drivers when stopped traffic has begun moving again, and speed camera notifications to help encourage safer driving (and avoid those pesky fines and license points…).

In the event of the cam detecting a road traffic incident, videos are automatically saved. And on the models with built-in GPS, videos are stamped with location, speed, date and time to show exactly when and where events occurred.

The Dash Cam X series provides premium video in a variety of resolutions, allowing drivers to select the camera that best fits their needs (and budget):

The Dash Cam Mini 3 is ultra-compact, car-key sized and, to achieve its remarkable tiny size, has no on-device display while still capturing 1080p HD video (and comes complete with built-in Garmin Clarity polarizer lens).

The pocket-sized Dash Cam X110 adds a number of premium features, including advanced driver awareness alerts, built-in GPS and a bright 2.4in LCD screen to immediately review video in 1080p HD.

The Dash Cam X210 boasts the same compact size, high-res display and other features as the X110, but can capture video up to 1440p HD.

The range-toping Dash Cam X310 has the same-sized and display as the X110/X210 but adds intuitive touchscreen functionality and provides 4K Ultra HD video quality.

The companion Garmin Drive smartphone app enables drivers to sync up to four additional Garmin dash cams for multiple viewpoints, automatically organizing video clips. Plus, with a paid Vault subscription, the dash cameras automatically store saved video clips in a secure, online 'vault' that is accessible via the app, making it easy to view and share videos and offering continuous storage of important clips. 

Vault subscribers can also utilize vehicle surveillance features, such as parking guard and live view, to gain peace of mind when away from their parked vehicles. The parking guard alert sends a notification to a smartphone when the dash cam detects an incident affecting the motorist’s car, while live view gives a live feed from the dash cam remotely.

Available now, the Garmin Dash Cam X series has suggested retail prices ranging from $149.99/£149.99 to $399.99/£349.99. 

Forward-facing dash cams that shoot in 4K have been around for a while now. But what about one that records in 4K to the rear, too? That’s what makes the new Miofive S1 Ultra stand out from the crowd.

As well as that headline-grabbing resolution, the S1 Ultra has Wifi, GPS, HDR, and Bluetooth – essentially, everything we have come to expect from a flagship dashcam. There’s also a 3-inch display on the rear, a parking mode when the buyer opts for a hardwired installation, and a framerate of 30 frames per second. And, this being 2024, there’s a promise of AI too. Of course, there is.

Does that impressive specification sheet make the Miofive S1 Ultra all the dash cam you’ll ever need? Or is it overkill to shoot 4K to the front and rear? Read on to find out.

Miofive S1 Ultra: Specifications

Miofive S1 Ultra: Price

Available now, the Miofive S1 Ultra is priced at $199.99 / £199.99. For that price you get both the front and rear camera, plus windscreen mounts for both, a cable to connect them together, and a choice of a long or a short cable to plug the front camera into a USB port, or the included 12-volt adapter.

Miofive S1 Ultra: Design & Handling

Miofive has kept things simple with the design of the S1 Ultra. It has resisted the temptation of making its flagship dash cam stand out from the crowd and instead built a device that is relatively compact (but not tiny) and puts its large lens front and center.

The 3-inch screen takes up much of the rear panel and is joined by a set of four buttons for navigating the menu system. There’s a power button on the top edge, along with a USB-C port for power and a slot for connecting to the windscreen mount. The left side is home to a microSD card slot (with a 64GB card included in the box) and a socket for connecting the rear camera via an extra-long cable, also included.

There’s nothing particularly special here, but the camera feels well made and the carbon-style effect on the front panel gives it a premium aesthetic. The windscreen mount offers horizontal and vertical adjustment, with the latter locked into place with a screw that’s designed to be tightened by hand. The mount slides onto the camera and locks into place, then slides onto a mounting plate that sticks to the windscreen with an adhesive pad.

The rear camera is much smaller, despite also packing a 4K sensor. As is commonplace among rear-facing dash cams, it is attached to a small screen mount in a way that means it can be adjusted through 360 degrees. The mount has an integrated adhesive pad for sticking to the screen.

Miofive S1 Ultra: Performance

Installing and setting up the Miofive S1 Ultra is much like any other dash cam. The mount sticks to your windscreen with an adhesive pad, then it’s just a case of running the included cable from your car’s 12-volt lighter socket to the camera itself, either directly or by tucking it between interior panels for a neater look. There’s a tool included in the box to help with this.

The camera switches on when you fire up your car and starts recording right away. It’s then up to you as to whether you connect your phone with Wifi and the Miofive app, or continue without. The free app (for iOS and Android) works well, as far as dash cam apps are concerned, and serves as a convenient way to view saved footage and adjust the camera’s many settings. These include resolution (4K, 2K, or Full HD, all at 30 frames per second), collision sensitivity, language, use of the microphone, exposure, speaker volume, data overlay (such as time, date, and speed), and settings for the parking mode.

It isn’t strictly necessary though, and thankfully neither is the creation of a Miofive account. You can create one with your email address, but I prefer skipping that step and going straight to the camera.

Some key settings, like video resolution, can be adjusted on the camera itself. The user interface is fairly simple to navigate via the buttons on the back, but the screen is not touch-sensitive.

Some 4K dash cams struggle to live up to their own hype, producing footage that is noisy, grainy, and poorly exposed. The Miofive S1 Ultra is no such dash cam. It produces great video that is sharp, clear, and mostly free of noise. Details like road signs and vehicle license plates are crips, colors are accurately reproduced and everything is nice and stable, even when driving over large speed bumps.

As is normal with dash cams, video quality varies with ambient lighting. On a bright, sunny day the footage created by the Miofive S1 Ultra is excellent, while on a gray and overcast day there’s more grain and colors tend to be flat. They still have plenty of detail though, so you’re still getting the benefits of those 4K sensors.

That said, the rear camera of my review sample was set to 1440p by default, also known as 2K resolution. Upping this to 4K made a small difference, but it also lowered the frame rate from 30 per second to 25. The front camera shoots at 30 fps regardless of the resolution you choose (1080p, 1440p or 4K).

Recordings are large, eating up 0.4GB of storage every minute with both cameras running at 4K, but this isn’t too much of a problem since Miofive provides a 64GB microSD card in the box. The card will get full after about four hours of driving, but incidents are saved in a protected folder that isn’t overwritten, so there’s no danger of collision evidence being deleted as the card fills up.

Lastly, the S1 Ultra has a set of AI-powered driver assistance tools. When enabled, these alert you if it thinks you’re fatigued or driving harshly, and gives you an audible nudge if you don’t notice the car in front setting off. The latter can be useful in traffic, but I prefer to keep these switched off, since they never work as well as the safety systems fitted to the car itself.

Miofive S1 Ultra: Verdict

This is a great dashcam. The hardware feels well-made and is aesthetically pleasing, while the video produced by both the front and rear cameras is of excellent quality. I would like to have seen a higher frame rate from the rear camera when recording at 4K, as 25 fps feels a bit low, especially when the front camera manages 4K at 30 fps. But I’m splitting hairs with that complaint, as in reality there’s little to tell apart from the rear camera’s 1440p at 30fps and its 4K at 25 fps. Which one you choose depends on personal preference.

I tend not to use a dashcam’s smartphone app if I can help it, so I was pleased to see how the S1 Ultra can be set up and used without ever installing the app, or creating a Miofive user account. That said, 5GHz Wifi means videos can be transferred quickly to your smartphone if you’d rather not transfer them via the included microSD card.

Ultimately, you could argue that 4K footage isn’t necessary for a dashcam, and 1080p or 1440p is absolutely fine. But the Miofive S1 Ultra makes a compelling case for the higher resolution. A sharper video with more detail is always a good thing, and that’s what 4K delivers.

Alternatives

New cars today are crammed with cameras covering every possible angle and blind spot around the vehicle, but motorbikes far less so. The theory being that with no bodyshell and roof pillars restricting your view like in a car, the motorcyclist's vision is far less obstructed than the car driver's.

However, it's still vital to check behind you when manoeuvring on a bike, and to help with this Suzuki is developing a rear-view camera system for use on motorbikes. Rear-view dashcam devices can already be found from aftermarket accessory manufacturers, but Suzuki's implementation marks the first time a mainstream motorbike manufacturer has designed an integrated camera system for use in its bikes.

Read more:
The best dash cams in 2024
The best budget dash cams
Best front and rear dash cams

The system, developed in conjunction with Tokai Rika, will be fitted to the rear of the bike and will supplement conventional rear view mirrors to give the rider a wider field of view than mirrors alone provide. The camera's feed will then be displayed on a TFT screen integrated into the bike's instrument cluster. With such a camera system, a motorcycle rider is able to monitor traffic behind with less need to do a full over-the-shoulder / 'lifesaver' check - an action that would take his/her eyes off the road ahead for longer than simply glancing at a camera feed.

Of course it's imperative that such a system be totally reliable, and with the lowest possible video feed latency - any glitches or lagginess could put the rider in extreme danger. Suzuki is said to be working on sophisticated software that will be able to zoom in on the portions of the video frame in order to provide a clearer view of potential hazards and better inform the rider of his/her surroundings.

We don't yet know when Suzuki's system will enter mass production as it's still in the development stage, but this is nevertheless an intriguing example of cameras being used to improve the safety of motorcyclists.

Story credit: Pure.news

70mai has launched its latest dashcam - a twin-camera set up that offers some great features at a more affordable price than the 70mai A810 4K model we tested earlier year. 

The new 70mai A510 has a front camera that records 2.7K 1944P video using a Sony Starvis 2 sensor and offers a 140° angle of view.

The rear camera offers a lower 1080P resolution with a 130° view, but its party trick is that it can be rotated 360°, so it can be used to record the inside of the car if you prefer this.

The A510 has built-in GPS so it can record your position and speed with the footage. And thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, the controls can be set via your phone. Footage can be viewed on your cellphone too, but the front unit also has a built-in LCD screen for monitoring purposes. The kit is supplied with a 64GB microSD, but cards of up to 256GB can be used.

The ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) features include a lane departure alerts, and warnings of impending collisions or the vehicle in front beginning to move. Then, when parked up, you can opt to get 24-hour monitoring for your car - with video recording being started when it detects a bump - if you buy the optional hardwire kit.

The 70mai A510 is now on sale for $140/£130.

Miofive has launched what we think is the world's first dash cam kit that comes with two 4K cameras - one for recording the road in front, and the other to record what is behind you.

We have review many of the best front-and-rear dash cams - and all of them either offer a better quality camera to the front, or provide two cams that are less than 4K quality.

There are some that would argue, that you don't need 4K - although increasing the best dash cams offer this. But given that the whole point, for most drivers, is to record footage in case there is an accident - any extra detail could be very vital for proving guilt, or identifying the exact sequence of events.

The Miofive S1 Ultra has 8MP sensors in both of its cameras, that captures 4K coverage at 30fps - to ensure you have all the angles covered. The front camera module offers an angle of view of 140° , whilst the smaller rear unit offers a 112° view of the road behind. The maximum apertures of the two are f/1.8 and f/2 respectively.

The S1 Ultra has built-in GPS to record your position, and the front unit has a 3-inch LCD IPS display. 

If you invest in the optional hardwire kit (costing $30/£30), you get a choice of 24-hour parking modes. These modes use a G-Sensor to offer 1fps timelapse video or collision detection.

There is Bluetooth and dual-channel Wi-Fi so that you can control the dashcam and view footage remotely on an Apple or Android phone. You can also store footage on a removable memory card. A 64GB MicroSD is provided with the kit, but you can upgrade to storage up to a 512GB card if you wish.

The Miofive S1 Ultra can be bought for $169.99 / $199.99 - but currently, there are introductory coupons on Amazon that can be applied to reduce by £30/$40.

We hope to bring you a full test soon. We were impressed with the earlier Miofive 4K Dash Cam with its single camera - so hope the two-camera S1 Ultra will follow in the same tracks..

Audiences of the World Rally Championship (WRC) might soon get to view the action from a raw drivers’ eye view, elevating coverage for fans. 

Italian helmet supplier Stilo have reportedly created a helmet which incorporates an onboard camera, similar to those in operation in Formula 1. 

The WRC is planning to take the championship to the U.S in 2026, hoping this new camera will provide an almost perfect drivers’ eye view, and draw fans away from homegrown staples NASCAR and IndyCar. 

“We are working on engineering a camera together with the WRC Promoter. We are testing something with the Promoter," Stilo managing director Paolo Bonetalli told Autosport.

“The idea is to have a driver perception of the car, so it is possible to see exactly what the driver is seeing. Especially in rally the difficulty of placing of the camera on the car, you have plenty of cameras but when you are in a turn and drifting it is difficult to get a drivers’ eye view. It is something we are working on.”

He pointed out that the difference between cameras used in circuit racing compared to rally racing is that due to the nature of rallying, the camera must be very high quality for the audience to see anything clearly. 

Even the best action cameras have their limitations, and Bonetalli added, “You see in Formula 1 that the camera is shaking a lot and you can’t see what is happening. In rally you must have the maximum quality.”

“The idea is to find a camera that can transmit for one minute but in this case, it must be stable and be high quality, this is the difficulty and why we are working with the promoters to find the right solution.”

Circuit racing, like Formula 1 and NASCAR, takes place on a closed circuit track at very high speeds, incorporating sharp turns, straight-ways, and chicanes, as drivers try and finish first. 

Rally racing, in contrast, takes place on public or private roads in modified production or specially built road-legal cars, over a variety of, often uneven, terrain, and drivers compete against the clock. The WRC is among the top rallying competitions globally with events in Monte Carlo, Australia, Sweden, Finland, and Germany.

One challenge in the design of this camera is the safety of the driver. 

Bonetalli said: 

“We have designed something, and we are working to test it and the next step is to get it certified.”

Helmet cameras in general are a big area of interest; GoPro acquired Forcite, a company specialised in developing helmets (for motorcyclists) with built-in cameras.

Check out our guide to the best helmet cameras in 2024.

We've also put together a guide to the best helmet cameras for cyclists, and motorcyclists.

With autonomous vehicles looming over the not so distant future, many tech wizards are working hard to improve the less than perfect detection technology we’re currently using. 

Daniel Gehrig and Davide Scaramuzza from the Department of Informatics at the University of Zurich (UZH) have combined a bio-inspired event camera with artificial intelligence to develop a much more effective detection system. 

7,508 people were killed by cars in America in 2022, the highest rate of death by vehicles in 41 years, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.  

Most current systems are frame-based, 30-50 frames per second, alerting the driver audibly or visually, and maybe activating emergency braking. An artificial neural network can be trained to recognize objects in their images, such as pedestrians, bikes, and other cars.

"But if something happens during the 20 or 30 milliseconds between two snapshots, the camera may see it too late. The solution would be increasing the frame rate, but that translates into more data that needs to be processed in real-time and more computational power," says Daniel Gehrig, first author of the paper, published in Nature.

Event cameras are a recent innovation and work slightly differently. Instead of a constant frame rate, they have smart pixels that record information whenever they detect movement. 

“This way, they have no blind spot between frames, which allows them to detect obstacles more quickly. They are also called neuromorphic cameras because they mimic how human eyes perceive images", says Davide Scaramuzza, head of the Robotics and Perception Group.

Similar to the frame cameras they have their own shortcomings. They can miss things that move slowly, and are not easily converted into the data used to train the AI algorithm.

Gehrig and Scaramuzza have created a hybrid product between the two systems. 

It incorporates a standard camera that takes 20 images per second, and an AI system called a convolutional neural network to recognize cars or people.

The data from the event camera is then used with another AI system, an asynchronous graph neural network, which is known to be good at analyzing 3D data that changes over time.

Detections from the event camera are used to anticipate detections by the standard cameras, and also boosts its performance.

“The result is a visual detector that can detect objects just as quickly as a standard camera taking 5,000 images per second would do but requires the same bandwidth as a standard 50-frame-per-second camera”, said Gehrig.

The biggest advancement here is that the system can effectively detect cars and pedestrians that enter the field of view between subsequent frames of the standard camera. According to Scaramuzza and Gehrig, this will make driving safer for both drivers and pedestrians, especially at high speeds.

According to the scientists, this design could be made more powerful in the future by integrating LiDAR sensors, like the ones currently used in self-driving cars.

Keep yourself safe while driving and record any dangerous traffic with our guide to the best dashcam, and the best front and rear dashcams. 

Also check out our guide to the best budget dashcams. 

Irish company Luna Systems is about to release the new Luna Oculus camera, which claims to harness the power of AI with a new rear-viewing camera for cyclists.

Set to launch imminently at the beginning of June through an Indiegogo campaign, the Luna Oculus is designed to shoot-rear viewing footage as the cyclist rides. The live footage is then relayed on to an app on the cyclist's phone, essentially turning your phone into a rear view mirror, with AI functions. 

The camera can detect when a car is getting too close, sending the rider both visual and auditory warning signals through the phone app.

966 cyclists were killed in motor-vehicle traffic crashes in 2021, according to America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a 1.9 percent increase from 2020. Bicycle-related deaths accounted for two percent of all motor-vehicle traffic fatalities.

Cyclists can choose the environments where these alerts are triggered through customisable ‘warning zones’, which can be adjusted to cyclists' levels of comfort and confidence.

A demo video released by the company appears to show that the alerts will be beeping noises and a red light on the screen, although the interface has not yet been confirmed by Luna Systems.

Close shaves will be recorded on the app where they can be viewed on a map, allowing cyclists to plot safer routes, and avoid places that carry a high risk of getting into an accident.

People can then share that information with other riders which Andrew Fleury, CEO of Luna Systems described as “game changing.” This is in the hope that this technology will “help to not only keep other users safe, but help your city understand your safety needs.”

Fleury, CEO of Luna Systems said:

“Luna Oculus is more than just a piece of safety kit – it’s a catalyst for change. This Indiegogo campaign is not just about raising funds; it’s about building a community and garnering the kinds of consumer feedback that will feed into a much bigger, data-led approach which will benefit cyclists for generations to come.

“For too long, cyclists have been forced to choose between convenience and safety. Luna Oculus offers a third option: navigating the city with confidence and peace of mind.”

Keep yourself safe on the roads and take a look at the best cycling cameras in 2024. 

We should all be wearing helmets when we cycle, so take a look at the best helmet cameras, and the best body cameras. 

You might not have heard of 70mai as a brand in its own right, but you’ll likely be familiar with its parent company Xiaomi, the Chinese tech firm. 70mai makes several models of dash cam, including options with one or two cameras, and options for taxi and rideshare drivers who want to record a view of their interior.

For this review, I’m concentrating on the A810. This is a 4K dash cam available with or without a secondary rear-facing camera. The kit I received from 70mai includes both and at the time of writing is priced at under $200.

This makes the A810 seem like good value, especially given the 4K resolution of the front-facing camera, and how it also included Bluetooth, Wifi and GPS, as well as HDR, a parking mode (optional hardwiring kit required) and what 70mai describes as AI-powered motion detection. Is the A810 the 4K dash cam for you? Read on to find out.

70mai A810: Specifications

70mai A810: Price

Available now, the 70mai A810 with rear camera carries a recommended retail price of $199.99 / £179.99. However, at the time of writing, there are voucher savings on Amazon to bring this down even further. The front-facing camera can be bought on its own for $159.99 £149.99, but this is also reduced at the time of writing, making it feel like excellent value for money, given the 4K resolution and included features.

70mai A810: Design & Handling

The 70mai A810 is a nicely designed dash cam since it manages to house a 4K image sensor and a 3in display into a relatively compact package. The lens can be adjusted vertically to get the best view of the road ahead, and there are four buttons for navigating through the user interface since the display is not touch-sensitive.

There are two ports on the side for plugging in the power cable and the optional rear-facing camera, right next to a microSD card slot. This accepts cards ranging from 32GB to 256GB in capacity, but you’ll have to provide your own as 70mai doesn’t include one in the box. The A810 seems relatively well made, but the plasticky finish feels like it would scratch easily.

The camera is fixed to the windscreen by sliding onto a mounting plate, which is then attached to the screen with an adhesive pad. Because the dashcam sticks directly to the screen, instead of employing an adjustable mount with a ball-and-socket joint, there’s no horizontal adjustability, so make sure you’re happy with the position of the mounting plate before sticking it in place. This also means the angle of the display mirrors the rake of your windscreen; this is fine in most vehicles, but something to consider if you have a car with a particularly shallow screen.

Something to bear in mind is how the dashcam is removed from the mounting plate by sliding updates. If you mount it too high on your screen, the dashcam can’t be removed from the mount because it’ll be obstructed by the top of the windscreen surround.

70mai’s rear camera is much smaller and is permanently attached to an adhesive mount that sticks to the rear screen. The camera can be rotated through 360 degrees on the vertical axis, so you’re sure to find the right position for the best view out. This camera then connects to a long cable, which in turn plugs into the main unit. I wish 70mai would use an industry-standard cable here, but it’s not a deal-breaker. 

70mai A810: Performance

Setting up the A810 was quick and easy. The smartphone app worked well for me (despite the terrible App Store review rating) and the software all feels speedy and stable. Some of the text hasn’t been translated into English particularly well, especially on a page explaining the dash cam’s driver assistance technology, which I’ll come back to later.

That aside, the setup was a breeze. The dash cam connected to my phone on the first attempt, successfully downloaded and installed a firmware update, and was good to go in just a few minutes. One small annoyance is how the dash cam display turns off when it’s connected to the phone app, and I’d rather not hand over my name and email address to initiate the setup process, but those niggles aside it all works well.

The headline 4K resolution is offered with HDR, but only at 25 frames per second. Alternatively, you can lower the resolution to 1080p Full HD at the same frame rate or crank it up to 60 fps, also at 1080p. I usually opt for the higher frame rate, since this produces smoother footage and often retains more detail when paused or slowed down, helping make registration plates and street signs more legible. But in this case, I decided to keep the 4K resolution – and I’m glad I did.

Because, despite the low price and unfamiliar name, the 7mai A810 produces excellent 4K footage. All too often, I'm left disappointed by 4K dash cams that overpromise and underdeliver, but this is an exception. Footage is bright and clear with lots of detail and accurate colors. The frame rate is a bit low, at just 25 fps, resulting in footage that isn’t as smooth as I’d like it to be. However, if this is a concern, you can jump into the settings menu and change to 1920 x 1080 (also known as Full HD or 1080p) and crank the frame rate up to 30 or even 60 fps.

The rear camera is less impressive, being limited to Full HD, and while still usable the footage it produces lacks detail. Vehicle registration plates are harder to read from a distance, unlike with the front-facing camera when it’s set to 4K. The rear camera is still a useful addition though; it’s also nice and small, and both cameras shoot at a fairly respectable 150 degrees. This isn’t the widest on the market (some shoot as wide as 180 degrees) but it’s perfectly usable for a dash cam system.

70mai A810: Verdict

All too often, budget 4K dash cams are a demonstration of how there’s much more to video quality than the resolution alone. Despite ticking the 4K box, they often fall short when it comes to exposure, contrast, and noise control. Not so, the 70mai A810. Despite the relatively low price, this is a 4K dash cam that delivers excellent video quality.

I wish the frame rate was a bit higher, as at 25 fps it’s not entirely smooth. But otherwise, the recordings look great, with lots of detail and bold, punchy colors. It’s also not phased by bright lighting, and even on the sunniest days, it produces nicely balanced video. If you prefer a higher frame rate and lower resolution, that option is available.

The hardware doesn’t offer much to get excited by, but it’s also inoffensive, relatively compact, and feels like it’ll last – just be aware of the space required if you want to slide the dash cam off its windscreen mount once it’s stuck to the glass. Otherwise, the system is easy to install, with an acceptable smartphone app, useful extras like Wifi and GPS, and a rear camera that, while a bit grainy, is small and gets the job done. At under $200, this two-channel system feels like great value for money.

Alternatives

Canadian technology company Sheba Microsystems has apparently developed the world’s first autofocus automotive camera, the Sharp-7.

The company designs and manufactures Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors – miniature devices used to measure physical quantities such as pressure, temperature, acceleration and magnetic fields.

What is this, and why is it interesting, you ask? Well, from what I can gather, it surpasses all of the best dash cam technology, and it’s all to do with the future of autonomous vehicles. 

Describing the technology as a “game changer” Sheba claims that, by harnessing the precision of MEMS actuators, it has created cameras that produce the highest image quality. As such they can identify vehicles, number plates, individuals and surroundings clearly, and they also also vibration and weatherproof.

“This innovation means a new era of enhanced safety on our highways – and especially as autonomous vehicles are increasingly close to being an integral part of every community,” says the company.

Despite numerous setbacks, it’s predicted that autonomous vehicles will become a part of society within the next ten years.

Automotive cameras often face challenges in maintaining image quality and focus stability during fluctuating temperatures as the optics, and other camera parts, experience thermal expansion. Opting for higher resolution sensors accentuates this problem due to the sensors’ smaller pixel size, which can lead to blurring and distortion of the imaging.

ABOVE: Watch the Sharp-7 release video

The 8MP automotive grade sensor within the Sharp-7 claims to produce unprecedented consistent, high-quality imaging across extreme terrains, able to withstand temperatures between -40 and 302°F / -40 to 150°C.

The sensor’s weight only accounts for two to three percent of the optical lens weight, enabling ultra-fast and precision autofocus, and ultra-precise object detection, allowing for differentiation between pedestrians, animals and road signs, as well as digital zooming.

In theory this means whether you’re driving through a Canadian winter white-out, or the sandy streets of Riyadh, the technology within this camera will still pinpoint all obstacles with crystal clear accuracy, and hopefully avoid them.

By creating the highest resolution imaging in a car camera ever, Sheba claims to have ensured that advanced driver-assistance systems “operate with unparalleled reliability,” ensuring “safer roads, reduces costs, and enhances the driving experience.”

Check out our guides to the best dash cams on the market, as well as the best front and rear dash cams. 

Thinkware has unveiled the start of a new series of dash cams, with what it claims to be its most compact model yet. The ARC is a dual-channel dashcam with front and rear cameras that both boast 2K video resolution with -  2560x1440 sensors that both record at 30fps. With both wide dynamic range (WDR) and Thinkware's latest Super Night Vision - the set-up promises to give you good results in the widest range of lighting conditions.

As well as offering a view of the road ahead and what is coming up behind you, the ARC offerings a range of features to keep an eye on your car even when you are not driving. The Parking Surveillance Mode does mean having to intall the kit professionally using the supplied hardwire kit... or if you prefer (and your vehicle supports it) you can use the optional OBD-II accessory and plug into the car's diagnostic port. The system can then record any movement or impact it detects when parked up - or create a timelapse recording at two frames per second.

You can record footage to a microSD card (a 32GB card comes with the kit), but can also review and download clips to your mobile phone using the Thinkware Dash Cam Link app. However, you can also watch your videos on the 2.7in touchscreen LCD on the front camera unit. 

GPS comes as standard, which allows the unit to embed speed, time, and location with your recordings - and also give you speed limit alerts. Additional safety features include traffic light signal alerts, and front vehicle departure warnings.

The Thinkware ARC is on sale in North America immediately for $249.99 - with availability and pricing in other areas yet to be announce.

See our guides to the best front and rear dash cams, and to the best three-channel dash cams

Thinkware has launched its latest two-channel dashcam with a novel twist. The second, rear camera, can rotate 360 degrees, so it can capture the inside of the vehicle or the road behind you. This useful innovation means that it is a low-cost alternative to a full 3-channel dashcam set-up - offering the functionality of an Uber dashcam when needed and working as a front-and-rear dashcam for the rest of the time.

The front camera offers a 2K 1440P camera, which uses a 4-megapixel Omnivision sensor with Super Night Vision when driving or when in Parking Mode. The camera captures footage at 30fps with a field of view of 125°.

The rear camera offers lower-resolution 1080P video recording, using a 2.1MP sensor. 

The set-up has a microSD card slot for recording the video but also has WiFi so that it can be paired up with Thinkware's Dash Cam Link app on a phone, where you can adjust settings and download videos. The dashcam does not have a built-in screen, making the use of the app all but essential. GPS is not available as standard, but can be added using an optional antenna.

Safety features include:

- Smart Parking Mode that surroundings for added security.

- Safety Camera Alert: Alerts drivers to nearby sped cameras.

- Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS): offering Lane Departure Warning, High-Speed/Urban Forward Collision Warning, and Front Vehicle Departure Warning.

- 24-Hour Parking Monitoring: by using an optional hardwiring cable or OBD II power cable, the dashcam provides motion and impact detection for around-the-clock surveillance

- Time-lapse Mode: Allows for continuous recording over extended periods.

The twin-camera Thinkware Q200 is on sale now for $199.99 in the US,  and in the UK for £199. 

There are obvious brands you think about when some mentions action cams, body cams or wearables that can record video. Many of those brands come at a really high price point and need lots of expensive accessories to make them work the way you want.

The Losfom 03 camera is a great way to be able to record and light up your way when used for sport or just recording for personal security, it's easy to clip onto clothing, hats or whatever you can think of.

In the box comes very few accessories, the only one being a head strap which is basically an elasticated velcro secured strap, while I found this a little odd the actual Losfom Z03 camera is unique in its shape, like a very small U shape that has a very limited amount of flex. Given this shape, the camera can be clipped on clothing (and my new velcro Rambo head strap) really easily for things like walking, cycling and such. There are caveats to using this Losfom Z03 in anything “high octane” but more on that later.

Build and handling

The size is quite marvellous considering there is a 1000mAh battery in there – at less than 2-inch square and just over an inch at its deepest, it's really portable and slips into a pocket or bag without any thought.

The supplied head strap can fit most of the largest heads (mine being one) and slipping the camera's U-shaped body into it felt comfortable enough to use for the 3 hours of life it gives you.

There is also a wrist strap, the purpose of which is a little confusing but I guess you could secure it to something so it doesn't “fall off”.

On the side of the camera hidden under a rubber lug, there is a 5V 2A USB C port, a reset pinhole, and a MicroSD card slot. For testing, I used a 32Gb card. Up to 128Gb cards are supported. If you want to make your video time-stamped you can adjust the text file created by the camera and choose to display the time / date in the format of your choice.

On the front are 4 LED bright white bulbs (if I can call them that) and a red and blue indicator set of lights which offer some notifications of various types.

The build is all plastic of course, and while there is a small flex in the “U” shape I'm sure it could snap and would have liked more of a hinge with a locking mechanism here. But it does slip onto a bit of clothing as long as the clothing is a jacket or a side of a cap or something.

As with many devices, the smaller plastic-based construction means super lightweight at the sacrifice of sturdiness. Losfom Z03 body camera is no exception. The rubber flap that hides the ports is very flimsy and I would worry about its longevity if you decided to use this regularly in any kind of adverse weather (I guess nothing some electrical tape couldn't fix if you wanted to go full MacGyver, and to be fair this is hypothetical only – it didn't fail during my testing).

There are two buttons on the front and the only buttons, Steve Jobs may even have approved, one for light control and the other for turning the camera on / off.

Performance

Before I get onto the camera, I need to address the user manual / instructions, and a side note this is not to put the actual camera down. The instructions are appalling, I mean so confusing to the point where I had to guess I was actually recording, case in point. I went out to record in the dark while walking the length of my driveway close to midnight. There I was taking notes and narrating my overall experience for writing this review, the lights were on but as they say, nobody was home. The camera wasn't actually recording anything.

After trying to decode the badly translated instructions I saw my error. (To clarify, in a previous life I used to write technical instructions for a very well-known blue chip firm with three letters in its name. I’d like to think I could identify badly written manuals.) So yes, I'm an old fart that reads manuals, but I would defy anyone who buys this body camera not having to at some point. The red and blue light combo is super confusing. I wish they would have used an alternative so you could figure out the state of the camera, a few more buttons would have been great.

Once I got going, the camera performed very well in anything I threw at it considering its use cases, it clipped onto clothing well (read jackets) and also on the side of a cap / hat. Even if you clip sideways you can always flip the video in post-production.

A few issues though, the 30fps means it's really no good for sports or any speed, and the rolling shutter is clear and visible on anything with sideways movement, even walking means you get a bit seasick watching the video back. The lack of image stabilization is a huge miss but I guess for less than $50 it's not really expected.

Long bike rides would mean you are “limited” to less than 4 hours (far less than the advertised 5.5 hours), saying that there are more applications which this camera is great for. Such as security while dog walking, or using it for lighting on car repairs and recording what you are doing. There may be some good uses for technical YouTubers – but the quality is below the standard of, say, a modern phone, so it'd have to be edited in judiciously.

The light is great and lights up nicely but it's far lower than a dedicated headlamp. For example, I did try turning off the Fosfom Z03 light and using a dedicated Black Diamond headlamp which got around the 2.5hrs battery limit I got when I tested outside with recording and full highlighting output enabled. Testing in the dark really showed off the low-light capabilities of the camera which was less than average, plenty of detail remained in almost pitch-black conditions with the light on, the video was super grainy.

Sample Video

Apologies for not setting the clock! 

All video output is in AVI format, so not the worst I guess, but I doubt Micheal Bay will be first in line to use it to film another Transformers instalment. That's not what this camera is for, but a format like .mp4 would feel a little more modern.

Verdict

If you're looking for a great little body camera for many applications and super portable, and love a good puzzle to solve, this is the camera for you. The 100-degree viewing angle and ease to mount on to clothing and the like really is a boon. Saying that, you don’t have a way to see what your camera is pointing at, so the wider view is essential given the "mount and hope" approach.

This body camera would be a great gift for someone who likes to record what they do, and I would certainly give this to someone who walks their dog alone or cycles lots, but it would test a friendship, just like it tested my love for this little camera.

Alternatives