If you’ve been browsing for the best dashcams available, you’ll have undoubtedly come across dual dashcams. These dashcams come in two pieces connected by a big cable and could be the ticket to the ultimate driving peace of mind.
Front-facing dashcams are all very well. They are good value and do the job for most people. They record situations in front of you, and that’s where most accidents are viewed more clearly.
Dashcams that record both the forwards and rearwards are called dual dashcams. A lot of them are high-performance units that will allow you to capture incidents that happen in front of and behind your car. And, given that rear-end collisions are the most common type of road accident, it pays to keep a watchful eye on what’s going on behind you.
The best dual dashcams 2024 at a glance:
The best dual dash cam: Nextbase 522GW Dashcam Front and Rear Camera – Buy now from Amazon UK
Editor’s pick: Nextbase 222XR Front and Rear Bundle – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best basic dual dash cam: Navitel R250 Dual Dashcam- Buy now from Amazon UK
There are lots of options out there (including novel-looking mirror dash cams), so to help simplify your search, Parkers has rounded up the best dual dashcams around. Read on to find out which should make the top of your list.
The best dual dashcams UK 2024
The best dual dash cam
Like the 622GW, the 522GW still features voice-activated Alexa to essentially turn it into a smart device. In terms of video quality, it can record front and rear at either 1440p and 720p, respectively or 1080p for both. Thanks to clever software and a polarising filter, the image clarity and colour are excellent.
On top of the software, you get the best build quality of any dashcam, and it's a very easy device to use due to the three-inch touchscreen and simple menus.
Pros
- Good video quality with up to 4K on hand, ensuring sharp footage
- GPS tracking included as well as Wi-Fi, Alexa, and G-Sensor
- Easy to use and comes with 64GB SD card
Cons
- Some may see the plethora of features as overkill
| <strong>Video quality (front/rear):</strong> | 1440p/720p, 1080p/1080p |
| <strong>Viewing angle (front/rear):</strong> | 140/140 |
| <strong>Frame rate:</strong> | 60fps or 30fps |
| <strong>Connectivity:</strong> | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| <strong>GPS:</strong> | Yes |
| <strong>Memory card included:</strong> | Yes |
| <strong>Extras:</strong> | Alexa Built-in, Emergency SOS |
Editor's pick
Rrp: $179.99
Rrp: $179.99
For starters, it still boasts a 1080p HD recording resolution which is still sharp enough to observe things clearly when watching back the footage. It also boasts a G-Sensor, a parking monitor, and a wide 140-degree viewing angle. For those who aren't fussed about having the most advanced features in a dashcam, this really ticks all the boxes.
Pros
- Great value for money at just £100 for a dual Nextbase setup
- Comes with a G-Sensor and parking monitor, which are useful dashcam features
- Relatively simple to use, which makes it a great setup for beginners
Cons
- 1080p HD recording resolution is sharp enough, but won't suit everybody
- Doesn't boast the best, most advanced features available
Best budget dual dashcam
The S900 isn't packed with luxuries but instead focuses on delivering quality video. The front camera records in Full HD 1080p at 30fps, and the Sony sensor combined with the HDR technology provides great image quality for this price bracket. The rear camera is waterproof and can be externally mounted above the rear number plate.
While the video quality is a major plus point, so too is the ease of use. Many cheap dashcams fall down here and are a pain to use – but not the S900.
Pros
- Great value for money at a mere £46 for the whole bundle
- 1080p HD recording resolution is very impressive for the price point
- Useful features such as G-Sensor, parking monitor, and motion detection included
Cons
- The low price is reflected in the low-quality video from the rear dash cam
- Build quality and materials aren't as great as the others
| <strong>Video quality (front/rear):</strong> | 1080p/720p |
| <strong>Viewing angle (front/rear):</strong> | 170/140 |
| <strong>Frame rate:</strong> | 30fps |
| <strong>Connectivity:</strong> | No |
| <strong>GPS:</strong> | No |
| <strong>Memory card included:</strong> | Yes |
| <strong>Extras:</strong> | None |
The most advanced dual dash cam
Rrp: $499.98
Rrp: $499.98
It also has a what3words setup built-in, which can send an exact location if you ever find yourself in an emergency. With a 140-degree viewing angle and exceptional night vision capabilities, it's one of the most comprehensive dual dashcams out there.
Pros
- Great quality unit, which you'd expect from a flagship model
- 4K recording resolution, making it one of the most capable out there
- Loads of features built-in from What3Words, Alexa, and GPS
Cons
- Features and overall package could be overkill for some
- Not a substantial difference over the 522GW in the grand scheme of things
Best basic dual dash cam
The R250 records in Full HD 1080p at the front and HD 720p at the rear at 30fps. Its shape is compact, and while the two-inch touchscreen is not as good as the three-inch screen seen on the more expensive 522GW, it is perfectly useable.
Pros
- Compact design and shape, making it look quite subtle on the windscreen
- G-sensor included as well as parking mode and motion detection
- Great value for money at £75 for the full set
Cons
- Small touchscreen can make using it slightly trickier than others
| <strong>Video quality (front/rear):</strong> | 1080p/720p |
| <strong>Viewing angle (front/rear):</strong> | 140/100 |
| <strong>Frame rate:</strong> | 30fps |
| <strong>Connectivity:</strong> | No |
| <strong>GPS:</strong> | No |
| <strong>Memory card included:</strong> | No |
| <strong>Extras:</strong> | None |
Best dual dashcam for safety features
Picture quality is crisp and clear during daylight, and the Super Night Vision provides improved detail in low-light situations, with the 140-degree lens angle minimising any blind spots. You can remotely monitor your vehicle using the app, which will allow you to track the vehicle location, and it will not only notify you of any impacts whilst in parking mode but will allow you to view live footage.
Thinkware dashcams are quite distinctive in their shape, being long and thin. They look large, but in fact, it's a clever design, mimicking the shape of a rear-view mirror and thus fitting perfectly behind one.
Pros
- Good build quality and materials for the price point
- Designed to be discreet and slim-looking on your windscreen
- GPS and Wi-Fi included as well as a parking mode and GPS
Cons
- The included 32GB memory card might not be large enough
Best (build) quality dual dashcam
The front cam has a resolution of 1440p and the rear 1080p, and both provide a great degree of clear night vision. You get a 140-degree viewing angle as well as 24/7 recording when properly installed. It's also paired with the Road Angel App to help search for the right clip you were looking for, amongst other useful features.
Pros
- Build quality and materials give it a premium feel
- Has a winter mode as well as Wi-Fi and a three-year warranty
- Great viewing angle and HD night vision for easier viewing
Cons
- 2K doesn't match 4K, if video quality is important to you
- Not the most subtle in terms of design, which may put some people off
Best budget 4K dashcam
But, crucially, the A129 records at 4K at 30fps, too (its rear video quality is 1080p). The other major plus point of the A129 is the shape and size. It's a compact unit, and thanks to the lack of a suction cup, it is the most discreet dashcams on the market.
Pros
- Small in size which makes it subtle when attached to your windscreen
- High-quality video with up to 4K available
- Easy to use, thanks to simple control panel
Cons
- Simple features such as image stabilisation are missing
| <strong>Video quality (front/rear):</strong> | 4K/1080p |
| <strong>Viewing angle (front/rear):</strong> | 130/140 |
| <strong>Frame rate:</strong> | 30fps |
| <strong>Connectivity:</strong> | Wi-Fi |
| <strong>GPS:</strong> | Yes |
| <strong>Memory card included:</strong> | No |
| <strong>Extras:</strong> | 2.4 and 5GHz dual band Wi-Fi |
Best value dual dashcam
You don't get an SD card included, but it does have a Sony image sensor which copes well with all levels of light, noise, and an overall useful companion to have when you need recorded footage.
Pros
- Very comprehensive kit for the money at under £100
- 24/7 parking monitor with G-sensor included as well as GPS
- Great recording capabilities along with night vision and Advanced Driver Assistant System (ADAS)
Cons
- No SD card included, meaning you'll have to source one for yourself
FAQs and things to remember with dual dashcams
Is having a dashcam worth it?
There are plenty of good reasons to have a dashcam in the UK, even if it’s a budget option. The most prominent is being able to identify what happened and who was at fault should something bad happen while driving.
This makes things easier for the insurance companies to determine, but footage of road-related events can also be useful to the police for submitting evidence. Having a dashcam is like having an eyewitness riding along with you at all times, and you can find yourself into many situations on the road, and a dashcam has got to be worth it on those grounds alone.
Do dashcams bring down your insurance?
In some cases, having a dashcam setup can also help bring down your insurance premium. But this can depend on a number of factors that largely involve what insurance companies can offer. One good example is via dashcam manufacturer, Nextbase, which can reward its safe drivers.
It has actively partnered with a number of insurance companies, including AXA, Aviva, and others which are now offering insurance discounts to owners of Nextbase dashcams. However, this isn’t the case for some insurers, and it’s worth checking your policy and potential policies to see if you can be covered.
What are important features in dual dash cams?
You’ll see lots of features advertised by dashcam manufacturers, from in-built Wi-Fi to 4K resolution. For example, virtually all dashcams – even the cheapest – will feature a G-sensor to trigger automatic saving of footage if a bump is detected, loop recording to allow the camera to always capture new footage, and a parking monitor to let the camera capture incidents while the car is off and parked.
Front-facing cameras should be at least Full HD with a frame rate of 30fps for smooth, detailed video. High Dynamic Range (HDR) or Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) capability is a big plus. This reduces overexposure and helps produce a clear image. Take viewing angle into consideration, too, because the wider the angle, the more action the camera can capture; 140 degrees should be a minimum. Rear-facing cameras will usually have a lower resolution than the front camera, but 720p should still be your bottom line. Likewise, rear cameras may have a narrow viewing angle compared to the front-facing camera, but 100 degrees should be a minimum here. Some rear cameras are externally mounted, though most are internal. All dashcams will require an SD card, so you should really check if the one you’re buying has one included with your purchase.
Those are the essentials in front-and-rear-view dashcams. Extras such as Wi-Fi in dash cams and GPS are nice to haves; Wi-Fi gives you quicker access to files and settings, while GPS provides data on location and speed. The latter can be particularly beneficial in cases where you might want to prove that your speed wasn’t a factor in whatever occurred.
How should I install my dashcam?
While dash cams normally come with a 12V plug to insert into the cigarette lighter, you can opt for dashcam hardwiring kits. These are more fiddly to install but still not that difficult and will let you take advantage of the dash cam’s parking monitor features because the dash cam will be wired directly to the car battery and powered when the car is switched off. Cables can be hidden in the interior headlining and other gaps, or you can just get your dashcam professionally fitted if you don’t want to tackle the install.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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