“Mio” dashcam is popular in Taiwan – what is the essence of its “high quality” as experienced locally?
What are the requirements for a motorcycle dashcam? Image quality, durability, ease of use, size, and the ability to “not miss any footage.” If even one of these is lacking, it cannot be called a truly reliable tool.
The first thing that surprised me when I visited Taiwan was the overwhelming number of motorbike users, mainly scooters. During morning and evening rush hour, it’s not uncommon to see two-wheeled vehicles occupying most of the road. Another thing that surprised me was that most of these motorbikes were equipped with some kind of dashcam.
During rush hour in Taipei, there are so many motorbikes that the roads fill up.
Have you heard of the “Mio” dashcam?
Among them, the “Mio” brand of dashcams is popular for its high performance, and is said to have the largest market share in the country, earning it tremendous trust from Taiwanese riders.
“Mio” is a global brand developed by MiTAC Digital Technology, a car electronics company headquartered in Taiwan. Originally, the company expanded into Asian countries in the 2000s with portable car navigation systems as its main product, and with that track record and technology as a backdrop, it entered the dashcam market in earnest in the 2010s. In particular, in the Taiwanese market, its high-performance, high-quality products have garnered support, and it now holds one of the top market shares. In recent years, the company has been expanding its sales network, primarily in Asian and North American markets, and will officially launch in Japan in the fall of 2024. It is steadily increasing its presence as a global brand.
Mio’s motorcycle dash cams come in a variety of types.
In Taiwan’s car accessory retailers, a dedicated corner for Mio was eye-catching. The brand is a popular dashcam brand in the region and enjoys strong support.
Why are motorcycle dashcams so commonplace in Taiwan?
The reason dashcams are so popular in Taiwan is that the roads there are far more aggressive than those in Japan. Cutting in, ignoring traffic signals, and reckless overtaking are commonplace, and in the case of minor collisions, verbal communication alone often makes it unclear who is responsible.
The front row of the road when waiting at a traffic light is reserved for motorcycles, and they keep squeezing in whenever they find a gap.
That’s why it’s so important to be able to prove it with video. In fact, many local riders say that dashcams are an essential piece of equipment, as they believe that “accidents are bound to happen. Even if you’re not at fault, you’ll have evidence if you’re involved in an accident.”
Mio’s motorcycle dashcam, the MiVue™ M820WD, is a particularly popular model, and makes no compromises when it comes to the reliability of its recordings. It employs a dual front and rear camera configuration, with the rear camera also capable of recording in full 1080p HD quality. Night correction and WDR (wide dynamic range) processing ensure that license plates are clearly visible even on roads with little street lighting. It not only records the exact moment of an accident, but also ensures high quality that clearly shows who did what.
The MiVue™ M820WD is a motorcycle-specific dashcam that supports full HD recording at 60fps, front and rear. Its STARVIS sensor and HDR ensure clear recording even at night, and its IP67 waterproof design makes it resistant to bad weather. It also features GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity, and parking monitoring, making it a highly functional model that provides peace of mind when riding.
For the Mio dashcam lineup and detailed product information, please visit the official website below.
Reasons for the popularity of “Mio” – No operation required, engine linked, automatic recording
Another reason why Mio is highly rated locally is that it is “simply simple to use.” Basically, it starts recording automatically when the engine is turned on, and stops when the engine is turned off. No extra operations are required, and power handling is also completed with the included unit.
The MiVue™ M820WD is 10% to 15% more compact than other products (65.8 x 64 x 22.6 mm), allowing for greater flexibility in installation location. (Image: MiTAC)
Furthermore, if the model is equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can immediately check and save driving footage using a smartphone app. When an accident occurs or when reporting it, there is no need to take the trouble of removing the SD card from the device and inserting it into a PC. This “speedy video review” is a valuable asset when submitting footage to the police or insurance company.
By installing the dedicated app, you can configure various functions and check recorded video from your smartphone. (Image: MiTAC)
According to a local rider, “After an accident, if you can immediately show the video on the app, you can prove on the spot that it wasn’t your fault. It gives you peace of mind.” It’s not always possible to have a calm conversation with the other party at the scene of an accident, so if you have an accurate record, you can avoid being treated unfairly.
Sony’s STARVIS sensor and HDR/WDR allow for clear video recording, even at night or in scenes with large differences in brightness. The recording quality is on par with, and in some cases even surpasses, those of top domestic manufacturers. (Image: MiTAC)
Furthermore, durability is an absolute requirement for motorcycle dashcams. The environment they are exposed to is incomparably harsher than that of four-wheeled vehicles, with vibrations, rain, heat, and ultraviolet rays. Mio’s motorcycle model uses a unit structure with waterproof and dustproof performance equivalent to IP67. In addition, the camera unit has a metal body, making it less susceptible to cracking and thermal deformation, unlike the plastic covers often found in cheaper products.
Another notable feature is the high degree of freedom in installation. Multiple mounts are included as standard, allowing for flexible installation depending on the vehicle model, such as on the handlebars, mirror, or under the fender. The wiring is simple and well-organized, and excess harnesses are not easily exposed, which is beneficial in terms of both maintenance and theft prevention.
The camera’s rotation angle is a maximum of 125° to 135°, which is 1.5 to 2 times wider than other products. Multiple included mounts allow for greater flexibility in installation. The wiring is neatly organized, and the design is excellent in appearance, ease of maintenance, and anti-theft measures. (Image: MiTAC)
“Evidence” required by Japanese riders
Mio’s dash cams only entered the Japanese market in the fall of 2024, and domestic deployment is still in its infancy. However, judging from their track record in Taiwan, their quality and reliability are first-rate. In particular, for users who ride motorcycles daily, such as those commuting to work or school, delivery workers, and touring riders, a dash cam like Mio that records, doesn’t break, and requires no operation provides great peace of mind.
Mio also has a lineup of car dashcams. The MiVue ER58 is the latest model of a digital mirror type equipped with three cameras, front and rear.
Recently, in Japan, there have been an increasing number of cases where recorded footage of motorcycle accidents has been used as conclusive evidence in court, and the significance of riders using dashcams to protect themselves is increasing year by year.
Riders on the roads of Taiwan know that accidents are inevitable and are not something that only happens to other people, so they choose the best equipment to prepare for such an eventuality. The reason they choose Mio is undoubtedly because their realistic perspective and the technological capabilities of the product are a perfect match.
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