Garmin 010-02062-00 Dash Cam Mini, Car Key-Sized Dash Cam, 140-Degree Wide-Angle Lens, Captures 1080P HD Footage, Very Compact with Automatic Incident Detection and Recording

I chose this camera for a couple of reasons. I wanted something small (discreet), didn't need a ridiculous amount of features (GPS, lane departure warning, etc...), and I did NOT want one with a lithium-ion battery (those types of batteries don't really enjoy New York weather). This camera fit that criteria, and it uses a super-capacitor instead of a battery (so it stands up to cold and heat even better).This camera gets very warm to the touch during use, but that's considered normal by the manufacturer - so no big deal. When I first tried to connect it to the computer and update it via Garmin Express, the program couldn't detect the camera no matter what I did. I then decided to connect the camera to the phone app and update it that way. The firmware seemed to be very out of date. Once updated, my computer recognized it easily.Setup for the camera (via the app) is very easy. The "good" choices are already selected for you, and you can use the app to view and transfer videos as well as see what the camera "sees" (Live Preview) to make sure everything looks the way it should (since the camera doesn't come with a screen). You can also do things like enable/disable audio and format the SD care (purchased separately), but you can do that with the camera itself, too.I was very happy with the 1080p video quality of the camera. License plates look clear, and everything looks overall very good. I equipped my camera with the Garmin Mini Suction Cup Mount (Garmin's website and the Amazon listing don't show it as being compatible with this camera - but it is. I've posted a review and a photo of the two together on the page for the suction cup mount). I also equipped it with a Garmin Polarized Filter Lens to reduce windshield glare. The lens works perfectly in daylight and makes the night time videos just a little darker (and yet, you can see details better). So, I'll leave the lens on as default.I like that they included two different micro-USB cables in the box. One cable is positioned to point upward when plugged into the camera (for those who want to hide the wire in the trim of their vehicle) and the other is positioned downward (for those who just want it pointed straight down to where the vehicle's outlet is). Since I use the easily removable suction cup mount, I also use the cable that points downward. Everything can be installed/uninstalled in just a few seconds.Again, this camera is for people who just want a dash cam (to basically prove that you did nothing wrong in the event of an accident) and aren't looking for all of the bells and whistles as the more expensive models. This is also the only "new" Garmin dash cam that uses a super-capacitor instead of a battery, so that was worth it. I consider super-capacitors a premium feature. Yes, batteries "last longer" when the camera is not plugged in, but if my camera is ever not plugged in, then I'm not planning to use it. The super-capacitor lasts long enough to save the video it's shooting once the camera loses power - and that's all that really matters.Everything is working perfectly, so I'm extremely satisfied. If anything changes, I'll update the review!

We just bought a new 2021 Kia Seltos SX and wanted to protect our investment with a dashcam. We wanted something small that could be centered behind the rear view mirror without obstructing our view. After reading and watching dozens (literally) of reviews of various models, we finally settled on Garmin Dash Cam Mini and couldn't be happier. We didn't care about a screen and liked that it's made by a name brand company. It was a breeze to install and the phone apps works seamlessly. We chose to use the included short cord, which plugs into the center console. The cam is neatly tucked away behind the rear view mirror and we hardly notice it's there. We purchased the optional polarizing filter, which adds contrast and saturation to the picture quality. The Samsung PRO Endurance 64GB card (sold separately) stores about 16 half hour clips, which get continually overwritten. I highly recommend this dash cam to anyone who is looking for something small and doesn't care about a screen.

After doing a lot of research, I decided to purchase the Garmin Dash Cam Mini for a few reasons:(1) It's small size factor makes it less obvious there's a dash camera, therefore I can place my camera in an inconspicuous location.(2) It uses an adhesive to attach it to my windshield versus other products that only includes a suction cup.(3) It uses the Garmin smartphone app, but unlike some apps that runs all the time while you drive, this one you can access the video files only when you ask the app, meaning saving battery life.Inside the box contains:Camera13 foot USB cable (for car)4 foot USB cable (for your computer)Two adhesive window attachments for the cameraTwin USB cigarette lighter adapterQuick start instructionsInstallation:It took longer than I thought. It took me about a good 15 minutes to look for a proper placement, which in the photo is right in front of my rearview mirror so it doesn't block my vision; also required by state law not to place camera in a way to obstruct my vision of the road. But I can still move my head to see if the device is on and easily reach the save button if I witness an incident. The window adhesive is strong enough if you need to attach it to the black dot area surrounding your mirror.Since I live in a major city, hiding the 13 feet of USB cabling is a must, and that took me at least an hour to work it out. I tucked the wires through the crevices to make it not easy to see the wire; only exposing it for a few inches leading up to the USB lighter port. I have to say, my wiring job was pretty impressive, just hoping if I ever buy a new camera, I can use the same USB cable so I don't have to rewire it again.Once set up, I turned on my car to accessories mode to get the lighter port to power up and check if the camera is working. Once done, I used the Garmin app to access live view to make adjustments to the camera to get the best view.Usage:Since I had to take care of some business on the first day of the camera, I did my normal driving, but since living in an urban area means that you have to drive extra defensive, I was able to press the save button on the camera to capture incidents of drivers swerving in my lane, and one nearly t-boning me. Since I pressed the save button, it was easy to use the app later and extract the videos to my phone's memory.Pros:It's small size makes it easy to hide, long enough cabling to hide the wires, 1080p 30fps camera with audio recording is decent, ability to press button on camera to mute the microphone, and save button will save a photograph and video for about 30-45 seconds before button press and after. Garmin app is good to use, and takes a little practice to use it the right way.Cons:The box did not include a crowbar to help you open the crevices of your vehicle to hide the cable, no Micro SD card is included with the camera (it's mandatory to have one to operate it), and no adhesive cable clips. Video footage is decent, but this is not 4K quality, you can mostly read license plates if you zoom in on the video, but it's what you pay for for a lower resolution recording. When downloading the video from camera to your phone's memory, it will do it in 1080p HD quality, but the download rate is roughly one second of video takes one second to download; so if you have five minutes of footage you need to download, you'll be waiting five minutes to get the complete file.The camera lens range is 140 degrees, which is good, but could be more to help cover more of the vehicle. There is no GPS on this, so you won't see the speed, nor location of where you are; the video will show on the lower left the time and date. If you use live camera view, there is about a two second lag if you move the camera or something passes by the view of the camera; it's annoying when you're trying to adjust the camera. Lastly, while this camera includes "parking mode," you need to purchase the cables to hardwire this to your vehicle; I don't have the skills to do install this without professional help.Recommended items you need with the camera:(1) Flat head screwdriver or something similar; this can act as your crowbar to help you access tight crevices in your vehicle to hide the cable.(2) Rubbing alcohol. For the best adhesion to your windshield, use rubbing alcohol to clean the spot, let it dry, then attach.(3) Adhesive cable clips. Use these in cases where you can't tuck the cable in somewhere, it will help keep it organized and tidy. Also use the rubbing alcohol to clean where you want to stick those clips.(4) Zip ties or twine. If you have excess cable, use something to bundle it up.(5) A high endurance Micro SD card (a must). I strongly recommend a higher capacity like 128GB so that you can dig back in your recording footage if you need to. As the card gets written over when full, if the card gets written over too many times, your card may get worn out and you could lose the data; this is why a bigger capacity card means less writing over.(6) Garmin's Polarized Lens. This is a must if you experience glare showing your dashboard; the filter will reduce that glare for a better view in daylight conditions.(7) A video/movie editor app. Once you download your videos to your personal device, you may want to do a compilation or share it with your friends, so get familiar with your editor app to trim, and cut audio (especially copyrighted stuff or private conversations).(8) A cloud storage service for your videos you want to keep. Those videos takes up a lot of space, so instead of eating up precious space on your smartphone, upload it to a cloud storage website to preserve them, and delete the files from your phone.(9) If you want to hardwire the camera to your car to record on "parking mode," you need to purchase the proper wiring from Garmin. The box does not include this, nor does the camera have an internal battery to recharge and record when engine is off.