Bidness Etc - Can Xiaomi Yi Take Over GoPro?

Xiaomi Yi action camera might be good but not on par with GoPro Hero.

GoPro Inc. the action camera giant has become a great commodity in its space. However, when news started to buzz regarding the launch of an action camera by Xiaomi- the Chinese smartphone manufacturer in March, many GoPro investors were scared that the companies aim to reign over the Asian market would soon fade away.

So the Yi Action Camera by Xiaomi is said to be almost less than a sixth of the GoPro Hero 4 and is said to be half the price of an action camera by GPRO. So now it is said that the Chinese camera has certain specifications that can become a potential threat to the market of GPRO products.

The question here arises whether Xiaomi’s device can be considered to be a major substitute to GoPro’s camera. One of the analysts at Wall Street Journal, Mr. Menglin Huang takes an in-depth look at Xiaomi’s action camera which is sold for $64. The camera is equipped with a 64GB built-in storage that has an approximate weight of 72 gram whereas a GoPro Hero weighs 111 gm. The waterproof depth for both the cameras that are Yi and GoPro Hero is said to be 40 meters.

The camera by the Chinese vendor allows the consumer to shoot in high definition mode at a 60 fps rate and 120 fps rate. It has the ability to take time lapses, burst shot, timer shot, single shots etc. the analyst at Wall Street believes that the image quality of these cameras is fairly average. Moreover, the camera is also made with a 16-megapixel sensor that is designed by Sony Corporation. Thus, the device is also not bad in terms of image quality but does not work well in low light scenarios.

However, Xiaomi Yi action camera has certain limitation. Firstly, the cover material is made up of plastic which seems to be relatively cheap. The device does not really have been equipped with many accessories. And the limited devices available are charged an extra price. The way it looks and feels, it is quite similar to a GoPro Hero camera but will not fit in the case.

The market for this product is quite different from GoPro and it also lacks to a great extent in terms of quality. Moreover, the limited accessories will not make the device feasible for several situations. Currently, the product has been only launched in the Chinese market but in order to be sought after by the international fraternity a lot more needs to be done.