Chinese Company Launches a $64 Competitor to the GoPro Hero with Beefier Specs

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If GoPro camera prices drop far below $100 in the future, you may have a Chinese company called Xiaomi to thank. Known for its popular smartphones that dominate the Chinese market, the company has launched a new product called the Yi Action Camera that aims to become the GoPro of China while costing just a fraction of the price.

While the entry-level GoPro Hero costs $130 in the United States, Xiaomi’s action camera will go on sale in China for just ¥399, or roughly $64.

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Many of the Yi camera specs outdo those offered by the Hero: 1080p at 60FPS for the Yi versus 30FPS for the Hero, 16-megapixel still photos for the Yi compared to 5-megapixel shots for the Hero, and 64GB max storage for the Yi versus 32GB for the Hero. At 72g, it’s also more lightweight compared to the 111g Hero.

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Inside the Yi is a highly regarded Exmor R backside-illuminated sensor crafted by Sony.

Other features include panorama mode, waterproofing down to 40 meters, selfie stick support, 7fps continuous shooting for stills, and a selection of mounts (including for cats).

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No word yet on if or when we’ll ever see this $64 Yi Action Camera offered outside of China. Given Xiaomi’s history of operations, that may not be very likely.

(via Xiaomi via TechCrunch)

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