VIOFO A139 3 Channel Dashcam Review

VIOFO sent us their brand new 3 channel A139 dashcam to see if its a good fit for our Nissan Silvia project.

viofo a139

Did you see the viral video of the Audi R8 that was stolen? For those of us who think car-is-life, this is one of the worst possible scenarios we can imagine.

The unfortunate owner of this R8 had luckily installed a dashcam, and when his Audi was stolen – right off his drive – this dashcam caught the entire joy ride on camera.

Including the perp’s well-deserved arrest.

So it was with some delight that I installed the new V139 3 channel dashcam into my 1999 Nissan Silvia.

VIOFO A139 – So what is it?

This is a high-quality dashcam that is a good fit for most car owners. It gives you the peace of mind that if your car does get stolen, or you are unfortunate enough to get into a crash, then there will be footage of the event to prove your innocence.

Because this is a 3 channel system, this will also be an excellent all-in-one dashcam for professional drivers. Uber or Lyft drivers who want to record everything that happens in their cars to protect themselves would do well with the A139.

Finally, for track day enthusiasts this system will cover your windshield, rear screen and interior for a comprehensive recording of your glorious on track moments.

What are the specs on the A139?

The three cameras that make up the A139’s system are a wide-angle front camera which features 300deg of rotation, a 170deg rear interior camera and a 170deg rear screen camera.

The front-facing camera records at an impressive 2560*1440p resolution at 30 frames per second. The two rear-facing cameras record at 1920*1080p at 30 frames per second. These solid resolutions and frame rates ensure that you will capture all the footage around (and inside) your car in excellent clarity.

The inbuilt memory on the unit will store up to 256GB of storage, which is plenty of space to hold all your clips on the dashcam.

In addition to the visuals, the VIOFO captures excellent audio quality. If you are a budding YouTuber then you will be delighted to know that the A139 offers an external microphone jack for exhaust audio.

How does it perform at night?

Very well. The A139 is equipped with Sony STARVIS sensors front and back which delivers rich and detailed low-light footage. The interior camera also comes with six infrared LEDs to ensure your cabin is recorded even at night.

How do I get footage off this dashcam?

The A139 uses 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi, which means it can be paired to your phone via the VIOFO app. This not only allows you to quickly download the footage but also allows you to stream live video from the cameras to your device (iOS and Android).

Very cool.

What other features are there?

There are some nifty features on the dashcam right out of the box; Auto Event Detection will automatically start recording once an event is detected whilst Time Lapse mode continuously records a video at low frames like 1/2/3/5/10/15 frames per second.

The Low Bitrate mode keeps recording continuously in mini file size to memory save card space for a longer record time in parking mode.

Loop recording is also possible to use in 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes or 10 minutes captures as well as the ability to turn this feature off if not desired. With this turned on, the camera will automatically record over the oldest files to make room for the newest.

There is an optional hardwire kit (HK3-C ACC) that offers 24 hours surveillance on your parked vehicle. When the engine is off, the hardwire kit is used to provide continuous power. That is a very cool feature that should help any of us sleep better when our car is parked on the driveway overnight.

What happens in an accident?

The GPS module on A139 includes information about where the driver has been and how fast they were going, timestamping the speed and location for any given time.

The GPS module also keeps the camera’s clock synchronised to GPS satellites so that all recordings can be timestamped.

A built-in G-sensor on both cameras instantly knows when the vehicle has been in an accident and automatically protects this footage from the overwrite feature.

What is our verdict?

We love it. You need to weigh up the pros and cons of installing a dashcam on your car. It provides security, surveillance, and great peace of mind for any car owner. If you are a professional driver then I would definitely recommend it.

But, there is a second edge to this, if you have a dashcam installed please remember that it is recording your driving. So be careful!

For my Silvia, I think the pros outweigh the cons. This is an excellent product.

Where can I pickup an A139 for myself?

So, are you convinced to pick up an A139 for yourself? The VIOFO A139 triple channel dash cam is available from Amazon.com for $269.99 and Amazon UK for £239.95.

About VIOFO

Founded in 2011, VIOFO has quickly become one of the top professional manufacturers of simple, reliable, connected and inspired dash cams which are sold all over the world. The high-quality video resolution on offer coupled with the discreet design ensures VIOFO is bringing a product with outstanding performance guaranteed. The company’s ambition is to enable its customers to discover and have a more active lifestyle. Learn more here: https://www.viofo.com/en/

Written by Joe Terrell Drifted.com founder, motoring journalist and all-round car enthusiast. Read more about Joe and the Drifted team on our about us page.