Stuff - UK (2020-12)

TESTED NEXTBASE 622GW

Dash cams are pretty boring, but the Nextbase

622GW does something others can’t: it’s the first

to offer geolocation and SOS alert capabilities

QBuilt from premium plastic, the

Nextbase 622GW looks a lot like

a compact camera... but hidden

behind its 3in HD touchscreen are

a menagerie of clever tricks that

belie its appearance and price: this

is an action cam in disguise.

QIt records excellent 4K images at

30fps and Full HD at 120fps, putting

it streets ahead of its rivals and

making this a device not just

for capturing collisions but for

chronicling whole road trips. You

can view videos in super slo-mo,

and use digital image stabilisation

and enhanced night vision.

QThe 622’s party trick is safety

(stick with us). Integration with

the what3words location-sharing

system provides the emergency

services, friends and family with

your coordinates within a 3m

square; and if you’re unresponsive,

Nextbase Emergency SOS (free

for the first year) sends pre-saved

medical data such as your blood

type, allergies and medical history.

Q You can even use Alexa to play

music, make calls, check the news

or weather, control smart home

devices, get directions and find

parking spaces. And if someone

bumps your car while it’s parked,

it’ll record events automatically.

QSetup is simple, the touchscreen

responsive, the app intuitive and

4K footage as pin-sharp as you’d

expect. The only thing left wanting

is the negligible 15-minute battery

life, so it’ll spend most of its time

plugged in.

For those wanting a simple dash cam to capture careless drivers the 622GW is

overkill, but for a palatable price compared to compact and action cameras you

get a device with Alexa voice control that’s capable of capturing the enjoyment

of driving, not just the perils. And should you come a cropper, its world-first safety

features could be enough to save a life.

Crisp images,
Alexa smarts and

lifesaving skills

all in one box

James Day

Rad dash placing

STUFF SAYS Much more than just a dash cam – and bordering on a bargain +++++

Display 3in HD touchscreen

Video 4K @ 30fps, 1440 @ 60fps,

1080p @ 120fps Connectivity Wi-Fi,

Bluetooth 5, GPS, USB charging

Dimensions 95x53x45mm, 125g

Q I can stand the rain

Extreme Weather mode uses

algorithms to identify vehicles

and number plates in dangerous

conditions. We tested this on

soggy country roads without

street lighting, and the footage

held up.

Q Dark’s to prove it

The 622GW can record critical

details on even the darkest roads

with its enhanced night vision.

The sensor is big enough to let

in enough light and automatically

detects the levels to enhance the

image being recorded.

£249 / stuff.tv/622GW

Tech specs

Rear I stand

Footage is stored

locally on a microSD

card, and you can also

use the 622GW as a

rear-view cam or to

monitor inside

the cabin.