iON AIR PRO 3 Review
Don't let the size fool you - there's a lot more to the iON Air Pro 3 than meets the eye. Featuring built-in Wi-FI, HDMI, smooth high-definition video, waterproofing, and instant availability, the Air Pro 3 is a great action camera for users of all skill sets.
The Good
- Waterproof up to 15m without the need for a case
- Wide selection of mounts
- Generous 2.5 hour battery life
The Bad
- No way to change settings without a computer or phone
- Video can be jittery without a mount
- Non-replaceable battery
The Verdict
The Air Pro 3 is a fun camera for beginners and amateur photographers. It packs a lot of convenient features into a lightweight and portable package.
Tech Specs
Image Quality
12 mp, max 1080p @ 60fps
Audio Quality
Average
Battery Life
Up to 2.5 hours
Wifi and Bluetooth
Wifi Enabled
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Design and Hardware
The Air Pro 3 has a modern aluminum design that's both simple and appealing. The 5oz camera is slightly larger than two D-cell batteries placed back to back and has a comfortable grip. A large switch on the top lets you quickly start and stop recordings, with the camera providing feedback on its current status through an internal vibrator. In front of the switch is a button that doubles as power and shutter control.
Along the bottom is a metal tripod mount and a clip for iON's CamLock system, which lets you connect to different mounts. Interestingly, this is the same system used by Monoprice for their MHD Action Camera. The back of the camera contains a cap that covers the microSD slow, micro-USB and mini-HDMI ports, and external microphone jack. The cap can be interchanged with caps that provide additional features, such as the Wi-Fi Podz.
Image and Video Quality
The Air Pro 3 is capable of recording high definition 1080p video at 60fps, and 720p video between 30 and 120fps. This is fairly standard for action cameras, letting you record smooth high quality video. The camera has a 160° field of view (FOV), letting you take in much of the environment. The camera automatically adjusts exposure and balance based on your environment and will work in settings with low light exposure, such as night scenes or tunnels. Interestingly, the camera includes a sensor that will automatically adjust the image when the camera is rotated.
Taking advantage of the 12 megapixel sensor, photos on the Air Pro 3 are clean and detailed. The camera supports time-lapse photos at intervals of 2, 5, 10, 30, or 60 seconds, as well as a high-speed 10-image burst mode. Unfortunately the camera's settings need to be changed via software on a computer or a mobile app.
Battery Life and Performance
The Air Pro 3's battery is rated for 2.5 hours, which isn't bad considering the camera's feature set. However, the battery is non-replaceable, so you'll want to have some means of recharging the camera when you're out in the field.
Similar to Contour's cameras, the slider function lets you instantaneously start recording video even when the camera is off. The slide, however, doesn't lock when the camera isn't in use.
With its support for smooth full HD and 120fps 720p, the Air Pro 3 does a great job of recording high quality video for extended lengths of time.
Other Features and Accessories
In addition to its waterproof case, the Air Pro 3 sports an anti-fog lens and a waterproof mono microphone. The rear cover can be easily interchanged with another to add features to the camera such as Wi-Fi. As an interesting addition, iON provides 8 GB of free cloud storage - it's not much, but it's a helpful way to share backup and share pictures and videos with friends.
The Air Pro 3 can pair with an Android or iOS device via the iON Pro Air app, letting you control the camera and change settings from your smartphone or tablet. The app can also connect to social media networks or iON's cloud storage. The app will also provide detailed information about your camera including its current battery status.
Conclusion
There may not seem like much to the Air Pro 3, but looks can be deceiving. Packing a water-friendly HD camera, built-in Wi-Fi, and instant-on availability in a package you could balance on your fingertip, the Air Pro 3 brings a lot to the table. For recreational users and amateur photographers, it's hard to find a better action camera in a less intrusive package.
There may not seem like much to the Air Pro 3, but looks can be deceiving. Packing a water-friendly HD camera, built-in Wi-Fi, and instant-on availability in a package you could balance on your fingertip, the Air Pro 3 brings a lot to the table. For recreational users and amateur photographers, it's hard to find a better action camera in a less intrusive package.
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