Why the YI 4K+ Caught My Eye
As someone who enjoys hiking, coastal walks, and photographing events, I’m often looking for a compact, versatile action camera — something rugged, portable and capable of capturing high-quality video on the go, without carrying heavy DSLR gear. The YI 4K+ stood out because it promised 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps), a spec that was rare — and at its launch moment, practically unique — in the action-cam world.
That 4K/60 capability alone is a major draw: it allows for smooth, cinematic video during hikes, coastal walks, castle visits — or, say, at historical or steampunk re-enactments. The extra frame rate also means smoother slow-motion playback, useful when you want to emphasize motion (e.g. waves crashing on the shore, people walking, or re-enactment drama).
The other appeal for me is how compact and light the camera is: it weighs just 93 g, and its small dimensions make it easy to mount on a helmet, a bike handle, a selfie-stick, or even a tripod.
Finally — for someone like you who likes to mix walking, exploring, and photography — the fact it records video and still images (12 MP), offers various shooting modes (time-lapse, slow-motion, loop, burst, etc.), and supports mounts/tripods makes it a flexible little travel companion.
What’s Under the Hood — Key Features & Specs
Here’s a breakdown of how the YI 4K+ performs and what features it offers.
- Sensor & Processor: It uses a 1/2.3″ 12 MP Sony CMOS image sensor (Sony IMX377, Exmor R), with a 7-layer glass lens offering a 155° field of view (FOV), aperture f/2.8, and a focal length of ~2.66 mm.
- Video Resolutions & Frame Rates:
- 4K video up to 60 fps (3840×2160) — the major headline feature.
- 2.7K, 1440p, 1080p, 960p, 720p and even 480p options — including 1080p up to 120 fps or 720p up to 240 fps for slow-motion effects.
- Time-lapse (video and photo), loop-recording, burst, timer, and slow-motion — lots of creative flexibility.
- Stabilization & Lens Correction: The camera includes electronic image stabilization (EIS) plus lens distortion correction to counteract the typical fisheye warp of wide-angle lenses.
- Display & Controls: There’s a 2.2-inch colour touchscreen (640×360 resolution) for previewing and navigating menus — useful for quick setup before a walk or ride.
- Connectivity & Extras: Built-in Wi-Fi (dual-band), Bluetooth 4.0, USB-C port (useful for faster transfers, or connecting external mic with adapter), support for external microphone, tripod mount (1/4″), live streaming, and loop/overwrite recording.
- Weight & Size: Very compact — roughly 65 × 42 × 30 mm, and weight ~93-96g depending on configuration, which makes it easy to toss into a backpack for a day’s walking or cycling.
So in terms of raw capability — video resolution, frame rate, modes — the YI 4K+ stacks up quite well, especially if your goal is to document outdoor activities, travel walks, re-enactments, or landscape footage.
Where It Falls Short — Cons & Limitations
No camera is perfect, and the YI 4K+ has a few limitations — things to be aware of, especially if you care about pro-level video or more serious filmmaking.
- Waterproofing & Durability: Out of the box, the YI 4K+ is not waterproof or rugged. Underwater or wet-weather filming requires a separate waterproof housing.
- Image Stabilization Limits: While EIS works, it only applies up to 4K/30fps, not 4K/60fps — so when using the flagship 60 fps mode, you lose stabilization, which can make handheld footage shaky if you’re walking or moving.
- Audio Quality: The built-in stereo mic is generally described as acceptable but not exceptional — audio tends to be “thin” compared to higher-end cameras. If you want good sound (e.g. people talking, ambient noise, events), you might need an external microphone (via adapter).
- Low-light Performance: Like many action cameras with small sensors, performance in low light is limited. There is an “Auto Low Light” mode, but it often increases noise — so night walks, indoor re-enactments, or dusk sailing may not be ideal.
- Mounting Accessories Not Included: The camera itself often ships without any mounts, housings, or accessories — meaning extra purchases are needed to fully leverage it for cycling, helmet-mounted filming, underwater use, etc.
- Battery Life: Battery life is modest: roughly around 60–80 minutes when recording 4K video (especially 60 fps), which may limit long hikes or extended filming sessions.
- Age & Support Considerations: Because the YI 4K+ is a slightly older model, firmware support and app support may have aged. External mic adapters, housing and accessories may be harder to find now. (This tends to be true of action cams — always a trade-off between price, capability and long-term support.)
Is It Good for My Kinds of Adventures?
Given your interests — walking, coastal trails, hiking in Northumberland/Scotland/Dales, photography at events, occasional re-enactments, documenting travel — the YI 4K+ has a lot going for it. Here’s why it could fit your lifestyle:
- Portability: Its small size and light weight make it ideal to slip into a hiking backpack or cycling pouch without bulk.
- Wide-angle 4K video: Great for sweeping landscapes (coastlines, hills, valleys), walking trails, and immersive travel videos.
- Frame-rate flexibility: 4K/60fps for smooth video, or lower-res high-frame-rate for slow motion — handy for waves, walking, moving elements, or dramatic re-enactment footage.
- Versatility: Time-lapse for sunrise/sunset, loop-record for helmet or bike camera, tripod mount for stationary filming — all useful depending on the outing.
- Affordability (historically): When it came out, it offered high-end features at a more modest price than top-end action cams. While it may not match the absolute best in 2025, for many use-cases it remains compelling if you find a good deal.
On the flip side, if you plan a lot of underwater adventures, snowboarding, heavy rain, or low-light night photography, the limitations (need for housing, weak low-light, modest battery) could make you reconsider. Also, for high-quality audio (e.g. interviews, dialogues) you’d likely want an external microphone.
Verdict — A Great “Adventure & Travel Companion” Camera (With Trade-offs)
Overall, I’d say the YI 4K+ is still a very worthwhile action camera if your primary goal is to document outdoor adventures, travel, hikes, walks and events — especially given your blog’s focus on outdoor experiences, coastal walks, castles and re-enactments. Its compactness, 4K/60 video capability, variety of shooting modes, and overall flexibility make it an attractive choice for someone seeking more portability than a DSLR, but more capability than a smartphone.
That said, it won’t replace a proper video camera for professional-quality film — but I don’t think that’s what it sets out to do. Rather, it’s a practical, capable compromise: light enough to carry everywhere, flexible enough to cover many kinds of adventures.
If you were “in the market now,” I’d suggest you check carefully whether it’s still supported (accessories, housing, app compatibility), and whether you might invest in extra battery(s), a waterproof case, and maybe an external mic — but as a “throw-in-your-laptop-bag, go hiking, record 4K video of coastlines & castles” camera — it remains a very good bet.
Personal Thoughts — Why It Appeals to Me
Given my love of walking across Northumberland, Scotland and the Lake District; coastal paths; visiting stately homes; attending WWII- and steampunk-style events; and taking photographs — this camera appeals because it sits exactly at the intersection of portability, versatility, and decent video quality. On a long coastal walk, I could mount it on a small tripod to record beautiful 4K video of sea-views, or wear it on a helmet while cycling. At an event, I could swing between still photos (12 MP) and video, maybe catch some dramatic footage in slow motion, or even do time-lapse of sunset over moors or valleys.
Yes, it has limitations — but for the value it offers, I think the YI 4K+ is one of those “good enough and convenient” cameras that’s ideal for a travel-/outdoor-/hobby-photography blog like yours.
Price Paid in 2017: £152.28, this also included a waterproof casing (YI 4 K Plus Action Camera Black 4 K/60fps 12MP 5,56 cm 2.2 Inch LCD Touchscreen Bundled with Yi Waterproof Casing, WiFi and Command, App for iOS/Andriod (EU Version)
Links
- Yi 4K+ review: A GoPro Hero6 action camera rival for a lot less (expert reviews)
- YI 4K+ Action Camera Review (Photography Blog)
- Yi 4K+ Action Camera review (Tech Radar)
