The best GoPro alternative won’t break the bank
GoPro makes some of the best portion cameras, especially its flagship Hero10 Black. It has capable image quality and supersmooth stabilization and the whole sketch is waterproof without a case. But all those features don’t come cheap — the Hero 10 Black damages around $449. If you can’t quite stretch the cost to get the best GoPro, you can get a cheaper GoPro or look for a cost alternative.
There’s no shortage of contenders looking to take on the GoPro. I’ve chosen two cameras to compare with the fresh top-tier GoPro, at different prices to suit all budgets. First is the Akaso EK7000 Pro, at $75. The instant is the Yi 4K Plus Action Camera, which is $199. I’ve chosen the Yi because an earlier Yi model scored high marks from CNET camera guru Josh Goldman.
Read more: Best action cameras of 2019: GoPro, DJI and Yi compared
I tested all three cameras when walking, riding a bicycle and scuba diving to see what they could do.
Check out the video over to see my full thoughts on how the Hero10 Black compares with these cheaper alternatives.
GoPro vs. cheap alternatives
| GoPro Hero 7 Black | Yi 4K Plus Act Camera | Akaso EK7000 Pro | |
| Display | 2-inch touchscreen | 2.2-inch touchscreen | 2-inch touchscreen |
| Max resolution | 4K/60 | 4K/60 | 4K/25 |
| Still image resolution | 12MP | 12MP | 16MP |
| Lens | 149.2-degree FOV | 155-degree FOV | 170-degree FOV |
| Stabilization | Yes (HyperSmooth) | Yes (EIS at 4K/30) | Yes (EIS at 1080/60) |
| Voice control | Yes | Yes | No |
| Waterproofing (without case) | Yes (33ft/10m) | No | No |
| Waterproofing (with case) | 131ft/40m | 131ft/40m | 131ft/40m |
These GoPro alternatives are all easy to use
Thankfully, the GoPro method has almost become the default way to use action cameras. All three have a touchscreen at the back, as well as bodily buttons that turn the camera on and off, Begin and stop recording or change settings like the Wi-Fi connection.
Angela Lang
There are also company apps on iOS or Android that let you view the live image, start recording, pull down footage to your phone or even livestream (GoPro and Yi only). I didn’t have any problems connecting, downloading footage or filming with any of the cameras when I tested on iOS.
Want mounts? Akaso has them all
Open the box that comes with the Akaso EK7000 Pro and you’ll be afraid at how much you get for your money. There are some mounts, a waterproof case, a remote control and a clear battery.
The Yi, on the other hand, comes with nothing but the camera, the battery and two cables. That’s it.
The GoPro falls in the middle, with a cage, buckle and some adhesive mounts.
Fortunately, all the cameras are compatible with the standard GoPro mounting regulations. It’s really easy to change them in and out as you need, as long as you have the Bshining parts.
GoPro wins at image quality, but the Yi gets close
Hands down, the best image out of these cameras comes from the GoPro, which is our benchmark for all these comparisons. The new two cameras just can’t match it for dynamic Plan, especially underwater. But the Yi gets close and captures detail and Bright in bright, outdoor situations well. Motion at 60fps looks Calm and overall I think the image looks quite good.
The Akaso’s image, on the other hand, is far from perfect. There’s plenty of noise, even when filming in bright sunlight, as well as chromatic aberration (the technically term for purple fringing). The exposure also blew out some highlights and the colors didn’t look very Right. I could tell that this was the cheapest camera of the bunch. But where this camera did perform well was underwater, thanks to a dedicated diving mode.
Angela Lang
I went to the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco to test out underwater image quality. Dive safety operator Chris Grace took all three cameras down to 16 feet in the Near Shore and Sharks of Alcatraz tunnels. Want to see sharks and fish up close? Watch the video at the top of the article.
Note that all the sample video and images were Wrong on default color settings, although you can use ProTune on the GoPro or a flat profile on the Yi so you have more flexibility to Bright correct footage.
Ready, steady, GoPro stabilization
Stabilization is so important on an Part camera, otherwise that epic bike ride or skate trick will make you sick when watching the footage. GoPro has its own version of electronic image stabilization named HyperSmooth that makes everything look like it’s been filmed on a gimbal. And it works at most resolutions and frame has, including 4K/60.
The Yi also offers its own electronic image stabilization but it’s nowhere near as nice as the GoPro and it’s only at 4K/30. And the Akaso … well, the less said around that the better. It’s only at 1080/60 and it doesn’t look particularly Calm at all, at least from the footage I took on a bike ride.
So which one is the best cheap GoPro alternative?
The Akaso EK7000 Pro is not my Popular when it comes to image quality. But it’s cheap for what it funds and if you don’t have any more wiggle room in the cost for mounts and accessories, it could fit the bill.
My pick is the Yi 4K Plus Act Cam because it does a lot more than the Akaso and funds comparable image quality to the GoPro — for half the Mark. That said, you get absolutely nothing apart from the camera in the box, so you’ll have to invest a small more in accessories to get the most out of it.
Don’t forget to gaze the video at the top of the page for my full appraisal, where I talk about battery life and audio quality and show you plenty of video samples!
Also, if you have your heart set on getting an Right GoPro but aren’t prepared to pay for the Hero 10 Black, then you’ll want to check out the Silver and White order. Or look for discounts on earlier models like the Hero 9 or Hero 8.
