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Mio Mivue 792 WIFI Pro Dashboard Camera Review

Mio Technology is a subsidiary of MiTAC International Corp, a Taiwanese electronics company established in 1982. While relatively unknown in Singapore, Mio is actually a leading manufacturer of Dashboard Cameras (Dashcam) and in-car navigation systems.

In Taiwan, Mio holds a whopping 45% market share and their products are well-known all over the world, winning multiple consumers’ awards over the years. Mio is also the first Taiwanese Dashcam TAF (Taiwan Accreditation Foundation) Certified R&D Lab.

Mio is releasing their latest dashcam, the Mio MiVue 792 WIFI pro at SITEX 2017 from 23rd to 26th November and here at Carro, we’ve got the chance to test it out!

The package contains :

– Mio MiVue 792 WIFI Pro Dash Cam
– Car charger
– Car mount
– Quick start guide

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MiVue 792 front
Mio

The Mio MiVue 792 WIFI Pro is a full of nifty features, the most notable of which being the

STARVIS CMOS image sensor which is able to better capture footage in low-visibility conditions (best surveillance camera sensor currently on the market)

60 FPS full-HD 1080p recording also ensures that all the important details are captured on smooth and sharp footage even for fast-moving objects.

MiVue 792 screen
Mio

The Mio MiVue 792 is not touchscreen operated but navigation is easy and intuitive with easily-accessible side buttons.

Included in our test kit is the A30 rear camera which comes with

-Connection cable
-Y-splitter cable
-Installation manual

The A30 uses the Sony Exmor CMOS sensor and records in full HD 30fps. Exposure setting of the A30 can also be adjusted to suit your needs.

The lenses of both the MiVue 792 and the MiVue A30 are made of glass instead of plastic. Not only does glass provide better image quality, it is also less susceptible to deterioration under the hot sun in Singapore.

For the purpose of this review, we mainly tested the difference in image quality between the 2 different types of sensors and how well the integrated WIFI feature works. As well as the ease-of-use of the companion apps and programs.

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Integrated WIFI

The MiVue 792’s integrated WIFI is arguably the device’s most important feature. It allows users to easily backup footage to their smartphone for immediate viewing, or share their experiences on Facebook via the MiVue app, available for iOS and Android.

Setting up the app is simple, simply turn on the WIFI on the 792 and connect to it via WIFI on the smartphone. The 792’s display will indicate the network name and password.

Automatic backup event footage to phone via app
Automatic backup event footage to phone via app

In testing, the download of a 40 MB file takes about 25-30 seconds.

Auto backup event/emergency video recording

The system will automatically back up 5 seconds before and 15 seconds after the point of impact. The event footage will automatically be downloaded to the unit’s paired smartphone immediately. In the event of a collision, users can access the footage via the MiVue app right away for viewing and sharing.

MiVue App Events folder
MiVue App Events folder

The MiVue Pro app also features 2-ch support with A30 model rear camera, allowing users to backup footage from the rear camera as well. If there is a rear camera set up, event/emergency footage will automatically backup footage from the rear camera too.

Footage ending with F indicates Front Camera and footage ending with R indicates Rear Camera.

MiVue App playback log
MiVue App playback log
MiVue App video log
MiVue App video log

By default, the device records in 3-minute intervals. As you can see in the above screenshot, 3 minutes worth of full-HD footage is 371 MB, so investing in a MicroSD card with larger storage capacity is a good idea.

The MiVue 792 offers uninterrupted recording where the device records without breaking while the WIFI connection to a mobile phone is being established.

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Other features

The 792 also includes built-in GPS / speed camera warning

Mio incorporates advanced speed alerts into its OS, factoring speed camera positions and car driving speed to inform drivers more accurately about safety issues.

The GPS tracking feature is very helpful to let users know exactly where a collision took place to facilitate insurance claims.

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Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) functions

– Lane Departure Warning System
– Driver Fatigue Alert
– Forward Collision Warning System

While these features are helpful and nice to have, most cars nowadays do come with their own in-built safety and assistance systems from the manufacturer.

MiVue Manager PC player

MiVue Manager can be downloaded from the Mio website.

Using this companion program is simple. Simply connect the device or microSD card to your computer and open the folder you want to see. The microSD card is automatically formatted to have 4 folders: event, video, photo and parking.

If the rear camera was set up, there will also be the F (front) and R (rear) sub-folders. If you would like to see all event footage, simply select the event folder and both front and rear footage will be imported into the program.

MiVue Manager Front Cam
MiVue Manager Front Cam view

The interface of MiVue Manager is simple and clear. The main panel displays the selected camera view with video player controls. Under that is the GPS which can be toggled on and off.

Near the top of the window are the Facebook and Youtube functions, where users can upload the clips directly to those platforms with MiVue Manager. Users can also save snapshots of footage.

MiVue Manager Rear Cam
MiVue Manager Rear Cam view

Camera view can be switched by clicking on the switch key near the top right of the window.

*You can clearly see the difference between the STARVIS sensor of the 792 and the EXMOR sensor of the A30. The front camera view shows more detail than the rear camera in such a low light condition.

Verdict

The Mio MiVue 792 WIFI Pro definitely delivers on quality. It’s main selling points are the extremely impressive STARVIS sensor and the integrated WIFI feature.

It’s most important features are intuitive and easy to use in conjunction with the MiVue mobile app. In testing, event footage backup is almost seamless. All it takes is a few button presses and the footages are ready for viewing in no time at all.

MiVue Manager adds another layer to the overall user experience. It’s easy to use while providing in-depth information and social media integration.

Moving forward, the Mio MiVue 792 WIFI Pro is going to be the benchmark for products attempting to enter the high-end dashcam segment. Not just the device but the entire user experience!

Overall, the Mio MiVue 792 WIFI Pro is everything a driver would want out of a high-end dashcam. The device itself impresses tech and features wise while the supporting app and software make for an intuitive and easy user experience.

*The Mio MiVue 792 goes on sale at SITEX 2017 from the 23rd to the 26th of November and retails at S$299. Meanwhile, the A30 rear camera is sold separately but both items can be purchased as a bundle for $439 with free installation at the SITEX Show.

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