Review: Original Xiaomi Yi A12 Dual Core 1296p Wi-Fi ADAS Dashcam - Golden (Gearbest)

[Sunny]

Thank you @GearBest for providing Original Xiaomi Yi dash camera for review.
Product site: *********************************
Quick links to review sections:
Daytime Screenshots
Daytime Videos
Night Screenshots
Night Videos
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Conclusion: will update after tests.
PROS:
CONS:
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Description:
The Original Xiaomi Yi dashcam is based upon Xiaomi's own Yi A12 dual core processor (aka NT96660), not to be confused with Ambarella A12.
It's available in two colors, Grey and Golden.

Features:
Built-in battery: 240mAh Li-polymer
CPU: YI A12 dual core + DSP enhanced WDR 3D noise reduction
Video resolution: 1296p 30fps, 1080P 60fps

Package contents:
1. Original Xiaomi Yi Dashcam.
2. Suction cup mount.
3. USB car charger.
4. USB to mini USB power cable.
5. 16GB Sandisk microSD card.
6. Product manual in Chinese.



Top: mount
Front: lens and microphone.
Left: microSD slot
Back: 2.7" LCD screen and bottoms.
Right: micro USB charging port and reset hole.



Quick Unboxing Video:

More soon...

 

[Sunny]

Original Xiaomi Yi dashcam folders and file size:
YICarCam>Movie
A 3 minute video clip at 1080p is around 327mb in size.



Overall bit rate : 14.9 Mbps
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Duration : 3mn 0s
Video Bit rate : 14.7 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Frame rate : 30.000 fps
Audio Bit rate : 64.0 Kbps
Channel(s) : 1 channel
Channel positions : Front: C
Sampling rate : 16.0 KHz

 

[Sunny]

Reserverd for Wifi... app/settings

 

[Sunny]

Xiaomi Yi Daytime video screenshots:
Daytime video quality is very good.
No audio, probably microphone is off by default. Will test again for audio.

 

[Sunny]

Xiaomi Yi Daytime videos @ 1080p resolution:
Daytime video quality is very good.
No audio, probably microphone is off by default. Will test again for audio.

 

[Sunny]

Xiaomi Yi Night/low light video screenshots:
Night video quality is pretty good in line with most other 1080p dashcams, nothing special though.

 

[Sunny]

Xiaomi Yi Night/low light videos:

 

[Sunny]

One more daytime video:

 

[efcm]

It looks very good on day light and on the night.

But when when the sun is disappearing its a bit to dark.

 

[Olgu]

2K Sample ( RAW files soon )

 

[Olgu]

 

[Sunny]

Note: ADAS function only works @ 1080p resolution.

Here are few 1296p clips.
Not sure why but I enabled microphone but still no audio.
1.

2.

3.

 

[Olgu]

RAW : 1080P 60 Fps

https://www.dropbox.com/s/10eu1pf8vj7npj1/Xiaomi_Car_DVR_1080P_60Fps_Dogs.rar?dl=1

 

[Sunny]

Video clip with sound: Finally managed to record sound.
Sound is pretty good, loud and clear.

A short night video: I changed settings and thought it started recording but it didn't.

 

[Sunny]

1296p File Size and VBR: A 3 minute clip is around 434 mb in size.
Overall bit rate is 20.2 mbps with 20.1 mbps video and 64 kbps audio.

File size : 434 MiB
Duration : 3mn 0s
Overall bit rate : 20.2 Mbps
Origin : YICarCam

Video Bit rate : 20.1 Mbps
Width : 2 304 pixels
Height : 1 296 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 30.000 fps
Audio Bit rate : 64.0 Kbps
Channel(s) : 1 channel
Channel positions : Front: C
Sampling rate : 16.0 KHz
Frame rate : 15.625 fps (1024 spf)
Compression mode : Lossy

 

[dirkzelf]

Gearbest sells gray one for 72.99US, golden one for 79.99US.

Is there something to that? Different specs?

Banggood sells both for 79.99 USD

What store would be a better choice to buy from?

 

[Jeremy Wong]

Found this Gearbest coupon code: XiaomiyiFi to buy the Yi dashcam for US$69.19

http://goo.gl/7fwqNT

 

[fiji]

2 questions:
- car mount is good enough? In other reviews I read it detachs often
- can you avoid date time hardcoded in your video? Or at least avoid time and get only date ...

 

[Jeremy Wong]

2 questions:
- car mount is good enough? In other reviews I read it detachs often
- can you avoid date time hardcoded in your video? Or at least avoid time and get only date ...

Think most suction cup mounts is the same. I know mine comes off when it's too hot in the car when parked outside. I read somewhere that it will stick longer if you apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the suction cup before sticking on the windscreen.

The date and time can't be turn off. Here is the settings menu in the Yi dashcam...

 

[fiji]

@Jeremy Wong: thank you for your replies. Not all the section cup mounts are the same, I have a X-Mount and it's really strong. Some dashcams include both 3M stickers and suction mount, so you can choose (3M stickers are really strongs). I think someone will sell 3M stickers also for Xiaomi yi and maybe just now you can buy a better compatible suction cup.

It's a pity for forced time ... you would like to "slow down" your capture video to avoid evidence of your speed in case of car crash and you can't do with time impressed (ok, you could crop the video but someone could notice that ...)