XTU S3 4K Review
The XTU S3 is the new model from XTU, a modern action camera capable of 4K resolution up to 30fps, decent battery time, and other interesting specs! XTU has produced another new sports cam better than its previous cameras, in this blog, we review the new XTU S3.
The new XTU S3 offers 4K video quality and 20MP pictures. The image quality, focus, and detail are high quality. It comes with a multitude of accessories so you can use it to get better footage. Unlike newer action cameras such as GoPro Hero 10, the XTU S3 can’t go underwater without a case.
But before we talk about its features, what comes in the box of the XTU S3? Inside the box, we can find the XTU S3 sports cam, a remote control, a watch, an external microphone, a waterproof case with a mount, tempered lens film, 2 adhesive pads, a bicycle mount, an extension mount, a helmet base, a battery, a sponge, and a long and short thumbscrew.
In this blog post, your gonna find out everything you need to know about this new action camera from XTU and its new features and some comparisons from previous models. Has it improved? Is the video quality better, what are the specs, better audio?
Pros
≫ 4K Resolution up to 30fps
≫ Underwater without a case
≫ SD Card up to 128GB
≫ It comes with a touchscreen
≫ Built-in EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization)
≫ Wi-Fi Smartphone Connectivity
Cons
≫ Poor audio quality
≫ Average image quality
Design
The XTU S3 has an elegant modern design, it is well built with good quality plastics and it has nice black color. Its design is similar to GoPro cameras, with a new small screen on the front to give you see yourself great for selfies and self-recording.
The dimensions of the XTU S3 are 10 x 5 x 7.6 cm ( 4 x 2 x 3 in) and a weight of 450 grams. The XTU S3 can go underwater without a waterproof case up to 5m and can go underwater up to 40m (130 feet) with a waterproof case.
On the front, we can see the lens of the sports cam and the screen, as for its buttons, there are only 3, two on top, to start and stop recording or to take a picture, and one on the side to control some settings and turn on and off the camera, the rest of the menus and settings we can change from the touchscreen, which really gives this camera a great simple design.
Technical Specifications
Its sensor allows it to record 4K 30fps and 20MP photos, the S3 uses a 166° FOV super wide-angle lens which gives a bit of fisheye view. For stabilization, the XTU S3 uses an advanced EIS stabilization up to 4K 30fps.
The XTU S3 also comes with a Wi-Fi connection with the XTU GO smartphone app to control the camera through your phone or via the remote control which comes included with the camera. You can also preview, download, play, and share the videos and pictures from the cam to your phone
In the back we can find the IPS LCD 2″ screen of 320 x 240px resolution, the XTU S3 uses a screen so you can easily see what settings you are changing and playback your videos, and a small front screen for selfies and useful information.
The XTU S3 comes with an SD card, if you prefer to use another or a better MicroSD card so you will need to format it. Micro SD card must be U3 or higher with 8-128GB capacity. If “SD card error” appears, format your SD card as FAT32 on your computer.
≫ Video resolution: 4K (3840 x 2160)
≫ Image quality: 20MP
≫ Battery: 1350 mAh
≫ Frame rate: 30FPS/ 60FPS/ 120FPS/ 240FPS
≫ EIS stabilization
≫ SD Card up to 128GB
≫ Codec h.264
≫ Wi-Fi smartphone connectivity
≫ Underwater up to 5m
≫ Records in .mp4
≫ FOV: 166º wide angle
≫ Screen of 320 x 240px
Battery
The XTU S3 uses a 1350mAh battery which is quite good. The battery can last up to 120 minutes recording 1080p Full HD video, with the WiFi and screen turned off. In the case of capturing 4K 30fps video, battery life will drop, the batteries can take about 2h to charge them. It supports an external power supply to charge the camera while it’s recording.
The battery is situated on the bottom of the XTU, where there is a cover that gives access to the battery. The XTU S3 comes with 1 battery, I recommend you get a second one so you can change them quickly and keep recording whenever the first one runs out.
Stabilization
The XTU S3 comes with advanced Electronic Image Stabilization, built-in 6-axis Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) which will keep the footage stable and smooth while shooting sports and action scenes.
The (EIS) stabilization can go up to resolutions from 720p HD to 4K video, a great feature that most cheaper action cameras don’t have.
Even though the stabilization does a decent job at keeping your footage stable I recommend checking out a gimbal which will massively improve the stabilization, another great option is GoPro’s new action camera the Hero 10 (Click here for review), the best action camera yet and amazing stabilization.
Photography
As for the photography, the XTU S3 can take pictures up to 20MP with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 4:3. The pictures are of good quality with natural colors, not as good as GoPro’s pictures but overall pretty good.
Like most action cameras the XTU S3 lets us change multiple settings such as the possibility to change the ISO, shutter speed, the exposure time, white balance, and a lot more, with patience we can work on good-looking images.
The XTU S3 has different modes to take pictures: Time-lapse, timer, long exposition, Wide, Linear, and Narrow Lenses, and more. The S3 shoots with JPG.
For more action shots the S3 has the ability to take Burst pictures capable of shooting: 10/3, 10/1, 5/1, 3/1 Intervals, thanks to this mode you can capture the perfect moment.
Video
The XTU S3 is capable of recording up to 4K resolution with 30 frames per second. The videos captured with this action camera are stored in .mp4 format under the H.264 (common codec for most cameras) or H.265 (new codec that allows greater video compression).
The camera comes with multiple settings for video recording and we can switch between the different resolution and framerate options, we also have shutter speed control, ISO, sharpness, exposure compensation, color profile, and other adjustments that affect the sound or stabilization.
The video quality is pretty good for its price, the quality is inferior to a GoPro but it gets decent results, the colors sometimes don’t look natural and can get a bit, and greens don’t look very naturals in some situations, the contrast pretty balanced, and the details pretty clear, if there is a big brightness difference your whites or blacks might be blown out.
Audio:
The audio of XTU S3 is similar to other sports cams, the quality of the mic is pretty cheap and it doesn’t sound great, I don’t recommend getting this camera if you’re looking to vlog with it. The audio is not the best and will not sound great with the wind either but it’s pretty decent for its price.
The video resolutions of the XTU S3 are the following:
- 4K at 30fps/ 24fps
- 2.7K at 30fps/ 24fps
- 1080P HD at 120fps/ 60fps/30fps/ 24fps
- 720P HD at 240fps/ 120fps/60fps/30fps/ 24fps
Features
Like its predecessor, the XTU S3 has multiple features to improve your videos and stand out. This model does have a few new features and improved some from the last XTU.
Loop mode, this mode allows continuous recording and allows the action camera to be used as a dash camera while driving.
Like most action cameras the S3 has the option of Time Lapse with Photos or Videos. A time-lapse allows us to be able to represent a situation in a much shorter period of time than real-time, The XTU S3 also has the ability to record in slow-motion up to 10%.
You can control the XTU cam in other ways such as connecting to the WiFi and using the remote control. You can connect the XTU S3 camera to your phone through WiFi with the XTU GO APP, this will allow you to watch real-time videos and download videos to your phone directly, and share them on social media. The 2.4G wireless remote controller can easily control the camera to start and stop recordings.
Should you buy it?
The XTU S3 action camera is a great GoPro alternative for an affordable price, even being a medium-budget action camera it has pretty good video quality on its pictures and videos. It can record up to real 4K and 30fps with decent stabilization up to 4K resolution.
The XTU S3 also comes with a new front display which makes the XTU S3 stand out from other action cameras, with the front screen you can take selfie pictures and videos and see what the camera is seeing in real-time right on the screen.
XTU S3 sports cams are with most GoPro accessories except for a few due to their bigger size such as an external microphone. The batteries on the XTU S3 are also pretty decent, it uses a 1350mAh which can last up to 120min in 1080p.
The camera can also go underwater pretty deep up to 40m (130ft) with the case that came with it although it can go underwater without a case up to 10m too.
The XTU S3 doesn’t produce the best quality of the image or the best stabilization out there but it does produce great results for its value and it’s a great GoPro alternative to get if the is what you are looking for. If you are looking for the best sports cameras in 2021 click here.
Review Breakdown
Video support up to 4K up to 30fps with EIS stabilization and pictures up to 20MP. 1350 mah battery which can last about 90 minutes.
