Garmin Dash Cam X110 in testing

In addition to good image quality and easy handling, Garmin’s new dashcam X110 offers several integrated assistance systems. We tested whether the compact camera also impresses in practice.

The use of dashcams is controversial in Germany, but their use is permitted if certain conditions are met. In case of damage, the saved recording helps to recreate the process and clarify the question of guilt. For recordings to be admissible, they must not be made and stored permanently. The Garmin X series uses a loop function for this purpose. Here, the old recording is automatically overwritten with the current video – as long as no event occurs, the recording is saved.

The new Garmin X110 saves such videos in 1080p in a separate folder. The compact car camera not only films what is happening in front of the vehicle, in addition to voice control and live transmission to the cell phone, it also provides assistance systems such as distance and lane departure warning. Additional functions such as park guard and time-lapse function complete the wide range of functions. whether investment is around 222 euros It’s worth it, we reveal in the test.

Garmin uses a housing almost comparable to its X series and hence the models X110, X210 and now the tested It is compact in appearance and hence does not impair the field of vision.

A color display with a diagonal of less than 2.4 inches is located on the back. The camera is operated by four buttons on the right side of the housing. They have a clear pressure point and respond reliably. The top button is the on/off switch and is used to navigate through the menus, the bottom button is to manually save a recording or confirm it in the menu. Garmin has omitted a convenient touch function – it’s reserved for the more expensive X310.

The microSD card slot required for storage is at the bottom, but a memory card is not included in the scope of delivery. MicroSD cards with high read and write speeds are generally recommended for use in dash cams. The speed class should be at least a factor of 10. We explain what else buyers should pay attention to Memory Card Guide: Find the right card for your cell phone, camera or droneAfter inserting the memory card, the camera formats it. If there is other data on the card, you should back it up beforehand as it will disappear later.

The front camera lens protrudes about an inch from the simple black housing. The workmanship and pressure points of the buttons do not give rise to any complaints. Considering the high price the workmanship here is first class.

Next to the camera lens is a movable mounting arm with which the dashcam is affixed to the inside of the windshield. To permanently maintain the adhesive pads, you must first remove dirt and grease from the adhesive area and operate at moderate outdoor temperatures. When connected this way, the dash cam remains really reliable – even in the face of shocks and temperature changes. Experience has shown that if it were combined with a suction cup, the grip would be less reliable. The only disadvantage of strong adhesive pads: they take time to remove without leaving any residue.

The scope of delivery of the X110 includes a dash cam, a four-meter long USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB power supply for the cigarette lighter. As already mentioned, memory card is not included.

The long length and small diameter of the charging cable makes it easy to install indoors even for common people. Important when installing: The cable must leave a clear field of vision and must not under any circumstances become entangled in the pedals or steering wheel. Experience suggests that you place it along the windshield frame and route it over the passenger’s footwell to a cigarette lighter or otherwise existing USB power supply.

The USB-C port is responsible for power supply, but the Dash Cam X110 also has a small lithium-ion battery integrated. Although it has only a small capacity and is not suitable for continuous operation, it helps maintain power after an accident. This is important so that the recording is actually saved. Even without an external power supply, the Garmin Dash Cam X110 recorded about 10 to 15 more minutes in tests. Another benefit of the battery: run time is so convenient that you can take the camera with you and use it to record video wirelessly at home. garmin drive View or download the app on your smartphone.

Communication takes place via Bluetooth or WLAN connection. A GPS receiver is integrated to determine location. An acceleration sensor (G-sensor) detects when the vehicle starts to move and then automatically starts filming. The sensor also registers sharp and sudden deceleration, for example when braking rapidly or in an accident. If this is the case, the video automatically ends up in a protected folder on the storage so that it is not overwritten by the loop function. This automatic overwriting of old data is necessary for dashcam use in Germany, as permanent recording is not allowed without reason. The X110 offers two loop options: the camera continuously creates 30-second clips until the microSD card is full and then overwrites the oldest recording. Alternatively, the camera records only a 30-second video, which is then permanently overwritten. The exception is clips in which the G-sensor has detected a dangerous situation. These videos will not be overwritten.

For data security reasons, we recommend against overwriting the same recording consecutively. Additionally, you should regularly check the clips stored by the sensor. In principle, however, for data protection reasons, we recommend regularly deleting saved recordings when no longer required.

In testing, the Dash Cam X110’s operation and controls were intuitive and self-explanatory. The top button is used to turn on and off and as a back button in the menu. The two middle buttons are used to scroll through menu options, the bottom button is used to confirm. Individual videos can also be saved manually while driving. However, with few exceptions, this is not advisable as you must concentrate on the road.

If you still feel the need to capture a situation on video or photo, a voice assistant can help as an alternative. All you have to do is say “Ok, Garmin” and voice control is activated. The options “Save Video”, “Take Image”, “Record Sound” and “Start Time Lapse” can be selected. Garmin calls the latter function “Travellapse.” Here the dashcam records a time-lapse video of the entire journey – exciting, for example while driving on holiday. Actual recording does not affect special functions.

The Garmin Dash Cam X series also features several driver assistance systems. It includes drive off alarm. For example, in a traffic jam it alerts the driver that the car in front is starting to move again. But we didn’t really need the alarm. We find the integrated park-guard parking assistant more useful. If it is turned on, the X110 detects vibration even when parked and then records video. If a parking collision occurs, you at least have a small chance of identifying the person responsible. If that’s not enough for you, you can also view a live image from the dashboard remotely using the app and check if everything is fine in front of the car.

If you have an active connection to your cell phone through the Garmin Drive, you can also set a proximity alarm. It informs the driver about personalized POIs (points of interest) or traffic light flashing systems.

There is also a lane departure warning system and collision warning if the safety distance is too short. Despite the various setting options, we had only a brief test of the assistants – we were particularly irritated by the constant warnings when we intended to change lanes.

The dashcam allows recording with a maximum resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels at 30 fps (images per second). At 140 degrees, the camera’s field of view (FOV) is smaller than the older Dash Cam 65W, but in practice it’s wide-angle enough and the video is less distorted overall. Contrasts are clear and colors don’t look exaggerated. However, the picture is not correct. Dynamic range reaches its limits, especially when backlighting and in low light. Overall, the image quality is good even in darkness.

However, we would have liked a higher refresh rate given this comparatively low resolution. At 60 fps, even fast motion will be recorded fairly quickly – at just 30 fps, details in still images often look washed out and blurry. License plates often become illegible.

Garmin Dash Cam X110 commercially available 222 euros Available. Compared to other cameras with 1080p, this is a very high price. The features and experience-based high reliability justify the high price, but the Dash Cam X110 is expensive. We’ll take a look at the manufacturer’s older models, which are slightly cheaper.

The Garmin Dash Cam X110 is a compact but expensive dash cam with many additional functions. In addition to the high reliability and more or less useful assistance functions, we like the time-lapse function and the park guard. Thanks to its compact dimensions, the compact dash cam only minimally restricts the field of vision and is therefore not annoying. Operation and assembly are simple and problem-free.

However, at only 1080p and only 30 frames per second, the image quality here falls short. Anyone who attaches great importance to additional functions can access them, but for the same prices there are now significantly higher resolutions and refresh rates – but here you usually have to limit yourself to specialized functions. Overall, the question arises whether you actually use the offered functions.

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