Garmin Dash Cam 55 Review

The Garmin Dash Cam 55 is a compact and reliable dash camera, well-regarded for its blend of performance, ease of use, and smart features. This matchbox-sized piece of technology may be a little pricey, but the quality is very good. Below is a detailed review highlighting its key aspects:

Design & Build Quality

• The Dash Cam 55 is small and discreet, measuring about 2.2 x 1.4 x 1.6 inches. Its compact size allows it to blend easily into your car’s interior without obstructing the view.
• The camera is well-built, with a solid feel. It features a magnetic mount for easy attachment and detachment, making it convenient to move between vehicles or take with you for security purposes.

Garmin Dash Cam 55: Video Quality

• The camera records at 1440p (Quad HD) resolution at 30 fps, providing clear and detailed footage. This resolution is superior to standard Full HD (1080p), which is especially helpful when trying to capture finer details such as license plates and street signs.
• It performs reasonably well in low-light conditions, although there may be a slight drop in image clarity at night, which is common with dash cams in this price range.
• The 140-degree wide-angle lens ensures a broad field of view, capturing a good portion of the road and surroundings without excessive distortion.

This model records in full HD, is adjustable up to 1440p, and offers up to 2560 x 1440 pixels at 30 frames per second. This is pretty impressive, to say the least. It records a pre-installed 8GB module, which will last for just under one hour before it starts to loop over the recorded data. The Garmin Dash Cam 55 will take higher-capacity microSD cards.

The unit records your position, speed, date and time. So, please remember that if you do speed and are involved in an incident, you may have an issue with your insurance company and the police.

In The Box

Once you open your shiny new Garmin, this is what you should find:

• Garmin Dash Cam 55.
• USB cable/car charger (complete).
• Separate USB cable.
• Instructions/warranty card.
• Windscreen attachment (sticky magnetic patch).

To install on your car, attach the small sticky magnetic patch to the windscreen. Then connect the unit to the sticky magnetic patch; its as simple as that. Connect the car charger and you are good to go.

Garmin Dash Cam 55: Features

• Voice Control: One standout feature is its voice command functionality. You can control the camera hands-free by using simple commands like “OK Garmin” to start or stop recording, save a video, or take a still photo. This enhances safety by minimizing distractions while driving.
• G-Sensor & Incident Detection: The built-in G-sensor detects sudden movements or impacts and automatically saves the footage. This feature is vital in case of accidents, as it ensures critical moments are preserved.
• GPS & Location Tagging: The Dash Cam 55 includes built-in GPS to record your location and speed alongside video footage. This is useful for insurance claims or legal purposes, as it provides an additional layer of evidence.
• Wi-Fi Connectivity: You can connect the camera to Garmin’s VIRB mobile app via Wi-Fi, which allows you to review, download, and share footage directly from your smartphone. The app is relatively easy to use, making video management convenient.
• Driver Alerts: The dash cam also provides driver assistance features like lane departure warnings, forward collision warnings, and red-light camera alerts, which can enhance overall driving safety.

Storage

• The Dash Cam 55 uses a microSD card for storage (supports up to 64GB), though it typically comes with an 8GB card. Loop recording ensures that old footage is automatically overwritten when the card is full, but important files (from incidents) are saved separately and not overwritten.

Ease of Use

• The 2.0-inch LCD screen is small but functional for reviewing footage and navigating the menu. The interface is simple and user-friendly, with intuitive buttons for operation.
• Installing and setting up the dash cam is relatively straightforward. The magnetic mount and power cord are easy to manage, although the cord could be cumbersome if not routed properly.

Garmin Dash Cam 55: Battery Life & Power

• It has a built-in battery, but it’s primarily designed to work when connected to your car’s power. The battery allows for short, off-power operation, mainly to save critical footage in case of an accident when the car is off.

Limitations

• The night performance could be better. While the camera does a decent job during the day, nighttime footage may appear grainy, particularly in poorly lit areas.
• Voice control can occasionally misinterpret commands or fail to recognize them in noisy environments.
• Some users report that the collision warning system can be overly sensitive, leading to false alerts.

Price & Value

• The Garmin Dash Cam 55 is competitively priced, offering a lot of features for its cost. While it’s not the cheapest dash cam on the market, the added convenience of voice control, GPS, and high-quality footage justifies the investment for many users.

Pros

• Compact and discreet design
• Clear 1440p video quality
• Voice control for hands-free operation
• Built-in GPS and driver alerts
• Easy to set up and use
• Target Price: $149.99 (UK)

Cons

• Nighttime video could be clearer
• Voice commands may not always work perfectly
• Collision warnings can be too sensitive

Garmin Dash Cam 55: In Conclusion

The video quality is great during daylight hours and works really well at night. So, you can buy cheaper units, but you may not get the results you expect. Think of this Garmin Dash Cam as an investment.

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