Dash cams · owner-verdict comparison

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 vs Nextbase 622GW: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 52% of 120 Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 owners recommend it, vs 47% of 127 for the Nextbase 622GW.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2

52%of 120 owners recommend

52% recommend · 17% neutral · 31% don't

Owners praise

Tiny and discreet, hides behind the rear-view mirror
Good video quality for its size
Easy to install and set up

Owners complain about

Screen turns purple or green as the sensor fails
Stops working within one to three years
Garmin charges for replacement, weak warranty support

Full owner report →

Nextbase 622GW

47%of 127 owners recommend

47% recommend · 14% neutral · 39% don't

Owners praise

Excellent 4K video quality, day and night
Records license plates clearly as usable evidence
Worth the money despite the high price

Owners complain about

Overheats and freezes, requiring resets
Buggy app that won't connect or download files
Internal battery fails within a year or two

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 if

✓Drivers wanting the smallest, hidden-behind-mirror dash cam
✓DIY installers using the rearview-mirror USB port
✓Front-and-rear multi-camera setups
✓Those fine with no screen and app-based playback

Skip it if

Buyers expecting multi-year reliability (sensor failures common)
Anyone needing above-1080p or distant plate detail

Get the Nextbase 622GW if

✓Drivers wanting sharp 4K day footage and clear plates
✓Owners who hardwire it to sidestep the weak battery
✓People adding a rear camera for full front-and-rear coverage
✓High-mileage and commercial drivers wanting court-ready evidence

Skip it if

Anyone relying on the battery or standalone parking mode
Users who need a working, non-buggy phone app

What Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 owners say

“This is an easy to use, affordable unit for sure! I love mine!”
— @BigBluePile on YouTube

“Garmin dash cam mini 2 is what I have and like.”
— JustAnotherDude1990 on Reddit

“I originally had the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 and another one with a screen (can't remember off the top of my head, but it had a screen) to have a front and back cam in my car. Both bricked after a couple of weeks.”
— HesDeadJim_ on Reddit

What Nextbase 622GW owners say

“I have NextBase 622GW with a rear cam, hardwired (they come to place of your choosing to install it). The cost was £450 and worth every penny.”
— BestButtons on Reddit

“Quite Possibly one of thee best Dashcams for the money.”
— PralineElectrical907 on Reddit

“I have nextbase 622gw. Honestly, overpriced. I'd get a blackvue next time”
— ASassyTitan on Reddit

Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 vs Nextbase 622GW: frequently asked questions

Is the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 or the Nextbase 622GW better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 52% of 120 Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 owners recommend it, vs 47% of 127 for the Nextbase 622GW.

Who should get the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2?

Owners point the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 at drivers wanting the smallest, hidden-behind-mirror dash cam, and dIY installers using the rearview-mirror USB port.

Who should get the Nextbase 622GW?

Owners point the Nextbase 622GW at drivers wanting sharp 4K day footage and clear plates, and owners who hardwire it to sidestep the weak battery.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 is screen turns purple or green as the sensor fails. For the Nextbase 622GW, it's overheats and freezes, requiring resets.