Akaso Brave 6 Plus Review

This Brave 6 Plus is a no-frills budget action camera that promises 4K video capture along with some other impressive specifications and features.

The camera itself makes no excuses for the budget price and takes on the traditional design style of older action cameras. Essentially, it’s encased within a protective waterproof housing.

Despite the low price, it does have some impressive features including; 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at 90fps as well as compatible WiFi App for iOS and Android devices, a very usable touch screen and voice control.

All these features add up to a very promising first action camera.

At the time of review, the price of the Akaso Brave 6 Plus is very appealing. On paper, the camera offers a good amount of features considering its budget market position.

However, we’ve seen these extensive feature lists on-budget action camera before. They essentially give you the impression that the camera is almost on par with GoPro only for a much lesser price. This is, of course, far from reality.

When the Akaso Brave 6 Plus arrives, it certainly looks the part and its good to see the packaging is almost all card and paper with no plastic blister case. It’s one of the most impressive pieces of packaging I’ve seen in a while and gives an initial sense of quality.

Inside the small camera resides with a nicely finished matt black and shiny blue plastic body. Lifting it out and it’s instantly apparent that this camera is at the budget end of the market, with the build quality feels inline with this price point, rather than the high-end quality of packaging it arrives in.

Unpacking and battery popped in and with a couple of hours charge the camera it’s ready to go. On first booting, you get to set up the camera; there is an eight-step guided tour around that you follow on the touch screen with information about the camera and details on where to download the compatible app.

It’s an impressive start, and once through the options, the screen on the rear shows a clear preview of what you’re going to record as well a fast and responsive touch screen, things are looking surprisingly good.

Video Resolutions

Let’s take a look at the features starting with the resolutions. There are quite a few options, but the main highlights are 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 90, 60 and 30fps and 720p at 120fps.

Each resolution also has the choice to activate electronic image stabilisation (EIS) which is designed to help smooth out any motion wobble.

Nice surprises

A surprise for a camera at this price is the voice commands. These enable you to start and stop recording and take pictures, although there are only six commands at present.

The camera comes with a tough plastic waterproof housing which is waterproof to 40m, and features the usual GoPro style prongs on the base. That means that it’s compatible with almost all GoPro mount accessories.

The large 2-inch touch screen on the back gives a clear view of all the commands and features. This touch ability isn’t available once the camera is placed in the waterproof housing.

Once in the protective case, all operation is through physical buttons on the case. A power button on the front, navigation up and down along with the shutter on top and that’s it.

Of course, you also have a smartphone app. This is pretty comprehensive and enables you to take control of the camera and access all the usual features. It’s basic but does the job.

As well as video the camera can also shoot 20mp still, which is about average for many action cameras.

Finally, a feature that will appeal to vloggers is the ability to plug in an external mic. This plugs into a USB Type-C port on the side which is also used to charge the 3.7v 1350mAh battery.

Despite the high-quality packaging, the action camera is very definitely a budget model. It’s all well-built, but the plastic has that slightly cheap feel and look.

While the build might feel cheap, the camera is well put together, and attention to detail has been paid to the design.

The battery door as an example is sprung and reinforced, and while the buttons on top are small, they are responsive.

The build of the camera itself is better than many other budget action cameras of this price, despite the slightly plastic looks.

Looking at the waterproof housing and again this all seems to be in order, relatively well built, strong and secure. It also features a side opening door which is less common than the bottom opening doors I usually see.

One issue that is apparent from the outset is that the contact of the waterproof housing buttons and the cameras aren’t that good. Starting and stopping recording requires quite a forceful push.

You can, of course, use your voice or the app to start recording but it’s not ideal.

Overall the build and handling of the action camera are very good; it’s just the quality of the waterproof case that lets it down.

Despite the high-quality packaging, the action camera is very definitely a budget model. It’s all well-built, but the plastic has that slightly cheap feel and look.

While the build might feel cheap, the camera is well put together, and attention to detail has been paid to the design.

The battery door as an example is sprung and reinforced, and while the buttons on top are small, they are responsive.

The build of the camera itself is better than many other budget action cameras of this price, despite the slightly plastic looks.

Looking at the waterproof housing and again this all seems to be in order, relatively well built, strong and secure. It also features a side opening door which is less common than the bottom opening doors I usually see.

One issue that is apparent from the outset is that the contact of the waterproof housing buttons and the cameras aren’t that good. Starting and stopping recording requires quite a forceful push.

You can, of course, use your voice or the app to start recording but it’s not ideal.

Overall the build and handling of the action camera are very good; it’s just the quality of the waterproof case that lets it down.

<h2>Performance</h2>

Used out of the case, and the camera is responsive and easy to use. On the main screen, I like the way you can swipe left or right to change shooting modes, swipe down to switch on of off wifi, voice, lock and to power down. Then swipe up to access a variety of different functions and features through the main settings menu.

Using the app is equally easy, and again there’s that real ease of use which makes the camera very intuitive.

However, with no mount or thread under the camera, you need to place it into the housing to mount it or attach a selfie stick.

Once in the case, using the buttons to navigate and operate the camera is difficult, and here the app comes into play. I found it easier to operate the camera through the app than directly through the case.

On to the video quality and it’s a real mix. At 4K, 30fps the quality of the footage is excellent; full of detail and tone and great for vlogging, filming the family and general video.

If you mount the camera and try to film action, say a bike ride, at 4K, 30fps that framerate is to slow, and the footage is jerky. While the camera can shoot 4K, the 4K should be reserved for non-action sequences.

One feature that can be switched on for all resolution and framerates is the EIS. On some cameras, this will haul the 4K, 30fps into usable visual quality. Here while it helps when the camera is handheld, put some speed into the action, and again the footage is just too jerky to use at any quality.

For handheld footage, the EIS does its job with some effect of stabilisation to the footage. The EIS, however, does seem pretty primitive, and there is quite a bit of warping that goes on, you’ll also notice the quality of the footage drop slightly.

Dropping the resolution down to 1080p, 30fps and the quality of the footage drops slightly but is still good for the general video. However, increase the framerate to 60fps, and the quality of the footage deteriorates rapidly.

Shooting action sequences shows much of the detail is lost and a real visual pixelation of the footage.

As the light levels drop the quality of the footage drops further and becomes unusable.

Pushing the framerate to 90fps and the quality is equally terrible.

The Akaso Brave 6 Plus is a budget action camera with some great features. The voice control, touch screen, external mic input and overall quality of the footage at 30fps is superb.

However, push that framerate above 30fps, and the visual quality of the footage plummets and if there’s a lack of light then forget it.

This camera is an action camera by size and style only; it just doesn’t have the power or ability to capture fast-moving action; it’s just too much for this price point.

That’s not to dismiss the abilities of this camera. The 4K footage is excellent, and likewise, the 1080p footage at 30fps is also very good.

The EIS might not be up to much, but used as a camera to film with family and friends it does a great job, and what’s more, it’s easy to use.

The fact that you can plug in a USB Type-C mic and the 4K video is so good means that this is a really good cheap option for vloggers, but not for extreme sports or any action.