dashcam
Latest
Ring Car Cam hands-on: Amazon's video security ecosystem hits America's highways
Ring is taking its home surveillance systems on the road with the new Car Cam. I tried it out, was not a fan, but maybe you will be!
Samsung's new dashcam memory card records non-stop for up to 16 years
Samsung has unveiled a dashcam memory card that should last for up to 16 years of continuous recording — it' might last longer than your car.
Ring announces a security camera and alarm for your car
Ring is building a dashcam and car alarm to protect your ride.
The best dash cam
By Rik Paul and Molly K. McLaughlin This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to dash cams. Wham! A car crash can happen in an instant. And as frightening as that may be, it can be just as distressing to be blamed for a crash that's not your fault. That's why a dash cam can be a critical aid if the unexpected happens. After researching more than 250 models and testing about 40, we've found that the best overall dash cam is the Nextbase 522GW. It delivers the sharpest video we've seen, is the easiest to use, and has handy features that you don't get with most other dash cams. The Nextbase 522GW Dash Cam produces a super-sharp 1440p (or Quad HD) video image that in our tests allowed us to clearly see details that were indecipherable with most other dash cams. Using the 522GW's bright, responsive touchscreen to navigate menus and adjust settings is much easier than fiddling with the buttons of other models. With its powered magnetic mount, the unit is easy to snap on and off, without having to mess with a cord. The Nextbase phone app outshines competitors', and in addition to GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, the 522GW gives you a polarizing filter to minimize annoying reflections. The camera can integrate with Amazon's Alexa digital assistant, and a new Emergency SOS feature automatically summons emergency aid after a crash. The 522GW can also pair with three different rear cams, giving you more versatility. Yes, it's more expensive than many competing models, but it provides the best dash-cam experience of any model we've tested. If you can't get the 522GW, or just want a slightly smaller model, we recommend the Nextbase 422GW. It gives you the same excellent video image and most of the same features, but it's more compact, with a smaller touchscreen display (2.5 versus 3 inches). It also usually costs less, and it lacks only the polarizing filter (although you can add an an optional one). If you want to record incidents behind your vehicle as well as in front of it, we recommend that you use a dual-cam model, which includes a second camera that's mounted to the rear window. The best overall package would be to add Nextbase's optional rear camera to either the 522GW or the 422GW, but those combos can get pricey. For about half the price, or less, you can get the Papago GoSafe S810. Its front camera is surprisingly sharp for a 1080p model, and the video image has good color and contrast, as well as a decent dynamic range at night. As with most dual-cam models, the rear camera's image quality isn't as good as that of the front camera—it's less sharp, with duller colors and more contrast. If you want to record the interior of your car as you drive, we recommend the Vantrue N2 Pro, which has a camera that records the view in front of the car and another one that faces the interior, a handy setup for ride-for-hire drivers who want to document their passengers. The front camera—recording in 1080p resolution—provides good overall image quality, although it's not as sharp as that of our single-cam picks. And the rear-facing camera lets you see all passengers, even in total darkness. If you prefer a dash cam that people likely won't notice, we recommend the Garmin Dash Cam Mini, which is one of the smallest and most discreet models we've tested. About the size of a key fob, the Mini virtually disappears on the windshield. Still, it provides surprisingly good video quality for a 1080p model, and it's easy to pop on and off of its adhesive mount. Because the Mini has only two physical buttons and no display, though, you have to use Garmin's smartphone app to view video, to adjust settings, and even just to aim the camera properly. We've had no heat-related problems with a couple of Nextbase models we used during several sizzling summer months in Southern California and New York. But if you want extra insurance for hot and cold conditions, we recommend the Vantrue T2. Instead of a lithium battery (used in most dash cams), the T2 uses a capacitor power supply, which holds up better in extreme temperatures. This gives the T2 the widest operating-temperature range (-4 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit) of any affordable model we've tested. (The Blackvue DR900S-1CH 4K provides the same temperature range, as well as better video quality, but it costs about twice as much.) The T2 also has a more sophisticated parking-mode system than most models, for recording incidents that happen when the car is parked. But this model's 1080p video isn't as sharp as that of the Nextbase 522GW or the 422GW, and the T2 isn't as easy to use. In our tests, we found the Owlcam to be the best dash cam for monitoring your vehicle around the clock, including when it's parked. This model has the usual front-facing camera as well as a second one for the vehicle's interior, to document impacts from other cars as well as break-ins. If something happens, you get an alert on your phone, and the camera automatically records and uploads video, which you can view on the app (or watch live at any time). But the Owlcam is more expensive than our other picks, and even though you get a year of free access to the company's 4G LTE service (needed for the remote access features), it costs about $10 per month after that.
Toyota experiment uses cameras to create city maps for self-driving cars
Self-driving cars usually benefit from having detailed road maps, but creating those maps can be agonizingly slow when it requires cars loaded with exotic hardware. Toyota researchers and Carmera might have an easier solution: use off-the-shelf cameras to get the job done. They're planning a "proof of concept" project where they'll use both Toyota Safety Sense-based cameras and run-of-the-mill dashcams to generate map data in downtown Tokyo. The months-long experiment will mix visual and existing digital map data to spot road markings, curbs and other details an autonomous vehicle would need to recognize while plotting its route.
Elon Musk teases Tesla 'sentry mode' that captures video in 360 degrees
Elon Musk says Tesla is working on a "sentry mode" security feature that could let owners record damage and break-ins. The announcement came in response to a customer's tweet complaining of a dent to his Model 3 and suggesting a "360 dash cam feature while parked." To which Musk replied: "Tesla Sentry Mode coming soon for all cars with Enhanced Autopilot." He later clarified that the update would be available for all EVs with the Autopilot 2.5 Hardware.
Tesla's built-in dashcam feature is coming with Autopilot 9
Tesla's upgraded Autopilot hardware comes with eight cameras equipped all over a vehicle. All those "eyes" will eventually enable full autonomy, but they also make another smaller-but-important feature possible: a built-in dashcam for Tesla's cars. The automaker has been working on the feature for quite a while, and now according to company chief Elon Musk, Tesla is giving its customers a way to use their vehicles' cameras as a dashcam with Autopilot version 9.
Samsung's latest microSD card is beefy enough for your dash cam
Most microSD cards are perfectly fine for your smartphone. Your dash cam or home security camera, however? That's another story -- that non-stop video recording can be brutal on cards that aren't designed for continuous writing. Enter Samsung with its Pro Endurance card. The new microSD range reportedly endures about 25 times longer than other "speed-focused" cards, handling up to 43,800 hours of 1080p video recording on a 128GB model. That's five years of around-the-clock use, folks. There's a chance your camera stops working before the card does.
Garmin Speak Plus mixes Amazon Alexa with a dash cam
Don't think it's enough to have Amazon Alexa in your car? Garmin thinks it has a better proposition: throw in a dash cam. Its new Speak Plus includes the same voice assistant that offers directions, music playback and other hands-free controls, but it also tucks in a camera that can both record "incidents" (read: collisions) and deliver alerts. It'll warn you if you're too close to a car, if you're drifting out of your lane or if that gridlocked traffic has finally started moving.
Nexar's dashcam app is free, but at the cost of your data
We likely aren't going to get flying cars anytime soon, but we will have self-driving ones. They'll be packed to the gills with sensors to keep us safe and sound as we Snapchat ourselves cruising down the highway, bellowing along to our favorite Urfaust tracks. But those are a ways off, and the phone in your pocket already has a pretty solid set of sensors in it. Plus, using a device you already own is far more economical than buying a new car. That's where Nexar's dashcam app comes in. A $7 mount holds a phone, while the free app uses your gizmo's onboard accelerometer, cameras and microphone do the rest of the work.
Android creator Andy Rubin is making a free dashcam
There's been a lot of speculation about what Android inventor and ex-Googler Andy Rubin has been up to with his startup, Playground Global. Is he making a phone? Well, no... but what he is doing could still grab your attention. Rubin tells Wired that his company is making a dashcam with a unique business model: you'll get the hardware for free, but you have to hand over the camera's data in return. It's not clear why Playground wants to make that bargain, although one possibility is that it'll create a visual map of streets around the world.
Magellan's new dash cam gives you a 340-degree view
GPS specialist Magellan has announced a number of new dash cams, including a high-end model with a hyper-wide field of view. The RoadMate 7670T-LM is a navigation system that also offers dual HD cameras, each with 170-degree wide-angle lenses. The idea is that you mount one at the front of the car and one at the rear to offer a video feed with a "340-degree field of view."
Taiwan plane crash gets captured (very closely) on in-car dashcam
As the TransAsia Airways plane clipped a bridge and crashed into a river in Taipei, it was all caught on a car dashcam, dangerously close. The tragic accident saw the plane glancingly hit a bridge shortly after takeoff, as seen in the video, with the plane and its 58 passengers crashing into a shallow river below. It's the second of TransAsia's ATR 72 planes to crash in the last year. We've added the video below.
Seattle police get help publishing body camera videos online
The police aren't often fond of publishing body camera and dashcam footage online, but not necessarily for nefarious reasons -- the volume of privacy-focused video editing they require can prove overwhelming. In Seattle, for example, a flood of public disclosure requests from an anonymous programmer (known by his "policevideorequests" handle) risked scuttling a body cam trial run before it got off the ground. However, that one-time antagonist is now coming to the city's rescue. The man has agreed to help Seattle's police department publish video by showing them how to quickly redact clips and get them online. As the unnamed person explains, it should mostly involve ready-made tools; the police will strip audio from clips using free software and lean on YouTube's automatic face blurring to protect identities.
Engadget Daily: What to expect from Apple's iPhone event, building the Moto 360 and more!
Today, we mull over expectations for Apple's iPhone event, investigate the trade-offs of cordless virtual reality, learn about the benefits of having a dash cam, ogle at TiVo's 24TB DVR and more! Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
What you need to know about dashboard-mounted car cameras
We've all had it happen while out walking, cycling or driving. Somebody does something foolish and it results in an accident or a near miss, a giant meteor comes streaking through the sky or we catch a rare glimpse of a hoverbike-riding robot. Something memorable always happens when your phone is cached safely in your pocket. This typically leaves you shaking your fist at the missed opportunity. Victim of road rage? An accident? Ever had your car dinged while parked in a public lot? These are all great reasons to invest in a dash cam. And with prices for decent units at well under a hundred bucks, the cost of admission is easy for just about any budget. While the technology may not appeal to everyone, the payoff in the unfortunate event of an accident might just make it a must-have. So if you're in the market for a dash cam or you're just plain curious what they're for, here's what you need to know.
Feedback Loop: Favorite keyboards, dash cam options and podcasts
Happy Saturday! Here's a fresh edition of Feedback Loop, so grab your coffee and dive in! This week we're talking about our favorite keyboards, which dash cams are the best, the podcasts we're currently listening to and USB cables.
Magellan's new RoadMate GPS stays relevant by including a dash cam
Dedicated GPS units may be less popular these days, but Magellan has figured out a way to justify their existence: strap a dash camera to the back. The company's upcoming RoadMate 6230T-LM DashCam can both guide you through unfamiliar areas and record video to an SD card, saving you the trouble of mounting two devices in your car. Magellan's hybrid design is also handy even if you don't need directions, since you can watch live video from either the built-in camera or an optional wireless backup cam. The new RoadMate won't ship until April, but it will also cost $230 -- a relative bargain next to purpose-built dash cams that offer many of the same features.
Insert Coin: Dash charts your car data live, with gauges and a dashcam (update 3: back as Lynk)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. We've seen a few stabs at smartphone-enhanced car diagnostics as of late, but many good solutions like Automatic Link and Delphi's Vehicle Diagnostics are primarily useful after you've parked. The upcoming Dash OBD-II adapter is certainly up to that side of the job, telling a Bluetooth-connected iOS device (and eventually, Android) about your car's problems and estimating fuel costs based on the gas tank's levels. Where it stands out is its usefulness while on the road: the custom app offers custom live gauges, including a Green-Meter for ideal fuel economy that you won't usually find in a real instrument cluster. There's even a dashcam mode that overlays travel details on captured video, whether it's to support insurance claims or just to immortalize a drive through the back country.
