two minute review
The Mio MiVue 818 is
The Mio MiVue 818 is another of the many models available from this manufacturer. Needless to say, the Mio has the right form factor, although the MiVue 818 has a slightly unusual shape, especially compared to some slimmer, slimmer rivals found in our guide to the best dash cams.
In fact, it has a rather bulky casing, presumably to house all the technological tricks hidden within. Still, this form factor is pretty nice once you get it set up on your board. This is done using an included mount with the usual sticky pad, which can be very difficult to move again if you don't get it right the first time.
In its box, the Mio MiVue packs just about everything you need for high-quality dash cam recording, and all for a fairly competitive price.
There's the all-important Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS for adding precise data detail to your footage, so you get a complete overview of any incident that needs to be preserved. There's also a long power cord that fits into the 12V charging port. Unfortunately, there's no microSD card, which can be annoying if you want to settle down and don't have a spare.
Still, with that inserted into the side of the camera, you can get into the simple setup process. It's refreshingly simple, with some minor tweaking required if you want the screen to display in another language or change things like speed measurements from 'km' to 'mph' or vice versa. . A glossy fold-out sheet offers the details of its quick start guide, but there's not much to figure out. Mio has a companion app if you want to share or distribute clips, but you can save them directly to the card.
This recording process follows the standard and works in a loop, so make sure you delete everything you need before it gets overwritten. If you had a prang, that's probably the first thing you'd do anyway. Alternatively, grab a very large microSD card and reduce the risk of inadvertently losing important footage.
The Mio MiVue 818 certainly impresses in the imaging department. There's 2K 1440p video content captured through a 140-degree wide-angle lens. This means that you get a lot of detail in the resulting images. Full HD 1080P video at 60fps means results are sharp, clear and, thanks to the solid mounting solution, stable too.
The f/1.8 aperture also works well in difficult conditions, such as strong light and license plate detection after dark. The 2,7-inch screen offers a solid overview of proceedings, while a built-in microphone and speaker combo covers the audio side if you need it.
Unsurprisingly, the Mio MiVue 818 offers additional functionality if you install the app on your smartphone and set up Wi-Fi functionality. This allows for quick and easy backups and over-the-air updates, which is convenient for keeping your device up to date. You can also take advantage of the power tools that GPS offers, with something like "Find my parked car" being a bonus if you're desperate in crowded parking lots and have no idea where to go.
Elsewhere, there are useful features that make life easier, like the self-explanatory 'average speed camera alert'. Another nifty little trick is that the Mio MiVue 818 will tell you, in a very modest way, to turn off your lights if you've parked and still have them on. More importantly, there are some really useful tools, like a smart parking mode where built-in sensors can detect movement near the front of your car. This comes thanks to the three-axis G-sensor built into the camera, making it really good at spotting anything adverse.
For the price, the Mio has done a great job of topping it all off with a choice of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These include lane departure warning, forward collision warning system, cruise control reminder, fatigue alert and HUD display mode. Not to mention those pulses in your headlights, too. The camera can also help you save the planet with an eco-driving indicator, which lights up when you drive more efficiently.
Should I buy the Mio MiVue 818?
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Mio MiVue 818: price comparison
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