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EKEN Action Camera Comparison

EKEN H5s Plus - EKEN H6s - EKEN H7 black - EKEN H9

EKEN H5s Plus – EKEN H6s – EKEN H7 black – EKEN H9

 

New EKEN cameras were recently added, here’s an overview of currently available cameras. Besides the enduring popular EKEN H9 a while ago EKEN H5s, with the noticeable skull design, was released. The latest additions are H7 black and H7s. Here’s an overview:

ModelEKEN H5s PlusEKEN H6sEKEN V50 ProEKEN H7 blackEKEN H7sEKEN H8/H8R/H8sEKEN H9R PlusEKEN H9/H9R/H9s
EKEN H5s Plus

EKEN H5s Plus

EKEN H6s

EKEN H6s

EKEN Alphawise V50 Pro

EKEN Alphawise V50 Pro

EKEN H7 black

EKEN H7 black

EKEN H7s

EKEN H7s

EKEN H8s

EKEN H8s

EKEN H9R Plus

EKEN H9R Plus

EKEN H9s

EKEN H9s

Remarkskull designalso branded
"Alfawise EKEN"
out of production(to be confirmed)
Sensor12,4 MP
Sony IMX 078
14 MP
Panasonic 34110
13 MP
Sony IMX 258
12,4 MP
Sony IMX078
14 MP
Panasonic 34112
12,4 MP
Sony IMX078
14 MP
Panasonic 34112
4 MP
Omnivision OV4689
ProcessorAmbarella A12S75Ambarella A12S75Ambarella A12S75Ambarella A12S75Sunplus 6350Ambarella A12S75 Ambarella A12Sunplus 6350 chip
Lens / FOV170°170°170°170°170°170°170°170°
4K Resolution
max. framerate
30fps
native (real 4K)
30fps
native (real 4K)
30fps
native (real 4K)
30fps
native (real 4K)
30fps
native (real 4K)
30fps
interpolated (not real 4K)
30fps
interpolated (not real 4K)
25fps
interpolated (not real 4K)
2,7K – Resolution
max. frame rate
60fps30fps30fps60fps30fps30fps30fps30fps
1080p –Resolution
max. frame rate
100fps60fps60fps100fps60fps60fps60fps60fps
720p Resolution
max. frame rate
200fps-60fps200fps120fps120fps120fps120fps
Image Stabilizationyes
up to 4K 30fps
yes
up to 4K 25fps
noyes
up to 4K 25fps
nononono
Photo Resolution
(native - unscaled)
12 MP14 MP13 MP12 MP
16 MP interpolated
14 MP12 MP14 MP4 MP
Display2" touchscreen2" live view2" live view2" live view2" touchscreen2" live view2" touchscreen2" live view
Front Displayyesyesnononoyesnono
Facebook Livenononononoonly H8snoonly H9s
Battery1050 mAh1050 mAh1050 mAh1050 mAh1050 mAh1050 mAh1050 mAh1050 mAh
WiFiyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes
Remote Controlyesyesyesyesyesonly H8R & H8syesonly H9R & H9s
Portsmicro USB, micro HDMImicro USB, micro HDMImicro USB, micro HDMImicro USB, micro HDMImicro USB, micro HDMImicro USB, micro HDMImicro USB, micro HDMImicro USB, micro HDMI
A/V out via USBnononononononono
Mic in via USBnononononononono
Dimension (mm)59.3 x 21.4 x 41.159.3 x 21.4 x 41.159.3 x 21.4 x 41.159.3 x 21.4 x 41.159.3 x 21.4 x 41.159.3 x 21.4 x 41.1?59.3 x 24.6 x 41.1
Mounts & Caseincludedincludedincludedincludedincludedincludedincludedincluded
Aliexpress (ATPowers)
confirmed retailer
$ 88.77$ 74.99$ 45.98---$ 64.11EKEN H9:$ 36.99
EKEN H9R:$ 44.99
Banggood$ 122.99$ 91.99$ 71.99$ 101.99-$ 75.99$ 91.99H9: $ 49.99
H9R: $ 44.99
Gearbest:$ 133.15$ 87.99$ 56.99----H9R: $ 46.99
Amazon US
(official EKEN store)
---EKEN H9R:

 

Remarks:

Resolution/Frame rate:
not all EKEN cameras that are labelled 4K offer native 4K resolution. Another method to achieve 4K is to upscale the video from a lower resolution, called interpolating. E.g. EKEN H9 doesn’t offer real 4K; easy to check: 4K resolution equals 8 MP and EKEN H9 only has a 4 MP sensor. But that’s not the only criteria to check, if you want more info on that topic, check out my real vs fake 4K article.

Image Stabilization:
EKEN H5s plus, H6s and H7 black offer electronic image stabilisation (EIS). In the list you can see the highest resolution available with EIS.

Remote Control:
Be careful if the remote controller is included with your camera when you need it. You can’t upgrade the camera if it comes without. If you want a remote with your H9 you need to go for EKEN H9R or EKEN H9s.
Note: You can’t upgrade a H9 with a H9R firmware!

Display:
Some EKEN cameras offer a touchscreen which is very convenient to change settings and navigate the menu. The ones I labelled with “live view” have a regular display. You have to navigate the menu using the buttons.
Some cameras offer a front display as well. This can be interesting when filming yourself (vlogging) to see the recording time.

Ports:
All EKEN cameras are equipped with microUSB port and HDMI Port. Be aware that mircoUSB does not allow an external microphone! If you want to use an external mic (e.g. if you are looking for a vlog camera) you need to get one with either miniUSB (like Firefly 8SE or SJCAM SJ7) or USB-C (like SJCAM SJ8 series or YI 4K+)

 

EKEN H9 versions

Throughout the years many different EKEN cameras were branded H9. The original model (with similar specs and features) comes in 3 different versions:

  • EKEN H9 is the base model.
  • EKEN H9se was a downgraded version that users inferior components and didn’t offer 720p resolution.
  • EKEN H9R comes with the remote controller. The controller can’t be used with an EKEN H9 camera you have to get a H9R version!
  • EKEN H9s comes with a remote and is capable of live streaming.

Note:
You can only install very specific firmware versions for each production line. You can’t upgrade or use a different version. If you do so you will brick your camera with hardly any chance to undo this process. EKEN recommends NOT TO UPDATE the firmware if the camera is working. There are NO NEW features with other firmware versions!

EKEN Firmware Update Info

EKEN Firmware Update Info

Besides them previously there were cameras like EKEN H9 Pro and EKEN H9 Plus. They are completely different in terms of processor and sensor. They just used the “H9” label as it was well known. These cameras are out of production.

 

Official Retailer – How to avoid getting fake EKEN cameras:

Amazon
EKEN suggests buying via Amazon, which is their official platform. They offer their products on the various local Amazon sites:

Aliexpress
Aliexpress is a reseller platform. They sales are done by individual stores and not Aliexpress themselves!
Here’s a list of Aliexpress stores which are confirmed to ship original cameras:

Banggood
was confirmed by EKEN to sell original products! 

Gearbest
was confirmed by EKEN to sell original products!

But be aware! On Gearbest you can also find a “H9 camera” which is NOT a “EKEN H9“!

  • This is EKEN: EKEN H9R
  • to compare, this is H9 camera – not EKEN! – it’s a different camera!

 

Conclusion

My opinion on the EKEN series cameras:

If your budget is around 50 USD: Get the EKEN H9 (or EKEN H9R). The value is great for the price and there is hardly competition achieving this quality for that price. Check out my EKEN H9 or EKEN H9s review to get more insight on this camera!

If your budget is around 100 USD: Get EKEN H5s Plus, to me the best EKEN camera. Of course the quality is way better than EKEN H9. In this area there is a lot of competition with similar cameras that also got other features (like external mic). E.g. take a look at Firefly 8SE, Xiaomi Mijia 4K or YI Lite. They not only offer better quality and image stabilization, their firmware is also updated and their smartphone apps work way better.

If you Budget is in-between you can take a look at my list which cameras match your needs. There is not much competition in that price range. One camera you could look at is Firefly 7s.

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