Best Dash Cam: VIOFO A229 Pro vs Garmin Dash Cam X310 vs 70mai A810S

By Alexandre Mayden · Updated October 19, 2026 · How we review

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Quick answer: the VIOFO A229 Pro 2CH scores highest (4.6/5): 4K at the front, a 2K rear camera in the box, a supercapacitor instead of a battery, and a polarising filter included. If you only need a small front camera with voice control in French, the Garmin Dash Cam X310 is the alternative; the 70mai A810S is the lowest-priced front-and-rear kit of the three.

A dash cam records the road while you drive, so that if something happens — a collision, a scrape in a car park, a disputed manoeuvre — you have a video of it rather than two conflicting accounts. The models on sale today all record in high resolution, so the differences that matter are elsewhere: whether you also film what happens behind you, how the camera copes with a car parked in the summer sun, what it records once the engine is off, and how easy it is to save a clip at the moment you need it. We compared three popular dash cams — the VIOFO A229 Pro 2CH, the Garmin Dash Cam X310 and the 70mai A810S — on their published specifications.

What matters when choosing a dash cam

Front only, or front and rear? Many collisions in traffic are rear-end impacts, and a front camera can’t see those. A two-channel kit adds a second camera on the rear window. Some kits include it; with others it’s an add-on you buy separately, so compare the price of the complete set.

Supercapacitor vs battery. A windscreen in direct sun gets far hotter than the air outside. Lithium-ion batteries age faster in that heat. A supercapacitor stores just enough energy to save the last file when the power is cut, and generally copes better with high temperatures. Check the published operating range as well as the power source.

Parking recording usually needs more than the camera. To record while parked, a dash cam needs power with the ignition off — normally a hardwire kit connected to the fuse box, fitted by you or a garage. Some brands also put parking alerts behind a paid subscription. A “buffered” parking mode keeps the seconds before an impact, not just after it.

Glare and night images. Reflections of the dashboard on the windscreen can hide details such as number plates. A polarising filter (CPL) reduces them. Large image sensors such as Sony’s STARVIS 2 series are designed for low light.

Saving a clip quickly. A G-sensor locks footage automatically after a jolt. Voice control lets you save a clip without taking your hands off the wheel; a phone app lets you download it later over Wi-Fi.

Plan for a microSD card. None of these three includes a card in the basic box. Use a high-endurance card of the size the manufacturer recommends — dash cams rewrite cards constantly.

Specifications side by side

How we scored them

Each dash cam is rated from 1 to 5 on five comparison points, based on how its official specification compares with the other two. The overall score is the average. All three record in 4K at the front, so resolution doesn’t separate them and isn’t scored. Real image quality at night depends on your car, windscreen and street lighting and can’t be measured from a spec sheet. Read our full method.

1. VIOFO A229 Pro 2CH — best overall (4.6/5)

The A229 Pro 2CH is the only kit here that ships with both cameras. The front unit uses Sony’s 1/1.8-inch, 8-megapixel STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensor and records 4K at 30 fps; the rear camera uses a STARVIS 2 IMX675 and records 2K (2560 × 1440). VIOFO says HDR runs on both channels at the same time. The front lens covers 140°, the rear 160°.

It runs on a supercapacitor rather than a battery, with a published operating range of -20 to 65 °C — the widest here. A polarising filter is in the box. With VIOFO’s HK4 hardwire kit (sold separately) it offers three parking modes, including buffered event detection, which keeps the 15 seconds before an impact. It also has 5 GHz Wi-Fi for faster downloads to your phone, GPS that logs speed and position, and voice control with 12 commands. You can add an interior camera later to make it a three-channel system.

VIOFO lists an 18-month warranty, extended to 24 months if you register the camera. Its official store prices it at US$349.99.

Not for you if: you want the smallest possible camera, or prefer a touchscreen.

2. Garmin Dash Cam X310 — most compact (3.4/5)

Garmin’s X310 is a small front-only camera: 7.0 × 4.22 × 1.95 cm and 78 g. It records 4K with HDR, or 1080p at up to 120 fps, through a 140° lens with a built-in Clarity polariser — the only polariser here that’s part of the lens. It’s also the only one with a touchscreen (2.41 inches).

Voice control is a strong point for drivers in France: Garmin lists French among its languages, alongside English, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish. GPS stamps each video with location, speed, date and time, and Garmin lists forward collision and lane departure warnings. The Garmin Drive app can sync up to four Garmin dash cams — the brand’s way of covering the rear is a second camera.

It scores lower on two points. It uses a lithium-ion battery (rated -20 to 60 °C), and Parking Guard and Live View need a paid Vault subscription plus Garmin’s constant power cable, sold separately. Incident detection while driving works without a subscription. Garmin France lists it at €349.99.

Not for you if: you want rear coverage in one kit, or parking alerts without a subscription.

3. 70mai A810S — lowest price (3.6/5)

The 70mai A810S uses the same Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 front sensor as the VIOFO, records in 4K and has the largest screen here (3 inches). Like the VIOFO, it runs on a supercapacitor; 70mai’s published operating range is -10 to 60 °C. Its rear option is a 1080p HDR camera with a Sony IMX662 sensor — either the RC24 inside the rear window or the RC23 mounted outside, which avoids reflections from tinted glass.

Features include Wi-Fi 6, GPS, driver-assistance alerts (lane departure, distance to the car in front, pedestrians), voice control in English and Mandarin, and a “buffered emergency recording” that keeps up to 3 minutes before a detected collision. Parking surveillance with AI motion detection needs a 70mai hardwire kit; an optional 4G hardwire kit adds remote viewing and alerts where 70mai offers 4G.

It scores lower on glare control (no polariser in the basic box), its rear camera resolution (1080p vs 2K for VIOFO) and voice-control languages. 70mai’s EU store lists the front-and-rear kit at €206.99 and the front camera alone at €173.99.

Not for you if: you want 2K at the rear, or voice commands in French.

Which one should you buy?

• You want front and rear in one box, and a camera that copes with summer heat: VIOFO A229 Pro 2CH.
• You want a small, discreet front camera with French voice commands: Garmin Dash Cam X310.
• You want front and rear for the lowest outlay: 70mai A810S.
• You want to record while parked: budget for a hardwire kit (VIOFO or 70mai) — or a Vault subscription and constant power cable for Garmin.

Using a dash cam legally in France and the EU

Rules on dash cams differ from one country to another, and Garmin itself warns that some jurisdictions regulate or prohibit them — check the rules for each country you drive in. In France, there’s no specific law for dash cams in private cars; the CNIL (France’s data-protection authority) announced in February 2025 that it is preparing recommendations on cameras that drivers add to their own vehicles.

In the meantime, common sense applies: faces and number plates are personal data. Keep footage for your own use or to give to your insurer, the police or a court, and don’t post videos online where people or plates can be identified — blur them first. Mount the camera where it doesn’t block your view of the road.

Whichever model you choose, a 2-year legal guarantee of conformity applies when you buy a new product from a professional seller in France, on top of any manufacturer warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Is 4K necessary on a dash cam?

Not strictly, but more detail helps when you need to read a number plate at a distance or zoom into a frame. Sensor quality and glare control matter just as much, especially at night.

Will a dash cam drain my car battery?

While driving, it runs on the car’s power. Parking modes draw power with the engine off, which is why hardwire kits include a low-voltage cut-off — set it according to the kit’s instructions.

Do I need a subscription?

Not to record. The VIOFO and 70mai record parking events with a hardwire kit and no subscription. Garmin’s Parking Guard and Live View need a Vault subscription; 70mai’s 4G remote features need its 4G hardwire kit and a mobile connection.

Which microSD card should I buy?

A high-endurance card designed for continuous recording, within the capacity range each manufacturer lists (up to 512 GB for all three). Format it in the camera every few weeks.

Does a dash cam reduce my insurance premium?

That depends entirely on your insurer. Footage can help document what happened in a claim; ask your insurer how they accept it.

Our verdict

The VIOFO A229 Pro 2CH is the most complete kit on paper: front and rear cameras in the box, a supercapacitor with the widest temperature range, a polarising filter included, and buffered parking recording without a subscription. Choose the Garmin Dash Cam X310 for a compact front camera with French voice control, or the 70mai A810S for front and rear coverage at the lowest price.

Sources

• VIOFO — A229 Pro 2CH product page and price
• VIOFO — A229 Pro 1CH/2CH/3CH specifications
• VIOFO — A229 Pro front unit: power source, temperature and storage
• VIOFO Support — warranty length
• Garmin — Dash Cam X310 specifications
• Garmin France — Dash Cam X310 price
• Garmin — Dash Cam X310 owner’s manual, specifications
• Garmin — Dash Cam X series announcement (voice languages, Vault)
• 70mai — Dash Cam 4K A810S specifications
• 70mai EU store — A810S price and features
• CNIL — Club conformité véhicules connectés : programme de travail 2025
• Service-Public.fr — Garantie légale de conformité

Specifications checked on 13 October 2026. Prices vary by country and retailer.