18 Best Dashcams of 2024 [Tested and Reviewed]

Kenwood's 4K Dash Cam DRV-A601W boasts the ability to capture clear recordings in 8.3 million pixels. Another top selling point is the ability to choose between adhesive tape and suction cup mounts, depending on where you want to install the dashcam.

As advertised, during our testing, we were able to clearly see the numbers of the license plates under both good and bad conditions: not only on well-lit roads during the day but also near the entrances and exits of tunnels where the backlighting is intense, and on roads at night. If a hit-and-run did take place, we’re confident we would be able to collect the evidence necessary to identify the other party’s vehicle using this dashcam.

When we evaluated the width of the shooting angle, we recorded a horizontal angle of 110 degrees. Because this dashcam can widely capture its surroundings, even if you collide with an oncoming vehicle when turning at an intersection or if you get cut off, it can record not only the moment of the accident but also the circumstances leading up to it.

For playback, this dashcam has a dedicated PC viewer that can be used on both Windows and Mac. In addition to the video, you can check information such as GPS and travel speed using this dashcam. Additionally, it comes with an LCD monitor that can be operated by a touch panel, allowing you to quickly review the footage immediately after an accident.

That said, this dashcam doesn’t have an SD card check function, which is a drawback that could make noticing SD card errors difficult. We recommend you regularly remove the SD card and review the footage to check for SD card errors.

Some testers also said that the dashcam’s app was difficult to operate intuitively. In particular, many people struggled to connect the app to their smartphone for the first time, with quite a few having to try several times before they succeeded. On the other hand, after connecting, our testers found they could relatively easily play and save footage.

While this dashcam has a few drawbacks, our testers gave it high marks for the most crucial features required for a dashcam: image quality and wide angle of view. If you are considering purchasing a front-facing dashcam, this camera should be at the top of your list.

The Dash Cam DRV-A301W from Kenwood utilizes an HDR function to prevent overexposure and underexposure. And its magnetic mount makes it easy to quickly remove the camera when necessary.

During our tests, under good conditions, the license plate was clearly visible. If an accident occurs during bright daytime hours, this dashcam should be able to record sufficient evidence. On the other hand, this dashcam doesn’t perform well under backlit conditions. During our testing, it was somewhat difficult to read the letters and numbers on the license plate. So this camera might not be capable of recording evidence clearly when facing strong sunlight or car headlights.

When we tested the width of this dashcam’s shooting angle, it recorded at a horizontal angle of 110 degrees. Because this camera can record a wide range, even if you get into an accident with an oncoming car at an intersection, this device can not only clearly capture the moment of the accident but also the surrounding circumstances.

This dashcam has a dedicated PC viewer that you can use on both Windows and Mac for playback. In addition to the video, you can also check the GPS and driving speed, which can be useful when negotiating the degree of fault with your insurance company. Also, this dashcam is equipped with an SD card check function, so if there is a problem with the SD card, you will be notified, so you won’t get caught with a malfunctioning SD card when you need it to record.

On the other hand, many users had trouble connecting to the app associated with this dashcam. In addition, even when the dashcam was connected, we observed random disconnections and the screen unexpectedly went dark, so this may not be the best dashcam when it comes to ease of use. But you can still easily check the footage by inserting the SD card into your PC.

Thinkware's F70 PRO TW-F70PRO incorporates distortion correction technology, which can improve image quality. Although conventional cameras tend to have significant distortion at the edges of the image, this product claims to keep distortion to a minimum.

During our testing, we were able to clearly record the license plate under both good and poor lighting conditions. This dashcam could easily record video while suppressing overexposure, not only on roads when it was bright out, but also near tunnel entrances and exits and roads when the sun was strong.

When we measured the shooting angle's width, the horizontal angle was 90 degrees. Because of the narrower width, this dashcam had more blind spots than some higher-end models, so it may not be able to fully capture the movement of oncoming vehicles at intersections or sudden collisions.

The dedicated viewer for PC is compatible with both Mac and Windows, but you’ll need to purchase additional equipment to check information such as GPS and driving speed. The SD card check function is included, though, so you can troubleshoot any malfunctions before you get on the road.

That said, connecting the app and smartphone took several tries. Additionally, the instruction manual is bare bones and didn’t have enough information about how to connect the dashcam to the app. Even after eventually connecting the dashcam to the app we observed several instances when the live video was frozen and we could not check it in the app. So we recommend you use a PC to watch footage for a smoother viewing experience.

Rexing’s Smart Mirror Dash Cam M2 is a room mirror-type dashcam. It is equipped with a blind spot detection feature that alerts the driver to the presence of vehicles that might not be visible in the side or rearview mirrors.

Under both good and bad conditions, we were able to clearly record the license plate of the vehicle behind us. This was true not only on roads in bright daylight, but near the entrances and exits of tunnels, and on roads at night, using backlighting.

Both the front and rear cameras recorded a horizontal angle of 100 degrees. Since it captures such a wide area around the vehicle, it is possible to record the sequence of events that led up to an accident even if one occurred due to a collision with an oncoming vehicle, or when abruptly cut off.

The dedicated viewer is compatible with both Windows and Mac. It not only displays videos, but also confirms information such as the travel route and speed. This dashcam is operated by a touch panel, and its operation is intuitive. Since there is no app, you can view the videos on the device's display or on a PC.

You cannot set the recording time while parked, but the SD card supports up to 128GB, so you can record for extended periods, such as when parked overnight, without any danger that the device will record over older videos. A check function tells you if there is a problem reading or writing to the SD card, so you never miss an important video.

VIOFO’s A129 dashcam comes with a remote control that connects via Bluetooth. The remote enables activation of an event recording function, which protects recordings from being overwritten, without having to take your eyes off the road.

Under good conditions, we were able to clearly capture license plates. If an accident occurs when lighting is not optimal for video recording, it might be difficult to record the evidence you need. The backlight was weak, so recording even in bright sunlight can leave some recordings lacking in details.

Both front and rear cameras recorded a 100-degree angle horizontally, which is great for capturing not just the moment of an accident, but some time before it occurs.

A dedicated viewer can be used on both Windows and Mac, allowing you to check information on driving routes and speeds. This can be useful when assigning fault in the event of an accident, especially when dealing with insurance companies.

The included app is not user-friendly. We heard complaints such as it taking a long time to connect to Wi-Fi, and even after connecting, the loading icon freezes. We therefore suggest viewing recorded videos either on the device's display or a PC.

The dashcam features an SD card error check function, which detects abnormalities with reading and writing. A parking feature allows you to set a timer so you can record only at desired times, such as during less crowded hours of the night, preventing too much battery use. It supports SD cards up to 256GB, and since it can store long recordings, we recommend this dashcam to those who want to use it while parked.

Rexing's Dual Channel Dash Cam V1P-4K was designed to withstand extreme temperatures. The manufacturer reports that this dashcam can be operated in temperatures ranging from -20°F to 176°F, which means it is great for traveling, no matter where you find yourself.

License plates recorded well under both good and bad conditions, from bright daylight when reflections were strong to entrances and exits of tunnels, where the cameras’ strong backlighting made the recording clear.

During our tests, the front camera recorded a horizontal angle of 100 degrees, and the rear captured 90 degrees. The front camera’s angle was sufficient, but the rear camera’s viewing angle was less than other dashcams we tested.

A dedicated viewer allows for reviewing videos on both Windows and Mac. However, a separate GPS logger is required to record driving routes and speeds. No app means that you must view recordings on either the device's display or on a PC.

No SD card check function means that you will not be notified of storage errors, but you can manually check for errors by removing the SD card and testing it yourself. No timer is available for recording while parked, but support for up to a 256GB SD card means that you can record for a long time, even while parked overnight.

VIOFO's T130 allows you to turn audio recording on and off using just your voice. In addition, you can adjust the direction of the 3 cameras to find the best angle according to the installation position.

This dashcam’s front and rear cameras were able to clearly record the license plates under both good and poor conditions. They performed well on bright daytime roads, and can also record at tunnel entrances and exits with backlighting and on roads at night. So if you get into an accident, this dashcam should be able to capture the other driver’s license plate.

The in-car camera was able to clearly record in bright environments. In dark environments, however, this camera could not quite produce vivid images, but thanks to the infrared function, it was able to capture human figures without being pitch black. This dashcam can also double as a security camera during ride-sharing.

When we tested the width of the dashcam’s shooting angle, the front camera recorded a 100-degree angle, the rear camera recorded 120 degrees, and the in-car camera recorded a 110-degree horizontal angle. So this camera can sufficiently capture the surrounding circumstances and film not just the moment an accident occurs, but also the circumstances that led up to it. This dashcam can also record any trouble that takes place inside your car.

This dashcam’s dedicated viewer is compatible with both Windows and Mac, and its appeal lies in the ability to record not only the image but also the driving route and speed information. That said, the app is hard to operate, and users have voiced complaints such as, "It took a long time to connect" and "The manual is not user-friendly, so I don’t understand how to operate the device.” Because of this, we recommend you watch the footage on a PC instead of the app. 

In addition, this dashcam does not come equipped with an SD Card Check Function, so you should remove your SD card regularly to ensure it is functioning properly. The SD card slot is compatible with cards up to 256GB, which is advantageous if you wish to continue filming while parked or want to maintain recorded data for a long time without erasing it. This dashcam has a few minor drawbacks, but it meets the high standards for the most important measures—the video quality and viewing angle—which make this camera a top pick.

The A229 PRO by VIOFO features a 4K camera in front. By utilizing four satellite positioning systems, it boasts improved accuracy and stability of location information compared to other dashcams.

Under good conditions, this dashcam could clearly record a license plate. However, the footage taken by the front camera was severely overexposed under backlighting. This dashcam performed well on the roads in bright sunlight, but doesn’t record as well in backlit situations such as recording at the entrances of tunnels or on roads at night.

The in-car camera was able to clearly capture people's faces in bright environments. Also, thanks to the infrared camera, this dashcam could recognize people's faces even in dark environments without the video becoming pitch black. This model could also be useful as a security camera for ridesharing.

When we tested the dashcam’s shooting angle, the front camera recorded a horizontal angle of 100 degrees, the rear camera recorded 120 degrees, and the in-car camera recorded 110 degrees. Because of this camera’s range, it can capture surroundings broadly enough to record not only the moment an accident occurs or when your vehicle is hit, but also the circumstances that led up to the incident. In addition, this camera can reliably record any situations that may arise inside the car.

The dedicated viewer is compatible with both Windows and Mac, and you can check not only the video, but the driving route and speed. The app is hard to use, with testers saying “it took time to connect” and that “the instructions were unclear, making it difficult to understand how to operate the device.” So we recommend you watch the footage on a PC instead of the app.

In addition, there's no SD card check function, so we suggest you regularly remove your SD card to make sure there aren’t any issues. This model does support SD cards up to 512GB. This is a plus if you want to continue to record while you’re parked or if you want to keep long-term recording data without deleting it.

The N4 from VANTRUE features in-vehicle cameras equipped with four infrared LED lights. Its manufacturer boasts strong resistance to whiteout, blackout, and backlight, promising clear recording even at night.

We were able to clearly record the numbers on license plates in both good and bad conditions. Not only could this dashcam handle bright daylight on the roads, but it could also capture footage effectively in the intense sunlight at the entrances and exits of tunnels, and on roads at night, so you can get the license plate number of the person who hit your car. The in-car camera records relatively clearly in both bright and dark environments. It was able to capture human figures even in the dark, so you can also use this dashcam as a security camera in rideshare vehicles.

When we tested the filming angle's width, the front and rear cameras recorded a horizontal angle of 100 degrees, and the interior camera recorded one of 120 degrees. As this dashcam captures a wide range of surroundings, you can rely on it to record an accident, as well as the circumstances that led up to the incident.

The dedicated viewer is compatible with both Windows and Mac, but unfortunately, you need a separate GPS mount to check information such as driving routes and speeds. Also, since there is no app, you’ll need to use your PC or the device's display to check the video.

Another drawback is that this dashcam doesn’t have an SD card check function, so you won’t be alerted to any malfunctions and should check the card manually. On the other hand, this dashcam supports SD cards up to 256GB, so you can continue recording even while parked.