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Dashcams · Car cameras · Smart driving tech
One crash without video can cost more than any camera on this page. We compared the leading models on the things that decide a claim: readable plates at night, rear coverage and parking protection.
Best video quality
VIOFO's flagship: 4K at 60 fps, Wi-Fi 6 and SSD storage for people who want the sharpest evidence.
Best overall
4K front and 2K rear with Sony STARVIS 2 sensors on both: the sweet spot of price and picture.
Best budget 4K
A tiny front-only camera with a true 4K STARVIS 2 sensor. The cheap way into sharp footage.
| Feature | VIOFO A329S | VIOFO A229 Pro | Vantrue E1 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front video | 4K at 60 fps front-only; 4K at 30 fps multi-camera | 4K at 30 fps, 140° view | 4K at 30 fps |
| Rear camera | 2K, Sony STARVIS 2 | 2K (1440p), 160° view | None (front only) |
| Cabin camera | Optional 2K (3-channel version) | Optional 1080p infrared (3-channel version) | None |
| Front sensor | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 |
| Storage | microSD plus external SSD up to 4 TB | microSD up to 512 GB | microSD up to 1 TB |
| Parking mode | Buffered, time-lapse, low-bitrate; needs HK6 kit | Buffered; needs VIOFO HK4 hardwire kit | Buffered motion detection; needs hardwire kit |
| Wi-Fi / GPS | Wi-Fi 6 and GPS | Wi-Fi and GPS built in | 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi, built-in GPS |
| Extras | 2.4-inch screen, hybrid parking recording | Voice control, HDR, 2.4-inch screen | Voice control, HDR, 1.54-inch screen |
| Price | Check price | Check price | Check price |
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| Feature | VIOFO A229 Pro | VIOFO A329S | VIOFO A229 Plus | Vantrue N4 Pro S | Vantrue N5S | Vantrue E1 Pro | Nextbase 522GW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front video | 4K at 30 fps, 140° view | 4K at 60 fps front-only; 4K at 30 fps multi-camera | 2K at 60 fps, 140° view | 4K | 2.7K (1944p) | 4K at 30 fps | 1440p at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps, 140° view |
| Rear camera | 2K (1440p), 160° view | 2K, Sony STARVIS 2 | 2K at 30 fps, 160° view | 2.5K (1440p) | Rear road camera, STARVIS 2 | None (front only) | Optional plug-in rear module |
| Cabin camera | Optional 1080p infrared (3-channel version) | Optional 2K (3-channel version) | Optional 1080p infrared (3-channel version) | 1080p with infrared | Front-cabin and rear-cabin cameras | None | Optional cabin-view module |
| Front sensor | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 (all four) | Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 | Not listed |
| Storage | microSD up to 512 GB | microSD plus external SSD up to 4 TB | microSD up to 512 GB | microSD up to 1 TB | microSD up to 1 TB | microSD up to 1 TB | microSD (U3 card recommended) |
| Parking mode | Buffered; needs VIOFO HK4 hardwire kit | Buffered, time-lapse, low-bitrate; needs HK6 kit | Buffered; needs hardwire kit | Buffered, low-bitrate; needs hardwire kit | Buffered; needs 3-wire hardwire kit | Buffered motion detection; needs hardwire kit | Intelligent Parking Mode (impact-triggered) |
| Wi-Fi / GPS | Wi-Fi and GPS built in | Wi-Fi 6 and GPS | Wi-Fi and GPS | 5 GHz Wi-Fi and GPS | 5 GHz Wi-Fi and GPS | 2.4 / 5 GHz Wi-Fi, built-in GPS | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, 10 Hz GPS |
| Extras | Voice control, HDR, 2.4-inch screen | 2.4-inch screen, hybrid parking recording | Voice control, HDR, supercapacitor | Voice control, 3.19-inch screen, optional LTE module | Voice control, 3-inch screen, optional LTE module | Voice control, HDR, 1.54-inch screen | Alexa, Emergency SOS, touchscreen, polarising filter |
| Price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price | Check price |
The sensor matters more than the resolution. A dash cam earns its money at night, in rain, against headlights. Cameras with Sony's STARVIS 2 sensors and HDR keep number plates readable in those conditions far more often than older sensors with the same pixel count.
Get a rear camera if you can. A front-only camera misses the driver who hits you from behind. A two-camera kit costs a little more and closes that gap.
Parking mode needs power. Almost every camera here can record while parked, but only when wired to the fuse box with a hardwire kit. Budget for the kit, or ask an installer.
Buy a high-endurance memory card. Dash cams write video all day. Ordinary cards wear out; high-endurance cards are made for this.
Yes if you want the best chance of reading a number plate from a distance. 4K gives more detail to zoom into. A 2K camera with a modern sensor is still a big step up from older 1080p models and costs less.
Not while driving. In parking mode a hardwired camera draws a small current, and hardwire kits cut the power when the battery voltage drops to a set level so the car still starts.
A rear camera records rear-end collisions and tailgating, which a front camera cannot see. If your budget allows a two-camera kit, it is the safer choice.
In most countries, yes, but rules on mounting position, audio recording and publishing footage vary. Check the rules where you drive, especially before sharing video that shows other people.
CarCamsOnline on YouTube
Accidents, near misses, bad driving, wild weather and the odd things you only see on the road. Our channel shows real dash cam clips and names the camera that filmed each one. We need your videos: caught something on your dash cam? Send it in and we will feature the best clips on the channel, with credit.
