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Nextbase

Nextbase Piqo: the downsides first

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#8 of 8
$$Front onlyScore 2.9/5
29%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample (144 ratings) for the 2K listing; no 'Customers say' summary was shown.

Tom's Guide's best affordable dash cam: small and screenless, with good 2K daytime video plus voice control and Witness mode. But night video is weak, the Wi-Fi app connection can be finicky, and its small Amazon listing has a high share of 1- and 2-star ratings.

Subscription: Needed for Emergency SOS and cloud storage: $5/mo or $50/yr (Tom's Guide)

Parking mode / hardwire kit: Smart Parking needs the Nextbase Hardwire Kit (fuse box) or Quick Connect cable (OBD port), $30 each (Tom's Guide)

Top complaints

  • Finicky connection and setup

    Tom's Guide found the forced firmware update froze and Wi-Fi connections finicky, especially on Android, which made downloading clips hard. Several 1- and 2-star Amazon reviews say it wouldn't connect or sync.

    Source: Tom's Guide review, Amazon.com product page (low-star reviews)
  • Weak night video

    Tom's Guide found it really hard to pick out details at night, and plate glare made plates illegible even up close.

    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • Key features need a subscription

    Emergency SOS and cloud storage cost $5/mo or $50/yr, and Tom's Guide lists 'some features need a subscription' as a con.

    Source: Tom's Guide review

What owners love

  • Sleek and discreet

    Small enough to sit behind the mirror with only its bottom curve visible (Tom's Guide).

    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • Good 2K daytime video

    At 1440p, Tom's Guide could read road signs, markings and nearby plates, though it calls out a fuzzy sheen and says the 1080p mode is much worse.

    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • Smart features without a screen

    'Hey Nexy' voice commands, Witness mode (live feed to trusted contacts), Guardian mode and Emergency SOS (Tom's Guide).

    Source: Tom's Guide review
Good for
  • A minimal, distraction-free camera
  • Voice control and live-sharing an incident
  • Daytime commuting

Scores (tap for why)

  • Video quality3.0
    Why 3.0?Solid at 1440p but soft at a distance, and much grainier at 1080p (Tom's Guide).
    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • Night video2.0
    Why 2.0?Hard to see details at night, and plates were illegible from glare (Tom's Guide).
    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • App & Wi-Fi2.5
    Why 2.5?Changing settings is a breeze, but Wi-Fi was finicky and a firmware update froze (Tom's Guide); several low-star Amazon reviews cite connection trouble.
    Source: Tom's Guide review, Amazon.com product page
  • Easy install4.0
    Why 4.0?Tom's Guide lists 'easy to install' as a pro: a single cable and a solid adhesive mount, wired up in minutes.
    Source: Tom's Guide review

What experts say

  • Tom's Guide: Best affordable dash cam (updated 2026-09-29). Cons: weak night vision, some features need a subscription, no rear camera.
  • Tom's Guide (Garmin Mini 3 review): Its image is weaker than the Garmin Mini 3's, but it has smarter security features.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked dash cams whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in dash camsViofo A229 Pro

Wirecutter's top pick: in its tests, the 4K video was as good as any dash cam it tried, day or night, and a supercapacitor handles heat better than a battery. On Amazon, some owners say the rear camera or the whole unit stopped working, and about 1 in 7 ratings are 1 or 2 stars.

Its catch: some units or rear cameras fail#2 in dash camsNextbase 622GW

A feature-packed 4K camera with image stabilization, crisp night video, Alexa, Emergency SOS and free cloud storage. PCMag names it best for Alexa support. It's expensive at its $399.99 list price, its touch screen can be erratic, and Tom's Guide says newer Nextbase models have overtaken it.

Its catch: expensive#3 in dash camsMiofive S1

Wirecutter's budget pick: 4K, GPS, a supercapacitor and parking mode for about $90, with image quality better than most cameras it tested. The build and mount feel cheap, and Amazon owners report Bluetooth and Wi-Fi trouble and some units that stop working.

Its catch: bluetooth and wi-fi connection problems

See all 8 dash cams ranked →