Flip UltraHD

The simplicity of point and shoot pocket video cameras has caught on in the last year or so, and the Flip range of cameras is at the forefront of the revolution. Its latest, the Flip UltraHD, consolidates its position at the top.

All-in-one

This is the high-definition version of the Flip Ultra, which met with such excitement on its launch last year. And it conforms to the same tried-and-trusted recipe, with an integrated pop-out USB plug, Flip's excellent FlipShare software built-in, ready to be installed when you first connect it.

It's still brilliantly easy to use: turn it on and hit the big red button to start recording.

There are a number of changes besides the upgrade to HD. First is the screen, which has grown from 1.6in to 2in. That extra space makes all the difference, and you can now see what you're recording much more clearly. It's still transflective, so it's viewable even in sunlight.

Dual power

Power can be supplied by AA alkaline batteries as before, but unlike the original this version comes with a rechargeable 4,200mAh NiMH battery pack, which is charged over the camera's USB connection. It's the best of both worlds: if you do run out of charge while you're away from your computer, you shouldn't find yourself completely stuck.

The microphone is now stereo rather than mono. There's a mini-HDMI output, a significant advantage it holds over the Flip Mino HD, although note that there's no HDMI cable included in the box. And last, but not least, the Flip Ultra HD boasts twice the storage, with 8GB supplied as standard, allowing you to shoot up to two hours of video.

High IQ

The Ultra's quality was excellent. In our tests we saw warm colours, and good performance in low light, with little colour noise. Take it outside and you're in for a treat, with crisp details and little sign of compression artifacts.

The only downside to the Flip UltraHD is its size and the price, which at £139 exc VAT is a touch too close to the ultra-pocketable Mino HD's (also made by Flip) £147 for comfort. We'd still choose the latter for its slim profile as a result, but the HDMI output, increased storage and flexible battery arrangement means the Ultra HD comes a very close second.