Nextbase iQ Dash Cam: price, release date and specs

Nextbase officially announced the iQ at last year’s CES. It’s a new range of dash cams that do more than just record your journeys.

With an in-house digital assistant and nifty tech that can predict what other vehicles are up to, it should be worth the steep price tag when it goes on sale in the spring of this year.

At CES 2023, Nextbase confirmed that the iQ will start at under $500 and, in the UK, will also be under £500. We’ve since had further clarification that all iQ models will cost less than £500, but we don’t yet have details on the cost of the ‘entry level’ model, or its specs.

Indeed, Nextbase has so far only really talked about the flagship which will record in 4K, with interior and rear cameras recording in 2K (1440p).

The development of the IQ has taken longer than expected: the company originally announced that it would go on sale before the end of 2022, but that has now been pushed back to “spring” with no mention of a particular month, let alone of the actual date.

One of the main features of the iQ is internet connectivity. It’s not the only dash cam to have a built-in SIM card – Thinkware’s T700 LTE already has one – but the iQ will have more features and offer higher resolution video.

In the UK, the iQ will use Vodafone’s IoT platform to deliver the connected aspect. It’s not just a Vodafone 4G SIM card. Unlike consumer SIM cards, this one has the ability to switch to other mobile operator networks so you can stay connected wherever you drive.

We now know – from CES 2023 – that Nextbase has partnered with T-Mobile for US models, although it’s unclear what the costs for the connected aspects will be. All we’ve heard from Nextbase is that it will be a few pounds or dollars a month and there will be a range of subscription options.

Unlike previous Nextbase dash cams, you’re not dependent on a paired smartphone, meaning connected features such as speed camera detection, smart parking and emergency SOS will be more available than if you use your phone.

The first of these, radar detection, monitors the presence, direction and distance of other road users from your vehicle. This works in conjunction with Roadwatch AI which monitors the speeds and trajectories of other vehicles to anticipate and record incidents whether you are driving or parked.

Smart Sense Parking looks a lot like existing parking modes, but uses the new capabilities to predict when another car is about to hit yours. And the Vodafone/T-Mobile IoT SIM means you’ll be able to use the app to see what’s going on wherever you are – much like Tesla’s Sentry Mode and Ring’s new Car Cam.

Being able to add this technology to any car, regardless of age, is a real boon for drivers. Nextbase also points out that the IoT platform does not share the architecture of the public mobile phone network: it is “industrial-grade” infrastructure and security.

The company also promised that the iQ would be a “living” product that would gain additional driver safety features over time. He worked with Ambarella, a well-known supplier of dash cam chipsets, to produce a custom “AI-enabled” chip that is powerful enough to handle future additions, as well as recording from three cameras to these high resolutions.

This is one of the reasons the iQ will cost more than most dash cams.

Two of the features that will be added after launch are Driver Aware and Vehicle Aware. The first, also known as DMS, will monitor the driver using infrared sensors and provide modifications to combat distracted and/or drowsy driving.

Vehicle Aware, also known as ADAS – advanced driver assistance system – monitors the road and cars ahead, warning drivers of danger from vehicles and pedestrians.

Richard Browning, CMSO for Nextbase says: “We simply wouldn’t be able to deliver the industry-leading consumer experience and unlock the product’s potential without the security and consistency provided by the Vodafone IoT Platform.”

“The intent of the Nextbase iQ is to bring the safety and security seen in new premium vehicles to all drivers. The barriers to this new automotive technology are too high, so we are focused on bringing this innovation to the vast majority of people who don’t own or can’t afford a new premium vehicle.With the Nextbase iQ, we have created a durable and highly connected hardware solution that can offer all drivers a level of innovation that was not possible before.The power level of the hardware will allow us to continue to enhance the product offering in the future with new AI-based services and functions, such as sophisticated ADAS powered by AI, DMS, V2V communication and community incident awareness.

The iQ is already on Nextbase’s website, where you’ll find the latest feature updates.

If you’re looking for a dash cam right now, here are the best models to buy.