How Much for a Dash Cam: What Sets the Price
A dash cam costs more as you add channels, resolution, GPS, WiFi and parking mode: what each feature adds and what the listings state.
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How much for a dash cam? The short answer is that the price follows the hardware: a front-only camera costs less than a front-and-rear set, and a dual-channel camera with GPS, WiFi and parking mode costs more than a basic single-channel unit. The rest of this guide walks through each feature that moves the price, with figures from current listings.
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Below: the features that set the price
How much for a dash cam? What sets the price
The price of a dash cam moves with the hardware: how many cameras it has, how sharp the video is, the size and type of screen, GPS and WiFi, parking mode, the memory card in the box, and the warranty. The table below sets out what the listings state.
| What changes | What the listings state | Price effect |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | Front and rear, 3-channel, 4-channel 360° | More lenses push the price up |
| Resolution | 2K, 2.5K and 4K front cameras | Sharper video costs more |
| Screen | 3-inch IPS screens, 3.59-inch IPS, touch screen | Bigger screens and touch add cost |
| GPS and WiFi | Built-in GPS, 5GHz WiFi, WiFi 6, 20MB/s downloads | Connected features add cost |
| Parking mode | 24H parking mode; hardwire kit sold separately on the REDTIGER, undersary, IIWEY and Aputeta listings | The kit is an extra purchase |
| Memory card | 32GB, 64GB and 128GB cards included | Larger included cards add cost |
| Warranty | 6-month, 12-month, 18-month and 24-month terms | Longer cover tends to cost more |
No single feature decides the price on its own: a 4K front-and-rear camera with GPS and a 128GB card in the box sits above a 2K camera without GPS, and the hardwire kit for parking mode is an extra purchase on top of the camera.
Channels: front only, front and rear, or more
Channels are the first price step. A front-only camera records the road ahead, and a dual-channel camera adds a rear camera: the REDTIGER F7N Touch records 4K at the front and 1080P at the rear, and the Aputeta records 4K at the front and 4K at the rear, with a 170° lens at the front and a 160° lens at the rear.
A 3-channel camera adds an inside camera: the undersary records 4K at the front with a 170° view, 1080p inside with a 150° view, and 1080p at the rear with a 160° view. A 4-channel camera records the front, rear, sides and interior: the IIWEY N5 records 2K at the front and 1080P elsewhere, with 170° front and rear cameras and 150° side cameras, and the CURRENBA records 4K at the front and 1080P on its other lenses.
More channels mean more lenses, more wiring and a bigger job to install, which is why the price climbs as channels are added. Compare single and dual channel cameras in the single channel vs dual channel dash cam guide.
Resolution and night vision
Resolution is the next price step, and the front cameras here run from 2K to 4K: the Aputeta records 3840x2160P front and rear, the REDTIGER records 4K front and 1080P rear, the Affver records 4K front and 2.5K rear, and the IIWEY N5 records 2K front with 1080P elsewhere, plus a 2.5K+1080P+1080P+1080P mode.
Night vision hardware adds cost too. The REDTIGER uses a STARVIS 2 sensor with WDR and HDR, the Aputeta uses an f/1.5 aperture with a 5-element lens, the Affver uses an F1.5 aperture with a 6-layer lens and states 60% more light intake, the undersary uses an F/2.0 aperture with 6-layer optics and 4 infrared lights, and the CURRENBA lists 8 IR lamps.
Sharper video and stronger night vision cost more because the sensor and lens cost more. See night vision vs standard dash cam for what night hardware adds, and the best high quality dash cam picks for sharper cameras.
Screen, GPS and WiFi
Screens show in the price: the IIWEY N5, Aputeta and CURRENBA list a 3-inch IPS screen, the Affver lists a 3.59-inch IPS screen, and the REDTIGER adds a touch screen with voice control.
GPS and WiFi are the connected features. The REDTIGER, Aputeta and Affver listings state built-in GPS, which records location, speed and route, while the IIWEY N5 listing states it does not have GPS, which is one reason a camera without GPS costs less.
WiFi moves the price as well. The REDTIGER and Aputeta list 5.8GHz WiFi with downloads up to 20MB/s, the Affver lists WiFi 6 with downloads up to 10MB/s, 25% faster than the previous generation at 8MB/s, and the IIWEY lists 5GHz WiFi with 4x faster connectivity than 2.4GHz. The GPS vs non-GPS dash cam comparison sets out what GPS adds.
Parking mode and the hardwire kit
Parking mode watches the car while it is parked, and it is the feature most likely to need an extra purchase. The REDTIGER, undersary, IIWEY, Aputeta, Affver and CURRENBA listings state 24H parking mode, and the REDTIGER, undersary, IIWEY and Aputeta listings state that parking mode needs a hardwire kit, sold separately.
The kit keeps the camera powered with the engine off. The IIWEY listing names the kit, ASIN B0HDXS6JH1, and states it is sold separately and not included in the package, and the Aputeta listing names its kit, ASIN B0H8Y69RQC. Count the kit as an extra purchase on top of the camera if you want parking mode.
What parking mode does also varies: the IIWEY N5 records time-lapse at 1fps and locks a 10-second video when a collision is detected, the Aputeta records a 1-minute clip when its collision sensor trips, and the undersary G-sensor locks the first 5s and the last 10s of recordings around an impact. The dash cam parking mode vs without guide compares parking mode with no parking mode, and OBD vs hardwire dash cam covers the wiring options.
Power the IIWEY N5 from the charger in the box: the IIWEY listing states the camera must use the original cigarette lighter charger and cannot run from a USB cable or a Type-C cable. The REDTIGER mounts on the windshield with a suction cup, and the kit includes a pry tool for hiding the wiring.
The REDTIGER, undersary, IIWEY and Aputeta listings state that parking mode needs a hardwire kit, sold separately. Without the kit, the camera stops when the engine stops, so count the kit in the price of parking mode.
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Memory card and warranty
The memory card is often in the box, and a bigger card costs more: the undersary includes a 32GB card, the Affver and CURRENBA include a 64GB card, and the REDTIGER, IIWEY and Aputeta include a 128GB card. The IIWEY N5 supports cards up to 256GB. Loop recording overwrites the oldest footage when the card fills, and the G-sensor locks event footage.
The warranty is the last price step, and it varies by brand: the undersary states a 6 month warranty, the IIWEY states a 12-month warranty, the REDTIGER and Aputeta state an 18-month warranty, and the Affver states a 24-month warranty in its bullets. The Affver spec table states a 1 year warranty instead, so check the listing before buying.
A longer warranty and 24/7 support, stated by REDTIGER and Aputeta, cost the maker more to offer.
FAQ: garage tools
How much for a dash cam with front and rear cameras?
A front-and-rear camera costs more than a front-only camera, and the gap grows with resolution: the REDTIGER records 4K front and 1080P rear, while the Aputeta records 4K front and 4K rear. GPS, WiFi and parking mode add further cost on top of the rear camera.
Do dash cams need a memory card?
The listings here include a card: 32GB, 64GB or 128GB depending on the model, and the IIWEY N5 supports cards up to 256GB. Loop recording overwrites the oldest footage when the card fills, and the G-sensor locks event footage.
Does a dash cam need a hardwire kit for parking mode?
The listings state parking mode needs a hardwire kit, sold separately: the REDTIGER, undersary, IIWEY and Aputeta listings all state it. Without the kit, parking mode does not run with the engine off.
What does 4K mean on a dash cam?
The Aputeta listing states 3840x2160P front and rear, and the REDTIGER listing states 4K UHD front with a 1080P rear camera. Higher resolution keeps plates and signs readable at a distance.
Do dash cams record when the car is parked?
The listings here state 24H parking mode, with a hardwire kit needed on the REDTIGER, undersary, IIWEY and Aputeta listings. The IIWEY N5 records time-lapse at 1fps and locks a 10-second video on impact, and the Aputeta records a 1-minute clip on impact.
How long is the warranty on a dash cam?
The listings here state 6 month, 12-month, 18-month and 24-month terms. The Affver listing states a 24-month warranty in its bullets and a 1 year warranty in its spec table, so check the listing.
Related: the best front and rear dash cam 4K picks, the best 4K dash cam with WiFi picks, the dash cam how to install guide and the diagnostics and electrical hub.
