VIOFO A139 Pro vs. Nextbase 622GW 4K UHD Dash Cam Review

Considered as the UK brand’s top-of-the-line dash cam, the Nextbase 622GW enables users to capture 4K footage at 30 frames per second using an 8MP Omnivision OS08A10 CMOS sensor. If you don't require the highest resolution, you can choose between 1440P at 60fps or 1080p at 120fps from a 140-degree field of view. The 622GW also includes a removable polarizing filter, allowing drivers to rotate a bezel in front of the lens for less glare on the footage.

Moving to the A139 Pro, this flagship 4K UHD dash cam also includes a circular polarizing filter that removes glares and reflection as the Nextbase 622GW. However, we believe that the A139 Pro produces clearer, crisper, and more vibrant footage compared to the 622GW.

While both dash cams capture 4K and use a CPL filter, the A139 Pro is the industry’s first dash cam to use the Sony STARVIS 2 image technology in its 8MP IMX678 front cam that captures 140-degrees field of view. Compared to the 622GW’s Omnivision sensors, the Sony STARVIS 2 technology of the A139 Pro is generally superior, not to mention the Super Night Vision and High Dynamic Range from the VIOFO.

The form factors of the A139 Pro and the 622GW are highly different. Just like premium dash cams like BlackVue, the A139 Pro is built without a screen allowing for a more seamless and discrete installation. Its low profile allows it to blend in much more easily to your windshield, so it’s less distracting for the drivers, and less attention-seeking to thieves. Additionally, the front 4K camera of the A139 Pro is designed with a lens that can be rotated up to 300° for better positioning in any car model.

On the other hand, the Nextbase 622GW shares a similar build as its sister cameras - the Nextbase 522GW and 422GW. Through its three-inch full-color touchscreen display, users can play videos and adjust settings straight on the dash cam unit.

The Nextbase 622GW, like all other Nextbase cameras, is sold as a single front unit-only dash cam. You must purchase the module cameras separately if you want a secondary camera for in-cabin or the traffic behind.

If you’re going to add secondary cameras for the 622GW, the maximum field of view for both are only 140-degrees. The interior camera for Nextbase doesn’t have IR lights either, so your footage is going to be quite dark at night, and not very usable. What’s more limiting is that you’re left to choose between adding a rear or in-cabin camera as Nextbase doesn’t support three channel systems.

Meanwhile, the A139 Pro is made available in single, dual, and triple channel configurations, with the rear and interior cameras equipped with IR capabilities to ensure maximum visibility even in low-light, recording up to 170-degrees.

While video resolution could be your top priority, you can only maximize the security features of your 4K dash cam when you activate its parking mode feature - and both the Nextbase 622GW and VIOFO A139 Pro is equipped with this.

For the Nextbase 622GW, the Parking Mode includes Motion and Impact Detection that records any bump or physical movement on the vehicle while it is parked. It can also enter Super Slow Motion mode when you record video in 1080p at 120 frames per second.

However, most premium dash cams offer buffered parking mode that records before the event, during the event and after the event. Unfortunately, the 622GW records after the event only.

Having more recording modes than the 622GW, the VIOFO A139 Pro offers Auto Event Detection, Time Lapse, and Low Bitrate recordings. To activate these features, the A139 Pro must be connected through your car’s fuse box through a separate hardwiring kit, particularly VIOFO’s Type-C HK3-C and HK4 ACC hardwirings.

Going back to Nextbase, we discovered that the 622GW’s hardwire kit has an 11.V voltage cut-off setting. The safe voltage cut-off range is 12.0V to 12.2V, and setting it to 11.V is extremely hazardous to your car battery, causing it to drain, potentially require a jumpstart, and shorten its lifespan.

If you want to extend your parking modes, a battery pack, such as the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8, can also be used both for the Nextbase 622GW and VIOFO A139 Pro.

What people find exciting about the Nextbase 622GW is its ability to connect the dash cam to Amazon Alexa voice control. Customers also get a year's free trial of the EmergencySOS feature, which allows them to use What3Words, but after that period expires, they must pay a subscription fee.

The VIOFO A139 Pro does not include Alexa, but it does include voice notification features that alert you to events in parking mode and the camera's current status. Straightforward, but fully functional. This feature, which is available in multiple languages, allows you to stay focused on the road while tracking your driving and the status of your A139 Pro.

While some dash cams only have 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, both the Nextbase 622GW and the A139 Pro have dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, which allows faster data transfer and ensures smooth video streaming, downloading, and sharing through the dedicated smartphone apps.

Since the A139 Pro and Nextbase 622GW are both flagship dash cams, their respective manufacturers have designed them to be compatible with a smartphone app for easier accessibility to footage.

The A139 Pro has the VIOFO app, while the 622GW has the MyNextbase Connect - both downloadable in iOS and Android devices. While the VIOFO app is simply intuitive, the MyNextbase Connect app has been receiving negative feedback from users of crashing and being non-functional.

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Because they have different form factors, the installation and mount also differs for the A139 Pro and 622GW. The magnetic flap next to the Nextbase’s camera lens allows quick attachment of its Click&Go Pro GPS mount. This also allows access to the 622GW's removable internal battery.

Yes. The battery, along with the connectivity issues, is another deal breaker for the 622GW. Even though it is a premium and expensive dash cam, it still uses a traditional lithium ion battery, which is responsible for overheating and battery lifespan issues. We think Nextbase knows this well, evident with their warning signs indicated in the 622GW manual.