When the original Nextbase 612GW dashcam came out, it was way ahead of the game sporting a best in class 4K video recording resolution. Well, it’s 2020 now and 4K is basically the norm now among top competitors. That means Nextbase had to evolve and release something even better than the rest again and I believe it has done it with the release of the Nextbase 622GW. This new dashcam takes everything Nextbase has delivered in 2020 and packaged it into a beast that delivers 4K and a ton of extras making it the tops in their lineup.
DESIGN
The Nextbase 622GW follows the same design language as the rest of its Series 2 lineup. It just utilizes better materials. It has a brushed aluminum face with a huge lens protruding out the front. This lens features a rotating polarizing filter which helps reduce the glare coming from your windshield. It also uses the same magnetic Click&Go mount that all the other Series 2 dashcams use.
On the rear, we see a fairly large touchscreen display along with the emergency button that will manually save a recording into the protected folder so it won’t be overwritten later down the line.
Lastly, the 622GW also features the HDMI port on the side that allows for interchangeable modules. This is the same with all Series 2 dash cams. Modules include an inside cam, a rearview cam, and also a rear window cam. Some of the modules obviously make the dashcam much larger, while the rear window cam requires a little bit more in terms of installation.
What I like about the Series 2 design is that all of the accessories and parts are interchangeable between the entire Series 2 line so it makes upgrading units very easy.
INSTALLATION
There are many ways to install the Nextbase 622 Dashcam. The simplest method is to just place the camera on your windshield and run a cable straight down to your 12V power port. While this doesn’t exactly look great, you can install the camera in less than five minutes and this also makes removing the whole setup a breeze.
However, if you care about how your car looks and don’t want a tangled mess of cables, you can install this based on the recommended instructions of routing the cables around your windshield and down the side of your dash. Then you would route it underneath and to your 12V power port. This requires a lot more effort and Nextbase does include a trim tool that helps with this sort of installation.
If you want an even neater installation and one that is very simple, you can try the Dongar Technologies Dashcam Adaptor that we reviewed previously. This mounts to your rearview mirror and adds a USB port allowing you to run a much shorter cable for power. In fact, this is how I’m currently running the Nextbase 622GW.
EXPERIENCE
All of Nextbase’s Series 2 dashcams share similar experiences. The main differences are mainly down to feature set and an increase in video recording resolution. This is still a set it and forget it device and the only time you’ll ever need to interact with it is if you want to pull a video off of it or if you want to manually save a video clip for emergencies.
You can pull video clips off in several ways. You can eject the card and plug it into your computer and get the files off that way. You can also remove your dashcam and plug it in directly to a computer and do it that way if you don’t have a card reader. Lastly, you can download the MyNextbase Connect app on your mobile phone and connect to your dashcam Wi-Fi. I do recommend also getting a larger capacity memory card as well as one that can read/write very quickly.
You will want to download the MyNextbase Connect app on your mobile phone regardless as it helps open up extra features on the 622GW you won’t have unless you do. You’ll need it to enable Alexa and the Emergency SOS feature.
One new feature on the Nextbase 622GW is the inclusion of what3words. This is mainly a service that is supposed to provide much more accurate location information by providing every three square meters of space its own unique three-word address. It’s a really interesting service and not one I even knew about until now. Whether or not it will be useful remains to be seen, but it’s an interesting way to add something different that I haven’t seen on any other dashcam. You will still also have access to Alexa.
With the Nextbase 622GW, you also now get a much higher resolution video at 4K. Not only that, but the modules you attach can now also record at full HD at 1080p, 30fps. Note that at higher resolutions, you will need more storage space on your memory card, so it’s recommended that you use something 64GB or higher with a UHS Speed Class of 3 (U3).
FINAL THOUGHTS
I have been a Nextbase fan since the introduction of their Series 1 dashcams and have only grown more in love with them thanks to their Series 2 lineup. Nextbase has done something truly unique here with these dashcams and the Nextbase 622GW is one of the best dashcams that I have used. There’s a reason why I always default back to a Nextbase dashcam and it’s due to their quality, extensive feature set, and attention to detail.
Sure there are other, less expensive, capable dashcams out there, but with the 622GW, you get what you pay for and it really is one of the best out there.
