14 DAY TRIAL // As expected for the past few weeks, HTC unveiled during the “Double Exposure” event in New York its own take at GoPro action cams, coming in the form of the RE camera.
The company already teased the device a while ago, so we knew the little gizmo looks like a PVC pipe (or maybe a periscope or asthma inhaler) so users can grip it easier.
The RE camera is small and colorful
The RE comes with IP57 rating, so it can be used while you’re having a fun day at the beach. The camera arrives with a 16MP 1/ 2.3-inch sensor with ultra-wide 146-degree lens.
The camera can shoot 1080p video and capture 16MP photos but comes equipped with a bunch of extra features such as slow-motion video capture and time-lapse recording. On top of that, HTC promises that a future software update will bestow the capacity to stream recorded videos live over the Internet.
The camera lacks a viewfinder but can be connected up with an Android or iPhone wirelessly, so you can automatically send your photos/videos directly on your mobile device. The dedicated app on your phone can also act as a viewfinder if you really need to see what you’re capturing.
RE takes advantage of an inbuilt grip sensor, so as soon as the user picks it up, the device starts by itself. The surface of the device isn't home to many buttons but one that is used for taking pictures and recording video by virtue of a long pressing it.
HTC RE can be used pretty much as a GoPro
HTC says the RE camera’s main focus is not action photography, but if users want to mount it up in the style of the GoPro camera, they can very well do that by clipping it to a backpack, necklace, bike, surf board and so on.
HTC mentioned the little shooter relies on a 820mAh battery which translates into you being able to snap about 1200 photographs and recording more than 100 minutes of full HD video.
The RE camera weighs a tiny 65.5 g / 0.14 lbs (so it’s very portable) and is equipped with Bluetooth, microUSB and Wi-Fi. On the inside, HTC has nestled 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded to 128GB if you need it.
The HTC Re camera should arrive on retail shelves in time for the holiday season with a price tag of $199 / €156. The device maker will also release a few accessories for the little periscope. Expect the HTC Re to arrive with re-sellers such as Amazon, Best Buy and carriers like Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobie.
You can pre-order the camera starting today from the Re-Camera website.
