AKASO Brave 7: Full Review

Action cameras have become increasingly popular in recent years as a versatile tool for capturing photos and videos during adventures, sports, and other activities. The ability to mount them on helmets, handlebars, and more allows you to shoot high-quality footage from unique first-person perspectives.

AKASO is a company that specializes in affordable action cameras that pack an impressive amount of features into a budget-friendly package. The Brave 7 lives up to this reputation as a wallet-friendly 4K action camera with specs that rival more expensive options. With an adjustable lens, touch screen, voice control and more, it aims to deliver great performance for the price.

Design

The AKASO Brave 7 action camera features a compact and lightweight design. It measures 2.36 x 1.57 x 0.94 inches and weighs only 2.88 ounces without the battery and housing. The camera itself is made of high quality plastic with rubber seals to make it waterproof.

The waterproof housing that comes with the camera adds some bulk but is still fairly compact at 2.72 x 1.97 x 1.06 inches. With the housing, the total weight increases to 4.59 ounces. The housing is made of durable plastic and has a flat lens for underwater use. It provides waterproof protection up to 33 feet without any additional case needed.

The small size and light weight make the Brave 7 very portable and easy to mount in various positions. The rugged, durable plastic construction allows it to withstand bumps, drops, and water exposure. Overall, the design focuses on delivering a compact, lightweight and rugged action camera.

Another great option from AKASO is the AKASO V50 Elite. This action camera boasts 4K/60fps video recording, superior image stabilization, and a 20MP photo capability. It’s designed to handle extreme sports and outdoor activities with ease. The V50 Elite also offers advanced features like voice control, a touch screen, and enhanced connectivity options. It’s slightly larger but still offers a compact and user-friendly design, making it a versatile choice for capturing high-quality footage in various conditions.

Image Quality

The AKASO Brave 7 captures excellent image quality thanks to its 20MP sensor. It can shoot photos at up to 20 megapixels, resulting in detailed and sharp images.

The camera has a wide field of view, allowing you to fit more into each frame. Photos are captured with vibrant colors and good contrast. The lens provides decent low light performance as well, making this a versatile action camera for shooting in various conditions.

For video, the Brave 7 can record up to 4K at 30fps. Footage is smooth and stabilized thanks to the built-in Electronic Image Stabilization 2.0. This helps compensate for shakes and bumps during action-oriented shooting. While 4K is limited to 30fps, you can bump the frame rate up to 60fps if shooting in 2.7K.

The image stabilization is quite effective, allowing you to capture smooth video even during fast-moving activities. Slow motion capabilities are also available in lower resolutions like 720p. Overall, the Brave 7 produces great looking, stabilized photos and videos across a range of resolutions.

The AKASO Brave 7 LE is a related model that offers similar features including 4K video recording and effective image stabilization. Additionally, the Brave 7 LE includes a dual color screen design, providing both front and back screens for easier selfie recording and better shot composition. It also boasts improved waterproof capabilities without needing an extra case. For more details, visit the AKASO Brave 7 LE page.

Video Quality

The AKASO Brave 7 offers excellent video quality for an action camera at this price point. It can shoot video at up to 4K 30fps, delivering crisp, detailed footage.

The 4K resolution gives you 8MP stills from video, allowing you to extract high quality images from your videos. Shooting in 4K does come at the cost of battery life, so you'll need to balance resolution and recording times based on your needs.

In terms of frame rates, the Brave 7 provides a few options. You can shoot in 4K at 30fps or 25fps. At 2.7K resolution you can choose 60fps or 30fps. And at 1080p you get 120fps or 60fps options. The higher frame rates at the lower resolutions allow you to capture smooth slow motion footage.

One of the standout video features is the electronic image stabilization (EIS). The Brave 7 uses a 6-axis EIS system which does an excellent job reducing camera shake and smoothing out video footage. It's especially useful when shooting handheld or during fast action moments. The EIS can be turned on or off depending on your preference.

Overall, the combination of 4K resolution, high frame rate options, and effective stabilization provides the ability to capture great looking, smooth and stable videos with the AKASO Brave 7 action camera.

Audio Quality

The AKASO Brave 7 offers impressive audio capabilities for an action camera in this price range. It has a built-in microphone that records decent quality audio, which is good enough for casual users. But one of the standout features is the inclusion of an external microphone input, allowing you to connect an external mic for vastly improved audio.

When you plug in an external microphone, the difference in audio quality is night and day compared to the built-in mic. The external mic results in much clearer audio that captures the nuances of your surroundings. The mic input supports both 3.5mm microphone jacks as well as USB microphones. This makes the Brave 7 versatile for vlogging, motovlogging, interviews, travel videos and more.

The external mic support also includes useful features like mic gain control, allowing you to optimize levels and prevent clipping or distortion. You can monitor audio levels through on-screen displays to ensure good recording quality. Overall, the external audio capabilities give the Brave 7 a level of performance that exceeds typical action cams. So if high-quality audio is important for your videos, the Brave 7 delivers great options in its price range.

Waterproofing

The Brave 7 is waterproof up to 33 feet (10 meters), giving it an IPX8 rating. This makes it a great option for recording video during water sports or while swimming underwater.

The camera comes with a waterproof case that seals the ports and buttons to prevent water from getting inside. Once inside the case, you can submerge the camera in water without worrying about damage. The case allows you to use the touch screen and buttons while underwater to start and stop recording or change settings.

Underwater, the Brave 7 performs well. Colors look natural, not too blue or green, and footage remains crisp and clear. The waterproof case doesn't seem to degrade the image quality even at greater depths.

With the waterproofing, you can feel confident using this action cam for snorkeling, surfing, wakeboarding, or any other water activity. Just be sure to rinse off the case after use in salt water to prevent corrosion. Overall, the IPX8 rating expands the situations where you can use the Brave 7 to capture exciting underwater footage.

Battery Life

The AKASO Brave 7 comes with two 1350mAh batteries which provide excellent battery life. The higher capacity batteries allow you to record longer without having to stop and recharge.

During testing, a single 1350mAh battery powered the camera for approximately 90 minutes of continuous 4K video recording. With two batteries included in the box, you can record for 3 hours straight before needing to swap batteries.

The batteries charge via USB-C and charge relatively quickly. You can expect a full charge in around 2 hours when using a higher wattage USB charger. The camera also supports USB charging, so you can top up the batteries on the go from a power bank.

Overall, the battery life is quite impressive for an action camera at this price point. The inclusion of two 1350mAh batteries provides sufficient power for a full day of shooting. The batteries are easily removable and rechargeable via USB-C, making it convenient to always have spare power on hand.

Storage

The Akaso Brave 7 comes with ample storage options to capture all your adventures. It has 64GB of internal storage, letting you record up to 4 hours of 4K video without needing an SD card. The 64GB high speed microSD card included allows you to extend the storage significantly. With the microSD card, you can record up to 20 hours of 4K video or 100 hours of 1080p footage.

The camera has a microSD card slot that supports cards up to 128GB for massive storage expansion. It's UHS-3 rated, providing fast read and write speeds when recording high bitrate 4K video. Transferring files is quick thanks to the USB-C port that utilizes USB 3.0 speeds. The ample storage options give you flexibility when recording, so you don't have to worry about running out of space during once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Connectivity

The AKASO Brave 7 offers a range of connectivity options to make it easy to transfer photos and videos from the camera.

For wireless connections, it has built-in WiFi which allows you to connect the camera directly to your smartphone or tablet via the AKASO GO app. This makes it simple to instantly preview, download, and share your content. Bluetooth is also included for pairing supported accessories like remote controls.

In terms of wired connections, the Brave 7 has a USB Type-C port which can be used for charging and data transfer. The camera comes with a USB-C cable so you can connect it directly to your computer to offload media. There's also a micro HDMI port so you can playback your shots and videos directly on a TV or monitor.

Having both wireless and wired connectivity gives you flexibility in how you want to transfer or view your files based on the situation. The variety of options makes the Brave 7 versatile for sharing content seamlessly across different devices.

Pros and Cons

The AKASO Brave 7 action camera offers a strong combination of features and performance for the price. Here's a quick summary of the main pros and cons:

Pros

• Excellent 4K video quality with EIS stabilization
• 20MP photo resolution delivers sharp, detailed images
• Front and rear screens make framing shots easy
• Waterproof down to 33 feet without a case
• Good battery life with two 1350mAh batteries included
• Supports external mics for improved audio
• Large 64GB microSD card included

Cons

• No HDMI port for connecting to TV
• Low light performance could be better
• No live streaming capabilities
• No slo-mo or timelapse video modes
• App connectivity can be buggy

Overall, the AKASO Brave 7 punches above its weight class considering its affordable price point. The impressive 4K/30fps video and 20MP photos make this a great choice for activities like hiking, biking, and water sports. While more expensive action cams do offer additional features and performance, the Brave 7 provides excellent value if you're on a budget but still want high-quality action footage.