Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best dash cam deals: Protect your ride from just $32

If you tend to drive a lot, then you’ll know that there is always a slight chance of getting into an accident, even if it’s a minor fender bender. That’s why it’s always a good idea to have some kind of protection in the form of a dash cam so that you can record things that are happening in front of you and even behind you when you’re driving. Luckily, dash cams have come a long way, and you don’t need to buy the best dash cams anymore to get something with relatively solid video quality and features. Even so, we’ve gone out and collected some of the best deals we could find, from the budget-friendly to the truly high-end.

Also, if you’re worried about things like theft when you’re at home, you may want to consider grabbing one of these security camera deals to get a little bit more overview of your driveway and car.

70mai Smart Dash Cam 1S — $32, was $50

The 70mai Smart Dash Cam 1S and its mobile app.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The 70mai Smart Dash Cam 1S is the cheapest option in this list, but it doesn’t feel like it because it’s packed with features. The dash cam, which supports microSD memory cards of up to 64GB, records footage at 1080p Full HD resolution with night vision capabilities thanks to its Sony IMX307 image processor and f/2.2 aperture. With its built-in G sensor, the dash cam will detect an accident and lock footage to prevent overwrites. You can use voice commands to ask the dash cam to take photos or to start recording videos, and you can use its accompanying app to watch real-time footage and to download files to your phone.

Redtiger Dash Cam 4K —  $103, was $199

A manufacturer image displaying both of the cams provided with the REDTIGER 4K Dual Dash Cam as well as a peek at what the app looks like when in use.
Redtiger

While most camera options so far have been a front cam online, this option gives you both a front and rear camera so you can get full coverage of any potential issues. You get 4k resolution on the front camera and 1080p on the rear camera, both of which are very solid, and of course, they come with some solid night vision as well. The Redtiger Dash Cam 4K also comes with crash detection, which automatically saves any video, even if the MicroSD card is full, and it even comes with a GPS and route map that you can follow instead of using your phone.

Rove R2-4K —  $110, was $160

ROVE R2-4K
Rove

If you want something with a bit higher resolution, then the Rove R2-4k is perfect since it can run 2160P at 30fps, which is a pretty high resolution for this price; plus, you also get a massive 2.4-inch IPS screen on the back. It also has a substantial 150-degree field of view, and for those who want parking protection, it also has a 24-hour parking mode that you can switch on. Of course, like most modern dash cams, you can connect to it through 5Ghz Wi-Fi and you can fit a MicroSD card of up to 512GB, which is nice.

Thinkware F200 Pro Front and Rear Dash Cam — $160, was $200

Front and rear Thinkware dash cameras and a GPS connector.
Amazon

This is another quality Thinkware product. What sets it apart is its ability to detect contact to your car while you’re parked. You need to attach the optional hardware (and they recommend you have a professional do it). If a bad parallel parker hits you or something does a smash-and-grab on your window, the camera will immediately start recording with both the front and rear cameras. It also has a GPS feature that will record where you are and how fast you’re going, then integrate that into the camera footage.

Rexing V1P Plus 4K UHD Front and Rear Dash Cam — $145, was $160

Rexing-V1P-with-sd-card-and-sd-card-adaptor
Rexing

Another solid option is the Rexing V1P Plus, which also comes with a front and rear cam to get full coverage, as well as a 32GB SD card for you to get started. It has a pretty wide 170-degree field of view so you can capture a lot more, which might also come in handy in the parking/surveillance mode. As for image quality, it records at 4K for the forward-facing camera and 1080p for the rear-facing one, and it even has a solid night mode which might help a little bit. Luckily, it has both a G-collision detector which stops recording once it detects a collision to preserve the video, as well as a GPS logger to keep track of your exact routes and time if anything happens.

Rexing M2 Max Front and Rear Mirror Dash Cam — $180, was $230

The Rexing M2 2k Front and Rear Mirror Dash Cam on a white background.
Rexing

Another interesting option from Rexing is the Rexing Max a combination dashcam and rear-view mirror with some additional features, such as blind spot detection which highlights if another car is getting too close to you. There is also a similar driver assist for parking and general driving, which is great for those who don’t have an older car without these features. As for the recording quality, you get 4K in the front and FHD on the back, which is a pretty solid combination considering all the other great features you get.

Thinkware X800 Front Dash Cam — $140, was $170

Thinkware X800 Front Dash Cam
Thinkware

Thinkware is a fantastic dash cam company, as you’ll see later in our list. This is one of their more budget-minded options. This deal has a front camera only, which is a bit of a shame, but it’s not a dealbreaker, especially since it has a fantastic night vision mode. After all, it’s estimated that nearly a third of car accidents happen after dark. If your camera only grabs really grainy footage at night, or nothing at all, it’s practically useless. You can control the dash cam with a small LCD touch screen, so it’s easy to control in brief moments while you’re driving.

Thinkware Q1000 — $250, was $350

Thinkware Q1000
Thinkware

The Thinkware Q1000 is unique in that both the front and the rear camera have a 2k resolution, which means you’re going to get excellent video quality of any recording you want to watch, and it even comes with true HDR for extra contrast. Even better, you can connect to the camera remotely and get alerted about any impacts or issues on the spot, and the collision sensor means you get parking protection and low-energy modes as well. Finally, thee Thinkware Q1000 even comes with some basic driver assistance in the form of alerts for lane departures, which is a neat feature.

Other dash cam deals we like

Looking for an alternative? Check these out:

  • Redtiger Dash Cam Front Rear —
  • Rexing S1 PRO 1080p 3-Channel Wi-Fi Dash Cam —
  • VIOFO A229 Plus Dash Cam Front and Rear —
  • Rexing S3 1080p 3-Channel Wi-Fi Dash Cam —
  • Nextbase iQ 1K Smart Dash Cam —
Bruce Brown
Bruce Brown Contributing Editor   As a Contributing Editor to the Auto teams at Digital Trends and TheManual.com, Bruce…
Stellantis’ 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona might feature solid-state battery tech
Front three quarter view of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona sedan.

The battle to use cheaper, more efficient, and safer EV batteries is heating up among automakers. At the heart of this battle, the development of solid-state battery technology, an alternative to highly flammable and costly lithium batteries, is garnering more and more attention.For proof, Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, is betting on the technology for its next generation of electric vehicles. The Netherlands-based company announced that it will launch a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs that will feature solid-state battery tech made by U.S. startup Factorial.The demo fleet, expected to launch by 2026, will provide a real-world assessment of Factorial’s technology. Factorial has been partnering with Stellantis since 2021 and is also partnering with the likes of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.Besides Dodge, the technology would eventually be deployed on the Stellantis STLA Large multi-energy platform, which includes brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.Stellantis said that the integration of solid-state battery technology will yield “improved performance, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times in the coming years.”Factorial, meanwhile, says its technology provides higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance, and the potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time. Stellantis, Daimler, and Hyundai aren’t the only ones to bet on solid-state battery tech. Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, has heavily invested in the technology. It also created a coalition with Nissan and Panasonic to boost its production in Japan. So far, making solid-state batteries has remained an expensive endeavor. But steps such as the Stellantis demo fleet and production at scale by the likes of Factorial are expected to improve manufacturing processes and costs over time.Other automakers, meanwhile, are working on ways to improve lithium batteries. Volkswagen, for one, is developing its own unified battery cell in several European plants as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.

Read more
Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.
costco ev charging us electricera fast station 1260x945

Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
Costco also seems confident enough in the company to have put its brand name on the EV-charging station. Last year, the wholesaler did open a pilot station in Denver, this time partnering with Electrify America, the largest charging network in the U.S. However, Costco did not put its brand name on it.
In an interview with Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still in talks with Costco about the opening of new locations. Last year, Costco said it was planning to install fast chargers at 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans might very well resemble those of rival Walmart, which last year announced it was building its own EV fast-charging network in addition to the arrangements it already had with Electrify America.

Read more
The UK’s Wayve brings its AI automated driving software to U.S. shores
wayve ai automated driving us driver assist2 1920x1152 1

It might seem that the autonomous driving trend is moving at full speed and on its own accord, especially if you live in California.Wayve, a UK startup that has received over $1 billion in funding, is now joining the crowded party by launching on-road testing of its AI learning system on the streets of San Francisco and the Bay Area.The announcement comes just weeks after Tesla unveiled its Robotaxi at the Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California. It was also in San Francisco that an accident last year forced General Motors’ robotaxi service Cruise to stop its operations. And it’s mostly in California that Waymo, the only functioning robotaxi service in the U.S., first deployed its fleet of self-driving cars. As part of its move, Wayve opened a new office in Silicon Valley to support its U.S. expansion and AI development. Similarly to Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD) software, the company says it’s using AI to provide automakers with a full range of driver assistance and automation features.“We are now testing our AI software in real-world environments across two continents,” said Alex Kendall, Wayve co-founder and CEO.The company has already conducted tests on UK roads since 2018. It received a huge boost earlier this year when it raised over $1 billion in a move led by Softbank and joined by Microsoft and Nvidia. In August, Uber also said it would invest to help the development of Wayve’s technology.Just like Tesla’s FSD, Wayve’s software provides an advanced driver assistance system that still requires driver supervision.Before driverless vehicles can legally hit the road, they must first pass strict safety tests.So far, Waymo’s technology, which relies on pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar), is the only of its kind to have received the nod from U.S. regulators.

Read more