Technical Specifications
– Max. resolution: 2560×1440 @ 30fps
– Max. frame rate: 1920×1080 @ 60fps
– Price: Amazon US (affiliate links)
– 2″ screen
– GPS
– Wi-Fi
– Weight: 60g
– 3.1 MP camera
– Interfaces: USB
– Lock file button
– Angle of view: 122° diagonal
– Operating temperature: from -20°C to 55°C (-4°F to 131°F)
– Size: 56mm x 41mm x 35mm (2.2 x 1.4 x 1.6 in)
– Supports up to 64 GB MicroSD cards (class 10)
– Time and date stamp on video
– Loop recording, auto on/off, G-Sensor
– Parking mode with motion detection (extra cable required)
– Player software for Windows / Mac
– Apps for Android / iOS
– Internal Li-ion battery (up to 30 min)
– Internal microphone and speaker
– Adhesive-magnetic mount
– Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
– Front Collision Warning System (FCWS)
– Red light and speed camera alerts
– Voice control
Garmin 55 Review
The Garmin Dash Cam 55 has been around since 2017 and appears to be one of Garmin’s more popular dash cams, so we’ve decided to take a closer look.
Appearance
Made of quality materials, the device feels sturdy to the touch and looks quite elegant. At 56 x 41 x 35mm (2.2 x 1.4 x 1.6 inches), it is also quite small. We would call it discreet if it wasn’t for the noticeable bronze-colored ring around the lens.
Some users have painted over the bronze ring with a black felt-tip pen, making the Garmin 55 a lot less noticeable.
Video Quality
The camera runs at a resolution of 2560×1440 (1440p) maximum, with a frame rate of 30 frames per second. If you prefer a higher frame rate, there’s also an option to set it to 1920×1080 (1080p) at 60fps.
Overall video quality is acceptable, but not impressive. At day, the camera records good to very good video. At night, video quality is average to fair. Even on a relatively well lit street, it’s often impossible to read another car’s license plate at night.
Usage
The Garmin 55’s menu is quite intuitive, making the camera easy to set up and use. A 2″ screen and four buttons allow for quick configuration, or you can use Wi-Fi to control the camera with a smart phone app (free for Android and iPhone).
Transferring video over Wi-Fi is slow though, so if you need to go through a number of videos, it’s easier to pop the SD card into your computer.
Garmin’s Travelapse feature allows you to compress footage of your road trip into a time-lapse video meant to be shared on social media or Youtube.
Parking Mode
If connected with a hard-wire cable (available separately for around $30), the Garmin 55 supports a simple event-triggered parking mode. Be aware that there’s no low-voltage cutoff though, so if you’re going to park for several days or in cold weather, unplug the camera to prevent draining your car’s battery.
Issues
Unfortunately, the Garmin Dash Cam 55 seems to have a problem with overheating. An large percentage of users have reported the camera to stop working after a couple of months. Customer support is excellent, and they will usually replace the camera without much hassle. However, many users seem to be on their 2nd or even 3rd replacement device already, so the issue apparently is affecting a high percentage of these cameras.
Another negative is that the USB cable used to power the camera is proprietary, so you can’t just use an existing cable if you already have one installed in your car.
Conclusion
The Garmin 55 is just too unreliable to recommend. Also, video quality is nowhere near to what you can get for its price. If you’re looking for a high-quality single-channel dash cam that reliably records great video and also has excellent customer support, check out the Street Guardian SGGCX2 (doesn’t have Wi-Fi though).
Garmin 55 Video Samples
For full original video quality, make sure to watch on full screen and select maximum video resolution (use the cog icon in lower right corner). You may have to rewind the video after changing the resolution.
Day Time Video Sample
Day time video quality is good. License plates of other cars are readable when close.
Night Time Video Sample
Night video quality is fair. It’s good enough to see what’s happening around us, but most license plates of other cars are either blurry or washed out by our own headlights.
Where To Buy
The Garmin 55 is available for sale from the following vendors:
Links to vendors are affiliate links, and help to support this site.
