I think some people believe that if a dashcam have a screen then it is unnecessary big to accommodate that screen, but i dont think that have ever been the case.
It is true some dashcams have big screens, and it seem to be preferred in some markets, rear view mirror cameras or conventional cameras but with like a 4" screen.
We have also now and then seen people come to the forum looking for a dashcam but have already ruled out some as in pictures they seem too big, and this have often been wedge shaped cameras like viofo ASO that are actually pretty small.
My feeling is wedge shaped cameras, while they have a "large" footprint, then if you can place most of the camera on a dotted area like in my car, then really it is just 1/3 of a already small camera you can see.
I have never personally been glad for the systems that hang off the windscreen like the Garmin mini and others do, but then again the mini at least are a very small camera, others with that kind of monting are not so small, some Korean systems of that design with the large 4" screens.
The Cylinder shaped ones are also valid, but are often wider, so in my case i can not mount it on the dotted area as then the camera would see the dots, so i would have to mount it lower, in which case the whole camera would be visible, and so not the most stealthy option in my particular car, but other cars it is indeed a option you should ´keep in mind when dashcam shopping.
I do prefer the new systems with the cameras remote from the main unit, as this can result in as little as possible cameras, and so footprint on windscreen, and the main unit you could put a 7" screen and a big heat pipe cooler for the SOC as it dont really matter as it will be hidden under the dashboard or under a seat, or in the trunk of the car.
This also mean you can make much better cooling, and that might in turn mean you could have a much better chance of doing parking guard on the hottest summer days for a longer time before the system would shut down due to high temperatures,,,,,, you could even have active cooling to help.
The cameras from the K2S system are so small i think they use 8 mm thread lenses, they are only 1/3 - 1/2 the size of other remote cameras / rear cameras in conventional 2 channel systems.
This is also why i use that system as side cameras in my car.
Advances in technology mean that you can make extraordinary small cameras like the garmin mini or insta action cameras, and so have them so small putting on a screen and not least some buttons to navigate a menu is not a good idea.
Personally i feel like i die a little and get a little more stupid every time i touch my phone, but thankfully even with a screen less dashcam, i dont have to connect to the camera every day once it is set up.
I still take my memory cards to my computer to get footage, even if camera wifi became 2 gigabit wifi speeds would i use my phone to get footage.
