Is 1080p Sufficient for a Dash Cam?
4 Answers
1080p is sufficient for a dash cam and can be considered the standard resolution for dash cams. The resolution and recording duration of a dash cam are as follows: Dash Cam Resolution: Currently, high-definition dash cams come with resolutions such as 720p, 1080p, and 1200p. Comparatively, 1080p records clearer videos than 720p but falls slightly short of 1200p. However, higher resolutions result in larger video file sizes, with 1200p files being larger than 1080p. Therefore, 1080p is currently the optimal resolution for dash cams. Dash Cam Recording Duration: The specific resolution can be chosen based on the memory card capacity. Larger capacities allow for higher resolutions. Typically, a 16GB memory card can record approximately 200 minutes of video at 720p resolution, while 1080p can only record about 100 minutes. The larger the memory capacity, the more videos can be stored, and the longer the recording duration.
I've been driving for many years, and a 1080p dash cam is actually sufficient for daily use. It can capture the general situation on the road and even clearly record the license plate of the car in front. The key advantage is the small video file size—my 64GB card can store footage for several days. If you use 4K, it consumes over 10GB of memory per hour, making frequent data transfers a hassle. In rainy conditions, 1080p might be a bit blurry, but it's generally adequate for determining accident liability. I recommend that average car owners opt for a 1080p dash cam with a high frame rate. A 60fps model is much more practical than 30fps 4K for capturing lane changes and sudden merges, and it also saves battery. Pair it with a good HDR function to handle backlighting without issues. The money saved is better spent on a high-capacity, high-speed memory card.
After becoming a parent, I've become particularly concerned about driving safety. I feel that 1080p might not be sufficient in critical moments. Last time when my friend got rear-ended, the other party's license plate was somewhat blurry in the 1080p footage at night. Especially on highways, license plates of vehicles illegally overtaking in the opposite lane often can't be captured clearly. The newly released 2.5K dash cams are similarly priced but can capture details two lanes further away. If you frequently drive at night or live in suburban areas with poor street lighting, it's worth considering higher resolution. However, make sure the lens aperture is no smaller than F1.6 for decent night vision performance. It's best to choose specialized memory cards designed for dash cams to avoid missing seconds of footage.
A 1080p resolution is perfectly usable if you're on a tight budget. The sub-$100 models on the market perform poorly in nighttime imaging, but 1080p dash cams in the $50 range equipped with Sony sensors deliver decent results. The key is to choose one with a 140-degree wide-angle lens that can cover three lanes. My last minor collision was determined using footage from the edge of the frame. Don't blindly trust 4K marketing claims—many budget 4K models actually perform worse than mid-range 1080p ones. Pay attention to whether the loop recording function is stable and watch out for overheating crashes. After all, car interiors can reach 60-70°C in summer, and plastic-shell devices are prone to freezing.
