Trying to decide on the best dash cam for you can be a tricky process. Not only are there several different kinds – from mini dash cams to front-and-rear options and even dash cam mirrors – there are a surprising array of features too, including sensors, parking modes and different video resolutions.
It's not surprising, then, that many buyers look to keep things simple with a mini dash cam. These are ideal if you don't have much space to play with and they also tend to be cheaper than their more fully-fledged counterparts. But what are the downsides and drawbacks of these smaller dash cams? And which are the best ones out there? We've put together this guide to help you decide.
The mini dash cam is a smaller and more compact version of a standard in-car camera, which takes up less space and is usually less obtrusive, too. Some of the more conventional dash cam models can be rather bulky and aren’t always as appealing to drivers with confined cockpits to contend with. A mini dash cam is just the opposite.
While any dash cam must be mounted so that it doesn’t interfere with your driving or obstruct your view through the windshield, the benefit of a mini dash cam means there’s even less to worry about.
Whichever model you choose, they mount in the same way are larger dash cams, usually using a self-adhesive pad or a suction mount. The smaller dimensions of a mini dash cam means they can also hide away neatly behind your rear-view mirror.
But there are naturally some downsides. From a lack of bundled accessories and features to the absence of a display, you'll need to weigh up whether that added convenience is worth the limitations of mini dash cams.
Most mini dash cams have enough features and power for the average driver, but their smaller designs do bring some compromises. Overall, there are three main drawbacks to be aware of.
Firstly, there's the common lack of a rear screen. Some models do have one (like the Garmin Dash Cam 67W below), but the chances are it’ll be a little on the small side. Luckily, this isn't an issue for most drivers, as they won't need to review footage on the device itself. Instead, there's invariably a companion app that offers the ability to view footage on your smartphone, as well as set up the dash cam. This will likely prove to be a more enjoyable experience in the long run.
A bigger limitation of mini dash cams is often their video quality. Because their lenses have been shoehorned into a smaller space, you may experience a degree of fisheye distortion from the resulting video footage. If the camera has a less impressive resolution (another common limitation of small dash cams), then this could combine with the distortion to make it harder to make out details in your videos.
That said, an HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode can help compensate in harsh daytime sunshine, as can buying a cheap polarizing filter to cut out glare. Both of these are possible on mini dash cams and this can have as big an impact on image quality as resolution and lens quality. Ultimately, the better quality the footage, the greater the chance you'll be able to use it in an insurance claim.
A third drawback is usually a lack of features, compared to larger dash cams. For example, our top choice – the Garmin Mini Dash Cam Mini 2 – doesn't come with GPS (so can't track your vehicle's speed), a hard-wiring kit or even a microSD card. That said, you can sync it with a Garmin dash cam that has GPS, via the Drive app.
Not all mini dash cams lack GPS either – a good middle-ground option is the Garmin Dash Cam 67W , which has 1440p video recording, wide 180-degree field of view, GPS and voice control, as well as a 2-inch LCD screen. There are even lane departure and forward collision warnings, too.
So, if you’ve been looking at standard-sized dash cams and think they’re too big and bulky, searching for a mini dash cam could be the way forwards. This is especially the case if you drive a sports car with a small windscreen area. As we've discovered, there are a few compromises to be had in terms of performance and features, but if space-saving is the main consideration, then a mini dash cam makes perfect sense.
If you need a basic dash cam that just does the fundamentals and hides away discreetly behind your rear-view mirror, then the Dash Cam Mini 2 is our current top choice.
It’s small, with dimensions of just 3.1 x 2.9 x 5.3 cm, and weighs in at just 35g. But it still comes with most of the features and functionality you’ll need for monitoring the road ahead. There’s a 140-degree field of view and the video quality, while only 1080p resolution, is very good for its size.
Voice control also comes as part of the package, which is a nice bonus, though GPS is missing. If you want the Dash Cam Mini 2 to record videos while you're parked, it's also worth noting that you'll need an always-on 12V cable or Garmin's Constant Power Cable (which isn't included). But the Garmin Drive app, where is very polished, and this is an important part of the experience with mini dash cams.
Another slender dash cam worth investigating is the Thinkware F800 Pro. It's quite pricey, but comes packed with clever features – and also offers a front-and-rear bundle, which means you’ll be covered in case of a shunt from behind.
The feature set is strong, with a stick-on low-profile design, GPS tracking and good-quality HD footage. Wi-Fi connectivity means you can hook up your smartphone to the unit, plus you get the benefit of a night mode for more effective recording after dark.
You’ll need to hard-wire the camera into your car if you want to make use of its neat Time Lapse Mode though, which keeps a watchful eye on your car when you’re not in it overnight.
It isn't quite as compact as Garmin's Dash Cam Mini 2, but the 67W is still only about the size of a matchbox – and it offers a few more features for that higher price tag.
The main difference from Garmin's other compact dash cams is the wide 180-degree field of view (hence the 'W' in its name). This causes some fish-eye distortion, but it's useful if you have a larger car or want a dash cam that can see right the way around the front of your vehicle.
The sensor's 1440p footage is crisp, while an HDR (High Dynamic Range) function makes sure the footage remains high-quality even in tricky lighting conditions. That extra resolution over the Dash Cam Mini 2 can also be handy for punching into footage to pick out details like license plates.
Some features, like the ability to check in your parked car remotely, demand that the 67W is hard-wired into your car and connected to a Wi-Fi network. But if you want high-quality footage with a wide angle of view, this a great mini dash cam.
A powerful, compact front-and-rear dash cam bundle is the Thinkware Q800 Pro. This one packs 2K 1440p shooting quality, GPS speed and location logging plus a Super Night Vision feature.
There’s a Sony Exmore R Starvis image sensor so the quality is excellent. Expandable up to 128GB, there’s an included 32GB microSD card along with access to the Thinkware Cloud for quick and easy backups.
While Thinkware doesn’t always win everyone over with its supplementary app, once you’re up and running the image quality and feature set is impressive. You’ll get the best from this one by getting it hard wired in, too.
Every movie and TV show coming to HBO Max in May 2022
Ready to find out what's coming to HBO Max in May 2022? You should be. With April on the way out, it's time to learn about every movie and TV show that'll be available to watch on Warner Bros-Discovery's streaming service very soon.
There's a lot of interesting and top-tier content on the way for HBO Max subscribers. For one, The Matrix Resurrections is returning to the streamer following its day and date release in December 2021. So, if you missed it first time around, now is your chance to check out of the most polarizing movies of 2021.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of keenly anticipated HBO Max shows landing in May. The second season of award-winning series Hacks is set to launch in mid-May, while live-action adaptations of The Staircase and The Time Traveler's Wife are also on the way. Needless to say, you'll be getting your money's worth on HBO Max over the next few weeks.
Below, we'll run you through what we consider to be HBO Max's May 2022 highlights, as well as bringing you a full rundown of everything that'll be watchable on the streaming platform. Don't dither, then: get reading!
The Staircase
When to stream it: Thursday, May 5
HBO Max has certainly positioned itself as the home of prestige TV in recent times, with shows including Succession , Mare of Easttown , Watchmen , and Chernobyl among its sizeable award-winning offerings. The Staircase, then, will hope to follow in that quartet's footsteps, and it certainly has the star power and potentially thrilling story beats to do so.
Based on a 2004 true crime docuseries of the same name, The Staircase explores the life of crime novelist Michael Peterson (Colin Firth), who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen (Toni Collette) after she's found bludgeoned to death at the bottom of their family home.
The limited series explores the events leading up to the incident, as well as the slow but gripping fragmentation of the Peterson family that follows in the wake of the allegations leveled against their patriarch. Michael Stuhlbarg (Doctor Strange), Dane DeHaan ( Spider-Man ), Sophia Turner ( Game of Thrones ), and Juliette Binoche (Chocolat) are among the show's all-star supporting cast.
The Staircase's first three episodes will air when the miniseries launches on May 5, with new entries landing weekly until the show's finale on June 9. One to keep an eye on.
The Matrix Resurrections
When to stream it: Tuesday, May 10
It's time to plug back into the matrix. After a 20-year absence, the beloved sci-fi franchise – depending on who you talk to, that is – returned to the big (and small) screen in December 2021 with The Matrix Resurrections, a film set 60 years after the events of 2003's Matrix Revolutions.
Hopes were high for The Matrix Resurrections, with its two trailers, returning cast members, and seemingly enthralling narrative giving off the impression that it would be the long overdue (and true) sequel to the original 1999 flick. And, while we said we enjoyed a fair amount of it in our review , there were plenty of other folk who didn't like a single aspect of The Matrix 4, as noted via its critics and audience scores on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes .
Still, if you somehow missed Resurrections when it landed in theaters and on HBO Max late last year, now's your chance to catch it. The Matrix Resurrections returns to the streaming platform in mid-May, though it's unclear if this is for a limited time only or if it's a permanent addition to HBO Max's movie catalog.
Hacks season 2
When to stream it: Thursday, May 12
Returning just shy of a year after its first season wowed fans and critics, Hacks season 2 looks to pick things up with Jean Smart's Debroah and Hannah Einbinder's Ava again as the unlikely comedic pair continue to fight against the grain – and, occasionally, each other.
For those who may need a refresher or a crash course in its plot: Smart plays Deborah, Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comic (and diva) who struggles to stay relevant in an era that's passing her by. Step forward Ava Daniels, a luckless, young and entitled comedy writer who can't find work after she was fired from her last role over an offensive tweet. Initially reluctant to work together, the duo eventually find their comedic groove and start to warm to each other until one particular incident – or, rather, a few – threaten to undo all of their hard work.
The Emmy award-winning dark comedy series returns to HBO Max for a second outing on May 12, with two new episodes airing on that date. Two brand-new entries will arrive on the streamer every week after that point until its final double act brings the curtain down on season 2 on June 2.
The Time Traveler's Wife
When to stream it: Sunday, May 15
With movie, stage musical, and audio book adaptations already in its back catalog, it was only a matter of time before The Time Traveler's Wife was brought to the small screen.
Well, that time has come. Game of Thrones' Rose Leslie is joined by Divergent's Theo James for this Stephen Moffatt (he of Doctor Who and Sherlock fame) adaptation, with the duo occupying the roles of protagonists Clare Abshire and Henry DeTamble respectively.
Based on Audrey Niffenregger's beloved romance novel of the same name, The Time Traveler's Wife tells the tale of Clare and Henry's complex relationship (and eventual marriage) across multiple decades. Why is it complicated? Because Henry has a genetic condition that causes him to travel through time unpredictably, leaving Clare to cope with his frequent absences from her life.
The six-episode miniseries will make its HBO Max debut with a single episode premiere on May 15, with subsequent episodes likely to launch weekly after that date. If you're in the mood for a heart-wrenching tale about love and a metaphorical exploration of failed relationships, this should be added to your 'must watch' list.
Here's every movie and TV show that'll launch on HBO Max in May 2022:
May 1
May 3
May 5
May 6
May 7
May 9
May 10
May 12
May 13
May 15
May 17
May 20
May 22
May 23
May 26
May 27
May 29
May 31
How to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 episode 5 online from anywhere
Too soon? Tongue-in-cheek public service announcements for a spoof charity dedicated to supporting the June Jambalayas, Kahmora Halls, Dahlia Sins and Sojus of the world - spot the link - is the name of the game. Yes, we're delving into the annals of Drag Race history, and you can read on as we explain how to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 episode 5 online from anywhere now.
*Warning: episode 4 spoilers ahead*
Latina queen Alyssa Hunter parted with a farewell message to her "Perrasss" (one that was gleefully scrubbed out by Kerri Colby, hmmm) and things are getting super malévola this week, as the queens are tasked with, well, rubbing salt into the wounds of all the first-eliminated queens of Drag Races past.
As things stand, Miss Angeria Paris VanMicheals is running away with the $100,000 grand prize, with two wins from four. Stunned to find herself close to the bottom was Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté, who wasn't quite so sympathetic when Maddy Morphosis was contemplating June Jambalaya's demise.
Desperate to be seen this week is Lady Camden, but will she be gagging for another episode of boring old safety when it's time for the big challenge? Read on to find out how to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 episode 5 online from anywhere now.
How to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race online from outside your country
If you go abroad at any point during the new season of RuPaul's Drag Race, you’ll find regional restrictions prevent you from streaming the show as you normally would.
Luckily, circumventing geo-blocks is actually really simple. All you need to do is download a VPN to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race online from anywhere in the world. It's an ingenious piece of software that changes your IP address, so you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.
Is RuPaul's Drag Race season 14 on Netflix?
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but RuPaul's Drag Race season 14 is not dropping on Netflix UK !
It's a major break with tradition, but fans based in the UK instead need to turn to WOW Presents Plus for the new season.
More on this below...
How to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 episode 5 online in the US
How to watch RuPaul's Drag Race season 14 episode 5 FREE online in Canada
How to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 episode 5 online in the UK
How to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 episode 5 FREE in Australia
Use WOW Presents Plus to watch RuPaul's Drag Race and more
WOW Present Plus comes to us from World of Wonder, the production company behind RuPaul's Drag Race.
As such, it has an impressive catalogue of RuPaul shows - including the latest season 14 episodes - available to stream in various countries, such as the UK and New Zealand. A full list of what's available and where can be found here .
It's a pretty niche offering but if drag shows are your thing, you'll find it also hosts the likes of UNHhhh, Untucked, and Transformations. Prices vary from place to place but there's a FREE 7-day trial on offer so you can sashay on over and check it out for yourself.