Viofo A229 Pro 2CH

Should you buy the Viofo A229 Pro 2CH?

The Viofo A229 Pro 2CH is the enthusiast's front-and-rear dash cam: a 4K Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 up front, a 2K IMX675 behind, HDR on both, and the fastest WiFi in the category for pulling clips. At $279.99 it asks more than the 70mai A810 and Viofo's own A229 Plus, and it earns that with image quality rather than gadgets. If you want a screen or a lower price, look at the 70mai. If you want the best footage under $300, this is it.

Where it earns its score

• Quality tops the breakdown at 90. The IMX678 front sensor plus HDR on both channels gives it the cleanest night footage of any dual-channel camera we rank under $500.
• 2K rear, not 1080p. The IMX675 rear sensor keeps license plates readable behind you, where most competitors cut corners.
• 5 GHz WiFi. Transferring 4K clips to your phone is measured in seconds rather than minutes.
• Buffered 24-hour parking mode. With a hardwire kit, it captures the moments leading up to an event, not just the aftermath.

What to know first

• Warranty is the weakest ViperScore factor. It scores 55, matching every other camera in this category.
• Value is the trade-off. At 75, the lowest of its six scores, you are paying a premium for sensor quality.
• Hardwire kit is extra. Parking mode does not work without it.
• Check the listing. Our link goes to the 2CH front-plus-rear kit; the single-channel trim is a different SKU.

Questions buyers ask