Nextbase - Piqo 2K Dash Camera - Black

I’ve put off getting a dashcam because of their large size. I really don’t want to see the camera or have it obstruct any of my view while driving. After installing the Piqo dashcam, I was able to hide it behind my rearview mirror (see pics). Doing so resulted in some compromises. The button on the device, opposite the camera, is blocked a little by the rearview mirror, but I’m still able to push it if needed. Also, the plastic shroud in the center top of my windshield is in the field of view of the camera, resulting in the top right portion of the recording blocked. However, the camera was still able to record oncoming traffic from the right side (see pic). Now that the camera was set up properly, which was pretty easy to do, I continued with pairing it to the Piqo app on my device. I have an Android phone and was successful following the instructions on how to pair the device for the first time as well as updating it to the latest firmware. After using the Piqo dashcam for about a week, here are my thoughts on this product. Pros: Very good video quality. The 2K image is clear during the day and at night. The camera can capture the license plate of a car 10 to 15 feet ahead of you in both day and night settings (see pics). As mentioned earlier, the device itself is not too big. If properly mounted, it can stay mostly hidden from view. The package includes a 32 GB micro SD card to allow you to begin recording immediately after setting up. It has the ability to continuously record video when the car is parked. You’ll need to run the included USB C cable and car adapter to the car’s auxiliary power outlet (aka cigarette lighter) that maintains power when the car is turned off. If this is not an option, Nextbase sells two other power adapters that can plug into your car’s fuse box or OBD2 port, both which are usually found under or near the dash. These alternative connections run continuous power even after the car is turned off. The dashcam has a g-force sensor that automatically detects when your car experiences a hard bump, turn, or crash. If triggered, the dashcam automatically protects the current video being recorded so it does not get written over by future recordings. I found that it is usually triggered if I hit a sizable pothole or when I’m turning into a driveway that has some uneven concrete. I believe you can adjust the sensitivity setting in the app. The Piqo dashcam can respond to basic voice commands, like asking it to protect the current video being recorded. I found this feature works well and is consistent. It almost replaces the need to physically touch the button on the camera. This is something I appreciate since my button is mostly hidden behind my rearview mirror. Cons: When connected and near the Piqo dashcam, it can take anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute to establish a connection for viewing and downloading videos. Sometimes it fails to connect, but it always works on the second attempt seconds later. To download a recorded video from the dashcam to your phone, it can take around 3 minutes to download a 1 minute video clip. So, the app isn’t ideal for downloading multiple videos at once. To do that, it is easier to remove the SD card from the dashcam and connect it to a computer. The SD card slot is physically located on the side of the dashcam, so it is easy to access and remove. The device comes with limited instructions. Many of the features are described within the app, but not with much detail. For example, it took me awhile to figure out how to upload videos to the Nextbase Cloud system for safekeeping. First, cloud storage is only available with subscription. However, the device does come with a free 30 day trial. Even after signing up, I still didn’t have a clue on how to use the cloud storage option. I had to look online and found instructions from Nextbase’s UK website. To upload a clip to their cloud system, you’ll need to download the clip to your phone first, then choose the Share option, enter your email address, and press the Upload button (see picture). Uploading takes just as long, if not longer to upload the clip to their server. Once completed, Nextbase sends you a link to your video. You can use the link to access the video outside of the app; and it can also be shared with others if needed. The Geofence alert system is a nice feature in theory, but from what I can tell, it’s not that useful if your phone is not in the car and connected to the Piqo dashcam. From what I can understand from the instructions, the dashcam recognizes if your vehicle has moved from a designated location of your choosing. However, because the Piqo does not have its own wireless network connection, it cannot send you alerts informing you that your car has moved. Instead, it saves and protects the footage from being erased, so you can retrieve it at a later time. Again, I may be misunderstanding how this feature works, but the instructions and descriptions in the app are limited. Overall: The Piqo is a relatively affordable 2K dashcam. It’s always better to capture video in higher quality, which makes this dashcam very competitive. If your main concern is capturing video and are not too concerned with the other features within the app, this dashcam will not disappoint. I found some features useful and others not so much. Plus, the subscription feature is totally optional. I’m perfectly happy using this dashcam without a subscription. I still get access to all the recordings and can review and download the ones I want to my phone anytime.

The Nextbase piqo is an incredibly small, unobtrusive front-facing dashcam with 2K recording. It really excels thanks to the Nextbase app that enables voice activation "Hey Nexy" for urgent safety recording and the annual ESOS plan is a bargain for the features (notifies emergency services in an accident, extends warranty to 3 years, cloud based recordings). -= In the Box =- - Nextbase piqo with mount - very long USB C to USB C cable (with right angle connector for Piqo) - 12V dual USB C car charger - spare mounting clip - 2 x protected by Nextbase stickers - wipes to clean windshield - spudger tool to help hide USB cables - 32GB micro SD card (required) and a standard SD adapter -= First Impressions =- The Nextbase piqo is tiny, but feels solid. There's no passenger facing camera, but it does have a large front facing button that has an LED ring. The microSD is on the left, the USB C is on the right. -= Setup =- There's a QR code in the box to ensure you download the right Nextbase app. I recommend using the QR code and not just searching the AppStore, just so you get the right Nextbase app. Download the app BEFORE you install the piqo in your car, as it walks through pairing steps and installation. Registration is required to use the app. Pairing was easy via Bluetooth, there was a firmware update when I first started the setup but it was very fast - like wow fast. Installation took of the camera itself takes all of a minute - I recommend having the piqo camera on live view. I installed mine just to the right of my mirror. The slower part of installation is (if you're like me) trying to hide the USB C cable and finding the right spudging path for the cable. You should use the right angle USB C cable pointing up, so you can go above your windshield, just give yourself enough give so you can remove the piqo (the mount slides on/off - a spare mount is included, if you plan to use the piqo on multiple cars, don't spudge the cable). Also, another tip, install with the mounting tab facing down (lower right hand side so you can slide the piqo on/off easily). -= What's Good =- I think the piqo is near perfect. I've used multiple dashcams and for simple safety, piece of mind, and smarts - as well as the size - the piqo is incredble. It pairs very fast after starting your car, about 10 seconds. Video quality is crystal clear (2K, 1440 at 30fps) and you can adjust the recordig to 1080p 60fps if you want to capture more images. Videos are time stamped with GPS coordinates, time, and speed - you can also enter your license plate in the app so video will be time stamped with your license plate. Video transfers pretty fast (the piqo creates an adhoc WiFi network for transfering video). The companion Nextbase app (I tested on iOS) is very intuitive, well designed, and so far has been trouble free. I would really encourage plaing with the app, there's lots of features in there including a smart parking feature that will record if you car is hit in a carpark (although this requires a professional install for continuous power. -= What's Not So Good =- Like all dashcams, if you have a long video, you are better inserting the microSD card in a computer for the fastest downloads. This is not something unique to piqo just a friendly reminder. I found WiFi connection to the piqo was faster when I was not in WiFi range of my home, but I think that's iOS biasing towards the strongest signal. The industry really needs a better solution for AdHoc WiFi networks. And a word of warning, if you hold the front button for 10 seconds you can erase all data and settings - kind of wish that reset option was hidden under the mount. -= Final Thoughts =- I genuinely love the piqo. It's a great small dashcam and I love how it looks in my car. When everyone sells subscription services, the Nextbase Piqo is one of the best value offerings on the market that actually offers genuine benefits.

I’ve used three different Nextbase cams in the past and this is my 2nd favorite. TL;DR for those just wanting the good/bad and lots of words to follow. Good: Size Cord Length USB-C on both ends Extra USB-C port on 12V adapter Extra snap on / pull off window mount Voice Controls Image / Video clarity Bad: No screen Have to memorize commands to save / protect videos Firmware update issues Live View Meh: App Setup was a no-brainer and it even included a spudger to pull back / pop off some plastic within the car to hide the cord. Once the glass was cleaned and then cleaned again with their wipes, it positioned without issue and held thanks to some good 3M-looking tape. USB-C cable end-to-end made pulling the cable easy and they even give you an extra port on the 12V connector so you can plug something else in - nice! On turn on & pairing, you need to follow the instructions. At first, I was using my other Nextbase App but it didn’t find the camera. The website didn’t help much so I had to search the Play Store to find another Nextbase app and when the camera was set to pairing mode, was picked right up by the App. Then, the firmware upgrade failures started. It took 3-4 times to successfully update and haven’t seen an update since (not that I expected to). The app has some documentation so you can use the wake word to “protect’ the video in the event you wanted to save it; the same goes for a single press of the button facing the cabin. When using the App for Live View - you have to have your WiFi enabled - as it’ll fail without it. When I leave home, my WiFi automatically shuts off - and yours may too. If you try to look at the live view without WiFi, the connection fails - but doesn’t tell you it failed, it drops you back to the main page. When it does connect, the color LED changes on the dash cam and you see the image. At the time of this writing, live view only works in vertical mode and takes up a small part of the screen - unable to go landscape. I hope this is fixed in firmware/app updates in the future. Not having a screen, to me, is rough. In the past, dash cams have indicated they were recording (blinking light) but the video was frozen - and I found out that there was no video on the cards. I hope this isn’t going to be a problem here - but only time will tell. 2k 30FPs is pretty good when you’re standing still, but a lower FPS makes for less clarity on objects passing by - like license plates and signs. I had no issues with stopped vehicles and their plates or road signs. When pausing motion video to get those details, it was tough - almost impossible. I didn’t experiment with dropping to 1080p and 60FPS as that’d double the frame rate but also reduce clarity. I have a photo in the review of a car directly in front of me. While the plate is obscured for the review, trust me that I can read it clearly. Another is a sign off to the left and you can’t make out what it says - that was while moving. Just an FYI. Overall not a bad dashcam - recommended!