Viofo’s latest entry into their dashcam lineup, the VS1 Tiny Dash Cam, addresses a common issue with traditional models: their bulky design often occupies too much space on the windshield, potentially obstructing the driver’s view, especially in cars with smaller windshields. This compact dash cam is a boon for vehicles with limited windshield real estate.
While there are other compact options on the market, many fail to meet the height requirements of most vehicles. Viofo’s innovative VS1 model offers an excellent solution, alleviating visibility and space concerns with its pocket-sized design. To achieve such a compact form factor, Viofo opted to eliminate the rear screen, making the device as convenient as possible.
I tested the Viofo VS1 dashcam to evaluate its performance. Below are my comprehensive insights on the Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam. Let’s dive into the review.
Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam: Price and Availability
The Viofo VS1 Tiny Dash Cam is priced at $149.99 / £134.95 but is currently available for $109.99 / £114.35, thanks to a $40 discount from Viofo. It can be purchased through Viofo’s US and UK websites. The package includes several accessories, such as an SD card, a USB Type C cable, and a hardwiring kit for permanent installation, among others.
Viofo VS1 Tiny Dask Cam: Unboxing
Viofo VS1 Dash Cam Pros
- Compact design suitable for any car.
- Decent video and audio quality.
- Intelligent voice control enhances user experience.
- 5MP Sony Starvis 2 image sensor for superior image quality.
- Easy connectivity with both plug-in and hardware options.
Cons:
- Limited to a maximum video resolution of 2K 1440p.
- No preview screen on the rear side.
Viofo VS1 Dash Cam: Design and Build
My unboxing experience with the VS1 dash cam was highly positive. The design truly stands out for its compactness; it’s so small that it fits easily in the palm of my hand. The build quality, featuring hard plastic, feels premium and durable. Diverging from other Viofo models, the VS1 showcases a 180° rotation capability,
The overall design of the dash cam is impressively compact and lightweight, making it comfortable to hold without feeling cumbersome. On the front, it features a camera lens coupled with a movable joint, allowing for up to 180° rotation. This flexibility ensures you can capture the road at the ideal angle. The rotating design also enables the dash cam to double as a vlogging camera, recording crisp and clear videos.
For mounting, it comes with a standard 3M sticky pad on the bottom, ensuring secure attachment to your vehicle. On the left side, there’s a convenient mic on/off button alongside an SD card port, while the right side houses a USB Type C port for powering the camera.
The Viofo VS1 model stands out for its compactness, measuring just 1.31 inches in width and 3.03 inches in length, positioning it as one of the smallest and lightest dash cams available. It lacks a rear screen, necessitating the use of Viofo’s app for live previews. Additionally, all recordings can be reviewed via a micro-SD card, offering a convenient way to manage your footage.
Viofo includes an array of accessories with the dash cam right out of the box: a charger, a USB-C data cable, a mount sticky pad, a trim removal tool, windshield static stickers, and a 32GB Viofo memory card. For those seeking a more permanent setup, Viofo also offers a hardwire kit and a Bluetooth controller, which are available for purchase separately.
Viofo VS1 Dash Cam: Key Features
The Viofo VS1 boasts a 5.12MP IMX675 sensor, enhanced by Sony Starvis 2 technology, capable of recording video up to 2K 1440p at 30fps. It supports high dynamic range (HDR) to improve image quality, balancing bright and dark areas for clearer visuals. The lens automatically adjusts to lighting conditions, ensuring detailed captures in various environments, from night drives to tunnel transits.
With a 140° viewing angle and an F/1.8 aperture, the lens offers a wide and clear view of the road. Intelligent voice command support enables hands-free operation, allowing for photo capture, recording control, and WiFi toggling, among other functions, without distracting from driving.
The dash cam supports dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi for swift and secure data transfer, facilitating easy video previews and sharing via the Viofo app.
A notable feature is the 24/7 parking monitoring, activated with the HK5 hardwire kit. This feature protects your vehicle in your absence, initiating recording upon motion detection and capturing video from 15 seconds before to 30 seconds after the event. It also includes a G-sensor for recording during sudden impacts or collisions and supports time-lapse recording at up to 10fps without audio to conserve SD card space.
Viofo VS1 Dash Cam: VIOFO Companion App
In lieu of a physical preview screen, Viofo offers the Viofo app as a solution. Available for both Android and iOS, the app allows users to preview, share, and download recorded videos and images. The footage also displays essential details like date and time on the screen’s bottom right corner, enhancing user experience and video management.
Viofo VS1 Dash Cam: Performance
Viofo provides two options for powering the dash cam: a plug-in option for easy access and a hardwire option for a more permanent setup. I chose the plug-in method for its simplicity. It’s advisable to use the static sheets included in the package for mounting the dash cam, rather than applying the sticky pad directly to the windshield.
Setting up the Viofo VS1 dash cam was straightforward. After inserting the SD card and powering on the device, a quick press of the SD card button activated the recording and enabled WiFi. This allows for easy connection to a smartphone for live previews, given the absence of a built-in screen on the dash cam. Alternatively, the SD card can be inserted into a laptop to access the recordings and images.
After using the Viofo VS1 dash cam for about a week, I was notably impressed by the quality of the footage. It captured every detail of the surroundings with clarity, from trees and road signs to vehicle numbers. The Sony Starvis 2 image sensor ensures a clear view of both the road and, when the lens is rotated, the cabin, providing both safety and peace of mind.
Awarded to products with an average rating of 3.75 stars or higher, the AndroidGuys Smart Pick recognizes a balance of quality, performance, and value.
Products with this distinction deserve to be on your short list of purchase candidates.
Final Thoughts
The Viofo VS1 dash cam, with its sleek, compact design and advanced Sony Starvis 2 image sensor, distinguishes itself as a standout option in the dash cam market. It’s well-suited for any vehicle, regardless of windshield size, and it doesn’t obstruct the driver’s view.
The absence of a rear screen is a minor drawback, but the VIOFO companion app effectively compensates for this by allowing users to preview, share, and download footage easily, thanks to the support for WiFi 5GHz.
Overall, the Viofo VS1 ticks almost all the boxes for features within its price range. Offering a compact design, high-quality imaging, WiFi support, a user-friendly app, and more, all for just $109.99, it represents a comprehensive package for anyone in the market for a dash cam.
