The Polaroid Cube Action Camera [review]

BreakingModern — They say that good things come in small packages — this is certainly true with the Polaroid Cube HD Action Camera. At 35mm x 35mm (1.4” x 1.4”) the Cube is the smallest camera I’ve ever seen. My red review unit is emblazoned with a small brightly colored stripe that depicts all the colors of the rainbow. When I first looked at it, I thought that this tiny device screamed the word “fun,” and I was right.

polaroid cube

Made to Play

The entire Cube is rubberized, so don’t be afraid to experiment with it. There’s no lens cover, the lens itself is recessed and protected. You won’t want to throw it in your pocket next to your keys, but in most other cases, you can toss it around with no unintended consequences. You don’t need a bulky case, either, so the product is ready to go out of the box, which I love.

Besides being durable and shockproof, the Cube is also splash resistant. The quarter-sized cover on the back can be easily opened with a coin to reveal a micro-SD slot that takes cards up to 32 GB, a small toggle that switches between 720p and 1080p and a micro-USB port. The back of the Cube also has a small round magnet embedded in the rubber so you can stick it to a refrigerator or bike. It doesn’t look too powerful, but in my testing proved to be quite strong.

polaroid cube

Quality

Setting up the device is easy. Just insert a micro-SD card and charge the unit. I strongly recommend using a Class 10 micro-SD card for the best results. The camera has a one-button operation that is really simple once you figured it out — just press and hold for three seconds to turn the device on or off. Then press once to take a picture, twice to record video. There’s a small LED status light so you can tell when it’s on, and the Cube also beeps to confirm its status. The high-definition lens has a built-in microphone and gives a 124 degree wide viewing angle. The built-in battery records up to 90 minutes.

Videos taken in 1080p are crisp and clear. One drawback is that the device provides no way for you to see what you’re capturing. You can’t view your videos until you attach the camera to your computer, so it may take you a few tries to get used to aiming it properly. The included software is quite limited, but it does allow you to adjust things like the time stamp and beeper volume.

Also, because of the magnet, you can easily attach the Cube to any metal object. I was able to put it on the roof of my car and take videos while going 50 mph down the freeway. Polaroid has plenty of optional accessories, including a bumper case, helmet mount, monkey stand, waterproof case and suction mount, bike mount and tripod mount. Although I didn’t test any of these I was able to see them all at CES this year and can assure you that they are strong and well-built.

Whether you attach the Cube to your dog’s collar, your bike or your car, it can provide hours of fun for its $99 price tag.

For BMod, I’m .

All Images: Sandy Berger

Sandy Berger

Author: Sandy Berger

Based in Pinehurst, North Carolina, Sandy Berger is a veteran tech journalist and reviews editor at aNewDomain.net covering tech tips and tricks, apps, gadgets, and consumer electronics. Follow @sandyberger on Twitter, +SandyBerger on Google+, and on Facebook.

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