VIOFO A229 Plus 2K QHD vs. 70Mai A810 4K UHD

For drivers looking for a dash cam with Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, two of the top brands that come to mind are VIOFO and 70mai. While they are both less expensive compared to brands like Thinkware, their Sony STARVIS 2 models are well-loved by the community due to the high image quality, and affordable price tag.

In this article, we will dive deep into the features and specifications of VIOFO’s flagship 2K dash cam, the VIOFO A229 Plus and compare it with 70mai’s overall flagship, the A810. Let’s find out which gives better value for money.

Both the VIOFO A229 Plus and the 70Mai A810 showcase sleek designs that seamlessly blend into your vehicle's interior. With the same form factor as the previous wedge-shaped A229, the all-new A229 Plus still has a 2.4-inch HD screen where you can watch footage and configure settings. Meanwhile, the 70Mai is larger with a 3-inch screen and a wider body overall.

While the A229 Plus looks sleek and premium with its black matte finish, the A810 is silver on the left and right sides, sticking out a bit more. On the left side of the camera is a slot for inserting the back camera and the USB-C power supply, as well as the maximum 256GB Micro-SD card. For the A229 Plus, the Micro SD card can support up to 512 GB.

Moreover, even though it has a USB-C power port on the camera, the A810 cannot be powered by USB-C ports. It only works with USB A cables, so keep that in mind if your car only has USB C connections.

Both the VIOFO A229 Plus and the 70Mai A810 showcase sleek designs that seamlessly blend into your vehicle's interior. With the same form factor as the previous wedge-shaped A229, the all-new A229 Plus still has a 2.4-inch HD screen where you can watch footage and configure settings. Meanwhile, the 70Mai is larger with a 3-inch screen and a wider body overall.

While the A229 Plus looks sleek and premium with its black matte finish, the A810 is silver on the left and right sides, sticking out a bit more. On the left side of the camera is a slot for inserting the back camera and the USB-C power supply, as well as the maximum 256GB Micro-SD card. For the A229 Plus, the Micro SD card can support up to 512 GB.

Moreover, even though it has a USB-C power port on the camera, the A810 cannot be powered by USB-C ports. It only works with USB A cables, so keep that in mind if your car only has USB C connections.

The VIOFO A229 Plus and 70Mai A810 are sporting the Sony Starvis 2 image sensor, although the A229 Plus is only 2K QHD and the A810 records in 4K UHD.

While other 2K QHD dash cams only have Sony STARVIS 2.0 on the front, the A229 Plus is now sporting the same image sensor for its rear camera. Compared to its predecessor, we noticed that the A229 Plus records clearer and more colourful footage, day and night, thanks to its 5MP IMX 675 sensor, which has a 2.5x higher dynamic range and light sensitivity. For dual channel, the A229 Plus records up to 2K QHD at 60 fps at 140-degree field of view for the front, and 2K QHD @ 30 fps at 160-degree field of view for the rear.

On the other hand, the 70mai A810 is equipped with an 8MP Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 capturing views up to 150 degrees. However, The A810 rear camera only captures full HD with its 1st generation 2MP Sony STARVIS at a narrower 130-degree field of view.

Both cameras provide stellar night-vision recording with this all-new image sensor, in part due to their High Dynamic Range, or HDR. HDR allows these units to notice further differences when it comes to very bright and dark details. Both cameras are capable of performing 60FPS recording, both requiring HDR to be disabled for this. The base resolution for the A229 Plus is 30FPS, compared to the 25FPS of the 70Mai A810. While 5 frames per second may seem like a small difference, 30FPS is the standard for video recordings, and going beneath that can result in choppier videos.

We think that while both cameras are competitive and sporting top-tier image sensors, the A229 Plus is superior in video resolution since it also carries the IMX675 sensor for its rear, a Sony STARVIS 2 as well. Check out our sample footage here. 

If you wish to reduce glares on your footage, especially during daytime, it’s recommended to add a VIOFO CPL filter too, along with the BlackboxMyCar Aqua Shield to protect your videos from rain, dust, and other environmental elements.

In parking mode, both cameras offer advanced features like auto event detection and time-lapse, but the VIOFO A229 Plus takes the lead with its 15-second buffered parking mode, compared to the 70Mai A810's AI Parking Mode’s 2-second buffer. This extra time can be crucial in capturing events leading up to an incident, giving you a full picture of what happened before the incident, a big point for VIOFO.

Both dash cams offer separate hardwire kits for a continuous power supply, but the VIOFO A229 Plus provides more flexibility with selectable cutoff voltage options. This is ideal to fine-tune the dash cam, and set a proper cut-off that fits best with your vehicle, the 70Mai on the other hand has a voltage cut-off pre-set to 11.4V. This is too low in our opinion, as we recommend a cut-off of 12V, and runs the risk of draining and damaging different car batteries, depending on the vehicle.

Additionally, the A229 Plus model employs a supercapacitor. This durable power source performs better in extreme temperatures compared to the lithium-ion battery used in the 70mai A810, which is prone to overheating. We firmly recommend supercapacitors in dash cams, especially for managing heat. If you’re curious for more info, check out our Supercapacitor vs Lithium Ion article here.

If you want to hardwire the VIOFO A229 Plus for parking mode, keep in mind that it requires the VIOFO HK4 ACC hardwiring kit or a dash cam battery pack, which you will need to buy separately.

The VIOFO A229 Plus introduces various advanced features that set it apart. Including 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, another advantage, offering 4x faster data transfer and smoother app interaction compared to the 70Mai A810's 2.4GHz-only Wi-Fi.

However, it’s worth noting that 70Mai has ADAS features, including Pedestrian/Bikers Alert, Lane Departure Alert, Front Collision Alert and Moving Traffic Alert, which is not present in the A229 Plus, a point for 70mai.

Still, the A229 Plus boasts more features for driver convenience. Now with Voice Controls, the VIOFO A229 Plus is easier to use than ever for hands-free dash cam controls. This allows you to utilize simple voice commands to start/stop recording, snap photographs, and turn on/off WiFi while remaining focused on the road. It also uses Voice Notifications to keep you up to date on storage, features, recording modes, and video protection status.

The A229 Plus also has a new integrated Quad-Mode GPS module that provides more detailed location and speed data. By combining four global satellite positioning systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou), the VIOFO A229 Plus’ Quad-Mode GPS uses the geometric distribution of several satellites to boost 3D positioning precision for a more accurate driving trajectory, whether in urban regions between towering buildings or in mountainous places with difficult terrain. Learn more about the Quad GPS feature of the A229 here.

While both cameras offer a range of advanced features, the VIOFO A229 Pro's additional functionalities and enhanced specifications come at a slightly higher price point, priced at $229.99, compared to the 70Mai A810’s $179.98 price.

The VIOFO A229 Plus and the 70mai A810 comparison review is tough because both are top cameras, a tight competition. However, in terms of overall performance and reliability, it’s VIOFO we trust more. While 70mai captures 4K and has ADAS capabilities, we think that the A229 Plus’ video resolution is also superior, just enough with how drivers need to capture license plates and road signs – front and rear. In terms of features, the A229 Plus’ dual-band Wifi, Quad-GPS, Voice Controls, and most importantly, supercapacitor advantage show which the real pro in this review is.