Owning any kind of vehicle requires financial commitment and, in many cases, the outlay can be sizable. It’s therefore a great idea to get a dash cam, because they’re very affordable and come complete with a whole array of high-tech features alongside having the ability to capture audio and video on the go.

The best dash cam models can help safeguard your property while it’s parked, too. Some models have advanced monitoring modes for when vehicles are stationary and being stored in parking lots or at hotels during business trips and vacations. While some of these advanced features are only available on something like the Nextbase iQ dash cam, the British dashcam manufacturer has now introduced this: the Nextbase Piqo.

This is a brilliant little alternative to the premium feel of the Nextbase iQ. It’s very compact; much more so than its bigger relative. The installation and configuration can be done in minutes, too. There are a whole range of features that emulate the high-end tools found inside the Nextbase iQ but come in slimmed down or ‘Lite’ variants. Best of all is the fact that the Nextbase Piqo dash cam carries a super budget price tag.

Price, availability, and specs

The Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam is available via the Nextbase website and other online retailers. There are two versions: the 1K (HD 1080p) edition costs $130 / £99 while the slightly better 2K (HD 1440p) model retails for $150 / £119. The pricing is much cheaper than that of the premium Nextbase iQ, which starts at $400 / £350.

What I liked about the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam

Easy to use and solid results

It might be small, but the Nextbase Piqo delivers everything I need from a dash cam. The most appealing aspect is the price point, so it’s easily affordable for most folks. There’s also the ease of installation. From taking it out of the box to getting it stuck to my windshield, the Nextbase Piqo install took mere minutes. Configuring it took about the same amount of time and the app is a breeze to use too.

Plus, the ability to plug it into a 12V socket in a vehicle without the need for any hard-wiring makes total sense on the convenience front. That said, hard-wiring is needed for getting access to the more advanced parking and monitoring features. For me though, I like the way I can easily unplug the Nextbase Piqo and move it to another vehicle — that’s super convenient.

I also like the way Nextbase has been smart enough to include many of the same features found in its premium iQ model. Admittedly, these have been trimmed down a little, but the basics are all there. Sign up for the cheap and cheerful subscription, and it’ll work even better. A bonus, though, is that I can use the free edition without any subscription whatsoever. In fact, I just plugged it in and started using it right away the first time I got the dash cam out of the box.

What I didn’t like about the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam

Not as good as the Nextbase iQ

While the price tag of the Nextbase Piqo makes it very appealing to anyone on a budget, there are compromises as a result. Offering many of the same features found in the premium Nextbase iQ model makes sense, but they’re not quite as muscular. They work fine, but anyone needing a dash cam that does a little more is best advised to head for the more expensive model instead.

There is also the lack of a rear screen. Granted, Nextbase has a very good supporting app, which allowed me to configure the camera easily and, from there, offers plenty of file management tools. However, not having instant access to the same thing via a screen on the rear of the Nextbase Piqo dash cam might seem like a drawback to some. I can live with it, but I do like a touchscreen on the back to be honest.

I’m also not a big fan of having to sign up for another subscription package if I want additional features and functionality from the Nextbase Piqo. Admittedly, this model does work just fine if I want to plug and play, with only power needed and a bit of app tweaking to make use of most of its functionality. Sign up for a subscription though, which costs $3 / £3 per month, and I get even more options.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there’s the quality of the video. On the 2K model I tested, it proved to be satisfactory and can easily be used in the event of an incident. It’s less great in after dark scenarios and distance shots do tend to lose clarity. The audio seemed a little patchy with my test unit too, though I’m yet to ascertain if this was the camera or, perhaps, the car and the cable connection somewhere in-between. Overall, the performance was good rather than great.

Should you buy the Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam?

The Nextbase Piqo Dash Cam comes recommended, mainly because I love its ease of use, the simple installation process and that price point. Even if I move on from the free ‘Solo’ subscription, the ‘Protect’ plan feels like good value for $3 / £3 per month as it offers more cloud storage and enhanced features. Either way, the footage from this dash cam is decent, and it comes with the benefit of timestamp data too, including date, time and speed. The Nextbase Piqo dash cam therefore offers everything most people will want or need and all for peanuts.