Is a Budget Action Camera Worth It? Testing the Akaso EK7000 Pro
When you’re browsing for an action camera and stumble across one priced under $80, your first instinct might be skepticism. Can something this affordable actually deliver decent footage? The Akaso EK7000 Pro challenges that assumption by offering a surprisingly functional package at a fraction of what flagship models cost. But does budget-friendly translate to quality? Let’s dig into what this camera actually delivers.
What You Get for Your Money
The price difference between this camera and premium competitors is staggering. While a top-tier action camera might run nearly $500, the Akaso EK7000 Pro sits comfortably in the $70-80 range. That’s not just a discount – it’s a completely different market segment. The real question isn’t whether it matches high-end performance, but whether it justifies its own price point.
The specifications alone suggest some serious capabilities packed into a tiny frame. You’re looking at 4K recording at 30 frames per second, along with 2.7K and Full HD options going up to 60fps. There’s also HD 720p recording at 120fps for slow-motion work. Photography tops out at 20 megapixels with burst mode capability, and the camera includes electronic image stabilization as a standard feature. The 2-inch touchscreen and waterproofing to 40 meters round out the headline features.
Design and Handling: Cute But Fiddly
This camera has personality. Its red-and-black design is genuinely appealing, and the compact size means it slips into pockets or mounts to helmets without complaint. From an ergonomic standpoint, you’re getting exactly what an action camera should be – unobtrusive and portable.
Control systems present more of a mixed bag. The touchscreen interface is temperamental, succeeding maybe half the time when you’re trying to navigate menus. The physical buttons work better but aren’t exactly intuitive – holding the down arrow button to activate Wi-Fi connectivity feels arbitrary. A Wi-Fi app exists for smartphone control, but it’s unreliable across different Android devices.
The good news? The included remote control compensates for these shortcomings. This simple device with just two buttons – one for photos, one for video – actually makes the camera more enjoyable to use. The tradeoff is that it’s not waterproof, so you need to be cautious with it.
Quick tip: Skip the app frustration and use the included remote for reliable camera triggering, especially when mounted on a helmet or handlebar.
What About Image Quality?
Still photography produces acceptable results for social media sharing, though sharpness won’t impress anyone examining the images closely. The colors are vibrant, and you get that characteristic ultra-wide fisheye perspective that defines action cameras. Three viewing angles exist – super-wide, wide, and medium – but these are digital crops rather than different lenses, which you can confirm by watching the timestamp grow larger in each mode.
Video is where this camera shows its strengths. Footage shot at Full HD 60fps looks considerably better than the higher-resolution 4K option, which stutters noticeably. Going down to 720p results in noticeably poor quality, so stick with Full HD as your baseline.
The Electronic Stabilization Problem
The electronic image stabilization feature presents a significant issue that prospective buyers should know about. While the stabilization does reduce jerkiness when walking or moving, it introduces an audible buzzing sound throughout the audio track. This problem occurs across multiple recording resolutions and only appears when stabilization is active, making it clear where the issue originates.
The result is that while video stabilization technically works, it makes the footage practically unusable unless you’re planning to completely replace the audio with music or voiceover in post-production. For situations where you need to capture ambient sound, you’ll want to disable this feature entirely.
The Accessory Situation
Beyond the camera body, Akaso includes a respectable collection of mounting hardware. You get a waterproof housing, multiple mounts for different scenarios, spare batteries with a charger, lens cloth, and various tethers. It’s generous for the price, though the plastic packaging is excessive and wasteful.
Final Thoughts: Real Value at a Real Price
Evaluating this camera means accepting what it is rather than resenting what it isn’t. For approximately $70, you’re getting a fully functional action camera with mounting options, backup batteries, and decent Full HD video recording. It won’t produce cinema-quality footage, but it wasn’t designed to compete with cameras costing seven times as much.
If you’re looking for your first action camera without committing significant money, or you need something for casual recording without professional aspirations, the Akaso EK7000 Pro delivers genuine value. The touchscreen frustrations and stabilization audio issues are real limitations, but they don’t negate the core functionality. Sometimes “good enough” for the right price is exactly what you need.
