1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best budget
4. Best smart dash cam
5. Best heavy use
6. Best low-profile
7. Best ease of use
8. Best value dual
9. Best ride-share drivers
10. Best three-camera
11. Best for older cars
12. How to choose
13. How we test
The best dash cams are designed to give you peace of mind when you’re behind the wheel, capturing video evidence of everything that happens on the road around you. The guide below features the ranked results of our expert dash cam reviews, covering everything from simple, affordable options, to premium models with multiple cameras – all to help you find the right in-car camera for your needs and budget.
We think the best dash cam overall is the Nextbase 622GW. With a strong set of features, super video quality and a large touchscreen that’s easy to use, it offers the best balance of price and performance for most people. If you’d prefer to spend less on a dash cam, we recommend the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 as our favorite budget choice. We’ve included links to the best dash cam deals beneath each recommendation.
Every dash cam in this guide has been extensively tested by us and meets what we think are the minimum standards – producing sharp videos that clearly pick out details and a wide field of view. You can read more about how we test dash cams, how to pick the best one for you and how to get started with a dash cam at the bottom of this page, plus we’ve written a useful guide on how to fit a dash cam.
Tim is TechRadar's Cameras editor, with over 15 years in the photo video industry and most of those in the world of tech journalism, Tim has developed a deeply technical knowledge and practical experience with all things camera related. He’s also worked in video production with clients including Canon, and volunteers his spare time to consult a non-profit, diverse stories team based in Nairobi.
The quick list
If you don’t have time to read our full list of the best dash cams, you can read the round-up below for a shortcut to the top options for your needs and budget. If you find one that takes your fancy, use the links to jump to our full write-up.
The best dash cam overall
With impressive 4K video quality and a flagship feature set, the Nextbase 622GW is the best dash cam you can buy right now.
The best budget dash cam
Despite its tiny size, The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 records in Full HD at 30fps with HDR, producing footage that’s sharp enough to pick out key detail.
The best smart dash cam
If you’re happy to pay for a subscription, the Nextbase iQ is a 4K dash cam that’s easy to use and packed with clever features.
The best dash cam for high-mileage drivers
The Nexar Pro is a dual-cam solution aimed at those who spend extended periods behind the wheel, limited to 1080p.
The best low-profile 4K dash cam
Neat and relatively compact, the Vantrue E1 is an attractive dash cam that’s capable of recording 2.5K video at 30fps.
The best for ease of use
With a large 3.5-inch touchscreen and icon-based interface, the Thinkware X1000 is simple to configure and there’s no need to rely on a smartphone partner app.
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The best value dual dash cam
Adding a 2K rear camera to a slick front unit with proven video quality, this dual-cam system’s generous feature set represents great value.
Best for ride-share drivers
Designed with taxi drivers in mind, the Vantrue N2 Pro forgoes many of the extras which your car is already likely to have, including speed camera alerts and collision warnings.
Best three-camera option for pro drivers
If you require coverage of your vehicle’s front, rear and interior, Viofo’s package offers a lot for the money and ideal for those that cover long distances.
Best for older analogue vehicle
Combining a dash cam and a sat nav with intuitive 7-inch display, the Garmin DriveCam 76 is a feature-packed tool for vehicles without an infotainment system.
The best dash cam in 2023
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best dashcams in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best dash cam overall
✅ You want emergency services on call: Thanks to what3words integration, the 622GW can pinpoint your location and instantly forward it to emergency services.
✅ You'd like sharp video footage: Harnessing a quad-core processor and six-layer f/1.3 lens, the 622GW can capture impressively detailed 4K footage.
❌ You want seamless connectivity: Connecting to a smartphone isn't always straightforward, with the Wi-Fi connection often failing to establish during our testing.
❌ You want built-in rear recording: There are rivals for a similar price with rear-view cameras as standard, but it's an optional add-on for the 622GW.
With impressive video quality and a flagship feature set, the Nextbase 622GW is the best dash cam you can buy right now. We found its 4K/30p footage almost cinematic in testing, with crisp definition and outstanding detail. Low-light and poor-weather algorithms also improve results in tricky conditions. Drop down to 1080p and you can shoot 120fps slow-mo that makes it easier to pinpoint things like registration numbers.
Setup was slightly fiddly and the 3-inch touchscreen does require obvious swipe inputs. We also had some trouble connecting to our smartphones to transfer video clips. That said, we still think the 622GW is a simple camera to use overall. We found its interface intuitive, while the display is big, sharp and clear. Footage is automatically saved when an incident is detected, while a big red button lets you manually save moments.
We were impressed in our review with how effectively the built-in polarizing filter reduced windscreen glare, and how well the digital image stabilization soaked up road vibrations. And thanks to clever what3words integration, the 622GW can pinpoint the location of stricken vehicles and send it on to emergency vehicles. There are less bulky alternatives with better voice control, but if you want a dash cam that reliably captures clear 4K video, the 622GW is our pick.
- Read our in-depth Nextbase 622GW review
The best budget dash cam
✅ You want a hidden dash cam: Compact dimensions mean the Mini 2 pretty much disappears behind your rear-view mirror, with no impact on forward visibility.
✅ You prefer a simple setup: Garmin keeps the Mini 2 simple, making it a reliable tool that’s easy to install and runs faithfully in the background.
❌ You want a feature-packed model: Putting simplicity first means the Mini 2 doesn’t offer options such as speed camera alerts or what3words integration.
❌ You need 4K video footage: The Mini 2 is limited to 1080p Full HD. You’ll need to spend more on a premium model for higher resolution video.
The Garmin Mini 2 is a dash cam tiny enough to disappear behind your car’s rear-view mirror. Despite its size, it records in Full HD at 30fps with HDR, producing footage that’s sharp enough to pick out key details like registration plates, regardless of the ambient light and weather conditions.
We found installation quick and simple. The compact plastic arm takes up very little windscreen space, while the ball-and-socket joint makes it easy to reposition. Given how small it is, we think most users will want to leave the Mini 2 permanently in place.
The interface is similarly accessible. There’s no display, but shortcut buttons let you save clips and mute the mic with one touch. The Garmin Drive smartphone app (for iOS and Android) is where you can easily change further settings, review recordings and check the camera’s view. It also helps to make initial setup straightforward.
While features are limited to voice controls and a g-sensor that can detect collisions, we felt that GPS was the only real omission. Unless you need the best dash cam with driver assistance functions, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 will leave you wanting for very little. Simple, subtle and reliable, it’s the definition of set-and-forget technology.
- Read our in-depth Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 review
The best smart dash cam
✅ You want an all-in-on dash cam: With a comprehensive suite of clever safety and security features, the Nextbase iQ is the complete dash cam package.
✅ You want a future-proof model: Firmware updates are in the pipeline which will add additional functionality to the iQ’s already impressive arsenal.
❌ You don’t need a complex camera: If you only want to capture video of the road, there are simpler dash cam options for a lot less money.
❌ You don’t need a complex camera: Basic functionality is free, but you’ll need to pay subscription fees for the full set of Nextbase iQ features.
A smart surveillance camera for your car, the Nextbase iQ is as feature-packed as dash cams come. Available in 1K, 2K and 4K variants, it’s a premium solution with a suite of connected skills. That includes parking assistance, a voice-activated Witness Mode and the ability to check in on your vehicle via the Nextbase iQ app, as well as GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. All three versions include an interior camera, and there’s an optional rear-facing unit.
You’ll need a paid subscription to get the full benefit of its abilities, including cloud storage, real-time notifications and AI-powered driver assistance modes. As a result, the iQ can quickly become a costly bit of kit. But our tests found that it’s also an impressive one. Setup proved simple in our review, while the app made it easy to access its many features. Footage and audio from our 4K review unit was predictably excellent, too.
Because powered is delivered directly from the car’s battery, the system remains active even when the engine’s off. It will be overkill for many road users, but if you want a complete, all-in-one camera to monitor your car at all times, the Nextbase iQ is as clever as they come.
- Read our in-depth Nextbase iQ review
The best dash cam for high-mileage drivers
✅ You want comprehensive coverage: The Nexar Pro records interior and exterior video out of the box, making it a total dash cam solution for any vehicle.
✅ You value cloud video backup: Unlimited free storage gives you peace of mind that all of your video clips are securely backed up to the cloud.
❌ You want a hands-off installation: Fitting the Nexar Pro isn’t too challenging, but there’s a fair amount of wiring to hide if you don’t want cables trailing in the cabin.
❌ You want a simple solution: Nexar's app is home to a host of useful tools, but you’ll find better value elsewhere if you only want a basic cam for recording the road.
Aimed at those who spend extended periods behind the wheel, the Nexar Pro is a dual-cam solution that can record video both inside and outside a vehicle. Comprised of two separate camera units connected by a cable, we found the setup to be pretty neat, even if it took up a fair bit of screen real estate.
The Nexar app is central to the twin camera experience: it’s where you can fine-tune settings, generate incident reports and back recorded clips up to the cloud (Nexar bundles cloud storage in for free). Other useful tools include break-in alerts if someone tries to tamper with your car, as well as GPS data logging.
This dash cam doesn’t record in 4K, but we found its 1080p video to be perfectly serviceable. The external camera fares well even in tricky shooting situations, from heavy rain to bright sunshine. There are cheaper dash cams out there with fewer features to play with, but if the security of your car is crucial to your daily life, the Pro is hard to beat in terms of protection and overall value.
- Read our in-depth Nexar Pro review
The best low-profile 4K dash cam
✅ You want well-priced GPS: With built-in GPS that unlocks useful speed and location data, the E1 represents decent value for the price.
✅ Your car already has driver aids: Rather than double up by equipping the E1 with driver assistance systems, Vantrue has instead focused on build and video quality.
❌ You can’t fit a dash cam centrally: With no sideways adjustment, the E1 needs to be mounted to the middle of your windshield, otherwise footage won’t be level.
❌ You expect a polarizing filter as standard: Some dash cams include a polarizing lens to reduce reflections from the hood, but it’s an optional extra for the E1.
Neat and relatively compact, the Vantrue E1 is an attractive dash cam that’s capable of recording 2.5K video at 30fps. It can also record Full HD footage at a smoother 60fps, for enhanced detail while you drive. Results in our review proved sharp night and day, with accurate colors and acceptable noise in low light. Our testing also revealed that the optional polarising filter usefully reduces dashboard reflections.
The E1’s magnetic mount works well, but the lack of sideways adjustment does limit its use if you can’t fit it centrally. If you can, you’ll find that its 160-degree angle captures a wide view of what’s ahead. A tiny 1.54-inch screen offers a preview when installing, but the smartphone app is the more useful way to tweak settings.
You don’t get the driver assistance systems of other dash cams, so it’s up to you or your vehicle to spot speed cameras and potential collisions. That said, you still get Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity, and we like that Vantrue has focused on video quality over unnecessary extras.
- Read our in-depth Vantrue E1 review