Xiaomi Yi 2 camera in-depth review

Yesterday, out of curiosity I searched with Google for “Xiaomi Yi 2 review“. The results were pretty impressive. I found plenty of professional articles about this camera. Most of the reviews have concluded that the Yi 4K is an excellent action camera with superior image quality. Even when the Xiaomi Yi 4K was put in a side-by-side comparison with the more expensive GoPro 5 Hero, it excelled.

Yi Technology is a sub-brand of Xiaomi, mainly oriented on cameras. Their first successful model, the Yi action camera, was launched last year. Although it was a very basic model, thanks to its friendly price quickly become a popular quadcopter camera among RC enthusiasts. Unfortunately, crashes are inevitable, and putting a $400 GoPro cam on a drone it’s like playing Russian roulette.

Compared to its predecessor, the second-generation Yi 2 camera comes with a generous touch screen and 4K video recording. Yes, I know, if you are using the camera exclusively for aerial filming, the large screen is totally useless.

Xiaomi Yi 4K highlights

• Ambarella A9SE75 imaging processor (SoC);
• Built-in BCM43340 dual-band WiFi module (2.4G and 5.8G);
• Generous retina 2.19″ touch screen (640 x 360 );
• Large capacity battery for longer operation time;
• Dual microphone;
• Tripod mounting hole (1/4″);
• Underwater operation with the dedicated case;
• Mobile device APP (iOS and Android);
• Electronic image stabilization;
• Multiple operation modes (like timer photo, time-lapse video, slow-motion photo and video, and loop video);
• High bit rate, up to 60MBps;
• Ultra HD video recording with up to 30 fps;
• Ultra-high frame rate (240 fps at 720P);
• Up to 12MP photo resolution.

Xiaomi Yi 2 camera review

From the day it was announced, I wanted to review this camera. I contacted the manufacturer for this purpose, but they didn’t answer me…I almost gave up when Adam from GearBest asked if I would like to review the Xiaomi Yi 4K camera. Of course, I accepted his offer.

The package arrived in about 3 weeks. Inside the box, besides the camera with the battery loaded, I found a USB charging/data cable and user manual.

No mounting accessories or lens cap included. It’s a pretty shame, a rich accessories pack would make this camera a truly premium product.

Xiaomi Yi 2 Review – At a glance

My first impression of the camera was that it has a nice stylish design and very good build quality. BTW, I received a black one, but white and rose-gold are also available.

On top of the camera is located the Power/Shutter button, the speaker, and the two microphones. On the left side, behind a small door, is located the micro USB Data/Charging port. Video out for first-person view (FPV) can be activated through the camera’s menu under the “Advanced” section. Unfortunately, there is no HDMI port.

The 1400 mAh battery is loaded from the bottom of the camera. According to the manufacturer’s specs, a fully charged battery allows recording about two hours of 4k@30fps video.

The manufacturer placed the micro SD slot behind the battery compartment door to protect it from the accidental ejection of the memory card.

On the bottom part, right under the center of the 155-degree lens, a universal tripod hole (1/4″) is located.

Till now, everything looks “conventional”. The catch of this second-generation Xiaomi camera is located on the rear part, a generous 2.19 ” LCD touch screen with Gorilla glass. The resolution of the retina widescreen display is 640 x 360 pixels (330 dpi).

YI Technology claims that the Ambarella A9SE SoC used in the Yi 2 camera has the same features and computing power as the one used in the more expensive GoPro 4 Black camera.

Xiaomi Yi 2 review – Remote APP – Yi Action

Although the touch screen allows to easily configure the camera, all the settings are also available remotely through the YI Action APP.

To connect the Yi 4K camera to your mobile device (smartphone or tablet), you need to enable the WIFI connection on the camera. You can opt for a 2.4 or 5.8G band. The default passkey is “1234567890”.

Besides the configuration and fine-tuning of the camera, the app offers live-view remote control. Photos can be remotely displayed (directly from the camera’s memory card) but the videos must be downloaded first.

Some social media is also integrated in the APP. There, you can share your videos and meet other Xiaomi users.

Xiaomi Yi 2 Review – First usage – Test

When I agreed to review the Xiaomi Yi 2 4k I decided to test the camera in every possible way. Of course, as it is winter, I will skip over the underwater tests.

Powering ON the Xiaomi Yi2 camera for the first time you need to pass through an 11 page tutorial. This will help you understand the basic function of the camera and also choose a proper micro SD memory card for 4K video recording.

You can opt for between 9 operation modes plus live streaming. Besides the usual photo and video modes, there are also available:

• Self-timer;
• Burst photo;
• Time-lapse photo;
• Time-lapse video;
• Slow-motion video;
• Loop recording;
• Video + photo mode.

Firstly, I tested the camera mounted on my ZhiYun Z1-Evolution handheld gimbal. Although the Z1-Evo was designed for GoPro cameras, it also fits with the Xiaomi Yi 2. The only inconvenience is the hardly accessible power button. The smooth videos have excellent quality in Full and Ultra HD resolutions.

If you don’t have a suitable handheld gimbal you can enable the “Electronic Image Stabilization” feature which makes a huge difference.  Unfortunately, this function is available only on 1080@30fps.

Images are sharp and crisp. Even in the low-light condition, the camera gave very good results (you can check the RAW samples below).

Although facing the sun is one of the most difficult ways to obtain enjoyable videos, the Yi 2 performed surprisingly well.

Five minutes of 4k@30fps video occupies about 2.2GB, and 1080@90FPS (Ultra) occupies about 3GB. For 2 hours of 4K video, you will need a 64GB memory card.

I plan to mount the Yi 4K camera this weekend on my DIY F450 Arducopter. I’m very curious how it will perform against the Yuneec 4K (which one offers better video quality).

Pricing and availability

Everyone interested in buying this nice all-around action camera should know it can be ordered for $206 with free shipping. Third-party Xiaomi Yi II  waterproof cases are available for $15, but if you prefer genuine ones, you must pay about 40 bucks.

Xiaomi Yi 2 vs GoPro Hero 5

GoPro proved over the years that they are not just some random action camera manufacturer, they are the leader of this market segment. GoPro products integrate the latest technology to offer the best image quality. Of course, this has a price; the GoPro Hero5 Black costs almost twice the Xiaomi Yi 4K.

Skipping over the technical mumbo-jumbo for the extra 200 bucks, the GoPro 5 has a more rugged design and native waterproof protection (it doesn’t require a dedicated case). The audio quality is also much better than the Xiaomi 4K. Both came with electronic image stabilization and a generous touch screen.

In favor of the Xiaomi 4k, I would say that according to the specs, it has a longer operation time than its contender.

Xiaomi Yi2 Time-lapse video test

Xiaomi Yi2 low-light test in 1080p@60fps