Xiaomi is a company very much caught up trend. The company is very sensitive to gaps in the market potential of technology such as smartphones, home entertainment devices and offer the products with good quality but much cheaper. Xiaomi Yi continues to be an example of their philosophy.
Yi is a camera action (action cam) is Xiaomi introduced last month, with attractive parameters such use Sony Exmor R CMOS sensor, 16-megapixel resolution and 1080p recording at speeds of 60fps (720p at 120fps and 480p at 240fps). The important thing is the price of this product is only 64 USD (in the Chinese market), while the products of the firm’s reputation as GoPro Hero or Sony POV cost between 300-500 dollars.
Yi also looks a lot like GoPro Hero line, with large clusters on the front camera and the other is the power button. The machine is quite hard plastics but not to look, the accessories we have only included a MicroUSB cable connection and use guidebooks.
Machine with two hard buttons as shutter button in the upper and WiFi button on the left side. At the back there are two lids, one to remove the battery cover and a cap to replace the memory card, and MicroHDMI MicroUSB connection. Monday quite small cap risk missing when using, so you will need to use quite frequently MicroUSB port. At the bottom is a slot for attaching a tripod.
You only need to charge the battery and MicroSD card is mounted can start taking pictures, filming, but to have in-depth features, you need application called Camera Yi, has links with QR code right in the leaflet. This app allows you to preview images from the camera, and custom controls.
Yi Camera app, image preview images are often late than real, this most clearly in the movie mode. Phone and Yi connected together by WiFi Direct, however inconvenient each time the camera is powered off, then when you turn up you will have to repeat the connection operations, but do not identify the two devices.
Yi only takes about 2 seconds to start up, but as mentioned above, if you use your phone to connect to each boot. This connection process takes at least 30 seconds. Thus, if you just open the camera and take the Yi always pretty fast, but when used with the phone is inconvenient.
Yi shutter speed is quite slow, each photo from the machine while pressing the shutter button to take the next image retention finished almost 5 seconds. For movies, the time from when you press the stop button to save the finished movie moment also lost nearly 5 seconds. When you press the power button, the machine will switch between recording mode / shooting (with lights), conversion rate approximately 2 seconds.
According to the angle of 155 degrees Yi, and the actual angle of the machine is very wide, not to take a selfie sticks can take around 10 people. The quality of photos taken quite stable, highly detailed and broad band light. Since there is only a fixed focus camera near the object is not sharp. The quality of the video but also sound fairly small vapor.
Xiaoyi Yi Action Camera with Wi-Fi, Green – International Version: Buy it now
Xiaoyi Yi Action Camera with Wi-Fi, White – International Version: Buy it now
Original XiaoMi Yi Ambarella A7LS BSI CMOS WIFI Sports Action Camera #Color:White: Buy it now
Design and build
The Yi is a small rounded box that fits in one hand and comes in a few colors. The front has the lens, a power/mode button and an LED. The back has a touchscreen, and the sides hold micro-USB, micro-HDMI and the microSD slot.
It survives minor drops and bumps. Going underwater takes the optional case, which is rated to 40 meters and costs extra.
Specs
The Yi records 1080p at 60fps, or 720p at up to 120fps for slow motion. The lens covers 155 degrees. Photos are 16MP, and you get burst, time-lapse and slow-motion modes.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connect it to the Yi app on iOS or Android, where you can start and stop recording, preview clips, download them and change settings. It takes microSD cards up to 128GB. The battery is rechargeable lithium-ion and runs about 90 minutes at 1080p/60fps, so bring a spare if you’ll be out all day.
Using it
Setup takes a few minutes: card in, charge, power on, pair with the app. The app walks you through pairing and also pushes firmware updates. Almost everything is done on the touchscreen, and the two physical buttons click clearly enough to find without looking. Adhesive, handlebar and helmet mounts come standard, and third-party mounts are easy to find.
Video and photo quality
In daylight, 1080p footage is sharp, colors look accurate and dynamic range is good. The wide lens doesn’t distort much, and 60fps looks smooth. Photos are also good in daylight.
Indoors or at dusk, both video and photos get noisy and lose detail. They’re still usable if you’re only sharing them casually, but this is clearly where the camera runs out of room.
Electronic stabilization takes the edge off handheld shake and the bumps from biking or running. It won’t save rough footage from something like mountain biking. For that you’ll need a gimbal.
[Add your own test note here: what you shot, where, and how the stabilization held up.]
Versus GoPro
A Hero 9 or 10 does more and does it better. It also costs a lot more. The Yi makes sense if the budget is tight or you want a spare camera you won’t mind scratching.
Pros
Cheap
Sharp in good light
155-degree lens
Easy touchscreen and app
Plenty of mounts
90 minutes at 1080p/60fps
Cons
Noisy in low light
Stabilization is basic
Waterproof case is a separate purchase
Verdict
If you want decent 1080p action footage and don’t want to spend much, the Yi is a good buy. If you mostly shoot in dim light or need smooth footage from high-impact sports, look elsewhere.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.