![]() That would likely boost the price of the system, but it’s already a solid bargain and I’b be happy to pay another $50 for that third view of coverage. If I had to make any changes to the Nexar Pro Dual system, I’d make the rear-facing camera a standard feature on the main camera body and allow the separate camera to be a “third’ eye in the system. The app’s ease of use is excellent Nexar has done a great job making it simple and intuitive. Additionally, the Nexar app includes a full-screen GPS feature so you don’t have to hop around between apps to see the camera video and GPS. Deleting clips on your phone also deletes them from the cloud. Nexar says their cloud storage system is unlimited and free, and that was the experience I had. A 32gb card was included with the camera, which will use cards as large as 256gb. As the memory limit is reached, old clips are automatically deleted to make room for new ones both on the SD card and your phone. The app lets drivers limit how much phone memory the app uses so you don’t clog up your phone with dashcam footage. While driving, the Nexar Pro system is actually saving video three ways: to an SD card in the camera itself, to your phone through wifi, and to the cloud either as you drive or when you are on wifi from your phone, options which can be set up in the app. Nexar’s direct-to-phone streaming ability - not so unusual these days but definitely a bonus at this price point - is secondary to the most impressive and useful Nexar Pro perk: cloud storage. I tested the Android version, which lacks the voice command and groups at the moment.The Nexar app includes full GPS so drivers don't have to hop around between apps while driving. Siri voice command may be used if you have an iPhone, and the Nexar Groups app allows you to check up on the kids, or vice versa–you know, see if they are where they say they are. You can also wrap the video with all the important data into a report and upload it immediately using a one-click report function. Nexar has spent a great deal of time honing the options for a smooth experience. ![]() It worked perfectly in my exclusive, proprietary bang-the-dash-cam-on-the-desk tests, and it didn’t trigger falsely while on the road. There’s also automatic upload triggered by the G-sensor, as with the Owl. You can limit the Beam’s use of phone storage to 20-, 50-, or 80 percent of what’s available once it hits that limit, it will overwrite previous videos. The camera records to the micro SD card, then transfers to the phone as time allows (it’s near-real-time), then gives you the opportunity to save them to the cloud. At this point I had parked on top of my local Lowe’s after hitting the freeway here in San Francisco. Sign-in is easy, as an access code is sent to your phone. I didn’t link as you won’t have access unless you buy. When you’re finished and have uploaded some “rides” (videos), you can check them out at the online portal. Of course, you’ll need to create an account for the phone so you can upload videos, etc. It’s stupid-easy to connect the camera to the phone, and the interface is clean, well-organized, intuitive and informative. Nexar has done a nice job on the phone app. Everything else is provided by or done on your phone (iOS or Android). If the goal is to be unobtrusive (which to avoid theft, it should be), the Nexar achieves that. On top are the slot where the suction mount marries to the body, and the mini-USB jack. On the left side of the camera are the power button and micro-SD card slot, while the right is given over to perforations for ventilating the unit. Ignore the color treatment in the lens above-it’s not that color naturally. Nexar’s Beam is diminutive, simple, and unobtrusive. Note that the G-sensor is in the camera, not in the phone. The sensor is a 1080p Galax圜ore GC2053, a model and brand I’ve never experienced before. It’s as small as the Garmin Dash Cam 66W we reviewed last year (currently $200 on Amazon), but it lacks a display (that’s provided by your phone), and the lens housing protrudes further. ![]() The Beam is a diminutive, square black box of a camera. Go there for information on competing products and how we tested them. This review is part of our ongoing roundup of the best dash cams. ![]()
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