10 Dash Cam Recommendations for 2024 plus Installation Tips

For drivers, besides car insurance, a device commonly called a dash cam is essential to ensure the safety of themselves and passengers. For starters, in a traffic accident, the video footage can provide evidence of who caused the accident. Secondly, if there are unruly passengers, the dash cam footage can serve as evidence to protect drivers from false accusations.

However, with so many dash cams on the market, how should one choose a suitable dash cam? This Kwiksure article summarizes the Consumer Council's testing criteria and recommends 10 dash cams, clarifying the characteristics of different types.

Consumer Council Dash Cam Testing Criteria

Image Quality, Clarity, and Stability

According to a previously published by the Hong Kong Consumer Council, coordinated by a UK consumer organization, the testing criteria for car cams include image quality, sound quality, recording range, screenshot quality, GPS accuracy, and impact sensor file protection features. They also review the clarity and stability of the video footage from each sample, checking whether license plates or road signs are automatically focused at different speeds, and noting if the car cam is easily affected by streetlights and strong light, as well as issues like frame drops and stuttering.

The Consumer Council reminds that the performance of dash cams in recording is not only limited by the hardware itself but can also be influenced by actual road conditions, such as the weather. Therefore, drivers should carefully choose products with better image quality to avoid situations where poor video quality renders the captured video useless as evidence in a traffic accident.

Field of View

In addition to image quality, the vertical and horizontal field of view (FOV) of the camera’s footage is another comparison criterion. The vertical FOV of dash cams typically ranges from 50 to 60 degrees, while a wider horizontal FOV is preferable to capture a more complete view of the road conditions.

Parking Mode for Round-the-Clock Monitoring

Dash cams automatically enter standby mode when the vehicle's engine stops. If they detect the vehicle has been hit, they will immediately begin recording. The dynamic detection feature that starts recording when an object moves in front of the camera is also an important testing criterion. Additionally, it is necessary to note whether the dash cam needs to be professionally wired to the vehicle's battery to activate parking mode and whether it automatically enables this mode after connection to the battery.

How to Choose the Right Dash Cam

Overall, the Consumer Council has the following recommendations for drivers purchasing and using a dash cam:

• Consumers should purchase products with a resolution of at least 2 million pixels and full HD recording (1,920 x 1,080) to clearly capture road conditions.
• Pay attention to the number of frames the dash cam can record in one second. Products that record at least 30 frames per second (30 fps) or higher provide smoother footage with no delays, especially when driving at higher speeds. The images will also be clearer.
• FOV is 'the wider the better', with a horizontal FOV of 140 degrees or more being recommended.
• The 'parking mode' of the dash cam allows 24/7 surveillance around the vehicle, and its power consumption is generally 10W or less, equivalent to the power consumption of a reading light, so there is no need to worry about the car battery being drained.

Types of Dash Cams

Dash cams on the market are mainly divided into single-lens and dual-lens types. Single-lens models only capture footage from the front, while dual-lens models can simultaneously record the rear. Some brands also offer three-lens models that can capture interior footage and 360-degree dash cams that allow for adjustable shooting angles. If you want more comprehensive recording, it is advisable to choose multi-lens models.

Kwiksure's Top 10 Dash Cam Recommendations, Main Features and Prices

1. Xiaomi Dash Cam 2

This dash cam can record videos in 2K resolution with a FOV of up to 140 degrees, and it features 3D DNR digital noise reduction and WDR wide dynamic range technology, enhancing night time video shooting quality. A 3-inch screen enables easy setup and video playback. Instead of traditional suction cup mounts, this dash cam employs an electrostatic adhesive pad to attach to the windshield. While this installation method is space-saving and pleasant to the eye, it is not suitable for vehicles with vertical windshields like light goods vehicles.

2. DDPAI Mini2X

The DDPAI Mini2X is compact and features a 360-degree rotating lens, allowing for multi-angle shooting. It supports 2K HD quality and NightVIS 2.0 technology, ensuring clear capture of road conditions and license plate numbers in various lighting conditions. The Mini2X supports ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) with features like front vehicle start alert and fatigue alert, providing appropriate driving advice based on real-time road conditions.

3. 70mai A400

In addition to dark gray, the A400 is also available in red and ivory colors. Its compact design and adhesive-based installation method allow it to blend with different car interiors while maintaining a clean look. Due to size limitations, the A400 only uses a 2-inch screen, but you can use Wi-Fi to connect it to your smartphone and view video footage. The A400 supports a FOV of 145 degrees and you can add a rear cam or cabin cam, but both need to be purchased separately.

4. 70mai X200 Omni

The 70mai X200 Omni is compact, resembles an enlarged capsule, and features a rotating gimbal that allows for 360-degree blind spot-free shooting. It has a built-in AI system that can detect and identify nearby vehicles and objects 24/7, automatically positioning, rotating the lens, and activating recording before a collision occurs. With a high frame rate of 60 fps, it reduces the chance of stuttering during high-speed motion, providing clear image details. Drivers can also use voice control to take photos and record vlogs while driving.

5. IROAD T10S2

The IROAD T10S2 from South Korea offers a wide 150-degree FOV and uses the SONY STARVIS image sensor with high sensitivity to greatly reduce image noise. The X-VISION parking mode automatically adjusts the light sensitivity based on ambient light conditions. Moreover, the T10S2 can be connected to OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) to display driving data through the T10S2 and provides features such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and front vehicle start alert.

6. IROAD X11

The IROAD X11 features 1440P QHD high-resolution video capturing and a 5-megapixel lens, providing extensive recording capabilities with dual 155-degree-FOV front and rear cameras. Equipped with a SONY STARVIS sensor and X-VISION parking mode, it maintains image quality even in low-light environments. Both front and rear cameras have HDR functionality, ensuring clear video recording under backlight or tunnel conditions.

7. GNET G-ONX

The GNET G-ONX uses a SONY STARVIS sensor, ensuring clear image quality and resolution, and supports HDR night vision functionality, allowing for clear recordings during nighttime driving. It is also equipped with an ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) that includes features like front vehicle start alert, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning for added safety during trips. The built-in LBP (Low Battery Protection) feature automatically shuts off sound recording and cuts power when the voltage drops below a designated level to protect the vehicle's battery.

8. BlackVue DR970X - 2CH LTE

The DR970X includes front and rear cameras. The front camera features an 8-megapixel sensor and provides high-quality videos at 3,840 x 2,160 resolution and a FOV of 155 degrees. The rear camera uses a 1,080p SONY STARVIS sensor and has a FOV of 139 degrees. The DR970X has a built-in GPS for recording driving routes, and it can be used with 4G connectivity to upload videos to cloud storage.

9. Thinkware U3000

The U3000 offers 4K resolution for the front camera and 2K resolution for the rear camera, supporting 60 fps recording, making it suitable for capturing vehicles moving at high speeds. The U3000 is also equipped with the latest SONY STARVIS 2 image sensor, which enhances noise reduction and low-light recording capabilities. When the temperature inside the vehicle is too high, the U3000 automatically enters an energy-saving mode to prevent power disruption, automatically switching back to normal recording mode when the temperature returns to normal.

10. PAPAGO! G360

In addition to the standard front and rear cameras, the PAPAGO! G360 features a dedicated camera for capturing interior images, allowing it to record both inside and outside the vehicle simultaneously. All three cameras provide 1080p full HD video, using a 6-layer optical lens construction, and are equipped with 4 infrared LED lights and a large F1.55 aperture to enhance night time recording. For connectivity, it supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, enabling wireless transmission of footage to a mobile device.

Is it Difficult to Install a DIY Dash Cam?

If you only install a front-facing dash cam, you can connect it to the cigarette lighter for power. Route the cable along the upper edge of the windshield, along the A-pillar, and hide it below the steering wheel. This should complete the basic installation. However, the dashcam should not be installed directly in front of the driver. The correct position is near the top center of the front windshield, just behind the central rearview mirror. This ensures the dash cam doesn't obstruct the driver's view and captures images from both sides equally.

Installation of a rear-facing dash cam means you need to route a cable connecting the dash cam at the back to the one in front. This involves more cable hiding and a higher level of installation expertise, especially with hatchback or SUV models where the rear cam's cable needs to pass through the wire duct inside the tailgate. Therefore, extra care should be taken during installation to avoid potential water ingress through the tailgate, which can have various consequences. If you lack the relevant experience, it's recommended that you hire a professional technician for the installation.

Moreover, if the dash cam needs to record for an extended period or continue recording when the car is parked, it will have to be connected to the car's fuse box so that power is available even with the engine off. This requires a certain level of automotive electronics knowledge. If the connections are poor or incorrect, it can potentially affect the other electronic components of the car. Again, if you lack the relevant experience, it's advisable to hire a professional technician for the job.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What dash cam brands are recommended?

There are many brands of dash cams on the market, including Xiaomi, PAPAGO, 70mai, DDPAI, IROAD, BlackVue, G-Net, and Thinkware.

What should we pay attention to when buying a dash cam?

When purchasing a dash cam, pay attention to the video resolution, frame rate, field of view, etc., and consider features such as emergency collision recording and motion detection.