VIOFO A229 Pro Duo vs. Blueskysea B4K 2-CH 4K UHD

If you search for the best budget-friendly, true 4K dash cams, one of the models that will show up is the Blueskysea B4K dash cam, which was released in 2020. It was a hit for drivers, especially for those looking for a solid dual-channel, 4K video resolution under the $200 price tag.

Fast forward to 2023, more and more dash cam manufacturers have released their budget-friendly 4K entries, and one of them is VIOFO, which recently launched the VIOFO A229 Pro. An upgraded version of the A129 Duo, this dash cam is now equipped with in-demand features, and advanced video resolution, while still being light on the pockets.

In this article, we will review the features and specs of this new dash cam and compare it with the Blueskysea B4K. Let’s find out which among these two true 4K dash cams are better in terms of design, image quality, parking mode capabilities, safety and convenience features, and pricing.

Let’s talk about the A229 Pro first. 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 Pro is built to be discreet enough to be hidden behind the rearview mirror. The body of the A229 Pro retains the same sleek wedge design, and a 2.4-inch screen good for instant viewing of footage or adjusting camera configurations. It comes with a VIOFO windshield static sticker that acts 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.

On the other hand, the Blueskysea B4K dash cam is also built compact and discreetly, measuring 1.48 x 3.8 inches with a 3.16-inch screen. Both dash cams come with an adhesive mount that sticks to your windshield and won’t fall off like suction cup mounts often do.

While both the A229 Pro and the B4K are true 4K dash cams, there are specific differences, particularly in image quality. The A229 Pro is now powered by a more advanced Novatek 96529 processor compared to B4K’s’ 96670 processor. We’re not wondering, as B4K was released 3 years prior to the A229 Pro.

Diving deeper, the A229 Pro’s front camera records 4K Ultra HD footage through the latest Sony STARVIS 2 IMX678 sensor at 30 frames per second at 140 degrees. The rear camera shoots 2K Quad HD films at 30 frames per second, thanks to its Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675 sensor at 160 degrees. It’s good to know that the A229 Pro also launched a three-channel version that has an interior camera that records 1080P Full HD footage at 30 frames per second at 150 degrees, perfect for ride-sharing services and fleets. Best of all, these A229 Pro dash camera variants are equipped with Super Night Vision 2.0, and multi-exposure HDR for enhanced lighting in all conditions – not just in front, but also for the secondary cameras. Additionally, the CPL Filter comes standard with the A229 Pro.

Moving on to the B4K, it also records 4K UHD @ 30 frames per second for its front camera. However, it uses the first generation Sony 8MP IMX415 image sensor, at a narrower view of only 120° degrees.  We also noticed that during the night, the footage looks grainy and darker, unlike the Sony STARVIS 2 powered dash cams. If you wish to add a CPL filter on the B4K’s front lens, you may also do, but you have to purchase this accessory separately.

Still, its WDR function captures a wider dynamic range of light levels, although we did notice one thing. You can add a rear 1080p camera for the Blueskysea B4K, but when the rear camera is connected, the frame rate for both the front and rear video feeds reduces from 30 to 24fps. Quite the drop as we stand by 30fps as being the standard for fps.

In terms of parking mode protection, the VIOFO A229 Pro and the B4K dash cams are both equipped with Buffered Parking Mode. This means that when an impact is detected, the dash cam will transition to standard event recording, including the 15 seconds preceding and following the incident. The difference is that B4K only captures 10 seconds. Still, a lot can happen in 5 seconds, and always goes a long way in painting a full picture, so the point goes to VIOFO.

Aside from Buffered Parking Mode, the VIOFO A229 Pro and B4K’s Parking mode settings include Auto Event Detection or Motion Detection and Time Lapse. VIOFO’s just a little more advanced with an additional mode called Low Bitrate Recording. If you want to hardwire the A229 Pro and B4K for parking mode, keep in mind that it requires an ACC hardwiring kit or a dash cam battery pack, which you will need to buy separately. Relatively even in this aspect.

Now let’s talk about the safety and convenience features of these dash cams. Now with Voice Controls, the VIOFO A229 Pro allows 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 uses Voice Notifications to keep you up to date on storage, features, recording modes, and video protection status.

For additional convenience, the A229 is equipped with a quick Auto Emergency Lock button on its head unit, at its center to save important footage. For the B4K, you will have to press the up button and wait for the lock button to appear, which drivers may not be aware of since it’s not labelled properly.

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

Beyond connectivity, the new VIOFO A229 Pro now supports micro SD cards up to 512GB for maximum storage capacity.

The Blueskysea is also equipped with features like Wi-Fi, although only 2.4GHZ. It has a GPS, and an Auto Emergency Lock function as well. While VIOFO has its own mobile app, the B4K dash cam uses the “Ucam” app for both Apple and Android. The Ucam app is rather generic and used by a handful of other dash cams. Still, you can do basic functions within the app, like viewing videos on your phone, deleting videos and making dash camera setting changes. In terms of file storage, the B4K can support memory cards up to 256GB, while the VIOFO A229 Pro can support up to 512 GB.

The VIOFO A229 Pro is priced at $329.99 for dual-channel, while the Blueskysea B4K is available at around $117. It’s almost triple, but the features and long-term reliability of the VIOFO brand justify the price.

The Blueskysea B4K dash cam is a good choice if you’re looking for a true 4k front-only camera. Since its frame rate reduces when you add a rear camera, having a two-channel, unfortunately, makes it another fake 4K dash cam. Still, the parking mode features of the B4K are impressive, considering its size and price. In terms of other features like WiFi, connectivity, app navigation, and video resolution, the VIOFO A229 Pro outperforms B4K.

First of all, the A229 Pro was launched at the end of 2023, which means that it has already innovated its features according to the changing demands of drivers. The Sony STARVIS 2 sensors for both front and rear cameras also provide clearer, crisper, and more colourful footage that works best at both daytime and nighttime conditions. The free CPL filter makes the deal even better, too!

Beyond image quality, the VIOFO A229 Pro’s convenience features such as Advanced Parking Modes, Voice Controls, Dual-band WiFi, Ultra-Precise GPS and up to 512GB storage capacity makes it a standout not only for convenience, but also in connectivity and security.