You never know when that piece of dash cam footage will come in handy. It could be for an insurance claim, to prove your innocence in accident, catch a hit-and-run perpetrator, or just to share some fond memories with your family and friends.
But which dash cam is the best?
Of course, there’s no simple answer to this question; each driver’s preferences and budget will be different. This article shows you the best and most reliable dash cams in 2019 and 2020. We’ll start with the more high-end models, and work our way down towards the cheaper ones.
So here’s our current top 10, as of December 2019:
- Thinkware U1000 — High-end 4k dash cam with remote live view
- Street Guardian SG9663DCPRO — Best overall front and rear video, great customer support
- Thinkware F800 Pro — Great parking protection
- BlackVue DR750S-2CH — Remote live view over internet, good parking mode
- Street Guardian SGGCX2PRO — Best single-channel video, optional rear camera
- Viofo A129 Duo IR — Best taxi cam (records passenger cabin and road ahead)
- Mini 0906 — Cheapest reliable dual cam
- Viofo A129 Duo — More pricey than the Mini 0906, but better video and more reliable
- Viofo A119 v2 — Best video quality below $100
- Yi Smart — Cheapest reliable dash cam
Best Dash Cams 2019 / 2020: Features And Prices Compared
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | U1000 | DR750S | F800 Pro | SG9663DCPRO | Viofo A129 IR | SGGCX2PRO | Viofo A129 | Mini 0906 | Viofo A119 v2 | Yi Smart |
| Price | $500 | $380 | $380 | $260 | $180 | $170 | $160 | $100 | $80 | $50 |
| Resolution | 4K | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1440p | 1080p |
| Video | Good | Good | Very Good | Very Good | Very Good | Excellent | Good | Fair | Very Good | Good |
| Reliability | Good | Very Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Very Good |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Yes | - | - | Yes |
| Screen | - | - | - | 2" | 2" | 1.5" | 2" | 1.5" | 2" | 2.7" |
| Parking Mode | Simple, time-lapse, buffered | Time-lapse & buffered | Simple, time-lapse, buffered | Time-lapse | Time-lapse, buffered, low bit rate | Time-lapse | Time-lapse, buffered, low bit rate | Time-lapse | - | - |
While the Yi dash cam is available for less than $50, the more advanced cameras on this list can cost you upwards of $500 if you go for a cutting-edge front-and-rear camera with a high capacity SD card. Speaking of which: Make sure to always use a high-endurance memory card with your dash cam (here’s why).
Narrow Down Your Options
If you already have an idea what general type of dash cam you’re looking for (i.e. a dash cam that records front and rear), you can narrow down your choices by heading over to any of the following articles:
- 4K Dash Cams
- Front And Rear Dash Cams
- Best Dash Cams With Parking Mode
- Dash Cams With Remote Live View (Over The Cloud)
- Taxi Cams / Uber Cams
How We Select The Best Dash Cams
At DashboardCameraReviews.com, we’ve been independently reviewing car cameras since 2013, so we have a pretty good idea what to watch out for when you decide to buy. The first and foremost quality criteria for any dash cam is reliability.
Imagine getting a shiny new dash cam that records awesome, high-resolution video — if you can’t rely on it to work continuously and without interruption whenever you’re driving, it’s not much good. You don’t want to be in a situation where you need the evidence from your dashboard camera, just to find out that it decided to take the day off!
Another important criteria is video quality. Over the years, we’ve analyzed hundreds of dash cams, in order to assess which devices record the best footage. There’s always some subjectivity when evaluating video quality, so apart from clarity and general color fidelity, we decided to base our evaluations on the readability of other cars’ license plates. While you may not actually need those very often (except in cases of road rage or a hit-and-run), it’s a good and objective way to compare the footage of many different cameras.
For dash cams, it’s harder to record good video at night than at day. To allow you to directly compare video qualities, we’re thus including a night video sample for each dash cam presented below.
More video samples are available in the full reviews.
Customer satisfaction is also high on our list. We get a lot of feedback from users telling us their experiences with all sorts of cameras. We also measure the return rates over extended periods of time (ideally, returns should be below 10%; 5% or less is excellent), and take into account each camera’s user ratings on various sales platforms such as Amazon. (Yes, these can be faked, which happens a lot especially with the cheaper cameras — however after over 5 years of reviewing dash cams, we can usually tell which reviews are dodgy, and which can be trusted.)
Another feature we value is discreetness. Many of the best cameras in 2019 are wedge-shaped, a growing trend this year that allows for clean and stealthy installation.
Other important factors include: Ease of use, good post-sales support, and any unique features the camera might have.
Video Samples
To keep this overview compact, we’ll include just one video sample per dash cam. We’ve opted to feature night video samples here because at day, most cameras perform pretty well — it’s at night when you see the largest differences in quality.
For more video samples, including day time videos and videos of the rear camera where applicable, check out the full reviews of the model you’re interested in.
The 10 Best Dash Cams 2019 / 2020
We’ve included links to various vendors with each review. Make sure to click each vendor for your country to find the best price when buying online.
1. Thinkware U1000: Best 4k Dash Cam With Cloud View
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK / DE / FR – eBay US / UK / AU – (more vendors)
Resolution: 3840x2160 (front), 2560x1440 (rear)
Overall video quality: Good
Reliability: Good
Memory capacity: 128GB (over 6.5 hours)
Max operating temp.: 60°C / 140°F
Pros: High quality 4k video day and night, remote view over cloud, Wi-Fi, capacitor, simple and time-lapse parking modes (needs hard-wiring kit), buffered parking mode (additionally needs radar module), CPL filter, GPS built-in, overheat protection. Optional rear camera.
Cons: No screen, rear video quality only fair
User manual (English): 60 pages, detailed & very well written (download)
Thinkware’s latest release is ground-breaking in several ways. What we like most about the U1000 is the video quality of its front camera. The Thinkware U1000 records crystal clear 4k video during the day, and at night, video quality is also good. Most other 4k dash cams struggle at night (see this article for the reasons).
Unfortunately, if you get the dual-lens version of the U1000, the rear video feed is of only fair quality (both at day and at night). So it’s a good thing that the rear camera is optional: You can save $100 if you go for the front-camera only version.
The U1000’s night video footage (forward) is of good quality, and the best we’ve seen so far from a 4K dash cam. Video courtesy of Carber Solution
This is Thinkware’s first dash cam that supports remote viewing of video footage over the internet. Thinkware’s cloud has been around for a couple of years now, but previously, it only offered features such as impact notifications to your phone, locating your vehicle, and geo-fencing.
This camera is quite new, so we can’t say much about its reliability yet.
With a hard-wiring kit, the Thinkware U1000 supports simple and time-lapse parking modes. If you get the optional radar module too (~$100 extra), you can also use Thinkware’s new energy saving buffered parking mode. (The radar module will detect when another vehicle comes close, and activate recording.)
To summarize, the U1000 is currently the most advanced dashboard camera, but it is also one of the most expensive. This camera is an excellent option for those who like to have cutting-edge technology in their car, and don’t mind the price too much.
More info: Full review of the Thinkware U1000
2. Street Guardian SG9663DCPRO: Best Front And Rear Video
Price: Amazon US / CA – eBay US / UK / AU – (more vendors)
Resolution: 1920x1080 (front and rear)
Overall video quality: Very Good
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 400GB (over 29 hours)
Max operating temp.: 70°C / 158°F
Pros: Best dual video, great customer support, CPL filter and external GPS antenna included, Wi-Fi, capacitor, 2″ screen, time-lapse parking mode with hard-wiring kit (not included)
Cons: Only time-lapse parking mode
User manual (English): 29 pages, compact but well written (download)
The Australian company Street Guardian are known to make high-end dash cams that are neither cheap, nor overpriced. While the SG9663DCPRO only supports a basic time-lapse parking mode, its outstanding video quality and excellent reliability make up for that fact.
Its sturdy, wedge-shaped casing is made of high quality material and allows for a clean, discreet installation. A 2″ screen lets you play back video on the spot, and makes configuring the camera a breeze. For those who prefer Wi-Fi, apps are now available for Android and iOS smart phones (this feature was only recently added).
Video quality at night is very good, both for the front and rear cameras (rear video starts at 1:57). The SG9663DCPRO has the best overall video quality of all dash cams we ever reviewed. Video courtesy of autodvr.by
A hard-wiring kit called SGDCHW is available for around $30, and allows you to have the SG9663DCPRO record time-lapse video while your car is parked. To prevent your car’s battery from becoming depleted, you can specify a cut-off voltage in the camera’s settings. If the car’s battery ever drops below that voltage, the camera will switch itself off.
Of all dash cam manufacturers, Street Guardian are maybe the most trustworthy. Over the years, they consistently receive the highest customer ratings. This is due to their great attention to detail, as well as their excellent pre- and post-sales support.
More info: Full review of the Street Guardian SG9663DCPRO
3. Thinkware F800 Pro: Great Parking Protection
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – eBay US / UK / AU – AliExpress – (more vendors)
Resolution: 1920x1080 (front and rear)
Overall video quality: Very Good
Reliability: Good
Memory capacity: 128GB (over 14 hours)
Max operating temp.: 60°C / 140°F
Pros: 3 different parking modes, cloud alerts to phone, Wi-Fi, internal GPS, low-voltage cutoff, overheat protection. Single lens version available.
Cons: No screen, no CPL filter
User manual (English): 57 pages, detailed & very well written (download)
The Thinkware F800 Pro has been designed for optimum parking protection. With three different types of parking mode to choose from, this is the most versatile camera to keep your car safe while you’re gone. You can choose between buffered parking mode (recommended), time-lapse recording, and energy-saving (non-buffered) parking mode.
Of course you’ll have to hard-wire the F800 Pro to the car’s battery for parking mode to work. The camera will power off automatically if the voltage drops below a specified level, so you don’t run the risk of accidentally draining the car’s main battery.
Alternatively, you can connect the dash cam to an external power bank, however these are a bit more expensive.
Night video quality of the F800 Pro’s forward facing camera is very good. Details like license plates of other cars are clearly visible when close, even just driving by. Video courtesy of orp054
A GPS sensor is built in to track your location and speed.
If it ever becomes too hot in your car, the camera will shut itself down if a critical temperature is detected (overheat protection).
If you have a Wi-Fi hotspot in your car, you can make use of Thinkware’s cloud alert system. While the F800 Pro won’t let you view video remotely like the U1000, it does allow you to track a car’s location via GPS, or even to monitor a fleet of vehicles. You can also enable a feature called geo-fencing that will notify you if your car leaves a pre-determined area.
In the event of a collision or an accident detected by the G-sensor, the camera can send a notification with the exact GPS coordinates of the event. You can then contact the driver and make sure they are okay, or send help if necessary.
The Thinkware F800 Pro is available as dual channel and single channel version.
More info: Full review of the Thinkware F800 Pro
4. BlackVue DR750S-2CH: Remote View Over Cloud
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK / DE / FR – eBay US / UK / AU – AliExpress – (more vendors)
Resolution: 1920x1080 (front and rear)
Overall video quality: Good
Reliability: Very Good
Memory capacity: 128GB (over 12 hours)
Max operating temp.: 70°C / 158°F
Pros: Cloud viewing (watch live feed over the internet), internal GPS, Wi-Fi, overheat protection, buffered parking mode, cloud alerts, capacitor. Single lens version available.
Cons: No screen, no CPL filter
User manual (English): 103 pages, detailed and very well written (download)
BlackVue’s long-time bestseller, the DR750S series, was the first dash cam to support remote viewing over the internet, allowing you to watch live dash cam footage even when away from the car.
Combined with a Wi-Fi hot spot in your car, you can connect your camera to BlackVue’s cloud service. Their free account allow you to view 10 minutes of live-stream video from your car per day. If you want more, you’ll need to get a paid subscription.
Business owners can use the cloud to manage their vehicle fleet, track locations, and communicate with drivers in real time using the camera’s integrated microphone and speaker.
A fun feature was only recently added: BlackVue’s Cloud now also allows you to stream your dash cam’s video to Youtube or Facebook, so you can share your trip in real time with your friends, family, and followers!
This camera is available as a single-channel and dual-channel version. The single channel version is called DR750S-1CH.
Both versions support buffered parking mode when hard-wired to the car’s fuse box. In buffered parking mode, the camera records continuously, but will only save the footage if an impact or event is detected.
The DR750S-2CH’s forward video at night is good, considering this is a rather dark road. However, license plates of nearby cars are unreadable. Video courtesy of Sergey Narijny
This camera also comes with built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, overheat protection, and many other features. It is available with or without a rear camera. 1CH stands for one channel (i.e. forward camera only), and 2CH for two channels (front and rear camera).
More info: Full review of the BlackVue DR750S-2CH
5. Street Guardian SGGCX2PRO: Best Single-Channel Video
Price: Amazon US / CA – eBay US / UK / AU – (more vendors)
Resolution: 1920x1080 @60fps (30 fps with rear cam)
Overall video quality: Excellent
Reliability: Excellent
Memory capacity: 400GB (over 49 hours)
Max Operating Temp.: 70°C / 158°F
Pros: Best video quality, CPL filter & external GPS antenna included, fits vertical windows, great customer support, capacitor, 1.5″ screen. Optional rear camera, optional time-lapse parking mode
Cons: No Wi-Fi
User manual (English): 29 pages, compact but well written (download)
Street Guardian’s SGGCX2PRO (full review) is the single-channel dash cam with the best video quality of 2019, hands down. It can be upgraded to dual-channel by adding a rear camera. So if you’re looking for a great dual channel camera but can’t afford one right now, you can get the main unit now and order the rear camera at a later time, when your finances will allow it.
The hinge of the lens has been redesigned so you can now swing it a full 90 degrees up and down. This makes the SGGCX2PRO one of the few wedge-shaped dash cams that you can actually install on vertical windows, like in a bus or a truck.
The SGGCX2PRO’s night time video is of very good quality. As you can see, the footage is sharp, with all details clearly visible. Video courtesy of autodvr.by
When you order this camera, you will find an impressive amount of accessories in the package, including an external GPS antenna, a CPL filter, tools for mounting and removing the camera, and more. With other dash cams, GPS and a CPL will often cost you extra.
The SGGCX2PRO can record in time-lapse parking mode if you power it with Street Guardian’s hard-wiring kit SGDCHW (not included). The kit will cost you around $30 extra.
Finally, as we mentioned before, Street Guardian offer excellent customer support, and have been getting the highest user ratings of all dash cam vendors over several years now.
More info: Full review of the Street Guardian SGGCX2PRO
6. Viofo A129 Duo IR: Best Dash Cam For Taxi And Uber Drivers
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK / DE / FR – eBay US / UK / AU – AliExpress – (more vendors)
Resolution: 1920x1080 (front and rear)
Overall video quality: Very good
Reliability: Good
Memory capacity: 256GB (17 hours)
Max Operating Temp.: 65°C / 149°F
Pros: Wi-Fi, 2″ screen, lock file button, capacitor. Simple, time-lapse, and buffered parking modes. Optional: GPS mount, CPL filter, remote Bluetooth lock file button, hard-wiring kit
Cons: Two separate cameras
User manual (English): 26 pages, compact, well written (download)
If you’d like your dash cam to have an eye on your passengers, as well as on the road ahead, you’ll need an infrared rear camera to record the passenger cabin at night. This is a setup that’s especially popular with uber or ride share drivers, which is why we call these cameras taxi or uber dash cams.
We recently did a comparison of 13 major taxi/uber dash cams, and the Viofo A129 IR came out first. Not only does it record the best video, it is also one of the most reliable. It comes with a 2″ screen and has a capacitor for better heat resistance.
A sample of what infrared footage of your car’s passenger cabin can look like at night. The A129 Duo IR’s interior video is of very good quality, and all details are clearly visible. Video courtesy of: ТАКСИ ХАЙП
Wi-Fi and a lock file button are included, and optional extras (that you’ll have to pay for) include a GPS mount, CPL filter, a remote lock file button that you can place in easy reach, and a hard-wiring kit for parking mode.
The A129 Duo IR supports simple (impact-activated), time-lapse, and buffered parking modes.
The drawback with respect to most other uber cams is that you’ll need to mount two separate cameras on your windshield, which takes up more space than a single-case uber cam. On the other hand, having two cameras gives you more freedom with regards to where you position the rear camera, and to adjust the viewing angle.
If you’d prefer to have both lenses in a single casing, check out our taxi/uber cam comparison article for a number of options.
More info: Full review of the Viofo A129 Duo IR
7. Mini 0906: Cheapest Reliable Front And Rear Dash Cam
Price: eBay US / UK / AU – AliExpress – (more vendors)
Resolution: 1920x1080 (front and rear)
Overall video quality: Fair
Reliability: Good
Memory capacity: 128GB (over 11 hours)
Max Operating Temp.: 60°C / 140°F
Pros: Good reliability and video quality for the price, time-lapse parking mode, 1.5″ screen, CPL filter and GPS included, capacitor
Cons: Night rear video is of low quality
User manual (English): 20 pages, relatively basic but explains all the features (download)
The Chinese Mini 0906 is the cheapest dual-channel dash cam that we feel comfortable recommending. It is small and stealthy, and its video quality and reliability are reasonable for the price. While there do seem to be a few duds out there that don’t work straight out of the box or fail after a short period of time, a majority of users seem to be happy with this camera.
Sporting a minimalistic, elegant design, we find the Mini 0906 to look quite smart. It comes with a CPL filter and GPS receiver included, which is a plus considering that even some more expensive cameras require you to pay extra for these.
Night video quality of the Mini 0906 is good. License plates of nearby cars readable most of the time. Video courtesy of: MEGtechnology
When hard-wired to the car’s fuse box, the Mini 0906 can run in time-lapse parking mode. Should the camera detect an impact with its G-sensor, it will switch to normal recording mode during 15 seconds, then go back to time-lapse.
More info: Full review of the Mini 0906
8. Viofo A129 Duo: Good Mid-Price Dual Cam
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK / DE / FR – eBay US / UK / AU – AliExpress – (more vendors)
Resolution: 1920x1080 (front and rear)
Overall video quality: Good
Reliability: Very good
Memory capacity: 256GB (over 16 hours)
Max Operating Temp.: 65°C / 149°F
Pros: 2″ screen, Wi-Fi, capacitor, lock file button, GPS included in mount. Simple, time-lapse, and buffered parking modes. Optional additional remote lock file button. Optional CPL filter.
Cons: CPL filter costs extra
User manual (English): 26 pages, compact, well written (download)
The Viofo A129 Duo costs about $50 more than the Mini 0906, but it also records better video, and is more reliable. It is one of the newer dual channel dash cams out there, but has already become a top seller.
Both the front and the rear cameras come in a stealthy wedge shape. A GPS receiver is included in the mount. A CPL filter is not included, and will cost you $15 extra.
The Viofo A129 Duo’s forward video at night is of good quality. License plates are mostly readable, though sometimes washed out by our own headlights, or blurry when the viewing angle is inconvenient. Video courtesy of: LuxuryGoodsPL
The A129 has a lock file button (the round one marked in yellow), but if you’d like a button that’s easier to reach, you can get a remote lock file button ($20) that you can place on your steering wheel or wherever you find it most comortable. The remote button uses Bluetooth to connect to the camera, so it’s wireless.
This camera supports simple (impact-activated), time-lapse, and buffered parking modes. The corresponding hard-wire kit is priced at $15.
You can connect this camera to your smart phone with Wi-Fi to adjust the settings and play back video, or just control it using the buttons and its 2″ screen.
More info: Full review of the Viofo A129 Duo
9. Viofo A119 v2: Best Video Below $100
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – eBay US / UK / AU – (more vendors)
Resolution: 2560x1440
Overall video quality: Very good
Reliability: Good
Memory capacity: 128GB (over 14 hours)
Max Operating Temp.: 65°C / 149°F
Pros: 2″ screen, optional GPS in mount, optional CPL filter, very good video quality for the price, capacitor
Cons: GPS and CPL filter cost extra
User manual (English): 15 pages, compact, explains the basics well (download)
The Viofo A119 v2 records excellent video quality for a sub-$100 dash cam: We haven’t found any device that performs better in this price range. It is also the only camera on this list that supports 1440p resolution. Furthermore, it is the only camera with a lens that can be adjusted both horizontally and vertically.
The Viofo A119 v2 records good video at night. Footage is sharp, and all details are clearly visible. Video courtesy of: C WW
This camera is available with 2 different mounts. The mount is a thin plate that sticks directly to your windshield. One mount contains a GPS antenna, the other mount doesn’t. The GPS mount is a bit thicker than the non-GPS one, and costs about $10-$20 more.
A CPL filter for this device is available separately, and will set you back about $15
More info: Full review of the Viofo A119 v2
10. Yi Smart: Cheapest Reliable Dash Cam
Price: Amazon US / CA – eBay US / UK / AU – AliExpress – (more vendors)
Resolution: 1920x1080
Overall video quality: Good
Reliability: Very Good
Memory capacity: 64GB (over 7 hours)
Max Operating Temp.: 60°C / 140°F
Pros: 2.7″ screen, low price, simple menu structure, Wi-Fi
Cons: Form factor, color, internal battery
User manual (English): 18 pages, more of a quick start guide (download)
The Yi Smart (full review) is as cheap as it gets if you’re looking for something reliable. For below $50, you get a somewhat clunky device. It records good video nonetheless.
This camera has a screen and its menu structure is simple, making it super easy to set up and use even though the user manual is rather basic.
The Yi Smart even supports Wi-Fi, so you can operate it through your smart phone if you feel so inclined. A downside is that it comes with an internal battery instead of a capacitor, making it more susceptible to heat failure.
The Yi Smart’s night video quality is fair. You can see what’s going on around you, but other cars’ license plates are only readable in favorable lighting conditions. Video courtesy of Taeng9389
PRO TIP: If you prefer your dash cam to be black, you can find a matte black version of the Yi on eBay. At this time, the black version is only available with Chinese menus. However the menus are simple enough to be usable even if you don’t understand the language. We think it definitely looks much cooler than the gray version.
More info: Full review of the Yi Smart
