70mai A500S: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

A cheap front dash cam that records 1944P through a Sony IMX335 sensor, with built-in GPS and ADAS voice alerts and an optional 1080p rear camera. The recurring trouble is power-related: owners report automatic restarts, SD-card errors and firmware-mismatch shutdowns, and parking mode needs a hardwire kit and only starts after an impact with no pre-event buffer. Night and rear video are weak, and the unit runs hot in hot climates.

Common problems and fixes

Automatic restarts and SD-card errors — owners report restarts and “SD card error” messages; the fix is to swap the power cable/charger and reformat or replace the microSD card (16-128 GB). It is usually a card or cable issue, not the unit. [1][2][8]
Firmware-mismatch shutdowns after updates — a manual firmware update can leave the cam showing “firmware mismatch”; re-copying the firmware file to the card and rebooting clears it. Not covered-wear, just an update step. [7][9]
ADAS false positives and calibration failures — lane-departure and forward-collision alerts fire wrongly when the mount angle is off; mounting the unit level removes most false alerts. [1][2]
GPS logs missing and clock drift — clips lose GPS speed/coordinates and the clock drifts, needing a time re-sync; keeping solid power and re-registering via the phone app fixes most cases. [2]
Parking mode is hard to trigger — 24H parking recording starts only after an impact, about 5 seconds later, with no pre-event buffer, and requires the UP03 hardwire kit. [1][9]
Weak night and rear video — front plates read at a standstill but blur while moving at night, and the RC06 rear camera is mediocre after dark. [4][5]
Overheating in hot climates — the 500 mAh lithium-polymer battery and plastic lens run hot when parked in sun; owners in hot climates unplug or shield the unit. [3][11][12]

Parts and consumables

microSD card (16-128 GB) — sold separately; owners replace a worn card every few years. [1][2]
UP03 hardwire kit — required for parking surveillance; listed on the US accessories page. [9]
RC06 rear camera (1080p, 130°) — optional dual-channel rear camera; the weak point after dark. [1][9]
RC12 (1080p HDR) rear camera — an HDR upgrade over the RC06, listed as compatible. [9]
FC02 interior camera — mutually exclusive front-rear alternative for cabin view. [1]

Yearly running cost

Not enough data to compute a yearly figure; no subscription or filter is reported, and the 16-128 GB microSD card is a one-off purchase.

When it is a good buy

At the 70mai official-store price of $69.99 (Seattle Times, 2023) the A500S is a fair budget front cam for daytime evidence, given the weak rear/night video and basic park mode. Around $90 it is only fair, and above $90 the case rests on price, so treat it as a budget front cam and not a night-parking or cabin-coverage pick. Below $70 it undercuts alternatives in the Viofo A119 v3 class, where the 1944P front detail and GPS logging are the main selling points. [6][4][1][2]