Our range of dual dashcams
Our range of dual dashcams consists entirely of models from 70mai, the brand for car electronics within the Xiaomi ecosystem. If you'd rather mount just one camera on the windshield, you'll also find the standalone models without a second camera under all dashcams .
Broadly speaking, the sets fall into three groups:
- Entry-level models: the A200, the A400 and the A410, compact and aimed at daily commuting.
- Mid-range: the A500S Pro Plus with built-in GPS and the A510, with more setting options and a larger screen.
- 4K models: the A800SE, the A810S and the M800, with 4K recordings at the front and, on the last two, a Sony STARVIS 2 sensor for sharp images in low light.
There are also two special models in the mix. The S500 is built into a rearview mirror, and the 4K T800 works with three channels instead of two.
How does a dual dashcam work?
A dual dashcam works with two cameras that together form one system: the main camera on the windshield and a second camera that you connect with a signal cable. That second camera doesn't need its own power supply, because it's powered by the main camera and automatically starts up as soon as you turn on your car.
The footage from both cameras ends up on the same memory card in the front camera, so you only have to read out one card. With 70mai you can also point that second camera inward using the FC02 interior camera, which fits the A510 and the A200, among others.
What should you look for in a front and rear car camera?
With a front and rear car camera, the choice comes down to three things: the image quality, the mounting of the second camera, and what the set does when your car is parked. Go through them in that order and you'll usually be left with two or three models.
Image quality of the front and rear camera
The image quality of the front camera is higher than that of the rear camera on nearly every set. The 4K A800SE, for example, films in 4K at the front and in 1080p at the rear, while the A410 captures the road ahead of you in 2.5K.
In practice, that difference turns out less unfavorable than it seems. The front camera needs to keep license plates readable from a distance at speed, while the rear camera mainly records rear-end damage and parking incidents up close. For that, 1080p with a 130-degree viewing angle is plenty.
Mounting the rear camera
Mounting the rear camera takes the most time of the whole installation, because the signal cable runs from the windshield to the rear window. With 70mai, that cable is about 5.5 meters long, more than enough to tuck it away along the headliner and the pillars.
Do pay attention to which rear camera matches your model, because 70mai uses a different type for each series. The RC22, for example, belongs to the 4K A800SE and the RC21 to the A410, and the 4K T800 even has its own 4K rear camera. If the one for your series isn't included, you can still add a separate rear camera later.
Recording while parked
Recording while parked only works if the dashcam keeps getting power while the ignition is off. The cigarette lighter cuts out then, so for that you connect the camera to your car's fuse box with a hardwire kit for dashcams .
With both channels active, you'll also capture who bumps into your bumper while you're out doing the groceries. The S500, the dashcam built into a rearview mirror, goes one step further and shows guidelines on the screen as soon as you put the car in reverse.
Buying a front and rear dashcam
You buy a front and rear dashcam at TechPunt with the assurance that you get the right set delivered. When ordering, deliberately choose the variant with a rear camera, because on most models that camera is a separate option.
Order on a business day before 8:00 PM and your package will arrive the next business day, provided the product is in stock. Everything is shipped from our own warehouse in Barneveld, and you get a 2-year manufacturer's warranty and 14 days to return your order. Still torn between two models? Our customer service is happy to help you out by phone, email or WhatsApp.
