Front and rear dashboard cameras are also called dual-channel or dual-lens dash cams, or simply just dual dash cams. They have one lens recording forward through the windscreen, and another lens filming out of the rear window. Thus, these dash cams cover roughly twice the field of view compared to a single-channel dash cam, effectively doubling the protection you get.
There are literally hundreds of front and rear dash cams on the market. We have reviewed the most important models from all the major brands, and also some from lesser known brands.
From this huge pool of dash cams, we selected the five best front and rear dash cams of the year 2023. We’ve made sure to include cameras from various price segments: The low-cost price segment includes dash cams below $100, the middle price segment ranges from $100-$300, and high-end devices are valued above $300.
2024 UPDATE: We’ve replaced the BlackVue DR970X by the Viofo A229 Pro. The Viofo camera records better video than the BlackVue, and it’s also cheaper. What’s more, it gives you the option of adding a 3rd video channel (to record inside the car) for a price increase of just $30.
Overview Table: Best Front And Rear Dash Cams 2024
 |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | 70mai A500S | Viofo A129 Plus Duo | Viofo A129 Pro Duo | Viofo A229 Pro | Thinkware U3000 |
| Price | $90 → Amazon | $170 → Amazon | $230 →Amazon | $280 w/ coupon → Amazon | $550 → Amazon |
| Description | Best Low-Cost | Best Value | Good 4K Video | Best Video | Best Parking Protection |
| Front Video | 1440p | 1440p | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Rear Video | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1440p | 1440p |
| Video Quality | Fair (2.0/5) | Good (3.0/5) | Good (3.0/5) | Very Good (3.5/5) | Good (2.75/5) |
| Reliability | Good (3.0/5) | Good (3.0/5) | Good (3.0/5) | Very Good (4.0/5) | Good (3.0/5) |
| Cloud View | - | - | - | - | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parking Mode | Impact | Time-lapse | Buffered | Buffered | Radar, Buffered |
Scroll right to see all models. Links to vendors are sponsored links and help to support this site.
Contents
Required Minimum Features
Best High-End Cams (over $300)
Best Mid-Price Cams ($100-$300)
Best Low-Cost Cams (below $100)
Disambiguation
First up, let’s clarify what we are looking at in this best-of list. While a taxi cam, for example, might also be considered a “front and rear” dash cam, this is not what we are talking about here.
Classic Front And Rear Cams
This article is about dash cams that have one main unit recording the view through your windshield, plus a smaller camera that looks backwards through the rear window of your car.
For simplicity, we’ll just be calling them “front and rear cameras” or “dual cameras” here.
However, there are a couple of other camera setups that technically also record front and rear:
Taxi Cams
Taxi (or Uber) cams are dual-channel dash cameras that record your passenger cabin with the rear-facing lens. The forward camera looks out your windshield, as usual.
In order to get a good picture at night, taxi cams use infrared (IR) LEDs to invisibly illuminate the passenger cabin when driving in the dark. The IR LEDs should turn on and off automatically, depending on the level of light inside the car.
Taxi cams can have both lenses mounted in the same device, or the rear-facing camera can be separate. Having a separate rear camera gives you more freedom to adjust the field of view, but you’ll also have one more item mounted on the windshield.
Since the advent of 3-channel dash cams (see below), taxi cams have been going out of style. However if you do want one, we recommend checking out the Vantrue N2 Pro (single casing), and/or the Viofo A129 Plus Duo IR (separate interior camera).
Three-Channel Dash Cams
As video processing hardware is becoming more powerful, an exciting new development is the appearance of the first 3-channel (3CH) dash cams.
Invaluable for Uber, Lyft, and ride-share drivers, 3-way dash cams record the passenger cabin, in addition to the road ahead of and behind your car. Thus, they combine the benefits of a “standard” front and rear dash camera and a taxi cam.
Of the cameras featured In this article, the Viofo A229 Pro is the only one that can run either with 2 or 3 video channels. It’s video quality is great in both configurations.
For an overview of other 3CH dash cams, check out our article featuring The Best 3-Channel Dash Cams Of 2024.
Required Minimum Features
For our best-of list, we only considered dash cams that fulfill certain requirements. These are the minimum standards for a state-of-the-art dash cam in 2024.
First of all, they need to record at least 1080p resolution (1920×1080 pixels), both front and rear. This is the minimum to achieve acceptable video quality.
All modern dash cams must have loop recording, auto on/off, and a time and date stamp on video. (If you don’t know what these terms mean, we explained them in detail here.) Without these, a camera can’t be considered a dash cam.
Additionally, all dash cams today have a G-sensor that detects impacts, and protects the relevant video files from becoming overwritten. We also require a a “lock file button” so you can manually mark video files for safekeeping.
The cameras listed here all support Wi-Fi, so you can operate them through a smart phone app. Some of them also have a screen to change the settings and view video directly on the device.
They also all support GPS.
When GPS is enabled, you will have the option to have a speed stamp in the video feed as well. This can be either in mph or km/h.
The Best High-End Front And Rear Dash Cams 2024
Maybe you have a nice sports car, or just want the very best in technology for your vehicle. Or maybe you are looking for an excellent gift for a loved one. While our high-end dash cams are quite pricey, you can be sure that you get what you pay for.
Our winners in this category are the Thinkware U3000, and the Viofo A229 Pro 2CH.
Why do we consider these cameras to be the best dual dash cams on the market?
Both the Thinkware U3000 and the Viofo A229 Pro record 4K video with the forward camera, and 1440p (2K) to the rear.
While the Viofo A229 Pro has the best video quality, the U3000 has more cutting edge features, such as cloud connectivity and radar-assisted parking mode.
Both high-end dash cams featured here support WI-Fi, GPS, and buffered as well as time-lapse parking modes.
1. Thinkware U3000: Most Versatile Parking Mode (Up To 40 Days)
Price: Amazon US / CA – more countries & vendors (ad)
Resolution: 4K front, 1440p rear
Forward video quality: Very good (3.5/5)
Rear video quality: Fair (2.0/5)
Overall video quality: Good (2.75/5)
Reliability: Good (3.0/5)
Memory capacity: 256GB (over 8 hours)
Parking modes: Radar, Impact-triggered, Time-lapse, Motion-triggered
Optional extras: Battery pack (Thinkware iVolt)
Full Review: Thinkware U3000 Review
Pros:
- Most advanced parking mode options
- Radar parking mode consumes very little energy, lasts up to 40 days (with extra battery pack)
- Cloud connectivity
- CPL filter included
- OBD-II power cable included
Cons:
- High price
- No screen
- Apps can be tricky to configure
The Thinkware U3000 was released in mid-2023. It is the only dash cam on the market that has a built-in radar system to use in parking mode. It also supports cloud connectivity (you need an internet access point in your car for this, which is not included).
This camera comes with a CPL filter and an OBD-II power cable, so you don’t need to buy an extra hard-wiring kit to run it in parking mode.
The front camera records very good video at 4K resolution, especially during the day time. The rear camera’s video is fair only, so we’re rating the overall video quality of the U3000 as “good” on average.
The U3000 comes with cloud connectivity, meaning you can check the video feed from your car from anywhere with your phone. If your car gets hit while it’s parked, the dash cam will send a notification to your phone.
Thinkware’s cloud is free.
With its integrated radar module, the Thinkware U3000 consumes very little power when running in parking mode. Radar parking mode records buffered video, starting 10 seconds before and ending 10 seconds after an event is detected.
If you opt to get the Thinkware iVolt Xtra battery pack, the U3000 can run for up to 40 days in radar parking mode. You can also run it with battery packs from other manufacturers if preferred.
Other features of the U3000 include integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, and of course a lock file button. It is powered by a capacitor instead of an internal battery, which improves heat resistance.
2. Viofo A229 Pro 2CH: Best Video Quality
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – more countries & vendors (ad)
Resolution: 4K front, 1440p rear
Forward video quality: Very good (4.0/5)
Rear video quality: Good (3.0/5)
Overall video quality: Very good (3.5/5)
Reliability: Very good (4.0/5)
Memory capacity: 512GB (over 13 hours)
Parking Modes: Buffered, Time-lapse, Low bit rate
Optional Extras: Remote Bluetooth lock file button, hard-wiring kit
Full Review: Viofo A229 Pro 2CH / 3CH Review
Pros:
- Best video quality
- 2.4″ screen
- CPL filter included
- Voice menu
- Optional interior camera (3CH mode, costs $30 more)
Cons:
- Large size
- Only compatible with Viofo or SanDisk Max Endurance memory card
The A229 Pro is available either as a 2CH or a 3CH dash cam. That’s why there are 2 rear cameras shown in the picture. The 3CH version comes with an additional infrared camera to record the interior of the car, and it costs about $30 more.
This camera produces better video footage than the Thinkware U3000. Its video quality is very good during the day, both for the front and rear cameras. At night, video quality is also very good for the front channel, and fair for the rear channel.
The reason why its video quality is superior is because the Viofo camera records at a much higher bit rate than. It doesn’t support cloud connectivity, so it can afford much larger (and “heavier”) video streams.
When used as a front and rear dash cam (2CH), the forward camera records at a bit rate of 60 Megabits per second (Mbps), and the rear camera at 24 Mbps.
Of course, a high bit rate makes for large video files. So we recommend you get at least a 256GB memory card to store the footage. The maximum card size that the A229 Pro will accept is 512GB, which can store about 13 hours of video.
Note that this camera is quite picky with the brands of SD cards it will take: You’ll have to use either Viofo’s own brand, or SanDisk Max Endurance cards. Other memory cards are said to cause stability issues.
When hard-wired to the car’s fuse box using Viofo’s hard-wiring kit, the A229 Pro supports buffered, time-lapse, and low bit rate parking modes.
A CPL filter is included with the camera, so you don’t have to order one extra.
The Best Mid-Price Front And Rear Dash Cams 2024
Our winners in the mid-price range are both from the trustworthy Chinese Viofo brand. One of them records 4K video to the front, the other 1440p. Both record 1080p to the rear.
Why are these cameras the best in the mid-price sector?
We selected them because they are both highly reliable, and record impressive video at their respective resolutions. And while they can’t connect to the cloud, they both support several different parking modes.
Remember to get a hard-wiring kit if you’re planning to use your camera in parking mode though. At this price level, hard-wiring kits are no longer included by default.
3. Viofo A129 Pro Duo: Great 4K Video At A Competitive Price
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – more countries & vendors (ad)
Resolution: 4K front, 1080p rear
Forward video quality: Very good (3.5/5)
Rear video quality: Good (2.5/5)
Overall video quality: Good (3.0/5)
Reliability: Good (3.0/5)
Memory capacity: 256GB (over 7 hours)
Parking modes: Buffered, Time-lapse, Low bit-rate
Optional extras: CPL filter, remote lock file button, hard-wiring kit
Full Review: Viofo A129 Pro Duo Review
Pros:
- 2″ screen
- Excellent forward video during the day
Cons:
- Hard-wiring kit not included
- No buffered parking mode
Our favorite mid-price dash cam of the year is the Viofo A129 Pro Duo. It records excellent 4K video. As Viofo don’t have to worry about sending videos to the cloud, they can build cameras that need a lot less compression than its competitors from Thinkware and BlackVue.
As a matter of fact, the A129 Pro lets you choose the bit rate of the video it records in the settings. The maximum setting is 50 Megabits per second, or Mbps. (The BlackVue DR970X records at 25Mbps.)
Obviously, you should always run any dash cam at its maximum bit rate.
A 256GB card will hold about 7 hours of front and rear video at the maximum bit rate setting.
Like the A229 Pro, the A129 Pro can run buffered, time-lapse, and low bit rate parking modes when powered through a hard wiring kit.
A CPL filter is available for the forward facing camera only. The camera has a lock file button (the round one with the yellow triangle on it). If you find this inconvenient to reach while driving, Viofo also offer a remote lock file button that works via Bluetooth.
4. Viofo A129 Plus Duo: Best Value Dual-Channel Dash Cam
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – AliExpress – more countries & vendors (ad)
Resolution: 1440p front, 1080p rear
Forward video quality: Very Good (3.5/5)
Rear video quality: Good (2.5/5)
Overall video quality: Good (3.0/5)
Reliability: Good (3.0/5)
Memory capacity: 256GB (over 11 hours)
Parking modes: Event-triggered, Time-lapse, Low bit-rate
Optional extras: CPL filter, remote lock file button, hard-wiring kit
Full Review: Viofo A129 Plus Duo Review
Pros:
- 2″ screen
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Hard-wiring kit not included
- No buffered parking mode
If you’re happy to do without 4K resolution, the Viofo A129 Plus Duo is our pick for the best value-for-money front and rear dash cam. For almost $100 less than the A129 Pro, it records good quality video both ways.
With a 256GB memory card, you can record up to 11 hours of front and rear video before the loop recording kicks in and the oldest files are overwritten.
Just like the A129 Pro, they A129 Plus also allows you to use an optional CPL filter as well as a remote Bluetooth lock-file button.
The A129 Plus Duo doesn’t have buffered paring mode, but it supports time-lapse and low bit-rate parking modes if you get the corresponding hard-wiring kit.
The Best Low-Cost Front And Rear Dash Cam 2024
In the low-cost segment, we have only one winner: The 70mai A500S. 70mai is the dash-cam branch of the well-known Chinese company Xiaomi (think mobile phones).
Why is this camera the best dual dash cam below $100?
The 70mai A500S is definitely one of the most reliable dash cams in the lower price segment. Its overall video quality is fair, but not quite as good as the Viofos’. That said, 70mai is one of the top-selling dash cam brands, and also one of the most trustworthy ones.
Pro Tip: You may also want to check out the 70mai A800S, which is one of the cheapest true 4K dash cams. While it usually costs more than $100, you may be able to score a deal and get it for less.
5. 70mai A500S: Best Low-Cost Front And Rear Dash Cam
Price: Amazon US / CA / UK – 70mai – more countries & vendors (ad)
Resolution: 1440p front, 1080p rear
Forward video quality: Good (2.5/5)
Rear video quality: Fair (1.5/5)
Overall video quality: Fair (2.0/5)
Reliability: Good (3.0/5)
Memory capacity: 128GB
Parking Mode: Simple (impact-triggered) only
Optional extras: Hard-wiring kit
Full Review: 70mai A500S Pro Plus Review
Pros:
- 2″ screen
- Low price
Cons:
- Has a battery instead of a capacitor (less heat resistant)
- Hard-wiring kit for parking mode not included
- Simple parking mode only
- No CPL filter
The 70mai A500S (also known as 70mai Pro Plus) is our top pick for those who can’t (or don’t want to) spend more than $100 on a dash cam. This is the cheapest front and rear dash cam that we currently recommend.
For its price, the A500S does a decent job, even though it does have some limitations. Video quality is not as good as the Viofos’, but overall, it is fair. At day, you should be able to read most other car’s license plates — at night though, this can become difficult.
A great plus of the 70mai A500S is its stealthy wedge shape. Unlike some other low-cost dash cams that stand out like a sore thumb on your windshield, the A500S blends into the cars interior just like the other dash cams featured in this article.
This camera comes with a 2″ screen, and it is fairly intuitive to set up and use. A lock file button is included.
If you order the corresponding hard-wiring kit, you can run the A500S in a basic impact-triggered parking mode.
Basic parking mode works as follows: If the camera’s G-sensor ever detects an impact while parked, the camera will wake up and record what is happening. However, as waking up requires some time, we consider buffered parking mode to be superior.
This camera is powered by a built-in battery. All other cameras featured here have a capacitor, which is less susceptible to overheating. If you use this dash cam in a region with hot climate, try to avoid parking in direct sunlight in the summer.
