Garmin has become a major player in the automotive dash cam space. The new Garmin Dash Cam 46, Dash Cam 56, Dash Cam 66W line is the smallest and most feature rich to date. You get a lot for the money plus some excellent support from a US based company.
This is an upgrade to the Garmin Dash Cam 45, Dash Cam 55, Dash Cam 66W introduced back in 2017.
Garmin Dash Cam 46, Dash Cam 56, Dash Cam 66W Overview
First, a quick overview of the cameras.
The cameras are only 1.5 inches high. All models record and save video of incidents. Each model supports driver alerts which include forward collision, lane departure warnings and “Go” alerts to enhance driver awareness.
The Garmin Dash Cam 46 features 1080p video with a 140 degree wide angle lens (that’s better than most dash cams on the market).
Stepping up to the Garmin Dash Cam 56 increases the video quality to 1440p.
Garmin is still using the “W” nomenclature to designate wide angle viewing. The Garmin Dash Cam 66W comes in at the high-end of the models. The camera features a 180 degree wide angle lens and records at 1440p.
Everything is recorded to a micro SD card. Like most video cameras, be sure to use a Class 10 (or UHS 1) or faster card.
Garmin Dash Cam Mount Options
Have we mentioned these are small cameras? Forget everything you may know about Garmin mounts. Garmin GPS and dash cam mounts used to share the traditional 17mm ball mounts. That’s going to be much too large for the Garmin Dash Cam 46, Dash Cam 56 and Dash Cam 66W.
The photo that accompanies this article has the traditional Garmin GPS suction cup with 17mm ball to the left. Next to that is the new Garmin Low-profile Magnetic Mount. As you can see, it’s a very small mount.
The mount inserts into the socket at the top of the Garmin Dash Cam 46, Dash Cam 56 or Dash Cam 66W. All the way to the right of the photo is small hexagonal metal plate. This plate adheres to the windshield and is not easily removed so be very careful to put it exactly where you want it. It is designed to stay on your windshield as a permanent attachment. It fits within a recess on the bottom of the mount that we just discussed.
If not excited about putting something permanent on the windshield, consider something that can be placed between the hexagonal plate and windshield but isn’t permanent. The iOttie Sticky Gel Dashboard Pad might be worth checking into. These are typically deployed on the car dash as a temporary surface for a suction cup phone mount. It should prove perfect in making the adhesive part of the mount temporary. Stick the hexagonal plate to the iOttie Sticky Gel Dashboard pad then place it on the windshield. Your adhesive mount has just become removable.
A Suction Cup Mount Might be a Better Alternative
To me, the mount that makes the most sense with the Garmin Dash Cam 46, Dash Cam 56 and Dash Cam 66W is a suction cup mount. It would be nice if it were included in the box but it isn’t. Fortunately, the Garmin Mini Suction Cup Mount is available. It’s made by Garmin so you know it will fit these Dash Cam models just fine. It has that small ball to fit the socket at the top of the camera.
Always liked a suction cup more than adhesive because it’s temporary and easy to install and remove. Plus, don’t forget, a suction cup can be reused.