I try all the features: Buttons, display controls, apps.Aside from rear-view support and GPS, the most salient differences between the products are the interface controls and extra features, such as the lane departure and collision warnings that you get with some models. I try them…and I turn them off. In practice, they usually tell me I’m changing lanes, in heavy traffic, or have just been cut off. I know that. Additionally, the collision warnings generally come too late to do anything but distract you at exactly the wrong time. Installing the camera is simple enough thanks to the sturdy suction mount, which shouldn’t come loose even in the event of a minor accident. Once the camera is in place it needs to be adjusted so the wide angle lens points forward and the zoom lens points rearward – these are clearly marked to make life easier. MicroSD card storage. Pricier dash cams bundle a storage card. Some come with larger cards, and some budget models come without. There are often bundles available with the card. Some cameras opt for hard-wired internal storage, like the Miofive 4K. Nextbase iQ is the world’s first truly smart dash cam. With smart alerts to protect your car as the iQ continually monitors movement around the vehicle, expertly detecting potential threats. If the Nextbase IQ detects something unsual by your vehicle, it will let you know so you can intervene with voice or an alarm. A decently wide field of view:You’ll see cameras with as little as 90-degrees field of view, but you’ll catch more of what’s around you if you go for 120 to 140 degrees. Some cameras offer 160- to 180-degree lenses. Note that the wider the field of view, the more fish-eye distortion there is, and more processing is involved to compensate.

Below are links to step by step instructions about how to update the firmware on your Nextbase Dash Cam. The Firmware Update Guides contain instructions for both Windows users as well as Mac users. Select the Dash Cam you have and wish to upgrade Nextbase are Europe's leading car technology and dash cam brand, with a product to suit every requirement. Nextbase dash cams are designed in the UK, with key focuses on video quality and ease of use. Nextbase began their journey providing a wide range of in-car technology products including DVD Players, before moving onto dash cams and in-car safety products. If you want a basic dash camera then there are simpler, cheaper alternatives like excellent Nextbase 402G, but if you need record what is happening both in front and behind of your car then the Duo is ideal. It’s far more user-friendly and much less fiddly than setting up two separate cameras. Continuous loop recording to minimize storage requirements. Video is recorded, then immediately overwritten at a specified interval unless saved. Video is saved (protected from overwriting) automatically when an incident is detected. Most dash cams will overwrite older recordings when they run out of space.Incident recording triggered by impact (G) sensors, or when in parking mode (see below), by motion detection. HDR(high dynamic range) isn’t necessary, but it does make for more detailed video because of better contrast. It also generally indicates richer color. Infrared lighting is important if you want to assure good captures ofnocturnal events inside the cabin of your vehicle. Most dash cams have the same basic uninspired design, with very little innovation in the market. Fortunately, the 70mai X200 Dash Cam Omni has come around to fix that. Looking like something out of Wall-E, the pill-shaped camera uses a clever covering to hide a motorized 1080p, 60fps camera, that can rotate 360 degrees. It’s not just about the aesthetics with this dash cam either; the camera actually captures colorful and detailed video and images, day or night. It’s also easy to set up, has an app to control the camera, and comes with integrated GPS. It might be a bit off the beaten path compared to the standard dash cam, but the unique design and effective capture quality make the 70mai X200 much more than just a novelty. The Nextbase 522GW Dash Cam has all the benefits of the 422GW, plus a polarising filter that provides unbeatable picture quality to give you a superior dash cam experience. The polarising filter is an anti-glare upgrade to dramatically reduce windscreen reflections and record clearer images in direct sunlight.

Nextbase have revolutionised the Dash Cam market with the 422GW, the world's first Dash Cam with Alexa and Nextbase Emergency SOS features. Then the Dash Cam will be visible as a removable drive on your computer. If you go into My Computer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) you will be able to see the Dash Cam listed as a drive, usually called NEXTBASE. For every dash cam, I mount it in my car, judging the ease and convenience of doing so.Tip:Many dash cams rely on adhesive for mounting to your windshield. Hot conditions can make it next to impossible to remove the film that protects the adhesive. Remove the film in a cool environment, or place it in the fridge for a minute or two before installing it.Battery (or super-capacitor) power: Many dash cams come with super-capacitors, which allow the dash cam to operate for a brief period after losing regular power—such as during a collision. They don’t record for very long though, and sometimes not at all.A battery gives you a better chance of recording an entire incident, even when 12-volt power is lost. If run time is sufficient, it also allows you to record for a while with the car turned off. Cloud storage is available with a few dash cams. Uploading to the cloud in real time is a nice hedge against damage and theft—assuming the thief isn’t smart enough to kill the dash cam immediately. It’s handy for those managing fleets of vehicles, too, as incident videos are safely stashed online. Self-powered recording when power fails, so that you can be sure to capture all of an incident. This requires a battery or large super-capacitor (see below in “Power connections”). The camera should have a setting that allows you to specify how long the camera runs off 12-volt before shutting down. Hard-wired 12-volt power (better): Most vendors offer kits that connect the dash cam directly to a constant 12-volt source in your wiring harness behind the dash. This provides always-on power, but it isn’t particularly easy to install. On the Dash Cam's screen you'll see a menu of 3 options. Please select 'Mass Storage' on the Dash Cam screen and then OK so that only that displays on the screen.

We’ll step you through what to think about when you’re shopping for a dash cam, from video capabilities, recording options, power connections, and more. Video capabilities I put each dash cam through several days’ and nights’ worth of driving,recording video and judging the image quality. All the dash cams I’ve reviewed in the last couple of years take good daytime video. However, night video is often plagued by murky shadows and headlight flare. That said, quality is improving rapidly with the introduction of new sensors. Take a close look at the night shots in each review. Parking monitoring:This can mean two things. Running the dash cam continuously in low frame-rate mode to save card space and battery, or running in standby mode and awakening when motion or g-forces are detected. We’ve reviewed cameras that have a battery large enough to monitor the car with the 12-volt turned off for several days, but most cameras require a constant 12-volt source.Rearview 12-volt power (better): Another option that features a super-short cable run is powering your dash cam using your auto-dimming rearview mirror. You can find adapters for this at Dongar Technologies. If your car qualifies, this is by far your best option. OBD-II 12-volt power (better): Outliers like the Owl and PureCam use the OBD-II connector for constant 12-volt power. OBD-II-to-USB power cables are now available separately (as an alternative to hardwiring kits that draw constant 12-volt power from the wiring harness).I recommend one with a USB Type-A port, which will accommodate any dash cam. Most of those with captive cables I’ve seen are mini-USB. The only downside is a long cable run, as the OBD-II port is usually next to the driver’s left knee, under the dash. If the Dash Cam does not appear as a drive on your PC, please press the reset button on the underside of your dash cam and try all the USB ports on your computer.

The 622GW includes a variety of useful features and world firsts. Extreme Weather Mode provides a clearer image in misty or foggy conditions, which is crucial when you’re driving in the winter or at night. What3words provides your exact location within three square metres without the need for a data connection, helping emergency services to find you in the event of an accident. If the Dash Cam does not appear as a drive on your PC, please press the reset button on the underside of your Dash Cam and try all the USB ports on your computer. On the dash cam's screen you'll see a menu of 3 options. Please select 'Mass Storage' on the Dash Cam screen and then OK so that only that displays on the screen. Plug your Dash Cam in. Ensure the cable is plugged directly into the dash cam and NOT via the mount. The Nextbase 622GW offers the highest image quality of any dash cam currently on the market, providing stunning 4k recordings at 30fps. The image stabilisation system reduces vibrations from your vehicle and improves footage clarity, while the Super Slow Motion feature means that drivers can view recordings in 1080p HD at 120fps.WDR (wide dynamic range) is much like above, except it usually refers to only color and not contrast. Video quality is good enough through both lenses, but the Duo does need more careful setting up than a single lens camera. Typically when setting up a dash camera it needs to be angled slightly downward, which makes the built in sensor collect the correct amount of light from the road ahead, rather than bright sky. Setting the camera too high results in an over dark video.