Nexar Beam GPS dash cam review

Our Verdict

Overall, we're pretty smitten with the Nexar Beam GPS dash cam. At that place are some foibles outlined above that take the edge off, but because the request price for the Nexar Beam GPS dash cam we'd say it has to be one of the all-time value models on the market. Some small-scale tweaks by Nexar and this will be class-leading.

For

• Crisp footage
• Compact design
• Unlimited cloud storage
• Long power cable

Confronting

• App is average
• Accessing your cloud infinite is catchy
• Puts strain on phone bombardment

Tom'due south Guide Verdict

Overall, we're pretty smitten with the Nexar Beam GPS dash cam. In that location are some foibles outlined above that take the edge off, but considering the request toll for the Nexar Beam GPS nuance cam we'd say it has to be one of the best value models on the market. Some minor tweaks past Nexar and this will be class-leading.

Pros

• +

  Crisp footage

• +

  Meaty design

• +

  Unlimited cloud storage

• +

  Long power cablevision

Cons

• -

  App is average

• -

  Accessing your cloud space is tricky

• -

  Puts strain on phone bombardment

Nexar Beam GPS dash cam: Specs

Field of View: 135°
Resolution: 1080p
GPS: Yeah
Display: No

The Nexar Beam GPS dash cam is ideal if you're looking for a reasonably compact dash cam, which comes with the ability to capture 1080p full HD footage, boasts GPS functionality and offers unlimited cloud storage of clips this dash cam will definitely exist of involvement.

However, it's not without some idiosyncrasies, which include a clunky transition from recording clips on the camera and getting them into your cloud space. Anyone who hates footling around with phone and app settings might find information technology a bit of an ordeal. Though once mastered the Nexar Beam GPS does evangelize some quality footage.

Nexar Beam GPS dash cam review: Price and availability

The Nexar Beam GPS dash cam is available from at present Amazon.com and the Nexar website with a electric current price tag of $119.95

Nexar Axle GPS dash cam review: Pattern & features

The Nexar Beam GPS dash cam arrives in a compact box, which contains everything needed to get up and running. At that place'south the camera itself, along with the GPS mount that also includes a suction pad. Yous get a generous iii-metre cable too, with an adapter that plugs into a conventional 12V in-car power socket.

(Image credit: Nexar)

Usefully at that place are two USB ports on the outside of the adapter, merely i of which needs to be used to power the camera. Nexar also includes a trio of small-scale manuals, numbered one to 3 illustrating the steps needed to get the device ready.

Because its relatively low price point the Nexar Beam GPS dash cam comes with a pretty impressive specification, along with having a decent pattern and solid build quality. The camera part of the parcel feels quite robust, and is able to fend off the rigours of being mounted to a windshield or similar location for long periods of time. Nexar states it tin record 1080p full HD, with a135-caste field of view. Naturally there's a born microphone too.

(Image credit: Nexar)

An added bonus with this model is that Nexar throws in free cloud storage, which is really pretty useful because many dash cams make you pay a subscription for that sort of affair. Plus, as the proper noun suggests, y'all likewise accept the added benefit of a built-in GPS module, allowing the location of your vehicle to be recorded should farther evidence be needed in case of an accident. Trips are recorded on graphical maps as role of this process as well.

(Image credit: Nexar)

Also useful is the parking mode feature, which ways that the Nexar can offer 24/7 security monitoring. If your vehicle is nudged, bumped or the camera is disturbed then it'll automatically record the incident, fifty-fifty if you lot're non in it at the time.

Nexar'due south G-sensor has been designed to capture anything untoward, which is ever a bonus if you desire the actress reassurance your tin is staying condom when you're away. Helping to manage all of this is a companion app, with the camera and software working hand-in-hand to ensure y'all go updates sent directly to your smartphone.

(Image credit: Nexar)

A 32GB microSD card is included with the photographic camera, but this can exist additional to 256GB. Meanwhile, Nexar claims the cloud storage is unlimited, which sounds pretty generous to us. This feature includes an afterward-the-result hub, which lets users view their videos that have been uploaded using Wi-Fi. This dashboard area also allows users to trim and compile whatever required video content and bundle information technology into a gear up-to-get report in the event of an incident.

Nexar Axle GPS dash cam review: Setup

Physically installing the Nexar Beam GPS dash cam is really fairly straightforward. We chose the standard location, just underneath the rear view mirror so that the photographic camera lens could go a good view of the road ahead. It comes with a handy plastic tool for concealing the cablevision if you don't want it on show or getting in the way.

(Paradigm credit: Tom'due south Guide)

The other finish of the cablevision needs to go into your power outlet, of grade, and that's most it. The suction cap works fine and holds the camera in place even if you're going over bumpy terrain.

(Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

In terms of connectivity the Nexar Beam GPS nuance cam needs to talk to your phone, and so you'll take to pair it using Bluetooth. You'll also need to accept Wi-Fi enabled on your handset too, so the camera can stream video straight to it.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

2 lights on the rear of the unit are worth noting; the light-green one shows the camera is working while the blue ane means its paired to your phone. After that, depending on how you've configured the settings in your app, you should be skillful to go. Overall the setup and installation procedure was reasonably simple.

Nexar Axle GPS dash cam review: Software

In order to use the Nexar Beam GPS nuance cam yous'll demand to download the accompanying app, which is available for iOS and Android. Nosotros used the latter edition and, despite a few negative reviews, it installed without issue. Afterward launching the software you lot'll need to create an account, which requires a username, phone number for the confirmation setup code and an electronic mail accost. This all worked without any hassle.

Yet, the instructions are a little vague when it comes to learning how and why the app ticks. This is certainly the case for footage, which is divided into 'Clips' and 'Total Drives'. The layout of the app interface is, at confront value, simplicity itself. Using it in reality is a piffling different though.

(Image credit: Nexar)

There are three options at the foot of the screen: Activity, Drive and More. The latter effectively allows yous to tweak all of the core settings, about notably phone storage and how much space you want to permit on your telephone for clips. This ranges from xx% then 50% (the default setting) and finally eighty% of available storage space on your handset. This menu also shows your unlimited cloud storage as well.

It's possible to fine-tune settings for the photographic camera via the app, such as having auto kickoff and stop enabled, switching on audio recording and, interestingly, toggling a switch notifying the app that you drive an electric car.

While clips are saved to your phone the camera as well sends clips of any unusual road events to your unlimited cloud infinite. However, at that place's a groovy option for trimming any clips manually as well, which is useful if you lot only want to showcase a particular part of whatsoever journey.

For added reassurance, footage is also stored on the microSD menu inside the camera with older footage being overwritten by newer content one time the media carte is full. That's why information technology might exist a good idea to beefiness upward the size of the standard menu given how cheap microSD cards are these days.

(Image credit: Nexar)

Your profile includes information, recorded by month and year, on your journeys, the time they took and the amount of movies that accept been recorded. Again though, at that place's no seamless connexion with the cloud space, or indeed the Nexar hub area. We eventually got to it using the assist section on the website, weirdly enough. The space itself is pretty good, but Nexar could brand it easier to discover.

Nexar Axle GPS nuance cam review: Video and audio quality

During our time with the Nexar Beam GPS dash cam we recorded footage at various times of the day. Considering we were using it in the fall, consummate with all of the lighting challenges that presents for a camera, the results were largely impressive.

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

The lens coped admirably with glare from early on forenoon sunshine and articulate skies, while too performing impressively later dark. Footage is crisp, articulate and doesn't suffer from camera shake or wobble thanks to the chunky included in the box.

(Epitome credit: Tom'south Guide)

Naturally the fact the video is full HD resolution meant that disk space is used up quite apace, and we couldn't find any obvious mode of tweaking the quality settings. All the same, given the need to have footage every bit articulate as possible, especially when you're trying to include things like licence plates, having the best quality video switched on by default seems like the best thing to do. And, because Nexar so generously offers yous the ability to shop an unlimited corporeality of cloud, that'due south even less of a business organisation.

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

The sound is reasonably impressive too, capturing everything from nonsensical in-car conversations through to the radio and even the tick-tock of plough signals. The latter could even prove useful if there's whatsoever dispute over where you had a turn bespeak on or not. The settings let y'all tweak this a little, only by default we kept audio recording on, despite the fact that it captures the bumming witterings of the car's occupants.

Nexar Axle GPS nuance cam review: Verdict

Overall, we're pretty smitten with the Nexar Axle GPS dash cam. In that location are some foibles outlined above that have the edge off it slightly, most notably the confusing disconnect between the camera, your telephone and that unlimited Nexar hub space. Perhaps it becomes easier with prolonged employ.

We couldn't piece of work out how to alter bones stuff either, including changing from KPH to MPH, which seems like information technology should be an instant and obvious thing to do. Bated from that though, the photographic camera records splendid footage and very decent audio, which is really the lesser line with a device like this.

We're also fans of the GPS functionality, which shows your road taken on the app. Considering the asking toll for the Nexar Beam GPS dash cam we'd say it has to be 1 of the all-time value models on the market, especially given its generous suite of features and functions. Some minor tweaks past Nexar and this volition be class-leading.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/nexar-beam-gps-dash-cam

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