Features:

  • Extremely small GPS-enabled dash cam, inconspicuous when magnetically mounted on windshield
  • High-quality 3. 7 megapixel camera with 1440P video capture; works even in low-light conditions
  • Forward collision and lane departure warnings plus alerts for nearby red light cameras and speed cameras
  • Voice control allows you to start/stop recording, take a still picture or start/stop the travel apse photo capture Feature
  • Notice: Some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit use of this device. It is your responsibility to know and comply with applicable laws and rights to privacy in jurisdictions where you plan to use this device.
If you don't have the latest in technology, this is a way to get a lot for the $$$

So far soo good. Now I have both b*tches in my pickup, Alexa and Siri. They do set each other off occasionally. I'm impressed that Garmin continues to update firmware on this thing, gets better each time. If you don't have any technology in your car, and have an aux-in to your stereo, this is a one stop product. Voice calling, music streaming, nav, driver aids (work mostly). Really a decent product.

Garmin Employee's updating firmware before shipment.

So far it looks very promising, found an image leftover from Garmin Employee's. Looks like they are updating their products before shipping them because i just got mine already on the latest software.

I really like this thing

I like that it is so small and compact. The hardware is well designed. As a dash cam and as an Alexa link, it is absolutely fantastic. The unit depends on Bluetooth connections to your phone and to your car; the occasional quirkiness had more to do with my car's system and not with the unit itself. My only complaint would be the poor navigation. The route choices were not efficient; however, I really like the lane recommendations and the lane drifting safety warning. Overall, I am very impressed with this neat little device. Also, the photo and video quality is superb. I've had several other dash cams and this is the first that I can actually read the license plate of the car in front of me off in the distance. As a dash cam: 5 stars. As an Alexa device: 5 stars. As a navigator: 3.5 stars.

Garmin VS. Anker Roav Viva

This easily beat the Anker hands down on the Alexa feature. I tried the Anker in the wife’s car and found I had to constantly yell at it if there was any background noise. The new cars 12 volt outlets are always down low so the mic doesn’t seem to pick up as good. The Garmin seems to work great unless the stereo is super loud. Like the camera recording all the time as I use this in a work truck.seems people like to call in and complain on the drivers just because they had a bad experience with the company. Now I have proof I didn’t do it. Bought 2 of these and love the fact the wife plays amazon music now and can control the thermostat at home while going home. Can also add things to the shopping list too. The Alexa is the best thing we discovered.

Disregard all one-star reviews that don't mention Firmware Version 2.70

I purchased this camera with the knowledge of people having overheating issues, but I also knew about the recent firmware update. Since version 2.70, there is absolutely no overheating issue with this dash cam. I live in FL where parked cars get very hot, and I haven't had any heat issues. I updated the firmware in Garmin Connect prior to installing the camera, and it has worked flawlessly ever since. The controls are easy to use, it has several helpful features, and best of all, the camera is very small so it doesn't get in the way while you're looking out of your windshield. Video quality is excellent, and wireless connection with the Garmin VIRB app works well.

Alexa in the car!

I bought the first one when it came out and really enjoyed having Alexa with me in my car. So when the dash cam version came out, I decided to grab it for my other car. I've been wanting to get a dash cam for a while now and thought, "Why not get one with Alexa?" I've been very happy with the Speak Plus in my Nissan Sentra. It makes a great companion for my commutes: I play music on Pandora, podcasts, and audiobooks, and I check the news, weather and traffic all with my voice. The dash cam quality looks pretty good and I can make out details like road signs and license plates without a problem. All the regular Alexa skills seem to work fine - my kids like to have her tell them jokes when I take them to school. Pros Alexa in the car! No need to fiddle with my phone while driving. Good quality dash cam footage. I have no trouble reading license plates or road signs. Garmin navigation. I like the minimalist arrow graphics and the neat green animation for turns. Cons No address search with my voice. I still need to enter addresses in the app. It'd be nice to be able to do this by just talking to it. It sometimes tells me there's a "Poor Data Connection" when I ask questions while driving around. It usually works fine if I just repeat the question. Like I said, I bought the first version of Garmin Speak before Christmas and I've been very happy with it. So far, Speak Plus has been working great!

Be careful updating!

I bought two of these, one for rear and one for front. I opened the box at home and tried to connect to my cell phone using the VIRB program. It would not find the phone (a Google Pixel XL). I went through the checklist on the app and it told me a password and network, I typed that in and it began to update...then it just turned off and now it's a brick...literaly "bricked". No power, no light, holding the button down for 12, 20, 60 secs...nothing, the unit is now not working at all. I ended up contacting Garmin's customer service at around 8 or 9pm. I was texting over the computer to a person who lived in Connecticut (I think). It was nice to have local customer service that late at night, they gave me an RA and I sent it in. I was sent an email when it was received and a day later I got an email saying a replacement was on the way. The return instructions said to take everything out and only send in the camera because nothing else will be sent back. What I got back seemed like a brand new camera in the new box with all of the accessories and the card. So I ended up with added accessories, fast (local) customer service and now have 2 cams working in my truck. I really like it when you spend good money on a product and the company stands behind that. I was upset that it failed, but as I look back it may have been my fault and I may have accidentally sent 14.4vdc to the pins as I was load testing it. The company never mentioned what was wrong....they just sent me a replacement. Cheers to Garmin for their customer service, I wish other companies were the same. If I end up adding more cams, I will look to Garmin for them...not to mention, most of the nice clear videos I see on LL have the Garmin name on it. The 4K does NOT look like 4K video you see on a movie or other type video, there's a bit of tearing on the frames, however the 1080p60fps is better for frame by frame style playback anyways. I have yet to do a side by side study using both with the different settings.

Feature-Packed Powerhouse

After having purchased two "cheapo" imported dashcams, I decided it was time to buy something more substantial since I rely on it every day. The first thing I noticed was how tiny the thing is. It mounts to the glass by way of a small adhesive magnet. The power cord is also magnetic and not the typical micro USB. Though other mounting configurations can be had. A word about the memory card: DO NOT skimp on quality. In fact, I learned that some cards are not good enough. I purchased a Transcend 32GB High Endurance card. Basic low-end cards will fail. The resolution upon playback is highly detailed and it sees well at night. The features that sets this Garmin apart from the "imported" cams are unique. It uses voice commands - after saying "Okay Garmin" it allows the user to take a picture, save a video, etc. When sitting at a light or in traffic, once the traffic starts moving, it signals me to look forward - which really comes in handy at times when I'm distracted by my dog or my phone. If I veer from my lane, another warning sounds. But the warning that I disabled is the collision avoidance. I found it annoying - especially in 'stop and go' traffic. After setting the date and time, I can also choose whether (or not) to have the speed stamped on the video. I'm not a cop, so I chose to turn the speed off. I find the quality of the sound to be quite good as well. There are four (recording) video resolutions to choose from as well. I find the menu navigation to be intuitive and compared to other dash cams, it's fairly easy. Since I have a Garmin GPS that has lifetime alerts, the red light camera alerts also show up on the dashcam. This is convenient if my GPS happens to be off. A minor gripe is that the lens has a copper-colored ring around it which negates any chance for stealth factor. If it was all black, it would be a bit harder to notice through the windshield. I learned that there is no option for any kind of add-on ND filter. The computer interface is hit & miss I'm afraid. Once I downloaded the app and linked my dashcam to my laptop, navigation was simple BUT it doesn't save the files in 1, 2 or 3 minute chunks. Let's say you park and leave the cam on. When you view the footage, it could be two and a half hours or more and you'll have to do some creative editing. They should allow us to save footage in 1-3 minute increments to make things easier. So from the time you start recording until you turn the cam off, it will force you to download huge time-consuming files. This needs to be addressed in the software on the computer side. A nice feature (for older vehicles) is the ability to purchase a wireless rear camera for backing up. It takes a bit to set it up and adjust the lane markers, but once it's set, it makes it easier to park and avoid hitting things or people. I just didn't want to run a wire all the way from the back of my SUV. The image can get slightly grainy, but it sure beats hitting another vehicle or stationary object. If you'd like to record footage while your car is parked, buy a "Power Magic Pro." It will ensure you do not drain your battery. While this dashcam is more expensive than most, the features and conveniences make it worth the price of admission. I feel secure in the fact that it's backed by an American company with American tech support. Oh and I also purchased a "Square Trade" extended warranty to really be sure. Overheating: From what I have read, this unit had a problem working in warmer climates. I also read that a firmware upgrade solved the issue.

I absolutely love this device

First, I want to say that I never intended to use this device for the Navigation benefits, as I do a lot of traveling and prefer to use the WAZE app for that. So, my experience is mainly using this as a dash cam and and Echo type device for my car. That being said, I absolutely love this device. It allows me to change my music without having to touch my phone. I travel a lot and when not travelling, I am driving in heavy Atlanta traffic, so I do not like having to take my hands and eyes off of the road to change my music. Now, all I have to do is ask Alexa to play this or that from my Pandora or Amazon music apps. It works with other music apps as well, but these are the two that I use. As far as the dash cam, it takes great video and you can ask Alexa to take a picture if you want/need to as well. The only complaint is having to use the VIRB software to upload the video to my phone because it is so slow. Yes, I know that I can take the microSD card out and insert it into my laptop, but it is very difficult to remove the SD card. Overall, I love this device and will be purchasing another to go in my girlfriends car as well. I just ask that Garmin change the interface for downloading the video or at least, make it faster.

great! 2

I have been using this item for a while now. Here is what I found: 1. Voice commands via Alexa, great! 2. Connectivity, ify sometimes, especially when you first get in. Sometimes you have to fiddle with your iPhone to get Alexa to play Prime music, as it says that is another app controlling media??? Even though the Speak app is open? 3. Why does it record in 1 minute clips and put a space between, so that when I add it to iMovie, it jumps going to another clip? Mind you this is not a deal breaker, but it would be nice to know why. 4. When removing the device and connecting to my Mac, the USB connection drops for no reason. If I put the micro SD card in an adapter, then put that in the Mac card slot, no problem. Again not a deal breaker, but it necessitates remove the mircro sd card, which the instructions recommend is contraindicated. 5. Why can't I just say the destination address, rather then having to type it in the Speak app? For some reason that seems the only way it will work for me. 6. The video quality is great! Some people I have shown, were very impressed. Being able to choose 1080P or 720p is nice as well. 7. I did upgrade the micro sd card to a 64GB one, and you need to get a graded 10 card to work properly. It formatted the card the first time I put it in, so you have to look at the Speak app to see that the card needs to be formatted. 8. Finally the additional built in alerts for lane change, time to go, and too close to next vehicle, are an additional welcome and work as advertised. 9. I look forward to more software updates... In general I am very happy with the Garmin Speak Plus. Here is a sample screen shot going through a carwash.

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