Nextbase 412GW

£129, nextbase.co.uk

DESIGN ★★★★☆

Not the sexiest bit of kit, but Nextbase’s slimline-enough cam makes up for it by cramming in a huge 3-inch display, touch controls, and your choice of a sucker-equipped, quick-detach powered mount or a sticky pad for those awkward spots.

FEATURES ★★★☆☆

Everything core is here: Wi-Fi for media sharing, a G-sensor to automatically save protected videos in case of an incident, a (brief) built-in battery for elegant shutdown, and a parking mode if properly wired. But the Dash Cam 55 has all this too.

PERFORMANCE ★★★★☆

In all lighting conditions the 412GW’s 1440p video quality is superior to the Garmin – number plate clarity at speed is much greater, and it’s a lot less mucky. That’s not to say it’s perfect – the camera can be dazzled by lights at night.

USABILITY ★★★☆☆

Everything’s quick to get to, and there’s plenty of refinement available at a touch, but the messy interface and clutter of buttons is off-putting. There’s really no need to go too deep, though, and there’s on-screen help where it counts.

VERDICT

We’re impressed Footage clear and smooth; quick to mount and remove; easy to interact with.

We’d improve It’s really not much of a looker; a refined interface would enhance the experience. ★★★★☆