Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera Review: A Budget Contender Put to the Test

I remember standing at the edge of a crystal-clear cove, kayak ready, paddle in hand. The sun was perfect, the water was impossibly blue, and I knew the day was going to be filled with moments I’d want to relive forever. My phone, however, was safely tucked away in a dry bag, utterly useless for capturing the dynamic splashes and stunning underwater glimpses I was about to experience. For years, the world of action cameras seemed like an exclusive club, dominated by a few big names with price tags that could easily fund the entire trip. The fear was always the same: either spend a fortune or settle for grainy, shaky footage that does no justice to the memory. This is the dilemma for every casual adventurer, weekend warrior, and holidaymaker—how do you capture life’s most exciting moments in high quality without breaking the bank?

What to Look for Before Buying an Action Camera

An action camera is more than just a small video recorder; it’s a key solution for capturing life in motion, from perspectives a smartphone or traditional camera could never safely achieve. It’s about strapping a lens to your helmet as you cycle down a mountain trail, mounting it to your surfboard to catch the perfect wave, or taking it 100 feet underwater to explore a coral reef. The main benefits are rugged durability, compact portability, and the ability to record high-quality, wide-angle footage of your most dynamic activities. It frees you to live in the moment while ensuring that moment is preserved in stunning detail.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who embraces an active lifestyle—the hiker, snorkeler, cyclist, vlogger, or parent who wants to capture their kids’ adventures at the beach. They need a device that is simple to use, tough enough to handle bumps and water, and delivers video quality that looks great on social media and home TVs. Conversely, a professional filmmaker or a content creator who requires cinematic-grade colour science, advanced manual controls, and flawless low-light performance might find a budget action camera limiting. For them, a higher-end mirrorless or cinema camera would be a more appropriate, albeit much more expensive, tool for the job.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: An action camera needs to be incredibly compact and lightweight. Consider its form factor for mounting. You want a camera that you can attach to a helmet, chest harness, or bike handlebars and barely notice it’s there. Its small size is its greatest strength, allowing for unique points of view.
• Capacity/Performance: This is the heart of the camera. Look for a minimum of 4K resolution, but pay close attention to the frame rate—60 frames per second (FPS) provides much smoother motion than 30FPS, which is critical for fast-paced action. Furthermore, Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS) is non-negotiable; it’s the technology that turns shaky, unwatchable clips into smooth, professional-looking footage.
• Materials & Durability: The camera itself should feel solid, but the real key to its durability is the included waterproof housing. A good case should be robust, with secure latches and responsive buttons, providing protection not just from water but also from dust, snow, and impacts. The depth rating (e.g., 131ft/40m) indicates its suitability for serious water sports like diving.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: In the middle of the action, you don’t have time to fiddle with complicated menus. A responsive touchscreen, intuitive interface, and one-touch recording are essential. Features like Wi-Fi connectivity for app control and a wireless remote add immense convenience, allowing you to control the camera when it’s mounted out of reach.

These considerations will guide you toward a camera that not only fits your budget but is also a reliable partner for your adventures.

While the Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the Hiicam Speed 20: A Surprisingly Complete Adventure Kit

Opening the box for the Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera feels less like unboxing a single product and more like opening a treasure chest for aspiring adventurers. Our first impression was one of sheer value. Nestled inside, alongside the camera itself, was a staggering array of mounts, straps, and accessories. While many budget cameras force you to buy these essentials separately, Hiicam includes everything you need to get started right away. The camera itself is compact and impressively lightweight, with a matte black finish that feels durable and non-slip. The buttons have a satisfying, tactile click, and the port doors feel secure. The standout feature, immediately apparent, is the dual-screen system. The large 2-inch rear touchscreen is bright and responsive, but it’s the 1.4-inch front screen that really elevates the experience, making it a fantastic tool for vlogging or taking selfies without the guesswork. This is a feature often reserved for more expensive models, and its inclusion here is a major win.

In the Field: A Performance Breakdown of the Hiicam Speed 20

An action camera’s true worth is only revealed when it’s pushed to its limits out in the wild. We took the Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera through a series of tests, from fast-paced trail cycling to a sunny day at the coast, to see if its performance lives up to its promising feature list. We focused on the core pillars of what makes an action camera great: image quality, durability, stabilisation, and overall usability.

Crystal Clear Moments: 4K Video and 20MP Stills

The headline feature of the Hiicam Speed 20 is its ability to shoot 4K video at a buttery-smooth 60 frames per second, and we were eager to put this to the test. In bright, sunny conditions, the results were genuinely impressive. The footage we captured was sharp, vibrant, and packed with detail. The 170° wide-angle lens does an excellent job of capturing immersive, expansive scenes, making it perfect for landscape shots and action sequences. Colours were well-saturated without looking artificial, and the camera handled fast-moving scenes without significant motion blur. Several users confirmed our findings, with one noting the footage is “amazing with a true 4k quality.” For sharing on social media, YouTube, or viewing on a 4K TV, the video output is more than sufficient and punches well above its weight for this price category. You can see its full video specifications and sample clips from other users online.

When it comes to still photography, the 20MP sensor delivers crisp and clear JPEGs in good lighting. They are perfectly suited for capturing quick snaps of your adventures. However, like most action cameras in this bracket, its performance is highly dependent on light. As the sun began to set, we noticed a predictable increase in grain and a loss of fine detail. Some users have also noted that playback can occasionally appear jerky on certain devices, which can often be attributed to the high bitrate of 4K/60FPS files on computers that aren’t quite up to the task. Overall, while it may not compete with flagship models in dynamic range or low-light capability, the daytime performance of the Hiicam Speed 20 is exceptional for its price.

Conquering the Elements: Waterproofing and Durability

An action camera that can’t handle the elements is a useless one. The Hiicam Speed 20 comes with a robust, clear polycarbonate waterproof case rated for depths up to 131 feet (40 metres). We took it for a swim and some snorkelling, and the case performed flawlessly. The dual-latch system is incredibly secure, giving us complete confidence that no water would breach the seal. Submerging the camera, the buttons on the case remained easy to press, allowing us to start and stop recording without any hassle. Underwater footage was clear, with the case’s lens cover causing no noticeable distortion or fogging.

This experience is echoed by numerous users who have taken it snorkelling and diving. One reviewer was particularly impressed, stating, “Tried it underwater and it worked great,” while another confirmed the “case is watertight.” Beyond just water, the housing provides fantastic protection against dust on a trail, mud from a splash, or an accidental drop onto the rocks. The camera itself, outside the case, feels sturdy but it’s the combination with the housing that makes it a true adventure-proof device. This comprehensive protection makes it a reliable choice for everything from a day at the pool to more serious water sports. If you’re looking for a camera ready for any environment, you can check the latest price and its full accessory kit.

Smooth Operator: EIS Stabilisation and User Experience

Perhaps the most critical feature for any action camera is its ability to stabilise shaky footage. The Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera is equipped with a 6-axis gyro Electronic Image Stabilisation (EIS), and we found it to be remarkably effective. To test it, we mounted the camera to the handlebars of a mountain bike and rode down a moderately bumpy trail. The resulting footage was surprisingly smooth and watchable. The EIS intelligently crops into the image slightly to counteract the shakes and vibrations, transforming what would be a nauseating mess into a fluid, dynamic video. This was a sentiment shared by reviewers, one of whom stated the “stabilization makes my footage smooth even when I’m moving around.” It’s important to note that EIS is deactivated in the highest resolution 5K mode, but for 4K and 1080p shooting, it’s a game-changer.

The overall user experience is refreshingly simple. The camera boots up in a few seconds, and the 2-inch rear touchscreen is responsive and easy to navigate. Swiping between modes—video, photo, slow-motion, time-lapse—is intuitive. The front screen is a brilliant addition for vloggers, allowing you to frame yourself perfectly in the shot. We also tested the Wi-Fi connectivity and the companion app. Connecting the camera to a smartphone was straightforward, allowing for a live preview, remote start/stop recording, and easy transfer of files for quick social media sharing. The included wrist-worn remote is another handy tool, perfect for starting a recording when the camera is mounted on a helmet or at the end of a selfie stick.

Power and Practicality: Battery Life and Accessories

A common complaint with action cameras is poor battery life, but Hiicam tackles this head-on by including two 1350mAh batteries in the box. This is a huge advantage. During our testing, we found a single battery lasted for well over an hour of continuous 4K recording. With two fully charged batteries, you have enough power for a full day of intermittent shooting, which the manufacturer estimates at a total runtime of around 4.5 hours. This eliminates the “battery anxiety” that often accompanies a day of filming and means you’re less likely to miss a key moment because you’re out of juice. Users consistently praise this inclusion, calling it “very useful” and noting that the “battery is also long lasting.”

The value proposition is sealed by the comprehensive accessory kit. You get a waterproof case, a frame mount, and five different mounts, including adhesive pads for helmets and a handlebar mount. This means that right out of the box, you can attach the Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera to almost anything. One user was delighted that it “packaged with a whole pack clear block protector, many accessories and two batteries,” calling it a “good bundle to have for a low-end camera.” This generosity saves you a significant amount of money and hassle, making it an incredibly beginner-friendly package.

What Other Users Are Saying

The general consensus among users is overwhelmingly positive, with most highlighting the incredible value for money the Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera offers. Many, like one satisfied buyer, call it “brilliant equipment” that is “very compact so easy to carry everywhere.” The sheer number of included accessories is a recurring theme of praise, with people appreciating that it’s a “complete adventure kit” that doesn’t require extra spending. The video quality is frequently described as “super clear” and “amazing,” especially for the price point.

However, the feedback isn’t without its critiques, which provide a balanced view. A few users have pointed out that while the image quality is great, the “playback is quite jerky” on some computers, a common issue with high-resolution video files that requires a powerful machine to view smoothly. Another critical piece of feedback comes from a more technical user who felt the resolution “definitely isn’t 4K sharp, maybe around 2K,” and that its performance indoors or at night is “not great.” This aligns with our findings that the camera thrives in bright daylight but struggles in low light, a typical trade-off for cameras in this budget category.

How Does the Hiicam Speed 20 Compare to the Competition?

The Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera exists in a crowded market. While it carves out a strong identity in the budget space, it’s important to understand what you get—or give up—by choosing it over other popular alternatives.

1. Insta360 X5 Essentials Bundle 8K Action Camera

The Insta360 X5 operates in a completely different league. This is a premium 360° camera that captures everything around it in stunning 8K resolution. Its major advantages are creative flexibility—you can “reframe” your shots after filming—and its “invisible selfie stick” effect. It’s aimed at serious content creators and tech enthusiasts who want cutting-edge features and are willing to pay a significant premium. While the Hiicam is about capturing a specific view simply and effectively, the Insta360 is about capturing every possible angle and deciding the best one later. If your budget is flexible and creative control is your top priority, the Insta360 X5 is the superior choice.

2. AKASO V50 Elite Action Camera 4K

The AKASO V50 Elite is perhaps the most direct competitor to the Hiicam Speed 20. Both cameras target the same budget-conscious adventurer, offering 4K/60fps video, EIS, and a generous accessory package. The AKASO brand has built a strong reputation in this space, and the V50 Elite includes features like voice control and an adjustable view angle. The choice between these two often comes down to minor differences in image processing, the specific accessories included in the bundle at the time of purchase, and current pricing. The Hiicam Speed 20’s dual-screen feature gives it a slight edge for vlogging, but both are excellent, reliable options in the entry-level 4K action camera category.

3. Drift Ghost XL Action Camera 9 Hours HD Waterproof

The Drift Ghost XL prioritizes one feature above all else: battery life. With an astounding 9-hour recording time in 1080p HD, it is the undisputed champion of endurance. This makes it the ideal camera for users who need to record long, uninterrupted events, such as motorcyclists, cyclists, or anyone using it as a “set-and-forget” device. Its bullet-style form factor and 330-degree rotating lens also offer unique mounting possibilities. The trade-off is resolution; it tops out at 1080p, not 4K. If your primary need is capturing the longest possible journey without worrying about power, the Drift Ghost XL is the perfect tool, whereas the Hiicam is better for capturing shorter, higher-quality clips.

The Final Verdict: Is the Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera Your Next Adventure Partner?

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Hiicam Speed 20 4K Action Camera is overwhelmingly positive. It represents a near-perfect balance of performance, features, and incredible value. For a fraction of the cost of a flagship model, you get a camera that delivers sharp 4K/60fps video, effective image stabilisation, and a dual-screen setup that is genuinely useful for modern content capture. Its biggest strength, however, is the all-in-one nature of the package. The inclusion of two batteries and a massive accessory kit means you are ready for any adventure right out of the box.

While it may not excel in low-light conditions and its digital zoom is best avoided, these are acceptable compromises for its price point. We wholeheartedly recommend the Hiicam Speed 20 to beginners, families, casual vloggers, and any adventurer on a budget who wants to capture high-quality memories without a hefty investment. It proves that you no longer need to spend a fortune to get great action footage. If you’re ready to start recording your adventures in stunning detail, we highly recommend you check the latest price and grab this fantastic all-in-one package.