Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Tested and Reviewed

The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 is an ultracompact, high-definition dash camera designed to provide essential video coverage for your vehicle. In this review, we will cover the device’s key features, its performance, pros and cons, and frequently asked questions to help you determine if the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 is the right choice for you.

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Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Key Features and Specifications

Feature	Specification
Brand	Garmin
Model Name	Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3
Vehicle Service Type	Car
Connectivity Technology	Bluetooth, USB, Wi-Fi
Special Feature	Bluetooth
Video Capture Resolution	1080p HD
Field of View	140 Degrees
Mounting Type	Windshield Mount
Color	Black
Voice Control	Yes (available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Swedish)
Storage	Online Vault (requires a paid subscription)
Components Included	Dash cam, low-profile adhesive mount, vehicle power cable, dual-USB power adapter, documentation
Polarizer	Garmin Clarity™ polarizer lens
Parking Guard	Yes (requires paid Vault subscription, Wi-Fi, constant power)
Remote Access	Yes (live view via smartphone app with paid Vault subscription)
Operating Temperature Range	Designed for hot car interiors and direct sunlight exposure
App Compatibility	Garmin Drive app

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Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Performance

Video Quality and Field of View

The Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 records in crisp 1080p HD resolution, providing clear and detailed video footage. The wide 140-degree field of view ensures that you capture a large portion of the road ahead, helping to identify important details like road signs, other vehicles, and even license plates. This camera excels in both bright and low-light conditions, ensuring that your footage remains clear regardless of the time of day. Whether you’re driving at night or in bright daylight, the Mini 3 offers consistent, high-quality video output.

Additionally, the Garmin Clarity™ polarizer lens significantly reduces windshield glare, improving the clarity of the video, especially in bright light or while driving during sunrise or sunset. This helps eliminate the hazy or washed-out images that some dash cams struggle with, ensuring that you get the best possible video quality under various driving conditions.

Voice Control and Convenience

The Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 offers voice control functionality, allowing you to easily save video footage and start or stop audio recording with spoken commands. This feature adds a layer of convenience, especially during driving, as it minimizes the need to interact with the device physically. The voice control works in several languages, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Swedish, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

This voice control feature makes it easy to capture important moments during your drive, such as accidents or sudden incidents, without taking your eyes off the road. It’s an excellent addition for anyone looking for a more hands-free dash cam experience.

Incident Detection and Automatic Recording

The Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 automatically detects incidents and saves the video footage with the date and time stamped. This means that in the event of an accident, collision, or sudden event, you don’t have to manually save the footage. The camera will automatically save and secure the relevant clips, which can be crucial when filing insurance claims or providing evidence.

The automatic recording feature is very intuitive, and the dash cam ensures that no important footage is lost. The video saved can easily be accessed through the Garmin Drive app or the cloud-based Online Vault (with a paid subscription), providing easy access to video for future use.

Storage and Cloud Services

The Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 integrates with the Garmin Online Vault, which allows you to store your recorded footage in the cloud. This means you don’t have to worry about manually transferring and backing up your video files. With the vault service, your videos are automatically uploaded, so they’re always accessible for viewing and sharing through the Garmin Drive app.

However, it’s important to note that this service requires a paid subscription, and the free version of the app only allows users to access videos when near the dash cam. For those who want to take full advantage of the remote access and cloud storage, the paid Vault subscription is necessary.

Parking Guard and Remote Access

One standout feature of the Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 is the parking guard, which sends a notification to your phone if an incident is detected while your vehicle is parked. This feature is particularly useful if you want to monitor your car when it’s unattended or parked in a public area. However, this feature also requires a paid Vault subscription, constant power, and the use of the Garmin Drive app on your smartphone.

Additionally, the dash cam supports remote access, allowing you to view live video from the camera even when you’re away from your car. This remote live view feature is especially useful if you’re concerned about the security of your vehicle and want to monitor it remotely. Like the parking guard feature, remote access also requires a paid Vault subscription and an active Wi-Fi connection.

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Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3: Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Compact and discrete – The ultracompact size ensures the dash cam is barely noticeable on the windshield.	Requires paid subscription for full functionality – Many features like cloud storage and remote access need a paid Vault subscription.
Excellent video quality – 1080p HD resolution with a wide 140-degree field of view for clear footage.	Limited storage for non-subscribers – Free app users can only access footage when near the dash cam.
Voice control – Hands-free functionality for saving video and controlling audio recording.
Garmin Clarity™ polarizer lens – Reduces glare for improved video clarity, especially in bright conditions.
Easy setup and installation – The low-profile adhesive mount and clear instructions make installation simple.

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FAQ About the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3

1. How does the Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 handle low light conditions?

The Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 performs excellently in low-light conditions thanks to its 1080p HD resolution and Garmin Clarity™ polarizer lens. The lens helps reduce glare from headlights or streetlights, ensuring that the video footage remains clear even in dark environments.

2. Do I need a subscription to use the Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3?

While the basic functionality of the Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3, such as recording video and detecting incidents, does not require a subscription, many of the premium features, such as cloud storage, remote live view, and parking guard, require a paid Vault subscription.

3. Can I view the footage remotely?

Yes, the Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 supports remote access for live viewing through the Garmin Drive app, but this requires a paid Vault subscription, a constant power supply, and an active Wi-Fi connection.

4. What happens if the dash cam detects an incident?

If the dash cam detects an incident, it automatically saves the video footage with a time and date stamp. You can then access this footage via the Garmin Drive app or the online Vault (if subscribed).

5. Is the Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 easy to install?

Yes, the Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 comes with a low-profile adhesive mount, making installation straightforward. The camera is designed to be discreet and can easily be mounted on your windshield without obstructing your view.

6. How is the video quality?

The Garmin Dash Cam™ Mini 3 records in 1080p HD resolution, providing clear and detailed video footage. It performs well in both bright and low-light conditions, and the 140-degree field of view ensures that you capture a wide area of the road.

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