Best 4K Dual Dash Cams: Native 4K Front With a Sharp Rear Camera

The short version: the VIOFO A229 Ultra is the pick for native 4K on both the front and the rear camera. The VIOFO A229 Pro pairs native 4K front with a 2K rear for less, the ROVE R2-4K Dual PRO does the same with a 128 GB card in the box, and the VIOFO A329S adds 4K at 60 frames per second in front. The Thinkware U3000 adds radar parking mode, and the Affver A4 is the budget way to get a 2.5K rear camera. Each one records the rear at 1440p or better.

Why the Rear Camera Decides It

The rear camera is what reads the plate of a car that hits you from behind, yet most "4K front and rear" listings record 4K only at the front and 1080p behind. This page covers only cameras whose listings state native 4K in front and 1440p (2K) or more at the rear. For 4K-front cameras with a 1080p rear under about $150, see our budget 4K front and rear dash cams. Method: how we review.

Prices and ratings were checked on Amazon through Keepa and change often; each card shows today's price and rating.

The Picks

1. VIOFO A229 Ultra

The true dual 4K option: the listing states 4K front and 4K rear recording on two STARVIS 2 sensors, with HDR on both channels, 5 GHz Wi-Fi, GPS, voice control and three parking modes (time lapse, low bitrate and auto event detection). The listing also says no SD card is included, so add a high-endurance card to the cost. At about $400 it has few ratings so far (about 4.3 from under 60 buyers), so its long-term record is still thin. The listing says parking mode needs a hardwire kit, sold separately. Choose it if a readable rear plate is the whole point.

2. VIOFO A229 Pro

Native 4K in front and 2K at 1440p behind, on STARVIS 2 sensors at both ends, with a longer record than the Ultra (about 4.2 from 1,500 buyers). Its listing describes three parking modes, including event detection that keeps 15 seconds before an event and 30 seconds after, quad-system GPS, 5 GHz Wi-Fi and voice control. It uses a supercapacitor rated for 5 to 149°F rather than a battery, which suits a car parked in summer sun. The listing says VIOFO's HK4 hardwire kit, needed for parking mode with the engine off, is sold separately.

3. ROVE R2-4K Dual PRO

Not the same camera as ROVE's upscaled R2-4K Dual (see below): the Dual PRO's listing states native 3840x2160 front and 2560x1440 rear recording at 30 fps, on the same STARVIS 2 IMX678 and IMX675 sensors as the A229 Pro. At about $250 it is the cheapest camera here with STARVIS 2 sensors listed at both ends, and it comes with a 128 GB card (the Affver A4 includes 64 GB; the A229 Ultra and A329S listings say no card is included), so it records out of the box. Parking mode with the engine off still needs a hardwire kit. Its listing describes a 24-hour parking mode with time lapse, motion and collision detection, plus Wi-Fi 6 and quad-system GPS. Rated about 4.3 from roughly 540 buyers, a shorter record than the A229 Pro.

4. VIOFO A329S

The choice for smoother video: 4K at 60 frames per second in front (most dash cams record 30) with a 2K rear, which helps freeze a plate on a moving car. The listing notes that 4K at 60 fps is not available while HDR is on, so night driving with HDR records at the usual frame rate. It is the only camera here that can record to an external SSD (up to 4 TB) as well as a microSD card up to 512 GB (neither is included, per the listing), uses STARVIS 2 IMX678 front and IMX675 rear sensors, and it uses a thin coaxial rear cable. It costs about $400, and the listing says the hardwire kit for parking mode is not included. Rated about 4.4 from roughly 300 buyers.

5. Thinkware U3000

The parking-mode pick: 4K front and 2K rear on STARVIS 2 sensors, with a built-in radar that watches for motion while parked at low power and keeps buffered footage of the moments before an event. The listing says radar parking mode needs hardwiring or the OBD-II cable, which is included. It adds red light and speed camera alerts and a remote-view app (internet connection required). At about $500 it is the priciest here, and its rating (about 4.0 from roughly 490 buyers) is the lowest. Choose it if the car sits parked on the street and you want radar motion detection at low power, with footage buffered from before the event.

6. Affver A4

The budget way to a rear camera above 1080p, at about $90. The listing says newer units record 2.5K at the rear (earlier ones recorded 1080p), with Wi-Fi 6, GPS, a 3.59 inch screen and a 64 GB card in the box. Check the box or listing for the 2.5K rear before you buy, since older stock may still be sold. Rated about 4.4 from 1,900 buyers.

Watch for "Upscaled 4K"

Some popular cameras sold as 4K do not record 4K at all. ROVE's own listing for the R2-4K Dual (not the Dual PRO above) says its front camera "captures at 2.5K (QHD) and intelligently upscales to 4K", with a 1080p rear. Upscaling enlarges the file after recording; it adds no detail. It can still be a good camera at its price (it is on our budget page), but it is not a 4K dual dash cam.

How Much Card a 4K Dual Dash Cam Needs

Storage depends on bitrate, which manufacturers publish in the manual rather than the listing. The math: gigabytes per hour = total megabits per second x 0.45. A front and rear pair recording a combined 30 Mbps uses about 13.5 GB an hour, so a 128 GB card holds about 9.5 hours before loop recording overwrites the oldest file; at a combined 50 Mbps it holds about 5.5 hours. Locked event files are not overwritten, so they use up space. Buy a high-endurance card made for constant writing.

Parking Mode Needs Power

Each camera here lists a parking mode, but none can record for hours on its own power. Parking mode runs from the car: a hardwire kit to the fuse box (or, for the Thinkware, the included OBD-II cable) with a low-voltage cutoff, so the car still starts, or a separate dash cam battery pack. See our dash cam parking mode explainer and hardwire kits.

The Verdict

Buy the VIOFO A229 Ultra for 4K at both ends, the A229 Pro for 4K and 2K with a longer track record, the ROVE R2-4K Dual PRO for the same 4K and 2K with the card included, the A329S if smooth 60 fps front video matters, the Thinkware U3000 for radar parking coverage, and the Affver A4 if you want a better-than-1080p rear camera under $100. Skip any listing that does not state the rear resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 4K dual dash cam worth it?

If you want to read plates at a distance, yes, but check the rear camera. A 4K front with a 2K rear is a real step up from a 4K front with a 1080p rear, and the A229 Ultra records 4K at both ends.

Do any dash cams record 4K on both front and rear?

Yes. The VIOFO A229 Ultra (about $400 on Amazon) records native 4K front and rear on two STARVIS 2 sensors. Most other "4K dual" cams record 1080p to 2.5K at the rear.

What does "upscaled 4K" mean on a dash cam?

The sensor records at a lower resolution and the file is enlarged to 4K. It looks smoother on a big screen but holds no more detail than the original recording.

Supercapacitor or battery in a dash cam?

A supercapacitor handles heat and many charge cycles better than a small lithium battery, so it is the safer choice for a car parked in sun. It only holds enough power to save the last file when the car turns off.

How do I power a dash cam while parked?

With a hardwire kit wired to the fuse box with a low-voltage cutoff, or with a dash cam battery pack. A plug-in power cable turns the camera off with the car in most vehicles.

Related Reading

• Dash Cam Buying Guide
• Budget 4K Front and Rear Dash Cams
• Dash Cam Hardwire Kits
• Parking Mode vs Motion Detection