5 GoPro alternatives for all your action camera needs

Now that smartphones have all the ruggedness of the cookie I just dipped in my tea, people are starting to turn towards action video cameras. GoPro helped make this a big trend, and now a host of rival gadget makers are coming out with their own – many of which feature lower prices.

Let’s take a look at five good GoPro alternatives that cost up to US$250. Most of them are very light, strong, and support a growing array of accessories for strapping them to your bike, cat, car dashboard, helmet (delete as appropriate) – and they’re all good candidates to be on your gadget shopping list. Although they’re all pretty rugged as well, our selection is more likely to be used by a family or a techie than someone who wears a Red Bull cap and says things like Whoa that was gnarly!

1. Yi 4K Action Camera

• Weight: 74g
• Video: 4K HD
• Slo-mo: Yes, at 1080p HD
• Viewing angle: 155 degrees
• Storage: up to 64GB
• Screen: 2.19-inch
• Price: US$249

The very first Yi action cam caused a stir on its 2015 debut under the name of the Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi and with its 1080p skills. Now, a year on, it’s updated in the higher-res and sleeker form of the Yi 4K Action Camera.

The Yi 4K costs less than you’d expect considering its strong specifications. In fact, it’s close to the GoPro Hero4 Black in terms of specs, yet costs half. The Yi 4K is US$249.

That’s not as cheap as the first iteration, the Yi Camera, which was a mere US$65. Instead, the startup is this time aiming for top-end specs at a middling price rather than going for the bottom end of the market.

With a 1,400 mAh battery, the Yi 4K can shoot 120 minutes of video in 4K. The very clear touchscreen on the back is larger than on most action cams – and of any on this list; a decent 2.19 inches – and that’s where you configure most things since the gadget only has one physical button.

In an extensive review of the Yi 4K by Wired, the device came out well, even in side-by-side tests with the much pricier Hero4 Black. The image quality comparison is “very close,” with identical audio quality. The GoPro wins out with more shooting modes and an all-round feel of being more original and polished. But the Yi 4K comes out very well with its price tag.

It comes in three color options: rose gold, white, or black.

Here’s a video review of the Yi 4K from YouTube channel MarkHawkCam:

2. HTC Re

3. Polaroid XS100 HD

4. Sony HDR-AS50

5. SJCam SJ5000

Wrap-up