AFTERMARKET: Garmin Speak Plus with Amazon Alexa

A navigation device, dashcam, and voice-activated AI in one? In a world where convenience has become a priority above all else, a gadget like the Garmin Speak Plus is certainly a welcome sight. It comes with a really neat features--for starters, the HD camera can be programmed to record only when something happens. It also helps you avoid accidents from occurring via alerting beeps. With this combination of features, the Garmin Speak Plus has us sold from the get-go.

That said, installing the Garmin Speak Plus offers a bit of a challenge. First of all, it requires a power cable to function, and with all the Bluetooth and battery-powered devices available, this particular hitch is a bit of a letdown. Fortunately, the cable is lightweight and designed to be routed out of sight, tucked into the space between the windshield and headliner.

For inconspicuousness, the Garmin Speak Plus wins points. The tiny screen offers little distraction, which all dashcams ought to be. But even with the wee user interface, the device does everything it’s designed to do well. Nifty features include connectivity alerts, turn-by-turn directions, and the aforementioned driving alerts.

The Garmin Speak Plus is designed to work with your phone, and with it, you can use the device to ask for directions, start recording, or play music, along with a long list of AI features via Alexa. The automatic accident recording feature performs as advertised, allowing you to save valuable microSD space. Even so, the included 8GB card should be plenty of room for whatever road incident you want to record. The captured image is very high quality, both during the day and at night.

The Garmin Speak Plus with Amazon Alexa and built-in dashcam is available at Galleon.ph. For more on its features, visit Garmin.com.