When it comes to enhancing your vehicle’s safety and security, investing in one of the Good Dash Cams available on the market is a smart move. Among the top contenders, the Viofo A229 Pro stands out, offering a comprehensive suite of features and exceptional performance. This dash cam is designed to provide crisp, high-resolution footage in various conditions, day or night, and includes essential functionalities like 24-hour parked-car monitoring and GPS. Unlike many dash cams that rely on batteries, the A229 Pro utilizes a heat-resistant supercapacitor, ensuring reliability and longevity.
The Viofo A229 Pro is packed with features that make it a top pick for anyone seeking a reliable and high-performing dash cam. The front camera boasts impressive 4K resolution, a significant upgrade from older 1080p models. This higher resolution translates to videos with remarkable clarity and detail, making it easier to discern crucial elements like license plates, even from a distance or in nighttime conditions.
One of the standout features of the A229 Pro is its use of a supercapacitor instead of a traditional battery. This component enhances both safety and reliability, particularly in fluctuating climates. The built-in GPS system and 24-hour parking mode ensure continuous and detailed surveillance, providing valuable data coverage. Furthermore, the A229 Pro is versatile, available in 1-channel, 2-channel, and 3-channel versions, allowing users to customize their setup with additional cameras to suit different needs and vehicle types.
The video quality of the Viofo A229 Pro is truly exceptional, rivaling or surpassing other dash cams in its class. Equipped with a modern Sony Starvis 2 (IMX678) image sensor, this dash cam excels in capturing low-noise images in low light environments and vibrant, high-contrast images in bright daylight. While it might not match the absolute top-tier quality of an action camera or a high-end smartphone camera, its performance is remarkably close. In fact, among dash cams tested, only the 70mai, mentioned in the other good dash cams section, came close to matching the A229 Pro’s video capabilities.
Reliability in extreme temperatures is a crucial factor for dash cams, and the A229 Pro excels in this area. Lithium-ion batteries, commonly found in many electronic devices, can be susceptible to performance issues in high heat or extreme cold. In hot conditions, these batteries can overheat and cause temporary shutdowns, and in rare cases, they may even expand or pose a safety risk.
However, the A229 Pro avoids these potential issues by utilizing a supercapacitor. This technology allows the camera to operate effectively in a wide temperature range, from a frigid -4 degrees Fahrenheit to a scorching 149 degrees Fahrenheit. The supercapacitor stores enough charge to securely save recordings and properly shut down the camera when the car is turned off, ensuring consistent performance regardless of the environment.
Usability is another area where the Viofo A229 Pro shines. The accompanying Viofo app (available for both iOS and Android) is remarkably user-friendly. Connecting your smartphone to the camera via Wi-Fi allows you to easily view and download recorded videos. The app also integrates GPS data, displaying the recording location on a map during playback. Furthermore, the app provides access to a comprehensive range of settings, enabling users to fine-tune camera exposure and video quality to their preferences.
The Viofo A229 Pro offers a versatile range of camera configurations to meet diverse needs. The base model features a single, forward-facing 4K camera. For broader coverage, the 2-channel version includes an additional rear 1440p camera, a highly recommended setup for most drivers. The 3-channel version, the one tested for this review, further expands coverage with an interior camera. This interior camera is equipped with infrared recording and four small IR lights, which illuminate the car’s interior with invisible light at night, ensuring clear video capture even in complete darkness.
Downloading videos from the Viofo A229 Pro is a swift process. The camera supports 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks (if your phone is compatible), enabling faster transfer speeds. Alternatively, users can remove the microSD card and transfer files to a computer using a card reader. Some modern smartphones may also support direct downloads via a USB-C cable, although this feature was not successfully tested with a Pixel 7 during the review.
Installation of the A229 Pro is straightforward. The dash cam comes with a sticky pad pre-attached to a flat mount, ensuring secure adhesion to your windshield. For adjustments or removal, a plastic lever tool is included, simplifying the process of detaching the mount. The camera itself can also be easily detached from the mount if needed.
Power is supplied via USB-C, and the package includes a long cable and a 12V adapter. If your car has a 2-amp or higher USB port, it can also be used for power.
For users desiring continuous recording even when the car is parked, a hardwire kit is available for the A229 Pro. Since many cars cut power to 12V and USB ports when turned off, hardwiring to the car’s fuse box is necessary for enabling parking mode. Viofo offers several hardwire kits, and the specific kit required will depend on your vehicle model. More details can be found in the “How to set up a dash cam” section (not included in the provided article).
The Viofo A229 Pro also includes several useful accessories. The provided 12V adapter features an extra USB port for charging other devices. A circular polarizing lens (CPL) is also included, which is often an optional accessory or not available at all with other dash cams. The CPL filter reduces dashboard glare in certain lighting conditions and enhances video contrast, with minimal impact on low-light performance. A Bluetooth remote control is available as a separate purchase, allowing users to instantly save the currently recording clip with a simple click.
The Viofo A229 Pro comes with a one-year warranty. Registering your camera with Viofo extends the warranty by an additional six months, providing a total of 18 months of coverage.
Despite its numerous advantages, there are a few minor drawbacks to consider with the A229 Pro, though they are not dealbreakers.
Firstly, a microSD card is not included with the A229 Pro and must be purchased separately. Due to its 4K video recording capability, Viofo recommends using at least a Class-10 or UHS-I rated card (Viofo’s own card offering is UHS-III). Given that the camera overwrites older videos once the card is full, a large capacity card is advisable to ensure important footage is retained. Testing indicates approximately 25 GB of storage is needed per hour of recording.
Secondly, while generally compact, the A229 Pro’s vertical design (3.9 inches high by 2.3 inches wide) is somewhat unusual. This is typically not an issue for most vehicles, but those with smaller windshields might find it occupies more of the viewing area. For drivers prioritizing maximum visibility, the Vantrue N4 Pro, mentioned in the other good dash cams section, might be a better option.
Thirdly, the A229 Pro’s rear camera offers superior clarity and resolution compared to many competitors. However, if your car has tinted windows, the rear camera image may appear dim. While exposure can be adjusted in the Viofo app to compensate for tint during the day, nighttime image quality may be negatively affected. This is not exclusive to the Viofo but is a general consideration for dash cams with tinted windows.
Finally, upon initial setup, the Viofo A229 Pro has several illuminated LEDs (two red and two cyan) that remain constantly lit. Fortunately, these LEDs can be easily disabled within the app settings.
In conclusion, the Viofo A229 Pro stands out as an excellent choice among good dash cams, offering exceptional video quality, robust features, and reliable performance. Its minor flaws are easily outweighed by its strengths, making it a top recommendation for enhancing vehicle safety and security.
