Review of the new action camera Xiaomi Yi 2 4K

After the release of the successful action camera Yi Sport, active athletes showed an interest in Xiaomi products, and they were already waiting for the second version. After the publication of the characteristics itself, the question arose “wouldn’t the second Yi be a worthy competitor to GoPro HERO 4?” The first one in the public sector won the popularity for a good price-performance ratio, and the second could well repeat the success. Wide viewing angle, twelve-megapixel sensor, A9SE95 processor ... Specifications look promising.


Let's see what a new product is.

Xiaomi Yi 2 4K comes in a small cardboard box:
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Packaging dimensions are small, since only a battery and a USB cable are included with the camera. Fasteners are purchased separately.



1400 mAh battery for long-term operation of the camera without recharging or changing the battery.
The official list of accessories is small: two aquabox and two protective covers of different material:



But thanks to the ¼ inch threaded socket with Yi 2 4K, a variety of universal fastening systems can be used.



Unfortunately, due to the increased width compared to GoPro 4 (66 vs. 59 mm), it is not possible to use the camera together with the GoPro boxes.

The layout of the controls and the general forms of Yi 2 4K are similar to GoPro, which has long been an unspoken pattern when creating third-party models. Alas, this form is not optimal, especially considering the scope of application. Otherwise, there is nothing to complain about: Yi 2 4K lies comfortably in your hand, is easy to control and pleases the eye with rounded body features.



At the top of the case there are two microphones, a speaker and the only camera control button:


Microphones paired, the sound is written in stereo. LED activity indicator is located on the front of the case. The colors of the glow indicate the operating mode: blue — the camera is on, red — recording or charging the battery, purple — the camera is connected to the PC in removable storage mode.

The microSD card installed in the compartment next to the battery is used as storage.



Battery charging and file transfer are made via USB 2.0 interface; the nest is located on the side and is covered from pollution by a small cap.


The camera parameters are controlled via a 2.19 "screen on the back of the case. The on time corresponds to the declared by the manufacturer (3 seconds). After the download is complete, the main parameters of the current settings are displayed:


Just a few words about the vertical stripes. They are in any mode of the screen and are particularly noticeable in contrasting images - it is possible that this is a lack of a specific instance. It does not affect the work in any way; it also does not interfere with the menu orientation and setting the required settings.

Clicking on the arrow next to the caption “Video” opens the menu for selecting camera operation modes:


As you can see, there are six of them: Photo, video, slow-motion video, a series of shots, time lapse video and timer shooting. The settings for all modes are similar, so I will analyze in detail only the basic ones for photo and video.
Basic setting for shooting video - resolution:


The currently active mode is highlighted with a green triangle, the frame rate is selected immediately after specifying the desired resolution. A complete list of modes can be found in the table.

Additional options are selected on the header screen (gear icon in the lower right corner):


Additional options for slo-mo shooting are slightly different:


For photo mode, the list of options is very similar to video mode:



The remaining camera settings are available by clicking on the gear icon on the left.


Their content is standard and does not cause questions. The submenu Advanced Settings contains rarely used items:


When activating the Wi-Fi module, the camera is available in the access point mode, to which you can connect from your smartphone. You can communicate via Wi-Fi with the camera using the free YI Action application.


After a simple and brief connection procedure, the image from the camera is displayed on the background of the application and all previously displayed options are available for modification.





Based on the observations, the image on the smartphone is delayed by about half a second, there are no freezes and slowdowns. In general, the utility is simple and adequate, for 7-8 hours of operation, it flew with an error once.
The daily use of the Yi 2 4K consisted mostly as a DVR on a helmet, occasionally filmed to test other possibilities (photo, handheld, etc.). Used for mounting complete accessories from other cameras and screw M4.



Video quality is good at night and excellent during daylight hours at maximum resolution.



But the 4K format, although it is a trend, is not yet provided with a sufficient number of reproducing equipment (monitors). Another thing is 1080p, which has already firmly entered everyday life as the “default format”. And here Yi 2 4K comes in handy because of the possibility to shoot FullHD video not only with standard 30 fps, but 60 and even 120.



Image stabilization only works when shooting at 30 frames / sec; I think the case is relatively low processor power.

For dynamic scenes (where action cameras are used most often) this is very useful: 25 or 30 fps is not enough, the picture is a little twitched, the still pictures are blurry. For the same reason, the Slo-mo mode is good, allowing you to view many processes in slow motion. It is a pity that the resolution in Slo-mo is only 720p, not FullHD.





The situation with photographs is similar: when there is enough light, the frames are juicy and clear, colors disappear at dusk, the amount of light noise increases, frames are blurred.





About the sound. He is, and yes, two-channel (stereo). But due to the lack of wind protection, the recording is interrupted by even the slightest breeze, and at speeds over 10 km / h nothing is heard except for noise (therefore, all videos are silent). This camera would be very helpful case with a windshield of microphones.

An important note for those who will mount the camera on the helmet and choose third-party fasteners: at speeds above 100 km / h, the aerodynamic resistance is very high. Subjectively, at 120 km / h, the Yi 2 weighing less than 90 grams feels heavier than another camera weighing more than 170 grams due to less drag. The transition for 140 km / h can be felt without a speedometer, as the head starts to be strongly pulled back.



From the battery, the camera lives for more than 2 hours when recording 4K video with disabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and when changing the mode to 1080p for more than 3 hours. Compared to other action cameras, Yi 2 requires USB connection for recharging much less often.

Thanks to the voice acting, you can perform basic actions (start-stop recording, taking photos, switching on and off) by touch, focusing on the sounds being made. The speaker volume is enough to hear the conditional signals on the road when wearing a helmet (with good noise insulation).

In conclusion, the general impression. Yi 2 4K is a well-developed product with a variety of video and photo shooting modes. The video quality is good (by the standards of action cameras), you can watch and do not spit on 4K-videos taken at dusk. Remote control using Wi-Fi also works flawlessly, and the battery life is beyond praise. Quick start and intuitive menus are also advantages of the Xiaomi product.


But there are nuances. The first is the price: it is adequate, but on the budget option Yi 2 no longer pulls, rather in the middle segment, where there are fewer competitors, but it is harder to deal with them. The second is the complete absence of accessories for fastening in the base delivery, everything is purchased separately. This is good (everyone will pick up fasteners to their liking), and bad (at no additional cost and only removed from hands, subject to the effects of precipitation without aquabox). The third is a form: copying a given layout of the layout of elements negatively affects the aerodynamic drag of the device, which should be considered when designing and choosing fasteners.

Camera Features:

On time	3 seconds
CPU	Ambarella A9SE95 800 MHz
Sensor	Sony IMX377
Lens	155 °
Screen	2.19 '' 640x360 pix, glass Gorilla Glass
Microphone	double
Battery	Li-Ion 1400 mAh
Memory card	microSD, up to 64 GB
Nutrition	USB, 5 V 1 A
Illumination control	automatically
Video modes	4K (3840 × 2160) @ 30 FPS; 4K Ultra (3840 × 2160) @ 30 FPS; 2.5K (2560 × 1920) @ 30 FPS; 1440 (1920 × 1440) @ 30/60 FPS; 1080 (1920 × 1080) @ 30/60/120 FPS; 1080 Ultra (1920 × 1080) @ 30/60/120 FPS; 960 (1280 × 960) @ 60/120 FPS; 720 (1280 × 720) @ 240 FPS; 720 Ultra (1280 × 720) @ 60/120 FPS; 480 (848 × 480) @ 240 FPS
Photo Modes	12 megapixel (4000x3000) 8 megapixel (3840x2160) 7 megapixel W (3008x2256) 7 megapixel M (3008x2256) 5 megapixel (2560x1920)
Wireless connection	Wi-Fi 802.11n Broadcom BCM43340, Bluetooth 4.0
Additionally	Three-axis gyroscope, timer, distortion correction
Weight	88 g
Dimensions	66 x 42 x 31 mm
Price	21 000 rubles