Best Rear View Mirror Dash Cams
When you’re driving along in inclement weather, or the back of your vehicle is stacked with baggage, visibility from your rear mirror can be dangerously reduced. Rearview mirror dash cams offer an ingenious solution to this problem.
These brilliant devices attach over your existing rearview mirror to give you a clear digital display of what’s going on behind you. They also have a traditional dash cams fitted to their backplate that records events on the road in front of you.
But how do you choose a rearview mirror dash cam? And which one is the best? I’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best 6 dash cam mirrors and a buying guide to show you exactly what to look for. By the end of this post you will know which is the best rear view mirror for you.
Table of Contents
- Top 6 Rear View Mirror Dash Cam Reviews
- 1. Boscam R2 with Sony IMX sensor – Best Overall
- 2. Akaso DL12
- 3. Pormido Triple
- 4. Boyo Vision VTW73M
- 5. VanTop H610
- 6. VanTop H612T
- What is a rearview mirror dash cam?
- What to consider when buying a digital rearview mirror camera
- What does a smart mirror do?
- How to select a digital smart mirror
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Our Top Pick: Akaso DL12
Top 6 Rear View Mirror Dash Cam Reviews
1. Boscam R2 with Sony IMX sensor – Best Overall
Boscam’s R2 model comes loaded with useful features in a compact package that is easy to install. This mirror dash cam records in 1080p on both the front and rear.
The R2 has a 10.3” touchscreen with an anti-glare display, and it offers three viewing modes. You can choose to view the front, the rear, or both camera feeds on the screen.
Boscam’s R2 also has fantastic night vision thanks to its Sony IMX 307 camera sensor. This helps you to clearly record incidents at night.
This rearview mirror dash cam also offers an automatic parking aid mode and a G-sensor to capture sudden bumps or collisions instantly.
Features:
- 1080p dual cam video recording
- 10.3” anti-glare touchscreen
- Sony IMX 307 night vision sensor
- Automatic parking mode and G-sensor
- Clear, easy-to-read display.
- Good video quality for front and rear.
- Easy to install.
- Excellent night vision.
- SD card not included.
- Parking mode requires extra equipment.
Final thoughts
The Boscam R2 packs several great features into an affordably priced rear mirror dash cam. It’s easy to install but requires additional hardware to use the automatic parking mode.
2. Akaso DL12
Akaso’s DL12 mirror dash cam is a fantastic bit of kit, with plenty of great features. This ultra-slim device boasts a 12″ touchscreen display and a dual dash cam with backup rearview mirror camera setup.
The DL12 offers 2.5K video quality for the front camera and 1080p for the rear. It also has loop recording which means that you never have to change the memory card as old footage is constantly overwritten.
With a Sony IMX 335 camera sensor, the DL12 has great night vision capabilities to protect you at all times of the day.
But the standout feature of this device is its voice control system, giving you total hands-free control of the dash cam so that you can concentrate on driving.
Features:
- 12” touchscreen with dual front and rear backup camera
- 2.5K video (front) & 1080p resolution on the rear
- Voice control system
- GPS and emergency G-sensor
- Sony IMX 335 night vision camera sensor
- Powerful but clear 12” display.
- Great video quality, even at night.
- Fantastic voice controls.
- GPS tracking.
- Suffers from glare in bright light.
Final thoughts
The Akaso DL12 is a good all-around package for a rearview mirror with a camera. It has an intuitive voice control system not seen on many competitors for this price.
3. Pormido Triple
The Pormido Triple stands out from the other mirror dash cams on our list thanks to its triple split-screen feature.
This allows you to see and record camera feeds from the front, rear, and interior of your vehicle at the same time on the 12″ touchscreen.
This rearview mirror camera records in 2K across all three of its cameras, giving you great video quality. It also boasts a Sony Starvis sensor for brilliant low-light footage.
The Pormido Triple also features GPS tracking as well as parking assistance and a G-sensor for emergency collisions.
It also has a long 33-foot connection cable, allowing it to suit most vehicles on the market. Thanks to loop recording, you’ll never run out of memory space with up to a 128 GB memory card.
Features:
- Front, rear, and interior camera feeds
- 2K recording across all cameras
- Sony Starvis low-light sensor
- Extra-long connection cable
- GPS tracking
- Consistent video quality across all three cameras.
- Keep an eye on your passengers with the interior camera.
- GPS tracking adds location and speed data.
- Good video quality at night.
- Pricey compared to other options.
- Lots of wiring to sort out.
Final thoughts
The ability to see inside the car as well as record from the front and rear cameras will suit some drivers, which isn’t normally possible with some smart mirrors. This could be a great option if you are a rideshare / uber driver.
4. Boyo Vision VTW73M
For smaller vehicles, the Boyo Vision VTW73M is a nice, compact rearview mirror camera. Its 7.3″ LCD touchscreen doesn’t distract you while driving, yet offers enough features to be a good choice.
This clever little camera can automatically adjust the screen brightness depending on the lighting conditions, without you having to fiddle with the settings.
But the best feature of the Boyo is its compatibility with smartphones. Both Android and iPhone users can connect to this dash cam via WiFi, Miracast, or Bluetooth.
This allows you to connect it to your phone navigation system and have the GPS display alongside your rear camera feed. Even with the screen on full mirror mode, you’ll still hear navigation instructions through the Boyo’s surprisingly powerful speakers.
The Boyo also comes with automatic parking assistance on the display, with adjustable parking lines to help you reverse safely.
Features:
- 7.3” LCD screen
- Dual dash cam compatible
- WiFi and Miracast connectivity for Android and iPhone
- Can work with smartphone navigation apps
- Automatic and adjustable parking assistance
- Small but clear 7.3” display.
- Surprisingly powerful speakers.
- Can connect wirelessly to your phone for navigation.
- Compatible with dual dash cam modules.
- Doesn’t come with a rear camera module as standard.
- Isn’t universally compatible.
Final thoughts
The Boyo Vision is a good option for those who want a digital rearview mirror that can also act as a conduit for your Android or iPhone sat nav apps. However, it doesn’t come with a rear camera in the box, which could put some customers off.
5. VanTop H610
VanTop’s H610 model is the best rearview camera mirror for most drivers. It has a fantastic blend of features without a high price tag.
The H610 also has outstanding night vision thanks to its Sony Starvis camera sensor, keeping you safe even at night and allowing you to pick out important details in low-light situations.
This mirror dash cam can record in 2.5K at both the front or rear of your vehicle with 1080p on the other camera, allowing you to capture traffic incidents with clear video.
The VanTop H610 boasts a 10” touch screen that is easy to read even in direct sunlight thanks to its IPS anti-glare material. When reversing, the screen automatically calls up parking assistance lines on the display to help you park safely.
With loop recording, older footage is automatically cleared after a certain period. This allows you to keep recording even when the memory card gets full, which won’t be often thanks to its 128 GB capacity.
Features:
- Dual dash cams including rear backup camera
- 10” touchscreen with anti-glare
- 2560 x 1440p (2.5K) or 1080p recording
- Sony Starvis sensor
- Parking assistance mode
- G-sensor for emergency recording
- Great image quality.
- Wide-angle vision (170° @ front, 160° @ rear).
- Outstanding video in low-light conditions.
- Clear display in all situations.
- Automatic parking assistance mode.
- Easy to use.
- No GPS feature.
- Short power cable for some vehicles.
Final thoughts
The VanTop H610 is an excellent choice of rear mirror dash cam for virtually any driver. The fantastic video quality, even in low-light conditions, really sets this camera apart from its competitors.
6. VanTop H612T
Closing out this list is another VanTop offering, the H612T. This model packs many of the features of the H610 into a slightly larger 12” touchscreen package with extra features.
However, the H612T takes video quality a step further with 4K video recording for the front camera, with 1080p available at the rear of this backup camera setup. Low-light performance is improved as well with an 8 megapixel Sony IMX 415 sensor.
The H612T also offers additional features such as GPS tracking and voice control, neither of which are included with the H610 that opened the list.
Features:
- 4K video resolution @ front and 1080 at the rear
- 12” touchscreen
- High-quality low-light performance
- GPS tracking
- Voice control
- Offers outstanding video quality.
- Includes GPS tracking.
- Incorporates voice control.
- Excellent video quality at night.
- Expensive compared to the H610
Final thoughts
Although VanPro’s H612T packs in more features than the H610, the higher price tag isn’t worth the difference for most drivers.
What is a rearview mirror dash cam?
Rearview mirror dash cams are devices that resemble traditional rear mirrors, but with a digital display in place of the glass at the front.
On the rear of the rear mirror camera is a backplate with a dash cam that watches the road ahead of you and records footage traditionally.
A small rear camera is fixed to your rear windscreen to show the road behind you. The digital display module is easily strapped over the top of your car’s rearview mirror and connected to the rear windscreen camera.
These devices allow you to clearly see what is happening behind you even when the weather is awful or if the rear of your car is crammed full of luggage.
These rearview camera mirrors are a great safety feature to add to your vehicle, especially for vans or pickup trucks that have no rear window for you to see out of. The rear camera module of a smart mirror can be mounted on the outside of these vehicles. If you are more interested in a traditional dash cam, check out our post on the best budget dash cams.
What to consider when buying a digital rearview mirror camera
Before we get into the review, here are some features you should consider before buying your mirror dash camera.
With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which one to choose for your needs. However, there are several factors that you can look for to sift through the options and find the right rear view mirror dash cam:
Video quality
When recording dash cam videos to use in the event of a traffic incident, you’ll want to have sharp enough footage to pick out important details such as license plates. Different mirror dash cameras offer various levels of video quality.
1080p will be good enough for most purposes, so make sure that whichever camera you choose offers this resolution or higher. Many of the options on the market offer 2K or even 4K video. The former offers good all-around performance for most drivers.
4K sounds great on paper, but it can be difficult to find compatible playback devices for viewing the footage. It’s not always worth the extra money to choose 4K over 2K or 1080p. Read this separate post that explains the advantages and disadvantages of 4k vs 2k.
Screen size
It’s also a good idea to keep the screen size of a potential dash cam mirror in mind when browsing.
You want enough space on the screen to see the camera and information display clearly at a glance.
If your screen is too small, when you check your rearview mirror camera you may have to take your eyes off the road for too long. This can be dangerous.
Most digital rearview mirrors will offer between 10 and 12 inches in terms of screen size, which is nice and clear while driving. Some products can split this screen to allow you to watch the front and rear camera feeds at the same time.
Back up cameras
Not all rear camera units that come with mirror dash cams will record footage from the rear of the car, so it’s important to investigate this.
The basic function of the rear camera on a dash cam mirror is to show you a live feed of what’s happening behind the car.
If you want this rear camera to also record that footage like a traditional dash cam, you need to make sure that you choose a model with a rearview mirror backup camera.
This will allow you to essentially have dual dash cams at the front and rear of your vehicle. For example, the viofo a119 v3 is a single camera dash cam. This will not allow you to see the rear your car.
This could prove vital if you get rear-ended at a traffic light and want to record the incident.
Car compatibility
You also need to make sure that the rearview mirror dash cam that you want is actually compatible with your specific vehicle.
Some older cars aren’t capable of incorporating a digital rearview mirror or smart mirror.
Most dash cam mirrors are universally compatible with most cars, but it’s always best to check. If in doubt, contact either the manufacturer of your car or the maker of the rear camera mirror and ask whether the camera device can be used with your vehicle.
There are also, other types of dash cams that are specific for motorcycles. You can see these dashcams here.
Additional features
Most car mirror cameras offer additional features that can enhance the usefulness of these devices.
Some of the more useful features include GPS tracking, auto-dimming to make the screen adjust to night driving, parking assistance, and a touchscreen.
It’s worth considering whether you actually feel that you need features like this before purchasing a rear mirror dash cam. For some drivers, a simple basic model will meet your needs just fine without paying more for features that you probably won’t use.
What does a smart mirror do?
A smart mirror is a version of a digital rearview mirror that was pioneered by Nissan in 2014. These devices incorporate both a digital display and a traditional glass rearview mirror, allowing the driver to switch between the two at will.
Smart mirrors can also display extra information on their screens, such as the time of day, weather conditions, and traffic alerts. This is a more natural position for the driver to gain this information whilst also checking their rearview mirror.
Not as sophisticated as rear view mirror dashcams, there are new devices that combo radar detectors and dashcams all in one unit. Check out the Cobra elite.
How to select a digital smart mirror
Selecting a digital smart mirror that’s right for you depends on what you need from it. Some smart mirrors are packed with several features such as GPS tracking, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and dual displays. Figuring out what you need helps you to narrow down potential products.
With smart mirrors, you should take into account the same factors that I gave above for rearview mirror dash cams – screen size, video resolution, compatibility with your vehicle, and additional features. Not every driver will need all the bells and whistles offered with smart mirrors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a mirror dash cam work?
Mirror dash cams attach to your existing rearview mirror and are usually powered by the cigarette outlet on your vehicle. The digital rearview mirror will come with straps or fixings that allow you to securely install it over the top of your car’s standard rear mirror.
A rear camera unit is mounted on either your rear windscreen or the exterior at the rear of the vehicle, like the license plate. Many rear camera modules for digital car mirrors are waterproof.
You then need to run a cable through the car to connect the rear module with the main unit of the camera system.
How do I install a mirror dash cam?
Here’s a quick guide to installing a rear mirror dash cam:
- Use the straps or clips on the digital rearview mirror to fasten the device over the top of your existing rear mirror. Many products will feature rubber fastenings to further secure the device.
- Plug the power unit of the digital mirror into your cigarette lighter socket or USB slot in the car. Attach the power cable to the rear mirror dash cam.
- Fire up your vehicle. The dash cam should come on automatically and show you the setup menu.
- Install the smaller rear camera module on your rear windscreen and run the power cable back to the main digital rear mirror camera.
- Some rear dash cams may require you to do a bit of wiring, especially if you need to connect them to make the automatic parking mode work. Check your specific model for details.
- Tuck the exposed wires up into the trim of your vehicle to keep them out of the way. This may take a bit of work but makes for a much safer driving experience.
Is a mirror dash cam illegal?
In terms of Federal law, mirror dash cams are perfectly legal. With standard dash cams however, various regulations in each state may restrict how these devices can be placed. For example, dash cams must not be placed anywhere where they restrict the driver’s vision. See if dashcams are illegal in your state here.
But because rear mirror dash cams simply encase the standard rear mirror, they shouldn’t obstruct your vision at all, and should therefore be completely legal in most areas. However, it’s always prudent to check your local state regulations thoroughly to make sure that it’s legal.
Conclusion
Rear mirror dash cams are a fantastic innovation that improves the safety of you and your passengers, especially if you drive a vehicle without an effective physical rearview mirror.
Choosing the right rear mirror dash cam can seem like a chore, but if you keep in mind exactly what you need in terms of video quality and features, you can settle on a good system. Hopefully this guide has made it easier to identify how to choose the right digital rearview mirror dash cam.
Our Top Pick: Akaso DL12
Akaso’s DL12 has great recording capabilities and an ultra-slim design which leaves a clean look when installed.
The Sony sensors will give you great daytime video while also producing excellent night vision capabilities.
It also boasts a stand-out voice control system which gives you complete hands-free control of the device.
If you’re looking for a new digital rear view mirror, this is the device for you.
William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. He writes about car accessories, with his passion stemming from a deep enthusiasm for all things automotive. His website, RRD, focuses on in-depth reviews of car accessories to help people find the best and latest products in the market.
