Although Pure Digital kicked off the YouTube camcorder craze with the original Flip Mino, it was soon bested by other models that offered 720p resolution. Now with the Flip Mino HD, the company has jumped aboard the high-def bandwagon. Unfortunately, this pocket camcorder lacks some features its competitors offer—namely, a memory card slot and the ability to take digital stills—but the excellent video quality and unbeatably small size make the Mino HD a compelling choice.
Design
The Flip Mino HD is identical in size and design to the standard-def Flip Mino, which means it retains the trademark flip-out USB plug. At 3.9 x 2.0 x 0.6 inches inches and 3.3 ounces, it’s the world’s smallest HD camcorder. It has a black, glass-like surface with touch-sensitive controls, including a delete button and a triple-duty play/pause/playback mode controller. While these controls were finicky on the original Flip Mino, the Mino HD provides better control; the 2X digital zoom felt especially smooth.
The downside of this Lilliputian camcorder is that the 1.5-inch LCD is smaller and dimmer than the 2.4-inch screen on the Kodak Zi6. The Mino HD has TV and tripod ports but still lacks a memory card slot; it instead has 4GB internal memory, which can store up to 60 minutes of 720p video. Oddly, the included TV-out cable uses old-school composite connectors instead of a true high-def connection such as component or HDMI.
Video Quality
Unlike the Zi6, which can record at VGA resolution or 720p at either 30 or 60 frames per second, the Mino HD just does 720p video at 30 fps. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; 60 fps is only necessary in the fastest-moving situations, plus it eats up battery life faster than 30-fps video. We respect Pure Digital’s effort to simplify the experience for users.
Overall, we were impressed with the Mino HD’s smooth 720p video. It performed well in a wide range of lighting conditions, always delivering pleasant, lifelike colors and loud-enough sound. Only in fast-paced action sequences—an ice-skating rink, for example—did we miss the Kodak Zi6’s 60-fps option.
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