AKASO Brave 4 Pro: Full Review

The AKASO Brave 4 Pro is an affordable 4K action camera designed for active users who want to capture high-quality videos and photos during their adventures. With the ability to record 4K video at up to 30fps, the Brave 4 Pro delivers sharp, detailed footage. Key features include a 2" touch screen, advanced electronic image stabilization (EIS), and the ability to capture 20MP photos.

With a retail price around $120, the Brave 4 Pro competes with other entry-level action cams like the GoPro Hero7 White. It's a great option for activities like hiking, cycling, skiing, and more. The compact, rugged design makes it easy to mount on helmets, handlebars, wrists, and other gear. While it lacks some of the advanced features of pricier cams, the Brave 4 Pro packs impressive specs for the price. Its combination of video quality, intuitive touch controls, and stabilization make it easy to capture immersive POV footage of your adventures.

Design and Build Quality

The Akaso Brave 4 Pro has a sturdy and durable design perfect for action cameras. It features an IPX8 waterproof housing, allowing it to be submerged up to 131 feet underwater without needing an extra case. The 2” touch screen is made of hardened glass, providing protection against scratches.

Despite the rugged housing, the camera still maintains a compact form factor of just 2.36” x 1.57” x 1.06” and weighs only 3.53 oz. This makes it easy to mount in various positions without adding too much bulk or weight. The sleek body has a matte black finish that looks subtle yet stylish.

The Akaso Brave 4 Pro feels solidly built with quality materials that inspire confidence for outdoor adventures. All the ports, buttons, and battery/SD card compartment feature tight seals to prevent water or dust ingress. The camera comes with a standard 1/4”-20 tripod mount on the bottom for easy mounting.

Overall, the rugged yet lightweight design makes this action camera well-suited for everything from family vacations to extreme sports. It provides reliable protection without sacrificing portability.

The AKASO Brave 7 offers an even more advanced option for those needing higher performance in extreme conditions. With its dual screens, you can frame yourself easily while vlogging or capturing selfies. The Brave 7 is waterproof up to 33 feet without any additional housing. Check out the AKASO Brave 7 for more features and specifications.

Video and Photo Quality

The AKASO Brave 4 Pro offers impressive video and photo quality for an action camera in this price range. It can shoot video up to 4K/30fps and take 20MP photos.

The 4K video is crisp and clear, with excellent detail and vibrant colors. The image stabilization works very well to minimize shakiness when recording action shots. Lower resolution options like 2.7K and 1080p also look great. Slow motion modes up to 120fps allow you to capture fast action smoothly.

Still photos have plenty of detail and accurate colors in good lighting conditions. The 20MP resolution gives you room to crop if needed. In low light, noise starts to appear, but images are still very usable. The built-in timer and burst modes are handy for capturing the perfect shot.

Compared to other action cameras around $100, the video and photo quality on the Brave 4 Pro beats many competitors. It keeps up with the GoPro Hero7 Black and DJI Osmo Action at a fraction of the price. Unless you need cutting-edge 5K or 8K video, the 4 Pro delivers excellent results for most users and situations.

Overall, the AKASO Brave 4 Pro punches far above its weight class for video and photo quality. You would have to spend a lot more to get meaningfully better output.

For those looking for more advanced features, the AKASO Brave 7 LE is an excellent option. This camera offers dual color screens, making it perfect for vlogging and selfies. It supports video recording up to 4K/30fps and 20MP photos. Enhanced image stabilization ensures smoother footage in more extreme environments. With its IPX8 waterproof rating, the Brave 7 LE is ideal for underwater adventures without needing an extra case. It's a versatile choice for users who want to capture every moment with ease and dependability.

Features and Ease of Use

The AKASO Brave 4 Pro comes packed with useful features for capturing action footage and still images. One of the headline features is the ability to go underwater up to 131 feet, making this a versatile option for water sports and underwater photography.

Setting up and using the Brave 4 Pro is straightforward. The touch screen interface makes navigating between modes and settings simple. There are also dedicated buttons for the most frequently used controls like record and power. Speaking of power, the camera turns on quickly in around 2 seconds.

Some of the other notable features include:

• 5X zoom to get closer to the action
• Remote control for controlling the camera wirelessly
• Electronic image stabilization to reduce shakiness
• Support for external microphones to improve audio quality

The settings menus are logically organized and changing modes or tweaking options like resolution, frame rate, and image stabilization is easy with the responsive touch interface. Overall, the Brave 4 Pro strikes a nice balance of offering useful capture options without an overly complex user experience.

Battery Life

The Akaso Brave 4 Pro comes with a 1350 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides decent battery life. On a full charge, you can expect to record video continuously for around 60-90 minutes depending on your settings and usage. This is fairly typical for an action camera at this price point.

The battery takes around 2-3 hours to charge fully when using the included USB-C cable and charger. This isn't terribly long but it's worth keeping in mind if you need to recharge between shooting sessions. The battery life is sufficient for a day's activities but you may want to purchase an extra battery or two for longer excursions.

Overall the Brave 4 Pro's battery life is solid and on par with competitors in this price range. Just be prepared to recharge daily and consider supplemental batteries for extended use. The included battery and charger get the job done.

Accessories

The Brave 4 Pro comes with a good selection of accessories to get you started. In the box, you'll find the camera itself, a rechargeable battery, waterproof case, mounting accessories, and USB cable.

The included waterproof case is essential for using the camera underwater or in wet conditions. It's waterproof down to 131 feet, so you can take it scuba diving or snorkeling without worries. The case has a flat glass lens that doesn't distort images and videos underwater. Make sure to keep the case's rubber seals clean and lubricated for optimal waterproofing.

For mounting, the Brave 4 Pro includes both a helmet mount and bicycle handlebar mount. These make it easy to capture point-of-view footage during activities like biking, skiing, or rock climbing. The quick-release design lets you detach and reattach the camera smoothly.

Some other useful accessories to consider picking up include spare batteries, external mics, floating handles, and lens filters. The battery life is decent at around 90 minutes per charge, but having spares ensures you don't run out of juice on long shoots. An external mic improves audio quality, especially in windy conditions. The floating handle works as an extended grip and keeps the camera floating if dropped in water. Color correction and ND filters create cool effects and reduce glare when shooting outdoors.

Overall, the included accessories cover the basics well, while optional add-ons help enhance specific use cases. With the right complements, the Brave 4 Pro can be a versatile action camera for all kinds of adventures and conditions.

Pros and Cons

The AKASO Brave 4 Pro has many positives that make it a compelling action camera option. The video quality is excellent for the price, capturing crisp 4K video at 30fps. The 20MP photos are also sharp and colorful. Some of the standout features include built-in Electronic Image Stabilization, the ability to shoot slow motion at 120fps in 1080p, and HDR photo capturing. The touch screen interface makes changing settings simple and intuitive.

In terms of downsides, the battery life could be better. You'll get around 90 minutes of use from a full charge when recording in 4K. So carrying spare batteries is recommended for longer shooting sessions. The camera can also struggle a bit in very low light conditions, with more noise in footage compared to more expensive action cams. But overall, considering the sub-$100 price point, the performance and features are impressive. The AKASO Brave 4 Pro packs tremendous value.

Price and Value

The AKASO Brave 4 Pro typically retails for around $100-120. However, it's not uncommon to find it on sale for $80-90 from various online retailers. At this sale price, the Brave 4 Pro offers excellent value compared to competitors like the GoPro HERO7 White and Yi Discovery Action Camera.

The GoPro HERO7 White has a similar feature set but retails for around $150-200. Even when on sale, it still costs more than the Brave 4 Pro. The Yi Discovery is more comparably priced at around $50-70, but it lacks some of the higher end video modes, image stabilization, and overall polish of the Brave 4 Pro.

Considering the features, video quality, and overall performance, the Brave 4 Pro punches well above its weight class when it comes to value. For budget-conscious consumers who still want quality 4K action camera footage, the Brave 4 Pro is tough to beat in terms of value for money. Its combination of features, image quality, and typical sale price make it one of the best values among entry-level action cams.

Ideal Users for the AKASO Brave 4 Pro

The AKASO Brave 4 Pro is best suited for action sports enthusiasts looking for an affordable 4K action camera. Its compact size, waterproofing, and image stabilization make it a great choice for activities like surfing, snowboarding, and mountain biking.

The camera's advanced electronic image stabilization works well for smoothing out video during fast movements and vibrations. This allows you to capture ultra-smooth footage even during intense activities. The included remote control and mobile app connectivity also make it easy to start/stop recording and monitor your shots while in motion.

While suitable for many users, the Brave 4 Pro does have some limitations. It lacks some higher-end features like RAW photo capture, high frame rate video, and advanced manual controls. So it may not meet the needs of professional photographers or videographers who require more customization.

The battery life is also on the shorter side, averaging around 70 minutes per charge. For all-day activities, you'll need to bring spare batteries or an external USB power bank. Low-light performance is also just average, so it's not ideal for capturing night scenes or indoor events without sufficient ambient lighting.

But for most casual users wanting great value and performance for action sports and adventures, the Brave 4 Pro packs an impressive feature set into an affordable and durable body. Its combination of video stabilization, waterproofing, and accessories make this a great choice as a starter or mid-range action cam.

Conclusion

Overall, the AKASO Brave 4 Pro is an excellent budget action camera that punches above its weight class. For the price, you get impressive video quality up to 4K30fps, decent image stabilization, a responsive touchscreen, and a robust set of shooting modes and features.

The camera delivers crisp, detailed footage with accurate colors in a variety of conditions. The image stabilization works well to reduce shake and vibration, allowing for smoother videos. The intuitive touchscreen interface makes changing settings a breeze.

Battery life is perhaps the biggest downside, averaging around 70 minutes per charge when recording 4K video. This is typical though for small action cameras. Having spare batteries and an external charger helps ensure you don't miss capturing important moments.

For those seeking an affordable action camera under $100, the AKASO Brave 4 Pro is easy to recommend. It's a great option for capturing family vacations, hiking, biking, underwater adventures up to 131ft, and so much more. The remote control and external mic support add further flexibility. Overall, it punches far above its price, offering impressive performance that rivals more expensive competitors. If you're seeking professional-grade video quality, you may want to spend more, but for the average consumer, the Brave 4 Pro hits a sweet spot.