Thanks to Viofo for providing the A139 3CH for review.

 

Technical Specs:
• Processor: Novatek 96687
• Sensor: Front – Sony STARVIS IMX335, Rear – Sony STARVIS IMX291, Interior – Sony STARVIS IMX291
• Lens: Front 140° Wide Viewing Angle; Rear 140° Wide Viewing Angle; Interior 170° Wide Viewing Angle
• Resolution: 3 channels: 2560×1440 30fps + 1920×1080 30fps + 1920×1080 30fps, 1920×1080 60fps + 1920×1080 30fps + 1920×1080 30fps; 2 channels: 2560×1440 30/60fps + 1920×1080 30fps
• Support up to 512GB microSD card
• Built-in 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi
• Built-in supercapacitor
• GPS mount
• Support external 3.5mm jack microphone
• Coaxial interior & rear cam cable
• Bluetooth remote (optional)
• CPL filter (optional)
• Parking mode (requires Viofo USB Type-C hardwire kit)
• Lock bracket to lock the hardwire kit and memory card slot (optional)

 

The box

 

 

Open box

 

 

Content

• A139
• GPS mount
• Rear cam
Interior cam
• USB Type-C car charger
• Rear cam coaxial cable 6m
• Interior cam coaxial cable 1m
• Micro SD card reader (mine is missing)
• Electrostatic film
• Spare mount tape
• Pry tool
• Hello! card

 

 

A139

 

 

GPS mount

 

 

Rear cam

 

 

Interior cam

 

 

USB Type-C car charger

 

 

Rear cam coaxial cable 6m

 

 

Interior cam coaxial cable 1m

 

 

Electrostatic film

 

 

Pry tool

 

 

Spare mount tape

 

 

Hello! card

 

 

USB Type-C hardwire kit (optional)

 

 

Bitrate settings

There are 4 bitrate settings that you can set on the A139 3CH. Below is the information for H.264 encoding for the 4 bitrate settings.

H.264 Low bit rate
Front cam: 2560×1440 30fps – Overall bit rate: 15.3 Mb/s. 109MB per 1min file.
Rear cam: 1920×1080 30fps – Overall bit rate: 10.3 Mb/s. 73.7MB per 1min file.
Interior cam: 1920×1080 30fps – Overall bit rate: 10.3 Mb/s. 73.7MB per 1min file.

H.264 Normal bit rate
Front cam: 2560×1440 30fps – Overall bit rate: 19.5 Mb/s. 139MB per 1min file.
Rear cam: 1920×1080 30fps – Overall bit rate: 12.8 Mb/s. 91.5MB per 1min file.
Interior cam: 1920×1080 30fps – Overall bit rate: 12.8 Mb/s. 91.5MB per 1min file.

H.264 High bitrate
Front cam: 2560×1440 30fps – Overall bit rate: 23.6 Mb/s. 169MB per 1min file.
Rear cam: 1920×1080 30fps – Overall bit rate: 15.3 Mb/s. 109MB per 1min file.
Interior cam: 1920×1080 30fps – Overall bit rate: 15.3 Mb/s. 109MB per 1min file.

H.264 Maximum bit rate
Front cam: 2560×1440 30fps – Overall bit rate: 27.8 Mb/s. 199MB per 1min file.
Rear cam: 1920×1080 30fps – Overall bit rate: 17.0 Mb/s. 121MB per 1min file.
Interior cam: 1920×1080 30fps – Overall bit rate: 17.0 Mb/s. 121MB per 1min file.

 

 

Test setup

I will be using a 128GB Transcend High Endurance microSD 350V card for the recordings. Also using the new USB Type-C hardwire kit.

 

 

Viofo app

 

 

Videos
Below is recorded using firmware v1.0.0923:
Front: 2560×1440 30fps with an overall bit rate of 19.5 Mb/s using Normal bitrate mode with WDR on.
Rear & interior: 1920×1080 30fps with an overall bit rate of 12.8 Mb/s using Normal bitrate mode with WDR on. Interior cam is with IR auto mode.

 

 

Final thoughts

This is not the final retail version of the A139 3CH. So it might have some changes in the final retail version from my unit.

The retail version will be on sale in a month’s time.

The A139 is a new design from the A119 & A129 series. But you can see some similarities with Thinkware’s F800 Pro here.

Overall, I do like the new A139 designs and using super thin coaxial cables for the rear and interior cams.

The audio in the recordings seems to be much louder now which is good.

Wish the USB Type-C connector on the new USB Type-C hardwire kit is a straight connector instead of a 90° angled connector.

Also, A139 has voice prompts. The voice prompts are on par with Thinkware dashcams.

But there aren’t voice prompts when GPS is connected.


5 Comments

DAVID Jones Chan · November 13, 2020 at 5:55 pm

no screen too bad, overall value for money, wait for the pro version?

    Jeremy Wong · November 13, 2020 at 6:03 pm

    Some people actually like it without a screen as more discreet.

    Not sure when they will release a Pro version or Plus version.

      Robin · August 5, 2021 at 11:33 pm

      Yea without the screen it would be less distracting, and the need to check the screen is not there. I feel the screen was removed so that the device doesn’t overheat.

Rick Antonio · January 10, 2021 at 7:58 am

This will probably be my next camera setup as it pretty much checks all the boxes of what I’m looking for

Darren Johnson · January 30, 2021 at 12:40 pm

Having a screen would be awesome. To be able to view from your mobile device, 4k ,,,I will be waiting on this 1,, for all my vehicles

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