LG has announced a new 12.3-megapixel Action Cam that can stream video directly without the need for a smartphone.
The Action Cam is being marketed alongside the LG G5 smartphone, but the camera doesn’t in fact need to be connected to any other device in order to stream video to sites like YouTube Live. LG has revealed that the camera can capture HD-ready, full HD or UHD video in 120, 60 and 30 frames per second, respectively.
Wireless connectivity for live streaming
If you want to make a live stream, however, it will be limited to 30 fps, 720p video. The Action Cam can standalone thanks to impressive wireless connectivity, and it is compatible with LTE, WiFi and Bluetooth.
It also packs in 2GB RAM, 4GB internal memory for the operating system, microSD compatibility, a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a 1,400mAh battery that will last for up to 4 hours of full HD recording. The Action Cam lives up to its name with an IP67 water- and dust-resistant rating, and the device can survive if submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
Should you want to use the camera underwater in more extreme conditions, LG is planning on releasing a fully waterproof case in the future.
LG Action Cam joins “Friends” ecosystem
According to the specs it appears that the Action Cam will offer comparable performance to current mid-range offerings in the sector. It has a 1/2.3-inch sensor, 1.55µm-sized pixels and an ultra-wide, 150-degree lens, putting it in vaguely the same league as the GoPro Hero Session.
The Action Cam is part of the LG “Friends” ecosystem, despite the fact that one of its key capabilities is that it can work without a smartphone. That range already features another camera, the LG 360 Cam, that takes 360-degree photos and videos. It also works without a smartphone.
LG is set to launch the Action Cam in South Korea in June, with a global launch expected later this year. There has been no word on how much it will cost.
The specs may make the Action Cam sit firmly in mid-range, but the ability to stream live without a phone is a capability that GoPro doesn’t offer. It could drive sales in the new LG offering.
