Review: Geko E100 Full HD 1080P Dash Cam

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Dashboard cameras have gained popularity over the past year as additional aftermarket safety and security automotive products.

The advantage of having a dash cam is that you have visual data to refer to in the event of an accident and collision or you might have some proof in fighting a traffic ticket. Price has been one of the considerations why motorists have avoided installing dash cams and complexity of use is another.

The Geko E100 Full HD 1080P Dash Cam from Papago is a tiny, entry-level model which is easy to use and install. I had the opportunity to test the Geko E100 while driving in Quebec countryside and was quite pleased by the experience. 

The Geko E100 comes with everything you need out of the box. It has a microUSB cord that can plug into your car's lighter or 12v charging port, a well designed suction mount for the camera, the camera itself and an 8GB microSD card.

Installation is straightforward and a plug-and-play affair. 

The Geko E100 can record Full HD 1080P video with 120 Degree Wide Angle.

You can see what's happening on a tiny 1.5" LCD Display. The camera can automatically record hands-free in a continuous loop and it supports Motion Detection Mode for capturing movement outside a parked vehicle.

A G-sensor enabled recording ensures once an impact, drastic braking, or a sharp turn is detected, emergency recording will initiate and the video file will be write-protected and saved automatically.

Compared to the high end Papago GoSafe 520 dash cam, images and video take by the Geko E100 aren't as crisp or ultra detailed but will serve most user's needs given it is such a tiny and unobtrusive device. In fact, since the Geko E100 is going for CAD $60.00 at Best Buy Canada right now, which makes it a perfect stocking stuffer or camera for a secondary vehicle.

For people who travel a lot and have to go through a lot of rental cars, the Geko E100 is a no brainer. Not only is it small enough to carry, it is also a great solution for capturing memorable drives and scenic vistas which can easily be saved on a PC and edited into a nice vacation or travel video.

The only issue some people may have is that the Dash Cam will take over one entire lighter adapter for power, I haven't tried a direct USB connection to determine if you can power it with a dual USB adaptor to also power or charge a GPS or a smartphone simultaneously.

The Geko E100 Full HD 1080 dash cam delivers the goods for such an affordable and small device and is the perfect starting point for anyone desiring to add another level of safety and protection to their vehicle.

Rating: 4 out of 5