Dashboard cameras, otherwise known as dashcams, car cameras, or vehicle video recorders used to be only used by techies or those that have the money to spare. These days, however, they are starting to become increasingly affordable, hence, almost every car has a dash cam installed. It serves a number of practical functions: it protects you in case of traffic accidents, it monitors your teenage kids’ driving and muhc more.
But given the number of choices currently available, how do you choose the right dash cam for you? In this article, we give you a detailed discussion of what to consider before buying a dash cam. Then proceed with a list of our top recommendations for the best dash cams UK, complete with pros and cons.
The table below shows our top three recommendations:
Table of Contents
What to Consider When Buying a Dash Cam
Camera Quality
It’s important to note that a dash cam is essentially a camera, hence its camera specs are quite important. First is the resolution: how clearly do you want the footage to be? Generally speaking, the higher the resolution, the better. We recommend that you choose a camera with a resolution of at least 1080p, although resolutions these days can go as high as 4K. Another aspect of camera quality is the field of view, which refers to how widely you want the camera to be able to capture. Frame rates are another consideration, and just like resolution, the general rule is the higher the better. The lowest frame rate recommended is 30 frames per second. Lastly, ask about the camera’s night vision quality. It’s important that it’s still able to capture footage that’s clear and detailed even when driving at night.
Mounting
Dash cameras need to be mounted either on your dashboard, as is the case usually. But others prefer to mount it on their windshield, especially if they already have enough going on in their dashboard, such as when there is already a phone mount. There are two mounting options: either through suction or through adhesive. Suction mounts are pretty strong, but the benefit of being removed or transferred to another spot when needed. Adhesive mounts, on the other hand, are semi-permanent. Removing it may leave some untidy adhesive marks on the surface it’s been mounted.
Wireless Connectivity
Your dash cam’s connectivity is an important factor to look at. If your dash cam has Bluetooth connectivity, you will be able to control your dash cam’s settings from your phone instead of using the tiny screen of the dash cam. Internet connectivity, on the other hand, may let your dash cam continuously upload footage to the cloud, letting you stream the content from a phone or other devices. Of course, this all depends on your own specific needs. If you don’t mind manually managing your dash cam’s storage, then you may not even need wireless connectivity at all.
GPS
A dash cam with GPS connectivity records not only the car’s speed but also its location along with the footage. This is especially helpful during traffic disputes and similar situations. It’s also helpful if you’re installing the dash cam on a car to be driven by others, such as for work or for a teenage son whose driving you want to track.
Storage
Dashcam footage can take up so much space, so it’s important that your dashcam has more than enough. Your decision on this will have a lot to do with how frequently you’re able to manage, i.e. transfer the footage to another storage. A MicroSD card with at least 32 GB is the minimum that we would recommend, the higher the better, of course.
Best Dash Cams UK
Campark Dash Cam 4K Ultra HD DVR Dashboard Camera
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The Campark Dash Cam 4K Ultra HD DVR Dashboard Camera is the ideal option for those for whom picture quality is a major concern. This dash cam has 4K resolution, which is the gold standard currently. It also captures 170°-wide angles, which means there are more details to your footage. F1.8 wide apertures capture more light even in low light conditions which translate to better images even at night.
Additionally, as soon as you start the engine, this dashcam turns on and records. It turns off the moment the engine shuts down. When it detects a shock, it turns on and records for 30 seconds. Lastly, the installation is pretty simple and can be done on your own.
Pros
- Ultra HD resolution at 4K, the current gold standard
- 170°-wide angle means a wider picture
- Better night vision quality with F1.8 wide apertures
Cons
- None reported
TOGUARD Dash Cam 4K Ultra HD in Car Camera Driving Video Recorder
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No products found.
Toguard is quite a well-known brand of home and personal security technology. The TOGUARD Dash Cam 4K Ultra HD in Car Camera Driving Video Recorder is an excellent choice for a number of reasons. Its 4K resolution (Ultra HD) is presently considered the best picture resolution available. It captures much more and sharper details. It has a 170°-recording angle, which means it can capture up to 5 lanes, which is great. In addition, it adjusts the white balance according to the surrounding to get the best color effect, further enhancing the quality of the footage. Its Parking Monitor continues to protect your car even while it is parked. The moment you stop the car, the dashcam stays on standby mode and automatically turns on to capture the activity around it when it detects shaking. It then returns to standby mode when the activity stops. Its 3” LCD screen is ideal for windshield installation.
Pros
- 4K, 170°-recording angle, and white balance all contribute to superior video quality
- TOGUARD is a trusted brand in the field of home and personal security technology
Cons
- None
ORSKEY Dash Cam 1080P Full HD Car Camera
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You get great value from a relatively low cost with the ORSKEY Dash Cam. It has a 1080p resolution, otherwise known as full HD which captures tiny details such as road conditions and license plates. The night vision function is aided by 6 unique infrared LED fill lights.
In addition to the camera’s full HD resolution, it captures 170°-wide angles and has a frame rate of 30 fps.
The G-sensor activated Emergency Recording automatically captures driving incidents and protects the recordings. It also has Loop Recording which means it continuously records videos replacing old ones in times of accidents.
The unit comes with a suction mount which can be installed in a few seconds, so no need to worry about overwhelming installations.
Pros
- Great camera qualities: full HD, 170°-wide angles, 30 fps all translating to better footage
- Enhanced night vision with the 6 unique infrared LED fill lights
Cons
- None reported
Nextbase 312GW – Full 1080p HD In-Car Dash Camera DVR
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One of the biggest selling points of the Nextbase 312GW – Full 1080p HD In-Car Dash Camera DVR is its smart functionalities. It has Wi-Fi connectivity and a smartphone app that you can download which is where you’re able to manage the files from your recordings, stream or share them. It also has built-in GPS which means your speed and location are captured along with the video footage.
The camera quality of this dash cam is not bad either. The 1080p resolution, full high-definition, enables you to clearly see important details in your footage such as signs and license plate information. The viewing angle is pretty decent too at 140°. This translates to the dash cam’s ability to record wider areas in front of the car without sacrificing the image quality. This is especially helpful when you want to record whole events even when it’s not directly happening in front of you. Lastly, the Nextbase Replay 3 software which can be accessed from a computer (PC and Mac) is pretty helpful in terms of editing the footage. The software contains functions as basic as trimming, joining, and annotating, and many more.
Pros
- Wi-Fi connectivity and smartphone app let you easily control the settings of the dash cam as well as manage its storage directly from your mobile device.
- GPS captures very important information: speed and location.
Cons
- None reported
Peztio Dash Cams For Cars Front and Rear Full HD 1080P Car Camera
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The first and most notable function to mention about this Peztio dash cam is its dual-camera system which records front and rear views in full HD (1080p) resolution in 170° and 130°-wide angles, respectively. These viewing angles mean your camera can capture up to 5 lanes, not missing important details, especially when needed. The rear camera automatically switches to reversing mode when parking, guiding you for easier, safer parking. The automatic loop recording means it will continuously record even when out of storage, replacing the oldest files saved.
The dash cam has plenty of other powerful and convenient functions too. It has the Emergency Locked G-Sensor which locks the videos to avoid being deleted or overwritten. It also has a 24-hour Parking Guard which records 24-hour parking time, keeping your car safe from being scratched or stolen. It even has an anti-thief motion detection mechanism which automatically turns the camera on when motion is detected. The footage can be used as evidence insurance claims for loss and/or damage.
Pros
- Front and rear camera system give you peace of mind that both views are recorded all the time, the rear one also guides you when parking to make the experience convenient and safe.
Cons
- None reported
APEMAN Mini Dash Cam 1080P Full HD, Dash Camera for Cars with Super Night Vision
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For its price and unassuming design, the APEMAN Mini Dash Cam 1080P is actually packed with impressive features. First is its camera quality. It has a high-end processor that records 30 frames per second in 1080P resolution. In addition, the f/1.8 large aperture and Wide Dynamic Range let you record full high-quality videos under low light conditions. It also has a 170°-viewing angle which means you capture everything, even those that others would call a blind spot.
This dash cam is also able to record even while being parked as soon as it detects vibration around it. This is especially helpful to keep your car safe and secure while being parked. A separate kit can be purchased for the power that this dash cam requires for this functionality.
Additionally, the dash cam has a seamless loop recording functionality whilst ensuring that the important clips are locked and will not be overwritten. The box contains all the accessories needed including the simple DIY installation kit.
Pros
- Great camera qualities: full HD (1080p resolution, superior video quality for night driving with the f/1.8 large aperture and wide dynamic range, and a broader field of view at 170°
Cons
- None reported