VIOFO A229 Plus Duo 2K Dash Cam vs. Redtiger F7NP 4K

If you’re on the lookout for budget-friendly dash cams in BlackboxMyCar, VIOFO is the way to go. Though it has a more affordable price tag, its features and video resolution have what it takes to join the premium competition – especially with their all-new A229 series, the VIOFO A229 Plus 2K and the A229 Pro 4K dash cams.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the 2K dash cam, the VIOFO A229 Plus, and see if its features can outperform a popular 4K dash cam in the market - the Redtiger F7N Plus, popularly known as F7NP. Which one is better in terms of video resolution, image quality, parking mode, features, and pricing? Let’s find out.  

Let’s talk about the VIOFO A229 Plus’ design. Measuring 2.3 inches by 3.9 inches for the head unit, and 2.64 x 1.33-inches for the rear, the VIOFO A229 Plus is built to be discreet enough to be hidden behind the rearview mirror and rear window. With the same form factor as the previous A229, the all-new A229 Plus still has a 2.4-inch HD screen where you can watch footage and configure dash cam settings. If you wish to install it, every package comes with an adhesive mount for a more discreet and stable attachment to the windshield.

Meanwhile, the Redtiger F7NP gets the same design as the Redtiger F7N, which has a measurement of 1.46 x 3.74 x 0.79 inches. It also has a built-in screen measuring 3.16 inches, and a GPS sucker mount that may tend to be distracting when attached. For its rear camera, we do appreciate that it's capable of rotating up to 360-degrees for maximized coverage.

The A229 is wedge-shaped, smaller and easier to hide compared to the Redtiger F7NP’s wider, rectangular-shaped body. While the A229 is more discreet with its easy-to-attach adhesive mount, the F7NP has a suction mount and short arm that hangs the dash cam from its mount, so some may find it a little distracting. Moreover, we noticed that while it has a bigger screen than the A229, it does not come with audio error notifications on screen.

Both the VIOFO and Redtiger dash cams are equipped with static stickers, which act as a barrier between the mount’s sticky tape and the glass, so you’re not left with sticky residue or marks when you need to uninstall the dash cam. In other words, the dash cam is not mounted directly onto the glass – perfect if you typically move your dash cam from one car to another.

Moving on to video quality, the A229 Plus records up to 2K QHD at 60 fps at 140-degree field of view for the front, and 2K QHD @ 30 fps at 160-degree field of view for the rear – yes, both cameras are in 2K! With a 60FPS frame rate, the A229 Plus surpasses the A129 Plus’ 2K 1440P camera, delivering more nuanced details, particularly during high-speed driving.

However, it’s not just the higher frame rate and dual-2K QHD that makes the A229 Plus standout – it’s the Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 image sensors that are both sported in its front and rear cameras. It’s actually the first 2K + 2K dash cam to get the world’s most advanced sensors, recording clearer and more colourful footage, day and night, through 2.5x higher dynamic range and light sensitivity. Best of all, all cameras are also equipped with HDR and Super Night Vision 2.0!

On the other hand, Redtiger F7NP markets itself as a 4K dash cam that records UHD for its front at a 170-degree angle, and 140-degrees for its rear, covering 140-degrees in full HD 1080p. However, similar to the F7N, the F7NP is not a true 4K dash cam.

Redtiger disclosed that its F7N series (including the F7NS we compared against the Mini 2) just have the same cameras for the front, which carries a 5MP Sony STARVIS first generation IMX335 sensor – the same image sensor in the classic VIOFO A119 V3. In reality, the front camera records 1440P video at 30fps with an average bitrate of 15 Mbps. Setting the resolution higher than this does not provide true 4K video, but rather interpolated 4K video at 3840*2160P @ 24fps. Check out its footage, and you’ll notice how much darker and duller it looks compared to the A229 Plus’ vibrant colours.

In terms of parking mode protection, the VIOFO A229 Plus emphasizes Buffered Parking Mode. This implies that when an impact is detected, the dash cam will transition to standard event recording, including the 15 seconds preceding and following the incident. Aside from Buffered Parking Mode, the VIOFO A229’s Parking mode settings include Auto Event Detection, Time Lapse, and Low Bitrate Recording.

If you want to hardwire the VIOFO A229 Plus for parking mode, keep in mind that it requires the VIOFO HK4 ACC hardwiring kit or a dash cam battery pack, which you will need to buy separately. The Redtiger F7NP will also need a separate hardwire kit for parking mode.

For the Redtiger F7NP, the parking mode is rather basic compared to the A229 Plus, as it only does collision detection and time-lapse. No buffered recording, or recording of motion. For us, smart parking mode like the A229 Plus’ is a must-have for total security.

Compared to its predecessors, the VIOFO A229 Plus has integrated advanced features from their premium dash cams like the A139 Pro. The new Voice Controls allow you to utilize simple voice commands to start/stop recording, snap photographs, and turn on/off WiFi while remaining focused on the road. It also comes with Voice Notifications to keep you up to date on storage, features, recording modes, and video protection status.

Now, in terms of connectivity, the VIOFO A229 Plus is compatible with the VIOFO mobile app, where you can stream your footage live, download media, and share it on social networks. With a 2.4GHz and 5GHz Dual-Band connection, the VIOFO A229 Plus enables 4 times faster data transfer than 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Moreover, the A229 Plus also has a new integrated Quad-Mode GPS module that provides more detailed location and speed data.

Beyond connectivity, the VIOFO A229 Plus now supports micro SD cards up to 512GB for maximum storage capacity. And with Auto Emergency Lock, in case a sudden impact or collision happens, the dashcam's built-in G-sensor instantly locks the ongoing recording file, preventing it from being overwritten.

The Redtiger F7NP includes convenience and safety features as well, though not as many as the A229 Plus. It has WiFi, however only at 2.4GHz, which is slightly slower than dual band. You can manage footage right at your fingertips with the Redtiger app, which also functions as a remote control, allowing you to perform simple operations such as changing view settings, turning audio on and off, playback, Stop/Start Record, and taking photos.

However, one thing we learned about the app is that if you need to watch footage, you can't do it right away and must first download it. For its storage, the maximum capacity of the F7NP is only half of what the A229 Plus can support at 256GB.

Compared to other 2K dash cams, the VIOFO A229 Plus Duo is priced affordably at $229.99 USD, the same price point as the earlier A229 Duo model. The Redtiger F7NP 4K dash cam is more affordable at $149.99 USD which speaks for its fewer features and fake 4K video resolution.

The Redtiger F7NP may be a good choice if you want a budget dash cam under the $150 price tag. However, if you want to invest in a dash cam, you might as well get one that is tested to perform outstandingly in the long run — like the VIOFO A229 Plus.

In terms of video resolution, while the A229 Plus is only a 2K dash cam, it captures stunning images compared to the 4K F7NP – which happens to be not a true 4K. The A229 Plus does an excellent job in recording footage, which is the main reason why drivers get a dash cam, thanks to the Sony STARVIS 2 for both front and rear. Additionally, the features of the A229 Plus such as Advanced Parking Modes, Voice Controls and Notifications, Dual-band Wifi, Quad-Mode GPS, and up to 512GB capacity makes it a more convenient and worthwhile option.