Xiaomi is already known as a growing brand with competitive gadgets – will the new Xiaomi Yi be King of the Hill?
The Xiaomi brand is going places, and we mean taking over the world with its ultra-affordable and ever-expanding line of electronic gadgets.
If you’ve not already heard of Xiaomi [Where have you been?], it’s a Chinese-based company that has gained strong international following in the past few years, for its pocket-friendly smartphones that pack some serious features with good specifications.
In addition to Xiaomi’s ever-expanding line of electronic gadgets, it has recently introduced the Yi. Simply put, the Yi is a point of view (POV) sports camera similar to GoPro but at a fraction of the price.
Good Features & Specifications
The Xiaomi Yi has a 16MP, 155° wide-angle point of view (POV) camera that’s equipped with Sony’s Exmor R CMOS sensor. It has a 1010mAh battery, measuring 60.4mm x 42mm x 21.2mm and weighs just 72g, making it extremely portable.
Equipped with a 2.8f aperture lens (and the smaller the aperture value, the better it is to take photos in dim light conditions) it is more than adequate for outdoor day activities. Sadly, the Xiaomi Yi does not have any built-in memory and solely relies on a micro SD; which it supports up to 128GB.
The Xiaomi Yi has an awesome time-lapse function that allows its camera to capture changes within your environment over a period of time, by taking multiple shots and then compressing them into one image. So get ready for your Instagram “likes” to shoot through the roof as your followers are going to like your hipster images!
In terms of videos, it’s able to record in HD quality at 1080p and 60fps [frames per second; the higher the value the better the quality]. Never miss another moment or suffer from horrid video quality again!
Made for Sports
The Xiaomi Yi is made with PC-ABS materials, which means it’s rugged enough to withstand a few knocks and water splashes.
Yi is water resistant and waterproof up to 40m (with its waterproof housing), which makes it perfect for snapping pictures by the beach or during water activities like water rafting and even scuba diving.
Additional Features
Although it bums me out that there isn’t a built-in display on the Xiaomi Yi, its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions do somehow make up for it. Images or videos from the Yi can be seamlessly viewed with your smartphone and there’s even a specialised app that allows you to edit them on the spot. So whether out on a water rafting expedition or mountain climbing, the Yi’s got your back.
The Xiaomi Yi is currently available in white and blue or yellow and green. It is still not officially available in Singapore but retails for RMB 399 on Xiaomi’s official website. With such an affordable price and awesome specifications, it’s easy to want one!
By Geralyne Kaye
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