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VIOFO A229 Plus

By VIOFO · Dash Cams · Audio & Electronics

  • 2K (2560x1440) @ 60fps front and rear
  • Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 sensor
  • 5GHz Wi-Fi
  • Built-in GPS (quad-mode)
  • Voice control

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Summary

A 2K dual dash cam sold as front-only, front-plus-rear and front-plus-interior-plus-rear kits, built on two Sony STARVIS 2 sensors. The front records 2K at 60fps and the rear at 2K 30fps, but parking mode needs an optional hardwire kit and the rear cable is fiddly to route.

Strengths

  • Dual STARVIS 2 sensors give the rear camera the same 2K resolution as the front, where many rivals use 1080p.
  • PCWorld gave the three-camera kit its Editors’ Choice, praising day and night detail and minimal headlight flare.
  • 5GHz Wi-Fi makes footage downloads quick, and voice control works in four languages.
  • The supercapacitor design avoids the lithium-battery heat degradation common to dash cams.
  • Owners report reliable operation across several vehicles and in summer heat.

Weaknesses

  • Wi-Fi and app connectivity is the most common owner complaint.
  • The rear camera cable and its non-right-angle Type-C connector make installation awkward.
  • Parking mode is not plug-and-play; it needs the optional HK4 hardwire kit.
  • High settings write about 400MB a minute, so budget for at least a 256GB card.
  • The rear camera records at 30fps, not the 60fps some listings imply.
  • Some owners report early failures, blank screens or overheating in direct sun.

Verified specifications

Front cameraSony STARVIS 2 IMX675, 1/2.8-inch, 5MP, 2K (2560 x 1440) at 60fps, F1.8, 140-degree field of view.
Rear cameraSony STARVIS 2 IMX675, 2K (2560 x 1440) at 30fps, F1.9, 160-degree field of view.
Interior camera (three-camera kit)Sony STARVIS IMX307, 2MP, 1080p, 150-degree field of view, four infrared LEDs that switch on in low light.
HDRfront and rear channels.
Wi-Fidual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
GPSbuilt-in quad-mode module (GPS, BEIDOU, GALILEO, GLONASS).
Voice controlEnglish, Chinese, Russian and Japanese, with spoken setting changes and card-error alerts.
Display2.4-inch LCD.
Powersupercapacitor (no lithium battery), 5V/2A input; about 3-5 seconds of run time after power loss to close open files.
StoragemicroSD up to 512GB, card not included.
Transfer2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi plus USB 2.0 Type-C to a phone at up to 20MB/s.
Recordingloop files of 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 minutes; G-sensor off, low, middle or high.
Parking modesauto event detection, low-bitrate recording and time lapse; requires the HK4 hardwire kit.
Dimensions2.3 x 3.9 x 1.8 in (front unit).
Power drawabout 6 W in one bench test, against about 8 W for the A229 Pro.
Full research notes and sources

Video and sensors

The A229 Plus pairs two Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 sensors rated for a claimed 2.5x wider dynamic range than the earlier generation: 2K 60fps at F1.8 and 140 degrees up front, 2K 30fps at F1.9 and 160 degrees at the rear. HDR runs on both channels, and the 2.4-inch LCD sits above four buttons. PCWorld’s review of the three-camera kit found the front did well with colour and detail day and night, with minimal headlight flare and little fish-eye, and rear night captures very detailed. The interior 1080p channel is good but less detailed than the 1440p channels.

Two things the listing does not spell out. VIOFO’s own spec table lists the rear at 30fps, not the 60fps some retailer copy claims. And the sticky mounts allow no horizontal adjustment once placed, so aim before you stick.

Install and cabling

Plan the cable run. The rear cable uses a Type-C connector that is not right-angle at the camera end, which PCWorld, TechAdvisor and Digital Camera World all flagged as harder to route, and the interior and rear cameras look similar and are unlabeled, so one reviewer initially fitted the interior camera in the rear position. The interior camera connects to the main body through a 3.5mm TRS port. Owners rank the rear-camera cable run as the second most common complaint, behind Wi-Fi and app reliability.

Parking mode and running costs

Parking mode is not included out of the box: auto event detection, low-bitrate recording and time lapse each need the optional HK4 hardwire kit (or VIOFO’s BP100 battery pack). The buffer keeps 15 seconds before and 30 seconds after detected movement. Budget storage too: TechAdvisor measured roughly 400MB of write a minute at the highest settings (about 150MB front, 150MB rear and 100MB for the interior at 30fps), around 24GB an hour, and recommends at least a 256GB card. Use a high-endurance card and keep the firmware updated. A bench test on DashCamTalk measured the Plus drawing about 6 W, against about 8 W for the A229 Pro.

Which model this is

This page covers the A229 Plus 2CH, the front-and-rear kit at the entry tier of VIOFO’s A229 family. The A229 Pro adds a 4K front camera and the A229 Ultra goes to dual 4K; both are different products. The US listing for this variant is ASIN B0DHJ9H2PL.

Is it worth it?

VIOFO’s own store lists the 2CH at $229.99, the Pro 2CH at $349.99 and the Ultra 2CH at $409.99. PCWorld and TechAdvisor both reviewed the three-camera kit at $279.99 in late 2023 and early 2024. Under $200 this is a strong value for a dual STARVIS 2 setup; from $230 up, the Pro’s 4K front becomes the better VIOFO step. The differentiators are the two STARVIS 2 sensors and the 5GHz Wi-Fi, not the 2K resolution alone. If you do not need the interior camera, the 2CH is the version to buy.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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