The Lowdown
So, who is the target market for the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18)? People who want to take it diving or mount it to their mountain bike or car and who might care a little less about image quality or are on a budget or feel more daring using a $70 camera at times when they would feel less so with a $400 action camera.
Overall
Pros
- Low cost
- Wide array of included accessories
- Easy to use
- Many photo and video modes
Cons
- Video quality could be better
- Low light performance
- Sound recording
The 2024 action camera market offers a wide range of design, quality, and price options, from under $40 to over $400. GoPro’s iconic design remains the most popular, with many brands offering similar styles at varied specs and prices, making it tough to choose. Icefox stands out with two nearly identical 4K cameras, the Model 18 and Model 19. This review focuses on the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18).
As is the case with many action cameras available today, they ship with a very impressive list of included accessories. The Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) is certainly no different and comes with nearly everything that one might need, with one noticeable exception: no microSD card. At this price point, however, this is not surprising.
What’s in the Box
- Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18)
- Waterproof Case
- Spare Back Door for Waterproof Case
- Open Frame Case with ¼” 20 Tripod Threads on Top and Bottom
- Clamp Adapter Back for Open Frame Case
- Handlebar Mount
- 1350mAh Lithium-Ion Batteries (x2)
- Two Slot Battery Charger
- USB Cable
- 360-degree Rotating Screw
- Long Thumbscrew
- Short Thumbscrew
- Short Thumbscrew 90 degree
- Extension Mount
- Tripod Mount Adapter with ¼” 20 Tripod Thread
- Sliding Mount Adapter
- Adhesive Sliding Mount
- Adhesive Sliding Mount with ¼” 20 Tripod Thread
- J-Hook
- Remote Control
- Wrist Strap
- Adhesive Pads (x2)
- Pull Ties
- Insurance Tether Strap
- Lens Cleaning Cloth
Design and Build Quality
The front of the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) features the lens and a 1” square high-resolution LCD screen. The screens can be toggled by pressing and holding the Up/Mode button. The camera’s top has the shutter/power button on the right side, adjacent to an activity LED.
The back of the camera features a 1 5/8” by 1 ¼” high-resolution LCD touchscreen, where users can navigate and adjust all settings. Despite its compact size, the screen is generally easy to use and navigate. Although the Model 18 and 19 look nearly identical, the one visible difference is the Model 19’s slightly larger rear touchscreen.
The Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) ‘s left side features three holes exposing the built-in microphone (a different package of this model is available that includes an external microphone). Below the mic is a rectangular inset that groups the microSD card slot and micro HDMI and microUSB ports. There is no door covering the ports, as is found on many other models.
The camera’s right side features the Up/Mode and Down selector buttons and the speaker.
The bottom of the camera has the access door for the battery compartment and a standard ¼” 20-thread tripod mount.
The entire camera is made of matte plastic except for the back, where the bevel of the larger screen is gloss plastic. While more expensive models often have a metal frame that goes a long way to make them seem built to last, the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) feels fine in your hands and is unquestionably acceptable for an action camera at this price range.
The sensitivity of the shutter button (the only button) is just right. This is critical as having the shutter be too sensitive can be annoying, and the shutter not being sensitive enough can be extremely frustrating in actual use.
Capabilities
The camera specifications, as stated by Icefox, are equally impressive, especially for a unit that costs less than $70. The camera features a 1/3-inch sensor, can shoot 20MP still photographs and 4K video up to 60fps, and includes electronic image stabilization.
The Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) features dual high-resolution screens and is waterproof to 131 feet (40 meters) with the included IP68 waterproof housing. It ships with two lithium-ion batteries that can power the camera for up to five hours. The camera can accommodate microSD cards up to 128GB capacity and connects to a free companion app through WiFi.
So, is this camera all that it says it is? The proof is ultimately in the quality of the images and video that it captures. Another important factor is the ease with which users can get the type and quality of stills and videos that they want.
Modes
The Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) can shoot in a number of photographic and videographic modes. Video modes include Video shot at resolutions from 720P 30 fps to 1080P 120 fps to 4K 60 fps, Slow (Motion), Loop and V(ideo)Lapse.
Photo modes include Photo at resolutions from 8 to 20 MP, T(ime)-Lapse, Burst, and Timer. Through the onboard menu, users can control photo settings, including White Balance, Exposure, Metering, Sharpness, and ISO, and can opt for Long Exposures. This being an action camera, it is not surprising that the degree of adjustability of these settings is limited.
Specifications Can Be Misleading
While it is true that the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) includes EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) and can adjust for the distortion caused by the 170-degree wide fisheye lens, there are limitations on their use. For example, both EIS and Distortion Correction are unavailable at resolutions beyond 1080P 30 fps. Even when they are available, only one can be selected at a time.
Icefox also claims that the camera can shoot in 4K 60 fps, but it duplicates every other frame, so really, it’s 30 fps doubled to 60.
SnapPro App
The Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) works with a free companion app called SnapPro, which allows smartphones to act as the camera’s remote control. The app allows users to edit and output video shot on the action camera and import stills and footage from other cameras. The app also allows users to add music, subtitles, video filters, and backgrounds.
I tried pairing the camera with my iPhone 14 Pro several times but was unsuccessful and, therefore, was not able to test the app’s capabilities.
Sample Imagery
The Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) has some limitations. Some of its shortcomings are common to many action cameras, including poor video quality under low-light situations and pronounced shaking when image stabilization is not used. As just mentioned, however, to enable EIS, you need to shoot in 1080P at 30 fps. While the resulting footage looks much smoother, it is not 4K.
Another serious limitation of this camera is the built-in microphone. Using the included open frame, the microphone does a barely acceptable job of capturing sound from in front of and behind the lens, but with the waterproof case in place, nearly no sound is recorded at all.
As mentioned earlier, a different package with an external microphone is available. It sells for $79.99, and if you plan on using the camera to capture sound, it is recommended.
The following photographs are taken using the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) (left), a different manufacturer’s action camera costing $189 (center), and an iPhone 14 Pro (right). This is not meant to be a fair comparison but rather to show the Icefox’s still photo capabilities even compared to more expensive gear. The most limiting factor of the Icefox camera is its inability to change the lens view angle from the ultrawide fisheye for still photos.
- Icefox
- Other Action Cam
- iPhone
- Icefox
- Other Action Cam
- iPhone
- Icefox
- Other Action Cam
- iPhone
Specifications
Video Resolution | 4K 60FPS/4K 30FPS 2.7K 30FPS 1080P 30/60/120FPS 720P 30/60/120/240FPS |
Photo Resolution | 20M, 16M, 13M, 8M |
Screen | 1 5/8” by 1 ¼” High resolution touchscreen |
Secondary screen | 1″ High-resolution display |
Camera Angle | 170° with distortion correction |
Battery | 1350mAh removable battery |
WiFi | 2.4GHz |
Storage Medium | MICRO SD card, maximum support of 128GB |
Product Size | 2.25” W x 1.6” H x 1.25” D |
Do I recommend the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18)? While the camera has many real limitations in terms of low light recording, sound recording quality, and video shooting without image stabilization, it can still shoot decent photos and acceptable video in well-lit conditions.
This is 2024, and users have come to expect higher levels of quality in the stills, video, and audio, and many may be disappointed that the action camera can’t match the smartphone in their pocket. Of course, this is an unfair comparison as most smartphones cost hundreds of dollars, and typical high-end models reach over $1000.
So, who is the target market for the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18)? People who want to take it diving or mount it to their mountain bike or car and who might care a little less about image quality or are on a budget or feel more daring using a $70 camera at times when they would feel less so with a $400 action camera.
UPDATE 01/14/2025:
After publishing our review of the Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera, we were contacted by a company representative, who informed us that the camera we were sent as a review sample was an older version and not representative of what is being sold today.
The representative also responded to a few issues I experienced during the review process. These included my inability to connect the camera with the SnapPro app and some claims made in the Icefox promotional materials that seemed misleading or, at the very least, required an asterisk.
To correct the issue, Icefox sent a new review sample. The new camera is externally identical except for omitting the micro-HDMI port on the left side. Internally, however, this unit is very different. Updated firmware and a revised menu reveal many improvements.
- Differences in display and menu screens
- Differences in display and menu screens
- Differences in display and menu screens
- Difference in waterproof housing lens frame shape (round is the newer version)
- External comparison showing removed micro-HDMI port
Menu
More colorful and dimensional
A few additional controls
Photo
In photo mode, the latest camera version can shoot 24- and 30-MP photos in addition to all of the lower resolutions.
The control for Long Exposure has been removed from the menu.
Video
In video mode, the Electronic Image Stabilization now works at every resolution up to 4K 30fps.
There is now an onscreen zoom function
Lens Angle
In both photo and video modes, users can now select from three different lens angles: Narrow, Middle, or Wide.
Rear Screen
Users can now select from three levels of brightness
Waterproof Case
The lens frame is circular instead of square
SnapPro App
The camera connects and functions correctly
As the new unit resolves many of the issues I highlighted in my original review, I am updating my overall rating for the camera.
The Icefox UHD 4K Action Camera (Model 18) sells for $99.99 (currently on sale for $69.99); it is available from Amazon.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Low cost; Wide array of included accessories; Easy to use; Many photo and video modes
What Needs Improvement: Video quality could be better; Low light performance; Sound recording
If there is such a thing as too many accessories, this is it!
no microSD card? that seems like it would be crucial.
That’s definitely a lot of accessories as Miles pointed out. If I still went mountain biking, I’d consider checking this out because the GoPro I have is extremely old.
This action camera seems quite good for the price.