If you’re looking for the best dashboard camera to buy, you may want to rephrase your question a little bit. Today’s dash cams come in so many different figurative flavors that the best really means the best for you, your vehicle, and your need.
The best dashboard camera to keep you protected from insurance fraud in a sports car might not be the best dashboard camera to document your cross-country road trip in a van, so you’ll first need to do a little inward searching to see what your wants and needs really are.
Sizes, Distractions, And Your Vehicle
Three top things to consider first in finding the best dashboard camera to buy are your size, any distractions, and your vehicle. If you have a small vehicle, like a compact sports car, you’re not going to want something large taking up too much space on your dashboard or your windshield.
A dashboard camera that is too large can take valuable sight space away from the driver, or simply be too bulky to be convenient in a car of a smaller size. In these instances, a dashboard camera like the sleek and compact Pruveeo D40 Dash Cam could be a better fit than the larger Vantrue N4 3 Dash Cam.
If you have a larger car, like a truck, you’ll have the space for the larger display screens, but you have a whole other issue to consider. In bigger cars, a wider angle may be needed, and a dashboard camera with a 120-degree angle or 170-degree angle of viewing just might not cut it quite as well as it would in a smaller compact car. In these instances, make your angles a priority, and consider a dashboard cam that takes front and back wide-angle shots like the
KDLINKS DX2 Dash Cam, with front and back lenses creating 290 total degrees of coverage.
Another thing to consider is your ability to become distracted, and a dashboard camera with a wide and crisp LCD screen may not be best for everyone.
If you think you’ll find yourself glancing over at the screen, or allowing the screen to take your attention away too often, it’s probably best to opt for something a little less distracting.
For quick and easy video footage viewing at your leisure and ready any time it’s safe, but with no distracting LCD, the Pruveeo D40 Dash Cam is the best for the job, highly rated, and very affordable.
The next thing you’ll want to think about is what exactly you’re using the dashboard camera for, and how much footage you want to store. If you’re taking your dashboard camera with you on a long-distance road trip to document the travel part of your experience, the Thinkware F200 PRO holds a 32 GB micro SD card capable of storing a full 8 to 10 hours of footage at any given time.
With this sort of documentation capability, you can record entire daylong trips on a device that also includes a built-in GPS navigator to track where you are and what’s around you.
Here are some additional tips on how to find the best dash cam based on the features offered…
Finding The Best Dashboard Camera To Buy For Your Price Point
Price points are also something to consider when looking for the best dashboard camera to buy, and the price of highly rated and capable dashboard cameras can range from under $40 to well over $200 and beyond.
Of course, the more bells and whistles you want for your dashboard camera, the higher the price is going to be, so it’s important to lay out just what you want before searching for the very best value.
If an LCD and/or touch screen is something important to you, these prices can vary wildly, but will typically be more expensive than their non LCD counterparts.
Of course, this isn’t always the case, and more high-tech display-free dash cams will be pricier depending on their other offerings. On average, however, the greater the display will mean the higher the price, so finding a happy medium within your price range is always your best bet.
A dashboard camera with greater storage capabilities will also be a bit pricier, as will the micro SD cards required to store videos.
If you’re looking for long-term recordings, opting for a dashboard camera capable of recording with 32GB SD cards is probably best, but if you plan to only store shorter video clips, you can get away with 16GB storage capability, or even less, and be perfectly pleased.
Buying several smaller SD cards can add up to be pricier than one larger one, however, and this is something that should be considered.
Making Your Decision Wisely
Wisely choosing the best dashboard camera to suit your needs will give you just what you want, for a price you wish to pay and provide you with long-term protection and enjoyment. Some dashboard camera makers even include one-year to lifetime warranties or guarantees on their products to ensure they remain in working condition, as well as top-grade customer support, so you know you’re using your cam to the best of your abilities. If you’re looking at your dashboard camera as an investment, opting for one with some type of warranty or guarantee is the best choice.
For those who aren’t tech-savvy, check if the manufacturer offers a customer support line, and you’ll have the peace of mind that you’ll know how to work every feature.
Choosing the best dashboard camera to buy is less about looking at specific dashboard cams, and more about investigating your interests first.
The person who wishes to record a trip will have different camera interests than the person who wants a constant surveillance line on their vehicle for strict protection purposes, and this is something to be considered before feeling confident about making the right choice.
First, consider your needs, then consider your specific vehicle, and then the features offered, and you’re bound to find the best dashboard camera for you within the wide range of modern cameras available.
Your Choice for 2023: Z-Edge Dual Dash Cam
This Z-Edge Dual Dash Cam is Amazon’s Choice for the best dashcam. Some of its pros include a fantastic design and touchscreen with high-resolution cameras (1440p front and 1080p rear).
It also has excellent battery life and includes other features, such as a parking mode that wakes up the camera if your car is disturbed while you’re away.
The only downside here is that this dashcam does not have GPS capability. Well, you can always use your phone for that.
Two unique features of the Z-Edge dual dash cam:
One-finger Operation Touch Screen. Designed with a 4.0in sensitive touch screen, the dash camera doesn’t use buttons anymore – you can use only one finger to navigate to the Menu settings, take a snapshot, lock video files manually, or playback videos.
Four Preset Optimized Modes. This allows you to save time having to customize each mode individually. Modes available include:
- Drive – this is optimized for your day-to-day recording needs.
- Scenic – this is for longer video clips, perfect for when you’re on a road trip.
- WDR – is best used if you need better light balance, especially when shooting at night or in places with low lighting conditions.
- Park – this mode increases G-sensor sensitivity and battery efficiency for monitoring your parked vehicle.
Other features include:
- Dual 1920*1080P@30fps
- Super Clear Night Vision with WDR Technology
- Dual 155°Wide Angle Lens
- Loop recording & G-sensor
- Parking monitor
Its operating temperature ranges from 14 to 140°F and storage temperature is at -4 to 158°F.