Front vs Front and Rear Dash Cam: Which One Should You Buy?

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Front vs Front and Rear Dash Cam: The Quick Answer

A front-only dash cam watches the road ahead and records the view a driver sees, which is the view that matters for forward collisions, from a sudden stop ahead to a lane change gone wrong. A front and rear dash cam adds a rear camera, so the recording covers the road behind as well, which matters for rear impacts, reversing incidents, and anything that approaches from behind while parked. Triple channel models go a step further and add a cabin camera, which records the inside of the car for rideshare driving and family vehicles. For simple forward cover at the lowest complexity, front-only is enough. For cover behind the car as well as ahead, front and rear is the stronger pick.

Point	Front-only	Front and rear
Cameras	Forward camera only	Forward camera plus a rear camera
Cover	Road ahead	Road ahead and road behind
Rear impacts	Not recorded	Recorded by the rear camera
Parking cover	Forward view while parked	Forward and rear views while parked
Gear in this guide	No front-only model is listed below	4 dual and triple channel models, described below

How a Front-Only Dash Cam Works

A front-only dash cam mounts near the windshield and records the road ahead. Loop recording overwrites older files when storage fills, while incident clips are locked so they are not overwritten, a pattern the F7NP, 70mai and TERUNSOUL listings describe. Night vision, wide-angle lenses, and WiFi transfer to a phone app shape how useful the footage is after a drive, and those features vary by model rather than by setup. The front-only setup is simpler to fit, with a single camera to place and a single view to manage, and it keeps the recording focused on the road ahead.

Its limit is plain: anything behind the car is outside the frame. A rear impact, a reversing incident, or an approach from behind while parked leaves no footage from a front-only camera. That limit is the whole reason front and rear setups exist, and it is worth weighing honestly against the simpler fit. A driver who rarely worries about the rear view, and who wants the simplest install and the simplest footage to manage, can stay front-only without giving up forward cover.

What a Rear Camera Adds

A rear camera adds a second view, mounted at the back of the car, recording the road behind while the front camera records ahead. On the models below, rear recording runs at 1080P on 3 models and at 4K on the TERUNSOUL model, so rear detail varies even within front and rear setups. Wide rear angles, from 140° to 155° on the models below, shape how much of the road behind stays in frame. The rear view also changes parking cover: with a hardwire kit, parking modes on these models watch for impacts and run time-lapse recording while parked, and a rear camera means that watch covers behind the car as well as ahead.

Triple channel models add a cabin camera as well, recording the inside of the car. The REDTIGER F17 cabin camera records at 1080P with a 160° view, and the TERUNSOUL cabin camera records at 1080P with a 150° view and 4 IR lights for interior recording in darkness. That cabin view suits rideshare drivers and family vehicles, where what happens inside the car matters as much as the road outside. The trade for all of this is complexity: more cameras to place, more footage to manage, and a hardwire kit to buy for parking mode on every model below.

The Dash Cams in This Guide

The 4 models below are ranked by the strength of what each listing states: recording resolution across channels, viewing angles, parking modes, included card, and warranty term. The 4K rear camera and longest warranty term lead, followed by the triple channel model with a STARVIS 2 sensor, then the dual channel model with WiFi 6 and 4G LTE access, then the dual channel model with the narrowest rear angle. Every model below is a front and rear or triple channel model; no front-only model is listed among the gear below, so the front-only side of this guide stays at the level of how that setup works.

TERUNSOUL 3 Channel Dash Cam

The TERUNSOUL model leads this set, with true 4K+4K+1080P recording across 3 channels: the front camera records in 4K, the rear camera captures 4K footage, and the cabin camera records in 1080P. Viewing angles are 170° front, 150° rear, and 150° cabin, and the cabin camera features 4 IR lights for interior recording in complete darkness. A 3.18″ full-laminated screen gives a clearer display with reduced reflections, and a screen saver function improves the viewing experience. Dual-band WiFi 6 with 5.8GHz and 2.4GHz transfers videos at speeds up to 20MB/s through the TERUNSOUL app, with OTA firmware updates. A free 128GB memory card is included, and the camera supports up to 512GB max. Built-in GPS records speed and location, loop recording overwrites old footage while the G-sensor lock protects incident clips, and 24H parking monitoring pairs time-lapse recording with collision detection, with a hardwire kit required. The listing states a 3-Year guarantee.

REDTIGER F17 4K 3 Channel Dash Cam

The REDTIGER F17 ranks next, with 2160P+1080P*2 recording across front, inside, and rear cameras, powered by a STARVIS 2 IMX675 sensor with WDR and HDR for low-light performance. Viewing angles are 150° front, 160° cabin, and 155° rear, and the listing describes 360° full-protection coverage. WiFi runs on 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands, with GPS tracking and route recording through the REDTIGER app, and 3-channel videos can be replayed at the same time. Two recording modes are supported: with the inside camera on, the camera records in triple channel mode, and with the inside camera off, it enables 4K front and 1080P rear recording. The listing also mentions 2.5K dual channel recording, a figure that does not match its 2160P triple channel title. A 64GB card is included. Two parking modes, time lapse and collision detection with a G-sensor, protect the vehicle after fitting the extra hardwire kit. A super capacitor supports reliable performance in extreme temperatures, and the listing states an 18 months guarantee.

70mai A810 Lite 4K Dash Cam Front and Rear

The 70mai A810 Lite records 4K front and 1080P rear video, with HDR night vision, an F1.55 large aperture, and wide-angle lenses that reduce blind spots. Built-in 5GHz Wi-Fi 6 delivers data transfer up to 25MB/s to a smartphone app, without removing the SD card, for preview, download, sharing, playback, and OTA firmware updates. 4G LTE support allows remote live view, vehicle tracking, and real-time alerts through the app, with the UP05 4G hardwire kit required for that access. 3-mode GPS records speed, route, and location, voice control allows hands-free operation, and a supercapacitor gives better heat resistance and longer lifespan than a battery. 24H parking mode pairs G-sensor detection with time-lapse recording, with low-voltage protection against battery drain, and a hardwire kit is required for parking mode. The listing describes a compact, credit card-sized form that fits behind the rearview mirror, and states an 18-month warranty.

REDTIGER F7NP 4K Dash Cam Front Rear

The REDTIGER F7NP records 4K front and 1080P rear video, with a STARVIS 2 sensor, an F1.5 large aperture, a 6-layer optical lens, and WDR and HDR for balanced highlights and shadows. Viewing angles are 170° front and 140° rear, the narrowest rear angle in this set. Built-in 5.8GHz WiFi downloads at speeds up to 20MB/s through the Redtiger Cam app, for preview, download, and replay in real time, with GPS data for route, speed, and location. Loop recording gives continuous coverage, older files are overwritten when storage fills, and important events are locked. A free memory card is included, in the 128GB size named in the listing. Two parking modes, time-lapse recording and G-sensor mode for collision detection, give round-the-clock protection, with a hardwire kit needed for parking mode. A supercapacitor replaces a lithium battery for safer performance and better heat resistance, and the listing states an 18-month warranty from date of purchase.

Which Setup Fits Your Driving

Start from what worries you on the road. If forward cover is the priority, and the rear view rarely figures in your driving, a front-only camera keeps the setup simple and the footage easy to manage. If rear impacts, reversing incidents, or parking cover behind the car worry you, a front and rear setup answers those worries directly, and the models above show the range on offer, from dual channel 4K front and 1080P rear recording to triple channel recording with a cabin view. Rideshare drivers and family vehicles benefit from a cabin camera, while commuters benefit from a strong front view paired with a rear camera for parking cover. Whichever setup you choose, check the card included, the hardwire kit needed for parking mode, and the warranty term before the first drive, and follow the manual for fitting rather than improvising a mount or a power connection.

FAQ: garage tools

Do I need a rear camera if I mostly drive in town?

Not necessarily. A front camera covers the road ahead, which is the view that matters for forward collisions in town driving. A rear camera earns its place when rear impacts, reversing incidents, or parking cover behind the car matter to you, since a front-only camera records none of those.

Does a front and rear dash cam need a hardwire kit?

For parking mode, yes, on every model in this guide. The listings tie parking mode to a hardwire kit: the REDTIGER and TERUNSOUL models state a hardwire kit is needed or required, and the 70mai model names hardwire kits for its parking mode. Driving recording itself is not described as needing a hardwire kit in these listings.

Can a triple channel camera record inside the car?

Yes. The REDTIGER F17 cabin camera records at 1080P with a 160° view, and the TERUNSOUL cabin camera records at 1080P with a 150° view and 4 IR lights for interior recording in darkness. That cabin view suits rideshare driving and family vehicles.

Do these cameras include a memory card?

3 of the 4 listings state a card included in their bullets: the REDTIGER F7NP includes a free memory card in the 128GB size named in the listing, the REDTIGER F17 includes a 64GB card, and the TERUNSOUL includes a free 128GB card and supports up to 512GB max. The 70mai listing does not state a card included in its bullets, though its model code ends in 64GB, so confirm card inclusion before ordering.

Will a dash cam record while parked?

Yes, with a hardwire kit fitted. All 4 models in this guide describe a 24H parking mode pairing time-lapse recording with collision detection through a G-sensor, so impacts while parked are recorded and locked. Without the hardwire kit, parking mode is not available on these listings.

Related: the best dash cam for cars and the dash cams hub.