Automotive · Head-to-head
VIOFO A229 Pro vs Garmin Dash Cam X310
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full Dash Cams: Which to Buy and Which to Skip comparison.
The VIOFO A229 Pro delivers the strongest front-and-rear footage for the money, with dual STARVIS 2 sensors, HDR on both channels and a CPL filter included rather than upsold. The Garmin Dash Cam X310 is the pick if you value a small, touchscreen-simple single camera over rear coverage.
VIOFO A229 Pro
Buy itTrue 4K front and 2K rear on dual Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, with a glare-cutting filter in the box.
- Genuine 4K front and 2K rear using Sony STARVIS 2 sensors (IMX678 front, IMX675 rear) with HDR on both channels
- Includes a CPL filter to cut windshield reflections that most rivals sell separately, plus 5GHz Wi-Fi and quad-mode GPS
- Button-driven menus have a learning curve and there is no touchscreen
- Parking modes need the HK4 hardwire kit, which is sold separately
Garmin Dash Cam X310
Buy itThe most polished single-camera setup here: tiny body, touchscreen, and a built-in polarizer that kills dashboard glare.
- Compact 4K recording with a built-in Clarity polarizer that noticeably reduces windshield and dashboard reflections
- 2.41-inch touchscreen plus voice control make it the easiest of the group to set up and live with
- A single front camera; rear coverage means buying and syncing a second Garmin dash cam
- You pay a premium price for a single channel
Side by side
The 6 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| VIOFO A229 Pro Our pick | Garmin Dash Cam X310 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Drivers who want the most front-and-rear detail per dollar and do not mind spending an afternoon in the settings. | People who want the simplest, most discreet one-camera install and do not need rear coverage. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Front camera | True 4K, Sony STARVIS 2 (IMX678) | 4K with built-in Clarity polarizer, 140-degree view |
| Rear coverage | Yes, 2K STARVIS 2 rear | No, front only (can sync with other Garmin cams) |
| Night and low light | Excellent, HDR on both channels | Very good, polarizer cuts glare |
| Parking protection | Buffered, time-lapse and low-bitrate modes (HK4 kit needed) | Parking Guard alerts; needs Vault subscription and constant power |
| Ease of use | Buttons and app; menu learning curve | Touchscreen and voice; simplest |
| Value tier | Mid-range, most detail per dollar | Premium, single channel |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the VIOFO A229 Pro if
drivers who want the most front-and-rear detail per dollar and do not mind spending an afternoon in the settings.
Know before buying: button-driven menus have a learning curve and there is no touchscreen.
Pick the Garmin Dash Cam X310 if
people who want the simplest, most discreet one-camera install and do not need rear coverage.
Know before buying: a single front camera; rear coverage means buying and syncing a second Garmin dash cam.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the VIOFO A229 Pro - True 4K front and 2K rear on dual Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, with a glare-cutting filter in the box. Choose the Garmin Dash Cam X310 instead if people who want the simplest, most discreet one-camera install and do not need rear coverage.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete Dash Cams: Which to Buy and Which to Skip.