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Dash Cams: Channels, Resolution and Parking Mode

Dash cams compared from maker specs, manuals, expert reviews and owner reports: rear and cabin cameras, plates, heat, parking mode and battery drain.

Gear in this category

70mai

70mai Dash Cam Battery Pack BL96NNX

A 96Wh LiFePO4 parking-mode pack that recharges while you drive. 70mai cameras plug in by USB-C; other brands connect through their own hardwire kit and 70mai's parking cable adapter.

Key specs

  • 96Wh LiFePO4 (12.8V, 7,500mAh)
  • Charges at 32-113°F (0-45°C)
  • Recharge: about 60 min hardwired, 90 min by 12V socket
  • 70mai cams by USB-C; other brands via their hardwire kit
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BlackVue

BlackVue B-130A Ultra Battery

A 96Wh LiFePO4 parking-mode pack for BlackVue cameras with native parking mode only. BlackVue rates about 30 hours for one camera drawing 3 W and a full recharge in about 50 minutes hardwired.

Key specs

  • 96Wh LiFePO4 (12.8V, 7,500mAh)
  • About 30 h for one 3 W camera, 19 h for 2 channels
  • Recharge: about 50 min hardwired, 90 min by 12V socket
  • Charges at 32-113°F (0-45°C)
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Garmin

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3

Car-key-sized 1080p dash cam with no screen and no GPS (date and time only). Parking alerts and remote Live View need a paid Vault subscription, Wi-Fi and constant power. Card sold separately.

Read the full guide

Key specs

  • 1080p video, 140° lens, built-in polarizer
  • No screen, no GPS
  • Operates -4°F to 140°F (-20°C to 60°C)
  • microSD 8-512 GB, Class 10 or faster
Mid-range

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SanDisk

SanDisk High Endurance 128 GB microSD

A 128 GB microSDXC card made for continuous dash cam recording. Check your camera's card limit first: the Garmin Mini 3 takes 8-512 GB and the VIOFO A119 Mini 2 up to 512 GB.

Key specs

  • 128 GB microSDXC, Class 10, U3, V30
  • Rated for up to 10,000 hours of Full HD
  • Operates -13°F to 185°F (-25°C to 85°C)
Budget

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Thinkware

Thinkware iVolt Xtra

A 96Wh LiFePO4 parking-mode pack for Thinkware dash cams only. Thinkware's hardwiring cable is sold separately and is needed to install it. Rated up to 37 hours with one camera, 27 with a rear camera.

Key specs

  • 96Wh LiFePO4 (12.8V, 7,500mAh)
  • Up to 37 h with 1 camera, 27 h with 2 (Thinkware)
  • Recharge: about 55 min fast, 100 min standard
  • Charges at 32-113°F (0-45°C)
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Vantrue

Vantrue N4 Pro S

Three-channel dash cam: 4K front, 2.5K (1440p) rear and a 1080p cabin camera with four IR LEDs for night. The IP67 rear camera can mount inside or outside. Supercapacitor; parking mode needs a hardwire kit.

Key specs

  • 4K front, 2.5K (1440p) rear, 1080p cabin
  • Cabin camera with 4 IR LEDs
  • IP67 rear camera, inside or outside mount
  • microSD cards up to 1 TB
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VIOFO

VIOFO A119 Mini 2

A small front-only dash cam: 2K at up to 60fps (HDR at 30fps), built-in GPS and a 1.5 in screen. It cannot add a rear camera, and the microSD card is not included.

Read the full guide

Key specs

  • 2560 x 1440 at 60fps, HDR at 30fps
  • 140° lens, 1.5 in (3.8 cm) screen
  • Built-in GPS logs speed and location
  • microSD up to 512 GB, sold separately
Mid-range

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VIOFO

VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH

Front and rear dash cam with a 2K front camera that records at 60fps (HDR at 30fps) and a 2K rear camera. DashCamTalk says it runs cooler than the 4K A229 Pro. Parking mode needs a hardwire kit such as the HK4.

Read the full guide

Key specs

  • Front: 2560 x 1440 at 60fps, HDR at 30fps
  • Rear: 2560 x 1440 at 30fps
  • 140° front lens, 2.4 in (6.1 cm) screen, GPS
  • microSD cards up to 512 GB
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VIOFO

VIOFO A229 Pro 2CH

Front and rear dash cam with a 4K 30fps front camera and a 2K rear camera. It stores power in a supercapacitor, not a battery, and parking mode needs a VIOFO hardwire kit.

Read the full guide

Key specs

  • 4K 30fps front, 2K rear camera
  • 140° front lens
  • Rear cable about 20 ft (6 m)
  • microSD cards up to 512 GB
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VIOFO

VIOFO A229 Pro 3CH

Three-channel dash cam: a 4K 30fps front camera, a 2K rear camera and a 1080p cabin camera with four infrared LEDs for night. Supercapacitor, no battery; parking mode needs a VIOFO hardwire kit.

Key specs

  • 4K front, 2K rear, 1080p cabin, all 30fps
  • Cabin camera with 4 infrared LEDs
  • Cabin cable 3.3 ft (1 m), rear cable 20 ft (6 m)
  • microSD cards up to 512 GB
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VIOFO

VIOFO A329T 3CH

Three-channel dash cam with a forward 2K telephoto camera (4x optical zoom) beside a 4K front and a 2K rear camera. Plate reads past 65 ft (20 m) are VIOFO's claim. Parking cutoff needs VIOFO's HK6 kit.

Key specs

  • 4K front, 2K telephoto, 2K rear, all 30fps
  • Telephoto: 4x optical zoom, 35° view
  • Plates from over 65 ft (20 m), per VIOFO
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VIOFO

VIOFO HK4 Hardwire Kit with 8 fuse taps

Type-C hardwire kit for parking mode with four low-voltage cutoff options. VIOFO cameras only, such as the A229 series and A119 Mini 2; for the A329S, VIOFO advises the HK6. Unsure about fuse boxes? Use a pro installer.

Key specs

  • Type-C plug, 4 low-voltage cutoff options
  • For 12-24 V vehicles
  • Bundle includes 8 circuit fuse taps
Budget

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Learn step by step

Choosing a Dash Cam

4 lessons in this series, 12 min in total

  1. Do You Need a Rear Dash Cam, or Is Front-Only Enough?3 min read
  2. Is a 3-Channel Dash Cam Worth It? Who Needs a Cabin Camera3 min read
  3. Can a Dash Cam Read License Plates? Resolution, Distance and Night3 min read
  4. Supercapacitor vs Battery Dash Cam: Which Copes Better With a Hot Car?3 min read

Dash Cam Parking Mode

2 lessons in this series, 8 min in total

  1. Does Dash Cam Parking Mode Drain Your Car Battery?4 min read
  2. Is a Dash Cam Battery Pack Worth It for Parking Mode?4 min read

More guides