VIOFO A229 Pro / Plus - Review PP

[Panzer Platform]

Cameras supplied by Viofo.

SPECIFICATIONS A229 Pro:
Sony STARVIS 2 (IMX678) 8MP Image Sensor FRONT
Sony STARVIS 2 (IMX675) 5MP Image Sensor REAR
Sony STARVIS 1 (IMX307) 2MP Image Sensor IR INTERIOR
4K30fps (3840 x 2160) FRONT
2K30fps (2560 x 1440) REAR
1080p30fps (1920 x 1080) IR INTERIOR
60 Mbps Bitrate FRONT
23 Mbps Bitrate REAR
15 Mbps Bitrate IR INTERIOR
36 Mbps Bitrate FRONT (with IR INTERIOR connected)
Processor: Novatek 96529 (A139 Pro 96687) (A229 Plus 96580)
Rear Camera Processor: Novatek 96562
F1.8 Lens Aperture FRONT
F1.9 Lens Aperture REAR
F1.8 Lens Aperture IR INTERIOR
140° FOV FRONT (160° measured)
160° FOV REAR (160° measured)
150° FOV IR INTERIOR (170° measured)
HDR: FRONT On/Off
HDR: REAR & IR INTERIOR (always on, can’t turn off)
CPL Filter: FRONT Included
CPL Filter: REAR (no optional CPL Filter)
LCD Display: 2.5” inch
Voice Commands: Yes (enable / disable)
Voice Notifications: Yes (enable / disable)
Video Codec: H.264 (compatible all computers)
Format: MP4 (compatible all computers)
Super Capacitor (no lithium battery)
External Microphone Jack: No
Operating Temperature: -4℉ to 149℉ (-20℃ to 65℃)
Power Cable Connection: USB Type-C
Wi-Fi: Dual Band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Type-C to Type-C Data Transfer: Yes (2x fast 5GHz)
LED Status Lights: Power, Recording, Wi-Fi, MIC, GPS (enable / disable)
Bluetooth: Yes
Bluetooth Remote: Optional
Quad GPS: Coordinates, MPH Speed, Date & Time Sync (enable / disable)
Loop Record: (1, 2, 3, 5, 10 min, OFF)
Max SD Card Size: 512GB
1 Minute File Size;
430MB FRONT (43 Seconds 5GHz Wi-Fi / 22 Seconds Type-C)
174MB REAR
114MB IR INTERIOR
260MB FRONT (with IR INTERIOR connected)
Power Consumption: 6.7 Watts Low Bitrate Parking Mode 3-CH
BBMC PowerCell 8 (96Wh) = 14 Hours
3 Parking Modes (Motion Detection, Low Bitrate, Time Lapse) REQUIRES $18 Hardwire Kit
Warranty: 1 year, or 18 months with product registration
Customer Service, Tech Support, Warranty Claims; www.viofo.com
FCC ID: 2AMBW-A229PRO

PROS:
Upgraded Processor Novatek 96529 (A139 Pro 96687) (A229 Plus 96580)
Fixed low light flicker issue of A139 Pro
Full 4K Resolution in 3-CH Configuration (3840 x 2160)
30fps All 3 Channels (A139 Pro 3-CH 24fps)
Additional Processor For Rear Camera (maintain 60 Mbps front)
Quad GPS Module (GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, and GLONASS)
IR Interior Camera: Light Sensor / IR Cut Filter / IMX307 (A139 Pro IMX291)
Upgraded LCD Screen Menu
OTA Firmware Updates (partial roll out)
1 oz. Heat Sink for better heat dissipation
Type-C to Type-C Data Transfer (2x fast 5GHz)
430MB 44 Seconds 5GHz Wi-Fi (22 Seconds Type-C iOS)
Optional Waterproof Rear Camera

CONS:
Front Camera Bitrate Reduction with IR Interior camera (60 Mbps - 36 Mbps)
No 4K60fps Resolution Option in 1-CH Configuration
No Optional CPL Filter For Rear Camera
No Independant HDR On/Off setting Rear & IR Interior cameras
No Coax Cables
IR Interior Camera Cable 3.5mm Jack to USB Type-C
IR Interior Camera (only 4 IR Emitters instead of 6, reduced FOV)
No External Microphone Input
No Included Hardwire Kit (parking mode)
No Included 64GB SD Card
Limited Lens Adjustment 70° (can’t show passenger compartment)

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Best Dash Cam Of 2024 (prediction) Based On Image Quality
BlackVue & Thinkware Flagships - No HDR
Honorable Mentions;
Vueroid D21 4K (new comer)
Vantrue N4 Pro
70mai A810

 

[Nigel]

Best Dash Cam Of 2024 (prediction) Based On Image Quality

There is still a lot of 2024 left
Still time for Viofo to implement your wish list...
but obviously not in an A229 update, that has only recently been released!

Although they may struggle to get 2 channels of 4K 60fps H264 @100Mb/s

 

[Agie]

There is still a lot of 2024 left
Still time for Viofo to implement your wish list...
but obviously not in an A229 update, that has only recently been released!

Although they may struggle to get 2 channels of 4K 60fps H264 @100Mb/s

I agree, we've only just hit Q2 2024 so plenty of time left and FCC filings for Viofo to make or for other brand models to go global outside of china. Bitrate I truly feel we've hit the ceiling with hardware constraints/chipset / heat dissipation solutions

 

[Nigel]

Bitrate I truly feel we've hit the ceiling with hardware constraints/chipset / heat dissipation solutions

With current hardware, but the chips keep advancing. With the next generation of more efficient processors, bitrates can increase.

Although I don't think we really need more than 60Mb/s per channel for normal dashcam use, maybe 80Mb/s for 4K 60fps. I have never been able to see much difference between 60 and 80Mb/s for 30fps on a dashcam.

 

[Agie]

With current hardware, but the chips keep advancing. With the next generation of more efficient processors, bitrates can increase.

Although I don't think we really need more than 60Mb/s per channel for normal dashcam use, maybe 80Mb/s for 4K 60fps. I have never been able to see much difference between 60 and 80Mb/s for 30fps on a dashcam.

Good about the chipsets for sure, I've found 60mb/s plenty for 4k and probably more than enough. I just hope the processors get to the point where they run cooler, aiding the dashcam.

Not sure we'll see 8K in dashcams considering 8K TVs haven't even taken off and pretty much stalled. Then again, smartphones on the high end have had 8k video recording capabilities for a while now which seems pointless. But they could push for it anyway.

If it was me I'd rather stick with 4K and have 3 channels running at 60mb/s without the internal temperature going higher than 20 or 30C. Sure they could get that efficient, eventually.....

 

[Nigel]

Not sure we'll see 8K in dashcams considering 8K TVs haven't even taken off and pretty much stalled.

A decent 360° dashcam would need 8K, really want 16K, but 360° dashcams don't seem practical, better to have front+rear since that gets much better views, and is a neater install.

Better than an 8K front would be a 4K super wide angle front + 4K telephoto front, which adds up to 8K, but you can view full detail on a 4K TV.

8K TVs will never take off, nobody can really see the difference from 4K, unless they sit unreasonably close to a massive screen, and I suspect the trend for even more massive screens will reverse sooner or later, and if it doesn't, the EU will probably ban the 100" screens using half a kilowatt of power on environmental grounds!