Viofo A119 V3 vs A119 V2 Review: Why The Viofo A119 V3 Is Better
For several years, Viofo has been right at the forefront of the budget dash cam market. Thanks to great models like the A119 V2, Viofo offers drivers outstanding dashcam protection and has become an industry-leading manufacturer.
Now, the A119 series has gotten yet another face-lift with the A119 V3. But does this new model continue Viofo’s run of success? And is it better than the A119 V2? In this article, I’ll compare the Viofo A119 V3 against the A119 V2 to see which one is the best option for you.
Table of Contents
Comparison
Before I delve into a direct comparison between these two dash cams, let’s remind ourselves of the features of each model.
Viofo A119 V2 Review
Let’s start with the Viofo A119 V2. There’s a reason why this budget model is so highly regarded. The A119 V2 can record 2K Full HD footage at 1440 p with a frame rate of 30 fps. You also have the option of recording at 1080 p and 60 fps if you need more daytime image quality. Not sure what the real difference is between 30fps and 60fps? See this separate post explaining the difference and why 60fps or 30fps matters.
However, low-light performance is a bit lackluster. Footage appears quite dark, making it difficult to pick out relevant details at nighttime. But for most driver’s needs, this single-camera system delivers great performance.
To help you record plenty of footage, the A119 V2 can support SD cards of up to 128 GB. This Viofo dashcam is also easy to set up and install thanks to the adhesive mounting system – making it ideal for first-time drivers. The compact design of the A119 V2 helps it blend into your windscreen, keeping your view nice and clear.
The Viofo A119 V2 also packs an automatic impact detection system along with motion detection thanks to its G-Sensor. The parking mode offers a loop setting and is adequate for most users, although the hard-wiring cable needed to set it up is not included with the dashcam itself. It also lacks built-in GPS or WiFi – although the former can be fixed with optional extras from Viofo.
- Pretty good image quality for a budget dashcam
- Easy to install and use
- Compact design for unobtrusive recording
- Great price
- No built-in GPS or WiFi
- Low-light performance can be unsatisfactory
Viofo A119 Dash Cam V3 Review
The latest model in Viofo’s budget range, the A119 V3 is the direct successor to the A119 V2. The V3 looks very similar to the V2 in terms of design, but ups the ante when it comes to image quality.
Thanks to a Sony Starvis 5-megapixel image sensor, the A119 V3 can record footage at Quad HD+ quality with 2K video at 1600 p and 30 frames-per-second. This helps the V3 to deliver great image performance in all conditions. The camera captures a viewing angle of 140-degrees and lets in plenty of light at nighttime.
Despite the jump in image quality, the Viofo A119 V3 is just as easy to install and use as the V2. It uses the same type of adhesive mount that allows for precise positioning and an unobtrusive location on your windscreen. All videos can be stored on memory cards up to an impressive 256 GB.
The advanced features continue with the V3’s Parking Mode. This dashcam includes qualities like Auto Event Detection, Time-Lapse Recording, and Low Bitrate Recording to help you save memory card space when recording footage overnight. The V3 also includes a built-in GPS logger to help you add location data to your recordings.
- Quad HD+ Video quality
- Easy to set up and use
- Clever Parking Mode
- Supports SD cards up to 256 GB
- Built-in GPS logger
- WiFi still not included
- Hard-wiring cable for Parking Mode must be purchased separately
Now that you’re familiarized with both of these Viofo dash cams, let’s delve into an in-depth Viofo A119 V3 vs A119 V2 comparison across key areas like design, video quality, and Parking Mode.
Design
When looking at the A119 V3 and A119 V2 side-by-side, there’s really not much to separate them. Both models have a very similar compact body, the same adhesive mounting setup, and a similar 2” LCD screen. Both dash cams can blend in nicely with your windscreen, allowing for discreet recording. Even the button configuration is repeated. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The V3 and V2 are both single dashcam setups for recording at the front of your vehicle. If you’re looking for a dual dashcam see this post reviewing the best dual dash cams.
Furthermore, the installation process is also pretty easy for both dash cams, and both the V3 and V2 come with long connection cables and clips to hold the wires in place out of the way of your feet or hands. This ease of installation makes these Viofo dash cams ideal for first-time drivers or beginner dash cam users. Is it illegal to mount a dashcam in your state? Find out here.
However, there are some small differences. The V3 boasts a full HD screen quality, while the V2 is just a standard setup. In terms of SD card size, the V3 is designed to accommodate cards with up to 256 GB storage space, rather than just 128 GB for the V2.
Video Quality
The main difference between the Viofo A119 V3 dashcam and the A119 V2 is the video quality. The V2 is capable of recording Full HD footage in 2K at 1440 p and 30 fps. This gives you pretty dependable performance in most lighting conditions and will suit the majority of drivers. For a cheaper less equiped cam check out the Cobra SC here.
However, the updated V3 has experienced a quantum leap in footage quality. It still records in 2K, but it’s now capable of Quad HD+ quality at 1600 p and 30 fps. HDR is also included, with the whole package being made possible by the addition of a 5-megapixel Sony Starvis sensor.
In daylight conditions, the details are noticeable crisper, and sharper. The V3 also offers you a much better field of vision than the V2, with the smaller 140-degree angle helping to sharpen the image quality further.
When it comes to low-light performance, the updated V3 is also much stronger than the A119 V2 dashcam. Thanks to the Sony sensor and a better aperture, the brightness of nighttime footage allows for significantly clearer image quality with the V3 compared to the V2. Other options with great video quality are two great dashcams from Thinkware & blackvue.
Parking Mode
When comparing the Parking Mode performance of the Viofo A119 V3 vs A119 V2, we see a clear difference yet again. The V2 does offer a decent Parking Mode, albeit with non-buffered recording. The V3 does have Buffered Recording though.
This allows the V3 to record parking footage constantly to help you work out what happened in the event of an incident. The V2’s non-buffered recording can only wake up and capture footage once an impact has been detected, which could mean that you miss some vital clues.
The V3 offers four parking modes to give you plenty of options such as Impact Detection, Motion Detection, Time-Lapse Recording, and a low-bitrate mode. You can also customize the sensitivity of the motion detection to prevent unnecessary footage.
On both the V3 and the V2, you can’t just use Parking Mode right out of the box. You need to purchase a separate hard-wiring cable to use the feature. This wires into your vehicle’s battery so that the Parking Mode can still be powered without the ignition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Viofo A119 V3 have WiFi?
Neither the Viofo A119 V3 nor the V2 model includes WiFi connectivity. This is one of the ceilings of these budget dashcams and means that any software updates or footage transfers need to be performed using a USB cable and your computer. It also prevents the use of features found on more upmarket dashcams such as a live footage feed on your phone.
If you want a budget dashcam that includes wifi see this seperate post for top budget dashcams.
Is Viofo a good brand?
With a comprehensive range of high-quality models to suit any budget, Viofo is one of the leading lights of the dashcam market. This Chinese manufacturer is especially good at budget dashcams like the Viofo A119 V3 and V2 models. Another popular model is the viofo A129. Even these lower-budget models offer great video quality and features that suit the needs of most drivers.
Conclusion
To conclude this comparison between the Viofo A119 V3 and the Viofo A119 V2, there is a noticeable difference between the two models. The V3 offers better video quality and clearer and more usable performance in low-light conditions. It also supports larger memory cards and has a more versatile selection of Parking Modes.
That said, the V2 model is still a good option if nothing else is available. It does the job competently enough and still offers pretty good video quality. Both the A119 V3 and V2 are easy to set up and install for any driver, making them a great choice if you just want a simple dash cam to protect your vehicle.
Why You Should Buy The Viofo A119 V3 Dash Cam
If you’re trying to choose between these two models, the Viofo A119 V3 is always going to be the better pick. It doesn’t cost a huge amount more than its predecessor, but it does offer a huge leap in image quality – especially in low-light conditions. It’s also easy to install and use and is one of the best budget dash cams available on the market.
William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. He writes about car accessories, with his passion stemming from a deep enthusiasm for all things automotive. His website, RRD, focuses on in-depth reviews of car accessories to help people find the best and latest products in the market.
