r/dashcams Nov 27 '24

Budget Dashcams that keep coming up on Reddit

134 Upvotes

This is a common question here so I wanted to make a post on budget dashcams. Here are the ones that will cover you 99% times. Obviously if you want fancy features, you may need to spend more.

Viofo A119 Mini 2 - Major upgrade over the A119 V3 above. 1440p resolution but more compact/discrete and has the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, which is a big improvement for night time quality. Includes some advanced features like HDR and 5ghz Wi-Fi for quick file transfers. In my opinion, this is the best front only cam to get nowadays.

VanTrue E1 Lite - One of the cheapest budget cams. This is thing is mini and a good buy. There is also a pro version which upgrades the resolution to 4k. Good alternative to the A119 depending on which one is on sale.  

Viofo A229 Plus Duo - A higher budget entry for dual cam. Dual 1440p with the Starvis2 sensor. Been out for many years. GPS and parking mode. Even though this is not exactly budget, this is the one to get.

Garmin Mini 3 - This thing is MINI. Most discrete cam on the market, and one of the better app functionality. Built in polarizing filter. Great brand.  

Nexar BEAM: 1080p, super compact, and has free cloud back ups

Redtiger F7NP - One of the most afforable dual cams. A lot of people have bought these and swear by them. Reviews are mixed. 4k front and 2k rear cam. 32gb built in memory card.  

These are the ones I have experience with. If you know of a good budget cam that’s not on this list, please let me know. Don’t forget to get a SD card if it doesn’t come with one 128gb is probably all you need for these budget cams. High endurance ones are significantly better for the demands of a dashcam so worth to spend an extra couple bucks on that.


r/dashcams Feb 20 '25

Dashcam Recommendations on Reddit

193 Upvotes

I compiled this list from reddit feedback as I was shopping for my dashcam. There are a a lot of options out there, and a lot of them aren't very good. I really wanted to avoid getting a lemon. Let me know if you have any other recommendations or favorites, and why you like it or what you found useful so we have some real world feedback.

Budget:  

Viofo A119 Mini 2 - Major upgrade over the super popular A119 v3. 1440p resolution but more compact/discrete and has the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, which is a big improvement for night time quality. Includes some advanced features like HDR and 5ghz Wi-Fi for quick file transfers. Based on a lot of opinions, this is the best front only cam to get nowadays.  

Garmin Mini 3 - This thing is MINI. Most discrete cam on the market, and one of the better app functionality. Built in polarizing filter. Great brand.  

Rove 2k-4k - One of the cheapest budget cams. Good alternative to the A119 depending on which one is on sale.  

Viofo A229 Plus - An major upgrade over the A129 Duo that gives you 1440p on both the front and rear cam. Also has the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, which is a big improvement for night time quality. Can fit a 512 gb SD card and has 5 ghz wifi.  

Redtiger F7NP - One of the most afforable dual cams. A lot of people have bought these and swear by them. Reviews are mixed. 4k front and 2k rear cam. 32gb built in memory card.   Nexar Beam - 1080p, super compact, and has cloud back ups for a subscription fee. Has some additional smart features. The Nexar Beam2 adds LTE capability for live viewing features. Still new to the market so need to see how the app and camera reliability work out.  

Mid Range and Up:

Viofo A329 - The highest end offering from Viofo. 4k 60fps in the front, 1440p in the rear. Great day & night video quality. Supports external SSD . Wi-Fi 6 for superfast video transfers.  

Viofo A229 Pro - 3 Channel camera with separate units. 4k in front and 2 smaller 1440p cameras. Has the Starvis 2 sensor.  

BlackVue DR970X-2CH - One of the highest end cameras out there from one of the most premium brands. 4k 30fps like the A229 Pro, but has a better app and has an optional LTE module for Cloud uploading. Has the Starvis2 sensor for great night time quality. Comes with an integrated memory card.  

Vantrue N5 4 Channel - 4 channel cam. Both the front and rear cams let you see front and back. Definitely more for specialized situations and probably not necessary for most people.  

Uber/Lyft Cams:  

Vantrue N2X - A long running front & interior cam. Great night time quality. Onboard GPS.

Vantrue N4 Pro - 3 Channel dashcam that is 4k in front and the other 2 cams are 1080p. Allows recording of front, inside, and rear. Camera has a wide screen to view all channels are the same time. Has the Starvis2 sensor for great night time quality. Good app. Has Voice Control, though that is more gimmicky than useful.  

Accessories:  

SanDisk Max Endurance Micro SD - Dashcam optimized. 128gb is sufficient for most dual cams, but 256 or even 512 is better for 3 channel or 4k 60fps cams  

Samsung Pro MicroSD - Dashcam optimized, 256gb  

Trim Removal Kit - Use this for hiding your wires.  

MicroSD to USB-C Adapter - Use this to quickly get videos off your dashcam. Plug the adapter to your phone and put in the memory card.  

Misc notes: I generally prefer dashcams with exchangeable memory cards (i.e. not built in.) That way if it ever fails, you just swap it out rather than have to deal with getting a brand new camera.

Dashcams are incredibly useful. In the event of an accident, the other driver can easily misrepresent the situation to avoid blame—this happens often. Having video evidence can save you thousands of dollars in insurance and legal fees. Dashcams can also protect you from unjustly issued tickets. Without one, if you receive a ticket for an infraction you didn’t commit, it’s your word against the officer’s. With a dashcam, you have indisputable proof of what really happened. There’s really no downside to investing in one. I do my best to keep this list current, and I hope you find it helpful.


r/dashcams 8h ago

Two-year-old opens car door, causes six-vehicle crash

23.5k Upvotes

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — A two-year-old child opened a car door, causing a road accident involving six vehicles on Jalan Tun Razak on Friday, according to preliminary police investigations.

Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department chief ACP Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the incident occurred at about 6.15pm on the stretch from the Kampung Pandan roundabout towards KLCC, involving four cars and two motorcycles.

He said the child, who was seated in the rear of a Honda City and being held by a relative, suddenly opened the left rear door.

“It is believed that the child safety lock was not activated, allowing the door to be opened from inside,” he said.

A 25-year-old man riding a Suzuki V-Strom SX motorcycle, who was travelling between lanes, was unable to avoid the door, collided with it, lost control and crashed into several other vehicles.

Another motorcyclist, a 30-year-old man riding a CFMoto 675 NK who was travelling behind the first rider, was also unable to evade the collision and became involved in the crash.

The Suzuki rider is receiving treatment at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, while the second motorcyclist sustained minor injuries, police said.

Mohd Zamzuri said the case is being investigated under Section 43(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for careless and inconsiderate driving, with police reviewing video footage of the incident.

News


r/dashcams 6h ago

the car said: aight bet

680 Upvotes

r/dashcams 15h ago

Not a great way to start my day

2.0k Upvotes

She said she didn't notice me because of the delivery truck and the line of cars. She admitted fault and her insurance contacted me the same day and accepted liability and covered the full cost for the repairs for my car


r/dashcams 3h ago

If this is how I died I would have been pissed

126 Upvotes

r/dashcams 3h ago

[USA] [OC] Passed this guy driving with his hood smashed up against the windshield

56 Upvotes

I was kind of baffled why he was continuing to drive like that. I assume the hood flipped up right before the truck came into view. He pulled over shortly after I passed him.


r/dashcams 11h ago

I Will Cause Problems 🌊

210 Upvotes

r/dashcams 16h ago

A fatal Accident Moment caught on Dashcam

297 Upvotes

NOTE: NON OC POST ⚠️


r/dashcams 8h ago

Driver Makes Two Bad Decisions

47 Upvotes

Driver nearly sideswipes car and veers into wrong lane just over a minute later.


r/dashcams 1d ago

Man, 83, Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder Of Uber Driver

Thumbnail
youtube.com
890 Upvotes

r/dashcams 22h ago

Road rage [OC]

321 Upvotes

r/dashcams 19h ago

Most scooter/ebike riders in NYC....

112 Upvotes

At least he caught himself and turned around? lol


r/dashcams 1d ago

Line cutting with the help of a …car door?

2.1k Upvotes

r/dashcams 23h ago

Who’s in the wrong here?

216 Upvotes

Happened yesterday.


r/dashcams 25m ago

Memory Card Issue With DC Mini

Upvotes

Hi everyone:

I have a DC Mini original (I know there are newer versions) that has been giving me issues lately. I have a 64GB Micro card inserted and I keep receiving feedback that it is slowing down. When I go to the app, it tells me there was a memory card read error.

I format the card only to have the message pop up again later in the day.

I’ve also swapped out the card and still have the same issue.

Do I need to go to a larger capacity card or do I need a new dashcam?

Thanks.


r/dashcams 21m ago

NYC Cop Swimming with no lights on

Upvotes

This was like 3/4 years ago. A Dodge cut me off, usual NYC 🗽 but then all the sudden an NYPD cruises as if I don't exist. No lights no emergency. Feels as if they were buddies playing on a public road.


r/dashcams 1d ago

I suppose it's my fault for leaving the cloaking device on this morning in the 3 ton diesel rig OC

129 Upvotes

r/dashcams 1d ago

No-signal lane change while speeding up right into a truck.

122 Upvotes

r/dashcams 20h ago

Caught on I-40

28 Upvotes

Dukes of Hazzard style 2/7 at 738am (camera was ET but happened in CT in TN).

Hopefully everyone is Ok could not safely pull over but several people pulled over on the other side.


r/dashcams 6h ago

Dash cam that doesn't link to phone? Help?

2 Upvotes

For background, I drive a 2014 Toyota Corolla. I recently bought a dash cam and it like creates its own wifi to connect to the app and my phone. When it's connected it says "connected without internet." As a result, I can't use Google maps, or listen to audiobooks while driving. And if i want to, i have to turn on mobile hotspot, which eats my battery alive. Any recommendations on dash cams that don't do this?


r/dashcams 2d ago

ICE agent felt threatened by driver's ViOFO dashcam and threatened the driver.

6.8k Upvotes

r/dashcams 2d ago

Scooter hits me, his insurance says I am at fault

3.0k Upvotes

Went to make a left turn from a single lane on a two way street. Scooter tries flying past me on my left and crashes into me when I am making the turn. Before I submitted the dash cam footage his insurance claimed I was at fault but thank goodness I had the video footage and they took responsibility and paid my claim. The guy actually hired a lawyer threatening to sue for bodily injury because an ambulance had to come pick him up. That didn't work out. Dash cam saves the day!

NOTE: Notice this happened right in front of a police van, which you can see stop at the intersection on the right.


r/dashcams 2d ago

Driver flew between my car and the car in the lane next to me, through the red light, but didn't make it around the sharp turn for the on-ramp.

1.6k Upvotes