Review: Polaroid Cube, the Cutest Action Camera on Earth
If you ask most people what a Polaroid camera is, they’ll describe one of those old-school instant cameras — those foldable boxes from your childhood that spit out developed photos that you shook dry.
Which is what makes the little cube sitting on my desk so intriguing. It says “Polaroid” on its box. It’s emblazoned with the company’s trademark rainbow stripes. But it certainly doesn’t look like any Polaroid I’ve ever seen.
This is the Polaroid Cube, a lifestyle action camera that’s meant for recording your friend’s birthday party, your latest skateboarding session, and anything in between. It’s genuinely fun to use.
A tiny charmer
The Cube isn’t built to be as rugged as something like a GoPro or a Garmin action cam. Sure, this little guy is durable enough to take a spill, but it’s more at home on brief bike rides across town than, say, gliding across mountaintops, strapped to a wingsuit.
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As such, the Cube doesn’t sport the same hardened look as its sturdier competitors. But that’s what makes it so approachable. Polaroid’s iconic rainbow stripes wrap around the Cube’s soft-touch body, adding to its charm. Available in black, blue, and red, the Cube is easily the cutest gadget you can buy.
But don’t be fooled by its goofy looks. I dropped my Cube review unit on the pavement several times while riding a bike around Manhattan, and beyond a few scuffs that I quickly wiped off, it was completely unscathed.
The Cube’s killer feature, though, is the small magnet on its underside. I stuck the Cube to any surface I could find, including a bike, my desk, and even my office’s elevator. It genuinely adds a totally different dimension to using the Cube, as it allows for a nearly unlimited number of shooting scenarios.
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Who would have thought a magnet could be so much fun?
A large multifunction button on top of the Cube controls everything from turning it on to shooting video and taking still photos. An LED light in front of the multifunction button lets you know when the camera is switched on, recording, or taking pictures.
Seeing the big picture
For a camera that’s just $99, the Cube offers surprisingly good video quality, and decent still shots as evidenced by my selfie. With its 124-degree wide-angle lens, the Cube has an especially large field of vision. What’s more, you can capture footage in either 720p or 1080p resolution.
(Daniel Howley/ Yahoo Tech)
A video’s resolution basically refers to how sharp your footage will look. For most small-screen devices, 720p is fine. If you’re going to watch your video on a big-screen TV, though, you should go with 1080p.
There is a bit of a downside to the wide-angle lens, though, as it gives all your videos a kind of exaggerated fish-eye style.
The Cube’s battery is surprisingly long lasting, providing up to 90 minutes of video recording before calling it quits.
I was impressed with how well the camera was able to adjust to changes in light, especially going from a shaded area to bright sunlight. Obviously, since there’s no camera light, you can’t use the Cube in the dark.
(Daniel Howley/ Yahoo Tech)
There’s no real image stabilization to be found on this little guy, either. So if you run around while recording or use it in situations where the Cube is bouncing a lot, expect your videos to look like they were shot from inside a washing machine.
That’s also problematic when riding a bike over rough pavement. Despite jumping around a lot, though, the footage was clear and easy to make out.
Don’t expect to get incredible audio quality from the camera’s tiny microphone when recording outside. Most things I recorded sounded tinny or picked up too much background noise. Inside, however, the mic records sound loud and clear.
I did have a problem with the Cube’s still photo function, though. To take a picture, you press the camera’s multifunction button. But instead of a quick beep, letting you know that you took a picture, you get a long beep. As a result, you’re left having to keep the camera still longer than you’d otherwise expect.
(Daniel Howley/ Yahoo Tech)
When I did capture photos, however, they looked nice and crisp. You’re not going to get something as clear as you get from your iPhone’s camera, but they definitely look good.
Accessories galore
Want to use the Cube while riding your bike? There’s an accessory for that. How about on the front of your surfboard? There’s one for that, too. In fact, Polaroid has put together a family of accessories for the Cube for just about every situation.
There’s a helmet mount, a tripod mount, a strap mount, a waterproof case with a suction mount, a bike mount, and even a monkey-shaped stand that uses the Cube as its head. It’s totally useless, but it sure makes for a cool desk accessory. Heck, there’s even a little bumper case for the Cube.
Pricing for the mounts and stands range from $17.99 to $39.99.
Is it worth buying?
The Cube is a cool little toy that’s great for shooting videos of parties, trips around town, and light activities. It captures quality video for its relatively low $99 price, and the fact that you can toss it around and stick it to nearly any metal surface is a huge plus.
(Daniel Howley/ Yahoo Tech)
At the same time, you shouldn’t expect the Cube to replace your smartphone’s camera, as it doesn’t offer the same level of detail or functionality. What’s more, you can’t see what you’ve shot with the Cube until you plug it into your computer.
This little guy is strictly meant for those who want to record fun, easily digestible videos that can be posted on social media sites or YouTube. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
In other words, it’s hip to be a Cube.
Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley or on Google+ here.
