Technologies
The Best GoPro Alternative: Half the Price of the Hero 10
Half the price, but not half the camera.
GoPro makes some of the best action cameras, especially its flagship Hero10 Black. It has excellent image quality and supersmooth stabilization and the whole thing is waterproof without a case. But all those features don’t come cheap — the Hero 10 Black costs around $449. If you can’t quite stretch the budget to get the best GoPro, you can get a cheaper GoPro or look for a budget alternative.
There’s no shortage of contenders looking to take on the GoPro. I’ve chosen two cameras to compare with the current top-tier GoPro, at different prices to suit all budgets. First is the Akaso EK7000 Pro, at $75. The second is the Yi 4K Plus Action Camera, which is $199. I’ve chosen the Yi because an earlier Yi model scored high marks from CNET camera guru Josh Goldman.
Read more: Best action cameras of 2019: GoPro, DJI and Yi compared
I tested all three cameras while walking, riding a bicycle and scuba diving to see what they could do.
Check out the video above to see my full thoughts on how the Hero10 Black compares with these cheaper alternatives.
GoPro vs. cheap alternatives
| GoPro Hero 7 Black | Yi 4K Plus Action Camera | Akaso EK7000 Pro | |
| Display | 2-inch touchscreen | 2.2-inch touchscreen | 2-inch touchscreen |
| Max resolution | 4K/60 | 4K/60 | 4K/25 |
| Still image resolution | 12MP | 12MP | 16MP |
| Lens | 149.2-degree FOV | 155-degree FOV | 170-degree FOV |
| Stabilization | Yes (HyperSmooth) | Yes (EIS at 4K/30) | Yes (EIS at 1080/60) |
| Voice control | Yes | Yes | No |
| Waterproofing (without case) | Yes (33ft/10m) | No | No |
| Waterproofing (with case) | 131ft/40m | 131ft/40m | 131ft/40m |
These GoPro alternatives are all easy to use
Thankfully, the GoPro method has almost become the default way to operate action cameras. All three have a touchscreen at the back, as well as physical buttons that turn the camera on and off, start and stop recording or change settings like the Wi-Fi connection.
There are also companion apps on iOS or Android that let you view the live image, start recording, pull down footage to your phone or even livestream (GoPro and Yi only). I didn’t have any problems connecting, downloading footage or filming with any of the cameras when I tested on iOS.
Want mounts? Akaso has them all
Open the box that comes with the Akaso EK7000 Pro and you’ll be shocked at how much you get for your money. There are several mounts, a waterproof case, a remote control and a spare battery.
The Yi, on the other hand, comes with nothing but the camera, the battery and two cables. That’s it.
The GoPro falls in the middle, with a cage, buckle and some adhesive mounts.
Fortunately, all the cameras are compatible with the standard GoPro mounting system. It’s really easy to change them in and out as you need, as long as you have the right parts.
GoPro wins at image quality, but the Yi gets close
Hands down, the best image out of these cameras comes from the GoPro, which is our benchmark for all these comparisons. The other two cameras just can’t match it for dynamic range, especially underwater. But the Yi gets close and captures detail and color in bright, outdoor situations well. Motion at 60fps looks smooth and overall I think the image looks quite good.
The Akaso’s image, on the other hand, is far from perfect. There’s plenty of noise, even when filming in bright sunlight, as well as chromatic aberration (the technical term for purple fringing). The exposure also blew out some highlights and the colors didn’t look very accurate. I could tell that this was the cheapest camera of the bunch. But where this camera did perform well was underwater, thanks to a dedicated diving mode.
I went to the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco to test out underwater image quality. Dive safety operator Chris Grace took all three cameras down to 16 feet in the Near Shore and Sharks of Alcatraz tunnels. Want to see sharks and fish up close? Watch the video at the top of the article.
Note that all the sample video and images were taken on default color settings, although you can use ProTune on the GoPro or a flat profile on the Yi so you have more flexibility to color correct footage.
Ready, steady, GoPro stabilization
Stabilization is so important on an action camera, otherwise that epic bike ride or skate trick will make you sick when watching the footage. GoPro has its own version of electronic image stabilization called HyperSmooth that makes everything look like it’s been filmed on a gimbal. And it works at most resolutions and frame rates, including 4K/60.
The Yi also offers its own electronic image stabilization but it’s nowhere near as nice as the GoPro and it’s only at 4K/30. And the Akaso … well, the less said about that the better. It’s only at 1080/60 and it doesn’t look particularly smooth at all, at least from the footage I took on a bike ride.
So which one is the best cheap GoPro alternative?
The Akaso EK7000 Pro is not my favorite when it comes to image quality. But it’s cheap for what it offers and if you don’t have any more wiggle room in the budget for mounts and accessories, it could fit the bill.
My pick is the Yi 4K Plus Action Cam because it does a lot more than the Akaso and offers comparable image quality to the GoPro — for half the price. That said, you get absolutely nothing apart from the camera in the box, so you’ll have to invest a little more in accessories to get the most out of it.
Don’t forget to watch the video at the top of the page for my full review, where I talk about battery life and audio quality and show you plenty of video samples!
Also, if you have your heart set on getting an actual GoPro but aren’t prepared to pay for the Hero 10 Black, then you’ll want to check out the Silver and White lines. Or look for discounts on earlier models like the Hero 9 or Hero 8.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 16, #950
Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Jan. 16 #950.
Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle has a very intriguing blue group. You’ll notice some band names, but can you locate what they have in common? Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.
The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.
Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Worn on heads.
Green group hint: Nighty-night.
Blue group hint: Bands with something alphabet-related in common.
Purple group hint: Like great.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Kinds of hats.
Green group: Components of a kid’s bedtime routine.
Blue group: Musical acts with «A» as the only vowel.
Purple group: Grand ____.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is kinds of hats. The four answers are derby, fedora, Panama and porkpie.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is components of a kid’s bedtime routine. The four answers are bath, brushing, pajamas and story.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is musical acts with «A» as the only vowel. The four answers are Alabama, Bananarama, Kansas and Santana.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is grand ____. The four answers are Bahama, Canyon, piano and slam.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
Quick tips for Connections
#1: Say the clue words out loud, pausing before and after each. That helps you hear the words in the context of a phrase. The Connections editors love to group words together that are used in similar phrasing, like ____ Up.
#2: Don’t go for the obvious grouping. These editors are smart. Once, they offered SPONGE, BOB, SQUARE and PANTS in the same puzzle. None of those words were in the same category. If you like, hit the «shuffle» button to give yourself a different perspective on the words.
#3: Break down any compound words and look for similarities. «Rushmore» was once in a puzzle where the connection was that each word started with the name of a rock band.
.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Jan. 16, #480
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 16, No. 480.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one, with some odd words and bizarre categories. If you’re struggling with it but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.
Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.
Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Don’t get hurt!
Green group hint: Exaggerated language.
Blue group hint: Ouch!
Purple group hint: Not northern.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Protective gear.
Green group: Hype.
Blue group: Sharp things.
Purple group: «Southern ____» schools.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is protective gear. The four answers are gloves, helmet, mouth guard and shoulder pads.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is hype. The four answers are anticipation, ballyhoo, buildup and buzz.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is sharp things. The four answers are dart, hairpin turn, ice skate and javelin.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is «Southern ____» schools. The four answers are California, Illinois, Methodist and Miss.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
Quick tips for Connections: Sports Edition
#1: Don’t grab for the easiest group. For each word, think about other sports categories it might fit in – is this a word that can be used in football, or to describe scoring options?
#2: Second meanings are important. The puzzle loves to use last names and even college names that mean other things, to fool you into thinking they are words, not names.
#3: And the opposite is also true. Words like HURTS might seem like a regular word, but it’s also the last name of at least one pro athlete.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Jan. 16
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 16.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I thought it was exceptionally tough today, and was convinced 1-Across was «MAD» Max. (Spoiler, it’s not.) I also figured 1-Down was BOOZE, which did not work with 1-Across, and was wrong either way. Read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: ___ Max
Answer: HBO
4A clue: Where Marco Polo is played
Answer: POOL
5A clue: Overwhelming amount, metaphorically
Answer: FLOOD
6A clue: Reason for success in games like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders
Answer: LUCK
7A clue: «That’s just the worst»
Answer: UGH
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Liquor, informally
Answer: HOOCH
2D clue: Winner of a Booker prize, fittingly
Answer: BOOK
3D clue: Antiquated
Answer: OLD
4D clue: Give a short promotion for
Answer: PLUG
5D clue: Winter malady
Answer: FLU
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
-
Technologies3 года agoTech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies3 года agoBest Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies3 года agoTighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies4 года agoBlack Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 года agoGoogle to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies5 лет agoVerum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies4 года agoOlivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger
-
Technologies4 года agoiPhone 13 event: How to watch Apple’s big announcement tomorrow