Customers frequently mention the exceptional video quality, reliable parking mode, and impressive 4K recording capabilities of the iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam. They appreciate the convenience of the intuitive app and GPS tracking feature. While some users find the subscription cost to be a downside, others believe it is a worthwhile investment considering the camera's overall value.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 1 Showing 1-20 of 99 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Parking mode, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Worth Ever Penny
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I went from a Garmin Live to the 4K IQ, hands down, the best purchase. Not only the quality of the video is crisp and clean all the features are amazing. Between Witness Mode, etc you are getting what you pay for. Also, i love the perimeter protection. It was with the OBD port and various size fuse taps which allows you to decide how you want to install the camera.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Thanks for the review! Love that you make the switch and are loving your 4K iQ!
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
5 Star….Once You Get it to Work
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
So i read a number of reviews before i purchased tbis camera. I wanted the best camera out there, and i also wanted access to the features that Nextbase offers in the iQ. I was disappointed that the reviews were so wishy-washy. The price point is high, obviously. But once you get this thing working, BOY is it worth it!! I have the 4k with the rearvew camera as well. The install was easy, but the setup was a bit of a challenge. To setup, initially you scan a QR code on the camera. It downloads a firmware update and then finishes the install. Only, the update would ‘download’ and then fail to complete. After a bit of frustration and headache, I had to remove rhe sd card and format it as the manufacturer instructed. Once i did that, the setup was a cinch. I’ve had no issues with the pairing of the rearview camera, as others have stated. It all works great! I’d give it 5 stars of the setup wasn’t a bit of a challenge. BUT you do get what you pay for here. Of course, there is a fee to use all of the features…$20/month. But for the security, peace of mind, and reliability i think it’s money well spent!
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to write your review, we really appreciate your feedback regarding your experience with the IQ. We're sorry to hear the setup was a bit difficult, we'll look into that. I'm glad to hear the camera is working great now. If you require any assistance in the future please don't hesitate to contact us again. Our support team will be happy to help! - The Nextbase Review Team
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Does not do what is advertised
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This camera does not work properly and shouldnt be in stores especially at this price. The good easy to install. Unfortunately most modes advetised dont work. I have been in communication with the company amd was assured today a firmware update would correct most issues. Well it hasnt fixed one issue. Whittness mode shows it records but doesnt save the video. It does send a link but when you click on it you get an error code 404. Connecting to the camera works sometimes. It has about a thirty second delay from live footage. The SD card will not format when you propt it in the app. The only feature that works is parking mode. Motion doesnt work or any other feature. This was sloppy work not with the hardware but software. I feel like false advertising and surprised Best Buy would sell a product which doesnt do most things claimed by the company. We have a new vehicle, latest version firmware, iphone 14 with latest updates so nothing on our side to prevent the product from working properly. The company knows it has hige issues but continues to mislead consumers. Unless this is resolved soon ill be returning the product.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello,
Thanks for leaving a review, we really appreciate the feedback and I'm sorry to hear that you are still having issues with the camera.
The newest firmware update (1.5.0) will fix most of the issues you've been experiencing, but some of the other problems you've described, such as the SD card, Motion (Radar) should definitely not be occurring at this point so will require further troubleshooting. From this review we can only see a username but iQ tickets are being reviewed multiple times daily, so you should be hearing from us very shortly, but if for some reason you don't, please email us on [email protected] so we can look further into this for you.
Regards
Thanks to your valuable feedback, we've made some exciting updates to our app and device! To enjoy the new improvements: Update the app from your app store. For the latest firmware, open your iQ app, tap the menu in the bottom right, go to iQSettings > Firmware Update > Click Latest Update. You're all set to enjoy the enhancements! The Nextbase Review Team
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
It’s ok but could be much better
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
A month review, I have own owlcam and raven very good dash but owlcam is now garbage after they sold the company and raven is good but the dash only lasted a year then customer service Told me they only cover a year. So I give This dashcam
A try, in my opinion is not worth almost 700 I mean the video Quality is good but is not wow, there’s times where I can’t see the video is just buffering and one more thing this cam is super sensitive some might like some might not. Another thing I live in San Diego and this cam DOES NOT work in Tijuana witch that’s a thing I didn’t like might consider returning just because of that
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I'm sorry you're not entirely happy with your iQ, please email us at [email protected] so we can further assist you with the issue you're experiencing. Regarding the coverage issue you mention, we currently only have coverage in the US and Canada in North America. Kind regards. The Nextbase Review Team
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
BestBuy fleamarket shopping.
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Ive exchanged this device three times in two months. See enclosed pics of what the Geek Squad manager of the Moore Ok store said is normal to have to deal with. And if you find the pics to be acceptable quality then by all means, pleasure yourself and purchase this item, atleast youve been told. And if you purchase peripherals specific to this device such as the rear window cam that peripheral will not be honored for return even with the protection plan. My experience with this purchase from BestBuy was comparable to Fleamarket shopping. BestBuy did not appreciate that i gave them the benefit of the doubt three times and stiffed me on the return of the device specific peripheral even with the warranty contract. So again see the pics of what the BestBuy Geek Squad manager if the Moore OK store calls quality and normal. The pics are from each if the three exchanged cams. You can zoom to note the dates. This was truelly a traumatizing experience from BestBuy. I literally at the direction of the NextBase tech support had to remove the SD card and place it in a computer to download the firmware update then place the SD card back in the device. It worked a few days then I exchanged the device. This occured on two more subsequent exchanges. Then to be told by BestBuy Geek Squad manager at the Moore OK store that its normal to have to perform those tasks to get the plug and play device to work as it was designed to work. All this in spite if the device having its own 24/7 stand alone internet connection provided by TMobile with full bars connection. My advise to BestBuy is put these in their Geek Squad and delivery vehicles since they consider this acceptable quality. Then we'll see how fast their opinion changes from quality to junk fleamarket find. Im not meaning to be be disparaging to BestBuy but this is a real experience i had with BestBuy.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are deeply sorry you've had a bad experience with our product and the attention you received from the retailer and our customer support. While it is normal for footage quality to appear lower in the app before files are downloaded, you are completely correct in assuming it is not normal for the camera to behave in the way yours has. We appreciate the manual firmware update and troubleshooting process can take some time, but they are crucial steps to help our customer support and development team fully understand the issue and assist you. Please reach out to [email protected] so we can investigate the issue and work towards a resolution. Thank you. The Nextbase Reviews Team.
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
BEST PURCHASE EVER!!!
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve never had a dash cam for any vehicle I’ve had but after having the IQ smart dash Cam, I regret not having one before I believe this is the best one. No doubt you are making a mistake by not having an IQ smart dash Cam. The best purchase I’ve ever made. I’ve never felt safer while driving. It gives you a comfort that nothing else can give you. I wish everyone could experience what it’s like to have the IQ Smart dash cam I recommend getting the front and rear for the full experience. The $200 a year subscription might seem like a lot, but it’s worth every single penny, get your dash Cam before it’s too late. Driving has never felt this good the dash cam is a must have if you drive. Don’t wait any longer get your dash cam as soon as you can you won’t regret it 100%. I could write a book about how great the dash cam is, but I’m gonna stop here or else I would go on forever.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello, thank you so much for your amazing feedback! We're thrilled to hear that the IQ has exceeded your expectations and provided you with a sense of safety and peace of mind while driving. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your positive experience. If you ever need any assistance, please email us at [email protected]. The Nextbase Review Team
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Buyer beware tech-support slow firmware updates no
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Posted . Owned for 11 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Tech support is a waste of time for this company. You’ll engage in emails back and forth, and I’m sure some will figure out a solution. I purchased the premium subscription. The camera worked fine until November 9, 2024; it stopped recording or sharing with the cloud service. I took screenshots and followed all the troubleshooting techniques that they requested. Their upload service doesn’t work for the United States. All you’ll get are errors you may want to consider if you get into an issue using Google Drive with a link with an expiration date on the shared file. I do like the camera overall, but it has its deficiencies. There’s no battery backup, similar to other products that are 4G and high end, as this hardware tech support is by email. They have a phone number, but it’s always busy. It takes between 48 hours and 72 hours for the email to return. In the beginning, you’ll get two or three different agents that will ask you to do the same thing that the first agent asked you to do, so my advice to anyone who purchases this dash camera ‘ if you have a problem with it, take it back to Best Buy. Don’t waste your time with manufacturing because that’s precisely what you’re going to do is waste your time. in the picture that I added, you can see the firmware does not update and when a master reset is completed, still won’t update.,
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We truly apologize for the frustration you've encountered with both our tech support and the camera’s performance. We completely understand how disappointing it can be when things don’t work as expected, especially after following troubleshooting steps.
We deeply value your feedback, and we're sincerely sorry for any inconvenience you’ve faced due to delays in communication and unresolved technical issues. Our goal is always to provide a smooth, helpful experience, and it’s clear we fell short in this instance.
We’d love the opportunity to assist you further and ensure we get this sorted out for you. If you’re still open to working with us, we can escalate your case and make sure you receive prompt and effective assistance. please get in touch with our dedicated IQ line at +1 (888) 817 4209.
Thank you for being a valued customer, and we truly hope we can regain your trust. Please feel free to reach out directly so we can make this right for you. - The Nextbase Reviews Team
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Nexbase IQ
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The IQ is an awesome camera, he app is simple to use and the 4K quality is great. My favorite feauture is the LTE live stream works amazing best dash cam on the market hands down. Will be purchasing the rear camera to complete the 360 view. Installed in my 24 Silverado.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello, Thank you for your review. We are very proud of the IQ, and we are thrilled you are having such a great experience. Thank you for sharing! The Nextbase Review Team
Pros mentioned:
Gps tracking, Parking mode
Cons mentioned:
Subscription
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
good looking camera with a lot of features
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
the Nextbase iQ 4K dash cam does way more than i thought a dash cam was capable of. I was looking into getting one just to have just in case because of some close calls and i saw this. the amount of features was almost suspicious, like how could it do all that.
there's no display on the camera to keep it compact, but you can review footage and do live view on your phone, so if you have a phone mount on your dash you could use that. It gives a very crisp view Infront of you and in your cabin. I imagine this is very handy if you're doing ride sharing, to have video of your cabin/passengers for everyone's safety.
while setup is straight forward and easy to setup, it can be finicky depending on where you are because you need a clear signal to get the GPS to track and find you and to get a solid 4G connection. on the rear screen you can see status of data connection, GPS and what's going on (parking, recording, etc). In my suburban driveway with no trees nearby or tall buildings, i had trouble connecting the first night. the GPS was red (no signal) and i couldn't view live feed. kept restarting and no luck. reached out to tech support and they gave me instructions. next morning went to try again to follow their tests and suddenly it just started working and has been working since.
What's nice is even if my car is off and i'm in the house, i can open the app and it will ping and wake up the camera allowing me to get a live view inside and in front of the camera. the other night i heard loud exhaust noises in the middle of the night and it sounded like my vehicle, so i woke up the camera, saw that it was still empty and in the driveway and then went back to sleep.
the GPS is sweet too because when you open the app, not only do you have both cameras at the bottom but in the background is your location on google maps, so you can easily find where your car is.
i haven't had a chance to test the AI smart sense parking but i set up the motion zones, don't tend to park near other cars, so thankfully hasn't needed to be used.
Witness mode is handy because you can set up an emergency contact and should something happen like an altercation with passengers/passerby's/law enforcement/etc they'll get a link and video which seems very helpful these days
as far as installation, its pretty straight forward, setup the camera on the app and then stick it to the glass and run the wire. It sticks out a little further than i'd like past my mirror but that is no fault of the camera, my car has a very wide trim cover around the mirror because of the radar for lane keep and speed sign camera. Otherwise i'd probably have been able to move it higher and hide it nicer. it would have been nice to have a bit more articulation. it only goes up and down on a fixed arm, so moving it up also moves the angle up. some side to side would be nice to ensure you can level the image
as far as powering it, you can use the OBD2 port under your dash or you can use the add a fuse adapter they provide. they actually provide 4 different sizes so no matter what kind of car you have, you should be able to use one of the adapters depending on your cars fuse shape.
The subscription is a bit pricey but there's different tiers based on what features you are interested in/need. not sure if i'd be keeping the highest one long term, we'll see how i get on with using it in the day to day and what i tend to use feature wise
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Glitchy lte
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Junk
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
There is hardly any support because the company is based in the UK. Rear cam never worked. Quality of image is poor and LTE is glitchy. Stay away frim Nextbase and save yourself time and money.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello, Thank you for your review. I am sorry you’ve had this experience. We have a customer support center for North America, we are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST from Monday to Friday. The recordings are saved in 4k resolution, you may have downloaded the lower-resolution copy of the files that show as a preview on the app. Please contact us so we can assist you and provide the information you need: [email protected] Thanks to your valuable feedback, we've made some exciting updates to our app and device! To enjoy the new improvements: Update the app from your app store. For the latest firmware, open your iQ app, tap the menu in the bottom right, go to iQSettings > Firmware Update > Click Latest Update. You're all set to enjoy the enhancements! The Nextbase Review Team
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Horrible purchase
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Posted . Owned for 6 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This camera has too many problems. The rear camera never connects with it. When you try the live view mode, you might connect once out of every 10 tries even if your vehicle is on and you’re 6 inches away from the camera, 5 months after buying the camera, it no longer connects with the app. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND DO NOT BUY THIS!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Hello, Thank you for your review. I am sorry you are having this experience. Failing to connect would not be a common issue, so we would need to investigate it to find out what could be causing it. I am positive we can provide the support you need and find a solution for you. Please contact us so we can help: [email protected] The Nextbase Review Team
Pros mentioned:
Gps tracking, Parking mode, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A Guardian Angel For Your Car
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
As an avid Hyundai Elantra EG driver, I'm always on the lookout for accessories that enhance my driving experience and safeguard my vehicle. The Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam emerged as a top contender, promising exceptional video quality, advanced features, and seamless integration with my Elantra EG. Eager to put it to the test, I embarked on a journey that would transform my perception of dash cams. From the moment I opened the box, I was impressed by the Nextbase iQ 4K's sleek design and compact size. It fit seamlessly into my Elantra EG's dashboard, blending in harmoniously with the car's aesthetic. The installation process was a breeze, thanks to the included suction mount and clear instructions. Upon powering up the dash cam, I was greeted by a user-friendly interface that made it easy to navigate the various settings and features. The high-resolution display provided a crystal-clear view of the road ahead, even in bright sunlight. The heart of the Nextbase iQ 4K lies in its exceptional video recording capabilities. Capturing footage in stunning 4K Ultra HD, it captured every detail of the road, from license plates and road signs to the subtle movements of pedestrians and vehicles. The 140-degree wide-angle lens ensured that no incident or detail would go unnoticed. Beyond its impressive video quality, the Nextbase iQ 4K boasts a plethora of advanced features that elevate it above the competition. The built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity allowed me to effortlessly transfer recorded footage to my smartphone or tablet, making it easy to share or store for future reference. The GPS tracking feature proved to be an invaluable asset, meticulously recording my location and speed alongside the video footage. This information could be crucial in the event of an accident or insurance claim, providing indisputable evidence of my whereabouts and driving behavior. The automatic incident detection feature added an extra layer of security, automatically initiating recording and saving footage in the event of a sudden impact or abrupt change in motion. This gave me peace of mind knowing that even if I was momentarily distracted, the dash cam would capture the critical moments. The voice control proved to be a game-changer, allowing me to operate the dash cam hands-free. With simple voice commands, I could start or stop recording, adjust settings, and even access playback, all without taking my eyes off the road. The parking mode transformed my Elantra EG into a vigilant sentinel, automatically activating recording when the car was parked and unattended. This provided an extra layer of protection against theft or vandalism, deterring potential culprits and capturing any suspicious activity. Throughout my experience with the Nextbase iQ 4K, I was consistently impressed by its ease of use and intuitive design. The menu system was straightforward, and the controls were easily accessible, even while driving. I highly recommend this dash cam to any driver seeking a comprehensive and reliable safety solution. Its exceptional video quality, advanced features, and user-friendly design have transformed it into a guardian angel, safeguarding my vehicle and providing peace of mind on every journey.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed review of the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam. We're delighted to hear about your positive experience and how it has enhanced your driving with your Hyundai Elantra EG.
It's wonderful to know that you found the design of the dash cam sleek and its compact size seamlessly integrated into your car's dashboard, enhancing its overall aesthetic. We're thrilled that the installation process was smooth for you, thanks to the suction mount and clear instructions included.
Your feedback on the user-friendly interface and the high-resolution display providing a crystal-clear view of the road is much appreciated. We're proud to offer a smart cam that meets your expectations in terms of video quality, capturing every detail in stunning 4K Ultra HD. The wide-angle lens and advanced features like GPS tracking and automatic incident detection further contribute to its functionality as a reliable safety solution.
Once again, thank you for recommending the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we're thrilled to have played a role in transforming your driving experience into one with enhanced safety and peace of mind. If you ever have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.
Pros mentioned:
Parking mode, Video quality
Cons mentioned:
Price
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Future-Proof Dash Cam But With A Monthly Cost
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have owned a few dash cameras, but I wanted one that would send me alerts when something was happening to my car and also did not rely on an internal battery. Therefore, I was curious to see if the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart dashcam would meet these needs.
Setup was easy, but I did have a hard time scanning the QR code on the camera screen with my iPhone 13 pro. I would recommend getting a good idea of where to place the camera before taking off the film from VHB tape on the speaker’s back. The camera can adjust back and forth, but make sure that it’s vertical before sticking it to the windshield, since it does not adjust side to side or up and down. It needs to be connected to the car’s battery using the OBD connector or the fuse box to power the camera. It is worth noting that the OBD connector does not contain a passthrough, so the camera would need to be disconnected if the OBD connector is needed.
Video/Voice features
I was pretty happy with how clear the video feed was for both the front- and cabin-facing camera. I tried the voice features, and the camera was responsive to my commands. Since I work in a retail setting, I had to set the proximity sensors for the Smart Sense Parking closer to the vehicle because otherwise I was getting a lot of notifications. It is pretty easy to adjust, but I would like for a GPS setting to determine how the sensors send alerts. I did not experience any issues with this camera draining my car’s battery since it has a feature to prevent this, but I would like for the camera to provide feedback on the health of my car’s battery and warn me if it detects an issue.
All the features of this camera performed well, but the Roadwatch AI and Guardian Mode were not active as of this review.
Cost
I feel the biggest drawback of this great camera is the monthly/yearly cost. If you choose to not pay a monthly fee, the camera only sends text notifications and still has voice control. I believe this camera uses T-Mobile’s 4G network, so that would explain why the price is about the same as a wearable device. However, I would like to be able to add this camera to my phone carrier’s network and perhaps get a little better pricing.
In sum, if you are looking for a future-proof camera that seems to keep adding features and don’t mind spending $10-$20 a month to get the most out of it, then this is the absolute best camera you can get. However, if do not want the monthly cost added to a pricey camera, there are other options that may better suit.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Parking mode, Video quality
Cons mentioned:
Subscription
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Revolutionizing Road Safety
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The black Nextbase iQ 4K smart dash cam is a great piece of tech that has changed the way I drive in every way. It has all the high-tech features and sleek look a modern driver could want.
Seeing "Always On 4G" was the first thing that caught my eye. So, my dash cam is always live, so I can use the Road Watch AI system right away, get updates, and see what's going on in real time. Watching live video from my phone's camera is not only fun, but it's also very helpful for seeing what's going on around me or the road ahead.
It's truly amazing that the iQ 4K can record in 4K with included SD Card, The amount of data it stores is so huge that every second on the road is recorded in great detail. The 4K recording includes everything, from license plates to street signs. Because of this, it is a useful tool in case of an accident or a fight.
The "Smart Sense Parking" mode changes the game by keeping track of everything that happens while your car is parked. No matter if it's a small crash or a hit-and-run, the witness mode will work well.
One more great thing is the SOS emergency feature, If there is an accident, the dash cam can call the cops right away and give them important information about what happened, which could save lives. This amount of safety gives you so much peace of mind that words can't describe it.
What a surprise, the iQ 4K is very simple to set up and comes QR Code just scan you will get a video where it clearly provides detailed instructions just install the App it will also provide step by step instructions so that you get it done in no time, It's very simple to set up, even for non-technical people.
This dash cam looks like it fits in my car because of how sleek it is. It adds a touch of class without getting in the way of my view. The tool makes the car look better and safer at the same time.
You need a subscription to access some smart features and live view options you have multiple subscription options to choose from it would be very helpful if manufacturer can reduce the subscription pricing.
Finally, the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam in Black is a very cool car tech item. With 4K video, always-on 4G, Smart Sense Parking mode, live view, and Road Watch AI, it changes what a dash cam can do. It's a good witness on the go because it has the best video quality and the most up-to-date tools that make things safer and easier. If you care about your safety or are crazy about computers, you won't be sorry you bought the iQ 4K. As we drive, new tech like this dash cam can make things better, safer, and more fun.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Thanks for the great review! This dash cam really does elevate your car in so many ways, especially with all of our safety features. So glad are enjoying your new dash cam, please let us know if you have any questions at [email protected].
Pros mentioned:
Parking mode
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A Mixed Bag That Is Going To Be Hit or Miss
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
CONCLUSION:
This is a neat device. It performs well. And has a lot of unique features. Making me want to give it a 5. However, this is a rocky road as not everything is working perfectly, at all, or is coming down the line. It is extremely expensive between the camera itself, the rear camera if you add it, and monthly subscription. Which makes me want to give it 3.5 – 4 stars in the current state. I think this will be one of those devices that is either a great beta run and the next version will be awesome. Or it will age well with firmware updates and be awesome a year or so from now once they are out of the growing phase. But you should never buy a product on what they claim it will be. But instead what it is currently. If these features sound like what you are looking for I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re just looking for great picture quality and something that is hands off (which it excels at for a dashcam). I’d keep looking as the tax your paying by not using the other features is steep.
SETUP:
I had a lot of problems with setup. Originally went to set it up my car battery was dead (which I was completely unaware of at the time). Which may or may not have caused issues with the firmware of the device making it get stuck on the “onboarding” screen of two yellow arrows going in a circle. After about a week or two of going back and forth with support they pushed an update OTA which allowed me to get past that screen and setup my camera. Once that happened setup was quick and easy. Support was great with quick response times (usually <24 hours), helpful suggestions, very professional, and friendly. Inside the app it says to call a number which didn’t go through because it is missing the 1 in the US. But once I added the 1 to the number provided it worked. As they are based in the UK. If you don’t run into issues setup is easy. You plug the device into your OBD port (there are options for alternatives as well but this is the easiest), open the IQ App which walks you though the rest of the process. Scanning the QR code can be a bit difficult between the gloss and brightness. Weirdly turning on the camera flash (double tapping the screen when in the QR screen) will turn on your flashlight which helps. Once you get through that process you mount it and hide the wires. Then it is pretty much hands off from there as it will automatically power on/off, activate, and send alerts (if you have the paid membership). without any oversight from you.
FEATURES:
There are three different tiers of membership. One is currently free, the other $9.99, and the third is $19.99. These seem expensive. But technically are enabling data and 4G connectivity along with unlocking some features (which would require data/4G connection to work) which makes the pricing make a bit more sense. I’m talking about the most expensive tier. From where I lived I always had 3 - 4 out of 4 bars no matter where I was in the city.
Remote function is nice. I had an expensive item in my car and went into another store to grab something. And because I’m paranoid it was nice to keep the live feed up while I was doing my thing. Also, sometimes I’ll hear something outside and I can just remote into my car and see what is happening on my street. Which is nice.
Witness mode is an excellent feature that you can activate manually to record any craziness that may occur. It sends a copy of the video along with an alert to a contact of your choice. Then there is SOS which activates in case of a crash and you are unable to respond will contact emergency services. Both require setup and are locked behind the most expensive tier.
Two features are not yet available. There is cloud storage (to review on your phone, if the device gets damaged, or stolen), image-based notifications, and monitoring in case there is someone who knicks your car, breaks into your car, or gets too close. You can manually set off an alarm which could scare people away. Overall, it has a lot of features. But I think a lot of those features won’t be used regularly for most people and a more inexpensive camera without a monthly fee will suit them just fine. Granted you can use this as a basic dashcam without the membership or special features. It would just be very expensive.
USAGE:
The camera itself is rather large, hefty, and very well built. It is attractive and will look good in any car. Display is limited and only shows you when it is powered on/off, recording, or alerts (parking/movement). I wish they would add what all those pictures looked like inside the app along with what the voice commands were. Movement is limited with just up/down. No side to side or tilt. With it being so large it limits the ROM of my rearview mirror. As it hangs down obstructing vision so I tried to put it as high as I could to limit that.
For the most part it correctly powers up and down. Some examples. When I get in my car it will alert me before I can start my car that there was a movement alert on my phone and on the device itself shows a movement alert. When I start my car it automatically starts a recording and the screen indicates that. After I stop my car after about 15 seconds will go into parking mode, then turn off. If I press the button on the bottom it will lock that recording to not be deleted with the loop recording. But I also found when I went into the SD card that at night it is waking itself up a lot despite nothing happening.
If I want to bring up live view on my phone it takes about 30 – 45 seconds. As it has to wake up the device and then establish a connection. Once established you have a bit of a delay from real time. Maybe 5 – 15 seconds. Bringing up a recording takes about 7 seconds, is clear and good quality, but probably not enough to gather specific information (such as a license plate). However, the actual recordings from the SD card are the best I’ve seen from a dashcam but still leave a good amount of room for improvement.
The app itself is easy to navigate and intuitive. I like that the home screen shows your GPS location on a map (which isn’t always accurate), your front exterior view, interior view, and if applicable rear view on one screen. You can go full screen on whichever one you want with a live view. But image quality falls apart quickly. You can see past recordings and events which takes about 7 seconds to bring up.
CAMERA QUALITY:
Lighting, like all cameras, is going to play a big part on how clear the image is. Where if it is good and you’re not getting blinded by the sun or driving at night with other driver’s lights blinding you the picture quality is excellent. The front view does show some pixelation in tough scenes but isn’t overly sharpened. I can read license plates from about a car length away in bad lighting. And maybe two to three car lengths if ideal. I’m able to read street signs given good lighting from further away as the writing is larger. The view shows everything I need such as my hood, the lines on the road, and does a good job showing accurate distance between me and the car in front of me. Night vision is full color for the front camera and black/white for the interior camera. The interior camera is 2560x1440p resolution over 3840x2160. Bitrate is acceptable. It technically creates four recordings each time. 1 high quality front camera/interior and 1 low quality front/interior. I’d imagine with the back cam it would add another two. I’m not sure if you can change this in the settings anywhere. Regarding the price I would like it to be a bit better. But understanding as lighting plays such a huge role in how well a camera performs (as does bitrate) and controlling lighting while driving is extremely difficult and bitrate is limited on 64 GB card at these resolutions.
Pulling the SD card is simple as it is on the left side and easy to access. It uses loop recording which will overwrite older content. It comes with a 64 GB SD card which fills up quickly with the 4K/2K recordings. For example, I spend about an hour in my car every day. It holds about two days’ worth of footage. As I found that it was picking up a lot of false alarms while parked in my neighborhood. Especially at night, but not so much at work, in an actual parking lot, and during the day. Strange. Basically, I’m saying if you have an incident or something you want to keep make sure to get it off that same day or press the lock button to make sure it doesn’t override that data.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed and thoughtful review of 4k iQ. We appreciate your feedback and are glad to hear that you find the device neat with good performance and unique features.
We understand your points regarding the current state of the device and the pricing, and we appreciate your honesty in considering both the positives and the areas where improvements can be made. Your insights into the setup process, features, usage, and camera quality are valuable to us and will certainly be taken into consideration for future updates and enhancements. We're especially pleased to hear that you found our support team responsive, helpful, and professional during the setup process. Customer satisfaction is a top priority for us, and we're committed to addressing any issues to ensure a positive experience.
Your feedback regarding the various features, such as remote function, witness mode, and SOS, is invaluable. We also appreciate your insights into the camera quality, acknowledging the challenges posed by varying lighting conditions, the great news is we have released a few updates to improve this already!
We take your points on board about the device's size, the app's navigation, and the limitations in live view, again thank you for taking the time to share. We love to hear feedback will be shared with our development team to explore ways to enhance the user experience and address any areas of improvement.
Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we hope to continue providing you with a reliable and innovative product.
Pros mentioned:
Video quality
Cons mentioned:
Subscription
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Dashes of Brilliance with Plenty of Roadbumps
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Upon unboxing the product, the first thing I noticed was how large the camera assembly was. I ended up having to mount it off-center on my windshield to avoid obscuring my field of vision while driving. The camera can be adjusted towards and away from the windshield via a pivot point on the mount, but that is the only degree of freedom available, so you have to be very purposeful with mounting alignment in order to avoid being stuck with imperfect camera alignment. The device came with many variations of cabling for compatibility with many different vehicles, which was a thoughtful addition. The included cables were plenty long and the including spudger tool helped with tucking the cables out of sight. Initial setup was fairly painless: the dash cam's display shows a QR code that is scanned in-app which initiates pairing and a firmware update.
Overall usability was solid. The 4G LTE network had a consistent and stable connection most of the time. As expected, reception could get a bit dicey when in parking ramps or some garages, but overall the dash cam maintained connectivity well. Sometimes, video thumbnails would take a long time to load (or would not load at all), though I am not sure if these issues were 4G connection related or not.
Video quality is undoubtedly a highlight. The videos looked good whether doing in-app playback or after exporting to my phone's storage. I was concerned that I would potentially miss out on footage since I had to mount the dash cam off-centered on the windshield, but the wide 140-degree field of view allowed the whole road to get captured even with this non-ideal mounting scenario. The option for storage expansion via microSD card is welcomed since these high res video files add up quickly. One nit-pick I have is the absence of continuous video recording. The in-app clip library gets bogged down pretty quickly with a steady flow 30-second clips as you drive. It would be nice to be able to have the option to capture each driving session as one long segment in local storage and then edit into smaller sections to capture specific events as needed.
The G-sensor's responsiveness enhances the dash cam's ability to capture impactful events effectively. It is a little on the sensitive side and often calls out non-events as impacts, but given the choice, I prefer that it is tuned overly sensitive rather than not.
I appreciate the inclusion of Witness Mode for added security. When activated, it shared live video with a trusted emergency contact. Smart Sense Parking is a nice AI-driven feature that provides a 360 degree field around your car that is watched for threats. This in combination with the Remote Alarm feature give added layers of protection and valuable peace of mind. I would have really liked to try out Guardian Mode and Roadwatch AI, though these features are still under development.
There are many things to like about this product. The smart features (at least the ones that are available) are very impressive. However, one VERY important thing for potential buyers to be aware of are that many of these features are locked behind paywalls. I'd highly recommend doing research on which features you find important in a smart dash cam and then seeing which tier of the Nextbase subscription you are willing to pay for. If you are unwilling to pay for the subscription, the lack of 4G LTE will neuter a lot of the aspects that make this dash cam special.
Overall, the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam is fundamentally a well-constructed device with substantial potential. While the hardware, though slightly bulky, integrates advanced technology, the software promises a lot yet appears to be in an evolving state. Even after the innovative capabilities of the dash cam complete development efforts and are integrated into the product, these features may be pay-to-play in perpetuity, so I again highly recommend that potential buyers do their research on subscription plan features and costs before taking the plunge on this product.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Parking mode, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent for safety and security
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This review is for the NextBase iQ 4K smart dash cam without the rear camera. This is the third or fourth dashcam that I have owned, and so far, I like this new NextBase iQ. The box has everything you need to connect the dashcam to any vehicle. It comes with the camera and its two attached antennas, a couple of wire ties (zip ties), warning stickers, an extra 3M double-sided sticker, a tool to hide (tuck) wires, a clip to hold the wire on a solid surface, an OBD port connection wire, and four (4) different types of fuse-type connection wire. This camera has front and cabin (cockpit) side cameras, and the rearview camera is optional. The double camera feature makes this dashcam great for rideshare drivers or when you want to record your passengers. Because of privacy issues when recording inside your car, it is highly recommended to place the sticker both on the outside of the car and inside.
Setup is super quick and easy with the Nextbase iQ app installation wizard (guide). I chose the easiest of the connection wires, the OBD port connector. After the connection, the dashcam will get power, and you will get a barcode on the cam display screen, which I had to scan with my phone camera. This will link the device to the iQ app. The device will undergo a software update. Then you will be guided to place the camera and hide the wires. After that, you will choose your plan type: monthly or yearly (get 20% off with the yearly). There are two types of plans: (1) Protect (which is basic) and (2) Protect Plus. Whichever plan you choose, you get three (3) months of a free trial.
There is no video screen view on the dashcam; to view recordings or live views, you must use your mobile device. There is a small display that shows recording, motion, and parking. The night vision quality is very good. Note that the cabin (cockpit) camera records night vision in black and white. The daytime 4K view is the best I have seen compared to my older dashcams. Some of the issues that this new solution solves are high-memory storage (SD cards) and cloud storage. I don’t know which cellular company it uses for its full 4G connection, but so far I have not had an issue with the connection. On a mobile device, you can view all of the cameras live with a 4G cellular connection from a remote location. This is great for protecting your vehicle when it senses a movement, it sends you a notification to the iQ app. It can sense and activate the smart view when there are pedestrians, cyclists, and other cars. Another great feature is that the camera records the GPS location, which will be great to use as evidence. There is an option within the app for privacy to turn off the GPS. I tested the “witness mode,” and it does great at storing and sharing recordings with a loved one whenever you experience different emergencies like road rage or a police stop. The view is not only stored in the cloud and internal memory but it is also transmitted live streams with the people I selected to share. The witness mode and the emergency SOS are very useful and maybe even life-saving features.
This device and the cost of the plans are worth all the features and benefits it offers as a smart device. Are you willing to pay more for security and safety for yourself, your passengers, and your property? I am extremely satisfied with this Nextbase iQ dashcam, and I highly recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Happy to hear you are loving your Nextbase iQ dash cam! If you ever have any questions, please reach out to our support team at [email protected].
Pros mentioned:
4k recording, Parking mode
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Smart Security for Driver & Vehicle
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
As someone who spends a large amount of time in their car for work and play, I’ve always been curious about adding a dash cam to my vehicles. The Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam is the first dash cam I’ve owned, and it just might be the last as this dash cam checks every box on my wish list. Not only does it offer protection while driving, the iQ will also watch over your vehicle while it’s parked and left unattended. There are a number of current features that I’ve started using with the Nextbase ProtectPlus plan through their subscription model. Without the subscription there are available features, but the iQ 4K really shines with one of the Nextbase plans.
Overall Experience – The Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam is relatively easy to set up. Download the Nextbase iQ app and power on the dash cam. Scan the QR code on the dash cam and the set up process is under way. Connecting the dash cam and app is straight forward, then it’s just a matter of setting up the user preferences and getting the cam properly mounted. Nextbase provides a couple of 3M sticky mounts, so locate a spot that doesn’t block your line of sight and then stick it in place. I connected my unit with the supplied 16” OBD power cable that plugs in under my drive side dashboard. The hardest part was hiding the cabling as my car’s A pillars hold the curtain airbags and the fitment was very tight around the windshield. Eventually I was able to get it snaked down under the dash to the OBD outlet. The ironic part is once the unit is mounted and set up, it kind of just does its thing, nothing fancy, just a very good insurance/guardian for you and your vehicle!
Features:
If you're looking to protect your car and stay on top of any potential threats, the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam is a great option. This dash cam has a sleek design and features Live View, SmartSense parking, and Witness Mode, etc. which all work together to give you a complete view of your car's surroundings and alert you of any potential dangers. And in case of emergency, the dash cam has an SOS response feature to get you help quickly. Plus, with its always-on 4G connection, you can access your data anytime and anywhere, making it a convenient option for those always on-the-go. Overall, the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam is a reliable way to protect your car and stay connected while you're away.
4K Recording – This was one of the features that really impressed me on this cam. The true 4K output allows for easy viewing of the outside world around your vehicle. This is particularly important in the case of any type of accident, incident, etc. The details are captured in clear and viewable detail.
Witness Mode – In today’s world with road rage and other incidents on the rise, Witness Mode is a great option to alert 3rd parties of your current situation. Simply use voice commands to begin recording and sharing with your pre-determined emergency contacts.
Emergency SOS – another potential life-saving option that sends out an automated notice to emergency services in the event of a detected serious accident.
Always on 4G connection – allows the Nextbase iQ to be left on and connected at all times, even if you’re not in the vehicle. It also provides quick remote access to any recordings stored on the iQ cam unit.
Pros:
- 4K recording capabilities provides evidence-worthy video capture
- Ease of set up with OBD cable, plenty of other direct connect options provided as well
- Well-made dash cam base unit, high quality fit and finish
- Emergency SOS, Witness and Parking mode and live feeds options
- Always on 4G connection for use while not in vehicle and easy remote access to video files
- Parking Mode - Ability to keep an eye on your vehicle when it’s unattended is a game-changer
- GPS tracking feature – another data point for evidence in a crash or other incident
- 64GB SD card pre-installed for data retention
Cons:
- Had a bit of a challenge scanning the QR code to start the set up process
- Although there are several features available without a plan, to really take advantage of this dash cam, purchasing a monthly/yearly subscription is essentially required.
- There are a couple of features that are not currently available as of the release of the iQ 4K
I would recommend this to a friend
Brand response from Nextbase
Posted .
Thank you for your review! Glad to hear you hear it was an easy set up and smooth sailing. If you have any questions along the way, please reach out to our support team at [email protected].
Pros mentioned:
4k recording, Parking mode
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Next Gen Dash Cam
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
--- SETUP ---
The setup for the Nextbase i! Dash Cam is facilitated by a video. The video explains that there are multiple options on how to connect the camera, the most common to this camera is an OBD outlet in your vehicle. This port can be found under the steering wheel for most vehicles. It is not the cigarette lighter. Following that, you connect the cable to the dash cam to give it power, remove the sticky tape cover, and stick the camera to the center or passenger side of your windshield. Download the app and it will guide you on how to connect it with your phone.
--- FEATURES ---
4K recording, two cameras - one cabin facing, 140 degrees FOV, live view while away from vehicle, witness mode when in stressful situations, automatic incident detection while driving and while parked, automatic phone alerts while you’re away from your vehicle, voice activated, optional subscription unlocks more features.
--- PERFORMANCE AND EXPECTATIONS ---
This dashcam is truly a next generation experience. Think of it as a security camera installed in your vehicle. It does what you expect a dash cam to do, which is to record your commute while you drive, but it does it better and then some.
For starters, this dash cam connects to your OBD port. This is a multi-pin port located below your steering wheel on most vehicles. At first, I thought that this process would be complicated, but it really wasn’t. After watching the introductory video, I found my OBD port in seconds and installed it in less than a minute. It immediately powered the iQ dashcam. The dashcam showed me a QR code that I scanned with the app and that process automatically paired the app with the cam in a very seamless fashion. While driving, I am able to see what my camera is recording in both the cabin and the outside through the app. At any point, I can go back and rewatch the videos and save them to my phone without ever removing the installed SD card. While my vehicle is parked. I can open the iQ app and watch what is happening near my vehicle. One of my friends leaned on my vehicle while we were talking outside the parking lot and I got a notification of a parking incident. Tapping on the notification allowed me to see what was happening near the vehicle. This gives me peace of mind that I am able to check my vehicle's surroundings before I even reach it or while far away from it.
One very unique feature is witness mode. The explanation of witness mode is that it’ll start recording upon activation in stressful situations. As an example, the diagram in the app shows a person being stopped by the police. Using the voice command, “Hey dashcam, start Witness Mode,” the camera begins to record video and audio as well as send a link to 2 contacts of your choice so that they can see the live feed of what is happening that is causing you stress. These contacts can be chosen from within the app. The first time you set up a contact, they will receive a notification and an explanation of what you set them up with so they understand the safety feature.
Roadwatch AI is a feature that adds context to your footage. If you need to prove how fast other vehicles are going, roadwatch AI will give approximations of other vehicles speeds, and distances in relation to you. It also auto-identifies pedestrians, cyclists, and more to track those item’s movements.
--- APPROVAL ---
Overall, having the extra piece of mind that my vehicle’s surrounding area is available to me remotely is worth the recommendation to anyone.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
App, Video quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best Dash Cam on the market
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Nextbase IQ 4K is awesome. First off, this is not a full in depth review. Besides the intial hefty price, it offers so much for a dashcam. People complaining about not all features are ready out of the box I get it, but those features will be out soon and Im sure it will be worth the wait. This cam has great video quality external and cabin view. The app is easy to use and if you have the subscription, it is worth the cost. I can tap in live stream to check on vehicle or browse my travel history remotely without a hitch. I love that it senses things around the vehicle, particularly if you happen to park in a not so great area of town for w.e reason you can see if anyone is snooping around. I can give the wife full access to the library or recieve alerts as a secondary person on the app. This cam gives a great piece of mind to have as a safeguard if ever an accident or extra vehicle security. I would highly recommend and would purchase again.