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Nexer Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam: Two minute review
I tried the original Nexer Beam Dash Cam about three years ago, but I remember it was everything I wanted to do at that time. Things have moved forward since then, however, and have turned the design and features for the beam 2 mini Nexer to live there with the best dash cam.
In fact, none of the latest crop of beam model is similar to the original avatar. Nexer Beam 2 Mini is my pick of products – beam 2 (only road) and beam 2 road and cabin model variants, as well as an alternative rear view camera.
Others are chunkers, and people may suit with space on their windshields and desire to spend more for a beef array of features. Nexer Beam 2 Mini is just above my street, especially when I need to fix it on the small screen of my sports car. I am looking for compact, which was an important part of the appeal with the first version.
However, the Nexer Beam 2 Mini is not as dinner as I was, 6.86 x 6.49 x 3.83 inch / 17.4 x 16.5 x 9.7cm. It looks quite heavy, weighs at 1.74LBS / 0.8kg, but it is not a bad thing, as it helps to feel the package like a quality purchase. Perhaps some extra weight comes from internal storage, as no microSD media card slot is available on this model.
The model has a landscape-oriented body design, with a 160-degree visual lens, which can be carried out to achieve any type of vehicle-friendly road view. It connects the windshield in standard fashion, uses a self-peeping pad that affixs the base of the camera unit to the glass.
The Nexer Beam 2 is available with 2 mini 4G LTE connectivity, which means that this remote video can always perform ‘on performance’ including live streaming. There are 1080p resolution and internal storage up to 256GB, although it is mentioned that there is no external microSD storage. It has GPS tracking, a parking mode with real-time alert, plus 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and comes with an ODBII pass through the connector cable instead of 12V plugs for power.
The Nexer offers beam2 mini with three separate storage options: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, which offers a recording storage time of 30 hours, 62 hours and 130 hours respectively. Internal storage can work harmonious with Nexer’s unlimited cloud storage options, as well as an option to invest in an ongoing LTE security scheme that extends the appeal of this model to $ 9.99 (approx 8) per month.
Due to its original ‘always’ functionality, the Nexer Beam 2 mini is ideally suited to those who want to ensure that they can keep an eye on their vehicle anywhere and at any time. The Nexer app helps here, so that you are able to check on your vehicle, until connectivity is retained. However, there are quirks as the requirement of a permanent connection, which can offer electrical implications and add additional troubles during the setup.
Performance is solid enough, and features and tasks do what they do. Nexer has tried to make the beam 2 mini as easy as possible, with an array of plans to suit all budgets. However, there are cheap and cheap models, which provide more plug-and-play simplicity, which may seem a bit bizarre for some needs to Nexer Beam 2 Mini.
Nexer Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam: Price and Availability
- The price starts at $ 149.95 / £ 113
- There are three storage capacity variants: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB
Nexer beam 2 mini Available in three storage variants. The base-level version currently costs $ 149.95 / £ 113 (below $ 199.95) and has 64GB capacity. The 128GB model is $ 169.95 / £ 128, while the range is at the top in terms of storage on 256GB, which costs $ 199.95 / £ 151.
An alternative LTE protection plan is also available, and costs $ 9.99 or annually $ 71.90 per month, which represents 40% discount at the time of writing. The latter also distributes live streaming capacity, unlimited cloud storage, a 24/7 live parking mode, real-time GPS tracking, and real-time emergency alert.
Nexer Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam: Glasses
|
Video |
Front 1080p FHD |
|
Visual area (fov) |
135 degrees front |
|
storage |
Internal 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, Cloud |
|
Gps |
Yes |
|
Parking mode |
Yes, with continuous odbii power cable |
|
App support |
Nexar app |
|
Dimensions |
6.86 x 6.49 x 3.83 inch / 17.4 x 16.5 x 9.7cm |
|
weight |
1.74LBS / 0.8kg |
|
Battery |
Yes |
Nexer Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam: Design
- Slimline letterbox design and no screen
- Odbii connector always supplied for electricity
- Internal storage, with 64, 128 and 256GB versions
Anyone who needs a lot of compact will get the design of Nexer Beam 2 Mini one of his most attractive aspects. It is a landscape-oriented box of tricks, either with a feedel or wrong on its exterior. The design cannot work for everyone, however, first because there is no rear screen, everything is to be done through the Nexer app. Second, it is quite difficult to correct the angle of the lens until you have an app installed.
The lens itself is placed in front of the unit, and in your vehicle can be swinging up or down, depending on the angle of the windshield. The power cable is at the top of the port unit, however, it is easy to remove it during installation. The dash cam can be fitted in the windshield in a normal way, either using an anti-static film sheet and adhesive mounts can be pasted on it, or directly on the glass. However there is no suction-cope system, and there is no removable option in mount design. Then, not for everyone.
A small blue/green indicator is the light that shines during the setup and when the camera is doing its thing. Power to the unit comes from a supplied ODBII connector setup, which is why this model is good if ‘always’ setup is required. However, the Nexer Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam will also work if it is plugged through a sufficiently high-power USB port, widening its appeal to some extent, especially if a user does not require constant monitoring. However, do not get upset in search of a card slot, because there is not one. My review unit came with 64GB internal storage drive instead.
Nexer Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam: Performance
- Fidley setup
- Decent image and audio quality
I have to accept that the initial setup and installation was not as comfortable as I expected. Certainly, the power cable process is quite simple, as long as you know that your ODBII connector is under the dash – these can be quite difficult to find in some vehicles. The beam2 mini can be powered by a cable running in the 12V socket if preferred, although it is not supplied with the package, which only has an ODBII adapter. Hard-viring is also an option, but you will have to pay for this additional accessory.
The main problem I had was connecting and verifying the app. It was quite easy to download, but the country code listing was not listed to input my number. I then twig the Nexers’ lists by the country code to the right of the menu. Nevertheless, with my country code and phone number being recorded, I did not get a verification lesson. Curiously, after recovering I tried, I also got a pair of spam calls, so I hope it was a coincidence rather than doing anything with the Nexer setup process.
As it turned out, and when I came directly in contact with Nexer, I was told that there is currently an issue with UK cell phone companies that are blocking the verification code. This seems to be a country-specific issue, so it should not be expected for users for us. To explain this, a note on the Nexer website would have stopped wasting me a lot of time.
Another thing that seems to be a possible issue, especially for anyone wishing to use Nexer Beam 2 mini in the UK, is that it requires a strong mobile signal to function correctly. As I went on my first trip, while the camera was doing its initial setup process, I kept receiving a audio alert, giving me a strong cell phone signal. However, after a reboot, things started settling to some extent and the message stopped.
Perhaps I was just inauspicious, but various initial troubles pressed my experience of Nexer Beam 2 Dash Cam to some extent. Nevertheless, it is a very decent dash camera, the results of which leave a positive impression. It is very good to capture the video in a variety of scenarios, and the audio quality looks really great. Things look slightly less impressive on better details, such as a license plate, but this model is inexpensive, so some elements of the agreement are unavoidable.
Should you buy Nexer Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam?
Buy it if …
Do not buy it if …
How did I test Nexer Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam
- I installed a dash cam in a test car for the initial period of two weeks
- I used it for a wide range of travel during the day and night
- I added it to my phone and downloaded recording to assess their quality
I was sent a loan package of Beam 2 Mini Dash Cam by Nexer, which also provided me with LTE Conservation Scheme for good measures. The camera was installed in a car at that time that I was testing at that time, and operated using the setup described in the review above. I also installed the Nexer app on an iPhone, which I needed to follow a verification process that needed a phone to get a lesson to move forward.
I then tested beam 2 mini in several days and under a variety of driving conditions, including local roads as well as large highways. I was able to detect its abilities in various weather conditions, including rainy days and low-light as well as after darkness.
