Xiaomi previously teased its fans with an image of a matchbox, and now the mysterious device has come out of the shadows. Bearing the name the Yi Action Camera, the company’s latest product is a GoPro-style action camera which features similar specifications but at a fraction of the price.
The Yi Action Camera uses an Ambarella A7LS chip that allows video to be recorded at 1080p at 60 frames a second. It also features 3D Motion-Compensated Temporal Filtering (MCTF) noise reduction for clearer audio recording. In comparison with the GoPro Hero, the device features a 16MP camera instead of a 5MP camera. Xiaomi’s action camera supports up to 64GB microSD (sold separately) memory compared to the 32GB support on the GoPro Hero. It utilises Sony’s Exmor R BSI CMOS image sensor, providing better night shots. The camera can also go to underwater depths of up to 40 meters, similar to the GoPro camera. The video format used is H.264/MP4 codec.
Like many other Xiaomi products that can be controlled wirelessly, the Yi Action Camera will feature the same functionality. It can be controlled via its native app to remotely trigger a video recording or take a still shot.
The action camera from Xiaomi seems to be a direct competitor to the GoPro Hero, which is an entry-level action camera. The Yi Action Camera will retail for 399 Yuan (about RM230). Additionally, there is also a Travel Edition which will retail for a 100 Yuan (about RM59) more from the basic model. What’s different about the Travel Edition model is that it has a selfie stick mount.
The product is currently a China-exclusive, sold via the company’s official website with the same flash sale model. However, the product is from partner company, XiaoYi. It isn’t clear whether the product will officially be released in Malaysia.
[Source: XiaoMi via TechCrunch]
