HTC takes on GoPro with snorkel-shaped RE action camera

HTC will try to cash in on the lucrative action camera market with the launch of the RE, its new snorkel-shaped snapper. The RE has a 16MP, 146 degree wide-angle lens and can shoot underwater with HTC also announcing a range of docks and attachments for action-packed home movies.

The RE won’t contain any HTC branding with the company keen to emphasise that it isn’t an HTC accessory. The camera works with both Android and iOS phones with apps letting people view pictures and change shooting modes or settings.

The small camera is designed to fit comfortably in the hand and is shaped to put the shutter button on the top and a slow-motion button just below the lens. There’s no power button with the RE able to detect when it is picked up and turn on automatically.

The 16MP (f/2.8), 146 degree wide angle lens can shoot video in full 1080p video at 30fps. It can also record 4x slow-motion video and has a time-lapse mode for taking photos every second or every minute. The 820mAh battery lasts 1 hour 40 mins when continually recording full HD video.

It comes with an 8GB microSD card but is compatible with cards up to 128GB for more storage. The RE is available in four colours: black, green, red and white. The tiny camera pairs with either Android or iOS apps via Bluetooth with photos transferred over Wi-Fi Direct. The RE is compatible with Android handsets running 4.3 and up or iOS 7 and newer.

HTC said a number of docks, cradles and other accessories would be available to fix the RE to bikes, helmets and just about any other surface. There’s also a standard tripod connection on the bottom of the camera. The RE is also IPX7 waterproof, meaning it can be used in depths of up to one metre for 30 minutes. A cap, sold separately, will upgrade it to IPX8.

The RE will launch in the UK in “early November” and be available from EE, Three and “selected consumer electronics retail partners”, according to HTC. EE confirmed that the RE will cost £169.99.