Garmin Dash Cam Mini Review

Dashcams are the perfect choice for when you need to record what’s going on around you both inside and outside of your car. If you are in the market for one, then keep reading, as we’ll be taking a look at the Garmin Dash Cam Mini.

Garmin has had a go with a dash-cam in the past, they used to have a DriveAssist with the idea being that you could have directions, and video at the same time, but in all honesty, no one bought it and those that did, never used it.

The whole point of a dash-cam is for it to be switched on the whole time.  If you have an accident, then it will record your footage.  But if it's switched off, because you cannot be bothered to use it, it's not much good.

This is where the Dash-cam mini, and the dash-cam tandem come into their own.  We have reviewed the tandem here, and below is our thoughts for the Garmin Mini.

Garmin Dash Cam Mini Review

Imagine a dashcam that is small in size, sleek in design, and can be able to record everything while you are driving or parked. Plus, your passengers won’t even notice that you are recording them (especially if you drive for Uber or Lyft). Plus, you’ll be able to get extra security out of the whole kit and kaboodle.

As we go through this review, we’ll be looking at some of the Dash Cam Mini’s best features. We’ll also dive into some pros and cons so you’ll know what to expect. Now, let’s get right to the meat of it:

Video Quality

Compatible Software

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini has an app that is compatible with both iOS and Android phones. This is used to help you correctly position the camera. After you set it all up, you can uninstall the app.

The app does not record footage and keeps it stored unlike some of its other Garmin dash cams. If you are looking for a Garmin dashcam that does that, their Garmin Dash Cam Tandem might be something that’s right up your alley.

Storage Capacity

In order to give you the best storage possible, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini requires an 8GB SD card. This should give you plenty of storage space so you are able to capture any incidents that may be occurring while you are driving or parked. While there is no SD card included, you will need to purchase it separately.

Thankfully, most 8GB SD cards aren’t that expensive anyway. If anything, you should consider getting a couple of extras if you plan on using it regularly. You can playback your videos and everything you’ve captured right on your smartphone using the SD card itself.

USB Power

Pros and Cons

Now that we’ve listed off the features, let’s take a look at the pros and cons. While these might be dealmakers or dealbreakers, at least you’ll have a good idea of knowing what you’ll deal with. Let’s dive right in with the pros:

Pros

• Decent night shots: If you are looking for a camera that can take decent night shots, you’ll like the Dash Cam Mini. Sure, it might not have night vision but it can still capture a good amount of footage when you are in well-lit areas.
   
• Stealthy: It’s small in size. And it’s small enough to where no one will ever notice. That ain’t bad if you’re looking for something subtle for security.
  
  
• Affordable: Believe it or not, this is one of the more affordable models from the Garmin brand. But nevertheless, it’s worth every penny for the features it’s got. 

Cons

• Wi-Fi may be slow to connect: The Wi-Fi pairing may take a bit of time to connect. It’s uncertain why it’s like that. But if you have a bit of time and patience, it might not be a bad thing to have.
   
• No dedicated night vision: Unlike some of the higher-end Garmin dash cams, this one doesn’t have dedicated night vision. This means that you’ll need to make sure you are in a well-lit environment when driving at night.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a dashcam that is small, but effective then the Garmin Dash Cam Mini might be exactly what you want. It can shoot good quality videos and can stay stealthy no matter where you go. It can capture videos and photos with ease, even in the event of some major incidents.