Nextbase makes some of the best dash cams, including the iQ, which we call the smartest dash cam ever. However, the UK-based company's first smart dash cam is also the most expensive add-on car security solution out there, with some wide-ranging smart features that might be overkill for many users. That's where the new Nextbase Piqo comes into play.
Think of the Piqo as a baby iQ: it has a similar new look, but is a much smaller and simpler package, with cleverly implemented 'Lite' versions of the IQ's smart features that are designed to appeal to younger drivers.
Piqo is available globally from the Nextbase website and major retailers in two versions: 1K (HD 1080p) for just $129.99 / £99.99 / AU$199 and 2K (HD 1440p) for $149.99 / £129.99 / $299. Compare that to the iQ, which starts at $399.99/£349.99, and the Piqo's appeal is clear, particularly when you consider that you also need to pay for a monthly data plan to take full advantage of the smart features of the more expensive model.
That's a big price difference, so let's take a look at what Piqo can do and where necessary compromises have been made.
A cleverly diluted IQ
The video resolution on the 1K HD version of the Piqo is actually a bit more detailed than the standard 1080p, with a resolution of 2560×1080 pixels and a 140-degree field of view. Meanwhile, the 2K version has a maximum resolution of 2560×1440 pixels and a field of view of 145 degrees. Unlike the iQ, there is no 4K version of the Piqo.
I asked Bryn Brooker, marketing director at Nextbase, why there isn't a 4K version of the Piqo, and he told me that according to Nextbase research, at least 83% of UK dash cam owners don't see the need for a more expensive 4K dash cam in addition to Nextbase. Trust the Piqo's video quality.
Bryn also told me that the dash cam market is evolving. In 2020, the majority of dash cam customers were 45 years old or older, but four years later, this demographic has reversed. Consequently, Nextbase has adapted Piqo's design and features to appeal to a younger audience.
There are also new 'skins' – custom overlays that show crucial statistics of your video, such as speed. They're more for fun than anything else, but you get one skin with the free 'Solo' subscription and you can get more through the paid 'Protect' plan which costs £29.99 per year.
With its own data plan, the more expensive iQ is an always-connected camera, with smart features like Emergency SOS, Guardian Mode, Witness Mode and Smart Parking that can update you in real time, such as if your car was tampered with while you were parked, or Tell your loved ones if you have been in an accident and upload the images to the cloud for you. The Piqo also has all of these modes, but they are light versions here.
For example, in Guardian Lite mode, your emergency contact receives a text message from the Piqo instead of sending you the video, which is what the iQ does. Additionally, Witness Lite mode uploads content when you're back home with a Wi-Fi connection.
Elsewhere, smart parking automatically records any pranks, but like any dash cam, you'll need constant power for a feature like this. Nextbase sells two separate constant power kits, the Professional Installation Cable Kit and the Patch Cable Kit. The Piqo is also equipped with G-Sense technology and automatically increases the sensitivity when it detects that the car is parked.