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ARTICLEGarmin dropped a new dash cam at CES 2023 that's always connected via LTE, meaning users can check the exterior view of their vehicle at any time.
There's a small catch: You need to buy an LTE plan, starting at $9.99 per month, along with the $399.99 Dash Cam Live camera. With that subscription, you can see a 140-degree, 1440p HD view from your car at any moment, on-demand. The camera also features theft and other alerts. The selling point is that this will give motorists a sense of safety.
"We are thrilled to offer our first LTE-connected dash cam, so drivers can have access to their vehicle camera without the limitation of a Wi-Fi connection," said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales, in a statement. "Much like the popular doorbell security camera systems that give you a view around your front door, Garmin Dash Cam Live can serve as your eyewitness 24/7 for ultimate peace of mind and situational awareness. You can feel secure whether you’re walking away from your truck at the stadium or leaving your convertible at the beach."
Users can store clips, and because the camera is always on, it autosaves any incidents while tagging the time and location. You can also control the camera with your voice, meaning you can give commands while keeping your hands on the wheel. A driver could, for instance, take a still image or save video with voice commands.
The LTE plan does seem like a relatively necessary purchase for the Dash Cam Live because it enables lots of the bells and whistles, including live view, location tracking, and theft alerts. Not to mention, the security of knowing your vehicle is A-OK.
UPDATE: Jan. 4, 2023, 12:43 p.m. EST This story was updated with the correct cost of Garmin's LTE subscription plan. It now starts at $9.99 per month and not $4.99 per month.