Nowadays, there’s a video camera for pretty anything, not to mention they come in all different shapes and sizes. Dashboard cameras have been quite popular for a while now, but as technology has improved, they’ve also become a lot more advanced and affordable as well. Their overall convenience for ensuring safety, keeping you comfortable while you drive and helping you have a piece of mind is invaluable. Through out our research, we found that the Z-Edge Z3 is one of the best dash cams in the market right now, but there are also some more options to keep into consideration depending on a few of your preferences. Continue reading on for our checklist to keep in mind while shopping as well the top 10 best dash cams we were able to find through our research.
Picking the best dashboard camera
- Price – As opposed to popular action cameras or even DSLR cameras for video, dash cams are quite affordable. The difference between a budget-friendly and higher-end model is of course the price, so if you have some extra cash saved up, going bigger is always better. Especially because we feel that dashboard cameras are investment intended to last us quite a while (we don’t want to be replacing the cam every year or so). We chose a few cameras from each price-point to give you options.
- Video quality – Most of these offer 1080p, so we recommend keep that as the standard. Nowadays, 4K video resolution isn’t included in dash cams but that isn’t always a must for video clips (at least for now). The higher the resolution the dash cam offers, the easier it will be to zoom in after you find a clip you need to analyze (here’s to hoping you won’t have to).
- Your intended use – Dash cams for security are usually the main use; however, some grab one for a few other reasons, such as some action videos, movies and skits. If you’re in it for security, we recommend looking for features (listed next) that ensure the detection of impact as well as won’t overwrite those particular instances.
- Extra features – A lot of the best dash cams offer some extra features that you may or may not find worth the extra price jump. We’ll list the highlights of each model to help, but some of the popular desired additives include night vision, g-sensors, automatic ignition start, impact detection, overwriting old recordings and more.
The top 10 best dash cams
Z-Edge Z3
The Z-Edge Z3 is one of the best dash cams in the market for a number of reasons. Not only have we seen this pop up time and time again in a lot of the best dashboard camera guides by big websites, but also for reliable and precise recording of everything that is going on as soon as you sit behind your wheel and start the car (it turns on automatically when you switch on the ignition and turns off when you switch off the ignition). It is a high-quality HD camera with excellent 2560 x 1080p resolution. It catches 30 frames per second and it has a wide 150 degree FOV (field of view) — this ensures visibility of important details when zooming in later. The Z-Edge Z3 also comes with automatic and manual protection from video deletion, which is another important quality for the best dash cams out there. Lastly, there is a built-in G-sensor and accelerometer with the parking mode that will come in very handy when parking in reverse. As previously stated as we got going in this guide, it’s one of the best out there and recommended for those who can afford it and wanted an immediate answer for the dash cam to buy.
Rexing V1
Up next, the Rexing V1 is an efficient and precise dashboard cam with a full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution for reliable filming of all important details while you drive. It is one of the best dash cams when it comes to photography compression and WDR (wide dynamic) technology. With its 170 degree lass lens in 6-layers and discreet design will capture pretty much everything, enabling you to later zoom in on every detail in high quality if you need to (this will probably come in handy at the most unlikely time, so keep that in mind). The Rexing V1 also automatically overwrites the oldest video file with the newest, assuming that the oldest aren’t necessary anymore (make sure you stay on top of that). It’s built-in G-Sensor helps with data locking to memory and the dash cam comes with a 3m adhesive for convenient and easy application. There is also a car charger with a USB power outlet for convenient and easy charging if you were looking for this not necessarily important but convenient additive feature. It really gives the Z3 a run for their money when it comes to video quality.
Vantrue R2
The Vantrue R2 is one of the best dash cams for a few extra bucks if your budget allows. It is developed with an ‘advanced Ambarella A7 processor’ and delivers higher stability when it comes to smooth recording. Color images are captured in 1960 x 1080P ultra HD resolution and it records with a 170 degree wide-angle lens; it has a 2.7″ LCD screen as well as G-Sensor (auto locks images with detected impacts.), Night Vision, WDR, Parking Monitor and Dual Charger. All these qualities make for one of the best dash cam models when it comes to reliable image capturing and recording, as well as some extra fancy features if you were looking for that. With its 32GB memory card you will be able to store as much high-quality recording as you will really need. The camera also comes with loop recording that enables automatic overwriting of the oldest recording with the newest. This is a great dashboard camera if you wanted some high-quality video recording but side features like night vision as well.
Kdlinks X1
The Kdlinks X1 continues the price increase but for a few justified reasons — it has all the modern and advanced qualities that make it the best dash cam for your car while offering HD clips. Its six layer glass lens records in a full-HD 165 degree wide-angle for very wide image capturing and excellent HD quality video (1920 x 1080p at 30 frames per second along with the H.264). The X1 has an inbuilt GPS and a G-Sensor (for precise recording of images into videos); there is also wide dynamic technology and 8 GB of memory for extended recording before the need for seamless loop recording (will start filming automatically when you turn on the ignition). Lastly, The Kdlinks X1 is a 2.7″ screen dash cam that will work well with both Windows & Mac software when you download the recording.
Spy Tec A118-C
The Spy Tec A118-C is a 1.5″ HD TFT screen dash cam that is a best dash cam when it comes to reliability and image quality. The Spy Tec A118-C has all the features that make for one of the best dash cams for your car. The six layer glass lens records in a full-HD super wide 170° angle, which ensures very wide image capturing and the excellent quality video of HD 1080p at 30 frames per second along with the H.264 compression. The Spy Tec A118-C has an inbuilt GPS and G-Sensor (for precise recording of images into videos). It is designed with wide dynamic technology and 64 GB of memory for extended recording capabilities. Recording will start automatically when you turn on the ignition.
AUBBC Full HD 1080P
Here’s another generic brand to take a look at, and what really stands out with this one is the extremely low price. It’s equipped with a 2.31″ LCD screen, full HD 1920*1080p video recording, a 140 degree wide-angle, seamless loop-cycle recording function for automatic overwriting of the old recordings and automatic data locking with detected impacts. There is also a motion detection as well as a G-sensor function that comes in very handy when you are parking. Lastly, the AUBBC Full HD 1080P has a 5 MP CMOS image sensor which isn’t beastly by all means, but is relatively impressive for the price. It’s recommended for those who were looking for the best budget-friendly dashboard camera worth looking at (in our opinion).
FalconZero F170HD+
Here is one of the best dash cams when it comes to professional-quality builds. It catches great details with true HD 1080p recording on its 2.7″ LCD Screen and 170 wide-angle lens. On the other side, the 32GB micro SD card makes for lots of space for video recordings. There is also convenient night vision and GPS route tracking like all of the other populars models we’ve surveyed thus far. The FalconZero F170HD+ will automatically start recording when you turn on the ignition key and turns off when you turn off the ignition. The G-sensor will automatically lock images with detected impact. There is also the option to detect only motion so that it will turn on when it detects motion up to 30 feet away, which is a very solid feature to keep in mind since it will really help you with less hassle cleaning out the memory card.
ITrue X3
The ITrue X3 is a quality dash cam that comes with a number of qualities that put it in a category of the best dash cam for a wide array of users and it’s another one of those models that come up in the best-of articles around the internet. With an emergency lock button and g-sensor detection, it will lock video with detected collision in memory, disabling the overwriting of it. All the other recordings will be overwritten automatically, the oldest with the newest, thanks to the inbuilt seamless loop feature. The ITrue X3 also has a 6 layer glass lens that records with full HD video image quality of 1920 x 1080p at 30 frames per second in a standard wide 170 angle. We may be sounding redundant here, but like the others, it automatically starts recording when you turn on the ignition key and stops when you turn it off.
Spy Tec G1W-CB
The G1W-CB is another dash cam by Spy Tec that has all the features every concerned driver wants. With its 1080p HD resolution, it will capture most of the details you might need for future use in a case of collision. Just like many others in this category, the Spy Tec G1W-CB also comes with a seamless loop recording feature that will automatically overwrite to keep that memory up to speed, while at the same time using its g-sensor to automatically lock any image and video where collision detection is applicable. It will automatically turn on and off with the turning of the ignition key. Thanks to its 64 GB memory card, it can capture up to 10 hours of high-definition video. It’s another dash cam to keep in mind if you weren’t feeling the others. Yet another model a lot of the same features as others, but the user reviews really back this one up.
TaoTronics HD 1080p
Top cap off our best dash camera guide, the TaoTronics HD 1080p is merely another excellent choice to keep in mind when comparing and contrasting all 10 of these models. This one delivers high quality full-HD video of 1920 x 1080p at 30 frames per second and a standard wide 150 angle that will give you some excellent image quality when zooming. Like a few others, the TaoTronics HD 1080p also has a 6 layer glass lens and extra night vision built-in. There is a wide dynamic range technology and seamless loop recording that will automatically overwrite the oldest videos with the newest (while at the same time automatically locking videos with detected collision). The TaoTronics HD 1080p has an attached 2.7″ TFT screen and mounts with a suction cup with joints that enable spinning in different angles. Just another dashboard camera with the essential features like the rest, and we recommend this one if you wanted a middle price-point model.
