YI as a brand has started to make a name for themselves in the smart camera scene, and are now well known for their high-quality action cameras. The YI LITE and YI 4K are both excellent products in their own right, and the “better” pick is going to depend on the quality of footage you’re looking for.
It’s up for debate as to where 4K recording is really worth the extra expense when 1080p footage is so clear and detailed already — especially when you consider that a lot of computers and TVs can’t really take full advantage of the quality that the format has to offer. However, there’s no doubt that 4K footage has the edge, and for those looking for the best possible picture, the YI 4K is an excellent option.
Below we compare the YI LITE vs. YI 4K to help you figure out what makes each option special. Read on for the full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump to the sections you care about most.
YI LITE vs. YI 4K — Things in Common
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YI Action Camera App – Both the YI LITE and YI 4K have access to the YI Action Camera App, which is one of the defining features and part of what makes these cameras so convenient and original.
Rather than having to rely on external programs, you’ll be able to shoot, edit, and share your footage like a pro using the YI Action Camera App. The app is intuitive enough for beginners while still retaining features necessary for professional use, and allows users to handle the editing of their footage without ever having to touch a computer.
Through the app, you can see exactly what your camera is recording and control settings, swap between different modes, and even edit videos by adding music, tiles, and filters. Uploading to social media is a cinch as well, so you can share your cool footage with all of your family and friends!
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WiFi & Bluetooth – For those looking for flexibility, either of these models can be an excellent choice. The YI LITE and YI 4K come with a standard USB connector to download your footage, but you can also access your cameras using WiFi as fast as 50MB/s which is pretty impressive. The WiFi is also dual-band and uses the latest technology, which ensures you won’t be left with a congested network when you start to add in additional cameras.
You also have the option for a Bluetooth 4.1 connection, which can connect seamlessly with the YI Action App as well as the or . We highly recommend picking up the remote, as it makes using the Action Camera a much easier experience and it syncs up perfectly via Bluetooth.
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Electronic Image Stabilization – Part of having an Action Camera is using them to record Action, and sometimes that means being bumped around or exposed to situations where you might not be able to keep your camera completely still. Fortunately, both cameras are equipped with electronic image stabilization (EIS) Which can reduce motion blur and stabilize your footage without having to use physical equipment or post-production editing. The camera’s EIS uses a 3 axis gyroscope and 3 axis accelerometers as well as a cross-border compression algorithm to provide smoother video with more stable quality.
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Built-in Mic – What’s better than some great audio to go along with your great video. With a built-in microphone and AAC, you won’t have to sacrifice audio quality when recording your footage. The advanced audio coding can actually give you better sound quality than an MP3 while still maintaining similar hit rates. This means you’ll have HD videos with high-end audio to match!
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Time Lapse Video Interval – The 1080p and 4K cameras also support time-lapse video intervals with a lineup of options like 0.5s/1s/2s/5s/10s/30s/60s to ensure you can tweak your lapses to perfection — capturing a series of photos at specific intervals.
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Slow Motion Rate – Another cool video recording feature are the included x2, x4, and x8 slow motion rate options. This allows you to record high frame rate video and then play it at a lower frame rate for a slow-motion effect to your footage.
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Loop – One of the more unique features of the two cameras is the ability to record a continuous video loop that will overwrite itself until you press the button to stop it. There are a lot of video length interval options as well, with the ability to choose 5 min, 20 min, 60 min, 120 min, or Max.
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Auto Low Light – With the majority of cameras, you’d have to adjust the recording parameters in order to respond to different lighting conditions. However, the YI 1080p and 4K cameras make the process easy with the ability to sense changes in light conditions with CMOS and adjust the frame rate and parameters automatically. This gives you the highest image quality at all times — even in low light conditions.
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Lens Distortion Correction – Under normal use, wide angle lens often result in lens distorted images. These YI action cameras address this issue with their powerful A9SE75 SoC that can actually correct the distortion in real-time. Rather than spending time editing your footage afterwards, get clear images that are free from distortion automatically — directly through the camera itself. It’s as simple as that!
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Timer & Burst – Last but not least, both cameras feature a countdown timer that allows you to specify 3, 5, 10, or 15-second delays before photo capture. Also included is a Burst mode that allows you to press the shutter button to capture a series of photos in quick succession.
YI LITE vs. YI 4K — Differences
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Difference #1: Video Format – One of the biggest differences when comparing the YI LITE vs. YI 4K are the options for video format.
Although it’s not front and center in the name, the YI LITE is actually capable of recording at 4K. The only caveat is that the frame rate of the footage is significantly lower than what you’d see with the YI 4K, which can definitely impact the video quality.
In addition to the 4K options, you can also record in 1440p, 1080p, and 720p with the frame rates increasing as you lower the resolution.
YI LITE:
Video Resolutions Frames Per Second (fps) NTSC/PAL Field of View (FOV) Screen Resolution 4K 20 Wide 3840×2160 1440p 30 Wide 1920×1440 1080p 30/60 Wide 1920×1080 720p 30/60/120 Wide 1280×720 While the YI LITE may give you a good amount of choice when it comes to video recording, the YI 4K completely blows it out of the water. In addition to recording 4K at higher frame rates, it also includes the ability to record in 4K Ultra for an even more impressive resolution.
If you’d like to reduce the quality for higher frame rates, the amount of choice provided is just astronomical. Just take a look at the chart below for a sense of all the features you have available.
YI 4K:
Video Resolutions Frames Per Second (fps) NTSC/PAL Field of View (FOV) Screen Resolution 4K 30, 25 Wide 3840×2160 4K Ultra 24 Ultra Wide 3840×2160 2.7K(16:9) 60, 50, 30, 25 Wide\Medium 2704×1520 2.7K Ultra 30, 25 Ultra Wide 2704×1520 2.7K(4:3) 30, 25 Wide\Medium 2704×2032 1440p 60, 50, 30, 25 Wide 1920×1440 1080p 120, 100, 60, 50, 30, 25 Wide\Medium\Narrow 1920×1080 1080p Ultra 90, 60, 50, 30, 25 Ultra Wide 1920×1080 960p 120, 100, 60, 50 Wide\Medium 1280×960 720p 240, 200 Wide 1280×720 720p Ultra 120, 100, 60, 50 Ultra Wide 1280×720 480p 240, 200 Wide 848×480 So, long story short, the YI 4K has a much more impressive lineup for video resolution support, plus the ability to play with different fields of view and enjoy higher FPS.
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Difference #2: Photo Mode – While the high-resolution video might be one of the biggest draws for these cameras, they also do a great job in photo mode as well.
The YI LITE gives two different options for resolution — 16MP and 10MP. This gives you two different options for taking photos, with both featuring a wide field of view.
However, once again, the YI 4K pulls far ahead with much wider photo resolution lineup. Additionally, the 12 MP, 8MP, and 7MP W formats have an ultra-wide field of view that captures a more comprehensive photo than what you have access to with the YI LITE.
Simply put, in both video format and image quality, the YI 4K is a better choice all around.
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Difference #3: Video + Photo – One area where the YI 4K is really able to flex its technological advantages is in the way it handles video and photo during time lapses. While the YI LITE can take pictures at 30 or 25 frames per second, the 4K model can record at 50, or even 60 frames per second which makes for a picture with a notable increase in quality. This also affects the camera’s motion tracking capabilities, and you’ll generally see a smoother result with the 4K camera due to the increased FPS when recording in 1080p.
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Difference #4: Lens – If it wasn’t enough that the YI 4K has better video and image quality, it’s pretty clear that the camera has an advantage with its lens as well.
It has a 160-degree wide-angle 7G lens, which is a step up from the YI LITE’s 150-degree ultra-wide angle G61AS lens. While the YI LITE does have an ultra wide-angle lens vs. the more simple wide-angle lens, the camera actually doesn’t support any ultra-wide recording or pictures while the YI 4K does, which makes the difference moot.
Both camera lenses have an F2.8 aperture, so there’s no difference to mention there.
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Difference #5: Live Stream – One of the 4K’s cooler features from a practical standpoint is the ability to live stream footage. This allows you to go live and transmit video directly online — right through your smartphone app. Take advantage of the super wide angle camera lens and a large lineup of accessories to take your footage with you on the go — perfect for sharing all your outdoor activities with your family, friends, and fans.
In addition to support for live streaming to Weibo and Facebook, the camera will now also broadcast to other major social platforms like YouTube.
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Difference #6: Battery Life – Last but not least, there are some notable differences in battery life when comparing the two models.
The YI LITE’s battery is actually more impressive with a life ranging from 180-220 mins on a single charge depending on your choice in resolution.
Video Mode FPS Battery Life 4K (3840×2160) 20fps 180min 1440p (1920×1440) 30fps 200min 1080p (1920×1080) 60fps 180min 1080p (1920×1080) 30fps 220min 720p (1280×720) 120fps 220min Unfortunately, the better picture quality of the YI 4K comes with the trade off of lower battery life, with a much lower range of 110 — 152 minutes.
Video Mode FPS Battery Life 4K 30fps 110 Mins 4K Ultra 24fps 115 Mins 2.7K 30fps 144 Mins 1080p 120fps 108 Mins 1080p Ultra 90fps 111 Mins 1080p 60fps 119 Mins 1080p Ultra 60fps 135 Mins 960p 120fps 137 Mins 720p 240fps 118 Mins 720p Ultra 120fps 152 Mins It’s simple to see that the YI LITE has the edge for battery life, lasting longer on a single charge even when recording at an identical resolution to the YI 4K.
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Difference #7: Colors – If you’re taking your camera out and about, it’s important that it looks cool too! Both cameras come in multiple shades, although they offer different options. While the color might not have a big impact on the quality of the camera, it’s important to mention since you don’t want to be stuck with a pricey camera that you hate the look of.
The YI LITE is available in green, black, and blue, while the YI 4K is available in Night a Black, Pearl White, and Rose Gold.
Ultimately, the YI LITE colors are a little bit more bold and crazy, while the YI 4K opts for a more subdued palette.
YI LITE vs. YI 4K — Comparison Chart
| YI LITE | YI 4K | |
|---|---|---|
| Video Resolution | 4K, 1440p, 1080p, 720p | 4K, 4K Ultra, 2.7K(16:9), 2.7K Ultra, 2.7K(4:3), 1440p, 1080p, 1080p Ultra, 960p, 720p, 720p Ultra, 480p |
| Video Format | H.264, .mp4 file format | H.264, .mp4 file format |
| Lens | 150° ultra wide angle glass lens / F2.8 Aperture, 6G1AS | 160° wide-angle lens / F2.8 aperture, 7G |
| LCD Screen | 2.0″ LCD | 2.19″ LCD |
| Image Sensor | 16MP Sony Exmor R CMOS BSI | 12MP Sony Exmor R, IMX377, 1/2.3″ |
| Time Lapse Video Interval | 0.5s/1s/2s/5s/10s/30s/60s | 0.5s/1s/2s/5s/10s/30s/60s |
| Slow Motion Rate | x2, x4 ,x8 | x2, x4 ,x8 |
| Video + Photo | 1440P fps: 30/25 1080P fps: 30/25 |
1440p fps: 30/25 1080p fps: 60/50/30/25 2.7K (4:3) fps: 30/25 |
| Loop | Video length：5 min, 20 min, 60 min, 120 min, Max | Video length：5 min, 20 min, 60 min, 120 min, Max |
| Electronic Image Stabilization | Resolutions supported: 1440P 30fps; 1080P 30fps; 1080P 60fps; 720P 30fps; 720P 60fps |
Resolutions supported： 2.7K (16:9) 60\50\30\25fps 1080p 60\50\30\25fps 960p 60\50fps |
| Auto Low Light | Yes | Yes |
| Lens Distortion Correction | Yes | Yes |
| Photo Mode | 16MP, 10MP | 12MP, 8MP, 7MP W, 7MP M, 5MP |
| xTimer | 3, 5, 10, 15s | 3, 5, 10, 15s |
| Burst | Yes | Yes |
| WB (White Balance) | Auto, Native, Tungsten, DayLight, Cloudy | Auto, Native, Tungsten, DayLight, Cloudy |
| ISO (Level of sensitivity) | Auto,100,200,400,800,1600 | Auto,100,200,400,800,1600,6400 |
| EV (Exposure Value compensation) | -2.0, -1.5, -1.0, -0.5, 0 (Default), +0.5, +1.0, +1.5, +2.0 | -2.0, -1.5, -1.0, -0.5, 0 (Default), +0.5, +1.0, +1.5, +2.0 |
| Metering Mode | Center, Spot, Average | Center, Spot |
| Battery | 180—220 min | 110—152 min |
| Storage Support | Micro SD Card Class 10 above, 16GB—64GB FAT32 | MicroSDHC, MicroSDXC 16GB—64GB |
| Live Streaming | No | Yes |
| WiFi | 2.4G/5GHz | 2.4G/5GHz |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| YI Action Camera App | Yes | Yes |
| Finish | Green Black Blue |
Night Black Pearl White Rose Gold |
| Dimensions | 2.5 x 1.2 x 1.6 in | 2.5 x 1.2 x 1.6 in |
YI LITE vs. YI 4K — Accessories
While neither camera needs much else to start recording beautiful footage right out of the box, the two models share some excellent accessories that can enhance the capabilities of your camera and keep it easy to use and well protected.
The , as the name suggests, includes everything you’ll need to get started recording professional quality video. If you’d like to ensure you can keep recording when the camera runs low on charge, you may be interested in the replacement battery as well.
In terms of keeping your camera safe and making recording quality footage easier, you might also want to invest in the , , and/or the .
YI LITE vs. YI 4K — Our Thoughts
While these two cameras may be from the same brand and share a lot of the same features, it’s pretty clear that from comparing the YI 4K LITE vs. YI 4K that they are intended for slightly different audiences.
If you’re looking for a camera that is pretty simple and records 1080p footage with good quality stills, the YI LITE may be right up your alley. If you’re looking for 4K footage with some extra features added in, the YI 4K is a more premium option for the serious camera enthusiast or professional.
Both models do a great job of filling their niche, so our recommendation is to purchase the model that you feel best fits your recording needs.
Last update on 2024-04-20 at 06:08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Thank you so much for coming with this in-depth yet easily digested comparison page between the Yi 4K and Yi Lite! It’s been very useful and helped me decide I’ve been overspending on the 4K when the Lite covers all my needs.