Garmin - Dash Cam Mini Series

I had two Garmin Mini sensors fail after a short time. Which sucks because they're the most subtle form factor cam on the market. Everything else is bulky and ugly (see OP's photo) which ultimately is an important consideration for something that I want to keep hidden from sight. I really did love them...while they worked, at least. Went with Viofo for the replacement and am happy so far, while keeping my fingers crossed.

I use the Mini 2 with Dongar on both of my cars.

I like the Garmin Mini or Mini 2 because it doesn't have a big ass screen to take away space from my window screen, particularly as one of my cars has a very small window.

I like the Garmin Mini or Mini 2 because it doesn't have a big ass screen to take away space from my window screen, particularly as one of my cars has a very small window.

I went for a Garmin Dash Mini 2 because it's discreet, doesn't get in the way of vision, and the data can be extracted easily. Fancier dash cams exist but it's all I need.

I have a truck and run a full Garmin setup: Front: 67W Rear: Mini 2 Power: Garmin OBDII Constant Power Cable I've had this setup for years, and I love it. Has survived multiple Texas summers. It is very easy to install and has plenty of length to hide the cables well.

I've used Vantrue E1, Garmin Mini 2 and Vantrue N5. The Garmin mini and the Vantrue E1 are 1-channel but they are nice. The screen in the E1 makes a difference for me in terms of reviewing clips, config, etc. which you need to do via WiFi connection for the Garmin mini 2; and the E1 can be paired with a small remote control to save/lock clips and enable/disable the mic recording. From your post, I'd check these ones out and decide. The CPL filter makes a difference but not a must. The N5 is another level with 3 channels, and big bunch of features but also a looot more expensive. At this point, I would have gone for a cheaper model from Vantrue with LTE module. I did take a look at the Viofo dashcams before buying and they also give very good value for their money. The A119 Duo is a good 2-channel that will not break your bank. Do keep in mind that the dashcams don't come with microSD cards and those endurance cards tend to be from 30€ upwards (don't go for anything else, imho, or you may face issues saving videos).

I use a Garmin Mini and just hide the wire along the top and side panel and connect the USB to the passenger charge port. Works fine for me!

Plugged in a Garmin dash cam mini 2 using a short cable matters USB-C to Mini-USB cable. Worked well for recording with the car on. Later bought the Garmin OBD2 always on dongle.

Garmin DC 67W front, DC Mini 2 rear

if it’s just for insurance/determining whose at fault I’d go for a Garmin Mini 3. I have two one front and rear, they sync to each other, the app is basic and simple, the quality is more than sufficient (can read plates of oncoming cars on two way lane interurban 60kmh road) and field of view is good. Microphone is mutable via button which was a must for me and you can disable all the annoying beeping and shit. SD card easy to eject if you wanted to swallow it for some reason and Garmin makes a nice auto cutoff OBD port power supply, good parking mode. Good customisation for park mode, record not record, sensitivity. No over the top stuff, no geeky batman gadgets, no fugly screens just camera record and camera save and affordable plus invisible behind my rear view mirror which was a must. It’s 1080p but high bit rate so it’s good. Yes it doesn’t have GPS so no speed, but for me this is both a positive and non-issue. Firstly insurance doesn’t need to know if i was theoretically speeding, and if i want to know my speed i’ll pull up google maps and calculate it manually distance over time. I have gotten a real officer fine withdrawn this way using the Mini 3 (it also bang shotted him clearly not even aiming the lidar gun at me on the side of the road and he had his body cam turned off but that’s another story) Only complaint is setting up them was a little buggy (had to close and reopen app) and downloading footage over wifi is slow and not easy to snip a small clip but those are one off issues, not daily problem.

Yes $230 for 1080p single channel only is rather expensive. I can't even find a equivalent Viofo since the current ones are 1440p minimum. Garmin have a lithium ion battery to provide up to 30 minutes of extra recording when power is out, while most others use a super-capacitor to only close video file safely when power is out. Lithium ion battery are known to not last long in high heat, but I haven't seen Garmin having battery bulging issue. Garmin have their own software with a unique feature that let you sync multiple Garmin cams. Other brands just modify Novatek base software stack, all their apps have similar look and features. Garmin also have lots of accessory options although somewhat expensive, like you can use a suction cup mount instead of sticker mount.

been using mine for 3.5 years no issues

I’ve been super happy with my [Garmin Mini 2](https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0931YZ82P?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) <*amazon link*

I went down this same rabbit hole , I end up with the garmin mini dash cam2 , I bought one for the front and one for the rear , im not tech savvy and so each camera has its own SIM card , I got hit and I just took out the SIM card and had every recorded on it , they just simple works great , also got the install kit and it was like 50.00 to have it hard wired in , but if you want you could upland and take with you and use in other cars

I have had very bad luck buying dashcams from brands I never heard of. For the last couple of years I have been using Garmin minis. I have one on the windshield and one in the back window. No GPS or screen but they are tiny and unobtrusive enough to leave on the windshield when parked in the city and take razor sharp video. I have never had a corrupted file or the problems accepting certain SD cards like I have had with others.

I have the garmin mini 2 now for 1,5 years and it’s doing great.

after looking and pricing and every thing else I went with the Garmin mini 2 , I bought one for the front and the back , not only did it pay for itself another nice thing is you Can ajust it , and to be fare when cleaning around it you may hit it and move it , but I found it to be nice when I got hit I just took the SIM card out rite there and when and down loaded all the info also whats a nice thing is you can take from one car to the next , I did have my hard wired but I can also unplug and use the other plug if need be to power it

Garmin Mini , direct wire to fuse box

I have the same truck from 2024. Use the Garmin Mini 3. Not real expensive, good quality video. It also records and locks the video vith voice commands

Same. Sitting always mounted in the AZ heat, where other cameras have literally melted, I have three and they're great.

Garmin Mini. Cheap, simple, reliable and tiny. Beautiful picture, no GPS or speed indicated on the videos so be aware if you need that. No screen either. You use your phone to view the videos. Beware of Chinese dashcams from brands you never heard of. I went through several before landing on the Garmin. Runs on USB, the power wire tucks right into the trim around the windshield.

Having good luck with the Garmin Mini3

I had the first one for a year until it stopped working. Got a replacement via Garmin RMA. Replacement just stopped working after another year, this time showing a corrupted image (assumably circuit board melted). Do not ever buy a Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2.

My fiancée and I both have Garmin Mini 2’s that are extremely basic but work well. I tucked the wiring in the headliner and ran it down the weather stripping on the passenger side so it’s mostly hidden and ran the cable behind the glove box to the 12v outlet in the center. I believe Garmin now has a Mini 3 but I cannot speak to the newer model. To review/download videos I just use the Garmin drive app. It self purges old videos as storage fills up if they are not saved which is nice. Hard to beat the $129.99 price tag at time of purchase.

I’ve had the Garmin Dash Mini 3 for about a year and it’s worked great. If you buy the dongar harness, you can power it from your mirror and never have to worry about wires to plug in.

Bitrate matters just as much as resolution for moving instances, plates are pretty big. Unfortunately for most cameras no way to actually know this until you test the camera. My Garmin Mini 3 can read plates of oncoming cars on 60kmh two way roads despite being 1080p because the bit rate is high, so it doesn’t smudge moving plates.

I've got two and they're working just fine after coming up on two years, I think. That said, today's quality control is crap and with mass produced items you can always get back luck.

I have the garmin mini 2 I have the adapter that siphons power from the rear view mirror so no visible wires.

3rd Gen here, not sure if it's the same on other gens. But I have the Garmin Mini and the mirror plug and it's an extremely easy install and the camera is good. I have one of the older versions of the Mini so I'm assuming that in the newer versions it has an updated camera.

I second the Garmin mini.

I had an incident and the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 for some reason, in continuous mode, didn’t record the 5 seconds I needed. The video cuts perfectly before and after the incident. It absolutely screwed me once. To be fair, it worked 80% of the time, but its terribly short lifespan makes it unacceptable. This is e-waste.

I use a Garmin Tandem in front (also does interior) and a Garmin Mini for the rear.

About to say, I’ve had two for a long time and haven’t have a problem

I have the Mini 3, and I have its usb power cable running down the driver side window trim, under the driver dash, under the mat and to the power plug in the arm rest, but I have a large USB battery pack its plugged into that'll keep the camera running for over 24 hours before dying with the car off so I get a little peace of mind while parked.

I use Garmin’s dash cam mini (ver 2 & 3) & a dongar adapter to tap into the rear view mirror’s power.

I love mine. Its never given me issues

I have a garmin mini 3. It takes great video but its slow to connect to from your phone via wifi. I have a viofo a119 mini in another car but I don't think the angle would be right for a rear dash cam. The garmin mini 3 fits really well and isn’t too intrusive. https://preview.redd.it/pczycgw1xaue1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f49e58449e8e04300a899d96dc382dd4a632b11

I have a garmin dash cam mini 2 in both of my cars and it’s great. I just don’t has a in can camera yet

I use the garmin mini 2 and the dongar adapter to power it from the mirror like this is. Seems like a decent option

Got a 2016.5 CX5 about 2 months ago and I have done: - StartX remote starter (easy to install) - Apple Carplay/Android Auto USB hub installed (super easy to install as well) - Switched to LED interior lights - installed ambient lighting (hardwired. footlights and one strip on the dash. Kept it simple to not be too annoying) - Dashcam with dongcar adapter (Garmin mini 3) What I plan to do in the near future: - change brakes and rotors (need recs) - add OEM roof rails and cross bars - add a trailer hitch (need recs) The car is super easy to work with and install stuff on. I'm a first time car owner with little to no experience with hardware stuff at all (still don't know the difference between a socket vs ratchet wrench). So if I can do it then anyone can :D

garmin mini 3 with the dongar cable. Tuck it up behind the passenger side of your rear view mirror and its basically invisible and runs in the background. Honestly forget i have it until I see questions like this come up in this sub haha

Love my mini 2. Started with it as my primary and eventually moved it to the back when I moved to a 2ch setup.

I have the same truck from 2024. Use the Garmin Mini 3. Not real expensive, good quality video. It also records and locks the video vith voice commands

I have a Garmin Mini 3 - and prior to that, in my last vehicle, I had a Garmin Mini 2. The 3 comes with a polarizing filter already on the lens. I'm sure it's not the best quality camera out there, but it's small, discrete, and I've always had a positive experience with both units. I only bought the 3 because I couldn't find where I put the 2 (I thought we had thrown it away in our garage cleanup effort). Literally like two days after I got the 3 installed, we found the 2. So I put that in the wife's car.

I have a Garmin Mini too- using Garmin Drive app you do not need a subscription to download footage. You do need an SD card though. It'll auto save what it considers "events", but you will have big files for everything else where you can use Garmin Drive to select the beginning and end of what you want to save then you export it to your camera roll. It's pretty easy and if you arent trying to get 10 min of footage it takes very little time to export it. I have a 128GB card and it saves a couple days worth for me, ymmv depending on how much you drive.

Garmin hd mini. Got it on sale on Amazon for 50 bucks A couple years ago. Comes with a little ball and slot attachment you can just pull it off and store it if you need to, I also use window shades to block the sun.

Whatever you do don’t buy the Porsche dashcam. Hot garbage. The garmin mini is my favorite because it’s tiny. I just used a 12v to usb mirror tap and pushed it into the power and ground for the rear view mirror connector up in the overhead console. It’s easy to get in there.