Viofo A229 Duo Review: 1440p Front & Rear Video

Worth When Reviewed

$259.99

Greatest Costs In the present day: Viofo A229 Duo

Viofo’s A229 Duo is a two-channel sprint cam that data utilizing a entrance digicam and a separate rear digicam that sticks to the rear window in your automobile.

It’s the setup most individuals ought to go for: a single-channel sprint cam that data solely what occurs in entrance received’t assist if somebody hits you from behind.

The A229 Duo is the follow-up to the A129 Duo that I reviewed again in 2019. Whereas the entrance digicam seems principally an identical, there are numerous modifications and upgrades.

For a begin, each cameras now document at 2560×1440 pixels, also called ‘2K’ or ‘Quad HD’ as a substitute of 1920×1080. It means there’s extra element within the pictures which can assist if you could learn the registration or license plate of one other car.

There’s additionally dual-band Wi-Fi and the introduction of 5GHz to the usual 2.4GHz band signifies that movies will be downloaded to your telephone round 4 occasions sooner than utilizing 2.4GHz.

The brand new rear digicam makes use of the slimmer design as seen on Viofo’s T130, and the cable that connects it to the entrance digicam makes use of coax as a substitute of USB, permitting it to be roughly half the diameter (2.8mm vs 5mm with the A129 Duo) and that makes it a lot simpler to put in behind you automobile’s trim panels.

Options & design

• 2K decision entrance and rear
• Occasion detection, time-lapse and low-bitrate parking modes
• In-built GPS and dual-band Wi-Fi

As talked about, the entrance digicam makes use of the identical design as lots of Viofo’s different dashcams. The wedge strategy works properly as a result of it means it suits properly behind most rear-view mirrors however nonetheless permits it to retain a display so you may see what the cameras see, in addition to reviewing footage with out requiring a smartphone and the Viofo app.

There are a number of minor variations: the microSD slot is now on the right-hand facet and it makes use of a USB-C connector as a substitute of the aged mini-USB.

Jim Martin / Foundry

The display isn’t a touchscreen and though the three central buttons are marked REC, ! and MIC, they double up as navigation and choice controls, and the menu system is surprisingly simple to make use of.

Jim Martin / Foundry

You could possibly as a substitute use the Viofo app to hook up with the A229 Duo by way of Wi-Fi and alter the settings much more simply. You’ll wish to allow the parking modes as they’re off by default, and also you may wish to change the three minute looping to at least one minute, primarily due to the massive file sizes generated.

Recording in 2K at Regular high quality produces round 800MB per minute: 430MB for the entrance digicam and 340MB for the rear. In the event you’re questioning why they’re not the identical, it’s as a result of the rear data at round 16Mbps whereas the entrance is 22Mbps: high quality isn’t an identical.

It’s price noting that Viofo doesn’t embrace a microSD card, so funds for a good-quality one that may deal with steady recording: Viofo’s personal playing cards use the V30 / U3 normal and MLC storage.

Each cameras are restricted to 30fps, nevertheless it isn’t an enormous drawback not to have the ability to choose 60fps: it’s higher to have additional decision than additional frames.

Jim Martin / Foundry

As you’d anticipate, there are many settings together with which data is stamped onto the video: you may omit velocity, location, the Viofo branding and the date and time. You may also add your automobile’s registration or some customized textual content, too.

A voice proclaims when recording has began every time you begin driving, so even with out wanting on the display, you’ll know the A229 Duo is doing its job. If there’s an issue, a persistent beeping will warn you one thing’s flawed, similar to that the SD card wants formatting otherwise you’ve forgotten to insert one.

Parking modes

There are a number of menu entries for the parking modes. The principle one is Parking Recording, which helps you to select which mode you wish to use. It’s a little bit of a clunky strategy to deal with it, however you may decide Auto Occasion Detection, 5 Timelapse modes (from 1 to 10fps) and Low Bitrate Recording.

The latter is the best choice because it offers you an identical steady recording as if you’re driving, however at a much-reduced high quality to avoid wasting on energy – and it nonetheless data audio.

Timelapse is the next-best possibility because it’s just like steady recording, and you’ll have as much as 10fps, however with out sound.

Occasion Detection is probably the most power-saving possibility, and is buffered so will document 15 seconds previous to the second the occasion was detected and 30 seconds afterwards.

To make use of any of those, the A229 Duo must be powered by Viofo’s HK4 hard-wire package so it may get energy from the automobile’s battery when the ignition is off. This has a slider so you may select at which voltage it ought to lower off to keep away from draining the battery.

However you may tweak every mode, adjusting the sensitivity for occasion detection – each for movement and the built-in G-Sensor, and you’ll set a 90-second delay earlier than parking mode kicks in. Lastly, you may select how lengthy the parking mode runs for – one other strategy to save your automobile’s battery. Choices run from half-hour as much as eight hours.

Efficiency

It’s simple to suppose that 2K decision is a lot better than 1080p. In good gentle, video from each entrance and rear cameras is good and sharp, with plenty of element.

Nonetheless, for sprint cams, the vital components are whether or not you may learn registration numbers and different textual content. Principally, you may on the A229 Duo’s footage if you pause it. ,

Even with an official Viofo microSD card, I did discover occasional artefacts and video breakup, which was a slight disappointment.

The sphere of view is sweet and large on each cameras, capturing every thing that’s happening. As with most sprint cams, this implies registration plates aren’t simple to make out if autos aren’t near yours, nevertheless it’s often when one other car collides with yours that you really want these particulars, in order that’s not a problem.

When darkness falls, element ranges plummet. You possibly can see this within the video under, the place there’s loads of grain and an absence of sharpness. As I say in each sprint cam assessment, it’s possible you’ll or might not be capable of make out the main points you want at night time as a result of a lot relies on the ambient lighting and whether or not your lights are reflecting off the opposite car’s registration plate.

The Viofo app is similar used for the corporate’s different sprint cams and is, general, superb.

It’s simple to make use of whether or not you wish to change settings or assessment footage. Because of the dual-band Wi-Fi, you may watch clips instantly from the A229 with out buffering points. And downloading clips to your telephone is fairly swift.

Jim Martin / Foundry

I’d suggest altering the default three-minute loop length to at least one minute to make it 3 times faster to get the clip you need.

Worth & availability

You should purchase an A229 Duo from Viofo’s web site for $259.99 (£243 inc VAT). On the time of assessment, the corporate was providing a $30 low cost (£28 off for UK consumers).

However it’s additionally accessible for $259.99 on Amazon.com. It wasn’t offered by Amazon in different nations on the time of assessment, however ought to seem on Amazon.co.uk quickly sufficient.

The HK4 hardwire package is $16 / £16, and a push-on round polarising lens for roughly the identical. Viofo additionally sells a Bluetooth button that you may stick someplace handy to lock and save recordings with out taking your eyes off the street. That’s $19.99 / £19.

Verdict

Through the day, particularly when it’s sunny and vibrant, video high quality from the A229 Duo is superb.

Though footage from the rear digicam is recorded at a decrease bitrate, you wouldn’t essentially spot that by evaluating entrance and rear views. Most entrance + rear sprint cams document the rear view at a decrease decision, so it’s good to see Viofo convey parity right here.

The one disadvantage is that the A229 Duo isn’t low-cost, however don’t merely have a look at decision for those who’re evaluating it to different dual-channel sprint cams. Keep in mind it gives a wide selection of parking modes, a skinny cable to attach the rear digicam and 5GHz Wi-Fi.

Having stated that, for quite a bit much less, you get related options (if solely 1080p decision) from Viofo’s personal A129 Duo, reviewed. Plus, Viofo’s T130 is similar worth because the A229 Duo, however moreover data contained in the car in addition to entrance and rear. And whereas inside and rear footage is 1080p, the extra protection might might properly be extra precious for some individuals. Simply be aware the T130 doesn’t have a built-in display.

For extra options, see our roundup of one of the best sprint cams.