Drift Ghost S Review | 96 Data compared

The Drift Ghost-S is an excellent all-in-one action camera that builds upon its predecessor with impressive performance and battery life enhancements. Priced at $399, this waterproof device features a built-in 2-inch LCD screen, rotating lens, and standard tripod mount integration. It handles a broad set of high-speed video options, recording MP4 files at 1080p up to 60fps, 720p up to 120fps, and WVGA up to 240fps with a high bit rate of 35Mbps. It also incorporates a new Sony 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, a Clone mode to sync and control up to five cameras via Wi-Fi, and a wearable RF remote control. The camera's main strengths include its exceptionally long battery life of up to 3.5 hours at 1080p, solid video crispness, and a generous accessory bundle. However, the review highlights notable design flaws, such as a tough-to-remove back hatch covering the battery and microSD slot, and a menu system that is a pain to navigate. Additionally, while the video quality is vastly improved with fewer artifacts, it still sits a step below the rival GoPro Hero3+ Black Edition, and...

Despite these unique hardware features, the camera struggles to justify its high $399.99 price tag due to noticeable limitations in performance and video quality. The main pros of the device are its flexible swiveling lens, large display, the included remote, and out-of-the-box waterproofing. However, the cons are prominent: its video quality falls short of competitors, displaying interlaced and jagged edges at 1080p, and the physical unit is notably heavy. Furthermore, the Android app suffers from a frustrating two-second video stream lag. Because the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition offers superior video quality at the exact same price, and cheaper alternatives like the Kodak PixPro SP1 offer comparable quality for less money, the Ghost-S is only recommended for users who strictly require its specific physical design elements.

The Drift Ghost-S action camera stands out as a genuine competitor to GoPro, receiving a strong 4 out of 5 rating for its impressive versatility and user-friendly features. A major pro highlighted in the review is the built-in 2-inch Gorilla Glass LCD screen, which provides clear, easy-to-navigate menus and allows users to perfectly align their camera angles before recording. Performance-wise, the camera captures exceptionally clear footage at 1,080 pixels at 60 frames per second, adapts seamlessly to rapidly changing light conditions, and offers a brilliant 120fps slow-motion mode at 720p. Its functionality is further elevated by an intuitive Wi-Fi companion app for remote adjustments, alongside a unique rotating lens that pairs excellently with the included flat, curved, and goggle mounts. Despite these strengths, the review notes a few distinct drawbacks. The included remote control is described as being a bit clumpy, even though it remains fully functional for triggering videos and still photos. Additionally, while the top-mounted physical buttons make file deletion and playback straightforward, managing storage space on the memory card remains a manual necessity if you need to...

The Drift Ghost-S action camera stands out for its exceptionally rugged build quality, exceptionally simple four-button menu system, and a distinct 360-degree rotating lens that makes alignment easy on uneven surfaces. Its 2-inch Gorilla Glass LCD screen provides durability, while its improved battery allows for an impressive 3.5 hours of continuous recording. Performance-wise, a upgraded Sony 12MP sensor enables crisp 1080p recording at 60fps and fast slow-motion frame rates up to 240fps at lower resolutions. Furthermore, the unit is natively waterproof up to 3 metres without requiring any external housing. However, the camera suffers from notable drawbacks, particularly its underwhelming performance in low-light and cloudy conditions, where it struggles to retain rich colour accuracy. Audio quality is another weak point, as both the internal and optional external microphones have significant trouble filtering out heavy wind noise during high-speed rides. Physically, its 182g weight makes it significantly heavier than competing units like the GoPro 3. Finally, the rear hatch housing the ports, battery, and Micro-SDXC card slot proves clumsy and quite difficult for users to open.

The BlackVue Sport SC500 is a GoPro-style rectangular camera with a high-quality 12MP Sony Exmor sensor capable of recording 1080p video at up to 60fps and a fixed 152° field of view. A major benefit of this camera is its plug-in 2-inch LCD screen, which allows for easy initial setup and can then be completely removed to create a highly compact shooting configuration. However, the camera suffers from several notable design drawbacks: it lacks any PAL-related frame rates (such as 25fps or 50fps), the plastic side panel covering the ports detaches completely and is easily lost, and the LCD fails to power down automatically when not in use, which unnecessarily drains the battery. Most importantly, it is not bundled with a waterproof housing or a remote control as standard, limiting its immediate use as an "action cam" out of the box. In contrast, the Drift Innovation Ghost S utilizes an aerodynamic "bullet" design with a magnesium alloy body and a built-in LCD protected by Gorilla Glass, making it waterproof down to 3 metres without an external housing. Its standout features...

The Drift Ghost-S action camera is a feature-rich upgrade over its predecessor, engineered to compete directly with top-tier models like the GoPro Hero 3+. Its standout pros include an exceptional, best-in-class battery life capable of delivering up to 3.5 hours of continuous filming at 1080p/30fps via its 1700mAh power pack. It features a unique 300° rotating lens, which ensures level footage regardless of how or where the camera is mounted. On-the-fly usability is heavily enhanced by a 2-inch Gorilla Glass LCD screen, dual-way LED remote control, and internal upgrades that enable high-performance 1080p at 60fps video capture. Furthermore, it provides excellent versatility through specialized options like Clone Mode (syncing up to five units over Wi-Fi) and Car DVR mode, alongside 3-metre waterproofing right out of the box without needing an external case. However, the action camera carries several notable cons that potential buyers should consider. At a launch price of $399, it represents a substantial financial investment that draws criticism for not lowering the cost barrier for action electronics. In terms of physical construction, users have noted that the camera...

The Drift Ghost S action camera introduces key performance and usability upgrades over its predecessors, particularly appealing to users who prefer its form-factor over competitors like GoPro. A major pro of this model is its significantly improved frame rates, offering smooth 1080p footage at 60fps and 720p footage at 120fps for high-quality slow-motion shots. It also boasts a long 3.5-hour advertised battery life and a consistent 160-degree field of view that no longer shrinks at higher frame rates. For advanced setups, the new Clone Mode allows a single master camera to sync and control up to four other cameras simultaneously. Additionally, it retains user-friendly features like a continuous-recording "dash cam" mode and an LED-lit remote control for easy status checks. Despite these major feature upgrades, the review highlights potential concerns regarding its real-world durability. The primary con mentioned is whether the improved 3.5-hour battery capacity will actually hold up under harsh, cold mountain environments. Furthermore, while the 160-degree field of vision is now consistent across various frame rates, it is slightly narrower than the 170-degree maximum angle offered by previous...

The Drift Ghost-S, GoPro Hero 4 Silver, and SJCAM SJ4000 all offer unique advantages for action and motorcycle filming. The Drift Ghost-S stands out as a highly durable camera, having survived over 30,000 km of rough off-road use, drops, and rain with only minor surface marks. It features a sleek design, a highly flexible rotating lens that simplifies level mounting without extra joints, a standard 3.5mm microphone jack, and an exceptional battery life of nearly three hours. However, its built-in microphone performs poorly because it is directly exposed to the wind, and its video footage lacks the extreme sharpness and wide filming angle found in the GoPro. The GoPro Hero 4 Silver provides the sharpest video resolution, superior slow-motion capabilities, and an excellent built-in microphone that effectively isolates exhaust notes from wind noise. On the downside, it suffers from a fragile body that easily shows wear inside its case, a poor battery life of barely an hour, and a high price tag. The SJ4000 copies the GoPro design and is nearly five times cheaper, delivering comparable image sharpness in stable,...

The Drift HD Ghost-S action camera features a versatile 300-degree swiveling lens, a built-in 2-inch display, a wireless remote, and is waterproof without an external housing. Despite its strong feature set and user-friendly design, the camera's video quality at 1080p often shows jagged edges and interlacing issues, and the device is somewhat heavy. While the Wi-Fi app offers solid, easy connectivity, it suffers from a two-second lag on Android, and the overall image quality does not compete with top rivals like the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition. The camera is noted for its high-bitrate video option, but this only slightly improves the subpar,, soft image quality.

The Drift HD Ghost-S is a durable action camera that stands out for its unique design features, such as a signature 300-degree swiveling lens that allows for flexible mounting angles while maintaining a proper upright orientation. The device is equipped with a large 2-inch built-in display, standard screw mount, and multiple ports hidden behind a removable rear cover. A major benefit is its native waterproofing, allowing it to submerge up to 9.8 feet without an external case. It also ships with a highly functional, glove-friendly wrist remote control that easily pairs via Wi-Fi to adjust modes and handle recording indicators. However, these built-in features come with a trade-off, making the camera noticeably heavy at 6.06 ounces. In terms of performance, the camera captures 1080p video at up to 60fps and 12-megapixel photos using a Sony CMOS sensor, resulting in reduced fish-eye distortion and manageable shakiness despite lacking optical image stabilization. Despite these capabilities, its overall video quality is a primary drawback, showing interlaced and jagged edges that fail to match the sharpness of competitors like the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition....

The Drift Ghost-S is a highly capable motorcycle action camera priced at £329 that stands out for its superior ease of use and biker-friendly design compared to rivals like the GoPro Hero 3 Black. Key advantages include a built-in screen and speaker for effortless setup and playback, an intuitive user interface, and a highly flexible 300° rotating Gorilla Glass lens that allows for hassle-free mounting on helmets or bikes. Performance-wise, it matches GoPro's high-speed frame rates by shooting 1080p at 60fps and 720p at 120fps, while delivering a vastly superior recording battery life of 156 minutes compared to the GoPro's 63 minutes. Additionally, its video tagging feature enables seamless looping and clip-saving, and its RF remote control can synchronise and operate up to five cameras simultaneously. However, the camera has a few notable drawbacks that riders should consider. Its internal audio quality is only acceptable, as bike engine sounds are easily lost to heavy wind noise when riding. While the unit accommodates an external microphone to resolve this—introducing a minor high-pitched interference—using the mic makes the camera less waterproof. Furthermore,...

The Drift Innovation Ghost-S is a highly versatile action camera that improves significantly upon its predecessor by offering advanced video frame rates and solid physical durability. It features a robust 2-inch Gorilla Glass LCD screen for navigation and playback, and it is uniquely designed with a 300-degree rotatable lens to keep video upright regardless of mounting orientation. Operating without a case, the device is waterproof down to 3 metres and features a low-profile design that effectively minimises vibrations during high-speed recording. Key performance strengths (pros) include an excellent battery life of 2 hours and 18 minutes, smooth footage with well-saturated colours, a standard tripod mount, and diverse recording modes capable of shooting up to 60fps at 1080p or 240fps at lower resolutions for slow-motion playback. However, the review highlights several drawbacks (cons) that prevent the camera from being entirely perfect. Notably, the lens' default flush alignment is strangely configured for when the camera sits on its side, meaning users must manually adjust it when using standard top-mount configurations to prevent sideways footage. Additionally, while the companion iOS and Android applications...

The Drift Ghost-S HD video camera, tested by UTV Action Magazine, is highlighted as a versatile, off-road capable device featuring 1080p video up to 60 fps, 12MP photos, a 300-degree rotatable lens, and a built-in 2-inch LCD screen. Key advantages include its flexible mounting options, extensive menu settings, 10x digital zoom, and Wi-Fi connectivity, offering premium features without additional add-on costs. Conversely, the review notes that the 10x digital zoom significantly reduces image quality, and the unit requires a user-supplied MicroSD card up to 64GB. Furthermore, the camera's complex settings and the smartphone application synchronization can prove challenging or finicky for some users compared to competitors.