We’re currently seeing the biggest tectonic shift in dashcam technology since this whole segment began, and it is all thanks to the advent of really tiny, energy-efficient, yet incredibly sharp image sensors. Nowadays, thanks to these fantastic new image sensors – such as the Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 – there’s a plethora of 4K dashcams to choose from. Some people wonder whether or not 4K is even necessary for what is otherwise a piece of footage that you will only whip out after an accident or during an insurance claim. But, having tested the 70mai A810, their higher-end 4K dashcam, I can definitely say that it isn’t just necessary (if you have the cash), but it also makes a difference.
And it’s a huge difference, too! Specifically, the 70mai A810 dashcam records in stunning 4K resolution, which is 3840 x 2160 pixels, to be precise. The footage, as a result, is superbly crisp and ultra-sharp, making it way easier if and when you need to discern road signs and license plates, especially from further away. Even all those tiny undulations and imperfections in the road can be seen from the recording. This is where you really notice all the extra pixels compared to 1080p and 1440p recordings, and that added sharpness might be enough to showcase what really happened during an incident, such as telling apart the license plate of a car that’s speeding away.
Going Head-To-Head With Other 4K Dashcams
Another key benefit of the aforementioned Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 image sensor, aside from its superior clarity, is its awesome low-light performance. Paired with 70mai’s clever night vision tech, all this means you’re able to capture super-clear footage, even in dark, challenging environments. It also helps that the 70mai A810 also has HDR, allowing it to more effectively balance out exposure in situations where there are ever-changing light levels. In other words, if you’re regularly driving in and out of the shade, having HDR ensures that the dashcam footage is neither too bright nor too dark. Again, it does help when you’re recording and disputing road incidents.
Speaking of darkness once more, the 70mai A810’s night-time performance is one of the best that I’ve sampled thus far among the many other 4K dashcams that’ve come through our office. There’s minimal noise and great detail, and while it’s pricier than 70mai’s other offerings, the added clarity is a must for folks who frequently go driving out at night. Or, for those that normally park in poorly lit areas, such as dark parking lots. Another good bit of kit to have is 70mai’s specialised MaiColor Vivid+ Solution, which is their bespoke colour science that tries to best computationally optimise colour accuracy and realism, which might also help in sifting through footage.
A Small Dashcam That Packs A Huge Punch
Of course, if it’s just the Sony STARVIS sensor and 4K recording, with some night vision and HDR thrown in there, it’s not enough to set the 70mai A810 apart from the many other dashcams out there with similar specs. So, does 70mai have something special here, or is it just another good dashcam in a sea of good dashcams? Well, I think they’ve thought of that, because the 70mai A810 does pack in a lot of tech for the money, on top of the camera bits in there, making it one of the best 4K dashcams in this price point. For starters, the 70mai A810 comes with dual-channel functionality, allowing you to record two videos at once, working in tandem with the rear camera.
This is included in the set that I have here, though bear in mind that the rear camera maxes out at 1080p. You’ll still find most of the same tech in that rear camera too, such as HDR, night vision, the wide field of view, and so on. In so doing, between both cameras as a pair, you’re able to simultaneously capture footage of whatever’s in front of you, and what goes on in the back. It’s handy in case you get rear-ended, for example. Additionally, the 70mai A810 – and we’re still only talking about its video-recording merits – has a loop-recording feature. This is basically the A810 capturing dashcam footage in loops, continuously recording, and overwriting old videos.
While it might not sound that ground-breaking, this means that you’ll never run out of footage, and you always have something recorded, just in case… So long as you turn the camera on. The 70mai A810 itself will also support SD cards as large as 256GB, so you ought to have more than ample storage. This would be nice to have if you’re relying a lot on the A810’s G-sensor. It’s something we’ve seen in other dashcams too, but it essentially triggers the dashcam to start recording automatically if it notices any knocks, bumps, or vibrations. In this case, if someone drives into your car while it’s parked, the G-sensors will immediately prompt the A810 to start recording.
Could This Be The Best Value 4K Dashcam Around?
Speaking of, that is just the start of the 70mai A810’s extensive list of nice-to-haves. One of my favourites that I found while testing it, is that the A810 has ADAS functionality. Working with footage that it’s capturing in real-time with the primary camera in the front, 70mai’s ADAS suite provides voice alerts to warn you of what is going on around you. Some of the driving assists and aids that it offers include lane departure alerts, forward collision warnings, moving traffic alerts, bikers/pedestrian alerts, and more. While I wouldn’t 100% rely on it like I would my car’s actual, built-in ADAS suite, I can totally see 70mai’s tech being helpful for folks with older cars.
Just like other dashcams, the 70mai A810 has a built-in GPS module, too. That’ll help out with recording precise data on your car’s real-time location, speed, and even the route that it’s travelled. Between this and the 70mai A810’s AI-powered motion detection tech, you’ve covered enough ground to give the police or your insurer enough evidence in case you get caught in an accident. It even has voice control for the user interface, and the installation process is comparatively easy, too. For ‘just’ $179.99, there are a few other 4K-capable dashcams on the market that rival how much kit 70mai has packed into the A810, so it gets a solid thumbs up from me.
Although, if your budget understandably can’t stretch that far, but you still want crisp video capture and just as much tech, 70mai’s mid-range A510 is worth a look, too.
