Looking for a cheap and reliable action camera?
Although some people will want to go for the original action camera, the GoPro, some others will be just as satisfied with an action camera that fits their casual use and budget.
Starting at almost RM2,000 a piece, the GoPro is not an easily affordable action camera for most people.
The good news is that since the release of the GoPro, more action cameras of a similar quality have come into the market at a much reduced price.
These good quality cameras not only produce video and image with qualities comparable to the GoPro, they also come at a fraction of what the GoPro costs!
If you are somebody who wants to own an action camera and bring it along for your travels, sports and even to shoot a few time lapses here and there, I’ve got three good quality and cheap action cameras to recommend to you.
These are three of the most popular action cameras in Malaysia that you can buy. Best of all, they all cost less than RM500, accessories included.
So, if you have been hunting for a cheap and good quality action camera you can buy in Malaysia, look no further, I’ve got you covered in this guide.
Let’s get started!
So,
Which are the three most popular cheap action cameras in Malaysia?
They are:
In this guide, we will be stacking up the cameras with one another to help you discover the best camera for you.
Are you ready?
Now, let’s take a look first at…
Xiao Yi Sports Action Camera Full HD (from RM269)
“the best budget contender to the gopro.”
The Xiao Yi action camera is Mi’s cheap alternative to the GoPro Action Camera.
The Xiao Yi Action Camera was one of the first action cameras released after the GoPro. So far, it is also one of the top contenders against GoPro because at a fraction of what the GoPro costs, you can get a similar video and image quality on the Xiao Yi.
Now, let’s look at the best and worst features of the Xiao Yi Action Camera.
Technical Specs
- Optical Sensor Resolution: 16 MP
- Ambarella A7LS Processor
- Sony Exmor R BSI CMOS 16 million pixel sensor
- 155 degree (Mobile Phone 89 degree) wide angle lens
- 3D noise reduction
- WIFI and remote App control
- BLE ultra-low power consumption
Pros
Good quality videos
For just a fraction of the GoPro price, you can see from the video below that the video quality produced by the Xiao Yi Action Camera is almost as good as the GoPro.
Most of the time, this will be enough for casual users.
Take a look and compare the differences in video quality:
Takes bigger photos than GoPro
The Xiao Yi takes up to 16MP images, while GoPros like the Hero4 Silver takes images up to only 12MP, making the photos taken by Xiao Yi a bit bigger than those taken by some GoPro action cameras.
Good battery life (45 – 60 minutes)
With a battery life of 45 – 60 minutes after one full charge, the Yi action camera can record for just as long as the GoPro.
Waterproof with casing
Just like the GoPro, you can keep your Yi camera waterproof by placing it inside a waterproof casing.
Compatible Yi Action Camera App
Just like the Go Pro, there is an app made for the Xiao Yi Action camera where you can control the Yi Action camera using the Yi Action Camera app.
Cons
Settings need to be adjusted on the Xiao Yi app
Unlike the GoPro where you can adjust the camera settings on the camera itself, for the Xiao Yi you need to adjust the settings on your Xiao Yi using the Xiao Yi app. So you will not be able to adjust the settings on your Xiao Yi camera if you don’t have your phone or tablet with you.
No editing software
Unlike the GoPro, the Yi Camera does not come with its own editing software. But with so many good quality and free Yi-compatible editing software out there, this shouldn’t be a big issue.
No image stabilization
One of the main features of the GoPro is image stabilization. Unfortunately, the Xiao Yi camera does not have this property.
Summary: Best Budget GoPro Alternative
At a fraction of what the GoPro costs, the Xiao Yi Action Camera is very good value for money.
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| Price | RM249 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Image Quality | 16MP – larger than GoPro Hero 4 Silver | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Video Quality | Not too bad when placed side by side the GoPro | ⭐⭐⭐ |
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Where to Buy
You can get the Xiao Yi Sports Action Camera from these websites online:
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| Vendor | Price | Link |
| 11Street | RM269 | [su_button url=”http://www.11street.my/productdetail/new-enhanced-version-xiaomi-xiaoyi-xiao-mi-yi-19797525″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] |
| Lazada | RM439 (Bundle pack) | [su_button url=”http://www.lazada.com.my/genuine-xiaomi-xiaoyi-yi-sports-action-camera-full-hd-videorecorder-camera-white-ultimate-bundle-pack-3491469.html?spm=a2o4k.search.0.0.8X9pMP&ff=1″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] |
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Eken H8R Action Camera (RM249)
“Most affordable 4k video camera.”
The Eken is one of the newer players in the cheap action camera market. But boy, does it have a lot to offer!
At almost the same price as the Xiao Yi Action Camera, it also offers 4K video recording. While the quality of the 4K recording is not as good as the GoPro, for the price you pay for it, I think it’s well worth the money spent.
Now let’s look at the best and worst features of the Eken H8R.
Technical Specs
- Optical Sensor Resolution:14M ( 4864 x 2736 )
- 170-degree wide angle
- 4K ultra high definition video shooting
- Sunplus 6350 chipset and IMX078 image sensor
- Time-lapse photography ( 2s / 3s / 5s / 10s / 20s / 30s / 60s )
- Continuous lapse (on / off)
- Video resolution: 4K ( 3840 x 2160 ), 2.7K ( 2704 x 1520 ), 1080P at 60fps, 1080P at 30fps
Pros
4K Quality Videos
At around the same price of the Xiao Yi Sports Action Camera, you can get a 4K video with the Eken H8R. To get the same quality on the GoPro, you will need to pay at least 8X the price.
From comparisons made, videos shot using the Eken is comparable to those shot using the GoPro. Check out this video to compare the difference between the video quality of Eken and GoPro:
Good battery life
Just like the Xiao Yi Action Camera, the Eken H8R also offers good battery life comparable to that offered by the GoPro. You can expect 45 – 60 minutes of video recording before calling it quites with the Eken H8R.
Instant sharing through the EZ iCam App
The Eken H8R connects with the EZ iCam App so you can instantly share your photos once you are done recording them.
Waterproof
Just like the Xiao Yi, the Eken is waterproof with casing. With the casing on, it can go up to 30m underwater.
Cons
Cannot record in 4K using phone
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Eken is that you can only record 4K videos using the camera, but if you switch to your phone or tablet, the video quality cannot be sustained at 4K.
4K video recordings can be choppy compared to 1080p recordings
Even though 4K videos are part of the features, they can be rather choppy and not smooth at times, depending on the conditions during recording.
Though so, the performance for time-lapse videos is good.
Need to use a high-performance memory card to record in HD
Although the Eken H8R offers the ability to record in 4K, in order to record in 4K, you will need to get yourself a UHS class 3 / V30 SD card. This may come at an additional cost to you if it is not included in the set you buy it with.
Summary:
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| Price | RM249 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Image Quality | 12MP, same size as GoPro Hero 4 Silver | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Video Quality | Quite comparable to the GoPro especially in 1080p mode | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
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Where to Buy
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| Vendor | Price | Link |
| 11Street | RM280 | [su_button url=”http://www.11street.my/productdetail/eken-h8r-action-cam-camera-4k-hd-dual-screen-gopro-22712883″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] |
| Lazada | RM249 | [su_button url=”http://www.lazada.com.my/2017-premium-version-eken-h8r-ultra-hd-4k-30fps-wifi-sportsaction-camera-cam-dual-screen-remote-shutter-camcorder-black-22029708.html?spm=a2o4k.search.0.0.8X9pMP&ff=1″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] |
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GOQ SJ7000 Action Camera (RM122)
very basic, cheap action camera, with compromises to image and video quality.
The GOQ SJ7000 is also the cheapest camera in this list.
Unlike the Xiao Yi and Eken, if you want to get an action camera for as cheap as this, you will need to accept the compromises to the quality of the images and video.
This is the camera suited for you if you are an amateur user who doesn’t really care too much about the quality of the images and videos produced.
Technical Specs
- Wifi Remote Control
- Video Time-lapsed Support
- 1080P FULL HD Video Resolution
- 12MP Photo Resolution
- 2.0 inch LCD Screen Display
- 30m waterproof using casing
Pros
Decent quality videos
Compared to the Xiao Yi and Eken H8R, the video quality of the SJ7000 is not as good, but for the price it is selling for, I would say the quality is decent.
Take a look at the comparison between the video shot by GoPro and that from the SJ7000:
Cons
Video quality is bad unless you use full HD
One of the biggest drawbacks of the SJ7000 is that the normal video quality is not so good, unless you switch to full HD. But if you keep switching to full HD, of course, you will have an issue with the battery draining quickly, reducing the time you can do the recording.
Battery drains quickly
The battery life on the SJ7000 is also lower when compared to the Xiao Yi and Eken. While you can record for almost as long as the GoPro using the Xiao Yi and Eken, you can only record a maximum of 40 minutes on full HD using the SJ7000.
Summary: Cheap Camera for Basic Use
The SJ7000 is a steal for just over RM100. While it is great for users with basic needs, if you are a user who wants better quality images and videos, consider paying a little more for a Xiao Yi or Eken.
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| Price | RM122 (A steal!) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Image Quality | Low and grainy compared to Xiao Yi and Eken | ⭐⭐ |
| Video Quality | Video quality of image depends on mode used (full HD required for decent video quality) | ⭐⭐ |
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Where to Buy
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| Vendor | Price | Link |
| Lazada | RM122 | [su_button url=”http://www.lazada.com.my/sj7000-action-camera-2-inch-lcd-wifi-waterproof-sports-cam-yellow-4984934.html?spm=a2o4k.search.0.0.3Onw7D&ff=1″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] |
| 11Street | RM174 (4K version + Bundle) | [su_button url=”http://www.11street.my/productdetail/v7-pro-4k-30fps-wifi-16m-sport-action-camera-22768413″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] |
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Do note here that the Lazada version is a Full HD version whereas the 11Street one is a 4K version. I couldn’t find good suppliers for the Full HD version on 11Street but found one with a great deal on 11Street for the 4K version and decided to include it anyway.
Conclusion: You Don’t Have to Spend More than RM500 to Get a Good Action Camera
Although there are many choices of cheap action cameras under RM500 out there, only a few are worth your time and money.
Of these, the Eken H8R action camera is the best one if you are looking to shoot 4K videos. Although the quality can vary depending on the mode you are using, for the price you are paying for it, it has definitely overperformed.
For the general user who is satisfied with full HD videos, the Xiao Yi Action cam would be the best choice. It has all the good qualities of the GoPro for a much cheaper price tag.
At the bottom of the cheap action camera list is the SJ7000. Although you only need to pay over RM100 for it, I would avoid it unless you are on a very tight budget and just need a camera for basic recording.
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| Name | Xiao Yi Action Cam (Recommended!) | Eken H8R Action Cam | SJ7000 Action Cam |
| Image | |
|
|
| Image Quality | Good | Good | Basic |
| Video Quality | Good | Good | Decent |
| Pros | Bigger photos than GoPro, Xiao Yi App support, Waterproof, good battery life | 4K video option, Ezi iCam App support, Waterproof, good battery life | Cheap, affordable, basic functions |
| Cons | No image stabilisation, settings need to be adjusted on phone/tablet | Need high performance SD card for 4K, choppy 4K recording, no 4K on phone/tablet | Image and video quality not on par with other cheap action cameras, battery drains quickly. |
| Price | RM269 | RM249 | RM122 |
| Where to Buy | [su_button url=”http://www.lazada.com.my/genuine-xiaomi-xiaoyi-yi-sports-action-camera-full-hd-videorecorder-camera-white-ultimate-bundle-pack-3491469.html?spm=a2o4k.search.0.0.8X9pMP&ff=1″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] | [su_button url=”http://www.lazada.com.my/2017-premium-version-eken-h8r-ultra-hd-4k-30fps-wifi-sportsaction-camera-cam-dual-screen-remote-shutter-camcorder-black-22029708.html?spm=a2o4k.search.0.0.8X9pMP&ff=1″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] | [su_button url=”http://www.lazada.com.my/sj7000-action-camera-2-inch-lcd-wifi-waterproof-sports-cam-yellow-4984934.html?spm=a2o4k.search.0.0.3Onw7D&ff=1″ target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#d82a5e” size=”8″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”0″]Check it out[/su_button] |
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[su_note note_color=”#fafae8″ radius=”0″ class=”boxclass”]
Pro Tip: Get These Accessories and Have More Fun with Your Action Camera
When buying an action camera, I recommend you to look out for bundle deals.
Bundle deals are where the seller will include all sorts of accessories like head straps, chest straps, tripods, casing and more together with your basic action camera set.
The bundle deals are usually cheaper and offer a lot more value than buyer the camera alone.
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