Flip Mino HD

Value

While we don't doubt Flip's claims that the Flip Mino HD is the smallest HD capable camcorder in the world, we feel it still has significant competition across a broad spectrum of its target audience. It might be smaller than most mobile phones, but most high-end modern mobiles such as the Nokia N96 and Samsung Omnia can both record acceptable quality video with the latter able to do so at 720p. In this light, spending another £169 if you already have one of these phones is questionable.

If you're set on buying a separate camcorder, then a quick Google threw up several alternatives too many capable of capturing 1080p as opposed to the Flip Mino HD's 720p and sporting removable batteries, much higher storage capacities, still image capture and optical zoom lenses. In particular, the Toshiba Camileo P30 HD seems to offer a better specification while being only slightly bigger and heavier but is £5 cheaper at £165 from Ebuyer It is however, £30 cheaper than Creative's Vado HD which sports a similar specification.

However, we were impressed with the quality of the videos the Flip Mino HD managed to capture given its relatively limited optics, especially in our dingy lab. What's most impressive though (apart from the funky cover designs) is how simple it is to use from start to finish. The one button start/stop sounds a little insulting but to be honest, whether you're a budding director itching to shoot your own short films, or you want a quick and easy camcorder to take on short trips, it's all you need really.

Final Thoughts

Our main concern is battery life and storage capacity, mainly as they are fixed with no way to expand them. As such, when the battery runs out, you're looking at a minimum two hour charge and as it's built in you can't buy a spare. If you run out of storage space then so long as you have a laptop, PC or Mac nearby then it's a five minute job to upload video using the onboard Flipshare software although just an hour of video will probably be too limiting for many people.

You can't get away from the unobtrusiveness of the Flip Mino HD though. It's incredibly easy to use and will be swallowed by even the smallest tightest, pockets. Its sub 100g weight means it's no hassle at all to carry around either, especially at parties and weddings and the like. Video quality is solid, if not spectacular but 720p in such a small device is an achievement in itself and looks great during playback.

The Flip Mino HD also proved to be adept in all the situations we could throw at it too so it undoubtedly performs much better than vast majority of mobile phones out there too which are undoubtedly its main competitors. There are larger alternatives with better specifications but none of them are as small and so easy to use

• Features
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• x
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• -
• -
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• 7/10

• Ease of Use
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
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• x
• x
• x
• -
• 9/10

• Video Quality
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

• Value
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• x
• x
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• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• 7/10

• Overall
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• x
• -
• -
• 8/10

Score Guide