VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH vs VIOFO WM1
VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH (#2, best value) vs VIOFO WM1 (#5, best budget): in our Dash Cams with Parking Mode scoring the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH totals 8.4/10 and the VIOFO WM1 6.9/10, the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH leading on Video Quality and Coverage. At $169.99 versus $99.99, the VIOFO WM1 costs $70 less.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH | VIOFO WM1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.99 | $99.99 |
| Parking Mode | 3 modes (buffered / time-lapse / low-bitrate) | 3 modes (buffered / auto-event / time-lapse) |
| Channels | 2 (front + rear) | 1 (front) |
| Front Resolution | 2K (1440p) | 2K (1440p) |
| Image Sensor | Dual Sony STARVIS 2 | Sony STARVIS (IMX335) |
| Power Source | Supercapacitor | Supercapacitor |
| Cloud Backup | No | No |
| Connectivity | 5GHz Wi-Fi + GPS | 5GHz Wi-Fi + GPS |
| Max Storage | microSD up to 512GB | microSD up to 256GB |
How they differ in real use
Built from our dash cams with parking mode scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH and the VIOFO WM1 made our Top 5 Dash Cams with Parking Mode, at #2 (best value) and #5 (best budget). The smartest money for parking protection: dual Sony STARVIS 2 sensors cover the front and rear in 2K each, a supercapacitor rides out the heat of a parked car far better than a battery, and with the hardwire kit it offers three parking modes — buffered, time-lapse, and low-bitrate — so drivers can trade storage against continuous coverage. It ranks below the Thinkware only because it lacks that camera's low-power radar and tops out at 2K rather than 4K, but at roughly a third of the price with front-and-rear coverage, it is the value benchmark of this list. Proof that real parking protection does not have to cost much: for around $100 the WM1 pairs a supercapacitor with three parking modes — features usually reserved for pricier cameras — and a 2K Sony STARVIS front lens keeps the footage sharp. It ranks last because it is a single front-facing channel on an older, non-STARVIS-2 sensor, and like most cameras here it needs a separate hardwire kit for parking power. But as an entry-level parking camera that still holds up to heat and captures events reliably, nothing else here comes close on price.
We score dash cams with parking mode on Parking Protection (30%), Video Quality (25%), Coverage (15%), Power & Reliability (15%) and Value (15%). On that basis the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH totals 8.4 out of 10 and the VIOFO WM1 6.9. The widest gap is Video Quality, where the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH scores 8.5 against 6.5 for the VIOFO WM1 — resolution, sensor, and night clarity of captured footage. Coverage also separates them: 8 for the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH versus 5 for the VIOFO WM1.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Parking Mode — 3 modes (buffered / time-lapse / low-bitrate) on the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH versus 3 modes (buffered / auto-event / time-lapse) on the VIOFO WM1; Channels — 2 (front + rear) on the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH versus 1 (front) on the VIOFO WM1; Image Sensor — Dual Sony STARVIS 2 on the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH versus Sony STARVIS (IMX335) on the VIOFO WM1; Max Storage — microSD up to 512GB on the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH versus microSD up to 256GB on the VIOFO WM1. They match on Front Resolution, Power Source, Cloud Backup and Connectivity.
Pricing as of August 7, 2026: $169.99 for the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH and $99.99 for the VIOFO WM1, a $70 difference in the VIOFO WM1's favor. Owners praise the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH for supercapacitor withstands the heat of a parked car far better than a lithium battery and three parking modes with the hardwire kit — buffered auto-event, time-lapse, and low-bitrate; the most common complaint is parking mode requires the HK4 hardwire kit, sold separately (about $20). Owners praise the VIOFO WM1 for supercapacitor and three parking modes for around $100 — parking features usually reserved for pricier cameras and 2K (1440p) Sony STARVIS front lens is sharp for the price; the most common complaint is front-only, single channel — no rear or cabin coverage.
VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH
- Supercapacitor withstands the heat of a parked car far better than a lithium battery
- Three parking modes with the hardwire kit — buffered auto-event, time-lapse, and low-bitrate
- Dual Sony STARVIS 2 sensors record 2K front and 2K rear with HDR
- 5GHz Wi-Fi, ultra-precise GPS, and voice control for around $170
- Parking mode requires the HK4 hardwire kit, sold separately (about $20)
- 2K resolution rather than the 4K of the pricier picks
- No cloud backup — footage lives on the card
VIOFO WM1
- Supercapacitor and three parking modes for around $100 — parking features usually reserved for pricier cameras
- 2K (1440p) Sony STARVIS front lens is sharp for the price
- Compact, discreet body with 5GHz Wi-Fi and built-in GPS
- Voice notifications and loop recording built in
- Front-only, single channel — no rear or cabin coverage
- 2K rather than 4K, on an older STARVIS (not STARVIS 2) sensor
- Parking mode needs the separate HK4 hardwire kit
Which should you buy?
The VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH is the better fit for value-focused buyers who want front-and-rear parking coverage and drivers who park in hot climates where battery cameras struggle — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Video Quality and Coverage. The VIOFO WM1 is the better fit for budget buyers who still want real parking-mode protection and drivers who want a small, simple front camera. If the $70 saving matters more than Video Quality, the VIOFO WM1 is the better value. The VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH is a poor fit for drivers who want 4K resolution; the VIOFO WM1 is a poor fit for drivers who need rear or cabin coverage.
Choose the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH if
- Value-focused buyers who want front-and-rear parking coverage
- Drivers who park in hot climates where battery cameras struggle
- Anyone wanting three selectable parking modes
Skip it if
- Drivers who want 4K resolution
- Those unwilling to buy a separate hardwire kit
Choose the VIOFO WM1 if
- Budget buyers who still want real parking-mode protection
- Drivers who want a small, simple front camera
- A first dash cam with supercapacitor reliability
Skip it if
- Drivers who need rear or cabin coverage
- Anyone who wants 4K footage
Common questions
Is the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH better than the VIOFO WM1?
In our Dash Cams with Parking Mode ranking the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH scores higher overall, 8.4 to 6.9, with the biggest advantage in Video Quality. The VIOFO WM1 does not out-score it on any criterion we weigh.
How much more does the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH cost than the VIOFO WM1?
$70 more as of August 7, 2026: $169.99 for the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH against $99.99 for the VIOFO WM1. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Video Quality — 8.5 versus 6.5 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH and the VIOFO WM1?
The headline spec difference is Parking Mode: 3 modes (buffered / time-lapse / low-bitrate) on the VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH versus 3 modes (buffered / auto-event / time-lapse) on the VIOFO WM1. In use, the gap that matters most is Video Quality (8.5 vs 6.5 in our scoring): resolution, sensor, and night clarity of captured footage.