Now Testing: Dash cams

An exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at our testing Photo: Sarah Witman For anyone getting behind the wheel, dash cams can be useful, whether to identify the culprit in a hit-and-run accident or to capture a [roadside meteor shower](. To update our existing guide this year, we tested eight dash cams against our current picks, with resolutions up to 2160p (4K/UHD) and an array of premium features, such as 24-hour parked car monitoring and GPS tracking. —Sarah Witman When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Learn more]( → What we tested Photo: Sarah Witman - [Vava VD009]( / $170 - [Vantrue S1]( / $180 - [MyGekoGear Orbit 960]( / $200 - [Vantrue X4]( / $200 - [Vantrue N2S]( / $220 - [Viofo A129 Duo]( / $200 - [Thinkware U1000]( / $350 - [Nextbase 622GW]( / $400 How we tested Since a dash cam is intended primarily to document car crashes, road rage, unlawful police stops, and other unsafe situations, it’s important to get one that works reliably and captures crisp footage. When we first started reviewing dash cams, in 2016, most had only 1080p or 1440p resolution. Today, however, for a couple hundred dollars you can get a 4K-resolution dash cam, which will enable you to capture every minute on the road in vivid detail. A great dash cam isn’t just about pixels, though. All of the models we tested offer night vision, as well as one or more of the following features: 24-hour parked car monitoring, GPS tracking, 911 calling, Amazon Alexa (or other smart assistant) support, and app connectivity. We also tested more models with a built-in capacitor (which allows the dash cam to operate in extreme heat), based on reader requests for this feature. The Vantrue X4 mounted to a windshield. Photo: Sarah Witman Once I got my hands on all of the dash cams and took them for a spin around my neighborhood, I noticed some small details with big impacts on convenience and usability. For example, the Vava, the Viofo, and all the Vantrue models have chargers with a built-in USB-A port, allowing you to power the dash cam and charge your phone while driving. If you want to charge a phone or other small device while using the MyGekoGear, the Nextbase, or the Thinkware, on the other hand, you’ll have to pack a [power bank]( or a [socket splitter](. All of the Vantrue dash cams’s chargers have a USB-A port (shown here), so you can charge your phone or another device while powering the camera. Photo: Sarah Witman Something else I realized early on is that a dash cam is only as good as its mount (the device that affixes it to your windshield). An adhesive mount makes sense for people who want their dash cam to be a semi-permanent fixture in their car (if you go this route, the Viofo and the Nextbase come with a small plastic lever that’s helpful for prying it off). Most people will probably want a suction-style mount, though, because they’re much easier to remove and reposition. Of those, I liked the Nextbase and Vava mounts the best because they have built-in magnets to effortlessly attach the mount to the dash cam (as opposed to the fiddly plastic clasps on the MyGekoGear, the Vantrue N2S, and the Vantrue S1). The Thinkware and Viofo models were the hardest for me to figure out at first (unlike the rest, with these I had to consult the manual to get them up and running). But after the initial setup, all of the dash cams were a breeze to use. The Viofo comes with a plastic lever to help remove the adhesive windshield mount. Photo: Sarah Witman They power on and start recording as soon as you turn the key, and they power down when the car shuts off or you unplug the charger. They automatically switch over to night-vision mode as soon as it gets dark. And the ones with 24-hour parked car monitoring (all but the MyGekoGear and the Thinkware, which require you to buy a separate hardwiring cable to get this feature) start recording when they detect any motion, such as a neighbor’s car tapping your bumper. By the numbers 8 Dash cams tested 48 Loops around the block 1 Near-collision while futzing with a dash cam Early impressions The NextBase 622GW dash cam. Photo:Sarah Witman The [Nextbase 622GW]( and the three Vantrue models are all top-pick or upgrade-pick contenders. They are simple and straightforward to set up and to use. For the price, they offer great resolution (4K in at least one of the cameras). They also incorporate three of my top features: night vision, GPS (built into either the camera or the mount), and 24-hour parked car monitoring. Additionally, they’re able to operate at a wide range of temperatures. The Nextbase, for example, is rated to work from -22 to 140 °F, and the Vantrue models go up to 158 °F. The [Garmin Mini]( a current pick, is still a great choice for those who want a cam you won’t notice. However, we’re interested in testing it against the Ring Car Cam—a diminutive dash cam with front- and interior-facing cameras—when that model becomes available later this year. 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