Top 10: Dash cams under £200 2020
You can pay more than this if you’re feeling flush, but generally speaking the cameras available in this bracket should have all the bells and whistles you could need.
Top 10: Best value dash cams | Top 10: Dash cams for under £100
Nextbase 422GW
Resolution is a very good 1440p HD at 30fps with a 140-degree viewing angle, or you can record at 1080P HD @ 60fps - which will record a smoother video but lower quality footage. It's also similarly priced to the Garmin 55 - which offers 1440p resolution footage, forward collision and lane departure warnings, alerts for red light and speed cameras, WiFi and voice-controlled features like Travelapse.
The 55 has a 122-degree viewing angle compared to the 422GW's superior 140-degree lens, which will show a wider view of the road, and Nextbase offers modular lenses if you want to upgrade to a dual dash cam. But some buyers may find the Garmin's driver assistance systems - like safety speed camera warnings, which you have to pay for after a while - more useful than Nextbase's Alexa connectivity and Emergency SOS. Both are very good dash cameras and not extortionately priced either.
Buy it now
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£144.95 |
Vantrue OnDash N2
The Vantrue OnDash N2 is a capable, straightforward and feature-packed dash cam that offers plenty of functionality for a sensible price. As a result, if you’re looking for an affordable and serviceable dual-camera unit, the OnDash N2 should be on your list. The N2’s key feature is a wide-angle forward-facing camera that works in conjunction with an adjustable rear-facing camera. These allow it to capture a 310-degree view around the car, meaning all the evidence you need should be recorded in the case of an incident.
Vantrue, a brand that originates from China, also has a good reputation for support and service. Consequently, even though it might not be a name that springs to mind, you shouldn’t have trouble getting help with any issues that might arise.
Garmin 55 dash cam
If you're looking for a top of the line, feature-packed dash cam then the Garmin 55 definitely fits the bill. Footage quality is excellent, as are the driver assistance systems you get included.
Another clever feature is the voice control, so you start or stop recording without having to take your hands off the wheel. Compact and well-built, the Garmin 55 is a safe bet at a reasonable price.
Z-Edge T4 Dual
The front camera comes with a large 4.0-inch, scratch-resistant touchscreen and a suction mount (which we prefer to adhesive mounts). Both cameras film in 1080p at 30fps while if you just run the front camera, this is upped to 1440p at 30fps - the same as the impressive Z-Edge Z3. That means it promises excellent quality footage, even when viewed on a large monitor.
Along with a six-layer glass lens and a 155-degree angle view from both cameras, the T4 also comes with a 32GB micro SD card included, motion detection and a parking feature. However, there's no WiFi and no GPS either, so it will not record your speed. If that's not an issue for you, we can easily recommend the Z-Edge T4, but we think an extra £15 for the Nextbase is a worthwhile investment for those extra features.
Nextbase 612GW
Although not the most expensive camera from the manufacturer, the 612GW shows what Nextbase is capable of in terms of features. Amongst the big standard spec you get WiFi connection, a sturdy metal casing and a 150-degree wide-angle lens, although many of those are found lower down the Nextbase range.
What gives the 612GW the edge however is the headline-grabbing 4K Ultra HD resolution and the polarising filter that makes for excellent footage in dark or poor weather conditions. If you do a lot of driving at night or in the rain and you want to be as certain as you can that your dashcam will capture the crucial information, the 612GW is right up at the top of the pile.
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Mio MiVue J60
The J60 is the cheaper offering in Mio's J-Series range of dash cameras, sitting at about £120 currently. The dash cam features high-quality footage (1080p at 30fps with a 150-degree angle), WiFi, GPS, safety speed camera warnings and a few Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) - like Lane Departure warnings. The features are all useful and the J60 is very discreet, especially because you can also you slide the camera off its mount when you aren't in the car.
Footage quality is good, however, you could get a YI Smart for about £50 - which films at the same resolution, it just lacks all the features. It's priced about £25 higher than the Garmin 55 dash cam, too, which offers all the same features - plus higher quality footage and a voice-control feature. Overall. the J60 is a good bet, but it's priced a little too high to come out top dog against rivalling dash cameras.
Garmin 66W
The range-topping 66W model features an extra-wide 180-degree field of view, 1440p resolution footage, voice control (albeit limited) and safety speed camera alerts. While footage quality is excellent, as are the driver assistance systems, the range-topping 66W doesn't record in 4k resolution - meaning we can't see why it sits at the £200 mark.
And that high price will be a big hurdle for many buyers.
Buy it now
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£429.55 |
Nextbase 522GW
The 522 features GPS, WiFi and Amazon Alexa connectivity. Resolution is 1440p @ 30fps with a 140-degree viewing angle and a built-in polarising filter. The 522GW also offers a new and improved 3-inch LED touchscreen, a new software suite to watch and edit your footage, and Emergency SOS so you can alert emergency services of your location in the event of an accident.
It isn't the cheapest dash cam around, but it offers a tonne of smart features for the outlay. Considering most people use dash cameras to protect themselves against false insurance claims or in the event of an accident, Nextbase has also renewed its partnership with SureThing, offering those who buy a 522GW - or any other Nextbase Series 2 dash cam - 25% off a SureThing policy.
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£159.95 |
Mio Mivue 792 Wifi Pro
The Mio MiVue 792 aims to take the whole idea of a dashcam that bit further, claiming to be able to replicate several safety features such as lane departure warning and a forward collision warning system. It does this by combining the camera image with the internal GPS system.
It's a very good camera in many ways so although the lack of USB connection and fiddly event button are both annoyances for those that want true ease of use, it's easy to set up and provides very good footage.
Garmin 46
The Garmin 46 is a discreet, GPS-enabled dash cam with a 140-degree field of view that captures 1080 HD video. It also provides advanced driver alerts - including forward collision and lane departure, alerts for red light cameras and speed camera location alerts with unlimited updates via the Garmin Drive app.
Voice control allows you to say “OK, Garmin” to start/stop audio recording, take a still picture or start/stop the Travelapse video capture feature, while parking mode monitors your car’s surroundings while your car is parked and the engine isn't running.
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