When it comes to the safety and protection of your drivers and fleet, battery operated dashcams are a great move. They can record every minute of drive time ensuring any dangerous driving is alerted to immediately.
With clear video, real-time data, safety alerts, and much more, the best battery operated dashcams will help you maintain the safety your fleet and operations require. No matter the size of your fleet, dashcams have become an invaluable tool for drivers throughout the country.
Quicklook: Best Battery-Operated Dashcams
- Best For Real-Time Data: Trimble Video Intelligence
featured Ad - Best For Small Footprint: Rexing V1 4K
- Best For Big Screen Display: Z-Edge T4
- Best For Affordability: Kingslim D2
- Best For Clearest Video: Rove R2-4K
- Best For Real-Time Alerts: Motive Dash Cam
Best Battery-Operated Dashcams
When you’re looking for the best battery-operated dashcam for your needs, consider one of these five models:
Trimble Video Intelligence
Utilizing Artificial Intelligence, Trimble Video Intelligence can provide the real-time driver data you need. With this cutting edge technology, they can help to improve the efficiency of your operation as well as minimize risks which protects your drivers and fleet. The accuracy of the data you receive is unmatched helping you create a safer driving environment for everyone.
Best For: Real-Time Data
Benefits:
- 4-channel DVR
- Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)
- Cabin Intelligent Monitor (CIM)
- Identifies risky driving behavior
- Dynamic Driver Defense (DCube)
- Provides real-time safety alerts
- Side-mounted pod and rear-facing cameras
Disadvantages:
- Slower interface
Pricing: Contact Trimble for a price quote
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | Depends on system |
| Resolution | 1080p @ 12fps |
| Display Type | Depends on system |
| Mounting Type | Adhesive mount |
| Voice Command | Depends on system |
| Camera | Forward facingPod and backup cameras available |
| Field of View | 120° or 360° Up to 4 cameras |
| Storage | 2 SD card slotsSupports 32-GB to 512-GB card size |
| Lane Assistance | Yes |
| Speed Limit Indicator | Yes |
| Traffic Services | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | High: 10VLow: 24V |
Rexing V1
The Rexing V1 4K is an excellent battery-operated dashcam, especially for those who are looking for a small footprint. The small size doesn’t hurt video clarity, and with WiFi, you can easily send recordings to your device. While the interface can be frustrating, it’s still a great buy for the price.
Best For: Small Footprint
Benefits:
- Excellent video quality
- Small size makes it discreet
- Built-in WiFi capability makes sharing video easy
Disadvantages:
- User interface makes camera difficult to operate
Pricing: $99.99
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 3.5 x 2.25 x 1.5 inches |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080p, 30 fps |
| Display Type | 2.4” LCD |
| Mounting Type | Adhesive mount |
| Voice Command | No |
| Camera | Front camera |
| Field of View | 170° |
| Storage | Supports MicroSD cards up to 256GB |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | No |
| Traffic Services | No |
| Battery Capacity | Supercapacitor |
Z-Edge T4
With the biggest screen on the market at 4 inches, the Z-Edge T4 gives you unbeatable visibility. This also helps the touchscreen work very well. You’ll appreciate the excellent daytime video quality, although the clarity at night leaves something to be desired.
Best For: Big Screen Display
Benefits:
- Largest screen in the North American market
- Touchscreen works very well
- Excellent daytime video quality
Disadvantages:
- Video quality at nighttime suffers
- Large screen makes unit very obvious
Pricing: $139.99
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 4.8 x 2.8 x 1.2 inches |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1080p 30FPS |
| Display Type | 4” LCD |
| Mounting Type | Suction mount |
| Voice Command | No |
| Camera | Front and rear |
| Field of View | 155° |
| Storage | 32GB TF card included, supports up to 256GB TF or MicroSD card |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | No |
| Traffic Services | No |
| Battery Capacity | Lithium Ion – 180mAh |
Kingslim D2
As the lowest-priced battery operated dashcam on this list, Kingslim D2 is designed for a budget. You’ll still get excellent video quality and a large storage capacity. However, you should be prepared to purchase a microSD card, since it doesn’t come with one. Still, this is a great model for those who are looking to save some money.
Best For: Affordability
Benefits:
- Wide-angle coverage for both front and rear cameras
- Supports large storage (up to 256GB)
- Built-in G sensor begins recording whether driving or parked
Disadvantages:
- No GPS watermark for video
- No storage card included with purchase
Pricing: $79.99
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 5.87 x 5.87 x 4.69 inches |
| Resolution | Front: 2560 x 1440p 30 fpsRear: Full HD 1080p |
| Display Type | 3” IPS |
| Mounting Type | Suction mount |
| Voice Command | No |
| Camera | Front and rear |
| Field of View | Front: 170°Rear: 150° |
| Storage | Supports MicroSD cards from 32 to 128GB |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | No |
| Traffic Services | No |
| Battery Capacity | Lithium-Ion – Unknown mAh |
Rove R2-4K
The Rove R2-4K boasts some of the clearest recordings in the industry. While it can be tricky to set the angles on your camera the way you like them, you’ll get clear pictures. When you need the sharpest recordings possible, this is your best option.
Best For: Clearest Video
Benefits:
- Extremely reliable recordings
- Only option on this list with 4K video
Disadvantages:
- Overly large size
- Hard to change angles
- Night recording can obscure license plates
Pricing: $99.99
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 2.99 x 2.01 x 0.98 inches |
| Resolution | 4k resolution up to 2160p |
| Display Type | 2.4” LCD |
| Mounting Type | Suction mount |
| Voice Command | No |
| Camera | Front |
| Field of View | 150° |
| Storage | Supports MicroSD cards up to 512GB |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | No |
| Traffic Services | No |
| Battery Capacity | Lithium Ion – 250mAh |
Motive Dash Cam
The Motive dash cam offers a GPS tracking system that monitors the driver’s whereabouts every minute. It identifies dangerous driving with industry-leading accuracy and informs drivers immediately. This dashcam also provides up to 104 hours of camera storage and 1440p resolution.
Best For: Real-Time Alerts
Benefits:
- Road-facing or dual-facing dashcam
- Real-time in-cab alerts
- Built-in Quick Capture button
Disadvantages:
- No status tracking
Pricing: $300
| Technical Specifications | |
| Dimensions | 2560 x 1440 |
| Resolution | 1440p |
| Display Type | 2” |
| Mounting Type | Adhesive mount |
| Voice Command | No |
| Camera | Front (optional rear) |
| Field of View | 150° |
| Storage | Supports MicroSD cards |
| Lane Assist | No |
| Speed Limit Indicator | Yes |
| Traffic Services | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | Industrial-Grade battery |
Why Use a Battery Operated Dashcam?
While most dashcams work off the car’s power system, there are a number of reasons you might prefer to rely on an external battery. Whether you’re trying to preserve your car’s gas mileage or need to record while you’re parked, a battery operated dashcam may be the right answer for you.
How Does a Battery Operated Dashcam Work?
The best battery operated dashcams work with two different power sources. The main power is from an external battery pack that you can install in your car. The second is a backup power system, either a lithium-ion battery or a supercapacitor. This backup battery can record between three to five minutes of video, usually triggered by a collision.
What to Look for with Battery Operated Dashcams
When it comes to choosing the best battery operated dashcams for your needs, there are several factors to consider, including:
Easy Setup
The less time it takes to install your dashcam, the better. Some models make it easy to move your camera from one vehicle to another, as well.
Record Time
Battery operated dashcams usually record short loops, between 1 to 10 minutes long. However, some models record more, while others allow you to set your preferred recording length.
Video Resolution & Quality
The higher the video resolution is, the more likely you’ll be able to use the recording from your dashcam, whether you’re fighting the insurance company or trying to track down a hit-and-run driver.
Warranty
While no one buys a dashcam expecting it to break, there’s always the potential that something might happen. You should make sure to choose a dashcam from a manufacturer that backs their product up with a warranty.
Memory (SD Card)
Your battery operated dashcam uses an external memory device to store its recordings. This makes it easy to transfer them from device to device. Make sure you get a MicroSD card that’s big enough to hold the recordings you think you might need.
Battery Capacity
While no dashcam runs primarily off its own internal battery, it’s a good idea to choose a model that can provide emergency power or one that can record even when your car is parked and not connected to an external battery.
Keep Watch with Battery-Operated Dashcams
Now that you know more about the best battery operated dashcams on the market, you should be able to find one that will meet your needs.
FAQ
While most dashcams have either a lithium-ion battery or supercapacitor as a backup power supply, they rely on an external power source. However, you can connect these battery operated dashcams to either the car’s power supply or to an external battery.
Internal dashcam batteries are only expected to last for about 3 to 5 minutes. However, that should be enough time to record the important information in the case of a collision while your car is parked.
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