Owning any kind of vehicle requires financial commitment and, in many cases, the outlay can be sizable. It’s therefore a great idea to get adash cam, because they’re very affordable and come complete with a whole array of high-tech features alongside having the ability to capture audio and video on the go.
Thebest dash cammodels can help safeguard your property while it’s parked, too. Some models have advanced monitoring modes for when vehicles are stationary and being stored in parking lots or at hotels during business trips and vacations. While some of these advanced features are only available on something like theNextbase iQdash cam, the British dashcam manufacturer has now introduced this: the Nextbase Piqo.
This is a brilliant little alternative to the premium feel of the Nextbase iQ. It’s very compact; much more so than its bigger relative. The installation and configuration can be done in minutes, too. There are a whole range of features that emulate the high-end tools found inside the Nextbase iQ but come in slimmed down or ‘Lite’ variants. Best of all is the fact that the Nextbase Piqo dash cam carries a super budget price tag.
Nextbase Piqo
The Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam is a compact and affordable model that is compatible with just about any vehicle thanks to its plug and play connectivity. The specification is good enough for capturing decent quality video and audio too, with 1K and 2K models available. There are slimmed down or ‘Lite’ versions of features found on the high-end Nextbase iQ too. It’s therefore a great choice for anyone wanting lots of features while keeping things very wallet-friendly.
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Price, availability, and specs
The Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam is available via theNextbase websiteand other online retailers. There are two versions: the 1K (HD 1080p) edition costs $130 / £99 while the slightly better 2K (HD 1440p) model retails for $150 / £119. The pricing is much cheaper than that of the premium Nextbase iQ, which starts at $400 / £350.
What I liked about the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam
Easy to use and solid results
It might be small, but the Nextbase Piqo delivers everything I need from adash cam. The most appealing aspect is the price point, so it’s easily affordable for most folks. There’s also the ease of installation. From taking it out of the box to getting it stuck to my windshield, the Nextbase Piqo install took mere minutes. Configuring it took about the same amount of time and the app is a breeze to use too.
Plus, the ability to plug it into a 12V socket in a vehicle without the need for any hard-wiring makes total sense on the convenience front. That said, hard-wiring is needed for getting access to the more advanced parking and monitoring features. For me though, I like the way I can easily unplug the Nextbase Piqo and move it to another vehicle – that’s super convenient.
Nextbase has been smart enough to include many of the same features found in its premium iQ model.
The Nextbase iQ is my new go-to premium dash cam
Buying an always-connected dash cam like the Nextbase iQ is a smart move if you’re looking for advanced video monitoring.
What I didn’t like about the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam
Not as good as the Nextbase iQ
While the price tag of the Nextbase Piqo makes it very appealing to anyone on a budget, there are compromises as a result. Offering many of the same features found in the premium Nextbase iQ model makes sense, but they’re not quite as muscular. They work fine, but anyone needing a dash cam that does a little more is best advised to head for the more expensive model instead.
There is also the lack of a rear screen. Granted, Nextbase has a very good supporting app, which allowed me to configure the camera easily and, from there, offers plenty of file management tools. However, not having instant access to the same thing via a screen on the rear of the Nextbase Piqo dash cam might seem like a drawback to some. I can live with it, but I do like a touchscreen on the back to be honest.
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Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there’s the quality of the video. On the 2K model I tested, it proved to be satisfactory and can easily be used in the event of an incident. It’s less great in after dark scenarios and distance shots do tend to lose clarity. The audio seemed a little patchy with my test unit too, though I’m yet to ascertain if this was the camera or, perhaps, the car and the cable connection somewhere in-between. Overall, the performance was good rather than great.
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Should you buy the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam?
The Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam comes recommended, mainly because I love its ease of use, the simple installation process and that price point. Even if I move on from the free ‘Solo’ subscription, the ‘Protect’ plan feels like good value for $3 / £3 per month as it offers more cloud storage and enhanced features. Either way, the footage from this dash cam is decent, and it comes with the benefit of timestamp data too, including date, time and speed. The Nextbase Piqo dash cam therefore offers everything most people will want or need and all for peanuts.
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