Nextbase 312GW Dashcam Review

What We Say

What is it?

Nextbase describe it as a "dash cam solution for new or experienced motorists who want instant upload capabilities to social media, or their insurer. Market leading thanks to its connective capabilities and ease of use, this new dawn for dash cams simply reinforces Nextbase's position as the most popular dash cam brand in the UK". It boasts many features such as GPS logging, WiFi, Smartphone Apps, a 2.7" LCD screen, G-sensor and 1080p recording.

It is very simple to get going, you attach the mount (with integrated GPS) to the windscreen which is designed to site just behind your rearview mirror. The dashcam then just clips on, this means it is also easy to remove from the windscreen and take away from the car.The dashcam records directly onto a class 10 microSD card (up to 32GB) which isn't supplied. This is installed into the slot on the unit and can record around 4 hours'worth of video at full 1080p. When the memory card becomes full, an auto loop function will kick in overwriting the oldest, none protected, recordings.

One of the new nifty features is the built-in Wi-Fi, this allows you to connect it up to the Nextbase Viewer App (available for both Android and iOS) and view videos whenever and wherever without needing a computer.We tested the iOS version and it worked perfectly. But you don't have to do this to review footage at the roadside - it has a clear 2.7" LED screen on the back of the camera to play recordings.

The Nextbase 312GW offers excellent video quality recording in 1080p HD, giving you clear video along with its 140 degree viewing angle. The software allows you to review the footage along with information of exact position on Google Maps and speed that you were travelling - very easy to use. Because of the recording quality you are also able to playback the video in other software such as VLC as actually view it frame by frame if you needed to pinpoint details.

The built-in G-sensor will allow the Dashcam to record any impacts or sudden course changes and the footage is automatically protected on the memory card. The built-in GPS allows for the vehicle's exact position and route to be recorded and a date and time stamp is also included in the recording to prevent any potential dispute in the event of an incident. However, you don't just have to rely on the G-sensor, you can also press a nice red button on the Dashcam to manually create a permanently saved event in a situation where something has happened in front of you.

This was one of the mid-range dashcams we tested that has a RRP of £99.99.

How we tested it?

We tested the dashcam individually over a period of time and as part of a group test so we really put it through its paces. We followed the manufacturers'recommendations when setting up the dashcam. We tested it in both daytime and nighttime.

We Liked:

• It was easy to setup, you can get away with just plugging it.
• It has an LCD screen allowing you to preview clips on the Dashcam.
• You are able to connect up your smartphone and view videos directly from the Dashcam.
• It has an obvious button for if you wish to permanently save a clip.
• We found this probably had the best software to view review video clips and relevant information.

We didn't Like:

• Only negative we can really find is the video at night isn't the best from the selection that we've tested, it glares a bit with light however it's by no means poor and is common across them all - see our video.

Video Example

Overall:

For the price the Nextbase 312GW is probably the best all round dash cam we've tested - boasting features such as crystal clear footage capture, a compact design and excellent quick release mount and built in GPS and WiFi. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend this device to anyone looking for a quality dashcam at a sensible price.

Specifications