$64 Allwinner V3 Action Cameras Support 4K Video Recording (or Not?)

An “Allwinner V3 4K Ultra HD DV Sport Camera” just appeared in GeekBuying product feed which the company sells for $84.39, and searching for alternative sellers led me to Soocoo F60 4K action camera sold for $63.34 on GearBest. Both cameras look the same, and the price appears amazing cheap as 4K cameras such as GoPro Hero4 or Sony X1000V normally sell for $500 and more. But one of the tricks is that both “4K” cameras are likely based on Sunchip 4K camera design, which does support 4K video recording, but only at 15 fps.

Soocoo F60 camera specifications:

• SoC – Allwinner V3  ARM Cortex A7 processor @ 1.2GHz
• System Memory – N/A
• Storage – micro SD card up to 64GB
• Display – 2″ LCD
• Camera
  • OmniVision OV4689 image sensor (4MP according to sensor page, but 16MP on camera description, probably achieved with extrapolation).
    
  • 170-degree wide angle
  • Recording time up to about 90 minutes at 1080P 30fps
  • Video recording – 4K @ 15fps, 2.7K @ 30fps, 1080p @ 60/30fps, 720p @ 120/60/30fps
  • H.264  codec, MOV container
  • Built-in microphone/speaker recording to AAC codec
• Video Output – micro HDMI output and 3.5mm AV jack
• Connectivity – WiFi
• USB – micro USB port for charging and use as webcam
• IP Rating – IP68 waterproof up to 30 meters (with waterproof case)
• Battery – Detachable 900mAh battery good for about 90 minutes at 1080p30.
• Power Supply (Charger) – 5V/1A
• Dimensions – 5.9 x 4.1 x 2.9 cm
• Weight – 58 grams with battery
• Temperature Range – Operating: -10ºC~+55ºC

The camera will ship with lots of accessories including a waterproof case, the Li-ion Battery, a charger, a USB cable, a user’s manual, and various mount options.

The WiFi connection can be used to transfer images and videos, for remote control function, to sync and share albums and manage the settings, and the company recommends to use Youmera or FinalCam apps to use with WiFi. Other use cases for the camera include car DVR and PC camera.

To answer the question in the title, while the camera technically supports 4K recording it is limited to 15 fps, so most people will probably stick to recording at 1080p30 or 1080p60, and possibly at 720p120 for slow-motion effects. Moreover, the sensor used is only 4MP (2688×1520), so 4K resolution is only possible by using extrapolation.

Support CNX Software! Donate via cryptocurrencies, become a Patron on Patreon, or purchase goods on Amazon or Aliexpress