Cisco Flip UltraHD (8GB): Discontinued but Still Tops in Simplicity

At a Coup d'oeil

Expert's Rating

Pros

Unexampled FlipPort for patented accessories
Fine-textured 60-fps frame rate and 2X digital zoom
Extremely simple and easy to utilize
FlipShare software program for basic editing and sharing

Cons

Video recording quality non as good as previous models
Fixed internal memory
No motionless-image beguile or resolution controls
Discontinued line; may have future sustain issues

Our Finding of fact

It doesn't offer the same impressive video quality arsenic its predecessors, but the final version of Cisco's Flip UltraHD pocket camcorder soundless dominates the field in ease of use.

Note: Cisco recently announced the discontinuation of its Flip pocket camcorders, but the current propagation of Twitch camcorders is still available direct the company's site piece supplies last. You can study Coregonus artedi's authorised announcement regarding product support here.

If you're looking a no-nonsense pocket camcorder, Cisco's latest (and senior) interlingual rendition of the Flip UltraHD is small and oblanceolate enough to justify its $180 (as of April 15, 2020) price tag.

What the new 2-hour Flip UltraHD lacks in features, it makes raised for in pure, elegant simplicity. The camcorder offers more or less slight improvements over its predecessor: It's thinner and less large–with a thickness of 0.88 inch versus the old Flip UltraHD's 1.16 inches–but still a bit too chunky to slip comfortably into any but the biggest of pockets.

The 2-hour/8GB model we examined sports a couple of star additions that the 1-hour version of the same camcorder lacks: a especial FlipPort, which you hindquarters use up to connect optional copyrighted accessories such every bit an external microphone; and 720p HD video at a higher frame rate of 60 frames per second, up from the preceding interlingual rendition's 30 fps. The new Flip UltraHD also runs connected a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; as an alternative you can switch out the barrage fire pack for tierce AAA batteries.

Storage is still rigid internally: The new UltraHD packs 8GB of intimate cheap storage, which accommodates 2 hours of HD footage. Everything you need is in the boxwood: the camcorder itself, a plastic carpus strap, a low cloth carrying instance, and a reversible stamp battery. The assault and battery is easy to install in the battlefront of the Flip–just flip over the lock switch on the bottom of the camera and the front man dialog box slides bump off.

The 4.5-apothecaries' ounce Flip UltraHD looks a good deal equivalent its predecessor. The fresh mock up retains the soft, rubberized plastic screening, but jettisons the metal sides in favour of of fictile ones. There's still a toss-out USB port on incomparable side and a power clit on the strange, and the book binding holds a 2-inch LCD screen. The buttons remain simple: playback, delete, and navigation controls.

The bottom of the Flip houses the proprietary FlipPort, an HDMI port (no HDMI cable is included in the box), a lock switch for the battery compartment, and a tripod mount. The new model comes in black/silver, ashen/silver, and custom designs that you fanny put together via the confirmed Internet site.

To burster the Flip, you stop up it into a USB port victimization the flip-out USB connector along the side of the camera. Plugging the Flip into a electronic computer USB port leave activate attached-storage identification of the device. From there, you can scuff and drop your clips from the Flip to your computer, or you derriere use the camcorder's preinstalled FlipShare cortege. FlipShare provides simple desktop programs for editing, playing, and uploading videos; you can as wel bypass the software entirely.

The Somersaultin's interface is extremely accessible–still my mother, WHO is slightly technologically impaired, worked her way around the Flip UltraHD's interface with no trouble. Hit the power clitoris and the opening screen appears for half a second ahead disappearing; after that, you'Ra ready to record. If you press and hold the book push during the inauguration screen, you'll jump to a apparatus screen where you send away choose the language, date, and time; select the tones for different features; and toggle the recording light along or off.

Playback is evenhanded as easy. You press the playback button, and instantly you can use the navigation controls to whorl through your recorded clips. To cancel a video clip, knock the delete button, choose whether to delete the picture (yes/no/all), then tap the maneuver button to confirm.

The newest Flip UltraHD's video footage appears to have taken a significant cutpurse in quality in comparison to previous Flips. In PCWorld Labs' prejudiced tests for video quality, the Flip UltraHD scored in the mid of the compact for overall video execution.

Video Quality

Because the Rif UltraHD records at 60 FPS instead of 30 FPS, the moving objects IT captures looking a little electric sander than along early Flips. However, video quality is murkier in bright light and much less impressive in low light than we've seen in previous incarnations of the Flip. Compared to previous generations of the Flick–which were practically the gold standard for low-lying-light footage a contemporaries OR two ago–the UltraHD performs poorly in low-light conditions. At the best it's a middle-of-the-battalion low-lit performer. Still, in decent lighting conditions, the Tack UltraHD captures subjects nicely with bright, exposed colors; and at 60 fps, I could smoothly becharm the subtle movements of a wolf eel swimming at Monterey Bay Fish tank.

The Flip UltraHD earned an overall video quality score of Good, mostly referable its respectable output in bright-light situations. Audio pickup through its on-board mike stood out from the pack, earning a word score of Same Good in our subjective tests.

You can consider the bright-light and low-unclouded test clips we used for our subjective tests downstairs. Quality '720p' in the drop-down menu of each player to see the highest-lineament footage.

As with any Flip camcorder, you don't get umteen recording options: The UltraHD offers smooth 2X digital zoom, and integer image stabilization that doesn't work miracles; also, you're limited to TV-recording only. You can grab a frame from a telecasting clip to utilise A a still mental image via the desktop FlipShare software, but the device itself doesn't take photos.

The Flip's determinate-nidus lens lacks the macro versatility of competitors much as the Kodak PlaySport, which means that you throne't get too conclude to things if you want them to comprise clear. Standing about 3 to 5 feet away works asymptomatic, though.

Purchasing Advice

Cisco's Insolent UltraHD isn't very full-featured, but that's sort of the point. It definitely has its place, and it's a pregnant option for children, the elderly, operating theatre anyone WHO just wants a flying way to shoot easily uploadable television without any fuss. There are better-playing, more full-featured, Thomas More compact, and more modestly priced HD camcorders connected the grocery, simply the Flip UltraHD shares its predecessors' elegant, abundant operation. The Thumb enters its early retirement in the lead the pocket-camcorder pack in sheer simple mindedness.