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.

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You need GPS coverage: The Thinkware X1000 does support GPS functionality, but only through a module that’s sold separately. As you can imagine, pricing is one of the most important factors of any purchasing decision. We can find the perfect product for our needs, that fits the brief in every single way. But if it doesn’t fit our budgets, we simply can’t (or at least shouldn’t) buy it. If the brand you buy is important to you, our best advice is to spend some time writing up your own list of ideal brands. That way when you come to the point where you’re comparing product options you can filter to only show the products from brands in your list. These include the frame rate (how many frames are captured per second), having 'low light performance' features (meaning it can see well at any time of day), a high dynamic range (good levels of contrast in the image) and the widest lens possible (minimum 120 degrees). Extra features G-force sensor (most have this) when the sensor is triggered, it specifically saves that segment Optional but useful features:

Depending on your insurance provider, getting a dashcam can reduce your monthly premiums – and in the event of an accident, a dashboard camera can also be an invaluable piece of kit to help settle any claims. What's more, they're a great safeguard against a more unsettling trend; those increasingly popular 'crash-for-cash' crimes.

Dash Cams | Car Cameras | Argos Dash Cams | Car Cameras | Argos

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. You want seamless connectivity: Connecting to a smartphone isn't always straightforward, with the Wi-Fi connection often failing to establish during our testing. Our team looked at over 40 cameras, including some mini dash cams, to narrow down the cheapest model for the highest quality. We've found time and time again, paying the extra dollar doesn't always mean you're getting a better product, though it often helps. It boils down to knowing exactly what to look for. After interrogating the most reasonable dashcam options available today, we've found the below list to be our current top favourites. The best budget dash cams at a glance: If you use the cigarette lighter/USB port to power your dash cam, then leaving it plugged in overnight might drain your car battery, depending on if your vehicle supplies constant power to the ports. Hard-wired dash cams can be set up to switch on with the car ignition in some vehicles to save battery, too. Cheap dash cams are often reasonably priced for a reason. This can be because of fewer features or a more fiddly setup. But a cheaper model can certainly be worth the extra effort if you're looking to save money. The same goes for the dash cam installation. You can plug the cam into your cigarette lighter and go, which is what most of us do. It's the easiest option. Hardwiring

The best budget dash cams at a glance:

The next step after looking at products in the same category, was to look at products from the same brand, Binatone. The popularity of dash cams has been growing over the past decade, especially with so many good quality budget dash cams becoming available. There are probably more benefits to owning a dash cam than you've realised, and they currently represent peace of mind to over a million UK motorists and counting. More information on quality can be found in this old but still very helpful article from Harvard Business Review.

The best budget dash cams - Car Magazine Products The best budget dash cams - Car Magazine Products

You don’t drive for a living: Most road users don’t need interior recording, so unless you’re ferrying passengers for pay, you might find better value elsewhere. You don’t like wires: Three cameras means a lot of wires to guide and hide. Cabling in the rear camera means removing the headliner or carpet. This is particularly the case for professional drivers. If you’re a taxi driver, for example, you should inform passengers that your vehicle is fitted with a dash cam, particularly if it’s recording audio. In the US, several states only permit sound recording with the permission of everyone in the vehicle. Just before we get into the detail of analysing the price of this product, we want to briefly highlight the importance of setting yourself a budget before you spend too much time shopping around for a suitable product. It’s all too often that we get carried away when shopping and find ourselves buying a fantastic product, but probably actually overdelivers on what we need and therefore costs a lot more than we should have spent. So spend a bit of time looking around at the sort of price you can expect to pay for products in the Dash cams category and use that alongside your own financial situation to set yourself a budget.There are also a wealth of features to consider, including a touchscreen display, a companion app, GPS, parking surveillance, voice control, sat nav and what3words to name but a few.

BINATONE DC200 HD DASH CAMERA (Argos Instruction manual for BINATONE DC200 HD DASH CAMERA (Argos

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.

Recording and storing footage

So if you already own a GoPro, pairing it with a dashboard mount or windshield suction cup is an easy way to record video while you’re driving. We even have a dedicated guide on how to use a GoPro as a dash cam for your car. However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to capture in-car video, it’s worth considering a dash cam. Are dash cams legal? Loop recording allows dash cams to continuously record video footage to their built-in storage or memory card. The setting automatically overwrites the oldest clips on your camera with new ones when its storage becomes full. This way, it can keep recording without requiring you to pull over and manually delete unneeded clips. This gives you the reassurance that there will be no gap in your driving log. Helpfully, both the display angle and camera lens are adjustable, so you can find the right position between road and driver. Full HD footage is shot in HDR at 30fps, delivering balanced exposure and enough detail to make number plates legible. That said, we found that video suffers from noticeable stabilization wobble. This distortion doesn’t reduce the detail, but footage is worse than from other Garmin dash cams. You want a wide view of the road: Both cameras have a 140-degree field of view, which is narrower than that of many rivals and which only covers the windshield.