YI 4K Action Camera
YI 4K Action Camera was introduced in May 2016 and marked the first Action Camera from YI to offer 4K resolution and touch screen. In January 2017 YI introduced an upgraded version of YI 4K called YI 4K+. Due to a new processor (Ambarella H2), the upgraded model offers 60fps in 4K resolution and image stabilization up to 4K with 30fps and a USB-C port for an external microphone. Don’t get confused this camera is from Yi Technology, there is also a Xiaomi Mijia 4K Action Camera.
In this article I want to show you YI 4K:
- Comparison with other YI Cameras
- Camera Specifications
- Body, Buttons & Ports
- Functions & Settings
- Camera Versions
- Firmware updates / Change logs
- Conclusion (My 2-cents)
- Demo Videos & Photos
YI Action Camera Comparison
Here’s a comparison of the current product lineup of YI Action Cameras. On a side note YI Technology also offers a Dash Camera and a mirrorless MFT camera.
YI 4K+ Action Camera | YI 4K Action Camera | YI Lite Action Camera | YI Discovery Action Camera | original YI |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
12 MP Sony IMX377 Sensor | 12 MP Sony IMX377 Sensor | 16 MP Sony IMX 206 Sensor | 8 MP Sony IMX 179 Sensor | 16 MP Sony IMX 206 Sensor |
Ambarella H2 Processor | Ambarella A9SE Processor | Hisilicon Hi3556V100 Processor | Allwinner V3 Processor | Ambarella A7 Processor |
4K – max. 60fps max. 120 Mbps | 4K – max. 30fps max. 100 Mbps | 4K - max. 20 fps - | 4K - max. 20 fps interpolated | no 4K resolution available |
2.7K – max. 60fps | 2.7K – max. 60fps | no 2.7K resolution | no 2.7K resolution | 2.7K – max. 30fps |
1080p – max. 120fps | 1080p – max. 120fps | 1080p – max. 60fps | 1080p – max. 60fps | 1080p – max. 60fps |
720p – max. 240fps | 720p – max. 240fps | 720p – max. 120fps | 720p – max. 90fps | 720p – max. 120fps |
12 MP max. photo resolution | 12 MP max. photo resolution | 16 MP max. photo resolution | 8 MP max. photo resolution | 16 MP max. photo resolution |
RAW photo | RAW photo | no RAW photo | no RAW photo | no RAW photo |
Display: 2,19″ touch | Display: 2,19″ touch | Display: 2,0″ touch | Display: 2,0″ touch | Display: no |
Battery: 1400 mAh | Battery: 1400 mAh | Battery: 1200 mAh | Battery: 990 mAh | Battery: 990 mAh |
Image Stabilization: up to 4K 30fps | Image Stabilization: up to 2.7K 60fps | Image Stabilization: up to 1440p 30fps | Image Stabilization: no | Image Stabilization: no |
wifi: yes | wifi: yes | wifi: yes | wifi: yes | wifi: yes |
Bluetooth: yes | Bluetooth: yes | Bluetooth: yes | Bluetooth: no | Bluetooth: yes |
Remote Control: yes | Remote Control: yes | Remote Control: yes | Remote Control: no | Remote Control: yes |
microSD: up to 128GB | microSD: up to 128GB | microSD: up to 128GB | microSD: up to 128GB | microSD: up to 128GB |
USB-C port | micro USB port | micro USB port | micro USB port | micro USB port |
HDMI port: no | HDMI port: no | HDMI port: no | HDMI port: no | HDMI port: yes |
A/V out: yes | A/V out: yes | A/V out: no | A/V out: no | A/V out: yes |
Mic in: yes | Mic in: no | Mic in: no | Mic in: no | Mic in: no |
Voice Control: yes | Voice Control: yes | Voice Control: no | Voice Control: no | Voice Control: no |
Facebook Live: yes | Facebook Live: yes | Facebook Live: no | Facebook Live: no | Facebook Live: no |
Amazon: ![]() | Amazon: ![]() | Amazon: ![]() | Amazon: ![]() | Amazon: ![]() |
Amazon DE: ![]() | Amazon DE: ![]() | Amazon DE: ![]() | Amazon DE: ![]() | Amazon DE: ![]() |
Review | Review | Review | Review | Review |
It seems weird that the first YI camera and YI Lite got the largest sensor (16MP compared to 12MP), but the IMX 206 being used is not capable of 4K resolution. It benefits the photo capabilities tough.
Comparison with other Cameras
YI 4K vs Firefly 8S vs Xiaomi Mijia vs GoPro hero5 black
Here’s a chart with other popular native 4K action cameras:
GoPro Hero7 black | GoPro Hero6 black | SJCAM SJ8 Pro | YI 4K+ Action Camera | GoPro Hero7 silver | GoPro Hero5 black | Sony FDR-X3000 | YI 4K Action Camera | Xiaomi Mijia | Firefly 8SE | SJCAM SJ7 Star | THIeye T5 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Sensor | 12 MP ? | 12 MP ? | 12 MP Sony IMX377 | 12 MP Sony IMX377 | 10 MP | 12 MP Sony IMX ? | 12 MP Sony IMX317 | 12 MP Sony IMX377 | 8 MP Sony IMX317 | 12 MP Sony IMX 117 | 12 MP Sony IMX117 | 12 MP Sony IMX 117 |
Processor | GP1 | GP1 | Ambarella H22 | Ambarella H2 | ? | Ambarella A9 | BIONZ X image processor | Ambarella A9 | Ambarella A12 | Ambarella A12 | Ambarella A12 | Ambarella A12 |
Lens | F/2.8, 170° FOV | F/2.8, 170° FOV | F/2.8, 170° FOV | F/2.8, 155° FOV | F/2.8, 170° FOV | F/2.8, 170° FOV | f/2.8, f=17 mm | F/2.8, 155° FOV | F/2.8, 145° FOV | F/2.8, 170° or F/2.8, 90° version | F/2.5, 166° FOV | F/2.5, 170° FOV |
4K Resolution | max. 60fps | max. 60fps | max. 60fps | max. 60fps | max. 30fps | max. 30fps | max. 30fps | max. 30fps | max. 30fps | max. 30fps | max. 30fps | max. 30fps |
Bitrate in 4K | 78 Mbps | 78 Mbps | 65 Mbps | 135 Mbps | 60 Mbps | 60 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 100 Mbps | 70Mbps | 70Mbps | |
2.7K Resolution | max. 120fps | max. 120fps | n/a | max. 60fps | max. 60fps | max. 60fps | max. 60fps | - (2.5K in 60fps) | max. 30fps (2.5K in 60fps) | max. 30fps (2.5K in 60fps) | max. 30fps (2.5K in 60fps) | |
1080p Resolution | max. 240fps | max. 240fps | max. 120fps | max. 120fps | max. 600fps | max. 120fps | max. 120fps | max. 120fps | max. 120fps | max. 120fps | max. 120fps | max. 120fps |
720p Resolution | max. 240fps | max. 60fps | max. 240fps | max. 240fps | no | max. 240fps | max. 240fps | max. 240fps | max. 240fps | max. 240fps | max. 200fps | max. 240fps |
Photo Resolution | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP | 10 MP | 12 MP | 8 MP | 12 MP | 8 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP | 12 MP |
RAW photo | yes GPR Format | yes GPR Format | yes .RAW Format | yes DNG Format | no | yes GPR Format | no | yes DNG Format | yes DNG Format | no | no | no |
Display | 2″ Touchscreen | 2″ Touchscreen | 2,33″ Touchscreen | 2,19″ Touchscreen | 2″ Touchscreen | 2″ Touchscreen | data only | 2,19″ Touchscreen | 2,44″ Touchscreen | 2" Touchscreen | 2″ Touchscreen | 2" live view |
Battery (Capacity) | 1220 mAh | 1220 mAh | 1200 mAh | 1400 mAh | 1220 mAh built-in! | 1220 mAh | 1240 mAh | 1400 mAh | 1450 mAh | 1200 mAh | 1000 mAh | 1100 mAh |
Image Stabilization | yes up to 4K 60fps | yes up to 4K 30fps | yes up to 4K 30fps | yes up to 4K 30fps | yes up to 2.7K 60fps | yes up to 2.7K 60fps | yes (optical) up to 4K 30fps | yes up to 2.7K 60fps | yes up to 1080p 60fps | yes up to 1080p 60fps | yes up to 1080p 60fps | yes up to 1080p 60fps |
Gyro Sensor | "Hypersmooth" | "superior to Hero5" I guess 6-axis | 6-axis | 3-axis | I guess 3-axis | I guess 3-axis | optical stabilization! | 3-axis | 6-axis (3-axis gyro, 3-axis accelerometer) | 6-axis | 3-axis | 3-axis |
Wifi | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Bluetooth | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Remote Controller | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra | yes, optional extra |
App | GoPro App iOS, Android | GoPro App iOS, Android | SJCAM Zone iOS, Android | Yi Action App iOS, Android | GoPro App iOS, Android | GoPro App iOS, Android | Action Cam App iOS, Android | Yi Action App iOS, Android | Mi Home App | Firefly Cam iOS, Android | SJCAM Zone iOS, Android | Thieye HD iOS, Android |
Storage | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 64GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) | microSD (up to 128GB) |
USB Port | USB-C port | USB-C port | USB-C port | USB-C port | USB-C port | USB-C port | micro USB port | micro USB port | micro USB port | mini USB port | mini USB port | micro USB port |
A/V Output | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | (will be added) | yes | yes | yes |
external Microphone | yes via USB-C | yes via USB-C | yes via USB-C | yes via USB-C | no | yes via USB-C | yes via 3,5mm | no | no | yes via mini USB | yes via mini USB | yes via 2.5mm plug |
HDMI Port | micro HDMI | micro HDMI | no | no | no | micro HDMI | micro HDMI | no | no | micro HDMI | micro HDMI | micro HDMI |
Voice Control | yes | yes | no | yes | yes | yes | no | yes | no | no | no | no |
Special Feature | GPS recording | GPS recording | comes with Touchdoor Case | Facebook Live Broadcasting | GPS recording | GPS recording | GPS recording | Facebook Live Broadcasting | Aluminum Frame Body | |||
Mounts | GoPro System on frame/case | GoPro System on frame/case | 1/4" thread on body GoPro System on case | 1/4" thread on body GoPro System on case | GoPro System on frame/case | GoPro System on frame/case | 1/4" thread on body 1/4" thread on case | 1/4" thread on body GoPro System on case | 1/4" thread on body GoPro System on case | 1/4" thread on body GoPro System on case | GoPro System on frame/case | 1/4" thread on body GoPro System on case |
Waterproof | 10m without case 60m with case | 10m without case 60m with case | 30m with case | 40m with case | 10m without case NO case available | 10m without case 60m with case | splash proof without case 60m with case | 40m with case | with case | 30m with case | 30m with case | 30m with case |
Included Accessories | Frame | Frame | Case & Mounts (Full Box) | Many offers include case | Frame | Frame | Underwater Case | - | - kits will be available later | Case & Mounts | Case & Mounts | Case, 2nd battery |
Best Price | Amazon: ![]() | Amazon: ![]() | Banggood: 189.99 USD | Amazon: ![]() | Amazon: ![]() | Amazon: ![]() | Amazon: ![]() | Geekbuying: 159.99 USD | Gearbest: 99.99 USD | Banggood: 119.99 USD | Banggood: 149.99 USD | Gearbest: 119.99 USD |
Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review |
YI 4K Action Camera Specs
Sensor:
The camera features a 12,35 MP Sony IMX377 sensor. That’s a 1/2.3″ CMOS image sensor with Exmor R ability. Don’t get irritated as the sensor of the first Yi Action Camera features the larger 16 MP Sony Exmor IMX206 sensor. The IMX377 is faster and enables the new model to shoot native 4K video!
Processor:
YI 4K Action Camera holds an Ambarella A9SE chip. GoPro Hero5 black also uses this chip. YI 4K+ holds the newer H2 model to offer 60fps in 4K.
Video Resolution & Frame Rate:
4K – (3840 x 2160) – 30 / 25 fps (100 Mbps)
2.7K – (2704 x 1520) – 60 / 30 / 50 / 25 fps
1440p – (1920 x 1440) – 60 / 50 / 30 / 25 fps
1080p – (1920 x 1080) – 120 / 100 / 60 / 50 / 30 / 25 fps
960p – (1280 x 960) – 120 / 100 / 60 / 50 fps
720p – (1280 x 720) – 240 /200 fps
480p – (848 x 480) – 240 / 200 fps
This is an overview, all settings incl. 4:3 options and Ultra mode are listed in the review below. The 100 Mbps bitrate was added with Firmware 1.6.1 in June 2017.
Video Format:
.mp4 format, .h264 codec.
Photo:
12 MP resolution, so that’s a bit smaller compared to the 16MP photos of YI 1, due to the smaller sensor. But with Firmware 1.6.1 RAW photos are available in DNG format, which isn’t available on the first YI model.
Lens:
7 layer optical glass lens with f2.8 aperture; 155° FOV
Focal length: 2.68mm
Display:
YI 4K Action Camera also features a display: 2,19″ diameter, 640 x 360 pixel with 330PPI resolution. The display is a touch display similar to GoPro Hero5, but a bit larger. I think the display and response is better than the one on Hero5, but Hero5 might not be as well, as it is waterproof.
YI 4K vs GoPro Hero5 black – screen
Battery:
Battery was improved as well and now got 1400 mAh capacity. 110 min. of recording are possible in 4K resolution with 30fps. In comparison GoPro Hero5 black uses a 1220 mAh battery. In my long term test I achieved longer battery life and recording time with YI 4K than with GoPro Hero5 black.
Storage:
microSD card up to 128GB are supported; Class U3 is recommended for 4K video recording.
Connectivity & Ports:
Wifi
YI 4K Action Camera uses a dual band wifi network (2.4 & 5 GHz) to ensure faster download speeds up to 30Mbps download speed.
Bluetooth
The camera features Bluetooth 4.0 for the remote controller.
Ports
There is a small opening on the side, for microUSB. There is no microHDMI!
A/V out via USB is possible, Mic-in is not available via micro USB ports in general.
On the bottom of the camera there’s a door for the battery & microSD card.
A 1/4″ standard photo tripod thread sits next to it for mounting.
Special Features:
The camera features 3-axis gyroscope and accelerometer to support EIS.
Yi 4K Action Camera features Electronic Image Stabilization!
To improve sound recording now 2 microphones are built in, and a speaker for playback.
RAW photo was added with a later Firmware.
Features:
Photo burst mode will shoot 30 images per second.
Similar to the Yi 1 there are Photo and Video Time-lapse modes.
Loop recording is available as well if you want to use it as dash camera.
New is a built in Slow Motion setting which doesn’t require editing afterwards!
Also new compared to YI 1 is a mode where photos are taken during video recording.
Colors:
Yi 4K is available in 3 different colors: pearl white, night black, and rose gold.
Dimensions & Weight:
Weight: 95g camera + battery
Dimensions: 65 x 42 x 21mm, so it’s a little wider than Yi 1 (60.4 x 42 x 21.2 mm).
Accessories:
In standard packaging only USB cable and battery are included.
A YI Action Camera Kit 2 was introduced first, but never went on sale.
YI 4K Action Camera Accessories
Here you’ll find an overview and reviews of YI 4K Action Camera accessories including original gear as well as 3rd party accessories.
Retailer / Price Comparison:
YI 4K+
- Banggood: n/a
- Gearbest: n/a
- Geekbuying: 225.99 USD
- Aliexpress: 219.99 USD (official YI store) – ships worldwide (free)
YI 4K
- Banggood: n/a
- Gearbest: n/a
- Geekbuying: 145.99 USD
- Aliexpress: 109.99USD (official YI store) – ships worldwide (free)
- Amazon: Click respective Amazon store that delivers to your region and check for the price and the very frequent promotions. Very often the actual prices are lower or there are coupons (yellow tag)!
Body, Buttons & Ports
The camera has just one button on top: To power on / off when long pressing it and to start video recording or take a picture when short pressing it. All other settings are done via the touch display. An “in-housing-mode” was introduced to control the camera when placed in the underwater case. When activated and you long press the power button it gets you into a menu which you can browse be pressing the button. More on that later.
Next to the button there are the microphones – 2 of them – one each left and right. Also on top of the camera you can find a speaker, which is used to playback audio when watching the recorded footage on the screen.
On the front side, next to the lens, there’s a LED indicating the battery status, similar to the YI 1. (blue – purple – red)
The camera has the same height as the YI Action Camera, but is a little wider.
On the bottom there’s a door for battery and microSD card which is not removable like on YI 1, but flip opens like on the GoPro. That’s great as there’s no chance to lose it. On the right side there is an opening for the microUSB port, the door is also attached to the camera.
Functions & Settings
The photos shown below were taken with an earlier Firmware version. The listed settings & description are constantly updated.
When you switch on the camera you’ll see the – let’s call it “home screen” – on the display. You’ll see a live image and some information: on the top left an icon in which mode you are in and info on microSD card. On the top left there is an icon when wifi is on and the battery status bar. These icons are not clickable in contrast to the ones on the bottom: The play icon will get you to the camera roll to playback your recordings, in the middle the current resolution / frame rate settings, where you can change mode of the camera; and on the right a rotary to enter settings in the current mode. A nice feature are the swiping options:
When swiping left/right on the screen you can switch between camera and photo mode.
Swiping down displays a quick menu to switch on/off wifi and bluetooth for remote control; a button to lock the screen and one to turn off the camera.
Swiping up accesses the mode menu, same as when you press them in the bottom center.
New with Firmware 1.6.1: Swiping up when in Photo or Video Mode activates AE Lock!
Operating Modes
The camera has 10 operating modes, accessible :
- Photo – to take pictures.
- Timer, where you can set a countdown before a photo is taken.
- Burst, where you can set a a number of photos taken within a timeframe. Max. is 30 pictures within a minute.
- Video – for video recording.
- Time-Lapse Video, where a time-lapse is combined into a video file.
- Slow Motion, where you can do slow motion recording without editing the footage afterwards.
- Time-Lapse Photo, where individual photos are taken, which you can combine to a time-lapse afterwards.
- Loop Recording, where short video sequences are recorded and overwritten once the microSD card is full. e.g. to use the camera as dashboard camera.
- Video + Photo, where there are photos taken in a set interval while a video is recorded. Note: video resolution and frame rate are limited to 1080p 60fps max.
- Live Video (e.g. for Facebook Live Streaming) – with Firmware update 1.3.3.
Settings
In general there are 2 settings menus: The specific one for the mode you are in (e.g. video or photo – first icon on the left) and a device settings menu (second icon on the left). These menus match the new app where you first see the mode settings and then the option to proceed to the device settings.
Settings in Video Mode
Resolution
30fps vs 25fps (and a multiple of that) is depending if you set the cam to NTCS or PAL (device settings). 24 fps option was added with firmware 1.6.1. as well as 100Mbps bitrate. 24fps is available when PAL or NTCS selected.
- 4K – (3840 x 2160) – 30 / 25 / 24 fps
- 4K Ultra – (3840 x 2160) – 24 fps
- 2.7K – (2704 x 1520) – 60 / 50 / 48 / 30 / 25 / 24 fps
- 2.7 K Ultra – (2704 x 2032) – 30 / 25 fps
- 2.7K 4:3 – (2704 x 2032) – 30 / 25 fps
- 1440p 4:3 – (1920 x 1440) – 60 / 50 / 48 / 30 / 25 / 24 fps
- 1080p – (1920 x 1080) – 120 / 100 / 60 / 50 / 48 / 30 / 25 / 24 fps
- 1080p Ultra – (1920 x 1080) – 90 / 60 / 50 / 30 / 25 fps
- 960p 4:3 – (1280 x 960) – 120 / 100 / 60 / 50 fps
- 720p – (1280 x 720) – 240 / 200 fps
- 720p Ultra – (1280 x 720) – 120 / 100 / 60 / 50 fps
- 480p – (848 x 480) – 240 / 200 fps
In the menu you will first see the resolution to select. After making a selection the available frame rates are shown.
“Ultra” options are similar to GoPro’s superview where the full sensor (4:3) is used and stretched to 16:9.
Field of View (since FW 1.1.0)
You can narrow the field of view of the camera and select from: Wide, Medium or Narrow. This option is not available in 4K, 2.5K & 1080p 120fps.
Metering Mode
To define the area where the camera is measuring exposure: Center, Spot or Average (since FW 1.0.12)
Auto Low Light
If you switch on the camera will improve low light performance and might increase shutter to get you better recordings at night. This may result in blurry videos.
Auto Low light is not available in 4K & 2.5K; but is available in 1080p 120fps.
Video Quality (since FW 1.6.1)
Standard setting with the latest firmware is now Medium. When selecting High it now enables 100 Mbps recording in 4K with 30fps.
WB
You can select predefined settings for color correction based on the given light situation: Auto / Native / Tungsten / Daylight / Cloudy.
Color (since FW 1.0.13)
You can choose YI Color or Flat. Flat color mode will give you a video with lower saturation for color correction in post production, similar to GoPro’s ProTune setting. With firmware update 1.6.1 the general red-ish colors were adjusted a bit.
ISO Max
is the sensitivity of the sensor and you can set the max. signal gain. The higher the ISO the brighter, but noisier, your image will get. You can set a value if you don’t want the camera to automatically change (adjust) during recording. Available settings are Auto / 400 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400.
Sharpness (since FW 1.1.0)
You can select High, Medium or Low sharpness. If you want to do color grading in post production, you should set it to low.
EV
is the exposure compensation. You can adjust exposure by setting up / down EV in these steps: +- 0.5 / +- 1 / +- 1.5 / +- 2.
Electronic Image Stabilization
Switched on the camera will correct shaky images to give you a smooth video. Be aware this works electronically and the image is a little zoomed in. This feature doesn’t work in 4K or 1080p 120fps. (It works in 2.7K resolution mode up to 60fps).
Time Stamp
To Display date and/or time in your video.
File Size
You can either set 4GB (the old limit according to FAT32 format) or max. We aware that if the cam stops recording (getting hit, out of battery,..) larger files might not be saved.
Settings in Photo Mode
Resolution
- 12 MP (4000 x 3000)
- 8 MP (3840 x 2160)
- 7 MP W (3008 x 2256)
- 7 MP M (3008 x 2256)
- 5 MP (2560 x 1920)
Shutter
to manually control shutter, which is a great new option especially for foots at night: 2s / 5s / 10s / 20s / 30s.
Metering Mode
To define the area where the camera is measuring exposure: Center, Spot or Average (since FW 1.0.12)
WB
Same as in video mode: Auto / Native / Tungsten / Daylight / Cloudy.
Color (since FW 1.0.13)
You can choose a flat color option, when you plan to edit the photos afterwards.
ISO min / ISO max
This item was also change with a later firmware version. You can now set the min. and max. ISO the camera should use.
Sharpness (since FW 1.1.0)
Here you can choose High, Medium or Low Sharpness.
EV
Same as in video mode: +- 0.5 / +- 1 / +- 1.5 / +- 2.
Time Stamp
To Display date and/or time in your video.
Quickview
When switched on you can define a time you captured photo will be shown on the display after you took it.
File Format (FW 1.6.1)
Here’s the RAW photo selection: You can choose JPG or RAW + JPG. Be aware your phone can’t display RAW photos.
Settings in other Modes:
Basically they are the same as mentioned above, matching either video or photo mode, depending on the mode. For each one there is a specific line added:
Timer
Countdown: 3s / 5s / 10s / 15s
Burst
Frequency: 3p/s – 5p/s – 10p/s – 10p/2s – 10p/3s – 30p/s – 30p/2s – 30p/3s – 30p/6s.
Time Lapse Video
Interval: 0.5s / 1s / 2s / 5s / 10s / 30 / 60s.
Video Length: Off / 6s / 8s / 10s / 20s / 30s / 60s / 120s.
Video time-lapse is currently only available in 2.5K & 4K.
Slow Motion
Slow Rate: 8 / 4 / 2
Time Lapse Photo
Interval: 0.5s / 1s / 2s / 5s / 10s / 30 / 60s.
Loop
Video Length: 5min / 20min / 60min / 120min / max
Photo+Video
Interval: 5s / 10s / 30s / 60s
Device Settings
Adjust Lens distortion
If you don’t like the fish eye effect you can electronically correct it. Previously it was labelled Lens aberration correction or lens rectification. Lens distortion adjustment does not work in 4K video mode.
WiFi
Where you can set switch wifi on and off, display the settings and switch between 2.4G and 5G. Standard password is 1234567890.
SD Card
To see info how much space is used/free and to format your microSD Card.
Camera Default Mode
You can set one of the 9 modes in which the camera powers up and additionally set it to “last mode used”.
Bluetooth Pairing
To pair with a bluetooth device e.g. the remote control.
Brightness
Which is related to the brightness of the LCD screen: Hight / Middle / Low. Higher brightness requires more energy which will result in shorter battery life.
Beeps (earlier called Volume)
Which is the volume for the buzzer sound when hitting the button: High / Low / Mute.
Mic
You can set the mic of your cam to high or low. Choose low in loud surroundings or when there is a lot of wind noise when not in case. You can also mute audio recording.
Sound Effect
You can choose between Stereo and Wind. So another option to get better audio if there is a lot of wind.
LEDs (new with firmware 1.0.8)
You can choose all on, only status – front LED is turned off, record LED on top will light up during recording – and all off.
In Housing Mode (new with firmware 1.0.7 – adapted with firmware 1.2.0)
In House mode was adapted with the latest firmware version and changes the function of the shutter button when you long press it. If activated you now have a new menu where you can access all operation modes and turn off the camera. Of course when long pressing the button you can turn on the camera again.
Video Standard (was moved to device settings with Firmware 1.0.9)
You can switch between NTCS (= 30 fps and a multiple of that) or PAL (=25 fps and a multiple of that). As as side note: 24 fps and a multiple of that are not available which was offered on YI 1.
Advanced
Screen Auto Lock: when the screen turns off to save battery.
Auto Power Off: When the cam powers down when in standby.
Video Rotation: to flip the image.
A/V Out: for video output via USB.
Set Date & Time.
Tutorial
Device Info
To display firmware version and serial number.
Camera reset
with 3 options: Reset Settings, Reset Wi-Fi and Reset Bluetooth.
Language (FW 1.6.1)
Now multiple languages for the menu are supported.
About
Which will show you the internet domains of Yi Technology.
YI 4K Action Camera Versions
Chinese vs International Version
At the launch of YI 4K there were international and Chinese versions. In the meantime both versions run the same firmware and can be used with any language. Besides that Chinese versions are not available outside China.
YI 4K with HDMI out
I don’t think a HDMI port is necessary for action cameras. If you want to watch your footage on a TV screen, get yourself a USB card reader for microSD cards. Plug it in your TV and there’s a benefit: You can browse, select, play and scroll your footage with your TV remote. IF you need HDMI for special purpose like wired streaming or VR, there is a YI 4K version with HDMI which has to be ordered via YI Technologies: openapi@yitechnology.com
YI 4K Action Camera Firmware Updates
My camera was delivered with firmware version 0.3.31 back in 2016. Since then the Firmware was improved many times, you can find all Change logs below. Most notable changes were the addition of flat color, FOV options, Live Streaming, the addition of 24fps, RAW photo and a 100Mb/s option for 4K video (was 60Mb/s).
all Change Logs
Firmware 1.0.7 Change Log:
I haven’t found a change log so far, as 1.0.8 was available when the download popped up; one option I noticed:
- Added In Housing Mode
- (+ improvements & bug fixes)
Firmware 1.0.8 Change Log:
- Added Settings for LED
- Added beep sound for mode switch
- Added EIS for 2.5K, 1440p30 & 1440p60
- Added LCD display auto rotation
- (+ improvements & bug fixes)
Firmware 1.0.9 Change Log:
- Added shutter beeps when taking time-lapse photos
- Added flashing LED light before taking photos / videos
- (+ improvements & bug fixes)
Firmware 1.0.12 Change Log:
- Added “Average” metering mode
- Added “Reset Wi-Fi” and “Reset Bluetooth”
- (+ improvements & bug fixes)
Firmware 1.0.13 Change Log:
- Added Wi-Fi countries selection option;
- Added Flat Color option;
- Added Video Mute option;
- (+ improvements & bug fixes)
Firmware 1.1.0 Change Log:
- Added FOV option;
- Added Sharpness Adjustment Function;
- Added Video Time Info;
- (+ improvements & bug fixes)
Firmware 1.2.0 Change Log:
- Added 2.7K resolution and removed 2.5K resolution
- Added manual adjustment function for timelapse video, like ISO, WB, EV etc
- Added long exposure option for timelapse photo mode, supports more time interval etc
- Optimized “In housing mode”, more simple to switch
- (+improvements)
Firmware 1.2.3 Change Log:
- Added “Open LOG” (Settings-About, when on “About” interface, fast tap 3 times will activate LOG)
- Changed “1080 Ultra 120 FPS” to “1080 Ultra 90 FPS” and supports Auto Low Light
- Changed “4K Ultra 25FPS/30FPS” to “4K Ultra 24FPS”
- (+improvements)
Firmware 1.3.3 Change Log:
- Added Live Streaming Feature
- Added district/Wi-Fi frequency options
- (+improvements)
Firmware 1.4.0 Change Log:
- During software update, it is now possible to see progress bar and update info.
- When Wifi is enabled, a blinking notification will now appear
- Added live stream codec settings
- Optimized video stream naming convention (from _thm.MP4 to .SEC)
- Optimized power consumption during sleep mode for longer battery life
- Optimized flat-color effect & EV effect
Firmware 1.4.14 Change Log:
- Add multi-language (EU)
- Add enlarge and drag photo function (Double click the photo when in no status info)
- Add Quick View
- Add Audio Effect option
- Add Mic option; Add Video/Photo [ISO Max], [ISO Min] option
- Change default format of 32GB SD card to exFAT
- Fix the file name start from 0 when shooting videos/pictures after formatting SD card
- Fix when shooting in 120FPS or 240FPS the possible freeze issue
- Fix the unresponsive issue when fast previewing pictures
- Optimize Bluetooth pairing, controlling
- Optimize time-lapse procedure;
Firmware 1.4.23 Change Log:
- Added support for large files, and made adjustments to algorithms for SD Card.
- Added Battery-Save mode option under timer mode.
- Added support for USB-LED Indicator under Advanced Settings
- Fixed a bug that caused issues with photo resolution in file manager
- Fixed a bug with AV-Out Improved the stability during updates
- + Improvements
- Adds Chinese language choice
- Adds SD Card Optimization
- Optimizes USB LED function which syncs the battery lights indicator
- Optimizes SD card compatibility
- Fixes crash issue with firmware downgrade
Firmware 1.5.1 Change Log:
- Fixed issue with ending time-lapse photo mode
- Fixed issue of “In Processing” prompt when file deletion has failed
- Fixed the crash issue when turning on AV-OUT and Quickview
- Fixed firmware upgrade issues
- Optimized UI
- Optimized ability to turn off the camera when in Quickview
Firmware 1.6.1 Change Log:
- Added manual metering and exposure lock (AE Lock)
- Added DNG image format (RAW Photo)
- Added Chinese language
- Adjusted some of the resolutions bitrate (4K recording at 100 Mbps)
- Adjusted “Video+photo” mode. Removed “Picture capture successful” prompt
- Optimized stability of album
- Optimized UI
- Optimized image quality of the red tone (red tone color correction)
- Optimized manual white balance image quality
- Optimized Flatcolor Mode, unbound with Daylight configuration
Firmware 1.6.10 Change Log:
- Added Time-lapse video definition choices, supports 1080P and 960P
- Added Russian, Spanish and Japanese language
- Added Time-lapse photo DNG feature
- Fixed time issue when video recording in large files
- Fixed the system lag issue after viewing the album
- Optimized SD card compatibility
- Optimized Native effect when manually adjusting White Balance
- Optimized system stability
Latest Firmware available:
Firmware 1.7.8 Change Log:
- Added Slow Motion resolution choice, supports 1920 x 1080 and 1280 x 720
- Added new frame rates for certain resolutions, supports 4K/24FPS, 2.7K/24FPS, 2.7K/48FPS, 1920×1440/24FPS, 1920×1440/48FPS, 1920×1080/24FPS, 1920×1080/48FPS
- Added DNG for Time Lapse Photo Mode when it is set to Continuous
- Added Mode Switch, Normal Mode, Current Mode for Bluetooth Controller
- Added shutter speed choice for Photo, Timer and Time Lapse Photo Mode, supports 1/500s, 1/125s, 1/30s, 1/8s, 1/2s and 1s
- Added the battery percentage display
- Optimized the album user experience
- Optimized SD card compatibility
- Optimized image effect, improved high contrast
- Optimized Live Streaming feature and removed watermark
- Fixed EXIF time stamp bug and the “Bluetooth pairing failure” issue
Beta Versions can be found here: YI Camera User Group (Facebook).
Official Firmware releases are available on YI’s website.
Conclusion
YI 4K definitely set a new benchmark in terms of price and performance. It comes very close to GoPro Hero5 black in terms of image quality. Hero5 still wins with way better audio and features like being waterproof without case. But on the other hand YI 4K is almost half the price! There are a few cheaper native 4K cameras available (e.g. Firefly 8S, Thieye T5 or SJCAM SJ7 Star which were released later) but they don’t offer as many features as YI 4K.
Here’s a comparison chart of native 4K Action Cameras
Here are my pros and cons:
Image Quality – As you can seen in my comparison with the GoPro Hero 5 black shot in 4K, and with Yi Action Camera 1 in 1080p with 60 fps, the image quality is really great.
Interface – Touchscreen navigation works really smooth and the structure of the menu is very logical. I like the “quick menu” when swiping down to get quick access to turn on/off wifi and bluetooth. You can quickly turn them on when needed or off to save battery life without browsing the whole menu. The interface of the camera is really amazing, the best I’ve seen so far on action cameras! Settings you need all the time (resolution, frame rate,…) can be accessed very fast. Camera settings (PAL/NTSC, LED settings,…) are in a separate menu one step further, so you don’t get distracted by them.
Battery life – YI 4K offers great battery life when shooting 4K resolution. Superb performance compared with other action cameras including GoPro Hero5 black.
ProTune – With Firmware 1.0.13 there was a new mode introduced – flat color, which seems to be like ProTunes on the GoPro.
App – If you are using your Action Camera with your smartphone, the app is definitely an important part of it. And the Yi App works great! You can not only change all settings of the camera (which is probably not that important since the on screen menu is great), you can also transfer your photos and videos easily to your smartphone, edit them and share them online!
Image stabilization – A great feature to get smooth shots and it works just great. Only disadvantage that it is not available in 4K, that’s because additional “image space” on the sensor is needed to stabilize the video. EIS in 4K is available with YI 4K+ Action Camera!
Sound – There were some issues with YI 1 having a dull sound, so I was curious about the Yi 2 and it got way better. YI 4K Action Camera holds a dual mic and there are no major issues with sound. It’s not perfect, but for an action camera the result is fine. Still GoPro is unbeaten when it comes to audio.
Case – When placing the camera inside the underwater case you can’t easily change between photo / video mode as you can’t access the screen. You can’t change modes using buttons, as there is only one. This issue was fixed with Firmware version 1.0.7 and you now have the described “In housing mode”, but it is not the best solution.
Videos
YI 4K Action Camera vs YI Action Camera 1 – recorded in 1080p 60fps – YI 2’s image stabilization is turned on:
YI 4K vs GoPro Hero5 black vs YI 4K+ Action Camera – incl. 4K EIS and Audio test:
Photo
The following photos are unedited straight out of the camera. You can click them for full resolution. I took a ton of photos with YI 4K by now, you can browse my best shots in a YI4K Photo Album on my Facebook Site.
Long exposure: ISO 100 – Shutter 5s
Retailer / Price Comparison:
YI 4K+
- Banggood: n/a
- Gearbest: n/a
- Geekbuying: 225.99 USD – ships worldwide (free)
- Aliexpress: 219.99 USD (official YI store) – ships worldwide (free)
YI 4K
- Banggood: n/a
- Gearbest: n/a
- Geekbuying: 145.99 USD – ships worldwide (free)
- Aliexpress: 109.99USD (official YI store) – ships worldwide (free)
- Amazon: Click the image for the Amazon Store that delivers to your region. There are very frequent promotions so the actual price might be lower or there are coupons (yellow tag below the price).