My dashcam is getting old, still works but the software doesn't work on my new phones etc so checking footaes always requires the card out and linked to a laptop. I was thinking things must have moved on in the last 5yr.
What is decent thse days?

I'm 🤏 close to pulling the trigger on a Nextbase 622GW front and rear, for all our cars. Currently at £299 for the full package.

Was looking at Road Angel and the Viofo A229 too.

Gaz

Vigo a229 plus looked to be a good compromise on price vs performance and had a starvis 2 when I last took a look.

They (and others) did a 2k super compact with no screen too.

I have the 622GW front and rear and it works fine but be aware that the battery only lasts about a year before needing replacement (or just have it hardwired).

The excellent Dashcam Talk website provides lots of info re: the latest choices and reviews. 👍

I have an Aguri DX4000 which has speed camera warnings in addition to the usual facilities. very pleased with it. Only available from the Aguri website. More models available.

Edited 4 September, 20254 Sep by Beerhunter17

I'm looking round for a dashcam for my bro as he's just got a new car. As well as needing to provide decent footage (kinda obvs!), it needs to have an internal cam as well as the ability to be hardwired...ideally it would also include a buffered parking mode. Consequently, I've been looking at the Viofo A229 Plus 3CH as that seems to tick all the boxes.

Viofo are generally seen as producing decent quality kit and the performance is also pretty good. Obviously, as with anything, that tends to mean a more pricey route to getting a dashcam, with the above coming in at ~£240 direct from Viofo (my bro is in the USA so this is the USA price converted in £). I know that's noticeably cheaper than, say, a 4K setup, but it's also quite a lot more than some of the cheaper options.

I know it's possible to get some very "cheap 'n cheerful" cams on Amazon, etc but the footage from them can look a bit ropey plus sometimes reliability appears to be an issue (reports of random shutdowns, etc). So whereas it would be easy to save a bunch of cash by buying cheaper, I don't know if it would be worth it in the long run.

So what I'm wondering is whether anyone has ended up going for a cheaper option and what were your thoughts and opinions? Which model did you go for and how much did you save? And would you say it was worth it in terms of the quality of video?

Hope that's not too vague! Any thoughts and input would be much appreciated...

Edited 5 September, 20255 Sep by slicendice

I bought one of the 'cheap and cheerful' Chinese options initially, had it in the car for 6 months and it seemed fine, until I encountered someone driving the wrong way on a dual carriageway (all fine, no accident, just a lack of common sense!) and tried to watch the recording back and realised you couldn't make out the numberplates on the other cars... kind of pointless!

I've since upgraded to a NextBase 322GW, which I bought secondhand from Vinted for £40, and it's significantly better in every way. I had to shell out for a new SD card (£15) and purchased the optional rear camera for another £40 (used), but I don't regret it. I'm not sure I would have paid for it new, though. My setup would come in around £200 new, which is harder to justify than slightly under £100 used.

15 hours ago, hill79 said:

I bought one of the 'cheap and cheerful' Chinese options initially, had it in the car for 6 months and it seemed fine, until I encountered someone driving the wrong way on a dual carriageway (all fine, no accident, just a lack of common sense!) and tried to watch the recording back and realised you couldn't make out the numberplates on the other cars... kind of pointless!

I've since upgraded to a NextBase 322GW, which I bought secondhand from Vinted for £40, and it's significantly better in every way. I had to shell out for a new SD card (£15) and purchased the optional rear camera for another £40 (used), but I don't regret it. I'm not sure I would have paid for it new, though. My setup would come in around £200 new, which is harder to justify than slightly under £100 used.

That's exactly the kind of thing I was wondering about.

I guess it's like everything else...there's a reason why some are cheaper than others!

Better to pay extra and get something that actually fits the bill

On 05/09/2025 at 15:36, slicendice said:

I'm looking round for a dashcam for my bro as he's just got a new car. As well as needing to provide decent footage (kinda obvs!), it needs to have an internal cam as well as the ability to be hardwired...ideally it would also include a buffered parking mode. Consequently, I've been looking at the Viofo A229 Plus 3CH as that seems to tick all the boxes.

Viofo are generally seen as producing decent quality kit and the performance is also pretty good. Obviously, as with anything, that tends to mean a more pricey route to getting a dashcam, with the above coming in at ~£240 direct from Viofo (my bro is in the USA so this is the USA price converted in £). I know that's noticeably cheaper than, say, a 4K setup, but it's also quite a lot more than some of the cheaper options.

I know it's possible to get some very "cheap 'n cheerful" cams on Amazon, etc but the footage from them can look a bit ropey plus sometimes reliability appears to be an issue (reports of random shutdowns, etc). So whereas it would be easy to save a bunch of cash by buying cheaper, I don't know if it would be worth it in the long run.

So what I'm wondering is whether anyone has ended up going for a cheaper option and what were your thoughts and opinions? Which model did you go for and how much did you save? And would you say it was worth it in terms of the quality of video?

Hope that's not too vague! Any thoughts and input would be much appreciated...

2 channel vifo a229+ is pretty reasonable, but get the cpl filter for the front camera.

I use my old Samsung Galaxy A5 with an XD memory card in it.

I like the fact that you can instantly view playback (not whilst driving, obv's) and just delete the recordings if (hoping) the journey was uneventful.

And you can zoom in on registration plates too.

Worked so much better than I thought it would in the dark also, with just street lighting and my (at the time) rather dismal Octavia's halogen headlights. Secured to the side of the sun-glass case above the rear view mirror.

Secured to the passenger sun-visor mounting in my Bavarian motor.

And anyone driving behind can probably see that you are recording.

Passengers have been fine with where it is located.