The AKASO V50X is a compact camera designed for action video. It comes with a clear plastic case advertised to render it waterproof and impact-resistant, though we don't currently test for that, and comes with a variety of accessories that allow it to be mounted to a helmet or a chest rig. It can also record in FHD and 4k without a crop, which is handy. Its video stabilization feature is also amazingly effective, so action footage shouldn't look too shaky. Unfortunately, recorded video has a somewhat grainy, soft quality. It's also a poor fit for photography, as it lacks an autofocus system, has a fixed wide-angle zoom lens, and doesn't allow you to change aperture or shutter speed manually.
Our Verdict
The AKASO V50X is bad for travel photography, though it isn't designed for this purpose. You can adjust camera ISO manually, but not aperture or shutter speed. There's also no autofocus system, making it difficult to capture clear images of moving subjects. It also isn't especially comfortable to use in a handheld configuration, and you have no way of adjusting the built-in lens' focal length. That said, depending on your usage patterns and settings, it does offer a fairly long battery life.
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Compact design with sturdy outer case.
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Good battery life.
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Shutter speed and aperture can't be changed manually.
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No autofocus system.
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Fixed focal length.
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Uncomfortable to use handheld.
The AKASO V50X isn't intended for landscape photography, though it should be mentioned that this isn't its intended use. You can't adjust the shutter speed or aperture manually, and changing the camera ISO only really makes your images over or under-exposed. It also only has a fixed wide-angle lens and isn't especially comfortable to operate.
The AKASO V50X isn't intended for sports and wildlife photography. You can only shoot continuously in 10-shot bursts, and you can't adjust the shutter speed manually. It also lacks an autofocus system to help make it easier to capture clear images of moving subjects. Also, its fixed lens focal length isn't sufficient to capture clear photos of far-away subjects.
The AKASO V50X can shoot in RAW format, but we don't test action cameras for RAW image quality.
The AKASO V50X is passable for vlogging. It's small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around for extended periods, and it does an excellent job of smoothing out camera shake in handheld footage. That said, you can't pivot its screen to see it when the camera is pointed at you, and video quality in both FHD and 4k is middling overall, particularly in dark environments.
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Compact design with sturdy outer case.
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Excellent video stabilization performance.
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No autofocus system.
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Middling video quality in FHD and 4k.
The AKASO V50X is inadequate for studio video, but this isn't its intended use case. Its selection of ports and inputs is somewhat limited, so you can't affix an external mic or a pair of headphones. It also lacks an autofocus system to track and maintain focus on moving subjects. Video recording quality is also sub-par in 4k and FHD, with a particularly grainy quality in dimly-lit environments.
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Good battery life.
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No autofocus system.
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Middling video quality in FHD and 4k.
The AKASO V50X is an acceptable choice for action video. It can record 4k video at 30 fps without a crop, which is fair but doesn't allow for smooth slow-motion video. Its selection of frame rates in FHD is somewhat limited, as it's incapable of recording above 90 fps in this resolution. That said, it comes with a variety of accessories that make it simple to mount to a helmet or a bike's handlebars, and its clear plastic case is advertised to render it water-resistant and rugged, though we don't currently test for this.
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Compact design with sturdy outer case.
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Excellent video stabilization performance.
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No autofocus system.
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Middling video quality in FHD and 4k.
- 5.2 Travel Photography
- 4.6 Landscape Photography
- 4.8 Sport & Wildlife Photography
- 0 Raw Photo Performance
- 5.2 Vlogging
- 5.3 Studio Video
- 5.7 Action Video
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Added text to the 'Raw Photo Performance' verdict box.
- Updated Jan 29, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.1.
- Updated Dec 21, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.
- Updated Dec 20, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.11.
- Updated Oct 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.10.
- Updated Sep 02, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.9.
- Updated May 18, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.
- Updated Jul 30, 2021: Added sample photos to the 'Image Quality' box.
- Updated Mar 24, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Mar 22, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Mar 03, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Feb 26, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The AKASO V50X is only available in one color variant: 'Black', and you can see its label here.
If you come across another variant of this camera, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Test Results
- Solid-feeling plastic body has a soft coating that provides a slightly more secure grip
- Battery compartment is covered by a hinged door
- No cover for input or SD card compartment
- Screen has a glass-like feel
- The camera is only rated for water resistance while using the included case, though we don't currently test for that
- AKASO V50X camera body
- Clear protective camera case
- Quick start guide
- AKASOGO Club card
- Micro USB cable
- 2x Batteries
- Battery charging cradle
- Remote
- Metal cable
- Zip ties
- Microfiber cloth
- Helmet mount accessory
- Handlebar mount accessories
- Not intended to be used as a handheld camera for taking pictures and recording video
- Camera ISO can be adjusted using the touchscreen, but aperture and shutter speed can't be changed manually
- Alternating between accessories can be cumbersome
- Menu is simple and easy to navigate with the touchscreen
- Can't be used to change aperture or shutter speed
