Xiaomi Incorporated, a Chinese electronics company based in Beijing, recently released a new device that will give GoPro some stiff competition. More commonly known for its smartphones, Xiaomi is trying its hand at the sport camera market.
Named the Xiaomi Yi Action Camera, this product is practically the cheap alternative to the GoPro Hero. While the GoPro Hero line retails from several to many dollars more, the new camera from Xiaomi is listed on their website for just $99.
The Yi Action Camera offers consumers decent features considering the low-cost they will pay for it. Weighing only 72 grams, roughly 2.5 ounces, the Yi Action Camera, boasting an Ambarella A7LS processor, can record 1080p video in 60 frames per second (FPS) and Full HD video in 30 FPS.
It has a Sony 16 MP camera with an ultra-angle lens measuring 155° which can be set to take a time-lapse photo or a single photo in traditional or timed mode.
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Those in the pool or ocean will enjoy its water-resistant housing and ability to be taken to depths up to 40 meters, or 131 feet. The Yi Sports Camera can also be mounted and combined with numerous accessories offered by Xiaomi.
The device is also able to connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to Android devices courtesy a dedicated app. Xiaomi’s website claims that iOS devices will likely be compatible as early as April of this year. Still, users can upload their videos and photos to social media or store them to micro SD card up to 64 GB in size.
But how does the Xiaomi Yi Action Camera stack up against competing gadgets? Its direct competitor would be the GoPro HERO which can be purchased from GoPro’s official website for $129.
At a weight a little heavier than its Xiaomi competitor, 111 grams (3.9 oz.), the GoPro HERO can record 30 FPS video in 1080p or 60 FPS video in 720p. The photo resolution is just 5MP, unlike like the Yi Sports Camera, yet both products yield a 2.8 aperture and an ultra-wide field of view.
One of the unique features of the GoPro HERO is SuperView which “takes a 4:3 aspect ratio and dynamically stretches it to a 16:9 ratio.” This reportedly allows the camera’s sensor to record more of the surrounding setting without interfering with the original shot.
There are some drawbacks of the GoPro HERO in comparison to the Yi Sports Camera. In addition to the lack of MP and inability to record in Full HD, the GoPro HERO is not as convenient when it comes to sharing recorded content. The GoPro HERO is not directly supported by any apps and is not Wi-Fi capable. Therefore, users must rely on photo and video playback through capable TV’s via USB or take the conventional route of uploading content onto a computer from the removable micro SD card. Even at that, the maximum capacity SD card the GoPro HERO can support is 32 GB, half the size of its competitor.
Overall, it would not be surprising to see consumers leaning in favor of the Xiaomi Yi Sports Camera. It contains marginally superior features to those found in the GoPro HERO. With its features and lower price than its competing product, it looks like the cell phone-heavy manufacturer of Xiaomi Incorporated has made its mark with a new piece of hardware.