Test Xiaomi Yi Action Camera, the GoPro from China

The Xiaomi Yi is one of many Action Cam on the market and very fashionable for years. A fashion launched by GoPro in 2007. If for its smartphones, Xiaomi is inspired by Apple for its cam action, the Chinese manufacturer draws heavily from GoPro. From the first glance, we recognize a design to GoPro. Only the loud colors - green and yellow on our model - a clear contrast with the gray and black GoPro. But the location of the buttons, the shape of the case or the battery could mislead the neophyte.

The build quality of the plastic housing looks good, but the hull before did a little more cheap than the GoPro. The latter uses more a kind of anti slip coating at its edges while Xiaomi Yi Sport Camera is content to imitate the visual texture with simple hardened plastic.

Even inside there are components in common with the GoPro as A7LS Ambarella chip that controls the 16-megapixel sensor from Sony. Wi-Fi chip comes, in turn, of Broadcom. The wide-angle of 155 ° has an f / 2.8 aperture. In short, technical, Yi has nothing to blush face the GoPro.

Where things get a little complicated is when you have read the instructions in Chinese to understand a little operation. Users of a GoPro will not be lost since it is a power button, a button to start the video or take a picture and a button to turn Wi-Fi. However, there is no screen integrated, and settings so inevitably pass by the Android / iOS application. A very delicate application to find and which is not fully translated from Chinese. The easiest way will be to scan the QR Code and Manual to download the APK from the site of Xiaomi, when it will not be unavailable. Some forums offer French translations of the application. IOS, the application is not yet available and one can go through third-party applications (such as LinkEyes) for GoPro cameras or other shipping the same chip.

Since XiaoMi Yi Z23L application, you can change settings such as the definition and speed videos (1080p @ 60 FPS, 120 FPS @ 720p and 480p @ 240 FPS). It is also possible to set the camera mode (up to 16 megapixels): normal, countdown, time-lapse or burst. If you manage to find the right setting, it is even possible to set the time between each pose: 0.5; 1; 2; 5; 10 or 30 seconds.

The application allows you to preview the video or photo before taking but also while recording with some modes. Thus, 120 FPS, it will not be possible to access a preview. Unlike the GoPro, it is impossible to adjust the field of view of the Yi, to avoid the effect of fish-eye sensor. A similar function exists, however, which, only when taking pictures, to reduce the field of vision to mitigate the fish-eye effect.

The video quality is good, especially for a device sold less than 100 euros. It is clearly above a GoPro Hero 140 euros and is dangerously approaching a Hero 3+ Black although it is impossible to shoot in 4K or 2.7 with Yi. At the photo, GoPro Hero 3+ Black and his 12 megapixel sensor still remain above the Yi in terms of sharpness, white balance, but is lower on the GoPro and will therefore ask the photo less rework to fully exploit the Yi.

Once you have finished your recording, it is possible to recover the files on the microSD card (not included) through a single micro USB cable that doubles as a charging port. The mini HDMI output allows, in turn, retransmit the live stream on a monitor.

The autonomy of the Yi Camera is worse than the GoPro since reached just under two hours in 1080p @ 30 FPS Wi-Fi and a little less than an hour to 60 FPS. At this game, the GoPro Hero3 Black reached + 3 and 2:00 respectively.

In the box of the camera, there is - in addition to the device - a tiny micro USB cable, a battery 1010 mAh of the manual in Chinese and ... a telescopic pole. Yi Camera actually has a universal mounting as on any camera. It is therefore possible to connect to a stand or tripod easily, unlike the GoPro requiring optional fixation. However, the book does not Xiaomi waterproof case (but the manufacturer is in the process of developing a purchase separately), which thus prevents the camera to enjoy the pleasures of water. What also makes it incompatible with the GoPro accessories that can be useful as fasteners for attaching the camera on the car, the dog harness or the external LCD.

This one is now sold in a price of $ 76.99 at Banggood. If you are interested in it, you can have a try! In order to have better experience when you go out and use it, I suggest you to purchase something photographing accessories at the same time. Such as, Xiaomi Yi Silicon Protective Case, xiaomi yi Hand Grip, etc.