Best Dash Cams at $500 (or less)

CONSUMER SCORE: 88% gave it ★★★★★

The Thinkware U1000 is Thinkware's flagship dash cam, but it's more than just another 4K UHD dash cam. It offers Super Night Vision 2.0 and cutting-edge Cloud technology in a compact dash cam that sits perfectly behind the rearview mirror.  

But what makes the Thinkware U1000 special is its best-in-industry parking surveillance features. With the Thinkware hardwiring kit, you can hook up the U1000 to the car’s battery to unlock the dash cam’s parking surveillance capabilities, like Energy Saving Parking Mode 2.0, which gives you 3 times longer coverage than regular parking mode.

If you want to make the gift extra special, throw in the optional Thinkware Radar sensor and a battery pack, and you just gave them the priceless gift of stress-free extended parking protection of up to a week.

Available in Front-only 1-Channel and Front-and-Rear 2-Channel.

Built for nighttime drives, the Q1000 comes equipped with Thinkware’s latest Super Night Vision 3.0 technology to enhance video brightness in low-light conditions so you don’t miss important details. The Q1000 uses a combination of Digital Overlap High Dynamic Range (DOL HDR) and Noise Reduction technology to reduce noise and lens flare effects that typically affect nighttime footage.

Built-in Bluetooth allows hassle-free dash cam pairing with your compatible Android or iOS device via the Thinkware Link App and the Thinkware Connected App. Once paired, replay your latest driving videos and manage your dash cam’s settings with the apps.

Instead of Thinkware Cloud, the Thinkware Q1000 uses the new Thinkware Connected service to bring you impact notifications and remote monitoring, and exciting new Cloud features like Emergency Message and Vehicle Status report.

Available in Front-only 1-Channel and Front-and-Rear 2-Channel.

CONSUMER SCORE: 87% gave it ★★★★★

The DR900X Plus is BlackVue’s latest update of its flagship 4K model, keeping the signature stealthy cylindrical shape but updating the processor and image sensor, and adding several new features to make the BlackVue DR900X Plus their best dash cam yet.

While Thinkware and Nextbase also offer Cloud-ready dash cams, BlackVue takes theirs a step further by providing you with an easy way to connect to the BlackVue Cloud using the CM100G LTE Module. All you need to do is plug in the free BlackVue SIM card that comes with the LTE module, and you can connect to the BlackVue Cloud anytime, anywhere.

The BlackVue DR900X Plus is a fully-functional 4K UHD dash cam, whether you choose to use the optional CM100G LTE module and Cloud features or not.

But when you do add the optional CM100G LTE Module to the setup, the BlackVue DR900X Plus becomes a WiFi hotspot for up to 5 devices in your car.

Available in Front-only 1-Channel, Front-and-Rear 2-Channel, and Front-and-Interior 2-Channel.

CONSUMER SCORE: 80% gave it ★★★★★

If there’s one thing BlackVue understands very well it’s that the most sought-after feature is user-friendliness, and that’s why they introduced the DR750X-2CH LTE Plus, a dash cam with built-in LTE connectivity. The DR750X-2CH LTE Plus is a Cloud-ready front-and-rear 2-channel dash cam system that captures your drive at in 1080p Full HD at 60FPS.

The DR750X-2CH LTE Plus is built for users looking to make the most out of BlackVue’s Cloud services. Connect to your BlackVue anytime, from anywhere in the world with BlackVue Cloud - just insert and activate the free included BlackVue SIM Card and you're ready to go. No need for a separate WiFi LTE hotspot. In fact - you an even turn the DR750X-2CH LTE Plus into a mobile hotspot for up to 5 devices.

If you don't want to use the BlackVue SIM service or if you have a great data plan with your service provider, you can also use your own 4G SIM card from the following networks: T-Mobile, Telus, Rogers, Bell.

CONSUMER SCORE: 100% gave it ★★★★★

3-Channel systems are a must for anyone who drives Uber, Lyft, or a cab or wants to capture the front, rear, and interior, so nothing gets missed.

The BlackVue DR750X-3CH Plus is not the only 3-Channel system, but it is the only one that comes Cloud-ready and is compatible with the BlackVue CM100G LTE module for an always-connected dash cam system.

The BlackVue DR750X Plus is also available in Front-only 1-Channel, Front-and-Rear 2-Channel, Front-and-Interior 2-Channel, and Front-and-Exterior 2-Channel.