Nextbase - why are they so bad?

[Tony B2]

I have had a Nextbase 412 dashcam for a few years.

It is kind of OK, in terms of picture quality.

But...

Many times in the past, it has failed to record. Today, on checking, it appears not to have recorded anything for several weeks.

When I have spoken with Nextbase "help" before now, the answer is always either:

- format your SD card again, or
- update your firmware.

Just formatted the SD card.
Downloaded the latest firmware, followed the instructions for updating and......

The useless pile of carp just sits there, saying "Updating" for hour after hour.

It is as if, they employ 12 year olds, with no clue how to write decent software.

I am going to bin this soon, and get the rather expensive BMW dual camera instead.

[vikingaero]

I agree. I've had several NextBase dashcams over the years in various cars. I've been surprised at how many unplayable files there are despite firmware updates and a variety of fast SD cards.

I think the only plus for NextBase is the widespread availability of them in Halfords, Currys etc. Another problem I've found with them is the frequency of early failure of the internal batteries - yes you can get replacements, but why bother when there are decent dashcams that people don't consider such as the Yi Nightscape which has video quality as good as some of my Blackvues, better night video quality and a capacitor rather than a battery.

[slipknotted]

Sorry to hear you're having trouble and I've heard countless times about Nextbase reliability being crap but I must say I've have 6 or so Nextbase cameras in various cars, the first one I bought has failed after just over five years and another became faulty in warranty and was replaced with no hassle. I could just be lucky with reliability but the thing that irks me is the file saving system on the series 2 cameras - it's useless, it saves a ten second segment from before you pressed the button and twenty seconds after, instead of the current X minute clip.

I'll probably buy a Viofo cam when it's time to buy another dashcam, or do some actual research lol.

[Tony B2]

slipknotted said:

Sorry to hear you're having trouble and I've heard countless times about Nextbase reliability being crap but I must say I've have 6 or so Nextbase cameras in various cars, the first one I bought has failed after just over five years and another became faulty in warranty and was replaced with no hassle. I could just be lucky with reliability but the thing that irks me is the file saving system on the series 2 cameras - it's useless, it saves a ten second segment from before you pressed the button and twenty seconds after, instead of the current X minute clip.

I'll probably buy a Viofo cam when it's time to buy another dashcam, or do some actual research lol.

This is the second example of the camera, the first one was replaced under warranty (by Halfords) as it had some hardware issue (forgotten what it was now).

The front/rear camera from BMW is a bit pricey, but it is getting tempting now.

There is nothing worse than a dashcam that does not capture the incidents that you want it to capture.

Having said that, it did at least capture the BMW tech damaging one of my wheels in their workshop, a week after it was installed. So paid for itself in that respect.

They disconnect the power from the camera now, whenever my car is in the workshop.

[RazerSauber]

I've had a few Nextbase ones for years. A 412 the same as yours, a 312 and a 422. I've never had a problem with any of them, apart from the mounts. They seem to fail over time and it's the stupid charging ones so they cost a packet. The 412 is on its 3rd one which is now rattling so probably needs replacing again soon. Otherwise, it even records on a definitely not legit Samsung micro SD card I got off eBay.