How To Choose (The Best) Dash Cam: 2026 Buying Guide
Purchasing a dashboard camera is an important decision. Naturally, any consumer wants the best possible camera with the most intelligent features at the lowest possible price.
Below, Nexar goes over how to choose a dash cam. Whether you're a rideshare driver or a college student in a busy metropolitan area, reading this article before making your purchase is an invaluable decision.
What are the different types of dashboard cameras?
First, before we let you know about how to choose a dash cam, let's go over the different types of dash cams.
There are more than a few dash cam types, each suited for different driving needs. Options include:
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Roadview Dash Cams
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Rearview Dash Cams
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Cabin View Dash Cams
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Multi-Channel Dash Cams
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Wireless Dash Cams
Roadview Dash Cams
Roadview dash cams are meant to capture the road, basically, what is directly in front of you. Different models have varying fields of view. The wider the view, the better.
Rearview Dash Cams
Rearview dash cams capture the back of the vehicle, picking up any rear-end collisions and providing a crucial second point of view for your security system.
Cabin View Dash Cams
It's obvious that every driver would want to protect the front side and/or the rear side of their car, truck, or SUV, but some drivers might also want to think about protecting/recording the cabin, rideshare, and professional drivers, we're looking at you…
Interior dash cams capture the activity inside the vehicle, best for rideshare drivers and drivers for fleets. These types of dash cams are meant to keep drivers, passengers, and goods safe.
Multi-Channel Dash Cams
Dual-channel dash cams may be on the costlier side, but they are better options for families who need complete coverage of their vehicle and the road. Some providers offer 3-channel dash cams (roadview, cabin view, rearview) or even more.
Wireless Dash Cams
Wireless dash cams can transmit dashboard camera footage wirelessly (to a receiver). This receiver can be either inside or outside of the vehicle. Wireless dash cams leverage battery power and wireless connectivity to record your drives. No need for complex wiring.
Nexar provides a line of connected dash cams that have a true plug-and-play setup process that can be completed in 10 minutes or less. Your Nexar connected dash cam pairs with your phone wirelessly for seamless connectivity.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing a Dash Cam
Before knowing how to choose a dash cam, ask yourself what you want to use your dash cam for. Depending on your needs and the type of driver you are, you might be interested in different features and models.
Top features to consider include a number of cameras, storage capabilities, video resolution, GPS capabilities, and parking mode. Of course, you will also need to consider your budget. At Nexar, we offer a range of connected dash cams that focus on different needs.
When choosing a dash cam, consider things like:
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Video resolution
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Field of view
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Storage capacity
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Night vision
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Number of cameras
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GPS functionality
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Parking mode
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G-sensor
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Ease of use
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Battery
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Price
Video resolution
Capturing the best possible image/footage is important in the event you ever have to prove your innocence after an incident. Drivers want 1080p or higher in order to capture finer details such as road signs and license plates. For 2026, a 2K resolution should be your baseline, with 4K the preferred choice for a premium experience.
Nexar offers a variety of dash cams from 1080p to 4K resolution, suiting a variety of needs and budgets. All of our dash cams are suitable for capturing details of the road, license plates, road signs, and more.
Field of view
You want the widest field of view possible (whether it's a roadview or rearview camera) so you can see as much as possible. Your dash cam will only be as good as what it is able to see/capture. A narrower field of view makes a dash cam less effective.
For instance, consider the Beam2 mini + rearview camera bundle. Nexar Beam2 mini has a 160-degree field of view; our rearview camera has a 135-degree field of view. That's 295 degrees of coverage for you and your car.
Storage capacity
If we're talking memory cards and storage capacity, a 64GB microSD card is generally considered enough storage for a dash cam. For higher resolutions, longer recording durations, or use of features such as parking mode, 128GB or 256GB or higher will do the trick, typically.
Nexar connected dash cams, such as Beam2 mini, Beam2, and Nexar One, have unlimited cloud storage via the LTE Protection Plan, which provides features like Parking Mode, unlimited cloud storage, and automatic backup of critical footage.
Number of cameras
The number of cameras you need for your dash cam setup will depend on the circumstances under which you drive, as well as your environment. People living in rural areas who buy a dash cam might simply buy a roadview camera. Someone living in a bustling metropolis might purchase the Nexar Beam2 mini + rearview camera bundle.
Still, others might need cabin coverage. We provide the Nexar Beam2 for customers who need to cover the inside of their vehicle, which is our cabin & road-view dash cam. This camera captures video in 2K resolution with unlimited cloud backups via LTE Protection Plan.
GPS functionality
GPS is a feature that tracks accurate speed and location data through your dash cam while you're driving. With GPS functionality, you can keep track of your vehicle's location, show a particular route travelled, as well as the speed you are driving.
Nexar connected cameras provide live GPS tracking for your peace of mind, providing documentation of location in the event of an accident. GPS is often important when it comes to pinpointing where an incident occurred, which can be vital information for an insurance claim.
Parking mode
Taking care of your vehicle's security while your car is parked and you're away is an important consideration. Nexar connected cameras provide a Parking Mode feature that will pick up incidents or occurrences when your vehicle is parked, providing 24/7 coverage.
G-sensor
G-sensors are important components of a dash cam that have the ability to automatically detect sudden motion changes, such as a collision or hard braking. This triggers the camera to save that footage as "event" footage.
Your Nexar dash cam is ready to spring into action, detecting impacts when they occur, automatically saving critical footage to the cloud (via LTE Connection Plan), protecting that footage from any loop recording that might occur.
Ease of use
Unless you're some kind of technician who is savvy with electronics, you want a dash cam that provides simplicity of design and ease of use.
Our products utilize OBD-II pass-through to keep your CLA port free while at the same time avoiding blocking the OBD-II itself. Most drivers install our cameras and hit the road in ten minutes or less.
Price
Dashboard camera systems can be anywhere from $100 (for budget-friendly models) to $1,000 (for top-tier models). Choosing the right camera might come down to the price tag.
Nexar Beam2 mini is our compact dash cam and is among the most cost-efficient options on the market, providing smart features like unlimited cloud storage, Parking Mode, remote live streaming, and more via the LTE Protection Plan. Currently priced at $149.95, Beam2 mini provides serious coverage without breaking into your savings.
What is the best dash cam?
Below, we'll cover the best dash cams for a variety of features, including:
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Best wireless dash cam
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Best budget dash cam
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Best overall dash cam
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Best front and rear dash cam
Best wireless dash cam of 2026
Nexar Beam2 is the ultimate smart driving sidekick, packed with intelligent features and coming in at an unbeatable price. Get remote livestream, live alerts, GPS tracking, 24/7 Parking Mode, and unlimited cloud backups powered by Nexar Connect. Nexar Beam2 connects seamlessly with your smartphone and provides a true plug-and-play setup so you can hit the road protected in a flash.
Viofo A329 is rated the best all-rounder by leading reviewers in 2026, delivering excellent 4K 60fps video quality. The A329S variant is praised for its exceptional video quality overall, while the A329T, with its telephoto lens, is considered the best dash cam for capturing license plates at a distance.
Nextbase iQ takes smart connectivity further with AI-powered features, including Roadwatch AI and Witness Mode, which help drivers anticipate and respond to threats in real time. Currently starting at $499.99, it is a premium investment for drivers who want the most intelligent connected dash cam available.
Best budget dash cam of 2026
Out of all the Nexar connected dash cams available, Beam2 mini is the dashboard camera that is priced for the budget-conscious consumer who still wants a reliable dash cam packed with AI-driven smart features.
Enjoy unlimited cloud storage, 24/7 Parking Mode, live alerts, live streaming, and more, powered by the Nexar LTE Protection Plan. Currently priced at $149.95 for a limited time, Beam2 mini is the perfect option for drivers wanting a high-quality dash cam without breaking the bank.
Miofive S1 Ultra earns strong praise as one of the best cheap 4K dash cams of 2026, offering great 4K footage with minimal noise at a competitive price point, a compelling option for budget-conscious drivers who don't want to compromise on resolution.
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 is another ultracompact budget-friendly option, offering 1080p recording, a 140-degree field of view, and a built-in Clarity™ Polarizer for crisp image capture. Currently priced at $129.99, it remains a reliable entry-level pick in 2026.
Best overall dash cam of 2026
Nexar Beam2 mini is the mini guardian of your journey. Offering smart features like 4G LTE, remote livestream, live alerts, unlimited cloud storage, GPS tracking, and 24/7 parking mode, Beam2 mini packs a serious punch in a pint-sized package. Priced at $149.95, you can hit the road with newly achieved peace of mind at a price that won't make you frown.
Viofo A329 stands out as the top non-connected overall pick for 2026, combining 4K 60fps video, Sony STARVIS 2 sensor technology, HDR night vision, and GPS in a robust package. For drivers who prefer local storage over cloud subscriptions, it offers exceptional value.
BlackVue Elite 9 is the go-to recommendation for cloud-focused drivers, recognized by experts as the best dash cam for cloud capabilities in 2026. It pairs 1080p recording with seamless GPS and WiFi connectivity, upgraded sensors, and 60 FPS for high-detail footage day or night.
Best front and rear dash cam of 2026
Nexar One + rearview camera bundle. Nexar One is our Flagship 4K Connected Cam. With 4K resolution, Parking Mode protection, remote live streaming, and real-time emergency alerts, Nexar One is the trusty sidekick you need for every journey on the road.
Nexar Beam2 mini + rear dash cam bundle is also available for those looking to make a cost-efficient purchase. Currently competitively priced at $219.95, this front and rear bundle is attractive to drivers looking to stay within a specific budget while enjoying all of the features of a high-quality dash cam system.
Vantrue N4S is a standout 3-channel front and rear option for 2026, offering front, cabin, and rear coverage. Priced at $299.99 MSRP but frequently available for around $187.99, it earns a 4.7/5.0 rating from over 1,200 reviews. Users consistently praise its sturdy rubberized build, excellent multi-camera video quality, and responsive customer support.
70mai Omni brings a genuinely new approach to front and rear coverage as the first dash cam with a 360° rotating design. Its motorized turret swivels to record in any direction, with a 340° rotation range and 140° lens field of view that virtually eliminates blind spots, a compelling choice for drivers who want maximum situational awareness.
Tips for Choosing the Right Dash Cam
Size of Camera / Windshield Footprint
Make sure your dash cam does not obstruct your view while driving. All of our dash cams sit snugly behind the rearview mirror, making sure that our drivers stay focused on the road. Our compact dash cam (Beam2 mini) features a discreet windshield footprint of 0.15%, ensuring that your vision is never obstructed or compromised.
Location
Where you live will be an important factor in choosing the right dash cam. If you live in a busy and bustling city, it might make sense to go with a front and rear bundle to ensure you're properly covered. If you live in an area where there is a higher amount of theft and disturbances, it's a good idea to have a camera that has Parking Mode, so you can protect your vehicle while you're parked and away, not to mention deter criminal activity.
Loop Recording
Loop recording is an important feature that ensures old, irrelevant footage is overwritten with new footage. This helps with memory space management. However, it's also important to ensure that your dash cam has measures in place to protect critical footage from being overwritten. Nexar connected dash cams provide unlimited cloud storage and automatic backup of critical footage, protecting the footage from any loop recording that may otherwise occur.
Night Vision
For 2026, look for dash cams with Sony STARVIS 2 sensors and High Dynamic Range (HDR) capability for the best low-light and nighttime recording performance. Models like the Viofo A329 and Thinkware U3000 Pro set the benchmark here, with the latter also featuring radar-based parking mode for an extra layer of protection.
FAQs
Do dash cams require a subscription? Most dash cams today do require a subscription. Features like unlimited cloud storage, Parking Mode, remote live streaming, and real-time alerts rely on ongoing service and infrastructure that providers maintain.
With Nexar, you have two flexible options:
- Basic Plan ($0/month), Free forever. Includes WiFi access to your footage, automatic incident detection, and 24/7 customer support. Comes with a 30-day free trial of LTE features (4G LTE, live streaming, live alerts, GPS tracking, parking mode, unlimited cloud storage). After the trial, you can continue with LTE features for $9.99/month.
- LTE Protection Plan, Unlock uninterrupted LTE features year-round and save with a discounted yearly subscription.
How much does a dash cam cost? There is no one set price for a dash cam. You can spend anywhere from $50 on a sub-par model to $1,000 on a state-of-the-art model. However, if you're purchasing along the averages, a typical dash cam with effective vehicle protection features will cost anywhere from $150 to $500. All Nexar dash cam models come in below $400. Our most cost-efficient dash cam, Beam2 mini, is currently available for $149.95 while supplies last.
What is the highest resolution dash cam? 4K (also known as Ultra High Definition or UHD) is currently the highest resolution available for dash cams. 4K can capture video footage at a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. Nexar One is our highest resolution dash cam available currently, providing 4K resolution in addition to a plethora of smart features.
How much footage can a dash cam store? Most dash cams today need a subscription because local storage alone isn't enough for continuous protection. Once the SD card fills up, it starts overwriting old footage. With Nexar, you get flexibility:
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Basic Plan (Free) – Your footage is stored locally on the SD card and accessible via WiFi.
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LTE Protection Plan – Adds unlimited cloud storage, so your clips are safely backed up and available anytime, even if your dash cam or phone is lost.
Does a dash cam record your speed? Yes, many dash cams can record your speed. Dash cams that have GPS capabilities can record and display your car's speed. This data is often overlaid onto the recorded video footage for reference.
Does a dash cam deter thieves? Just like a home equipped with video surveillance, a car equipped with a dash cam can end up deterring bad actors such as thieves and vandals. Once an assailant knows or thinks they are being filmed, they tend to give up the object of their efforts.