The Garmin Dash Cam Tandem takes a unique approach to in-car video capture, boasting dual lenses for a comprehensive view of your surroundings. This review dives into the camera’s strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your driving needs.

Strengths:

  • Dual-Lens Coverage: The Tandem’s standout feature is its dual 180-degree lenses. The front-facing lens captures the road ahead in crisp 1440p resolution with HDR, providing clear details even in challenging lighting conditions. The interior-facing lens, with night vision courtesy of Garmin’s NightGlo technology, keeps an eye on the cabin, potentially valuable for rideshare drivers or those concerned about passenger activity.
  • Compact Design: Despite packing two lenses, the Tandem maintains a surprisingly compact form factor. This makes it less obtrusive on your windshield compared to bulkier dash cams.
  • Voice Control: A welcome convenience feature, voice control allows you to control the camera with simple commands like “OK Garmin, save video” to capture important moments without fumbling with buttons.
  • Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi: The Tandem records your location and time along with the footage, providing valuable context in case of an incident. Built-in Wi-Fi lets you easily transfer footage to your smartphone for viewing and sharing using the Garmin Drive app.

Weaknesses:

  • Lower Resolution Interior Camera: While the interior lens offers a wide field of view, its 720p resolution feels like a missed opportunity. Capturing clear details within the cabin, especially at night, might be compromised.
  • Limited Parking Mode Functionality: The Tandem lacks a dedicated parking mode out of the box. While it can be hardwired to enable parking mode with continuous recording, this requires additional purchase and installation expertise.
  • Price: Compared to some single-lens dash cams with similar features, the Tandem carries a premium price tag for its dual-lens functionality.

Overall:

The Garmin Dash Cam Tandem caters to a specific niche. Drivers who need a dual-lens solution for comprehensive video recording, both on the road and inside the cabin, will find value in its features. The compact design, voice control, and built-in GPS and Wi-Fi are convenient additions.