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The dash cam (dashboard camera) is the latest in high-tech products to improve your drive, and the Garmin Dash Cam 35 is leading the way in technology to improve the driver experience and protect us in traffic. Why get a dashboard camera? Dash cams are the best way to protect yourself in case of a collision and are being used more frequently in the auto insurance industry to determine how accidents occur. For a small investment, you can put yourself miles ahead of traffic by installing a discreet device like the Garmin Dash Cam 35 or one of its competitors. We compare the best on the market.
Garmin Dash Cam 35
Garmin has been a pioneer in developing GPS technology for automotive, space, marine and other transportation-based industries. While many know Garmin for their personal fitness products like the Garmin fitness tracker, the company has made a reputation on supplying GPS technology to industry. Garmin is a consumer-friendly company that keeps design and utility at the forefront while maintaining a high standard for technologically relevant and integrative products. The Garmin Dash Cam 35 is the pinnacle of car cameras, but the competition is closing in.
Product Specs
The Garmin Dash Cam 35 offers 720 or 1080p HD resolution and shoots 30 frames per second. Car cameras are designed to shoot for a minute or two and constantly update, which the Garmin does. With its HDR feature, the camera improves the quality of night recording. Its small size compared to other dash cams is a big plus since it makes mounting simpler. The Garmin Dash Cam 35 comes with a 13.5 power cable and magnetic and adhesive mounts. Even when mounted, the device itself can easily be taken with you when exiting the vehicle. It operates on voice commands and transfers images easily via its app.
Pricing
The Garmin Dash Cam 35 is competitively priced, and in terms of value provides a big bang for the buck. The pricing for these types of cameras ranges from about $75 to $175.
How It Compares
We picked three comparable car cameras available on the market to see how they stack up. The Garmin Dash Cam 35 and other quality products are matched in price, ease of use, assembly time, design quality, and warranty. The current offerings of most dash cams provide essential features, like good video quality, WiFi, mounting options, and apps. Extras are often found in ease of mounting and clarify of video.
Magellan MiVue 538
Z-EDGE Z3
Vantrue T2
Garmin Dash Cam 35
The Garmin is among the more expensive car cameras available and also one of the best. Two of its features put it ahead of competition: compact size and quality of video. Size matters for a number of reasons. Although dash-mounted equipment is forbidden by law in some states such as California, even in places where it is legal any large object on or near the dashboard can be distracting, and vehicles by their nature have limited interior space. Quality of video is important because poor lighting or blur can make the video captures useless, thereby defeating the reason for having a dash cam.
Price $$
Expect to pay about $80.
Ease of Use (*****)
The Garmin Dash Cam 35 is easy to set up and mount inside near the dash. It is simple to operate and begins recording as soon as it is attached to its power source. The viewing angle of 122 degrees is plenty (although not the widest on the market). After mounting, the dash cam will begin recording all it sees ahead, and if an incident occurs, the camera captures before, during and after. If shots are needed outside the car, the Garmin Dash Cam 35 can be pocketed and used as a handheld camera. The G-sensor means that if a collision occurs, the camera will automatically record and save footage without additional driver action.
Assembly Time (*****)
This in-car camera comes assembled, and the customer only needs to arrange the long power cord in whatever shape is necessary to hide it, decide on where to mount the camera, and use either magnetic or adhesive mounting. Care should be taken in picking the right mounting spot if adehesive is used because it creates a strong bond with its surface. Other “assembly” includes setting up the Garmin Dash Cam 35 app, which we recommend.
Design Quality (*****)
The 3-inch display screen in the Garmin Dash Cam 35 and the excellent clarity of video provide a clear view of traffic activity. The space saver design means more options in terms of mounting this little camera. The Garmin includes driver awareness warnings and keeps a running location and time indicator for all images and video. The design allows for a larger SD card to be used. For the price, the features that come with the Garmin Dash Cam 35 are excellent.
Warranty (*****)
Garmin stands behind all products, and the Garmin Dash Cam 35 comes with a one-year warranty on parts.
Pros
- Date, time and location stamps automatic
- Excellent video clarity
- Records collisions and incidents
- Small size
- Versatile mounting set-up
- Built-in GPS
Cons
- No voice activation
- Older, more basic Garmin model
- Relatively expensive
Magellan MiVue 538
With 1080p and HD, this wide vision dash cam has a 140 degree view. The Magellan has a 2.4 inch screen that provides very clear video and records when an incident occurs. There is built-in GPS. Video footage at 1080 and 30fps means captured images are extremely high quality. Larger than the Garmin Dash Cam 35 and more expensive, the Magellan provides a bigger view and all the basics most drivers need.
Price $$
Magellan can be found on Amazon and sometimes through Walmart for around $80. It can be found on sale, but used items are hard to come by.
Ease of Use (****)
Magellan mounts to the dash but since it is larger, is somewhat more difficult to mount than the Garmin. It comes with adhesive or magnetic options. The device itself is easy to program, and since it comes with WiFi the footage gained can be downloaded onto a smart phone or computer. Unlike the Garmin Dash Cam 35, the Magellan isn’t portable for use as a camera, but the mounting does allow for removal. The overall use isn’t perfect but it is intuitive. Because of the price of this unit, it should be removed if parked in an area where security is an issue. The touch screen is a plus although not recommended for use while traveling.
Assembly Time (****)
Simple to mount. Assembly is a done deal; the camera comes with instructions and the only assembly is to obtain an SD card and install within the unit. Mounting the device is straightforward and it fits all vehicles.
Design Quality (****)
Simple design with a touchscreen which adds a welcome level of interaction. Downloading footage is simple and the design captures incidents that happen on the road and records. Built-in WiFi, GPS and a high performing sensor for incidents ensure that the design works well. The look of the Magellen is somewhat boxy and plain, though it will not detract from the car’s interior. It could be smaller but overall has every feature necessary in an attractive package. MiVue has recently updated the unit to offer dual (front and rear) cameras for a higher price and the new design is more compact and attractive
Warranty (*****)
The warranty covers one year for all parts.
Pros
- Records on impact
- Offers all the basic features
- WiFi and GPS built-in
- Affordable
Cons
- Boxy design
- SD card sold separately
- Somewhat large
Z-EDGE Z3
The Z-EDGE is a great dash cam with 145 degree view and excellent picture quality. It has a simple mounting interface. The ultra 2K 1080p HD technology provides one of the clearest video displays for the money. The clarity of the photos makes reading license plates and signage far easier. Its 3-inch touchscreen also gives the owner an easy way to interact with the Z-EDGE.
Price $$$
The Z-EDGE is fairly priced at $125, as it offers all the basics in an easy-to-use dash came.
Ease of Use (*****)
The windshield mount means placement isn’t difficult to figure out and mounting is possible in all vehicles. The Z-EDGE includes a touch screen, automatically begins recording with ignition, and can be played back with the touch of a button. Standard loop recording and incident sensors means the driver needs to do very little to operate the Z-EDGE. This device is probably the best on this list in terms of being user-friendly.
Assembly Time (*****)
Easy to assemble as it requires no special equipment; just secure to the windshield and plug in.
Design Quality (***)
The design offers all the same features we expect: incident sensor to record collision, clear video quality, playback options, ease of installation, and a decent size. There are three issues with design, however. First, this unit doesn’t offer the array of features of others on this list; second, it has only one way to mount to the windshield, and in some cars this can be intrusive to vision; third, it lacks a GPS tracker.
Warranty (*****)
Z-EDGE is a time-tested product with excellent warranty of a full year.
Pros
- Large view screen
- Sharp image
- Great video clarity
- Affordable and reliable
Cons
- One mounting option
- No GPS
- Fewer features for the price
Vantrue T2
This dash cam has an unusual shape, like a tube, and offers both outer and interior views from the camera. This small dash cam mounts inconspicuously behind the rear view mirror. The amazing 160 degree view means no traffic encounter will be missed, and this dash cam has the usual loop recording and G-sensor for accidents or incidents.
Price $$$
This price of $150-$175 is a little high considering the range of features, but some people will love the ease of use and design look.
Ease of Use (****)
The simple design makes the Vantrue easy to operate. No WiFi can pose a problem for storage of video (no Cloud interface), but purely for recording this dash cam is quite straightforward. The screen is large enough to check easily, and the mounting process is the easiest among all the dash cams we’ve reviewed. Although a compact unit, its screen is quite large and easy to see. No app, no WiFi, and no GPS means no hassle for this dash cam. On the other hand some features do make dash cams easier to use, and this unit is somewhat limited
Assembly Time (****)
Probably the easiest dash cam on our list to install, the simple design means just installing the SD memory card and making sure the unit is plugged in. No connections to software are necessary, and since the Vantrue is motion activated is begins recording whenever movement occurs in its view.
Design Quality (****)
The Vantrue rivals the Garmin Dash Cam 35 in its small, compact size. The tube design is a crowd pleaser, as is the secure suction cup design with ball joint. If you don’t like suction cup adherence, this dash cam is different. It stays in place. Another nice feature of the Vantrue is its extreme weather tolerance, which means the camera will function in very cold and very hot environments. Lack of WiFi and GPS do remove one star and the smaller 2″ view screen detracts another star. Four stars is appropriate simply because of its mounting and space saving features.
Warranty (*****)
This dash cam comes with an 18-month warranty if purchased new.
Pros
- Mounting is very secure
- Panoramic view of 160 degrees
- H264 video recording for high quality
- Uses SD card
- Motion detection recording
- Small size
Cons
- Lacks WiFi
- No App
- One mounting option
- Relatively expensive
Conclusion
Dash cam technology is affordable and requires no special skills to install. The smart features make it a viable option for drivers who spend several hours a week on the road or anyone wanting an extra level of protection in traffic. For around a hundred dollars, commuters add a true level of security to their vehicles. After taking a good look at four models, we like the Garmin Dash Cam 35 for its compact size and clear video, and it delivers on extra features for a great price well under $100.
