70mai Dash Cam A510: two-minute review

Choosing a dashcam can be quite labor-intensive if you’re not sure what you’re after, due in part to a bewildering array of options. What I like about this, the 70mai Dash Cam A510, is I know exactly what I’m getting. It’s a twin-camera bundle, which comes competitively priced while still offering lots of performance from both lenses.

Crucially, there’s quality video to be had, with the front camera capturing 2.7K 1944p footage thanks to a Sony Starvis 2 sensor while being able to shoot quite widely via a very decent 140-degree field of view. Meanwhile, the smaller rearward facing unit can capture 1080p video and features a 130-degree field of view.

What’s more, these are versatile units because they’ve got an easily rotated lens, with the rear camera going a full 360-degree for cockpit recording if it is needed. Add on built-in GPS and I’ve got a camera combination that can also capture all-important on-the-go data such as location, speed, and the more obvious date and time information.

The 70mai Dash Cam A510 is easy to install and setup, while the box contains everything need to get started with my set also including a 64GB microSD memory card. Bluetooth connectivity means that video content can be viewed on a smartphone, with an impressive app making that task easier. I’m also very pleased that this model features a built-in LCD screen, which adds an extra touch of in-car convenience.

70mai Dash Cam A510: Design

I’ve been trying the 70mai Dash Cam A510 Set, which means that inside the box there’s the front-facing camera as well as a smaller variant that points out the back of the car. In fact, this bundle comes with all I needed to get started, which is always a bonus. It’s worth noting though that for anyone not wanting to power the setup via a 12V socket, an additional hardwire kit is required. This is also essential to get all the parking surveillance features activated.

The main camera features a 2-inch LCD display, with four pressable buttons immediately beneath for working your way through all of the features and functions. A chunky manual helps with the initial setup, and there’s a smaller one that covers the rear-facing camera. On the side of the main camera are three ports, for the power and rear camera cables, plus one for the microSD card. A slimline button on the bottom of the unit can be used for emergency video capture.

I think the overall build quality of this model feels as good as any dashcam I’ve tried. Better still, it’s easy to plumb everything in and get it up and running. The box contains static sheets too, which provides an easy way to fix both cameras to the screens of vehicles, without the need to stick the very adhesive pad directly to the glass. This makes sense for anyone wanting to move the cameras between vehicles. There’s also a tool for pushing cables behind trim elements to make the camera setup as unobtrusive as possible.

I rather like the 12V plug for this model too, which has a spare USB port next to the power cable inlet, meaning it’s possible to charge other things on the go. The cables are of a generous length, so this bundle should work with most vehicles. Usefully, 70mai has designed the rear camera with a 360-degree lens, meaning you can turn it to point into the cockpit of the car for surveillance duties when needed. The front lens is not as flexible but rotates enough so that it’s easy to tweak depending on the angle of the windshield.

70mai Dash Cam A510: Performance

I like having the benefit of a front and rear camera in the car, which is one of the 70mai Dash Cam A510’s main strengths. The dual recording capability gives a live view out the front and out the back, all on the same screen, which is handy, but it’s not really a big enough to pick out any details.

Therefore, while the screen on the back of the main camera is decent enough, reviewing of any recorded content was best done on either my phone, via the impressive 70mai app, or my laptop. The specification means that there’s a good level of data included on all the footage, with date, time, speed and coordinates all being displayed along the foot of the video content in easy-to-read white lettering.

I do think the 70mai Dash Cam A510 struggles a little bit when it’s faced with sudden changes in lighting conditions. The transition from darker, cloudy skies to sudden blocks of clear blue sky and sunshine sees the lens struggling to correct itself. This isn’t bad enough to put me off the 70mai Dash Cam A510 though as the lens soon gets back up to speed and carries on providing otherwise consistent results.

Meanwhile, the 70mai Dash Cam A510 coped with low-light and after-dark conditions admirably. 70mai says it has incorporated its so-called Night Owl Vision algorithm into this model and I’m certainly impressed by the way it copes with nighttime lighting, especially under streetlights. These can often prove problematic with dashcams, but the 70mai Dash Cam A510 handles this scenario just fine.

Previewing footage on my laptop, I think the 70mai Dash Cam A510 also captures all those vital details needed in case of an incident, so license plates and road signs are all clearly displayed. The color balance and general quality are very good too, with nothing outside of the lens glare issues mentioned above to be worried about. It’s a solid performer, that’s for sure.

Should you buy the 70mai Dash Cam A510 dash cam?

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How I tested the 70mai Dash Cam A510 dash cam

• I installed the dash cam into my own car
• I used it for several journeys during both day and night
• I connected it to my phone and downloaded recordings for appraisal

I spent time with the 70mai Dash Cam A510 installed in an SUV, which meant I had plenty of screen space in order to get it installed. However, the design is also sufficiently compact enough to work in vehicles with less glass area to play with. 

I tried the  dashcam bundle over a period of time, across a range of driving scenarios, and in all sorts of weather conditions. Once installed, I found it to be very low-maintenance and enjoyed having the benefit of a chime on startup, just to know that it was functioning as expected.

• First reviewed July 2024

Miofive S1: two-minute review

If you’re in the market for a new dash cam and want 4K video on a two-digit budget, the Miofive S1 is for you. In a world where budget 4K options frequently fail to deliver, this dash cam produces surprisingly good results, with great sharpness, decent color reproduction and very little grainy noise, even at night.

Pair the S1’s video quality with good hardware, a nice design and a 3in screen, and you’re onto a winner. There’s even GPS for adding speed information to your recordings, plus 5GHz Wi-Fi makes for speedy video transfers between the camera and your smartphone, via the Miofive app.

This dash cam is easy to install, set up and use. It’s also discreetly designed and even has a handful of AI-powered functions that some buyers might find useful (or can easily be disabled). I wish the windscreen mount were of higher quality, but this is a small criticism of what is otherwise an excellent 4K dash cam at a great price.

Miofive S1: Design

For a dash cam with a 3in display, the Miofive S1 is impressively compact. It also has a textured finish around its outside edges, and the panel housing the protruding camera lens is reminiscent of carbon fiber. This might not appeal to everyone, but I think it adds a nice bit of contrast that makes the hardware look and feel more premium than the price tag suggests.

There’s a prominent power button on the top edge of the dash cam, and four more buttons to the right of the screen that are used to navigate the menu system, since the display is not touch sensitive. Lastly, the left side is home to a microSD card slot (no card is included in the box, however), and a port for connecting an optional rear camera.

A windscreen mount is included in the box. This slides into a cold shoe-style connection on the top of the device, then slides onto a mounting plate, which sticks to the screen with an adhesive pad. Miofive includes a pair of windscreen stickers in the box, which make it easy to remove the dash cam mount if you change cars or no longer want it installed. The windscreen mount works fairly well and offers a good amount of vertical and horizontal adjustability, but isn’t of the highest quality, with some sharp edges to the plastic components.

Another small criticism I have is with how the horizontal adjustment of the windscreen mount cannot be locked into place. The vertical adjustment can, thanks to an integrated screw that can be tightened to stop the camera moving up or down, but it’s free to move left or right. This tends not to happen while driving, but could potentially be knocked out of place.

The S1 is powered via a USB-C cable and 12V plug adaptor. These are both included in the box, along with a much shorter USB-C to USB-A cable for transferring recordings to your computer. Alternatively, footage can be sent via 5GHz Wi-Fi to the Miofive smartphone app. Each one-minute, circa-250 MB file takes around 20 to 30 seconds to transfer to the phone.

Installing the Miofive S1 is nice and easy. Simply attach the windscreen mount to the camera, then apply one of the windscreen stickers to your car and stick the mount to that using the integrated adhesive pad. You can use the live view function of the smartphone app to make sure the camera has the right view before sticking it into place. 

Miofive S1: Performance

All too often, budget 4K dash cams struggle to live up to their high-resolution promise. Not so, the Miofive S1. I was mightily impressed with the video quality, which packed plenty of detail and none of the grainy noise low-priced dash cams often suffer with.

If you don’t want to record in 4K, the options of 2K (2560 x 1440) and Full HD (1920 x 1080) are also available, but all three shoot at 30 frames per second. I’d liked to have seen a 60 or even 120 fps option for the lower resolutions, as the smoother video this creates can sometimes look better than 4K shot at a lower frame rate. Unfortunately the Miofive S1 doesn’t support this, so you’re best sticking at 4K and buying a large-capacity microSD card, since each one-minute segment of video weighs in at about 250 MB.

All that said, 4K with HDR at 30 fps is still smooth enough for this use case, and there’s lots of detail in every recording. Key bits of potential evidence like vehicle registration plates, traffic lights and street signs are all clear and legible. Colors are a little flat, especially on overcast days, and the S1 lacks the high-quality sparkle of pricier systems, like the Nextbase iQ and Viofo A229 Pro, but for dash cam recordings this isn’t really a problem, especially when you consider the price of the Miofive. Similarly, the 140-degree lens isn’t as wide as some rivals, but it still did an acceptable job of recording the full width of my car.

For well under £100 (and under $100, too, at the time of writing), this really is a very good dash cam. It’s quick and easy to set up, and while the app asks you to create an account this isn’t actually necessary. You can set up the dash cam, connect it to your smartphone, download and install the latest firmware, then tweak its settings and transfer video files, all without going through the effort of making an account first. For that alone, Miofive should be applauded.

Like other dash cams, the S1 starts recording right after you switch on the vehicle ignition. It then saves footage as files that are each one minute long, until the memory card is full. The files are then gradually overwritten, starting with the oldest first. If it detects a collision, the footage recorded at that moment is saved to a separate, secure folder that is not overwritten.

The camera automatically overlays footage with the time and date, as well as the vehicle speed (calculated using the dash cam’s integrated GPS antenna), and the local timezone. The display is a bit cluttered during recording, but it switches off after about a minute and is no longer a distraction. Handily, a little voice message plays when the screen goes off, stating how the dash cam “continues to serve”. It’s a strange bit of translation, but a handy way of reassuring the driver that it's still recording.

Other features include a parking mode that springs into life when a collision is detected while the car is switched off, but this requires the hardwiring cable sold separately.

Nighttime footage is less sharp, but still impressive for a dash cam at this price point. There’s a good amount of light after sunset and very little grain. Vehicles, road markings and pedestrians are easy to spot, but registration plates are tricky to read.

Lastly, the Miofive S1 has a set of so-called AI features. While I doubt many owners will care for the “fatigue driver alarm” or “harsh driving alert”, the “stop and go reminder” can be useful. It issues a discreet beep if the traffic ahead has started moving and you’re not paying attention. I found the default collision sensitivity to be slightly too sensitive – it was occasionally triggered when driving over a pothole – but through the app it’s easy to turn this down.

Should you buy the Miofive S1 dash cam?

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How I tested the Miofive S1 dash cam

• I installed the dash cam into my own car
• I used it for several journeys during both day and night
• I connected it to my phone and downloaded recordings for appraisal

I installed the Miofive S1 in my own car, set it up via the smartphone app and used it for several journeys. I made sure to record footage during the day and night to see how the camera performs in different lighting conditions, and tweaked the settings – like collision sensitivity and the AI functions – to see what difference they made to the ownership experience. I then transferred footage to both my smartphone and computer for a closer look.

• First reviewed June 2024

Two-minute review

If you’re looking for a dash cam that can do a little bit of everything, the Rove R3 Dash Cam is well worth investigating. Even some of the best dash cams on the market don’t always come with all the features and functionality needed for comprehensive protection. The  Rove R3 Dash Cam carries an impressive specification, with a 3-channel touchscreen dash cam being the core component.

However, armed with cabin and rear cameras too, it delivers a comprehensive range of video coverage, including 1440p video capture out the front, 1080p footage in the cabin, and 1080p out the back. There’s voice guidance, built-in GPS and 5GHz Wi-Fi, plus a very practical parking mode feature for keeping tabs on things when you’re not in your vehicle.

Rove makes a big deal about this model being powered by a Super Capacitor, which is mentioned quite a lot in the promotional blurb. In other words, the dash cam opts to use one of these over a lithium-ion battery. 

It makes no difference in the grand scheme of things if you’ve got the camera connected by default anyway. Having said that, Rove reckons this makes it more useful to folks who might encounter extreme temperatures ranging from -4°F (-20°C) to +158°F (+70°C). Extreme adventurers take note.

Rove R3 Dash Cam: design

The Rove R3 Dash Cam arrives in a box that flips up to reveal just about everything you need from a complete solution dash cam package. The artwork looks like it was designed using a home desktop publishing package and is quite chaotic in places, but, looking past that, the initial impressions made me keen to get the Rove R3 Dash Cam set up.

Full marks should go to Rove for providing a comprehensive, full-color manual that outlines all the steps for getting set up and how to use video once it's been recorded. There’s a supplementary app for both iOS and Android too. it's possible to use everything without calling on it if you’re not fussed, but it does enhance the overall user experience if you do.

Also inside the box are the main camera, a smaller rear camera, a 4.8 AMP dual charger plug, a suction mount, a wire trim tool, a 2.5ft USB Type-C data cable, a lengthy rear camera cable, a 12ft USB Type-C power cable, cable hiding clips, electrostatic films, a wet cleaning pad, and spare 3M adhesive stickers.

The build quality of all the components feels as good as that found on any of the other best dash cams. I like the robust feel of the main camera and the 3-inch screen is big enough to touch even if you’ve got chunky fingers. The design is also nicely laid out: I quickly knew where all the cables needed to go as they’re marked up logically. All I needed to do was pop in a microSD card and start plumbing it all in.

Considering the Rove R3 Dash Cam is a complete solution package, there’s inevitably time to be spent sticking the cameras on the front and rear screens. I made use of the electrostatic sheets, which saves getting your screen covered in gum from the adhesive if I have to take it off again. The wiring, especially for the rear, takes further time to push in around the headliner, but I found the included tool made fairly light work of that. It all plugs in easily enough, though.

I especially like the way you can mount the main camera as it is, straight to your screen. Alternatively, there's the option to use the mount, which means it can be more easily positioned if any adjustment is needed. I got lucky the first time with my screen-mounted route, but either option works well depending on your requirements. Usefully, the lens in the main camera can also be twisted in a circular motion, so the view of the road can be adjusted easily.

Rove R3 Dash Cam: Performance

Setup took me about 30 minutes all told, which is reasonable. I then powered up, which happens automatically if you’re plugged in, and had to pick through a few options to configure the camera.

It involves common tasks, such as formatting the memory card (which was included in my test example but isn't normally), setting the date and time, choosing a time zone and carrying out any customization options. I plugged the dash cam into my 12V electrical socket, though you can buy a hardwire kit if you’re looking for a permanent installation. 

There’s a small button on the side of the camera to manually power up, but, once installation is complete and it has power, the Rove R3 Dash Cam engages its video recording mode automatically.

Conversely, the Rove R3 Dash Cam will stop recording if you power down your ignition (or unplug it) within 1 to 2 seconds. It will save the last video being recorded, so there’s no fear of losing any footage. I felt happy to use the camera in its default setup and settings arrangement, but dipping into the menus lets you easily tweak most aspects of the functionality.

• You can buy the Rove R3 from Amazon

Perhaps my favorite aspect of the Rove R3 Dash Cam is the three-channel coverage thanks to having a front camera, a rear-facing one, and the lens built into the main unit that covers the cabin area. Adding to the appeal is the built-in GPS Geotagging (incorporated into the mounting point of the main camera), which means the footage always has live speed and location data as part of the capture process. Getting footage off the cameras was easy too, with dual-band Wi-Fi (5GHz and 2.4HGz) straight to the app proving handy.

I removed the card and reviewed the footage on the larger screen of my laptop, with crisp and clear results returned by all three cameras. The 150-degree view provided by the f1.4 front lens, which uses a 5-megapixel OmniVision OSO5A10 CMOS sensor is solid and more than usable for picking out the definition on number plates and the like. The cabin and rear cameras feature f1.8 a 140-degree field of view with 2-megapixel Sony Starvis IMX307 sensors on board.

Overall, after-dark footage was impressive, with, again, plenty of definition coming from all three cameras. The Rove R3 Dash Cam seems to react well to changes in light too, even inside the cabin as I moved past street lights, which can frequently make footage look less than brilliant. The G-Sensor tech, which works for the parking monitor, only engages if it’s hardwired, so I didn’t get the chance to try this. Aside from checking the sensitivity though, I see no reason to doubt the quality of the footage it captures.

The screen on the back of the camera is a little busy, with a host of function icons along the top and the different camera views under that, but, as with most dash cams, I find everything works best if I keep tabs on footage via the app or on my laptop. The screen is perfectly serviceable for carrying out tweaks to any of the settings, though.

Should you buy the Rove R3 Dash Cam?

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How I tested the Rove R3 Dash Cam

• I used it every day over several weeks
• I used it on a wide range of journeys
• I recorded video for extended periods

After installing it in my car, I put the Rove R3 Dash Cam through its paces over the span of two weeks, leaving it in situ for the whole test period. During that time, I used my car for a variety of journeys, from shorter commutes to longer runs. As well as using all the features and functions found within the camera, I also experimented with the app and downloaded footage to my laptop for closer inspection. The only feature I didn’t experience was the motion-sensing option, which only works if the Rove R3 Dash Cam is hardwired into a vehicle.

• First reviewed March 2024

Two-minute review

With a range of more than ten dash cams, Thinkware is no stranger to the market. In 2018, it launched the F70, a product that remains its most basic offering. The lack of mobile connectivity and built-in Wi-Fi made it difficult for users to interact with it in ways that are now expected. Thinkware has addressed these issues in a newer 'pro' version with more features and better interactivity; the F70 Pro. 

Landing in 2023, the F70 Pro covers all the basics very well. In terms of the design, you'll be hard pushed to find a smaller dash cam. It sits neatly behind the rear view mirror. The downside of its size is that it doesn't have a screen for viewing the footage. To do that, you'll either have to connect it to your smartphone using the Thinkware app or put the microSD card into your computer.

Video can be recorded at 1080p and 30 fps, meaning there's little to no possibility of zooming in or slowing down the footage for closer inspection. Considering this is a budget dash cam, there is no reason to expect higher resolution or slow motion modes. If you're after a higher specification, then our best dash cams guide is worth a look.

But don't write the F70 Pro off just yet – it's a dash cam with advanced features, including an Advanced Parking Surveillance Mode. When hardwired or using the OBD II connector, it is possible to record while your car is turned off. The device monitors and captures motion and impact with an extra 10 seconds of footage captured before and after the incident.

As well as a Parking Mode, the F70 Pro also boasts night vision, safety camera alerts and a high temperature protection system. For only £119.00 / $99.99 it's amazing the number of premium features that are included. If you're happy with HD resolution and a slightly lower video quality then the F70 Pro is an excellent choice.

Unlike the F70, the F70 Pro can connect to the Thinkware dash cam app. This is available on both iOS and Android and enables users to view a live stream of what the camera is seeing as well as review existing footage on the microSD card. The app itself is extremely easy to navigate and contains all the camera settings. 

There is no shortage of alternative options for 1080p dash cams. For the same price, there is the Garmin Mini 2 or if you have a little bit more money to spare and want a rear camera too, then the Nexar Pro is a great choice.

Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam: design

The F70 Pro is extremely easy to set up. Everything that is required is included in a single small box – even a 32GB microSD card is included, so you don't have to buy one of those separately. The card clicks in and out and is easy to access. The windshield mount attaches to the windscreen with an adhesive panel that is strong and reliable.

The dash cam slides into the mount with no trouble at all, although sliding it back out is a bit more of a pain. I used a 12V power cable, and once I had connected that, I was ready to connect it to the app.

The build quality of the F70 Pro is as you'd expect for a budget device. The plastic construction is strong enough to withstand any knocks it'll encounter and is also very lightweight. The cylinder design with well-engineered buttons at both ends makes for a very attractive, compact case. Thinkware has made good use of the slim design, opting to put the power cable port at the top and the microSD port at the bottom.

The dash cam can rotate up and down to capture either more of the immediate road in front or into the distance. The hinge moves freely but is strong enough to stay where it is left.

The windshield mount is equally small, although the pad is strong enough to keep the dash cam exactly where it needs to be. The device can slide out of the mount, but I found this to be too stiff and put me at risk of damaging either the dash cam or the mount.

The additional hardware kit opens up a couple more features, including a Parking Surveillance Mode and a Time Lapse Parking Mode. I wasn't able to test either of these, as they require hardwiring the unit or using the OBD II Connector. The Parking Mode includes everything a user would need, including motion and impact detection. It records for 10 seconds before and after an incident to give you that extra bit of evidence should you need it.

The dash cam also comes with what it calls Night Vision, but sadly it's only available during the Parking Mode. It would be ideal to have this feature during all nighttime driving, but it's limited to this one mode. It helps to ensure license plates and road signs are appropriately visible.

The F70 Pro doesn't have GPS built in, but this can be activated when connected to your smartphone, or you can purchase and use the Thinkware GPS antenna.

Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam: performance

The F70 Pro boasts a 2.1 MP CMOS Image Sensor that is capable of capturing Full HD (1920 x 1080 px). The reduced quality of this sensor is very much in line with the budget price of the unit and only delivers great results in the best lighting conditions. 

Users who do a lot of daytime driving will be more than pleased with the output, with the camera able to capture all the important details, including the number plates of other drivers. 

The Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) mode captures more color and detail and is particularly helpful on those bright days when a small sensor such as the 2.1MP CMOS type employed here is in danger of blowing out highlights.

My results during nighttime recording were a lot more sketchy. The sensor really starts to struggle, something that would be improved with the Super Night Vision feature, but alas, this is only available during Parking Mode.

Footage is captured at 30 fps, which is perfect for real-time playback but lacks the frames to slow the footage down afterwards. There are situations where things happen too quickly for the camera to adequately record what happens, so a greater number of frames per second helps to capture more pictures during the course of any incident.

For better results, especially in more challenging light, go for a dash cam with a Sony Starvis 2 sensor or with 4K recording capabilities. This will help to increase detail and picture quality, an essential requirement when needing to provide evidence of a crash.

The inclusion of a 140 degree wide angle lens helps to capture a greater range of vision not only in front of the car but off to the sides as well. This comes into its own when incidents occur at the sides of the car and would simply not be visible with a dash cam that has a smaller field of view.

Unfortunately, there is no ability to capture footage beyond 140 degrees. With an increasing number of dash cams able to record around 360 degrees thanks to dual cameras (or in the case of the 70mai Omni – a single rotating camera), the lack of this really does show that this is a budget dash cam that id best for first-time buyers. 

Should you buy the Thinkware F70 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Thinkware F70 Pro

• I used it for my daily commute
• I used it during different lighting conditions
• I recorded video for extended periods

I used the Thinkware F70 Pro Dash Cam in my car and enjoyed testing out its range of features on a number of different journeys. I was able to test the picture quality in a variety of different lighting and weather conditions, including daytime and nighttime.

I connected the dash cam to my smartphone and tested out all of the Thinkware app's features, including the live view and the gallery of previously recorded footage. I didn't test the parking surveillance mode due to not hard-wiring this device with the additional hardware kit. 

After transferring the files onto my Mac I was able to properly inspect the quality of the video and see how it compared to other dash cams.

• First reviewed March 2024

Two-minute review

Owning a sports car with a small windscreen area means that some of the best dash cams are a little too intrusive for my needs. That’s why the arrival of the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam is ideal; it’s one of the smaller models on the market. It offers a compact footprint using the sticky pad on your screen, and takes less space in the cabin thanks to its dinky dimensions. I’d say it’s about half the size of a comparable standard dash cam, making it perfect for smaller cars or those working with a limited glass area.

Better still, there’s very little to figure out with the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam, since it features a limited number of buttons and ports on its exterior. These include a one-touch button on the back of the unit for capturing and storing a chunk of footage manually, and a microphone button that can also be given a long press during setup to format the memory card. This model takes the usual microSD card, with a 32GB card supplied in the box; it slots into a port on the side, while the power cable does the same. After holding down the button, there's an audio notification that states the card has been formatted, while a red LED on the unit indicates that the dash cam is functioning correctly.

Getting the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam into position proved easy enough, with the option to stick it onto your screen using a 3M self-adhesive pad. This can also be attached to a static sheet, also supplied in the box, removing the need to get gum from the glue directly onto your screen. A 12V connector, with a USB2 Type-C to Type-C data cable, a spare sticky mounting pad , plus a tool for pushing the wires behind interior trim are also included.

I found the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam very easy to position. The base is attached to the camera part with a moveable joint, which allows you to angle the lens to suit the different pitches found in vehicles. Get lucky, and you could get a good view of the road on your first attempt; however, you’ll need to check some test footage on the supporting app since there's no rear screen with this model. It’s not a major downside, however.

In terms of the specification, the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam features Sony Starvis 2 technology, which means you’ll capture solid footage with help from the 5.12 megapixel, 1/2.8-type image sensor. At best, this delivers 2K 1440p video recording, but I’ve found the resulting footage of excellent quality – as you can see for yourself in the video clip included within this review. Considering I tested the dash cam during those dark and dreary winter months, the end results are very usable.

Image quality is further helped by the high dynamic range of the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam, with the HDR doing a very credible job after dark. I found the voice control option on this model impressive, too, which allows you to turn on Wi-Fi functionality or start and stop recordings without you having to use your hands – an obvious boon when you’re driving. The dual 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi is handy for moving footage off the card, and also lets you check footage on the app if you have that installed on your phone.

Considering its relatively basic specification, this model does come with 24/7 parking monitoring functionality, although you'll need to hardwire it into your vehicle for this to work. If you’re after a permanent dash cam solution in your car then this would be worth doing. Thanks to the G-sensor, the camera can detect movement in car parks, any sudden impacts, and captures time-lapse footage for good measure.

Should you buy the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam

• I used it daily over several weeks
• I used it on a variety of journeys
• I recorded video for extended periods

I spent time using the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam over a period of weeks in the winter months, which meant that it was frequently deployed in dark and damp conditions. The supplementary app was used to check footage and tweak features and functions, while the memory card was also removed and previewed on a laptop so that I could get a closer look at captured content, which also presented the opportunity to check over the audio quality. 

The unit was not hardwired into the test vehicle for the duration of the review period, but worked perfectly well being plugged into my car’s 12V socket.

• First reviewed February 2024