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Google Pixel phones may soon get a built-in mode that will allow them to compete with the best dash cams, albeit with some practical limitations.
A new report from 9to5Google (opens in new tab) has discovered a hidden feature called “Dashcam” in the Personal Safety app on Google Pixel phones and some other Android phones, including the Nothing Phone 1.
The site managed to try out the new feature and found that it records video (as well as audio) while you’re on the move. Like dash cams, the idea that your phone can capture footage or evidence can be helpful if you’re involved in an accident.
The feature sounds pretty practical considering your phone is apparently still fully usable with the ‘Dashcam’ recording enabled. This means you can still use apps like Google Maps in full screen for navigation, or just lock your phone to save battery while recording.
Like many dashcams, your Pixel phone will apparently be able to record your rides automatically. During installation there is an option to have recordings start automatically when you connect to a certain Bluetooth device (for example your car radio or Android Auto system) and end when you disconnect.
Of course, you’ll need to have a dashboard mount to take full advantage of the new feature. The most popular spots for dash cams are usually just below the rear view mirror, or lower down near where the windshield meets the dashboard. Either way, it shouldn’t obstruct your view to stay on the road legally.
Overall, the dash cam feature sounds potentially very useful for Pixel owners who are regular drivers. Not only are Pixel phones some of the best camera phones, the latest versions of Android have also brought features like HDR video, allowing them to match high-end dash cams for image quality.
But there are also some possible limitations. One is overheating — Google recently had to release a fix for overheating Pixel 7 and 6 phones, and the prospect of simultaneously recording low-resolution video alongside other apps on a hot dashboard could be too much for some phones .
The other is storage, with continuous video recording likely quickly taking up gigabytes of space you need for apps, photos, games, or offline music. The 9to5Google report says recordings are automatically deleted after three days and videos are compressed to 30 MB per minute, but that can still be demanding for older Android phones.
Analysis: there is still a place for dedicated dash cams
Using a phone as a dashcam isn’t an entirely new concept – there are already several Android apps, including Nexar AI and Smart Dash Cam, that will allow you to achieve something akin to this rumored new ‘Dashcam’ mode in Android. But the bigger question is whether the general idea is any good in practice.
Despite the incredible power and versatility of the best phones, there is definitely a place for specialty devices in some situations. One is action cameras, which can be handy stunt doubles for your headphones when you need to record video, and the others are dash cams.
This new Android ‘dashcam’ feature could eliminate the need for many people to buy a basic dashcam, but more premium models – such as the Nextbase 622GW and Nexar Pro – still offer benefits.
One is that they come with road-specific features like polarizing filters and dual cameras that let you capture what’s going on behind your car. Some also have additional security features, such as intrusion alerts.
But the other is that they also allow you to preserve your phone’s battery life and storage, while sitting permanently on your car’s dashboard as a potential deterrent to thieves who don’t want to be recorded. If you choose a professional installation, they can also draw their power directly from your car battery without needing to be charged.
Still, we’re certainly looking forward to Google’s built-in dashcam mode for Android phones, which appears to be well advanced and could perhaps land as part of Android 14.
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