Is a Dual Dashcam Worth the Extra Money?

Most people shopping for a dashcam reach the same decision point. A front camera alone, or a dual dashcam that records the road behind you as well? The dual version costs more, and the extra cable running to the back of the car looks like extra work. 

For most drivers who spend time in city traffic, a dual dashcam is worth the extra money. Many of the knocks and arguments on Indian roads start behind you, at a signal, in a parking lot or while reversing out of a lane, and a front camera sees none of it. But it is not the right choice for everyone, and the rear camera comes with a few trade offs worth knowing before you spend. 

Here is what a dual setup actually adds, what changes besides the price, and how to tell whether your driving needs one. 

What a dual dashcam setup includes 

A dual dashcam has two cameras working as one system. The main unit mounts on the front windscreen, usually behind the rearview mirror, and records the road ahead. A smaller camera mounts on the inside of the rear windscreen and records the road behind. A cable connects the rear camera to the front unit, which saves both recordings to a single memory card. 

To give you a sense of what arrives in the box, the nextro X700 DualVision Plus comes with the front camera, the rear camera, a 5.5 metre cable to connect them, a 3.5 metre Type C car charger cable, a pry tool and cable clips for tucking the wiring into the trim, double sided tape, electrostatic films for the windscreen and a user guide card. 

Both cameras record at the same time and save separate files covering the same moments. You can view and download either feed from the companion app. 

A triple channel dashcam adds a third camera facing into the cabin. That matters most for cab drivers and fleet owners, and it is a separate decision from single versus dual, covered in our guide to 3 channel dashcams. 

What else changes besides the price 

The price gap is the obvious cost. A few other things change too, and it is better to know them before you buy than after. 

Installation takes longer 

A front only dashcam plugs into the power socket and is running in a few minutes. A dual setup also needs the rear cable routed from the front unit, along the roof lining and down to the rear glass. It is not difficult, and a pry tool and cable clips make the wiring easy to hide. Still, set aside more time for it, or ask a car accessories shop to do it neatly. 

Check that the rear cable is long enough for your car, especially in a larger SUV or MPV. The X700's 5.5 metre rear cable gives you room to route it around the trim rather than in a straight line.  

Your memory card fills up faster 

Two cameras means two sets of files. On the same memory card, a dual dashcam keeps fewer hours of footage before loop recording starts overwriting the oldest clips. The answer is a larger, high endurance card. The X700 supports cards up to 256 GB.  

The rear camera usually records at a lower resolution 

On most dual dashcams the rear camera records at a lower resolution than the front. Both nextro dual models record 4K at the front and 1K at the rear. That is enough to show what happened behind you, how a vehicle approached and where it hit, but reading a number plate from a distance or at night is harder on the rear feed than the front. Always check the rear figure on the spec sheet rather than assuming it matches the front. 

Parking recording needs a little more planning 

If you want the cameras to keep watch while the car is parked, they draw power from the car battery. Parking recording needs a hardwire kit with a low voltage cutoff, which switches the dashcam off before the battery runs too low. The X600 comes with a hardwire kit in the box. The X700 uses nextro's Type C Hardwire Kit, bought separately.

Who should upgrade and who can skip it 

The answer depends on where you drive and where you park, more than on the car you own. 

If your budget only stretches to one good camera, a well made single channel dashcam beats a cheap dual one. One clear recording is more useful than two blurry ones. 

What to check before you buy a dual dashcam 

If you decide on a dual setup, these details separate a useful one from a disappointing one. 

nextro's two dual channel dashcams 

nextro makes two dual channel models. They share the same core recording setup and differ in the extras. 

The X600 is the simpler pick if you want front and rear coverage with parking recording ready out of the box. The X700 suits drivers who want GPS records, driver alerts and a larger screen.

The short answer

A dual dashcam costs more and takes a little longer to install, but it records the half of the road a front camera never sees. If you drive in city traffic, park on the street or reverse through tight spaces, that rear footage is likely to matter at some point. 

If your driving is mostly highways or the car rarely leaves a private garage, a good single channel dashcam will cover you well. Compare nextro's dashcams to find the setup that fits how you drive.

 About the author
Bhavesh Kumar, Head of Product & Customer Success at nextro. He works directly with customers choosing between single and dual dashcam setups and getting them installed, and writes about what actually holds up in Indian driving conditions.