Four Years Old and Still a Powerhouse!
Although dashboard mounted cameras have been out for quite some time, and have even gone mainstream in Asia and Europe, here in the US most drivers see a dash cam as something that would be nice to have—but not an urgent necessity. In fact, just like how someone doesn’t buy a radar detector until they’ve received a speeding ticket, most Americans purchase a dash cam only after a collision when they need proof that they weren’t at fault. Well, award-winning dash cam manufacturer Nextbase hopes that drivers will see the appeal of a dash cam as more than just a video camera mounted to your windshield, but, rather, as a little box of tech that helps out before, during, and after an accident.
No longer just a device to provide video evidence of an accident, today’s best dash cams do so much more—and the Nextbase 622GW is one of the best. Although originally launched in 2020, the 622GW is still a feature-packed dash cam that doesn’t forget its most important job: providing excellent video quality. Starting with a built-in polarized lens cover to eliminate window glare, the 622GW also utilizes the Ambarella H22 quad-core chipset—designed to power fast action drones and sport cameras. This chip provides next-level 4K imaging at 30 frames-per-second (fps) and even offers digital image stabilization to eliminate shaky footage. In my test drive with the 622GW, the image quality on screen was noticeably better than other brands I have previously used. But it was when I uploaded the video file to my laptop that I really appreciated the quality of this dash cam: the video was remarkably clear with deep colors and good dynamic range—even retaining details in the shadows. Recording video at night is pretty much the Achilles heel of any digital camera with a small lens, however the 622GW with “Enhanced Night Vision” blew me away. The picture is digitally enhanced, which provides a clear nighttime image where license plates and street signs are actually readable, and where traffic and street lights don’t have any overpowering halo effects—the footage is consistent and usable.
The 622GW is also capable of slow-motion recording to capture every detail frame-by-frame in the event of a crash. However, just like with any digital camera, increasing the number of frames-per-second the camera records inversely affects the overall quality of the video resolution itself. Recording in ultra 4K limits the frame rate to 30fps, which is very smooth and sharp when watching videos at normal speed. However, for true slow-motion video, the optimal frame rate is 120fps, which causes the quality to be downgraded to regular 1080p high-definition. It’s a tradeoff: do you need better video resolution, or do you need more visual frames? There is no “right” answer here—it’s just a matter of preference.
Out of the box, the 622GW is fairly easy to set up, with an excellent window mount that feels solid and allows for great adjustability. There is a side slot for plugging in an optional interior camera (great for ride-share drivers), or a rear-view camera that can be mounted to the back window. The camera has a 3” touchscreen that allows you to scroll through all of its menus. You can also control the camera with your smartphone through the MyNextbase app. Setup was fairly intuitive—yet my iPhone 15Pro failed to sync up on a few occasions. Also, because I frequently use Waze (navigation app) via Apple CarPlay, my car limits the connection to one source at a time, meaning that the Nextbase 622GW connection would drop—probably more of an issue with my phone or even my car than the dash cam itself.
The 622GW is packed with many helpful add-ons. Most notable is Emergency SOS, which can automatically call emergency services when a crash is detected and you are unable to call yourself. It will even provide them with your pre-programmed medical information, including blood-type. Another fantastic feature is Intelligent Parking Mode which uses the 622GW’s internal battery to record what is happening when motion is detected near your parked vehicle. This provides constant protection against damage and theft whenever you are away from your car. Extreme Weather Mode uses a built-in algorithm to digitally process out any mist or fog in the video providing the clearest image possible no matter what you are driving through. Other cool features include Alexa’s voice-control integration and “what3words” location assist, which eliminates lengthy and confusing addresses by pinpointing any location on Earth with just three random words—just another way to quickly guide emergency services to you in the event of an emergency!
Bottom line: even after four years, the Nextbase 622GW is an absolute powerhouse of a dash cam for drivers who want the best. In spite of the introduction of Nextbase’s newest line of dash cams, called the iQ series, the 622GW still holds up very well, offering many of the same features and providing ultra 4K video quality for $300 less at just $399.99 MSRP and you can add a rear-facing camera for just $100 more … it’s not just a bargain, it’s your good luck charm for when you run into some bad luck on the road!
Highly Recommended 4.5/5.0 stars
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