The long-awaited summer season is upon us, and it’s time to gear up for your next outdoor adventure. Whether you’re planning a thrilling mountain biking expedition or an underwater scuba diving excursion, capturing the perfect shot is essential to reliving the moment. In a world where action cameras are as ubiquitous as sunscreen, it can be daunting to choose the right one. Fear not, adventurers! We’ve scoured the market and compiled a list of the top 5 action cameras to make your summer escapades unforgettable. So, grab your helmets, tighten your straps, and get ready to capture your most epic moments yet.
GoPro HERO 11 Black
The GoPro HERO11 Black is a significant upgrade with best-in-class stabilisation and a versatile, almost square sensor. The camera shoots great-looking videos and has new modes like light painting. The standout feature is its 8:7 aspect ratio, allowing content creators to create new clips from a single video. The camera can shoot in 5.3K at 60fps, 4K at 120fps, and 2.7K at 240fps and capture 27MP stills from 5.3K video. Despite no significant improvement in lowlight performance, the HERO11 Black’s simplified interface and enhanced horizon levelling make it appealing to social media enthusiasts.
Insta360 One RS
Get the best of both worlds with Insta360’s One RS. The camera comes with three interchangeable lenses: a 4K mod, a dual-lens 360-degree camera, and a Leica lens with a 1-inch sensor that captures 5K video. The 4K mod and 360 mod pairing offer the best value, while the Leica 1-inch mod delivers top-notch video quality. The updated Insta360 One RS shoots 5.2K video with its improved 4K mod and processor, which features a motion-smoothing algorithm. Plus, firmware updates continuously enhance its features, making it a wise investment.
AKASO Brave 7 LE
Looking for a
GoPro alternative that won’t hurt your wallet? The AKASO Brave 7 LE is an excellent option. This affordable camera has an IPX7 rating and feels sturdy. It can endure submersion in 1m of water for 30 minutes, but you’ll need a protective case for more comprehensive underwater adventures. The Brave 7 LE features a front screen for vlogging and decent stabilisation, albeit with a 1.6x crop. Although it maxes out at 30 fps in 4k, it can still record 120 fps slow-motion footage in 1080p. Overall, it’s an excellent action cam for the price.
DJI’s Osmo Action 3
DJI’s Osmo Action 3 combines the form factor of the original with the magnetic clip system of the second. Its GoPro-like design features dual touch screens and a magnetic quick-clip system, making it a solid alternative to GoPro. With great battery life and excellent video stabilisation, the Osmo Action 3 is cheaper than GoPro, making it a compelling option. However, GoPro Hero 10 and 11 have better video resolution, with the Osmo Action 3 maxing out at 4K and 12-megapixel stills, compared to the Hero 11’s 5.3K stabilised video and 26-megapixel stills. Nevertheless, at 30k, the Osmo Action 3 is an excellent value for money.
DJI Pocket 2
The DJI Pocket 2 may not fit the traditional definition of an action camera, but its built-in gimbal makes it stand out. This pocket camera stabilises footage smoothly and effectively across three axes, with customisable settings like horizon lock and tilt prevention. Additionally, it has an active tracking mode that can lock onto subjects and follow them. While lacking some frame rate options, the camera’s 1/1.7-inch sensor provides superior video quality and low-light performance compared to most action cameras. It’s an excellent option for capturing handheld, stabilised video without carrying additional gear.
Since the last couple of years, we have witnessed many top-notch companies launching their audio sunglasses, which ultimately helped the audio sunglasses section to grow and have a category of their own. The original Bose Frames delivered surprisingly pure sound, and with the arrival of three new models, Tempo, Tenor, and Soprano, Bose stands tall in the audio sunglasses market. Bose Tempo is a sporty looking gadget, while the other two, Rectangular shaped Tenor and Cat Eye shaped Soprano, are best for everyday use. The company has done a lot to improve the sound quality, which helps the sunglasses to deliver crisp and clear sound. The audio sunglasses are the best gift option for the person who likes listening to music while riding a bike, resting by the pool/beach, walking, running, or hiking.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack – Price: ₹10,900
Apple is one of the top-ranked smartphone manufacturing companies in the world, but at the same time, it is infamous for its battery backup. However, the company has understood the issue and has come up with a solution in the form of an Apple MagSafe battery pack. The rectangle-shaped and white coloured MagSafe battery pack fits perfectly on the back and is compatible with iPhone 12 series and iPhone 13 series. The slim and sturdy battery pack is small enough to slide into a pocket or bag. The MagSafe Battery Pack offers a 1,460mAh capacity which sounds low, but the numbers are deceiving as the battery pack easily adds a few hours of use to your iPhone. If you have experienced frequent cries related to battery backup from your loved one who uses an iPhone, then the MagSafe battery pack is a must-buy gift option.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) – Price: ₹13,999
Amazon has been a leading company in manufacturing smart speaker displays over the years, and its recent launch, the Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen), is the best smart display in the lineup. The 2nd gen Echo Show 8 offers a superior 13-megapixel wide-angle camera for enhanced video calls along with a faster processor and an auto-framing feature, which lets the device pan and zoom automatically to adjust the frame while making video calls. The Echo Show 8’s sound output is way better than the top trim Echo Show 10, but the flagship smart home device Echo Show 10 steals the show when it comes to other features. If the person you’re planning to gift this Christmas is a newcomer to the smart home space, then Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen) would be a great gift choice.
Ember Mug² –
Price: Various options available from ₹16,000* on amazon.in or get it from ember.com for $129.95 USD
The winter is coming, and all we need to survive the chilliness is a cup of hot tea or coffee by the table, but every time we plan to enjoy the hot drink, it turns cold before we finish it and ruins our mood. Well, if you know someone who is a big-time hot tea or coffee lover, then gift them the Ember Mug² temperature control smart mug, and it will never let their tea or coffee go cold again, at least for up to 1.5 hours with Ember Mug² 10 oz and up to 80 minutes with the Ember Mug² 14 oz. The smart mug is designed for home or office use, and it allows you to set an exact drinking temperature so your coffee is never too hot or cold. The washable smart mug allows you to set and control your prefered temperature with your smartphone via the dedicated Ember app.
Beats Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds – Price: ₹14,499
Apple purchased Beats in 2014, and since then, every product Beats launched was somehow tied up with the Apple ecosystem. Then Beats decided to ditch the traditional Apple H1 and W1 chips and launched Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds with MediaTek chipset. The change in the chip helped Beats to go beyond its competitors and suit Android phones along with Apple devices. The Beats Studio Buds are Beats’ smallest earbuds to date and the best-sounding earbuds Beats has ever manufactured. The wireless noise-cancelling earbuds fit perfectly in the ear, and the solid grip makes sure they’ll not fall out even during intense workouts. So, if you’re looking for a gadget to gift your gym-addict friend, then these stand-out earbuds are the perfect little thing.
GoPro Hero10 Black Action Camera – Price: ₹54,500
GoPro recently launched the new Hero10 Black, with a new faster custom processor. The Hero10 Black sports a 2.27-inch touch screen main display on the back and a 1.4-inch display on the front. It arrives with Incredible video stabilization and a new GP2 chipset, enabling new slow-motion frame rates, faster transfer speeds, and improved image quality. The camera can record smoother videos up to 5.3K @ 60fps, and for slow-mo videos, it can go up to 4K @ 120fps and 2.7K @ 240fps. The waterproof Hero 10 Black is powered by a GP2 sensor and packs a 1,720mAh battery. The GoPro Hero10 Black could be the best gift option if your loved ones are travel enthusiasts, vloggers or into adventure sports.
WD My Passport Go Portable SSD – Price: ₹11,469* (for 1TB on flipkart.com)
SSDs (Solid State Drives) are faster and more power-efficient than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), and that’s the reason they’re always in demand. WD is one of the most popular SSD and HDD-making companies globally, and their recent addition, WD My Passport Go portable SSD, is one in a million kinds of devices. The My Passport Go portable drive has a shock-absorbing rubber bumper and no moving parts, making it drop-resistant up to 2 meters. The square-shaped, rugged SSD is 2 times faster than typical portable hard disk drives and compatible with both Windows PC and Mac computers. The Pocket-sized drive has a built-in cable for convenient portability and is available in three variants, 500GB, 1TB and 2TB. You can gift the SSD to the person who never feels satisfied with the in-built storage of their respective devices.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro – Price: ₹10,990*
Samsung has tasted success with the launch of exceptionally built Galaxy Buds Plus and failure with the launch of not so excellent Galaxy Buds Live, which helped the South Korean tech giant analyse the segment well and come back hard with the Galaxy Buds Pro, the best true wireless earbuds that the company has ever made. The Buds Pro includes active noise cancellation, wireless charging, speech detection mode, and support for the Scalable advanced Bluetooth codec. When paired with a Samsung smartphone or tablet, the earbuds offer the best sound quality and go beyond these key features. The Buds Pro also offers IPX7 water and sweat resistance features along with improved mic performance. So, if you’ve someone who owns a Samsung smartphone or tablet and likes to play along with music and calls, then go for these earbuds and make your loved ones happy.
E-book readers are reliable and handy instead of the traditional paper-based books because e-book readers offer thousands of books in one gadget, and when it comes to choosing the best e-book reader in the market, you’ll never find anything better than Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (10th Gen). The waterproof e-reader has a 6-inch e-ink display, and it is available in different variants that range from 8GB to 32GB of storage. The Kindle Paperwhite is one of the most popular e-readers on the market with good battery life, and if you have someone in your friend circle who’s an avid book reader, then this 10th Gen Kindle Paperwhite could easily replace your place in your friend’s life.
Budget Gifts (Below ₹10,000)
LG XBOOM Go PL2 Water Resistant Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – Price: ₹7,990
The LG XBOOM Go PL2 is the smallest and least expensive portable Bluetooth speaker from the PL range of speakers. The IPX5 water-resistant portable speaker offers a Sound Boost mode, USB-C charging, stereo pairing, and up to 10 hours of battery life. The PL2 speaker can be controlled with your smartphone’s voice assistant and can make any party fun in no time. The rounded design, compact and lightweight speaker has a good build quality and is best suited for travel enthusiasts. If you know someone who is a travel addict and likes to do weekend campaigning by the lake or hill, then LG XBOOM Go PL2 portable speakers can be a good companion for such personalities.
Oral-B Pro 2 2000N Electric Rechargeable Toothbrush – Price: ₹4,199
Technology has evolved our daily needs from smart home devices to electric toothbrushes. A decade ago, Oral-B was making regular manual toothbrushes, but then the company decided to take a look at the big picture and started manufacturing electric toothbrushes to cope up with the new age of connected tech. The Oral-B Pro 2 2000 electric rechargeable toothbrush offers only the necessary features for your dental health and works without any app support. The electric toothbrush helps you to remove more plaque and leave gums healthier than a manual toothbrush. The Oral-B Pro 2 200 electric toothbrush features two brushing modes and a pressure sensor, making it the simplest yet elegant electric toothbrush. It can be an excellent gift for people with sensitive teeth who have never experimented with an electric toothbrush.
Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller – Price: ₹9,321* on amazon.in
Everyone has their own choice, and not all people want a regular PlayStation or Xbox controller. Some people go beyond the ordinary world and prefer exciting gadgets such as Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller, which offers a seemingly lag-free gaming experience on the phone. The go-to mobile gaming controller has a split apart design, and it can connect directly through the USB-C charging port. The Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller fits most smartphone devices and offers a solid grip that lets the gamer have great control over a device. If you’re friends with someone who follows mobile gaming like a devotion, in that case, you should consider gifting Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller to them this Christmas as this killer gadget will not only please them mentally but will permanently change their mobile gaming experience.
Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device with Alexa Voice Remote – Price: ₹5,999
Amazon has acquired almost all crucial markets, from online shopping to smart house gadgets to streaming services and even streaming devices. The business strategies and tough competition in the market have made consumers’ lives easy as many widgets are available at affordable prices, and the list includes 4K streaming devices. Since the Fire TV Stick 4K launch, Amazon has emerged in this market, and the latest Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K includes the Alexa voice remote in the box. The latest 4K stick offers improved performance and is slightly larger than the standard Fire TV Stick but has the same colour and texture. The latest 4K stick features a guide button that can quickly take you to live TV and offer Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG like the standard stick. If you’re looking for a budget gift this Christmas, then the Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote could be a perfect one.
Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case – Price: from $68 to $88 (including $9 express shipping charges)
We often see people, mainly Indians having a 50 or 100 rupees/dollars note on the back of their smartphone cover. Some even put their credit or debit cards on the back of their smartphone cover, and when asked, they defend themselves in the name of emergency needs. Well, Australian accessories making brand Bellroy decided to provide a stylish look to the regular habit and created a multi-functional smartphone wallet case that holds up to 3 cards, slots devoted to a SIM tool and SIM card. The professional-looking case has a smooth, barely textured premium leather sheath covering the back panel, and you can even use the card compartment door as a kickstand to watch videos. So, if you know someone who prefers a luxury lifestyle and owns an iPhone from 12-series or 13-series, then Bellroy 3 Card iPhone Wallet Case will be a great gift and add a style statement to their life. Though the case is only available on the official website of Bellroy, if you want to purchase one, hurry up because it will take a few days or even a week to ship in India.
Noise ColorFit Pro 3 – Price: ₹3,999
Noise, India’s homegrown brand, has already acquired the top position in India’s wearables market. The budget smartwatch, Noise Colorfit 3 Pro, comes with many features and specifications, such as a SpO2 monitor for blood oxygen monitoring, a stress level monitor, and a bigger-better display. The lightweight smartwatch sports a 1.5-inch HD touchscreen colour display and follows the subtle design language like an Apple watch. The water-resistant smartwatch features about 14 workout modes, including Outdoor Walking, Outdoor Running, Outdoor Cycling, Pool Swimming, Open Water Swimming, Cricket, Hiking, Yoga and Workout. The Noise Colorfit Pro 3 comes in 6 colours and offers several high-end features, which we usually find on Apple & Samsung smartwatches. So, if you’re looking for a budget Christmas or new year gift, then Noise Colorfit 3 Pro could do the math.
Wagr’s GPS & Fitness Tracker for Dogs – Price: ₹3,499
The world is getting smarter with smart wearables, and along with us, our very canine best friend also needs smart wearables because about 6 lacs dogs get lost every year in India. The pain of losing our pooch friend can cause severe sickness to dog parents, and this thought made IIT alumnus Advaith Mohan and two of his friends, Siddharth Darbha and Ajith Kochery, come up with a solution. The trio created a dog wearable Wagr, India’s first GPS tracker for dogs which tracks the dog using high-precision GPS and even allows you to create safe zones. Once you attach the Wagr tracker to your pup’s collar, it will help you track your dog’s activity, walks, safe zones, and it will also alert you when they leave the safe zone you’ve created. If you have a dog of your own or someone from your friend’s circle who owns a dog, then Wagr’s location & fitness tracker is a must-have gadget.
The late monsoon and winter season has its high in India. Every hardcore traveller prefers to plan most of the trips in the middle of September and February as these 6-months provide more options for the adventure. Due to the pandemic, most regular travellers have missed their planned trips in 2020 and want to hit back hard to embrace all those much-anticipated trips.
Along with trips, we’ve been waiting for the Covid-19 vaccine since our government declared the first lockdown in-country at the end of March 2020. Thanks to the great scientists, research institutes and modern technology, the most-awaited vaccine has finally arrived, and fortunately, India has fully vaccinated 9.54 crore of its 94.5 crore adult population so far, which is an achievement in itself.
The government is aiming to vaccinate 300 million people by the end of 2021, while the travellers who’ve taken both doses are planning for a vacation. When it comes to travelling, especially during current days, one should be prepared well as we haven’t travelled in a long time and that’s why we’ve summoned up a list of must-have outdoor tech gadgets for frequent travellers.
GoPro
Since the day GoPro arrived in India, it has created a buzz around the travellers and budding photographers who previously used to carry their heavy DSLR’s during outdoor trips. The attractive action camera is no longer an option to throw in the backpack for a travel adventure. The tiny and rugged camera is lightweight, can go just about anywhere, and offers tons of picture-taking opportunities. The GoPro Hero9 Black is the latest offering from the company, but its predecessor Hero8 Black is still an excellent option, and it costs you less. The everyday camera lags when it comes to battery life and Low-Light Performance, but if you prepare well for the trip, then GoPro’s will never disappoint you.
Noise-cancelling Wireless Headphones
Walking without headphones in a new place is recommended, but it’s suitable only when you’re in a quiet-naturistic place, not when you’re walking down a busy lane or travelling in a bus/cab during peak hours. The best option to block out such annoying and unwanted noises around you is to get Noise-Cancelling wireless headphones. These headphones will make sure you’ll stay away from all the outside chaos and noise. The best thing about owning Noise-Cancelling headphones is that they keep you away from the real-world noise without even having to raise your headphones’ volumes. So, the next time you’re going for a long flight or long train journey, keep these headphones with you to avoid baby cries and passenger snores.
Kindle
We all have listened to the crap from regular travellers complaining about not finding enough time to pick up on reading though they did have all the time in the world to post their exotic vacay photos. Jokes apart, but being a traveller, if you genuinely love reading or want to make your journey memorable, e-books are one of the best options you have as it only takes a little space in your bag and offers tons of writings from various authors. Several companies offer e-book services, but Kindle has its world and benefits as it provides hi-tech features along with customisable text settings and adaptive lighting. Subscribe to Kindle Unlimited to enjoy access to over a million Kindle titles, including e-books, audiobooks, and magazines.
Water Purifier Bottle
When you’re exploring remote places or hiking a trail where nobody often visits, there are chances you might run out of water or not notice any local stores around. A water purifier bottle can be your saviour at such terrible times as these devices can make any water clean; all you have to do is hunt for freshwater resources. Travellers often deal with health problems after or during a trip, most of which are caused by contaminated drinking water, so having your purification system in the form of a bottle is a must-buy gizmo. A water purifier bottle not only provides you with safe drinking water on the go but also saves your money on packaged drinking water.
All-in-one Adapters
Travellers, particularly millennial and solo travellers, can not survive the world without their smartphones and gadgets, especially when they’re outing somewhere, as they’ve to share their recent adventures and shout out to the world through social media apps and stories. Earlier, people have to worry about adapters not matching plug points, and that’s why they used to end up carrying a bag of adapters, especially during international trips, but nowadays travellers needn’t worry about the points or extensions. Thanks to the All-in-one Universal Adapters, they come with a built-in extender and fulfil most of your needs. Get one before you pack for your next adventure to enjoy a trouble-free trip.
Smartphone Gimbal
Nowadays, almost 3 out of 10 people are YouTubers; this is the level of influence YouTube has created on us, but one can not achieve success on a platform without being a creative person and staying ahead of the people. Being a part of the modern world, almost everyone knows how to turn on the video camera, but not everyone knows how to get excellent footage out of it unless you own a smartphone gimbal and have experience in the field. A good smartphone gimbal will help you get smooth and stabilised footage as its ergonomic handle provides a comfortable grip for a steady hold. It can be a game-changer for travel vloggers as the footage that came out of it looks very decent and professional.
Bluetooth Speakers
After the dog, music is the man and woman’s best friend. You can not take your dog out on every tour, but you can take music everywhere. Various devices are available in the market that satisfies our music desires, but having a portable Bluetooth speaker is a must-have gadget for any traveller. It makes sure that you’re having the luxuries of the indoors while travelling outdoors. The Bose SoundLink Mini II Bluetooth Speaker and Sony SRS-XB12 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker are two of the best compact Bluetooth speakers available in India. These two speakers are designed for life on the go and offer excellent sound quality along with waterproof and dustproof characteristics.
Solar Charger
While travelling to remote locations or staying in the middle of the woods, we often end up where electricity appears like a guest. Also, some travellers like to explore the unexplored on their own while staying away from plugs of any kind. In such situations, how can you recharge your gadgets? Well, for such concerns, we can stay dependent on renewable energy resources like the solar charger. You can hang the device to your bag while hiking under the sun, and it will charge itself under the sunlight. Solar chargers will help you avoid isolation from the world by keeping your mobile phone, GPS devices, and laptops charged up.
GoPro’s new app update will now combine Quik, a free video-editing app into a single app structure. By this way, GoPro can help you view, edit and share it faster and fresher with its new GoPro app update. Previously GoPro distributes two separate apps for iOS and Android. The GoPro app connects with a GoPro action camera, while the Quik app can edit the video. The new update introduces a fresh visual design, improved storytelling tools and enhanced filter capabilities, all powered by a revving new software engine.
GoPro app users will immediately notice design updates, from a visual refresh and a more modern UI to a more intuitive navigation. The update also bring users the more than 20 filter options and the option to apply multiple filter types within the same multi-clip video.
The GoPro app update offers additional creative flex by removing draft limitations of the previous editing model. Now QuikStory video will remain in an always-editable format so changes can be done any time.
From today, GoPro app users can get the new update and experience the benefits of the merge with Quik. The GoPro’s roadmap for the one-app experience is rich with improvements, including single clip editing to unlock a full editing suite for single clips, new themes to make your photos and videos look more like the content that GoPro produces, and expanded platforms for integrating third-party content into GoPro edits.
