Over the years, we’ve analyzed and reviewed scores of dash cams: Cheap and expensive ones; older models, newer models, and the latest ones; singe and dual channel (i.e. forward facing or front-and-rear, including taxi cams that record the passenger cabin in addition to the road ahead). This way we’ve accumulated a pretty good overview of what level of performance you can expect at each price level, and we’d like to share this knowledge with you here.
If you already know how much you’re going to spend on your new dashboard camera, this article will help you make sure that you get the best value for your money. On the other hand, if you’re not sure yet how much to invest, you may want to have a read anyway to find out what’s the state of the art in mid 2017 and beyond.
Whether you’re able to spend no more than $40 or can afford to pay over $400: Our list of the best dash cams for each price level will show you the best and most reliable device you can get for any kind of budget. Plus we’ll also be listing various vendors for your country, so you can find the best deal. Let’s dive right in!
Table Of Contents
$25-$50: G1W-CB
$60-$70: A118C2
$70-$100: A119
$110-$120: DDPai M6+
$150-$170: DOD LS460W
$160-$180: Lukas LK-7900 ARA
$180-$200: Transcend Drive Pro 520 (Taxi Cam)
$200-$250: StreetGuardian SG9665GC
$250-$260: Thinkware X500D (Dual)
$250-$280: Vico-Opia2
$350-$400: BlackVue DR650S-2CH (Dual)
$400-$500: Thinkware F800 (Dual)
$25-$50: G1W-CB
The G1W-CB has been our favorite low-cost dash cam for more than three years now. It used to be $50 when we first reviewed it, but prices have been going down and at the time of this writing it is available for sale on GearBest for just below $30.
Being a Chinese low-cost product, this camera likely won’t last forever and video quality is not the best you can get today. That said, if you need the cheapest possible dash cam that will do its job reasonably well, this is the one you should go for.
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G1W-CB feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080
Video quality: Good
Reliability: Average
Memory capacity: 32GB
Extras: Capacitor
$60-$70: A118C2
A successor of the popular A118-C (also known as B40-C), the A118C2 has a larger aperture than its predecessor and records much better video at night. It also allows you to mount a CPL filter that will reduce windshield reflections in the sunlight.
Compared to the above mentioned G1W-CB, the A118C2 is a step up quality wise. Video quality is more or less similar for both devices, but the A118C2 is more reliable, and you can fit a larger SD card so you will get much better recording capacity.
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A118C2 feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080
Video quality: Good
Reliability: Good
Memory capacity: 64GB
Extras: Capacitor, optional GPS, optional CPL filter, lock file button
$70-$100: A119
Arguably the most successful newcomer in 2017, the A119 dash cam is manufactured by the Chines company Viofo, but is sometimes also branded “Spytec A119″ or otherwise. Technically, the A119 cameras are identical. They deliver excellent video quality, at day and at night time, at a high resolution of 1440p.
Just like the A118C2, the A119 comes in a stealthy wedge shape, and it’s easy to set up and use due to the camera’s 2” LCD screen. It uses a capacitor for improved heat resistance, and it has a lock file button to mark important footage for safekeeping.
This camera is available in two variants: You can either get the GPS version (with the receiver built into the camera’s mount), or if you don’t need GPS, you can save around $10 and get the non-GPS version.
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A119 feature summary
Resolution: 2560×1440
Video quality: Very Good
Reliability: Good
Memory capacity: 128GB
Extras: Capacitor, optional GPS, lock file button
$110-$120: DDPai M6+
The Chinese DDPai M6+ is a unique, stylishly designed car camera that records at up to 1440p resolution. It comes with a magnetic mount that makes it easy remove it from the car. With its limited heat resistance, you should definitely take it with you if you are going to park your car in a hot climate.
The M6+ supports Wi-Fi and connects to your smart phone, and it is one of the very few dash cams to come with a remote “emergency record” button that allows you to mark important video footage (so you can place the button anywhere in your car where it is easily reachable while driving).
Bear in mind though that this camera does have come with a couple of drawbacks, so be sure to check out the full review if you are interested in this model.
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DDPai M6+ feature summary
Resolution: 2560×1440
Video quality: Very Good
Reliability: Good
Memory capacity: 128GB
Extras: Internal GPS, Wi-Fi, parking mode (time-lapse & motion detection), opitonal CPL filter, remote lock file button
$150-$170: DOD LS460W
The DOD LS460W still records the best video quality at night, hands down. It operates at 1080p maximum, while many modern single-channel dash cams at this price are able to record at 1440p or higher.
However, the lower resolution actually is an advantage when it comes to low-light sensitivity: A lower overall number of pixels means that each individual pixel is larger, allowing it to absorb more light.
The LS460W’s records great video at day also, however the Vico-Opia2 (featured below) does perform slightly better in this regard.
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DOD LS460W feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080
Video quality: Excellent
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 64GB
Extras: GPS, time-lapse parking mode, optional CPL filter, lock file button
$160-$180: Lukas LK-7900 ARA
The LK-7900 ARA is one of the dash cameras with the highest heat tolerance. It will withstand up to 80°C (176˚F), so you won’t have a problem leaving it in your parked car, even if you live in a hot or tropical climate.
Another outstanding feature of this camera is its OBD-II interface, which allows you to integrate your car’s data (like rpm, steering wheel position, turn indicator lights…) into the video feed, for added safety in case of insurance claims.
The LK-7900 ARA also has a very large recording capacity of up to 256GB, allowing for more than 48 hours of 1080p video.
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Lukas LK-7900 ARA feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080
Video quality: Very Good
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 256GB
Extras: Capacitor, GPS, parking mode, OBD-II interface, best heat resistance, optional CPL filter, lock file button
$180-$200: Transcend Drive Pro 520 (Taxi Cam)
The Drive Pro 520 is the best taxi cam in the mid-price range (BlackVue’s DR650S IR is better, but more expensive). Taxi cams record the road ahead as well as the interior of the car. To perform well at night, they use infrared lights for the interior camera to make sure passengers are visible.
Be aware that while there are many taxi cams out there that cost less, the ones we’ve looked at so far were mostly useless due to their bad video quality or other flaws. The Drive Pro 520 is the cheapest taxi cam that we’re happy to recommend.
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Transcend Drive Pro 520 feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080 (front), 1280×720 (interior)
Video quality: Good
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 32GB (free card included)
Extras: GPS, Wi-Fi, lock file button
$200-$250: StreetGuardian SG9665GC
Australian manufacturers Street Guardian pretty much did everything right with this camera. Molding high-quality components into a stealthy wedge-shape (similar to the A118 and A119), the SG9665GC records excellent video at day time, and good video at night.
Supporting memory cards of up to 256GB, it has a huge recording capacity of more than 37 houts. Also, Street Guardian’s customer support is known to be responsive and very helpful, which is unfortunately not always the case with other manufacturers.
A reliable device that keeps receiving outstanding customer feedback, you can’t go wrong picking this camera.
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Street Guardian SG9665GC feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080
Video quality: Very Good
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 256GB
Extras: Capacitor, external GPS, optional CPL filter, lock file button
$250-$260: Thinkware X500D (Dual)
The X500D is a great entry level front-and-rear dash cam that records 1080p video both ways. While it’s not the stealthiest device with its noticeable silver casing, it does come with some excellent features such as buffered parking mode, an emergency button to mark important video footage, and it records good video quality overall. Great value for money.
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Thinkware X500D feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080
Video quality: Good
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 64GB
Extras: Capacitor, GPS, buffered parking mode, lock file button
$250-$280: Vico-Opia2
Vicovation’s Opia2 is a single-channel camera that records top-of-the-line 1440p video. We haven’t seen any other dash cam that performs better during the day time.
At night, the DOD LS460W (see above) performs slightly better due to its larger aperture and lower resolution, however the Opia2’s night video is still very good.
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Vico-Opia2 feature summary
Resolution: 2560×1440
Video quality: Excellent
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 128GB
Extras: Capacitor, optional GPS, parking mode (time-lapse and motion detection), battery discharge prevention (available separately), optional CPL filter, lock file button
$350-$400: BlackVue DR650S-2CH (Dual)
Even though its rear video channel only records at 720p, the BlackVue DR650S-2CH continues to be the best selling dual channel dash cam of all time. Its elegant and discreet cylinder shape no doubt contribute to its success, as well as advanced features such as Wi-Fi, buffered parking mode with motion detection, cloud connectivity for remote viewing over the internet, and lots more.
Its only downsides are the 720p rear video channel, as well as its lack of a lock file button that will allow you to mark video footage for safekeeping in the case of an accident or interesting event.
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BlackVue DR650S-2CH feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080 (front), 1280×720 (rear)
Video quality: Good
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 128GB
Extras: Capacitor, GPS, Wi-Fi with BlackVue cloud connectivity, buffered parking mode, battery discharge prevention (available separately), optional CPL filter
$400-$500: Thinkware F800 (Dual)
A high-end front and rear dash cam that records good quality 1080p video both ways, the F800 comes with most of the latest features such as buffered or time-lapse parking mode, low-voltage cutoff to protect your car’s battery, and Wi-Fi connection to your smart phone.
In direct comparison to the DR650S series, the F800 records noticeably better quality video at night and to the rear. Forward video quality at day time is similar.
The F800 has a convenient lock file button, which the DR650S is unfortunately lacking. It doesn’t support cloud connectivity at this time, though.
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Thinkware F800 feature summary
Resolution: 1920×1080 (front and rear)
Video quality: Very Good
Reliability: To be determined
Memory capacity: 64GB
Extras: Capacitor, GPS, Wi-Fi, buffered and time-lapse parking mode, low-voltage cutoff, lock file button