The Brave 8 Lite is a value-focused action camera that can look genuinely good in daylight, ships with a complete starter kit, and offers a surprisingly rich feature set for the price. The trade-offs are consistent: low-light quality drops off quickly, stabilization can be inconsistent under harsh vibration, the smoothest results often require app-based processing, and heat or battery life can become the limiting factor during longer sessions.

At its best, it’s a daylight-first camera that delivers sharp 4K in good conditions, a waterproof body, and an in-box kit that lets you mount and start shooting immediately. The AKASO Brave 8 Lite covers the modern basics—4K/60 capture and dual screens. However, this isn’t a "set everything to max and forget it" camera; it operates under specific technical "rules." The workflow is complicated by interdependent settings where resolution, stabilization levels, and digital framing (angle/zoom) often restrict one another. Physically, the rubberized shell feels premium and secure in hand and we would like to see further improvements on the small doors and hatches.

If I sum up the Brave 8 Lite in one line: it’s a high‑value action cam that looks best in daylight, ships with everything I need to start, and rewards me for learning its constraints. The compromises are predictable for the price: low light drops off fast, stabilization can be inconsistent on harsh vibration, audio is limited, and the smoothest results may require extra workflow steps. If stabilization and low-light are top priorities, older-but-strong premium models are often the better investment. They typically deliver more consistent in-camera stabilization, more predictable workflows, and better audio ecosystems — even if the upfront price is higher and accessories add cost.

• GoPro Hero 10: very consistent color, stabilization, and workflow; accessories can be pricey.
• DJI Osmo Action 3/4: excellent stabilization and strong low-light for the class; solid app experience.
• Insta360 options: strong apps and stabilization for some use-cases; model-specific trade-offs apply.

Who it’s for

• Daylight travel and outdoor adventures (hiking, city trips, family activities).
• Casual sports where “good enough” stabilization is acceptable and the accessory kit matters.
• First‑time action cam buyers who want a complete kit with minimal extra spending.
• Creators who are OK with an app-based stabilization/transfer workflow when they want the smoothest output.

Who it’s not for

• MTB / motorbike riders who need consistently excellent in‑camera stabilization without extra processing.
• Anyone shooting a lot in low light expecting clean footage.
• Audio‑critical use where external mic reliability must be plug‑and‑play.

Pros

• Strong value for money, especially when discounted (often cited around €179–€200 / ~$199).
• Crisp 4K/60 with vivid color in good light; daylight is clearly the camera’s comfort zone.
• Excellent in-box bundle: two batteries, charger, wrist-strap remote, plus a large selection of mounts.
• Lightweight, compact body with dual screens; it feels more “complete” than many budget action cams.
• Waterproof to 10 m / 33 ft without a separate housing.
• Useful modes for the price: timelapse, hyperlapse, slow motion, HDR (up to 4K/30), HindSight pre-capture, H.265 support.
• Controls are approachable: a responsive rear touchscreen plus physical buttons; voice control covers basic commands for 7 languages.
• One Key Fast Shooting enables instant power-on recording via the shutter button.
• Both screens are bright enough for sunny-day framing, and the buttons are easy to use even with thick gloves.
• App-based stabilization can look noticeably smoother than the in-camera result when you run clips through the app pipeline.
• Water performance can be very good when conditions cooperate (surface water, swimming/snorkeling, surfing), assuming exposure behaves. 

Cons

• Overheating is an issue, the body can get extremely hot during recording and especially during Wi‑Fi transfers/processing, sometimes forcing shutdowns.
• Battery doesnt seem great and real runtime can drop sharply at high settings, and the percentage indicator may show 100% shortly before shutdown.
• Removing the battery can reset/lose settings, which is frustrating if you swap batteries often.
• SuperSmooth stabilization isn’t fully “baked in” for a simple SD-card workflow; it typically requires app-side processing and can slow everything down.
• The app experience can be furstrating for users, sometimes we saw slow transfers, crashes/disconnects during large downloads, and occasional output limitations.
• Audio is another weak point: the internal mic can sound muffled or quiet, and USB‑C external mic support can be finicky; some adapters and wireless systems result in mute or crackly audio.
• Water handling has functional quirks: screens aren’t hydrophobic, so droplets can trigger ghost touches; fogging/condensation can appear around 10°C conditions as users have reported.
• Low-light video is noisy and soft; this isn’t a night camera.
• Stabilization is polarizing: fine for walking/travel, but can struggle on high-frequency vibrations like bikes or MTB chatter.
• Exposure and HDR behavior can be inconsistent in high-contrast scenes; HDR can lift shadows too aggressively, making the image look over-bright.
• Port hatches and the microSD door feel fragile and can be awkward to open one-handed.
• Digital zoom / narrow angle can look noisy and soft; it is best avoided unless there is no other choice.