The B40/A118 was released in mid 2014 and has has proven to be a very popular camera, coming close to the sales for the G1W and for good reason. It packs all the positive features from the G1W and adds a more discreet form factor and a noticeably better image quality from the same chipset and only costs $10 more in most instances.
| B40 / A118 at a glance | Price | Our Rating | Awards |
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8.8 |
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As with most of the Chinese origin Dash cams, it’s picked up and branded by several different manufacturers who use the same base model to sell the camera. Some add extras such as GPS, others re-color the camera to stand out. Some of the most popular variants of the camera are from Black box, Auto-Vox and Tiesfong. Generally, if the name of the camera contains B40 or A118, it’s this model of camera.
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 Lens
For a camera in this price bracket, the B40 / A118 packs a good lens and processor, capable of capturing footage at 1080p and 30 fps with great quality footage during the day and average quality footage at night. The camera comes complete with WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) that assists the camera when switching from day time to night time. It’s main competitor is the G1W and the as stated, the quality is noticeably better for such a small price increment.
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 Hardware
The B40 / A118 fits a lot of good components into quite a small form factor. All the above noted components, fit into a small 72mm x 52mm x 43mm casing and can be very discreetly mounted behind the rear view mirror in a vehicle. The method of mounting allows the majority of the camera to be mounted above the windshield with only really the lens and black casing visible from the outside, making it difficult to pick out unless you know it’s there. It also comes with a CMOS battery making it far more tolerant of high and low temperatures.
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 Gallery
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 Features
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Built In G-Sensor
The G-Sensor monitors for any collisions and if detected, will lock and keep the most recent footage safe so you can use it as proof in any situation.
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HD 1080p Video Recording
Able to record Full HD 1080p Video at 30fps or 720p at 60fps.
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1.5″ LCD Screen
The discreen screen allows you to configure and mount the device properly and preview the footage you will be recording.
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High Quality Lens
The B40/ A118 comes with a good quality lens for the price with WDR, 170 degrees recording and 4x zoom lens combined with a 3.0 megapixal camera to take snaps if required.
Common issues
There are a few reported faults with the camera that have been reported by multiple owners. They are as follows:
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Blurry picture
A few owners have reported a blurry image after a 10-15 minutes of driving. This is typically due to heat built up behind the camera lens but is supposed to be dissapated by the camera. If this happens, you may want to look at trying to get a replacement unit..
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Card Full Error
It has been reported on a few models that the error “Card Full” appear on the screen. The simple solution to this seems to be toggling to a different loop time and then back to your preferred time frame. If the issue persists, you can swap out to a new SD card, this appers to fully resolve the issue..
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Year changes to 2014
A number of people have reported that when attaching a compitble GPS unit, the year in the timestamp appears to revert to 2014 (with the date and time remaining correct). A few owners have had success with rolling back to a previous firmware but make sure to read instructions carefully before doing so and only use firmware from your cameras manufacturer.
Is the Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 right for you?
If the price of this camera meets with your maximum budget there is no better camera for the money. It has a solid list of components, good form factor and performs well. The video quality during the day is great and is more than acceptable at night. If you have a higher budget, there are of course better cameras out there. Please also factor an SD card into the price as one is not included in the box.
Although there are some issues as noted above, the seem to affect a low number of units. This is a best in class camera and very easy to recommend if this is as far as your budget can stretch.
Where to Buy
Particularly when it comes to chinese cameras, it’s best to purchase from a reputable source such as Amazon:
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 Mounted
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 Video Sample Day
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 Video Sample Night
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118 Specifications
Black Box, Auto-Vox B40 /A118  |
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| Price | |
| Channels | 1 |
| Screen | 1.5″ Color LCD |
| GPS |  |
| G-Sensor/td> |  |
| Wi-FI | |
| Parking Mode | |
| File Lock | Manual Button and G-Sensor |
| Max Resolution | 1080p @ 30F FPS |
| File Format | .mov |
| Viewing Angle | 170 |
| Memory Card Standard | Micro SD |
| Included Storage | No card included |
| Max Card Supported | 32GB |
| Mount | Adhesive |
| Operating Temperature | -10C – 60C |
| Software Compatability | PC and MAC |
Wrap Up
B40 / A118
Pros
- - Great Size
- - Good Video Quality
- - Excellent Value
- - Great features
Cons
- - Reliability Issues
- - Lack of SD Card
