VIOFO A119M Pro Dashcam Review: Quality Over Frills
Owning a dashcam in 2025 almost seems like a necessity. With insurance scammers, distracted drivers, and all means of electric motorized contraptions whipping through intersection, having a means to irrefutably capture proof of an incident is crucial. The question is, which dashcam to get?
Who is VIOFO?
There are countless dashcam manufactures out there, some that develop cameras in-house, others that merely reskin other brands hardware. One company that builds a unique dashcam lineup is VIOFO. Founded in 2010, the brand started producing dashcams in 2011 and currently offers more than dozen different units, covering 1, 2, or 3 camera set-ups.
One of VIOFO’s newer models is the A119M Pro. Eager to have me test it out, the brand shipped me a sample of this brand-new dashcam for review.
The A119M Pro
Priced mid-market, the A119M Pro records in 4K quality, incorporating the Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensor. Recording at 30 fps, it supports HDR for better detail in high contrast scenes and includes a CPL filter to reduce glare. It’s possible to set the loop recording at 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, or 10-minute increments.
To store the footage, the A119M Pro can take up to a 512GB high-endurance microSD card. Once full, the card will start write over itself, except for automatically locked emergency files that are triggered via a G-sensor.
A quad-mode GPS module records location, speed, and time data. It’s also possible to buy a remote control that can be attached somewhere in a vehicle’s cabin for quick, manual locking of video files. To grab these files off of the dashcam, the A119M Pro can be connected directly to a smartphone through Wi-Fi 6 for faster wireless transfers. It’s also possible to do a wired download through a USB Type-C port or just remove the MicroSD card altogether.
Feature Full
Like a lot of modern dashcams, the A119M Pro does more than just record video. There are parking features that includes things like event detection with buffered recording, time-lapse settings, low-bitrate continuous recording, and safeguards built in to avoid having a vehicle’s battery drain.
VIOFO also touts the low light quality of the camera footage, referring to it as super night vision. An example of this footage can be found above. It is indeed clear, with license plates, vehicles, pedestrians, and more all visible.
Other import specifications on the A119M Pro includes an F1.8 lens with a 140° field of view, MP4/H.264 recording, a 1.5-inch display, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, built-in microphone and speaker, and operating temperatures from –20°C to 60°C. Voice control is also available in multiple languages.
Installation Made Easy
The kit for the dashcam arrived at my door containing a front-facing dashcam including GPS mount, a CPL filter, cables, mounting pads, tools, and user documentation. Like many dashcams, there is the choice to hard wire the camera to a car or plug it in via a USB port. I chose the latter, hiding the majority of the cord in our vehicle’s trim.
The best part of the installation is the way its mounted to the windshield. A clear plastic screen is included in the kit that, using the power of static electricity, sticks to the windshield firmly. The camera’s mounting pad is then attached to this plastic sheet. This allows the camera to be transferred easily, quickly, and most importantly, cleanly, between vehicles. No more scraping sticky goo off the windshield when removing the camera or needing to order a new mounting pad to reinstall the unit.
Video Quality
For a mid-priced camera, the A119M Pro image quality is quite good. Money is saved in other areas by not including some features like active safety systems. This allows a higher quality video to be captured.
As can be seen in the video above, the camera’s daytime captured content is quite good. There are no blurry sections, contrast is controlled well in various lighting conditions, and the clarity is well balanced. The larger physical shape of the camera means the display on the screen on the back is larger, which gives front seat passengers a better view of what the camera is currently recording.
App Experience
Having a good companion app for a dashcam is arguably just as important as the camera itself. What I like about VIOFO’s app is its simplicity. Some apps try to look too fancy, or include too many submenus/screens. With this app, once the initial pairing and set-up procedures are completed, simply click the connect to camera icon on the home screen and you’re all set. It's important to note that if running Apple CarPaly or Android Auto at the same time, the camera may fail to connect. I had to turn off Apple CarPlay on my phone temporarily to get the dashcam to connect.
Once in the app, the video snippets are all laid out in a tile format that can be filtered in different ways. The settings icon opens a plethora of options, settings, and customizations to configure the dashcam to one’s liking. Downloading videos to my phone was very easy as well.
VIOFO A119M Pro 4K HDR MINI Dash Cam
Conclusion
After a month of ownership, I am satisfied with the A119M Pro’s performance. It does exactly what it’s intended to. If image quality and ease of use are more important than some of the more advanced features found on pricier dashcams, the A119M Pro is a quality product priced competitively within the market.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
More by Mike Schlee
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I see Ford has a dash cam as an option now. I think it's would be good if they all had at least a power outlet at the mirror to make the aftermarket installs a little easier.