Ever had an unbelievable moment on the road—but no proof of the encounter? Today we look at dash cameras: different types, best features, and optimal picks for your ride.
Channels
Most important is what you want your cam to record. How many channels, or directions? Single-channel dash cams are front-facing only. They stick to your windshield and view the road ahead. They’re popular for being simple, budget-friendly, and decent protection versus fender-benders or rogue shopping carts.
For protection against getting rear-ended, the dual-channel dash cam covers front- and rear-facing angles. Rideshare drivers and nervous parents might appreciate the three-channel dash cam, which records the front, rear, and cabin interior. Many interior cameras use infrared night vision, so that they can capture what’s happening inside even in total darkness.
Form factors
Dash cams have a few different form factors to ensure they don’t block your view. Mini dash cams are tiny, stealthy, and hide perfectly behind your rear-view mirror. Mirror dash cams strap over your existing rear-view mirror, turning the whole thing into a touchscreen display. Alternatively, the cabin cam is usually mounted on the dash or windshield, to look back at the interior.
Features
These aren’t your grandpa’s camcorders! Resolution, of course, is essential. Standard 1080p is a solid baseline, but 4k resolution is better for capturing license plates and other essential details. Most dash cams store their footage locally via the mighty microSD card. High-endurance cards designed for continuous recording are best, because dash cams are writing and rewriting data constantly with a feature called loop recording, which automatically overwrites your oldest non-locked footage with newer stuff, so that you don’t have to worry about clearing space. Need to save or share a clip? Pop the microSD card out, transfer the footage to your computer, and boom! All your files are ready to go.
Speaking of, parking mode keeps the camera on standby, ready to wake up if it detects motion or a bump with its inbuilt G-Sensor. If it does wake up, it locks the recording, preventing its erasure. Other features include audio recording, a speed overlay to prove you weren’t over the limit, 4G LTE cloud connectivity, and remote alerts so that you know what’s happening from anywhere. AI driver assistance features and voice control are also options for the extra among you, but ultimately the level of features depends on your budget and individual needs.
Whether you want to dispute an unfair insurance claim, catch a hit-and-run, or capture a ghost car or alien encounter for internet fame—a dash cam is a solid co-pilot. Industry data shows that fifty percent of the time, a dash cam exonerates the driver! That could easily pay for itself…
Let us know which dash cam you’d choose in the comments, and drive safe!
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0:00 Intro
0:27 Channels
1:18 Form factors
1:49 Features
3:46 Outro
