Garmin Dash Cam Mini Key-Sized Dash Camera with 140-degree Wide-angle Lens and Recording in 1080p HD Video

Having just installed a Nextbase 422GW into my wife's car, I opted to try the Garmin Mini in mine.I opted for this version as I preferred the physically smaller size which is much easier to hide away behind the rear view mirror. Less of a concern of it being stolen as it's much less noticeable.The lack of device screen isn't a problem as the iPhone app connects pretty quickly to help align and preview footage.Downloading footage can take some time but the app works seamlessly with the files and photos on the iPhone (unlike Nextbase which stores them in the Nextbase app first and then requires you to start copying them around).The footage is actually very good in it's highest resolution (1080p at 30 fps). Admittedly I was hunting for 60 fps but you can still clearly read road-signs, vehicle number plates in light and dark.60 frames per second is better as it's captures twice as many frames so appears smoother, it more commonly comes on the latest action cameras (1080p 60 fps or higher) but that's because you need more image stabilisation and smoothing for things like body mounts, bicycle & motorbike mountings etc. A car typically travels more smoothly so 30fps is passable.1440p is better still but it generates even larger files and will take longer to download, I'm not sure it's actually worth it.The lack of GPS feature didn't stop me from buying it, it will be apparent from the footage where you are and roughly how fast you were travelling in case required as evidence.The lack of internal battery to record wasn't a dealstopper given the price, but it is a feature that would have been nice. You can hardwire it into the car, and this device probably uses less power than other devices, but I was more concerned about it flattening the vehicles battery.The supplied cables by Garmin were better than the mounting and cables from Nextbase. For example the Garmin comes with a 4m USB cable which is about the perfect length from rear view mirror, down the window pillar, glove box and to a centre console/armrest USB port. You can also then choose to use a cigarette lighter charging adapter (supplied by Garmin) or not. Nextbase only includes a large cigarette lighter moulded onto the cable and USB ports are becoming more common place hence why I had to buy another cable for the Nextbase.You can daisy chain two of the Garmin Dashbcam Mini's together to have one camera pointing out the front and one point rearward. I've yet to try it but I have bought a second to install and the instructions seem fairly straight forward as is the app setup..It's the kind of device you install and forget (apart from the periodic re-formatting of SD card that all dash-cams need) therefore I'd recommend it.

been a DRiver i did not want a screen or any distraction in my line of sight. this unit is so small and neat it fits in a space behind the mirror i cannot see anyway. there is just a small red light to show its on but it unobtrusive and hid by the mirror, I could fit some tape over it but it really doesn't show unless you look for it at night,After a road traffic incident last year in which my insurance wanted to go 50:50 based on no evidence from the third party, I was trust on a 11 month long journey into the new world of insurance scammers and in the end I decided that for everyone's sake get a good camera as the insurance company staff DO NOT even understand the rules of the road or are in any way willing to use the courts to enforce it .Only be their office paperwork incompetence did a resolution process kick in and therefore my no claims isn't affected but with 30 years of driving and up to 40K a year millage with no accidents I would have thought that my evidence and the way the car was damaged would be an open and shut case. However as they do NOT understand the RTA and have no intention of going near a court room then there is no hope of a fair outcome.Having looked at many on the market this is by far the best as you can have up to 4 cameras on one system, the app is easy to use and the camera records a good picture nite and day

When you eventually get the app to work it's a really nice and easy to use camera.Fitted to an Astra K below the rear view mirror it hardly takes up any footprint and is hardly noticeable from outside viewing in.I was a bit stuck for camera choice because the Astra K has a housing containing the collision avoidance camera bang in front of the rear view mirror which leaves no space for a conventional dash cam, even if you try to put it to the left or right of the housing it then fouls the sun visors and not wanting to draw any unwanted attention I went for this Garmin mini.Ok waffle over, the app to connect to dash cam was a bit of a flaff to be honest, at first it would not connect for love nor money until I uninstalled the app and reinstalled it making sure blue tooth was on.On this 2nd attempt I went out to the car and plugged it into the cigarette lighter via the supplied usb gadget so that my wifi in doors did not interfere and hey presto it worked after about 20-30 seconds and I was able to set up the camera via the app.I would say if trying to set this up in doors initially then it may not work as it seems to have conflicts with the wifi and bluetooth fighting it out.Video quality is good and the app once connected shows your recent journeys or incidents which you can crop and save to phone or for speed just pop the card out and use the pc or laptop as it's faster.Overall I'm happy with it now that it is working ok, app could connect quicker but I'll take that hit as it serves me well.