Viofo A229 Duo review: 1440p front + rear video

Greatest Costs Right now: Viofo A229 Duo

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

It’s the setup most individuals ought to go for: a single-channel sprint cam that data solely what occurs in entrance gained’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 digital camera appears to be like principally equivalent, there are numerous adjustments and upgrades.

For a begin, each cameras now report at 2560×1440 pixels, also referred to as ‘2K’ or ‘Quad HD’ as a substitute of 1920×1080. It means there’s extra element within the pictures which might help if you want to learn the registration or license plate of one other automobile.

There’s additionally dual-band Wi-Fi and the introduction of 5GHz to the usual 2.4GHz band implies that movies might be downloaded to your cellphone round 4 instances quicker than utilizing 2.4GHz.

The brand new rear digital camera makes use of the slimmer design as seen on Viofo’s T130, and the cable that connects it to the entrance digital camera 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 automotive’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 digital camera makes use of the identical design as a lot of Viofo’s different dashcams. The wedge method works effectively as a result of it means it suits properly behind most rear-view mirrors however nonetheless permits it to retain a display so you’ll be able to 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 aspect and it makes use of a USB-C connector as a substitute of the aged mini-USB.

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 may as a substitute use the Viofo app to hook up with the A229 Duo through 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 would possibly wish to change the three minute looping to at least one minute, primarily due to the large file sizes generated.

Recording in 2K at Regular high quality produces round 800MB per minute: 430MB for the entrance digital camera and 340MB for the rear. Should 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 equivalent.

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

Each cameras are restricted to 30fps, nevertheless it isn’t an enormous downside 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’ll be able to omit pace, location, the Viofo branding and the date and time. You may as well add your automotive’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 mistaken, reminiscent of 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 solution to deal with it, however you’ll be able to choose Auto Occasion Detection, 5 Timelapse modes (from 1 to 10fps) and Low Bitrate Recording.

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

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

Occasion Detection is essentially the most power-saving possibility, and is buffered so will report 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 equipment so it may get energy from the automotive’s battery when the ignition is off. This has a slider so you’ll be able to select at which voltage it ought to lower off to keep away from draining the battery.

However you’ll be able to 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’ll be able to select how lengthy the parking mode runs for – one other solution to save your automotive’s battery. Choices run from half-hour as much as eight hours.

Efficiency

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

Nevertheless, for sprint cams, the vital elements are whether or not you’ll be able to learn registration numbers and different textual content. Principally, you’ll be able to 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 sector of view is sweet and huge on each cameras, capturing all the things that’s occurring. As with most sprint cams, this implies registration plates aren’t simple to make out if automobiles aren’t near yours, nevertheless it’s normally when one other automobile collides with yours that you really want these particulars, in order that’s not a difficulty.

When darkness falls, element ranges plummet. You possibly can see this within the video beneath, the place there’s loads of grain and a scarcity of sharpness. As I say in each sprint cam overview, you might or could not be capable of make out the main points you want at night time as a result of a lot will depend on the ambient lighting and whether or not your lights are reflecting off the opposite automobile’s registration plate.

The Viofo app is identical used for the corporate’s different sprint cams and is, total, high-quality.

It’s simple to make use of whether or not you wish to change settings or overview footage. Due to the dual-band Wi-Fi, you’ll be able to watch clips immediately from the A229 with out buffering points. And downloading clips to your cellphone is fairly swift.

Jim Martin / Foundry

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

Value & availability

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

But it surely’s additionally out there for $259.99 on Amazon.com. It wasn’t bought by Amazon in different nations on the time of overview, however ought to seem on Amazon.co.uk quickly sufficient.

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

Verdict

In the course of the day, particularly when it’s sunny and shiny, video high quality from the A229 Duo is superb.

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

The one downside is that the A229 Duo isn’t low-cost, however don’t merely have a look at decision in case you’re evaluating it to different dual-channel sprint cams. Bear in mind it provides a wide selection of parking modes, a skinny cable to attach the rear digital camera and 5GHz Wi-Fi.

Having mentioned that, for rather a lot much less, you get related options (if solely 1080p decision) from Viofo’s personal A129 Duo, reviewed. Plus, Viofo’s T130 is identical value because the A229 Duo, however moreover data contained in the automobile in addition to entrance and rear. And whereas inside and rear footage is 1080p, the extra protection may may effectively be extra priceless for some individuals. Simply be aware the T130 doesn’t have a built-in display.

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