70mai Dash Cam A510 review: an affordable all-round surveillance solution

70mai Dash Cam A510: two-minute review

Choosing a dashcam can be quite labor-intensive if you’re not sure what you’re after, due in part to a bewildering array of options. What I like about this, the 70mai Dash Cam A510, is I know exactly what I’m getting. It’s a twin-camera bundle, which comes competitively priced while still offering lots of performance from both lenses.

Crucially, there’s quality video to be had, with the front camera capturing 2.7K 1944p footage thanks to a Sony Starvis 2 sensor while being able to shoot quite widely via a very decent 140-degree field of view. Meanwhile, the smaller rearward facing unit can capture 1080p video and features a 130-degree field of view.

What’s more, these are versatile units because they’ve got an easily rotated lens, with the rear camera going a full 360-degree for cockpit recording if it is needed. Add on built-in GPS and I’ve got a camera combination that can also capture all-important on-the-go data such as location, speed, and the more obvious date and time information.

The 70mai Dash Cam A510 is easy to install and setup, while the box contains everything need to get started with my set also including a 64GB microSD memory card. Bluetooth connectivity means that video content can be viewed on a smartphone, with an impressive app making that task easier. I’m also very pleased that this model features a built-in LCD screen, which adds an extra touch of in-car convenience.

70mai Dash Cam A510: Design

I’ve been trying the 70mai Dash Cam A510 Set, which means that inside the box there’s the front-facing camera as well as a smaller variant that points out the back of the car. In fact, this bundle comes with all I needed to get started, which is always a bonus. It’s worth noting though that for anyone not wanting to power the setup via a 12V socket, an additional hardwire kit is required. This is also essential to get all the parking surveillance features activated.

The main camera features a 2-inch LCD display, with four pressable buttons immediately beneath for working your way through all of the features and functions. A chunky manual helps with the initial setup, and there’s a smaller one that covers the rear-facing camera. On the side of the main camera are three ports, for the power and rear camera cables, plus one for the microSD card. A slimline button on the bottom of the unit can be used for emergency video capture.

I think the overall build quality of this model feels as good as any dashcam I’ve tried. Better still, it’s easy to plumb everything in and get it up and running. The box contains static sheets too, which provides an easy way to fix both cameras to the screens of vehicles, without the need to stick the very adhesive pad directly to the glass. This makes sense for anyone wanting to move the cameras between vehicles. There’s also a tool for pushing cables behind trim elements to make the camera setup as unobtrusive as possible.

I rather like the 12V plug for this model too, which has a spare USB port next to the power cable inlet, meaning it’s possible to charge other things on the go. The cables are of a generous length, so this bundle should work with most vehicles. Usefully, 70mai has designed the rear camera with a 360-degree lens, meaning you can turn it to point into the cockpit of the car for surveillance duties when needed. The front lens is not as flexible but rotates enough so that it’s easy to tweak depending on the angle of the windshield.

70mai Dash Cam A510: Performance

I like having the benefit of a front and rear camera in the car, which is one of the 70mai Dash Cam A510’s main strengths. The dual recording capability gives a live view out the front and out the back, all on the same screen, which is handy, but it’s not really a big enough to pick out any details.

Therefore, while the screen on the back of the main camera is decent enough, reviewing of any recorded content was best done on either my phone, via the impressive 70mai app, or my laptop. The specification means that there’s a good level of data included on all the footage, with date, time, speed and coordinates all being displayed along the foot of the video content in easy-to-read white lettering.

I do think the 70mai Dash Cam A510 struggles a little bit when it’s faced with sudden changes in lighting conditions. The transition from darker, cloudy skies to sudden blocks of clear blue sky and sunshine sees the lens struggling to correct itself. This isn’t bad enough to put me off the 70mai Dash Cam A510 though as the lens soon gets back up to speed and carries on providing otherwise consistent results.

Meanwhile, the 70mai Dash Cam A510 coped with low-light and after-dark conditions admirably. 70mai says it has incorporated its so-called Night Owl Vision algorithm into this model and I’m certainly impressed by the way it copes with nighttime lighting, especially under streetlights. These can often prove problematic with dashcams, but the 70mai Dash Cam A510 handles this scenario just fine.

Previewing footage on my laptop, I think the 70mai Dash Cam A510 also captures all those vital details needed in case of an incident, so license plates and road signs are all clearly displayed. The color balance and general quality are very good too, with nothing outside of the lens glare issues mentioned above to be worried about. It’s a solid performer, that’s for sure.

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How I tested the 70mai Dash Cam A510 dash cam

• I installed the dash cam into my own car
• I used it for several journeys during both day and night
• I connected it to my phone and downloaded recordings for appraisal

I spent time with the 70mai Dash Cam A510 installed in an SUV, which meant I had plenty of screen space in order to get it installed. However, the design is also sufficiently compact enough to work in vehicles with less glass area to play with.

I tried the  dashcam bundle over a period of time, across a range of driving scenarios, and in all sorts of weather conditions. Once installed, I found it to be very low-maintenance and enjoyed having the benefit of a chime on startup, just to know that it was functioning as expected.

• First reviewed July 2024