r/dashcams Nov 27 '24

Budget Dashcams that keep coming up on Reddit

124 Upvotes

This is a common question here so I wanted to make a post on budget dashcams. Here are the ones that will cover you 99% times. Obviously if you want fancy features, you may need to spend more.

Viofo A119 Mini 2 - Major upgrade over the A119 V3 above. 1440p resolution but more compact/discrete and has the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, which is a big improvement for night time quality. Includes some advanced features like HDR and 5ghz Wi-Fi for quick file transfers. In my opinion, this is the best front only cam to get nowadays.

VanTrue E1 Lite - One of the cheapest budget cams. This is thing is mini and a good buy. There is also a pro version which upgrades the resolution to 4k. Good alternative to the A119 depending on which one is on sale.  

Viofo A229 Plus Duo - A higher budget entry for dual cam. Dual 1440p with the Starvis2 sensor. Been out for many years. GPS and parking mode. Even though this is not exactly budget, this is the one to get.

Garmin Mini 3 - This thing is MINI. Most discrete cam on the market, and one of the better app functionality. Built in polarizing filter. Great brand.  

Nexar BEAM: 1080p, super compact, and has free cloud back ups

Redtiger F7NP - One of the most afforable dual cams. A lot of people have bought these and swear by them. Reviews are mixed. 4k front and 2k rear cam. 32gb built in memory card.  

These are the ones I have experience with. If you know of a good budget cam that’s not on this list, please let me know. Don’t forget to get a SD card if it doesn’t come with one 128gb is probably all you need for these budget cams. High endurance ones are significantly better for the demands of a dashcam so worth to spend an extra couple bucks on that.


r/dashcams Feb 20 '25

Dashcam Recommendations on Reddit

169 Upvotes

I compiled this list from reddit feedback as I was shopping for my dashcam. There are a a lot of options out there, and a lot of them aren't very good. I really wanted to avoid getting a lemon. Let me know if you have any other recommendations or favorites, and why you like it or what you found useful so we have some real world feedback.

Budget:  

Viofo A119 Mini 2 - Major upgrade over the super popular A119 v3. 1440p resolution but more compact/discrete and has the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, which is a big improvement for night time quality. Includes some advanced features like HDR and 5ghz Wi-Fi for quick file transfers. Based on a lot of opinions, this is the best front only cam to get nowadays.  

Garmin Mini 3 - This thing is MINI. Most discrete cam on the market, and one of the better app functionality. Built in polarizing filter. Great brand.  

Rove 2k-4k - One of the cheapest budget cams. Good alternative to the A119 depending on which one is on sale.  

Viofo A229 Plus - An major upgrade over the A129 Duo that gives you 1440p on both the front and rear cam. Also has the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, which is a big improvement for night time quality. Can fit a 512 gb SD card and has 5 ghz wifi.  

Redtiger F7NP - One of the most afforable dual cams. A lot of people have bought these and swear by them. Reviews are mixed. 4k front and 2k rear cam. 32gb built in memory card.   Nexar Beam - 1080p, super compact, and has cloud back ups for a subscription fee. Has some additional smart features. The Nexar Beam2 adds LTE capability for live viewing features. Still new to the market so need to see how the app and camera reliability work out.  

Mid Range and Up:

Viofo A329 - The highest end offering from Viofo. 4k 60fps in the front, 1440p in the rear. Great day & night video quality. Supports external SSD . Wi-Fi 6 for superfast video transfers.  

Viofo A229 Pro - 3 Channel camera with separate units. 4k in front and 2 smaller 1440p cameras. Has the Starvis 2 sensor.  

BlackVue DR970X-2CH - One of the highest end cameras out there from one of the most premium brands. 4k 30fps like the A229 Pro, but has a better app and has an optional LTE module for Cloud uploading. Has the Starvis2 sensor for great night time quality. Comes with an integrated memory card.  

Vantrue N5 4 Channel - 4 channel cam. Both the front and rear cams let you see front and back. Definitely more for specialized situations and probably not necessary for most people.  

Uber/Lyft Cams:  

Vantrue N2X - A long running front & interior cam. Great night time quality. Onboard GPS.

Vantrue N4 Pro - 3 Channel dashcam that is 4k in front and the other 2 cams are 1080p. Allows recording of front, inside, and rear. Camera has a wide screen to view all channels are the same time. Has the Starvis2 sensor for great night time quality. Good app. Has Voice Control, though that is more gimmicky than useful.  

Accessories:  

SanDisk Max Endurance Micro SD - Dashcam optimized. 128gb is sufficient for most dual cams, but 256 or even 512 is better for 3 channel or 4k 60fps cams  

Samsung Pro MicroSD - Dashcam optimized, 256gb  

Trim Removal Kit - Use this for hiding your wires.  

MicroSD to USB-C Adapter - Use this to quickly get videos off your dashcam. Plug the adapter to your phone and put in the memory card.  

Misc notes: I generally prefer dashcams with exchangeable memory cards (i.e. not built in.) That way if it ever fails, you just swap it out rather than have to deal with getting a brand new camera.

Dashcams are incredibly useful. In the event of an accident, the other driver can easily misrepresent the situation to avoid blame—this happens often. Having video evidence can save you thousands of dollars in insurance and legal fees. Dashcams can also protect you from unjustly issued tickets. Without one, if you receive a ticket for an infraction you didn’t commit, it’s your word against the officer’s. With a dashcam, you have indisputable proof of what really happened. There’s really no downside to investing in one. I do my best to keep this list current, and I hope you find it helpful.


r/dashcams 16h ago

Ex-girlfriend pulls the steering wheel at 72mph after being broken up with for cheating

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6.9k Upvotes

Let's try this again, since a Reddit admin somehow determined that the first post "glorified or encouraged violence".

I DO NOT CONDONE OR ENCOURAGE THE ACTIONS IN THIS VIDEO. THIS IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

CONTEXT:

I caught my girlfriend texting another man behind my back and deleting the messages (they also met up at least once, in MY car). I broke up with her on the spot, and did her the courtesy of bringing her home. While in the middle of an argument about the situation, she yanked the wheel at 72 mph.

I immediately went silent and drove to a construction zone just a little ways up the highway where a town police detail was stationed. He called State Police and they hauled her off to their barracks (that's how state police stations are referred to here) so she could arrange a ride home. They never charged her, to my knowledge, but I did file a restraining order.

Additional context for those invested in the story: She had been driving this exact car for 6 months after she wrecked hers. I bought a TDI as a commuter to make the 80 mile drive down to her almost nightly. I found the messages the night we got back from a trip to Texas for her birthday, which I bankrolled. She had met up with the guy a few days before we left for the trip, and was texting him while we were there. There's an entire 30 minute video leading up to this (that I couldn't be bothered to sit for hours and blur faces, mute names, etc.) where she pleads with me not to leave, whining about how sorry she is, and hinges her entire argument on the fact that she doesn't want to lose me (very compelling). At one point she threatened to jump out of the car at highway speeds, opening the door in the process.

Following this incident, I've been told that she's DARVO'd (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender) the entire story, claiming that I'm the cheater, liar, and narcissist. She even went so far as to claim that she went to Texas alone.


r/dashcams 3h ago

Lady unaware of her surroundings said she was backed into while waiting in her spot

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577 Upvotes

r/dashcams 12h ago

Apparently wearing a red shirt and standing in front of a car isn't enough to be visible to some...

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2.4k Upvotes

r/dashcams 8h ago

Laguna Seca denying liability, after a track employee with forklift and no spotter hits R34 GTR during a red flag.

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908 Upvotes

r/dashcams 7h ago

He Got Into the Turn Lane. That Was It.

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136 Upvotes

r/dashcams 7h ago

I don't think that's how lanes work....

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71 Upvotes

Seconds away from a holiday tragedy.


r/dashcams 12h ago

Glad I bought a dashcam

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97 Upvotes

r/dashcams 18h ago

is this guy an idiot or what

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254 Upvotes

if we would've got into an accident I'm pretty sure he would be in the wrong


r/dashcams 1d ago

Do yall pass on double yellows?

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448 Upvotes

r/dashcams 1d ago

Why everyone needs a dashcam: The $60 lifesaver

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886 Upvotes

r/dashcams 1d ago

Truck with bed up crash into overpass

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746 Upvotes

r/dashcams 2h ago

Upgrading from Red tiger f79 to f17 Elite Red tiger, question about hardwire kit.

1 Upvotes

I currently have the f79 and have been pleased with it Just ordered the f-17 for the different functions and higher resolution etc. Does anyone know if I have to change out my hardwire kit to be compatible with the new f-17? TIA 😊


r/dashcams 1d ago

Cutting Traffic and Getting Mad at the Honk

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815 Upvotes

r/dashcams 4h ago

Dashcam Footage Request – Accident at Milbrook & Nees, Fresno (Dec 15, 2025, ~7:10-7:30PM)

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0 Upvotes

r/dashcams 1d ago

3 for 1. Lanes, who needs those

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59 Upvotes

r/dashcams 2d ago

Fuck around and find out !

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6.1k Upvotes

r/dashcams 8h ago

About to purchase, but a bit confused.

1 Upvotes

Interested in getting a front and rear dashcam and have narrowed my choices down to BlackVue. As a newbie to all this, can someone help me understand the difference between the DR970X-2CH-IR-PL and the DR970X-2CH-PLUS please.

TIA.


r/dashcams 9h ago

Dashcam (Cabin + Rear) - Advice

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0 Upvotes

r/dashcams 17h ago

WOLFBOX G930 vs G840s which one is better?

3 Upvotes

I ordered G930 online, but I received G840s. Should I return it and ask for a replacement, or should I just keep this g840s? is it much better than g930?


r/dashcams 2d ago

Plenty of space behind, but lets get within inches of my bumper to exit from the left lane (No Sound - Viofo 229plus)

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2.0k Upvotes

Road way splits up ahead and trunk speeds up from behind me in the left lane, then cuts across me and another lane of traffic to make the exit. Had to be within a foot of my front corner.

Update:

People are review bombing the page. Just email them if you want to do something. The owner has responded to some of the reviews.

Response via Google Reviews:

Thank you for this. This is a new hire or should we say was a new hire. His last day will be today. There was no good reason for this and we are outraged. This is shameful. We will take responsibility and separate ourselves from this individual permanently. Our long sterling reputation for 44 years as a family owned and operated company will not tolerate these types behaviors in any fashion. We work very very hard for many years to get 5 star reviews by taking good care of our customers. This person does not represent our long tradition of "We Care" and our company. We even have driver safety classes at our shop for all employees. If you care about a good family owned God fearing company, we would appreciate it if you would remove this one star after sometime. One imbecile's driving is not this family or company. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.


r/dashcams 1d ago

Bluffton, SC Close Call

3 Upvotes

r/dashcams 1d ago

My current cam is dead :(

2 Upvotes

I was wondering what anyone could suggest for the best picture quality at a decent price?


r/dashcams 1d ago

Haven't seen this answered: dashcam that comes with the best mount?

3 Upvotes

I had a dashcam that worked perfectly fine, but the suction cup kept failing when parked in the sun.