Head-to-head · Best Dash Cams Under $200

Vantrue E1 Pro vs VIOFO A119 Mini 2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

VIOFO A119 Mini 2 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.6 vs 4.0). VIOFO A119 Mini 2 is best for: drivers who want sharp front-only footage and buffered parking mode in a small, discreet camera. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Dash Cams Under $200

Vantrue E1 Pro

4.0

2 sources$100as of Oct 11

The Vantrue E1 Pro is a small front-only dash cam that records 4K at 30fps through a 158-degree lens, with GPS, 5GHz Wi-Fi, voice control and a 1.54-inch screen. TechRadar praised its footage, easy setup and support for microSD cards up to 1TB. Tom's Guide found daytime video 'crisp and clear' but said night footage turns noisy and that oncoming license plates were hard to read after dark, and reported that the unit runs very hot. It has no rear camera.

Strengths

— 4K 3840 x 2160 at 30fps from a Sony IMX678 Starvis 2 sensor (TechRadar)
— Daytime footage is crisp and clear with well-judged color and contrast (Tom's Guide)
— Takes microSD cards up to 1TB (TechRadar)

Watch-outs

— Night footage is noisy and grainy, and oncoming plates were hard to read after dark (Tom's Guide)
— Runs extremely hot in use, even with the display asleep (Tom's Guide)
— On-screen graphics are tiny; the app is the better way to manage it (TechRadar)

$100 · Buy at blackboxmycar.com Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Dash Cams Under $200

VIOFO A119 Mini 2

4.6

1 source$130as of Oct 17

The VIOFO A119 Mini 2 is a compact, front-only dash cam with a Sony STARVIS 2 sensor, a 140-degree lens, a 1.5-inch screen, GPS and dual-band Wi-Fi. PCWorld rated it 4.5/5 and found its footage excellent for colour and headlight-flare handling, while Vortex Radar names it the best budget front-only dash cam for its low-light clarity and buffered parking recording. The Gadgeteer praised the voice control and notifications, but found the default 60fps mode soft and the collision sensor over-eager on the motorway. It suits drivers who want strong front video in a small, discreet body; anyone who needs rear coverage or cloud alerts should look elsewhere.

Strengths

— Small body blocks less of the windscreen view and draws less attention than most dash cams
— Good colour and detail at night, with decent control of headlight flare
— Buffered parking mode saves footage from before and after an impact when hardwired

Watch-outs

— Mount uses semi-permanent adhesive and cannot be re-angled after fitting
— Front-only recording, with no rear camera option
— Collision sensor saved clips on lane changes and bumps even at low sensitivity

$130 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Vantrue E1 Pro

The E1 Pro records 4K, a higher resolution than the 1080p Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2, the 1440p Nextbase 522GW and the 2.5K front camera of the Redtiger F7N. Like the Garmin and the Nextbase it is front-only, so the Redtiger F7N is the pick here for front-and-rear recording. Its 1.54-inch screen is far smaller than the 3-inch displays on the Nextbase and Redtiger, while the Garmin has no screen at all.

VIOFO A119 Mini 2

Like the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 and Vantrue E1 Pro, the A119 Mini 2 is a small front-only camera, but it adds a built-in screen, GPS and voice control, and PCWorld judged it a worthy competitor to Garmin's small cameras, which keep the advantage of a fully adjustable mount. Unlike the Redtiger F7N it has no rear camera, so buyers who need front-and-rear coverage should look at that model instead.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Vantrue E1 Pro	VIOFO A119 Mini 2
Resolution	4K (3840 x 2160) at 30fps, front only	—
Field Of View	158 degrees	140 degrees
Display	1.54 inch	—
Storage	microSD up to 1TB	microSD up to 512GB (not included)
GPS	Yes	—
Parking Mode	Yes (requires hardwire kit, not included)	—
Night Vision	HDR, PlatePix mode	—
Dimensions	1.73 x 1.97 x 1.73 in	—
Sensor	—	Sony STARVIS 2 IMX675
Video Resolution	—	2560x1440 at 60fps; 2592x1944 at 30fps
Screen	—	1.5-inch colour LCD
Connectivity	—	2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
Power	—	USB-C via GPS mount

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