Garmin Dash Cam 57 review: A solid mid-range dash cam

Our Verdict

With impressive features and decent video quality, the Garmin Dash Cam 57 makes for a solid mid-range dashcam.

For

Meaty size
Voice control
Good safety features
Easy-to-utilise magnetic mount

Against

No glare filter
Slightly fuzzy images at duskier times
No touchscreen

Tom's Guide Verdict

With impressive features and decent video quality, the Garmin Dash Cam 57 makes for a solid mid-range dashcam.

Pros

+
Compact size
+
Vox control
+
Good safe features
+
Piece of cake-to-employ magnetic mount

Cons

-
No glare filter
-
Slightly fuzzy images at duskier times
-
No touchscreen

Garmin Nuance Cam 57: Specs

Field of view: 140°
Megapixels: 3.seven
Resolution: Up to 1440p
Output resolution: 2560 10 1440
GPS: Yes
Display: ii" LCD

Building upon past iterations, the Garmin Dash Cam 57 hides enough of features within its diminutive body, including vocalism control, parking guard and driver alerts.

While video quality isn't quite grade-leading, the 57 represents a neat and tidy package. Plus, those non fussed near a touchscreen or bigger brandish will appreciate its stealthy, unimposing design.

Garmin Dash Cam 57 price and availability

The Garmin Dash Cam 57 is available from Garmin'southward website right now, and priced at $229.99 / £149.99

Garmin Dash Cam 57 review: Design & features

The pattern of the Garmin Dash Cam 57 follows its previous brethren, this time incorporating a latticed pattern on its front. Its jet black appearance and small, matchbox-sized body make it piece of cake to ready discreetly on a windshield.

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Garmin dash cam 57 review — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

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Four physical buttons adorn its side, and while these feel nice and chunky, they're a affect loose against the housing. Despite this, I cartel say this device'south simple yet elegant fascia puts information technology among the all-time-looking dashcams on the market.

And while the 57 might be modest, it boasts a flurry of boosted features.

First up, vocalization control. Y'all tin verbally instruct the 57 to relieve a photograph or video, enter Travelapse mode or start audio recording. This characteristic may be commonplace, only information technology's all the same an important function to help drivers proceed their hands on the steering bicycle and not rooting around for the salve button.

The 57 also comes with multiple driver alerts, including lane departure warnings, speed photographic camera notifications and a forrad collision warning for when you're also shut to the vehicle in forepart. However, I'll admit that these sound warnings felt relatively shrill on my ears.

Incident detection is also included. Should the unit notice a collision, the camera automatically saves footage fifteen seconds before and 15 seconds after, stamped with the date, time and location of the event, thanks to the onboard GPS. For added peace of heed, the parking guard characteristic also starts recording if it detects an incident while the engine is off.

Finally, the Travelapse function creates a speedy reel of your journey, fast-tracking hours of footage into mere minutes. Admittedly though, it's pretty contemporary and might just involvement social media aficionados looking to spice upwardly their feeds.

Garmin Dash Cam 57 review: Setup

Setup with the Garmin Dash Cam 57 was very straightforward. The kit comes supplied with thumb-sized viscid metal dots for placing onto the windshield, to which you can attach and disassemble the mounting arm and device. Dissimilar larger dashcams, its pocket-size size meant I could position it in more than places without obscuring my view.

I as well appreciated the inclusion of 2 charging cables for upward or downward power routing, significant I didn't have to wrestle with any uncooperative wires during installation. The unit starts recording as soon as information technology's turned on or registers ability from the ignition, and then no second-guessing whether the photographic camera is rolling or not.

Garmin Dash Cam 57 review: Software

Connecting the 57 to the Garmin Bulldoze app was no hassle. The app allows for an impressive level of control, letting you tinker with diverse settings and access stored video and epitome files. Yous can also link information technology with up to four other Garmin dashcams.

There's likewise a Live view feature that offers a live feed of your camera from wherever yous are. As well Garmin's Vault Storage ensures your videos are saved in the cloud automatically. Videos are saved for 24 hours, though you tin can keep them for upwards to 30 days with a $x a calendar month subscription programme.

Garmin Dash Cam 57 review: Video and audio quality

During my drive test, the Garmin Dash Cam 57 featured mostly decent video and audio quality, with no discernable lens distortion. Even so, during monitor playback, I noticed some graininess running through some footage, most apparent during dusk or nighttime shots.

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It's likewise prone to glare on sunny days, which would have been minimized with a polarizing filter. However, I wouldn't say these are deal-breakers.

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Garmin Dash Cam 57 review: Verdict

The Garmin Nuance Cam 57 is a bully all-circular device with a host of features. While its video quality doesn't quite stack up to its all-time rivals, the deviation is relatively negligible.

If you lot're in the market for a compact, unobtrusive dashcam and aren't bothered by the lack of touchscreen or more prominent brandish, the Garmin 57 might be a perfect fit.