Viofo A229 Duo Review: A Well-Rounded Dash Camera

[@donmckinney4091]

I bought this unit and have had it for a month now and your video was spot on about the pro's and cons of the unit. I love mine and wish I had of bought it sooner.

[@Getlost55]

Does the display stay on continuously or is there a way to turn it off while driving? TIA

[@donmckinney4091]

@@Getlost55 -No it goes off similar to a screen saver on a pc. It goes black so you won't see the display.

[@Getlost55]

@@donmckinney4091 Great. Thank you for the info!

[@kennymccormick8295]

had have*

[@MrMreef]

Your videos (and presentation style) are awesome -- I've been watching all of them but really overwhelmed with what direction to go for my first dash cam. Viofo, Blackview, Thinkware , Nextbase, etc. Seems like every time I ask someone for advice I learn of a new brand!

[@_mhh]

Thanks for this video, really helped me making my decision buying Dashcams and ultimately choosing A229 over A129

[@PanzerPlatform]

Right on Ari, I rate this review 10/10. Lol You touched on every single important issue, (not that you don't do that in every review). Now that you've gotten intimate with the A229 do you think the current hardware, and heat dissipation capability can support a future firmware update that allows a 60fps option? My other secret wish is identical recording Bitrates front/rear, (one can dream). Lol -Chuck

[@Fee.1]

Imagine what a huge upgrade it would be if apple started using older generation iOS CPU/GPU/ camera setups optimized for dash cam usage. Like Apple TV, it would basically be pure profit and allow them to extend the life of existing manufacturing lines and tooling and continue to use older CPU designs on older and much cheaper silicon nodes far superior than anyone else can offer due to the production scale of apple. Sony could do something similar but to a exponentially less impactful degree, it would still be a big step up though.

[@Fee.1]

I doooooont need a screen on a dashcam, replace the hole thing with a better sensor, CPU, & heat sink pls. At least give us an option without a screen.

[@billkzhou]

Maybe you can check the coming A139 Pro.

[@just4therecord]

@@billkzhou thanks for the info. I've been wondering if there be a upgrade to the A139. Where can I read more about it? Search doesnt come up with anything

[@vagussynder9349]

@@billkzhou - Where can I find information about the a139 pro?

[@b.vo.]

And in the event I do want a screen, I dont want to reach up to the can to try to find stuff on a tiny screen, I'd like a remote screen I could plug in and access whatever I need to, or the normal phone access.

[@vagussynder9349]

Found this on a139 pro from Bill Zhou: fccid.io/2AMBW-A139/Letter/Model-Difference-5113038.pdf

[@livinlikeriley]

Thank you. I installed this exact model today.

[@markbajek2541]

9:45 Princess cam activated.

[@VortexRadar]

lol, that’s my girl! 😍

[@NisSubieTechA]

Excellent review of a229. I like how they switched the rear cable to coaxial. The thinner cable should make installation on certain SUV and hatchbacks easier when fishing the cable through the grommets. I like the usage of usb-c. Does it have the usb 3 transfer speeds when connected to a computer? The previous models were slow to transfer files via wifi or PC connection, so I just ejected the memory card to transfer with my usb3 to sd card adapter.

[@chevyhighrider]

Your videos are some of the only ones on KZbin that seem to be uploaded in full res. Other reviews on this camera look like they were shot on a potato.

[@armoredsaint007]

I installed that exact model on my new M5 last month and works great, some of the annoyances are getting to the settings menu and the app is terrible to use, their CS email takes about a week for a reply. I do like the GPS/docking station mount and power, makes a nice clean install.

[@manuelparente7319]

thanks for the video. can i use an external battery to connect the camera during parking mode or does it work only with the wiring kit? does the parking mode have a maximum time limit and then turn off? (4, 8, 12, 24 hours)

[@Mika-IBO]

Thanks for the in-depth review!

[@VortexRadar]

My pleasure! 👍

[@hardmtnbiker]

I’m beginning my research to purchase a dash cam and learning before I buy. I love your presentation on this cam. I wonder if that battery that you referenced has an accessory with a SIM card for connection to WiFi? I see a few brands talk about notifications with live streaming but obviously that will require WiFi. This would work in my home, parked in my driveway or maybe next to a Starbucks or anywhere WiFi is broadcasting but obviously not parked away from WiFi.

[@jmarc0014]

I just got this installed in my car last week!

[@YossiTurbine13]

Great video.. Saw you have Thinkvue 4K Cloud dashcam - How's the A229 video quality compared to that ? Thanks

[@Voidpiercer]

Good info. Looking forward to setting up my new A229 now!

[@user-rx8qq8sk9ydv1ce5ib]

Hi. Confused which one is the better choice ? A129Pro Duo 4K front and 1080 rear OR A229 2k + 2k ? .. both are same price too!

[@Joey-bq4hu]

Which one has the better night sensor?

[@user-rx8qq8sk9ydv1ce5ib]

@@Joey-bq4hu I don’t Know. But I “think” for 3 channels A139 is the one to go for, and for 2 channels A129Pro Duo 4K is the one to go for.

[@tans]

Excellent review Ari. Have you tried using 'BlackVue CPL Front Filter' on the rearview camera of A229. Doesnt it fit with some help from bluetack :P Thanks

[@sztruhar.daniel]

Would you recommend this or the newer A139 pro ? I see the benefits in the 139 pro however I like the design of the A229 more.. which would you pick? :D

[@BMB902]

Hi, thanks so much for your very informative video. I have decided to purchase the Viofo A229 based on your review. I have used the links provided in your post above, hope that helps some :) One question I had was for the link regarding the hardwire kit. I believe I am looking for the Viofo HK4 Hardwire kit with the Type C USB port, but can't seem to find one on Amazon. Your link takes me to other kits, but I didn't know if they would be compatible. Can you confirm what hardware kit I would need to hardwire the camera. Thanks again!

[@Dalrae]

Hey Vortex, I always wondered, but do you ever get comments on the stuff you have in your car by strangers? The reason I ask is that I have a little bit of stuff installed in mine (A PA system, Dashcam and a Radar Detector) and I even get comments occasionally when going through drive thrus and stuff, especially if the radar detector starts going off haha

[@nothing_burger]

Great content, thank you for this amazing production. You mentioned doing the majority of your testing with a separate back-up battery. Do you by chance have any videos talking about how long a user can expect to get parking mode functionality with just being hard-wired into the battery/fuse box using buffered mode? I understand that a a myriad of different variables can affect the response but as a general ball-park for an average 4-door mid-sized sedan with no other auxiliary devices installed, could the camera stay "powered" for 8-12 hours? I used quotes around the word powered because I understand that the unit would not be actively recording the entire time but must still have power to detect motion/G-shock and be above the minimum voltage threshold before powering off completely (if the battery drains to that cut-off point)

[@VortexRadar]

Like you said it can vary widely between dashcam models, numbers of channels, settings, etc. I’ve got three batteries on my bench that I’m actively testing at the moment. You can see some sample record times here on this site: bit.ly/Powercell8-Giveaway

[@theeoarsman921]

Viofo has camera on sale for $209, do you think there is a better deal out there that you know of for front and rear recording?

[@DR0CK]

Love my a119 v3, 4 yrs now with it and no issues. I was hoping the a229 would provide 60fps, really helps capture plates. I've got my a119 v3 set to 1080 @ 60fps. For this price, and lack of 60fps I'm considering a 2nd a119 v3 for the rear for half the price.

[@dukke888]

would you choose the A129 Plus Duo that has 60fps over the a229 duo?

[@DR0CK]

@@dukke888 if you want to have more frames per second then yes. This helps in capturing plates as they pass. I got a plate from a firetruck passing me at 80kmph while i was stopped. Higher resolution will make text appear smaller.

[@KCML036]

i bought this dashcam recently and i noticed (same in the video), u see circular lights around street lights at night. Ex at 6:14. Is there any way to improve this (ex. getting a 4k dashcam, better quality dashcam) or is that just how dashcams are at night?

[@ctrabalful]

Great review thank you very much! Two questions: Can I connect it to a portable Hotspot router placed inside my campervan to have live view from my house of what's happening in my parked campervan? Can I use a portable power station like EcoFlow Delta2, Jackery or Bluetti instead of a small battery bank (Powercell 8 or Blackvue B-124X)?

[@dlg521]

Great video as usual;. I recently bought and installed the Viofo A229 and everything seems to be working good except the aspect ratio appears to be more like 4:3 instead of 16:9. Any thoughts?

[@VortexRadar]

Did you double check the resolution it’s set to?

[@DeltaWhiskeyBravo13579]

Thanks for the review, it helps to know whether this unit is good or not. This dash cam is now at the top of my list.

[@mattrechtfertig6136]

Is the Viofo camera comparison gonna happen? Asking for a friend.

[@VortexRadar]

Eventually, yes

[@lfsracer79]

7:35 "Look what I can do."

[@MioGT350]

What is the video quality, I.e. are license plates legible during daytime and nighttime recording?

[@cathymoriarty9683]

Hello, I'm wondering if it's advisable to purchase 2 separate Viofo A119 and have one on the windshield/front view and one plugged into a rear area USB-C as a rear camera vs purchasing a A229 front/rear and having to run the cable from front of the car (under/around trim) ? I'd have a mini-SD in each camera. My Honda dealer said that some cables run under trim may void the front/side airbag/curtain warranty. Vortex....your thoughts

[@Eric-jo5kj]

Is this new camera better than the 4k A129 version? I like the updated things on it, larger, the rear view upgrade to 2k but the front camera then lowers the quality from 4k to 2k. Should I go with the 4k version in the front and 1080P in thee back or buy this new version A229?

[@treadless_co]

is there a polarizer available for the rear camera?

[@shaycostigan2091]

Great video I been thinking about getting a dash cam if cost wasn't a factor would you buy the Cobra SC 400- 4k dash cam or Viofo A229 Duo dash cam?

[@VortexRadar]

Given my previous experiences with Viofo and Cobra dashcams, I’d do the A229.

[@shaycostigan2091]

@@VortexRadar thank you for the quick response and advice I appreciate it 😀

[@KAnE3o1]

Hello, when you hit the 'protected footage ' button, I assume it records maybe 10 seconds before you hit the button?

[@lenanaH]

I watched your video before buying the A229 but unfortunately, there's something crucial you didn't mention; viofo a229 locks all auto event videos! I mean what's up with that? Won't they clog the mem card real fast and since they are locked that means the dashcam will have nowhere to store new footage. Why not just record auto events in loop without locking the file, or just locking the gsensor activated files?

[@Hansaman58]

I had a Viofo camera (with the rear) and had it professionally hardwired installed. When it worked it was great. But could never update firmware and camera would turn off and back on randomly. Contacted company who sent new replacement but the same issues persisted. When i sold the car they were mounted in, I removed the memory card and left the cameras. Will opt for something else for my new Tacoma when it arrives.

[@leexgx]

A129 duo was totally unreliable if the rear camera was connected with updated firmware, worked fine 98% of the time (sometimes had to manually press the record button so it started recording instead of beeping) a129(non pro non plus) the single cpu is barely powerful enough to run one cam Lthe a129 plus and pro (internally its a completely different hardware vs a129) doesn't have this problem because it uses dual cpu (one for each cam)

[@ncdogg425]

Yeah what's with the lack of notification for an event during parking mode?

[@KenCheng]

I can't decide between this or the Thinkware Q800 Pro duo... One is newer, but the other is made by a company that I tend to trust more (Thinkware). Do you have any tips?

[@lowercaseletters_]

I enjoy your dashcam reviews and I find them very helpful, as the dashcam market is very hard to find the perfect one. Which Viofo should I get if my budget is $300 max?

[@VortexRadar]

It’s really hard to go wrong with this one. It’s under your budget, especially with the coupon code I added to the description, so you have room to add a memory card and some important accessories and still stay in your budget. 👍

[@lowercaseletters_]

@@VortexRadar just finished watching the video and I find that this dashcam is very nice. I notice that there’s no 60 fps option. Is 60 fps needed?

[@lowercaseletters_]

@@VortexRadar Few more questions. Is 60 FPS needed or nah? And is there a better dashcam from a different brand such as Thinkware for the same price or nah?

[@FriendlyKat]

So I want to have parking mode but I don't want to hardwire anything, but I hear battery packs work fine, especially in summer heat. However, question: My car completely turns off when I remove the key from the ignition. (It's a 2006 VW Jetta TDI if that helps) and so even if I plugged it into a cigarette lighter socket, it wouldn't work, right? Since even that would have no power. Is the only way I can get parking mode if I do hardwire to the battery?

[@gorraksmashskull]

Hey Vortex, can you recommend some good dashcam options that also record all night and are decent at picking up licence plates in low light

[@glen8449]

Great review. I have a 2021. Volvo S60, with auto dim mirror. Where could I get the connector for power from the mirror? I thought you might know. Thanks

[@alangeye6653]

I really appreciate your comprehensive reviews and comparisons, and this one is no exception. However, I’ve begun to see several mirror-replacement dashcams that I hope you will consider reviewing soon. Hopefully there’s one with similar performance to this Viofo.

[@VortexRadar]

Yeah I’ve looked at those, but I’m still struggling to find one I really like based on specs. I wanna replace my mom’s RVM with one, especially giving her a backup camera, but I’m still searching for a really good one.

[@DanielMurphyTurtle]

I’d also be very interested in this as I first wanted a mirror dash am but settled on the viofo 129 pro duo after your reviews stating that all of the dashcams basically used the same components and you personally settled on the A129 pro duo.

[@fraizer2600]

always a pleasure to see your reviews. do you think you can make one about the new Thinkware Q1000 ? compare to 4k dashcam ? i dont understand why they go to qhd :/

[@VortexRadar]

I don’t have plans to review the Q1000, but I’ll be at SEMA next week and I’ll have a chance to talk to Thinkware about all their dashcams including that one. :)

[@blueingreen1717]

Need to know specs.... And does it have PIP? Seems that would eliminate the sync issue...or is it still out of sync with PIP?

[@Ponkotsu67]

I have the A129 Plus duo. The rear camera file size is slightly larger than the front despite being only 1080p versus tye front's 1440p. This is because the front cam can record in H.265 while the rear only does H.264

[@delliott777]

for a budget of $200 to $300, which dash cam would you recommend? There's so many, hard to choose.

[@VortexRadar]

This one is hard to beat.

[@delliott777]

@@VortexRadar thank you 🙏 I’m a new subscriber, very impressed. Very professional, clear and to the point.

[@khoale4755]

Has the A229 pro been released yet? Have they set a date? Until recently, I didn't even know they had a A229 plus.

[@VortexRadar]

It’s available for preorder now, yeah. bit.ly/ViofoA229Pro2CH

[@usafcombatvet218]

Yessss.. my 2 A129 duos would shut down constantly in the Florida heat with one of them not working at all now after 1 year of use. Maybe I’ll try this new one. By the way, i replaced the bad 129 with the top of the line Rexing and it has not shutdown once due to heat so I believe bigger is better for cooling purposes when it comes to dash cams.

[@THELASTWARR1OR]

let us know how it goes. i have the same issues with my a129 duos

[@BTL3.0]

What dashcam would you recommend for a vehicle that only get driven once a week, sometime once every 2 wks? I have a aukey one and the battery always die after a week of non driven. Hope to find one that have longer battery standby so the cam doesn’t reset to default setting because it ran out of juice.

[@Nite-owl]

I'm in the market for a new dashcam and this looks to fit the bill. Such a shame they didn't have the foresight to allow voice prompts if a parking mode detection has taken place. That would seem to be the logical time to be made aware of anything that needs to be looked at, rather than potentially having an incident written over because you hadn't noticed something in time.

[@VortexRadar]

For sure, though they do keep parking events in a separate folder that, I believe, doesn’t start to get automatically overwritten by driving footage once the card gets full. Eventually after a bunch of parking recordings, yes they will get replaced though. My solution is to get a huge card and just keep an eye out for stuff on the car, just in case.

[@nothing_burger]

@@VortexRadar The separate folder for parking events is good to know. In your reply, by "huge card", do you mean *up to* 256 GB? Are you not able to use a larger capacity card as much as someone can afford? (e.g., 500 GB+ card)

[@wtfhumour2750]

@Vortex Radar what's the maximum storage capacity that is compatible with this model?

[@userbosco]

@@wtfhumour2750 Not sure, but I have a 128GB card in mine currently

[@Getlost55]

I got this camera about a week ago and for the price it's probably the best bang for your buck. I prefer the Thinkware U1000 over this model for a few very small reasons. A slightly wider viewing angle and the voice warnings when there is a red light camera. Also warns you that there was a parking incident but that was mentioned in the video. The picture quality is a bit better as well but not a big difference. Overall I am impressed with it. If I had to choose one I would go spend a little extra and get the Thinkware kit that includes the hardwiring and cpl filter. On this one you have to buy seperately. It's just my taste though some will like this one better.

[@VortexRadar]

Great comparison and details. 👍

[@th34st]

it's $200 more, that's not a little extra when the VIOFO costs $238

[@Getlost55]

@@th34st I would say more like $100 dollars at the time of the review. And it also depends on what you're wanting. I got the filter, hardware kit, and memory card as extras since at the time VIOFO did not offer that package. With Thinkware they had a set that was all included. Following up on the review, I would definitely go with the Thinkware U1000. The footage is just that much better. If you have the little extra cash go for it. But I understand a little extra cash is subjective LOL

[@nelsonsilva935]

What is the resolution front and rear in parking mode? My 4k A129 pro duo drops the resolution to 2k front and 1080 rear in parking mode. Just wondering...

[@KahanisGoldenBytes]

Your channel is a treasure trove ! It is a 'Go To' for me. A question : would I be able to view on my mobile what the cameras are seeing, say from inside my home ? Would I have to take out the SD card for this ? Here is where I am coming from - someone breaks into the car, takes out the dashcam and walks away. If I could access this happening on the mobile, I could take it to the police/insurance and with the face too in it if the thief walked past the front or back cameras. However, if it was all in the SD card then I do not have any of this captured anywhere as it would be with the thief....

[@VortexRadar]

If you want that capability, look into a Blackvue dashcam instead.

[@KahanisGoldenBytes]

@@VortexRadar Thanks much ! Will look it up

[@JessieS]

What are the recommended settings for this particular dash cam aside from the default?

[@VANESSASVANGUARDLIFE]

Thanks for this review very informative ❤

[@RishmeSheriff]

Thanks I been waiting for it

[@mackue8913]

Would u rather have viofo A229 or viofo A129 pro duo? And why? Thanks love all your videos! Keep making them!!!👍🏼👍🏼

[@VortexRadar]

I’m not sure yet either. Here’s some discussion we’ve been having on exactly that: dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/a229-duo-vs-a129-pro-duo.47769/#post-581785

[@mackue8913]

@@VortexRadar everyone gonna ask this same question LOL. I’ll wait for the Video when u do comparison video of the 2. Soon I hope! Thanks for the fast reply!!

[@VortexRadar]

@@mackue8913 I do plan on doing a video going over Viofo's entire lineup, but no ETA on that. I also don't currently have an A229 vs. A129 Pro comparison planned either, but I may cover that somewhat in the overall Viofo comparison, assuming I come up with a solid conclusion, heh.

[@chrislewispam]

usb-c will make it easier to deliver the power that dashcams want. Can you please check what voltage is negotiated and how much current? I use the Plugable ‎USBC-VAMETER3

[@CreekHopper]

I just bought this- the website is saying it supports up to a 512gb memory card now. Did it change?

[@RJGamer-zb4lb]

is there plans for a 4k version of the A229?

[@krimke881]

Have they not heard of wireless rear cameras?? Kind of still in the stone ages not having this as a default.

[@CaptainCJ97]

Doesn't sound like a good idea when you need the back up clips cause you lose connection to it

[@NeoteriX]

Is the lack of 60fps a big omission for this kind of dashcam? It seems surprising that they would offer it on a lower line 2k model like the A119 v3 and mini.

[@VortexRadar]

Not really. It’d be nice, but this is already pushing 2x af much data. IIRC, the A119 Mini’s 60 fps is the same bitrate as 30 (more or less) which means 2x the frames but 1/2 the detail per frame.

[@benefactionhindrance]

@vortex radar 5:21 What are you talking about? VIOFO A129 and A129 plus can very much buffer record!

[@VortexRadar]

The 1080p A129 and 4K A129 Pro can. The 1440p A129 Plus can’t.

[@benefactionhindrance]

@@VortexRadar I have the A129 plus v1.5 and it very much can buffer record 😊. Auto event detection.

[@VortexRadar]

Right. From what I understand they tried it with older firmware, but it led to instability issues and so they’ve since removed to feature to ensure reliability. dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/a129-plus-duo-buffered-parking-mode.45397/

[@Silver-wl2qz]

7:08 what Safeway is that? Like what town is it in

[@peter2385]

I wonder if a Pro Duo version might be on the cards?. I have the 4K A129 Duo and find the resolution excellent although the new rear camera and the larger front one are very tempting.

[@VortexRadar]

There are rumors of a Starvis 2-based A229 Pro.

[@GirlSmotheredToDeath]

​@@VortexRadar will the A229 pro be compatible with A229 parts?

[@weasel7396]

Does not having an option for 60fps make a difference? I always shot motion at 60 but interviews at 30fps. I never had a dash cam before.

[@michaelfrymus]

VIOFO A229 Duo, vs A229 Plus??? Im confused. whats the difference between the Duo & Plus? I see that Plus has Starvis 2, but its way cheaper than the duo. Makes no sense

[@jordanpysz5319]

Greetings, I’m curious if you would recommend this Viofo a229 or the Vantrue E2

[@VortexRadar]

A229

[@danhillier534]

Just installed this in my pick up, is there a setting too cancel or change how long the screen saver shuts off the screen on the app? I didn't see one?? Thanks

[@jeffg2866]

Thanks for the dashcam review

[@theclutch19]

Thanks to you, I've been running two A129 Pro Duo's... But here's a question that I don't think has ever popped up yet. One of the settings in these Viofo's is how long each recording will be. If I recall correctly, you have 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 min recording interval choices. So what happens if you choose 10 min and you get into an accident and the power cuts out? I am thinking that since it's in the middle of a 10 min recording, it WOULD NOT record onto the SD card. I know this would be easy enough for me to test (pull the power off while recording and see where it stops)... but you tell me what your experience has been!

[@VortexRadar]

So that’s similar to when you turn off your car. The dashcam can save a little power internally so it can shut down properly and save the video clip. You should be alright. In general I prefer 1 min clips for faster file transfers, but that’s separate from accidents. Knock on wood… :)

[@DanielMurphyTurtle]

I’d think the moment the unit discovers that there is no power it would just write what it had and close the file well before the super capacitor gives out. I think this would be easily testable by yanking the power.

[@matty.j_1997]

Hey there, so when are you reviewing the Viofo A139 Pro with its Starvis 2 sensor? 👀😅

[@VortexRadar]

Taking me way longer than expected, but I’m working on that now :)

[@matty.j_1997]

@@VortexRadar Alright, looking forward to it 😎

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Will the A229 Pro Duo have 4K front recording?

[@Stallzyx]

9:45 aww cute :) - I didn't know about this particular cam and pretty interesting having 2k rear for sure. I was looking at the A139 Pro but wanted good quality rear so bought 2x the front unit A139 Pro. Maybe would've been a better option to do A139 Pro front + A229 Duo and then I got two lots of front footage in case one camera has an issue and a 2k rear still. That may be even more tricky though but at least both the sd cards I guess would be in one place

[@HD2You]

I hope you will review in this winter also the game changer named A229 Pro. ;)

[@subashbhandari2785]

Does this drain battery in my care really fast?

[@liberty8990]

How sensitive are these to overheating in the summertime?

[@AlwinCrasto]

Is there any hidden way to enable h.265 or HEVC recording in this dash cam? I tried the trick of holding the mic button for a few seconds which works on some other Viofo models and on my A229 it seems to enable/disable an icon on the left of the screen (not a memory card icon but a car icon), however it doesn't enable h.265. I am not sure what exactly that does actually.

[@VortexRadar]

Yeah usually you stop recording first then press and hold the mic button. Did you stop it? You can always post on the dashcam forums if you need more help with it.

[@AlwinCrasto]

@@VortexRadar Yes I did stop recording before trying that but it didn't turn on HEVC. I read the manual and apparently that car icon is for parking mode and not h.265. I posted the same comment on RetroCarGuy530's review video and he seems to have some deeper insight into this. He said h.265 recording is not available and will never be available in the A229 Duo, the A119 Mini and A119 Mini 2 because of patent infringment risks for Viofo. Sucks but it is what it is I guess.

[@VIOFO-CS]

So sorry that A229 cannot support H.265. Actually, the video quality of H.265 is not much better than H.264 according to our engineers' test.

[@AlwinCrasto]

@@VIOFO-CS Thanks for the official confirmation. I wasn't looking for better quality but smaller file sizes for the same quality. I have parking mode enabled with auto event detection on my A229 Duo and the protected videos pile up quite a bit with my frequented parking spots. So I have to manually mass delete these read-only videos every 3 days. Smaller file sizes may have helped a tiny bit but it's not a big deal. On a related note, would it be possible for you to add an update wherein we could get a voice notification on starting the car engine (when the dash cam switches from parking mode to normal made) if an impact had happened more than 2 minutes earlier while the dash cam was in parking mode? I think even Vortex mentioned it in his video. This would be really helpful to make us check the videos immediately for when the impact happened. Furthermore it would be nice if the mobile app displayed the list of parking video recordings with some symbol on each video that indicated if the "auto event" which triggered those recordings was motion or an impact.

[@VIOFO-CS]

@@AlwinCrasto Thanks for your suggestion. We will take it into consideration. But it is very difficult and needs time to realize, hope you will understand. Besides, if you do not want so many videos locked in AED mode when your car is parked, there is a special firmware you can update. Then all the videos will not be parked unless the G-Sensor is triggered. Please open a ticket to get it as we cannot add links here successfully.

[@AQUILA.369]

Thanks from India 🇮🇳🙏

[@مقاطعمتنوعة-ت4ن]

12:40 I don't think a dash cam can pick up/notice memory card failure, a lot of times it will show you it is recording while it is not.

[@martinklaus2203]

I have a Jeep Gladiator with a roof top tent rack. Any suggestions on a front and rear camera setup where the rear camera is water proof so I can mount it on my rack under the tent? I would also like to hardwire them.

[@A_guan]

Any clue if there's a 4k version coming soon? My a129 pro duo did fine for a year but then it had trouble starting. That alone makes me want to consider thinkware next time.

[@VortexRadar]

Viofo just announced their new A139 Pro which uses a Starvis 2 sensor. geni.us/ViofoA139Pro3CH I’m guessing a proposed A229 Pro would use that same new 4K sensor.

[@A_guan]

@@VortexRadar when will you have a chance to review it? I'd love to see how this stacks up with U1000 and maybe even the A229

[@justinjones8826]

Is the video quality better than the A129 Pro?

[@ILruffian]

Very well done. Spot on. Your understanding of dashcams is far above that of Linus Tech Tips (and his 15 mil subs and all).

[@pssita]

Can this plug into a cigarette lighter? My current dash am does. My current one also has got an internal battery for when the car is not on for parking mode. Does this only function when the car is off by using the hardwire kit?

[@VortexRadar]

Virtually every standard dashcam can plug into the cig lighter, though hardwiring is preferred for a cleaner setup. Internal batteries are nifty, but a safety hazard in high heat. You’ll want an external power source to power the dashcam through the hardwire cable.

[@lowercaseletters_]

13:56 An App to configure all the settings from the phone is so cool! You can avoid the hassle of using a few buttons to change the settings on the dashcam.

[@VortexRadar]

lol

[@erised-san]

Great video helped me a lot thank you

[@humanbeing496]

great video, thank you very much!

[@asoloda]

Are you promoting or affiliated with viofo. I like the way you you review the dash cams but you seem to me you give more credit to viofo.

[@VortexRadar]

Nope, not sponsored or affiliated with any brand, including Viofo.

[@asoloda]

@@VortexRadar thank you so much for clarifying that. Good job.

[@VortexRadar]

Thanks for asking! It’s important for people to know and it’s important for reviewers to be transparent IMO. :)

[@SFLightfoot]

If I have a dedicated 100 percent alway on battery source from my cigarette lighter do I still need the to buy the extra wiring cables or am I good to go?. Also can I run this Camera without the rear camera.

[@mydogeatspuke]

You still need to get the hard wire kit as the always on 12v socket will just keep running until your car battery dies, whereas the hard wire kit has low voltage cut off, so when it detects your car battery is getting low it will just turn off. You can alternatively buy a power bank like those used to charge mobile devices and use this for short term parking monitoring, for example when in a public car park, but you do need to switch the cables each time. The hard wire kit is just set and forget with everything built in.

[@SFLightfoot]

Can we also do playback and delete from the camera screen?

[@chadillac3006]

Welp I have a major complaint about the 129 max you can record for is 24hrs doesn't help when you have a day off don't start your vehicle as it will stop recording my truck just got broken into and bc I didn't drive it the day before as I had the day off it didn't capture it getting broken into really ticks me off as i have it's own battery it's hooked up to that could easily last days

[@Joey-bq4hu]

Lightning Deal on Amazon right now (Dec 6, 2022) for $199.99

[@LeeGee-ve9gl]

Your reviews are very comprehensive and informative. Thank you. You mentioned not to read the Amazon reviews, however, if you go to the lowest ratings , you will find that a segment of the reviews focus on longevity. The A129 plus model has quite a few owners indicating that they had serious issues with missing rear end parking recordings, or lack of capture of footage when they checked their recordings. Viofo has admitted to having a bad batch that was released. I realize that can happen w any mfr, but can you reference or send a link which has long term use on some of these models? Failure rate is important if you buy any product... any comments or suggestions are appreciated on the topic.

[@VortexRadar]

Yeah I’ve heard that too and there do seem to be some reliability concerns. The consensus with Viofo parking recording is to use the low bitrate option instead of auto event detection to ensure you get the clips you need. It’s the workaround for otherwise imperfect parking mode recording.

[@LeeGee-ve9gl]

@@VortexRadar Thanks for the quick response, 1)do you recommend additional coverage when purchasing? Can you recommend any longer term reliability testing sites? Have you had any issues in your travels and how did you handle them...Thanks Vortex

[@VortexRadar]

You can peruse this forum for more info: dashcamtalk.com/forum/

[@shadowjohn2266]

but is it the best duel dashcam for that much money

[@lightyearsaway797]

Do you know if you can view with MacBook in the current setting or do you need to adjust the settings first??

[@VortexRadar]

I’m not sure what you’re asking. You can use your MacBook to play videos (I even showed a screenshot of browsing footage on my Mac), but changing settings if desired is done through the dashcam or phone app. You don’t change settings with your computer.