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4GEE Action Cam vs GoPro Hero4

19th June 2015

EE’s first Action Cam goes up against the biggest name in the market and fares surprisingly well.

EE knows phones, but action cameras are something new to the network and it has made an ambitious first start with the 4GEE Action Cam. This is no budget device, instead it’s the first 4G action camera in the UK and it innovates in other ways too.

But it’s got serious competition from GoPro, the big, established name in the market. So how does the 4GEE Action Cam stack up to the popular GoPro Hero4? Read on to find out.

Build

4GEE Action Cam vs GoPro Hero4

4GEE Action Cam (120g waterproof) vs GoPro Hero4 (147/152g waterproof)

When you’re buying an action camera durability is key, though a lightweight design can be handy too. The good news is that both the 4GEE Action Cam and the GoPro Hero 4 are durable, with rugged designs and waterproof cases.

They’re also both fairly lightweight so they won’t weigh you down even if they’re strapped to your helmet, though the exact weight with the 4GEE Action Cam will depend on whether you put in in the waterproof case or lightweight case (both of which are included) and with the GoPro Hero4 will depend on whether you buy the Silver edition or the pricier Black model.

Specs

4GEE Action Cam (13 megapixel, 1080p@30fps) vs GoPro Hero4 (12 megapixel 4K@30fps)

The 4GEE Action Cam has a 13 megapixel camera, leaving it fairly adept at taking photos, but of course the main thing you want an action camera for is video and for that the 4GEE Action Cam can shoot in up to 1080p at 30fps or in 720p at 60fps.

The GoPro Hero4 has a slightly lower powered 12 megapixel camera, but it’s got more video options. Opt for the pricey GoPro Hero4 Black (with an RRP of £409.99) and you can shoot in up to 4K at 30fps or in slow motion 1080p at 120fps, as well as being able to shoot in various other resolutions and frame rates.

Though the cheaper £329.99 GoPro Hero4 Silver is slightly more limited, with 4K footage capped at 15fps and 1080p footage capped at 60fps. That still gives it the edge over the 4GEE Action Cam, but it’s also still more expensive, as the 4GEE Action Cam is just £299.99.

Features

4GEE Action Cam vs GoPro Hero4

4GEE Action Cam (Viewfinder Watch, Skeegle streaming) vs GoPro Hero4 (Touchscreen display)

The GoPro Hero4 might have the edge when it comes to specs, but the 4GEE Action Cam is more feature packed. One particular highlight is its Viewfinder Watch, which lets you set up shots and control the camera from your wrist, including snapping photos or starting and stopping recording and it’s included in the price.

The GoPro Hero4 has a touchscreen display on the camera itself which you can use to change settings and view footage, but that’s far less useful than a screen on a watch, especially if the camera is strapped to your helmet or some other hard to reach location.

There is a Smart Remote accessory for the Hero4, but this is sold separately and is still less useful as you have to hold it rather than it being strapped to your wrist.

Both the 4GEE Action Cam and the GoPro Hero4 also have apps if you’d rather control the camera from your phone.

Another feature the 4GEE Action Cam has which the Hero4 doesn’t though is Skeegle streaming. Skeegle is a new app from EE which lets you share live footage and it’s compatible with the 4GEE Action Cam, so it’s easy to send your footage out as it happens.

Of course the biggest feature of the 4GEE Action Cam is its 4G support, which is what allows it to do live streaming in the first place.

Battery life, memory and connectivity

4GEE Action Cam (2260 mAh 4GB 4G) vs GoPro Hero4 (1160 mAh)

The 4GEE Action Cam has a 2260 mAh battery, while the GoPro Hero4 has just an 1160 mAh juice pack, so EE’s camera has a far bigger battery and that translates into longer battery life. The 4GEE Action Cam can keep going for up to three hours of live video streaming, while the GoPro Hero4 is likely to cave in after two hours or less of use.

The 4GEE Action Cam has the edge when it comes to storage too, as it has 4GB built in, while the GoPro Hero4 has none. 4GB won’t go far, especially as only 2.5GB of that is useable, but it’s a lot better than nothing and both devices also have a microSD card slot with support for cards of up to 64GB.

Arguably the 4GEE Action Cam’s single biggest selling point is one of its connectivity options, as it supports 4G (and Wi-Fi), while the GoPro Hero4 supports just

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The addition of 4G means you can stream, upload and share footage instantly, wherever you are, just as long as you can get a mobile signal. That makes live streaming possible and as well as making sharing faster and simpler it also ensures you can instantly back your photos and footage up online.

The 4GEE Action Cam is the first and currently only action camera with 4G support in the UK, so that’s a huge selling point.

Conclusion

EE has done an impressively good job of standing up to the best action cameras around with the deals on the 4GEE Action Cam.

It can’t match the GoPro Hero4 for video quality, but it has a marginally higher spec camera for photos, 4G support empowering it to stream, upload and share footage instantly, a bigger battery, more storage and an innovative Viewfinder Watch.

All for less money than even the £329.99 GoPro Hero4 Silver and far less than the £409.99 GoPro Hero4 Black.

The 4GEE Action Cam isn’t the highest spec action camera around and you wouldn’t expect it to be at just £299.99, making it over £100 cheaper than the GoPro Hero4 Black and £30 cheaper than even the GoPro Hero Silver, but it is the most innovative and feature packed, making it a strong alternative to either model of the popular Hero4.

Checkout the deals on the 4GEE Action Cam here.

Company director for our 4 websites as follows: 

  • 3G.co.uk 
  • 4G.co.uk
  • 5G.co.uk 
  • SIMOnly.co.uk

Kevin Thomas has worked for companies AT&T and BT with 15 years practical experience in the world of telecoms. He has a HND in telecommunications.

Kevin has also  worked in the world of Telecom reporting for 18 years. He has joint responsibility for 3G.co.uk and SIMOnly.co.uk and is lead Director for 5G.co.uk.

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