Nexar Beam
A simple and accessible dash cam for everyone
$120 From Nexar, us.getnexar.com Features 1080p video, audio recording, SD slot (up to 128GB), night vision, live video streaming
The Nexar Beam is a sleek and compact dash cam that even connects to your smartphone, making accessing footage easier than ever. At the front is a super– wide lens that provides a 135° field of view, and it captures in 1080p HD resolution. The camera is superb in daylight, but also has decent night vision. The Beam can record audio, but this can be turned off in the app if you prefer.
The back houses two LED lights to indicate the dash cam’s status. Along the left is the power button, as well as a slot for a microSD card, which is included for free (32GB).
A suction cup mount makes it easy to stick it to your windshield and lock it in place; the mount slides into the top of the camera and clicks in place securely. Nexar includes a 10ft–long micro USB cable with a car charger which you can plug into your car’s cigarette lighter port, an installation
tool, and cable clips that you can use to keep the cable neat and tidy.
Paring your iPhone with the Beam takes minutes, after which it’ll always connect if the app is running in the background.
In addition to the memory card, footage is saved to your iPhone, so you have to free up space. Handily, the app lets you delegate a percentage of your storage just for video.
Smart features include hard brake detection and showing you where you last parked. When the camera detects something like a hard brake, it will automatically create a clip event and save it to the Nexar cloud for you. Things like blocked lane warnings and when a light will turn green are available, but only in select states, with more coming soon.
THE BOTTOM LINE. An easy–to–use dash cam to record, view, and share in– car clips