Technological evolution has its own perks: having different types of GoPro alternatives means pleasing a wider range of customers. From light design and decent video captures to high-end lens and angles, it all comes with diversity.
Differentiating between types of alternatives also differentiates the possible types of buyers, as there are so many possibilities, all depending on your needs. We've picked the best GoPro alternatives for 2016.
Drift Stealth 2
Best selling point: the 300 degree rotating lens
The minimalist design and the portable-size 12-megapixel camera with a 7-element lens are the immediate following features. However, what's really a deal breaker if you're into water sports is that the camera isn't waterproof.
The videos are captured in 1080p or 720p if you're into slow motion captures. Of course, the camera comes with a drift app that you can install in order to control it remotely without issues.
The Stealth comes with a non-removable battery, so that you can record up to 3 hours, setting a good standard for all the other cameras. You won't have the micro SD card included, but since it supports up to 32 GB of memory you can always buy depending on your needs.
"Compared to models like the Polaroid Cube, the Stealth is easier to mount and since it has a screen and a couple more buttons, you don't need to connect to another device to change modes or settings. It has this advantage over the GoPro Hero4 Session, too, and it's half the price," says a CNET review.
Just so you know, the Drift Stealth 2 costs less than $100.
Sony HDR-AS50
Best selling point: lightweight design, easy to carry anywhere
The specifications make it an overall decent choice. It records in 1080p, it supports 4K videos, it has an 11.1-megapixel Exmor R sensor with 170 degree Zeiss lens. Its image stabilization is Steadyshot, and the storage is handled either through the 8 GB included microSD card or through Sony M2 memory sticks, if you're on a budget. The camera also comes with a 1.4-inch tripod to which you can attach a GoPro adaptor at a reasonable price and diversify the accessories as to make it worth every penny.
The HDR-AS50 has a price tag of $199.
Polaroid Cube+
Best selling point: lightweight design and WiFi connection
If you plan on watching videos on a tablet or smartphone after shooting them, you're going to love this GoPro alternative. It doesn't have the best video quality the tech world has ever created, but you do have HD for slow motions, a time lapse feature and up to 60 fps. It doesn't have 120 fps like the HDR-AS50, but for someone who's not a professional video creator it does the job.
It comes at a reasonable price tag of $149.99.
Garmin Virb Elite
Best selling point: it's actually better than GoPro, camera-wise
Of course, this means it's not the cheapest tool in the shed, but we're starting from the premise that if you're unhappy with your GoPro camera features, cheap is not what you're looking for. Whether you're shooting with 1080p or 720p, the overall performance will be more than satisfactory. It's a functional and reliable camera for all customers, but you'll have to take care of the blur when shooting in 720p.
"The 1080p test video I recorded looked bright and appropriately colorful under the winter sky of midtown Manhattan, and showed impressive detail in a squirrel's fur and claws as I recorded a curious one on a park bench. The 720p test video showed less detail because of the resolution, but its 60 fps footage meant the shot was relatively sharp and free of blur in any given free frame save for when the camera had to adjust focus for closer or further objects," says a PC Magazine review.
The Garmin Virb Elite will set customers back by $199.
Mobius
Best selling point: small and great for sportsmen
Being a sports camera, it does feature a 720p type of capture, but this will reduce its angle from 132 to 63 degrees. It doesn't have a GPS or a screen — it comes with the purpose of being small and light — but it has a very user-friendly software once connected to an Android or Windows. No WiFi or Bluetooth or anything very fancy for that matter, but it does have a micro SD port. It comes with an LED light in three colors (yellow, red and blue) to notify you about different camera modes, and it allows you to shoot videos even when you're charging it through a power bank.
The Mobius action camera costs $74.
