A dashcam is a compact camera that is installed in the car to record journeys. Nowadays, there are numerous apps that promise to turn your smartphone into a dashcam. In this post, we look at the pros and cons of these apps and present the best options.
What is a dash cam?
A dashcam is a compact camera that is installed in the car, similar to a navigation device, either on the dashboard or on the windshield. The name is made up of the English words "dashboard" and "camera". As soon as the car is started, the dashcam switches on automatically and starts recording. Most models have a battery life of up to an hour, but can be easily charged via the cigarette lighter. These small car cameras are equipped with a monitor on which you can view the video recordings and adjust them to your liking. Drivers use dashcams for a variety of reasons. Some want to record their journeys for private purposes, such as a vacation video. Others use them to monitor their driving style, for example through integrated functions such as a forward collision warning or lane assistant. The most common use of the camera, however, is to record accidents and use the recordings as evidence to prove one's innocence. In addition, many dashcams offer a parking mode that protects the vehicle from vandalism by recording even while parked.
Benefits of using a dashcam app
With a dashcam app, drivers can conveniently control the camera from their smartphone, adjust settings, and monitor recordings in real time. In addition, many of these applications allow you to easily download videos, which makes the process of securing evidence much easier. But there are also dashcam apps designed to turn your smartphone into a dashcam. With such a dashcam app, you can always keep an eye on your current speed, position, altitude, and time. You can track your location on a map and even read the compass angle - turning your smartphone into the ultimate black box! In addition, users can activate special functions such as GPS tracking via the app to precisely document their journeys and receive alerts about potential dangers. In addition, you can often adjust settings such as automatically turning the camera on when the device detects sudden movement or simply when the car starts, similar to a real dashcam. Some apps offer cloud storage options for iOS, which allow you to safely save important recordings without overloading the dashcam's storage space. Additionally, many of these apps are free, making them a more cost-effective alternative to traditional dashcams.
Top Dashcams in comparison
Below we present you the 3 best dashcam apps that turn your smartphone into a dashcam.
Nexar
Nexar Classic is one of the best free dash cam apps for iPhone that, in addition to recording your rides, uses AI-powered tools to automatically detect important events such as hard braking and collisions and instantly save them to your smartphone, complete with GPS location tracking. These recordings are also backed up to the Nexar cloud. A special feature is the "1-Click Report" template, which allows you to quickly create a detailed summary for insurance claims that includes the location, time, impact and video footage of the incident.
Smart Dash Cam
The Smart Dash Cam app, which is also free, is considered one of the best dashcam apps for iPhone. It offers both manual and automatic recording modes and allows users to set the desired resolution up to 720p HD. In addition, the app can record audio, displays the time and speed of the vehicle in the video, and automatically saves a video when a collision is detected. If no video has been locked, the app uses continuous loop recording for up to 60 minutes, overwriting the oldest videos to make room for new recordings. A handy feature is the ability to play music on your smartphone while the app records - a benefit not offered by all dashcam apps. Recorded videos can be uploaded to the cloud via Google Drive, YouTube or Dropbox, and individual files can be sent via email. The app also supports four languages: English, Spanish, French and German.
Autoboy
AutoBoy Dash Cam is a versatile app for Android users that offers a variety of features, including the ability to record videos in various resolutions. The app also supports background recording, so you can use your smartphone for other tasks while the dash cam remains active. The AutoBoy app's recording feature uses loop recording, which automatically deletes the oldest files once the maximum storage space is reached. Users can set their preferred recording cycles, maximum storage, and video quality, including resolution, encoder, frame rate, bit rate, and audio quality. The app also offers GPS functionality, as well as a smart crash sensor that locks the current video file when a collision is detected. An LED backlight indicates whether the dash cam is currently recording. The features within the app are more versatile than most dash cam apps: it allows zoom, focus, flash, and grid overlay, as well as various scene modes.
The disadvantages of these apps
Although dashcam apps like Nexar, Smart Dashcam and AutoBoy offer useful features, they have some disadvantages compared to traditional dashcams.
Nexar frequently pushes users to upgrade to their physical dashcams, which offer better video quality and additional features. There have also been privacy concerns as user data is sold. The high battery consumption during use is also a concern. The Smart Dashcam app suffers from choppy video quality and annoying ads that spoil the user experience. AutoBoy has technical difficulties, with crashes and freezes that can occur at critical moments.
If you're serious about recording the road in front of or behind your car, you shouldn't use a free smartphone app to do it. Dashcam apps that continuously record video will drain your smartphone's battery very quickly, can easily slip out of the mount, and cause the device to overheat. You won't be able to use your smartphone for other applications, such as Google Maps or listening to music in the background. Additionally, the app might simply shut down during an incoming call or even display ads at the very moment you need it most. If you're anxious to document a minor accident or collision, it's wise to invest in a dedicated dashcam that you can mount near your windshield or on the dashboard.
