dashcam, action cam, tech reviews and videos
The general catchall category for product reviews. Includes tech reviews and other items.
This isn’t the first mini PC I have reviewed, but it is definitely more powerful than the others. I am always surprised how good mini PCs are getting at their budget price. I feel like this video was a learning exercise too in terms of filming screens, using OBS (I don’t stream) and that sort of thing. There is a lot I would change were I to do it again, but I need to be done with it so I can move onto other better things.
Near the end of 2019, more budget dual dashcams have popped up that can record higher than 1080p resolution with their front facing cameras. The Hawkeye Q3 Pro is the first example I have tested personally and the results speak for themselves: this camera has significantly easier license plate readability versus dual 1080p cameras. The Q3 Pro is an excellent example of a budget dual dashcam with decent forward facing video in day and night and an acceptable rear camera to boot.
The SJ8 Pro is a premium level action camera from Chinese maker SJCam. Featuring 4K at 60FPS and stabilized 4K30, this camera has all the features a budget pro level camera should offer. The Akaso V50x is from a brand that primarily trades on Amazon and is some of the more popular budget action cams. Offering stabilized 4K30, this camera has decent video quality for the price. So is it worth spending twice as much on the SJ8 Pro?
he Akaso V50x is a real 4K action cam with stabilisation at 4K and costs under $100. The $100 price point is kind of a tough one because it is generally where manufactureres start to make sacrifices in order to meet the cheap price, so let’s talk about what the V50X does right, and whether or not it’s a good camera: spolier alert, it is pretty good, but there are a few things about it that might make be a deal breaker for you. I would honestly recommend going for the V50 pro if you can swing the extra $20.
The Xiaomi Mi A3 is the latest smartphone from Xiaomi running Android One – the version of Android that is supposed to be as close to “Stock” as possible. This phone is pretty flashy given its budget price, but a few issues keep it from being an easy recommend, most notably the low resolution screen and the exceptionally slow and inaccurate fingerprint scanner.
The Minix Neo storage is an all-metal USB-C hub with a useful extra feature: a built in SSD for file storage. The hub has either a 120 or 240 GB storage capacity, two USB-3 ports, a USB-C PD port and an HDMI out port. It is fast, functional and feels well made.
At the $70 price point there are a ton of options for Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones, and even if not class-leading, the Mixcder E9s offer a well-rounded package with decent performance overall.
SJCam makes several excellent cameras, and the SJ8 Pro and SJ8 Plus are no exception. But I only think you should buy one of them, and completely skip the other. Straight to the point, the Pro is the camera to get. Skip the Plus. Let’s talk about why.
The HyphenX M80 is an Amazon Special of a generic action cam. All of these cams share similar hardware, so this review also applies to all of them. While some “brands” may have minor improvements over others or different included accessories, do not buy them. The results are universally disappointing and far worse than other cameras at this price point.
The V50 Elite is one of Akaso’s best camera. It has quite a lot going for it: decent 4K with stabilisation, acceptable audio quality and a touch screen UI, so how does it stack up compared to other cams in its price range? Well, on Amazon, there are few other cams at this price that hold up to it in terms of video quality so let’s take a closer look at it.