SJCAM 4000 Air
Our editorial rating is based on product testing.
- low purchase price
- a large amount of accessories included
- 4 x digital zoom
- USB-C connector for charging
- microSD card slot up to 64 GB
- limited image stabilization
- more complicated operation using buttons
- SJCAM mobile app
Action cameras are very popular among fans of summer sports, but also among hikers and pet owners. High-quality 4K recording with water resistance, however, doesn’t have to wreck your wallet.
This is also proven by the available model SJ4000 Air, which we’ll check in detail today, along with test footage, as part of our review.
Where can you buy the SJ4000 Air action camera?
SJ4000 Air is on sale on the well-known online marketplace Aliexpress.com. You can also use our great discount coupon, and you’ll be happy with fast delivery from China, just within 10 days!
SJCAM SJ4000 Air
15-day delivery
TIP15-day delivery via Aliexpress Standard Shipping
For this product, Aliexpress Standard Shipping is available with guaranteed delivery within 15 days. It’s the most reliable delivery method and, in most cases, it’s handled by a courier company. The 15-day delivery is something we actually tested.
When you order from a Chinese warehouse, AliExpress adds a customs duty charge of approximately 3,70 € per order to your cart. When you receive the shipment, you won’t have to pay anything extra.
Here are the technical specs:
| Model | SJ4000 Air |
|---|---|
Weight | 35 grams |
Dimensions | 29.8 x 59.2 x 41 mm |
Resolution | 4K/30fps |
Digital zoom | 4x |
Photos | Yes; 16 MPx |
Water resistance | Yes; with a deep housing of 30 m |
Battery | 900 mAh |
Charging | USB-C; 2 – 3 hours |
SJ4000 Air: Box contents and accessories
The action camera SJ4000 Air offers a truly compact body measuring just 29.8 x 59.2 x 41 mm and a weight that doesn’t exceed 35 grams (without the case and inserted microSD card). However, it uses plastic for both the buttons and the device body—though it’s textured/patterned and improves grip in your hand.
On the front, you’ll find only the lens itself and a button to power the device on/off and simultaneously switch modes. Along the top edge there’s a physical shutter button, and on the sides you’ll then find two buttons for switching the menu and zoom, a microSD card slot, a charging connector, and a microHDMI output.
On the bottom side, you’ll find the compartment for the battery. The back is then home to a colorful LCD display, but it isn’t touch-enabled—so you’ll use physical buttons to control it.
The retail package is really well stocked and includes a full-featured waterproof case up to a depth of 30 meters, which also features extended control for the physical buttons and mounting for additional accessories. You’ll also find a set of various attachments and a USB-C cable for charging the camera itself.
Design and build quality
As we mentioned above, the camera body itself is made of plastic—and that’s no drawback at all. Another advantage is the replaceable battery, and all parts fit together really well. The only exception is probably the compartment where the battery sits. The small cover over it sometimes comes loose on its own if you handle it more roughly. You can fix this issue with the included case, which makes the camera more robust and gives you more confidence when using the buttons.
The built-in LCD screen has a diagonal of 2”, wide bezels, and a closer-unspecified resolution. In everyday use, however, we wouldn’t estimate it at more than 720p.
The display is used to preview the photos and videos themselves, but you can also use it to adjust various functions in the menu, and it’s also useful in dashcam mode. So we appreciate its usefulness, even though it’s not a high-quality panel.
Under the display, there’s another blue LED diode that signals recording and also lights up when the device is turned on. The device also includes a speaker for playback, and it has an Allwinner V3 processor that takes care of running the system itself.
4K resolution and software features
The maximum recording resolution is 4K at 30 fps. However, the video quality is fairly average, with occasional stutters. The good news is that you can choose from several resolution options, including 2.7K at 30 fps and 1080p at 30 and 60 fps. You’ll also find a built-in microphone for the audio track, but it only delivers basic quality.
And it’s the Full HD video at 60 frames per second that felt the most sensible to us while recording. The integrated sensor also lets you create 16 MPx photos and offers a wide field of view of up to 170 degrees. You also get 4 x digital zoom, controlled by buttons on the side edge.
After switching between video and photo modes, you’ll also see an album with your recordings and a settings menu. These are split by individual modes, and then you have connectivity settings (the camera supports Wi‑Fi 2,4 GHz) or language, date, and time settings.
The manufacturer SJCAM also offers a mobile app for this action camera. However, using it is very limited and slow—at most, we recommend downloading any available update to the latest firmware in the app.
In most cases, it’s simply easier to remove the microSD memory card from the camera (the microSD card is not included in the package). You can then insert it into your computer and play or edit your recordings right there.
Other software features include an auto camera mode, where the camera turns on automatically when you start the car and turns off when the car is switched off. You can also adjust recording loops and recording resolution. It also offers a slow-motion and time-lapse mode, plus a dash-cam mode that’s similar to auto camera and is described in more detail in the paper user manual.
Sample of 16 MPx SJCAM photos:
Sample video in 4K/30 fps resolution:
Sample video in 1080p/60fps resolution:
Battery and runtime on one charge
The built-in battery has a capacity of 900 mAh. In our testing, we noticed it lasts about 30 minutes, and then the camera needs charging via the USB-C connector. That said, we mostly recorded in 1080p resolution. The camera’s auto power-off after inactivity kicks in after five minutes.
The advantage is the removable battery—so if you buy multiple units, you can swap the battery for a second one within a few seconds and keep recording.
However, charging the battery is rather slow; with the included charging cable, you can reach full capacity in about 2 – 3 hours. On the go, you can also use a power bank for charging. We tested a Xiaomi model with a capacity of 10 000 mAh and 18 W output, and with such charging we had no problem.
Final verdict: SJ4000 Air
How to assess the SJ4000 Air? First of all, this isn’t a professional tool for recording video. But at a price of €34, you get quality camera body construction and enough recording options for hobby use—such as from hikes or day trips.
For that kind of use, we can recommend this camera, and it won’t get lost even in the segment of cheap dash cams. Still, we would have preferred lower and more stable 1080p/60 fps resolution rather than 4K, which is more of an exception at this price.
However, if you’re looking for advanced image stabilization settings, useful integration with a mobile app, a remote shutter, a tougher body, or a larger range of accessories, we recommend checking out more expensive models—for example, from GoPro.
SJCAM SJ4000 Air
15-day deliveryTIP15-day delivery via Aliexpress Standard Shipping
For this product, Aliexpress Standard Shipping is available with guaranteed delivery within 15 days. It’s the most reliable delivery method and, in most cases, it’s handled by a courier company. The 15-day delivery is something we actually tested.
When you order from a Chinese warehouse, AliExpress adds a customs duty charge of approximately 3,70 € per order to your cart. When you receive the shipment, you won’t have to pay anything extra.
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