70mai A810: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-17
Summary
A front-and-rear 4K dash cam built around the Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensor, rated for 3840x2160P front recording, built-in GPS and ADAS, with a 3.0 inch non-touch screen. Its main case rests on front 4K video quality, but the rear camera is only 1080p, the front drops to 25 FPS in dual-channel 4K mode, the unit uses a 500 mAh battery instead of a capacitor, and parking mode is non-buffered and needs a hardwire kit.
Common problems and fixes
- 25 FPS in 4K dual-channel mode — the front records at 25 FPS when the rear is on, which one owner found too jittery and a reason to stop using the cam; 60 FPS is only available at lower resolution. [2][6][8]
- 500 mAh battery instead of a capacitor — DashCamTalk and forum owners flag it as a heat-longevity risk for a windshield mount; a top forum thread is about removing the cam in hot weather. [2][7]
- Non-buffered parking mode needs the UP03 kit — parking records only after an event, with no pre-event buffer, and only with the separate UP03 hardwire kit. [1][2][6]
- Slow Wi-Fi transfer and SD card formatting issues — Reddit owners list these as the top cons. [8]
- Low-light plate capture at the curb — one owner found capturing parked cars’ plates literally impossible with HDR doing little in those conditions. [3]
Parts and consumables
- microSD card (32-256 GB) — not included; the most common out-of-pocket. [2][6]
- UP03 hardwire kit — required for parking mode. [1][2][6]
- UP04 4G kit — optional, adds remote/4G parking alerts in select countries. [1][3]
- RC14 Starvis 2 rear camera — an upgrade over the included 1080p rear camera. [3][9]
- CPL filter — recommended by the DashCamTalk community (a 46-reply thread). [2]
Yearly running cost
Not enough data to state a typical yearly figure; no subscription or filter is reported, and the 32-256 GB microSD card is a one-off purchase plus the optional UP03 hardwire kit if parking mode is used.
When it is a good buy
At around $150-180 the A810 is a reasonable front-4K value if front day detail is the priority and you accept the average 1080p rear, the 500 mAh battery, 25 FPS in 4K dual-channel mode and non-buffered parking. PCWorld reviewed it at $179 (Oct 2023); Digital Camera World listed the front+rear kit at $199.99 and the front-only unit at $159.99 (May 2024). Above roughly $190-200 the trade-offs weaken versus alternatives with a capacitor, 60 FPS 4K or a stronger rear camera. [4][6][2]
When the rear camera matters as much as the front, the Cobra SC 400D is the better choice; the A810 is the better pick when budget front 4K day-video is the priority. [4]