Xiaomi's Yi Action Camera is a $64 GoPro competitor

[Scorpus]

Xiaomi continues to undercut its competitors with compelling new products, today launching the Yi Action Camera, a GoPro competitor that will retail in China for just 399 yuan (around 64 USD).

The Yi Action Camera features a 16-megapixel Sony Exmor R sensor capable of 1080p video at 60 frames per second, paired with an f/2.8 lens with a 155-degree field of view. It can capture full resolution stills at seven shots per second, or slow motion video at either 720p (120fps) or 480p (240fps).

Other features of the action camera make it suitable for shooting wide-angle video on the go. It's paired with Bluetooth for remote connectivity and Wi-Fi for easy transfer of photos, as well as a waterproof shell rated for submersion up to 40m.

Specifications wise, the Yi Action Camera is most similar to GoPro's Hero3+ Silver, which captures 1080p60 video on a 10-megapixel sensor. However, GoPro's option retails for around $300, making the Xiaomi equivalent a seemingly excellent value proposition.

Unfortunately Xiaomi are only planning on selling the Yi Action Camera in China, so it's unlikely you'll see it on store shelves in the United States up against the GoPro. But it does go to show that once again, Xiaomi is capable of producing a similar product at a fraction of the price of its competitors.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/59909-xiaomi-yi-action-camera-cheap-gopro-competitor.html

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

"Xiaomi is capable of producing a similar product at a fraction of the price of its competitors".
It's more like a case of showing how much other manufacturers overcharge for their products.

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

They need to make a quality, RELIABLE, well priced dash camera for vehicles. This is a good market right now and they can take advantage.

 

[JakeT]

"Unfortunately Xiaomi are only planning on selling the Yi Action Camera in China"

Why isn't this article in Chinese then? I mean if we're never going to see it, why waste our time?

 

[9Nails]

"Unfortunately Xiaomi are only planning on selling the Yi Action Camera in China"

Why isn't this article in Chinese then? I mean if we're never going to see it, why waste our time?

I don't think this will see the light of day in other countries because of trademark protection. My bet is that it's an inferior imitation, only meeting Chinese population's needs at the price point.

Color me skeptical over Chinese items. The quality always seem as low as the price. Even if it were available, I'd save my money for the real thing.

 

[Guest]

Well, I am not defending Go Pro prices but it is more likely that Xiaomi is less costly because like most Chinese manufacturing, they have much lower R&D costs. Chinese R&D is the same as frigging copying everything with no regard to international law and figuring out how to cut all kinds of corners with no regard to quality. And have fun with customer service.

 

[p51d007]

"Unfortunately Xiaomi are only planning on selling the Yi Action Camera in China"

Why isn't this article in Chinese then? I mean if we're never going to see it, why waste our time?

I don't think this will see the light of day in other countries because of trademark protection. My bet is that it's an inferior imitation, only meeting Chinese population's needs at the price point.

Color me skeptical over Chinese items. The quality always seem as low as the price. Even if it were available, I'd save my money for the real thing.

You do realize that it seems 99% of the stuff electronic these days comes from China? I remember back in the early 60's, no one wanted anything coming from Japan, because it "was junk". I'm sure part of the issue with "Chinese junk" is depending on the maker, it could be junk, but, there are a bunch of good things coming from China, in the way of phones and other electronics. My Mate2 phone for example, is top notch!

 

[JakeT]

You do realize that it seems 99% of the stuff electronic these days comes from China? I remember back in the early 60's, no one wanted anything coming from Japan, because it "was junk". I'm sure part of the issue with "Chinese junk" is depending on the maker, it could be junk, but, there are a bunch of good things coming from China, in the way of phones and other electronics. My Mate2 phone for example, is top notch!

That's not what I meant. I wasn't complaining about 'junk from China'. I was/am complaining about the fact that this article states that we're never going to see it outside of China. So why show us folks outside of China?

 

[Uncle Al]

Have to agree that if it's not going to be sold in the US, why bother writing a review? Surely the writer isn't that despite for a topic?

 

[Kibaruk]

Color me skeptical over Chinese items. The quality always seem as low as the price. Even if it were available, I'd save my money for the real thing.

I do have that same feeling, but everything nowadays come from China, from a cheap single led to an iPhone (Some people consider this of quality... meh).

Most of the price people have to pay when buying "branded" items, is that, the "brand", and not only as a name because the company has to pay for lots of things besides the hardware of their equipment, and most of the times one of the huge prices we do have to pay for is marketting.

 

[SNGX1275]

Well, I am not defending Go Pro prices but it is more likely that Xiaomi is less costly because like most Chinese manufacturing, they have much lower R&D costs. Chinese R&D is the same as frigging copying everything with no regard to international law and figuring out how to cut all kinds of corners with no regard to quality. And have fun with customer service.

Yep, thats what I was thinking too. Price is low because it is all copied/based on a GoPro, and since they didn't have to do any designing/developing/testing of course the prices are low. Don't we go through this everytime a flagship product by Apple or Samsung is released when iFixit does a parts teardown and looks at the cost of the components.

Then its only sold in China to avoid getting sued.

Its rare when I agree so fully with a Guest.