Best Dash Cam: Garmin Vs Owl Vs Z-Edge Vs Rexing Vs VanTrue & More

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Under $100	View on Amazon Read Review
Under $200	View on Amazon Read Review
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Whether you’re looking for the best dash cam to capture video evidence of a traffic accident or you want added safety features, we’ve reviewed a variety of the best dash cameras on the market. You’ll be able to compare features you want based on what fits your budget.

Article Overview

• Essential Features
• Best Dash Cams For The Money
• Best High-End Dash Cams
• Comparison Table
• See A Dash Cam In Action (Video)

4 Dash Cam Features To Look For

Dash cams have been around for decades (used mainly by police in the U.S.), but within the last few years they’ve exploded in the mainstream consumer market. The features below are essential in a dash cam, but we also review several products that come with a variety of extra features like built-in GPS and voice command.

1) Wide-Angle Viewing

We suggest a camera with at least a 140° viewing angle, which covers three lanes of traffic. Some dash cams have wide enough angles to capture cross-traffic at intersections.

2) Loop Recording

Most dash cams use loop recording, where new recordings automatically overwrite oldest recordings when the memory card is full. This way you never run out of recording space when it’s most needed. Some dash cams let you program loop intervals.

3) G-Sensor (Gravity Sensor)

A gravity sensor is an advanced technology that automatically senses a collision and protects video clips from before, during and after each event to help investigators determine what happened. The camera won’t overwrite this critical saved footage.

4) Night Vision

This is an essential feature to capture details, like license plate numbers, of any collision at night time.

What Are The Best Dash Cams For The Money?

We chose our best picks based on several factors, including:

1. reliable and clear HD recording
2. viewing angle
3. ease of use and mounting
4. value
5. added safety features
6. price

Best Overall Value: Z-Edge Z3D Dual Dash Cam

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At under $150, the Z-Edge Z3D Dual Dash Cam is an excellent value for what you get — both front and rear HD recording simultaneously with 150° wide-angle views, GPS function, loop recording and more. Its built-in battery allows for backup recording if your vehicle’s battery fails after an incident.

The slim design records sharp footage (up to 1920×1080 pixels in the front camera) and night vision too. The Z-Edge Z3D 2.7″ also has a parking monitor, which automatically starts recording video whenever it senses motion while parked — a super feature for 24/7 surveillance of your car.

Pros	Cons
Easy-to-install front and rear windshield cameras GPS function and HD resolution Wide dynamic range (WDR) technology balances exposure for superior night video recording Built-in battery can record up to 30 minutes without power supply Parking mode with motion detection 30-day money back guarantee 18-month warranty	Camera setup could be more intuitive Some user complaints that the included MicroSD card is low quality

Price

• $99.99
• 16GB TF/Micro SD card included
• Dimensions: unavailable (screen is 2.4 inches)

Best Under $100: Rexing V1 Review

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At just under $100, the Rexing V1 dash cam is ideal for people who want excellent 1080p HD video recording with a 170° viewing angle during collisions at a price that won’t break your budget.

Although this camera lacks features like lane departure warning and GPS, it makes up for these missing extras with its reliable G-sensor performance. This camera is designed to automatically adapt by fine-tuning the exposure to create balanced images and footage in any type of lighting. You’ll get sharper video with this camera than cheaper alternatives.

Installation is easy using the included 3M adhesive windshield mount (optional suction cup mount available). The V1 is also built to weather high temps in your car, with 140°F operating and 160°F storage temperature limits.

Pros	Cons
Fantastic value Ultra-wide viewing angle G-sensor technology Can program loop recording in 3, 5 or 10-minute intervals 1-year warranty	Camera interface can be confusing Lacks advanced features you can find with the YI (like lane departure warnings and WiFi) Some users say it broke after a few months Memory card not included

Price

• $94.99
• Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.9 x 3 inches

Best Under $200: Vantrue N2 Pro

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The Vantrue N2 Pro dash cam is ideal for drivers who want front and interior views of their cars when they’re driving, e.g., Uber, Lyft and taxi drivers. Even if you’re not a ride-sharing driver, this dash cam is an excellent option at a reasonable price point.

The forward-facing camera has a 1080p HD resolution with a wide view of 170°, and the rear-facing camera captures the entire cabin. When you switch the N2 Pro to single-cam mode, the front-facing camera can record at 1440p resolution, among the highest in our reviews. Installation is via a windshield suction cup mount.

Pros	Cons
Front and cabin view Ultra-wide viewing angle G-sensor technology Excellent infrared night-vision capability inside the cabin Parking mode with motion detection Supports up to 256GB MicroSD cards Ideal for most climates: -4° to 158°F (up to 194°F storage) 18-month warranty	Several user complaints that it doesn’t hold its internal battery charge and drains your car’s battery Some customers say the mount doesn’t stand up over time Memory card not included

Price

• $169.99
• Dimensions: 3.8 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches

Comparison Table

What Are The Best High-End Dash Cams?

Dash cams over $200 have definite benefits over budget-friendly options. Yes, it’s a more significant investment, but you get some cool safety features that may make the added expense worth it for your driving experience.

Garmin Dash Cam 65W | Owl Car Cam

Garmin Dash Cam 67W Review

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The Garmin 67W is a reliable, feature-packed dash cam. Instead of pushing buttons, drivers can use voice commands to start or stop video recording or to shoot a still image. Like the Z-Edge, this dash cam will also record for 30 minutes with its built-in battery, even if your car is not able to supply power after the incident.

The Garmin 67W also comes with built-in GPS, WiFi and several safety features, including parking mode and forward-collision and lane-departure warnings. The 180° viewing angle is excellent for seeing cross traffic, but we wish the video resolution (1080p) was higher to match the wide angle. It’s not as crisp for cars immediately in front of you.

Pros	Cons
Ultra-wide viewing angle captures cross traffic G-sensor technology Built-in battery can record up to 30 minutes without power supply Parking mode, forward collision and lane departure warnings Built-in GPS WiFi connectivity with mobile apps 1-year warranty	The super-wide viewing angle without higher resolution makes cars appear farther away than they are Some customers complain that it doesn’t capture license plates well The magnetic windshield mount only comes with one adhesive strip that wears out over time

Price

• $259.99
• MicroSD card included
• Dimensions: 2.2 x 1.6 x 1.4 inches

Owl Car Cam Review

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The Owl Car Cam is an excellent solution if you want a combination dash cam and smart car video security camera. In addition to the basic dash cam essentials, this camera has built-in GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, voice command, internal storage up to 24 hours, free cloud storage for the first year (saves footage for 14 days) and added security features.

When you’re away from your car, the Owl Cam sends you video alerts if someone dents your vehicle or tries to break in. It also has a flashing green light with an automatic flood light deterrent when it senses motion outside of the car.

Pros	Cons
Front and cabin view G-sensor technology 4G LTE connection gives you 24/7 video access and protection Live video feed to your smartphone if your camera detects motion or a break-in 100% theft replacement 30-day money back guarantee 1-year warranty	Viewing angle isn’t as wide as other products we’ve reviewed here Only syncs with one phone Limited driver assistance features for the price (no collision or lane departure warnings)

Price

Owl Car Cam comes with 12 months of free cloud storage and 3 free months of Owl 911 assistance (Owl agents call you when the camera detects an accident).

• $269
• Dimensions: 1.1 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches
• Cloud storage: $10/month after first 12 months free
• Owl 911 assistance: $7.99/month after 3-month free trial

How Can Dash Cam Footage Help You?

Dash cam compilation videos are rampant on the web, and many involve police footage. But the raw video below shows how having a dash cam in your car can save you from a fraudulent driver, among other traffic incidents.

Self-Driving Cars

I’ll tell you where a dash cam might really come in handy – the times you’ll be not spending behind the wheel as you nervously watch your self-driving car maneuver traffic on your behalf. I know, it sounds futuristic, but they’re here, and they’re coming to the mass market sooner than you might expect.

Tagged With: Comparison, Driving Safety