Shortlist · Car · 6 models
Best dash cams: six front and front-and-rear cameras compared on resolution, GPS, screen and parking mode
A dash cam is insurance evidence. What makes it useful is whether a plate can be read, which is resolution, frame rate and the sensor at night; whether speed and location are stamped on it, which is GPS; whether it records when parked; and whether the back of the car is covered. Six cameras from Nextbase, Garmin, Viofo and 70mai, from a 1080p pocket camera to 4K front and rear.
Quick answer
- 1440pReadable plates front and rearViofo A229 Plus 2CH: 1440p at 60 fps front, 1440p rear, Sony STARVIS 2 at both ends, GPS, 5 GHz Wi-Fi, buffered parking.
- 4KBest front footage, emergency featuresNextbase 622GW: 4K at 30 or 1080p at 120, stabilised, polariser, what3words, Emergency SOS; rear is an optional module.
- 1080pFront and rear with GPS, mid priceNextbase 322GW with Rear Window Camera: 1080p front, 720p rear on a 6 m cable, touchscreen, 10 Hz GPS.
- 4K4K and a rear camera cheaply70mai A810 Lite: 4K front (24/25 fps with rear running), 1080p rear, GPS, 3-inch screen, optional 4G.
- 1440pBest front-only per poundViofo A119 Mini 2: 1440p at 60 fps, STARVIS 2, GPS, 5 GHz Wi-Fi, supercapacitor.
- 1080pGPS and a screen in a small cameraGarmin Dash Cam X110: 1080p HDR, GPS and Galileo, 2.4-inch screen, driver alerts.
The six at a glance
| Model | Front resolution | Recording | Field of view | GPS | Parking mode | Rear camera | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viofo A229 Plus 2CHfor readable plates front and rear | 1440p | 1440p at 60 fps front; 1440p at 30 fps rear, both HDR | 140° front (f/1.8); 160° rear | Yes | Three modes incl. buffered (hardwire kit) | Included, 1440p, Sony STARVIS 2 | View listing |
| Nextbase 622GWfor the best front footage and emergency features | 4K | 4K at 30 fps; 1440p at 60; 1080p at 120 | 140°, f/1.3 | 10 Hz, with what3words | Intelligent Parking Mode (hardwire kit for continuous) | Optional click-in module | View listing |
| Nextbase 322GW with Rear Window Camerafor front and rear with GPS at a mid price | 1080p† | 1080p at 60 fps† | 140° | 10 Hz | Intelligent Parking Mode | Rear Window Camera included, 720p, 6 m cable | View listing |
| 70mai A810 Lite (front and rear)for 4K and a rear camera cheaply | 4K | 4K at 30 fps front (24/25 fps with rear); 1080p rear | 140° front (f/1.55); 130° rear | Yes, built in | Time-lapse and collision detection (hardwire kit separate) | Included, 1080p | View listing |
| Viofo A119 Mini 2for the best front-only footage per pound | 1440p | 1440p at 60 fps, HDR (2.7K at 30) | 140°, f/1.6 | Yes, built in | With optional HK4 hardwire kit | None | View listing |
| Garmin Dash Cam X110for GPS and a screen in a small camera | 1080p | 1080p at 30 fps, HDR | 140° | Yes, GPS and Galileo | Parking Guard with constant power cable, Wi-Fi and Vault subscription | None; a second Garmin can be paired | View listing |
Scroll sideways to see every column
† Figure from a retailer listing or otherwise awaiting confirmation from the manufacturer; other figures come from manufacturer manuals and leaflets.
Figures are the makers’. Nextbase’s own pages disagree on the 322GW’s frame rate, which is flagged on the product. The 70mai’s 4K drops to 24 or 25 frames when the rear camera is recording, which 70mai states and most retailers do not.
What makes footage usable
Insurers and the police want three things from a clip: a readable plate, a time and place, and the moment before the impact. The plate depends on resolution, frame rate and the sensor; 1440p at 60 frames with a good sensor beats 4K at 24 with a poor one, especially at night, which is where the Sony STARVIS 2 sensors in the two Viofos earn their name. Time and place need GPS; without it you have a picture and a clock. The moment before needs the camera to be recording, which means a supercapacitor that survives a hot windscreen, a card that has not failed, and, when parked, a hardwire kit.
Everything else, touchscreens, Alexa, apps, is convenience. The shortlist is ordered by evidence first.
Viofo A229 Plus 2CH, for readable plates front and rear
for readable plates front and rear
Viofo A229 Plus 2CH
- Front resolution
- 1440p
- Recording
- 1440p at 60 fps front; 1440p at 30 fps rear, both HDR
- Field of view
- 140° front (f/1.8); 160° rear
- GPS
- Yes
- Parking mode
- Three modes incl. buffered (hardwire kit)
- Rear camera
- Included, 1440p, Sony STARVIS 2
Check price on Amazon
The one camera here with the same sensor at both ends: two Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675s, 1440p at 60 frames in front and 1440p at 30 behind, HDR on both, a 140-degree front lens and a 160-degree rear, GPS, 5 GHz Wi-Fi for pulling clips quickly, three parking modes including buffered recording with the hardwire kit, and cards up to 512 GB. It can take a third camera for the cabin.
The rear camera is wired to the back window, there is no Emergency SOS or what3words, and Viofo’s UK presence is through sellers rather than a shop.
For evidence of what happened behind you as well as in front, it is the one.
Strengths
- 1440p HDR rear camera, the best rear here
- 512 GB cards and 5 GHz Wi-Fi
- Buffered parking mode with the hardwire kit
Limitations
- Rear camera needs a cable run to the back window
- No Emergency SOS or what3words
- Viofo's UK support is through sellers
Good for
- someone who wants readable plates behind as well as in front
Look elsewhere if
- a driver who wants a touchscreen and a brand on the high street
Nextbase 622GW, for the best front footage and emergency features
for the best front footage and emergency features
Nextbase 622GW
- Front resolution
- 4K
- Recording
- 4K at 30 fps; 1440p at 60; 1080p at 120
- Field of view
- 140°, f/1.3
- GPS
- 10 Hz, with what3words
- Parking mode
- Intelligent Parking Mode (hardwire kit for continuous)
- Rear camera
- Optional click-in module
Check price on Amazon
True 4K at 30 frames, or 1080p at 120 for slowing a plate down, with digital stabilisation (at 2K), a built-in polarising filter against dashboard reflections, Enhanced Night Mode, a 3-inch touchscreen, 10 Hz GPS with what3words, Emergency SOS that calls for help if you do not respond after a crash, Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi. The rear camera is a module that clicks into the back of the unit.
It is the dearest before the rear module, the stabilised mode is 2K not 4K, and retailers cap the card at 128 GB.
For a driver who wants the best picture in front and the safety features, it is the one.
Strengths
- 4K, stabilisation and a polariser: the best footage here
- what3words and Emergency SOS, which matter on a rural A-road
- Touchscreen and rear module that clicks in without a cable to the back
Limitations
- The dearest here before you add the rear camera
- Stabilised mode drops to 2K
- 128 GB card limit by retailers
Good for
- a driver who wants the best evidence and will pay for it
Look elsewhere if
- a budget or a second car
Nextbase 322GW with Rear Window Camera, for front and rear with GPS at a mid price
for front and rear with GPS at a mid price
Nextbase 322GW with Rear Window Camera
- Front resolution
- 1080p†
- Recording
- 1080p at 60 fps†
- Field of view
- 140°
- GPS
- 10 Hz
- Parking mode
- Intelligent Parking Mode
- Rear camera
- Rear Window Camera included, 720p, 6 m cable
Check price on Amazon
The mainstream Nextbase with the rear window camera in the box: 1080p in front (Nextbase’s pages say 60 frames in one place and 30 in another), 720p from a camera on a 6 m cable to the back window, a 2.5-inch touchscreen, 10 Hz GPS, Bluetooth and QuickLink Wi-Fi, Intelligent Parking Mode and Emergency SOS.
The rear is 720p, there is no stabilisation, and a polarising filter is an accessory.
For a family car wanting both ends covered with GPS, without the 622GW’s price, it is the one.
Strengths
- Front and rear in one purchase
- GPS and Emergency SOS at a mid price
- Touchscreen
Limitations
- Rear is 720p
- Frame-rate figure is inconsistent on Nextbase's pages
- No stabilisation or built-in polariser
Good for
- a family car that wants front and rear cover without the 622GW price
Look elsewhere if
- someone who wants to read plates behind at night
70mai A810 Lite, for 4K and a rear camera cheaply
for 4K and a rear camera cheaply
70mai A810 Lite (front and rear)
- Front resolution
- 4K
- Recording
- 4K at 30 fps front (24/25 fps with rear); 1080p rear
- Field of view
- 140° front (f/1.55); 130° rear
- GPS
- Yes, built in
- Parking mode
- Time-lapse and collision detection (hardwire kit separate)
- Rear camera
- Included, 1080p
Check price on Amazon
4K in front and 1080p behind for the price of a 1080p Nextbase bundle, with GPS, a 3.18-inch screen, HDR, Wi-Fi 6, time-lapse parking with the hardwire kit, and the option of a 4G module for live view and location while parked. 70mai publishes the catch: with the rear camera running, the front records at 24 or 25 frames.
A budget sensor compared with the Viofos’, and the hardwire kit is extra.
For 4K and rear cover on a budget, with eyes open about the frame rate, it is the one.
Strengths
- 4K front plus a rear camera in the box
- GPS, a big screen and Wi-Fi 6
- Optional 4G for remote access
Limitations
- Dual recording cuts the front to 24/25 fps
- Hardwire kit for parking is separate
- A budget sensor compared with the Viofo's STARVIS 2
Good for
- someone who wants 4K and rear cover for the price of a 1080p Nextbase bundle
Look elsewhere if
- a driver who wants the smoothest high-frame-rate footage
Viofo A119 Mini 2, for the best front-only footage per pound
for the best front-only footage per pound
Viofo A119 Mini 2
- Front resolution
- 1440p
- Recording
- 1440p at 60 fps, HDR (2.7K at 30)
- Field of view
- 140°, f/1.6
- GPS
- Yes, built in
- Parking mode
- With optional HK4 hardwire kit
- Rear camera
- None
Check price on Amazon
The small Viofo: 1440p at 60 frames from a Sony STARVIS 2 sensor behind an f/1.6 lens, HDR, built-in GPS, 5 GHz Wi-Fi, voice control, a supercapacitor and a 512 GB card limit, in a wedge barely bigger than the Garmin Mini. Parking mode needs the HK4 hardwire kit.
The 1.5-inch screen is for menus, and there is no rear option.
For a front camera whose night footage reads plates, at a 1080p price, it is the one.
Strengths
- 1440p at 60 fps and HDR for the price of 1080p cameras
- GPS and 5 GHz Wi-Fi built in
- Supercapacitor for a hot windscreen
Limitations
- 1.5-inch screen is for menus, not review
- Parking mode needs the hardwire kit
- No rear option
Good for
- a front-only camera for someone who cares about night footage
Look elsewhere if
- a driver who wants rear cover or a touchscreen
Garmin Dash Cam X110, for GPS and a screen in a small camera
for GPS and a screen in a small camera
Garmin Dash Cam X110
- Front resolution
- 1080p
- Recording
- 1080p at 30 fps, HDR
- Field of view
- 140°
- GPS
- Yes, GPS and Galileo
- Parking mode
- Parking Guard with constant power cable, Wi-Fi and Vault subscription
- Rear camera
- None; a second Garmin can be paired
Check price on Amazon
Garmin’s pocket camera with a display: 1080p HDR at 30 frames, GPS and Galileo for speed and position on the clip, a 2.4-inch screen for checking footage at the roadside, voice control, incident detection, and driver alerts for lane departure, forward collision and speed cameras. 62 grams; a 20-minute battery as backup.
1080p only, no rear camera in the box, and Parking Guard needs Garmin’s cable and a Vault subscription.
For GPS evidence in a camera that does not announce itself, it is the one.
Strengths
- GPS on a camera this small
- Screen for reviewing without a phone
- Driver alerts, which the Nextbases at this price lack
Limitations
- 1080p only; no 1440p or 4K option
- Parking Guard needs the Vault subscription
- Battery is a 20-minute backup, not a feature
Good for
- a driver who wants GPS evidence in a camera that does not shout
Look elsewhere if
- anyone who wants a rear camera in the box
How to choose
- Plates at night. Sony STARVIS 2: both Viofos. Everything else: daylight is fine, night is a gamble.
- GPS. All six.
- Rear. In the box: Viofo A229 Plus, Nextbase 322GW bundle, 70mai. Optional: 622GW. None: Garmin X110, A119 Mini 2.
- Parking. Hardwire kit for all; plus a subscription for Garmin.
- Small or screen. Small: Garmin X110, Viofo A119 Mini 2. Big screen: 622GW, 70mai.
Who should hardwire first
Whatever you buy, a camera on the 12 V socket records only when the ignition is on. If the car lives on a street, the hardwire kit and parking mode are worth more than the step from 1080p to 4K. Budget for the kit with the camera.
Which one, by situation
- Front and rear evidence at night: Viofo A229 Plus 2CH.
- Best front picture, safety features: Nextbase 622GW.
- Family car, both ends, GPS: Nextbase 322GW with Rear Window Camera.
- 4K and rear on a budget: 70mai A810 Lite.
- Front only, best per pound: Viofo A119 Mini 2.
- Small with GPS and a screen: Garmin Dash Cam X110.
Sources
Facts checked 23 October 2026
- Viofo — A229 Plus 2CH product page — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (VIOFO) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Nextbase — 622GW product page — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (Nextbase) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Nextbase — 322GW product page — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (Nextbase) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- 70mai — Dash Cam 4K A810 Lite product page — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (70mai) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Viofo — A119 Mini 2 product page — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (VIOFO) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
- Garmin — Dash Cam X110 product page and owner's manual specifications — Manufacturer documentation, checked 23 October 2026
- Amazon listing (Garmin) — Retailer listing, checked 23 October 2026
Is 4K worth it?
For reading plates in daylight, 1440p is enough and 1080p usually is. 4K helps when the plate is small in the frame, a car two lanes over, and costs you frame rate and card space. At night the sensor matters more than the pixel count: the Viofo cameras' Sony STARVIS 2 sensor at 1440p reads plates the cheaper 4K sensors smear.
Do I need GPS?
For evidence, yes. GPS stamps speed and location on the clip, which is what an insurer or the police want alongside the picture. All six here have it.
What is parking mode and does it need wiring?
Recording while the car is parked, triggered by a bump or by motion. Every camera here needs a hardwire kit to the fuse box to do it properly, because the 12 V socket is dead with the ignition off; Garmin also needs a paid Vault subscription for its parking alerts. Budget for the kit and a fitter if you want it.
Is it legal in the UK?
Yes, as long as it does not obstruct the driver's view: mount it behind the mirror, within the swept area of the wipers but out of the sightline. Footage is admissible as evidence. If you record passengers or use a cabin camera for work, data-protection rules apply; a private car with a front camera has nothing to do.
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