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The 5 best front and rear dash cams for cars in 2024

Onn.

Owning a dash cam is like owning a second or third set of eyes for the road. While these devices can be a bit expensive, they’re worth their weight in gold. Not only will a dash cam provide critical footage of any accidents that may occur, but they’re also great deterrents for would-be malcontents who may want to break into your car.

Like most automotive tech, there’s no shortage of front and rear dash cams to choose from. But when there’s a lot of one thing, shopping can become quite the challenge. That’s why we’ve put together this roundup of our five favorite models.

Thinkware X1000 Dash Cam
Thinkware X1000 Dash Cam
Best front and rear dash cam for most vehicle owners
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Nextbase iQ 4K Dash Cam
Nextbase iQ 4K Dash Cam
Best front and rear dash cam for vehicle owners who love smart features
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70mai Dash Cam Pro Plus A500S
70mai Dash Cam Pro Plus A500S
Best front and rear dash cam if you want smart features for cheap
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Vantrue S1 Pro 2.7K Dual Dash Cam
Vantrue S1 Pro 2.7K Dual Dash Cam
Best front and rear dash cam for 4K resolution without breaking the bank
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Onn. Dual Dash Cam
Onn. Dual Dash Cam
Best front and rear dash cam if you don’t have much to spend
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Recommended Videos
The components of the Thinkware X1000 Dash Cam.
Thinkware

Thinkware X1000 Dash Cam

Best front and rear dash cam for most vehicle owners

Pros
  • 1440p resolution
  • 3.5-inch touchscreen
  • Night vision
Cons
  • GPS antenna not included
Specifications
Connectivity: USB
Max video resolution: 1440p
Mounting type: Adhesive

The Thinkware X1000 Dash Cam is the front and rear dash cam that most vehicle owners would want equipped in their cars, as it’s capable of recording at 1440p resolution so details will be sharp, and it features a 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen for easy operating. The dash cam offers night vision, along with technology that reduces noise and lens flare effects for clearer footage taken during nighttime. The Thinkware X1000 Dash Cam also offers an advanced driver assistance system, but that will require you to purchase a GPS antenna.

Thinkware X1000 Dash Cam
Thinkware X1000 Dash Cam
Best front and rear dash cam for most vehicle owners
The Nextbase iQ 4K Dash Cam installed in a vehicle.
Nextbase

Nextbase iQ 4K Dash Cam

Best front and rear dash cam for vehicle owners who love smart features

Pros
  • Watch front and rear feeds through app
  • Call for help with Witness Mode
  • Get emergency assistance
Cons
  • Expensive
Specifications
Connectivity: Wireless
Max video resolution: 4K
Mounting type: Suction

If you love your smart home, then why shouldn’t you enjoy similar technology inside your vehicle? With the Nextbase iQ 4K Dash Cam and the iQ app, you can receive alerts whenever there are potential threats to your parked car, and you can tap into the front and rear feeds at any time. You can activate Witness Mode to share footage with a trusted contact for when you sense danger, and you can get emergency assistance when you find yourself in an accident.

Nextbase iQ 4K Dash Cam
Nextbase iQ 4K Dash Cam
Best front and rear dash cam for vehicle owners who love smart features
The components of the 70mai Dash Cam Pro Plus A500S.
70mai

70mai Dash Cam Pro Plus A500S

Best front and rear dash cam if you want smart features for cheap

Pros
  • Cheap price for smart features
  • Advanced driver assistant system
  • Built-in GPS
Cons
  • Relatively low resolution for rear camera
Specifications
Connectivity: USB
Max video resolution: 1944p
Mounting type: Adhesive

Smart features aren’t only for the expensive front and rear dash cams because there are affordable options like the 70mai Dash Cam Pro Plus A500S. With 1944p resolution for the front camera and 1080p resolution for the back camera, you’ll record clear footage of your everyday travels, and with an advanced driver assistant system, you’ll receive alerts when there are potential safety issues around your vehicle. The dash cam also offers built-in GPS for route tracking, automatic recording when its G sensor detects a collision, and video downloads through the 70mai app.

70mai Dash Cam Pro Plus A500S
70mai Dash Cam Pro Plus A500S
Best front and rear dash cam if you want smart features for cheap
The Vantrue S1 Pro 2.7K Dual Dash Cam.
Vantrue

Vantrue S1 Pro 2.7K Dual Dash Cam

Best front and rear dash cam for 4K resolution without breaking the bank

Pros
  • Excellent resolution
  • Easy to install
  • Great companion app
Cons
  • App can be complicated
Specifications
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Max video resolution: 1944p
Mounting type: Adhesive

Front and rear coverage is the best you can do for a dash cam, and we think the Vantrue S1 Pro 2.7 Dual Dash Cam is the right tool for the job. The front cam captures a 160-degree FOV, at up to 1944p/30fps, while the rear delivers a 165-degree FOV, and gets capped at 1080p/30fps. Those are some tremendous video specs! On top of pixel-rich resolution, the S1 Pro also has a built-in Starvis 2 Sensor for optimized nighttime footage.

The S1 Pro is relatively simple to install, and the inbuilt 5GHz Wi-Fi does a nice job at keeping both cams networked. You’ll also be able to download the Vantrue app to do things like edit and share video clips, use GPS and speed tracking functions, download firmware updates, and more.

Vantrue S1 Pro 2.7K Dual Dash Cam
Vantrue S1 Pro 2.7K Dual Dash Cam
Best front and rear dash cam for 4K resolution without breaking the bank
The Onn. Dual Dash Cam, installed in a vehicle.
Onn.

Onn. Dual Dash Cam

Best front and rear dash cam if you don’t have much to spend

Pros
  • Low price for 4K resolution
  • Enhanced night vision
  • Locks videos in case of accident
Cons
  • Wired installation for rear camera
Specifications
Connectivity: USB
Max video resolution: 1080p
Mounting type: Suction

If you’ve on a very tight budget but you want to equip your vehicle with a front and rear dash cam, the Onn. Dual Dash Cam will be your best bet. The front camera takes 1080p footage of what’s happening ahead, while the rear camera records what’s going on inside the vehicle and behind it. It has a parking lot sensor that makes it start recording when it detects impact, and a large 3-inch LCD screen shows images from both cameras.

Onn. Dual Dash Cam
Onn. Dual Dash Cam
Best front and rear dash cam if you don’t have much to spend

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Digital Trends choose the best front and rear dash cams?

Choosing the best front and rear dash cams from all of the models that are available online isn’t an easy task, but we managed to narrow down our top picks by focusing on the needs of the vehicle owners. You’re going to have to determine your own preferences yourself before you’re able to make the decision on which of these options to buy, as well as how much you’re willing to spend. Getting a front and rear dash cam with features that you’re going to use and at a price that fits your budget is the ideal outcome.

  • Latest technology: You wouldn’t want to get a front and rear dash cam that’s stuck with outdated features, as that wouldn’t be an efficient use of purchasing power. While the most of the latest technology can be found in the more expensive models, even the budget-friendly dash cams should have features that make protecting your car — and more importantly, your family — much easier for you. Not all front and rear dash cams are required to have LTE connectivity, motion detection, and night vision, but it’s always nicer to have as many of these technologies as you can afford.

  • Ease of installation: Tinkering with your car’s electronics may be a worrisome chore for some vehicle owners, so we made sure that the front and rear dash cams that we highlighted above are easy to install. You wouldn’t need to deal with cutting wires and creating connections, as a front and rear dash cam should be a plug-and-play device as much as possible. If you need to hire an electrician to install your front and rear dash cam, that’s going to be an additional cost that you should try to avoid.

  • Value for money: Whether you go for a cheap front and rear dash cam or an expensive model, we want you to get excellent value for your hard-earned money. If it’s a budget dash cam, you shouldn’t be getting one that will break after just a few days, and if it’s a premium dash cam, you shouldn’t be paying extra for features that you can get from less expensive options. Determining your budget will go a loong way in helping you decide the front and rear dash cam to get, but in any case, you’re going to want to get the best option that you can afford.

This article is managed and created separately from the Digital Trends Editorial team.

Aaron Mamiit

Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated with tech ever since. A gamer at heart, Aaron believes that while the tech industry is often dealing with side quests, it always remains on track with the mission to save the world.

Aaron has been writing tech deals since 2020, covering not just gaming, but also every other type of electronic device out there -- everything's important for the boss fight that we call life.

 

Michael Bizzaco

Michael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home for the better part of 15 years. He even knows a thing or two about how to fix this stuff when it starts misbehaving (because no tech is perfect!).

Mike has been writing for Digital Trends and several other publications since 2020. Fortunately, he’s still able to write after he got his index finger stuck in a vending machine at the Ramada Inn the summer before fourth grade! From hands-on reviews to best-of roundups, Mike does his best to share his expertise in a friendly and informative way with all readers, and loves staying on top of the latest AV and smart home trends.

When he’s not thanking his father for dislodging his finger from that vile vending machine in New Jersey, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, and indulging in horror films with his girlfriend.

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The Cobra SC 400D dash cam on a desk.

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