The Polaroid Cube action camera lets you take both videos and photos on the go

Polaroid Cube, $180, from www.naiise.com. Available in red, black and blue.

WHAT IT IS

The small, nifty Polaroid Cube is a lightweight 6-megapixel camera you can easily slip into your pocket or a handbag compartment. Weighing just 47g, the 3.5cm gadget is weatherproof, splash-proof and shock-resistant. It has a 124-degree wide-angle lens and shoots in 1080p full HD. The magnetic base means you can mount the camera on any magnetic surface.

WHAT I LIKED

• The camera mounted easily onto magnetic surfaces like my laptop, refrigerator and even the metal frame of my in-line skates.

• Operating it was easy as there’s only one button – press and hold to turn it on; press once to take a picture; give it two quick presses to shoot a video, and one press to stop recording.

• An LED light at the top indicates whether the camera is switched on or recording, while a series of beeps tells you whether you’re taking a video or picture.

• Videos and photos were clear under natural lighting, strong sunlight and even underwater.

• It comes with a good range of accessories (sold separately, $39-$72), such as a silicone bumper case, helmet mount, monkey stand, waterproof case and suction mount, bike mount, strap mount and tripod mount, making it versatile for different situations.

WHAT COULD BE BETTER

• Having a viewfinder would be helpful, so I can see what I’m shooting and have instant feedback on photos. Instead, I could only view what I had shot when I plugged the Polaroid Cube into my computer – I lost many opportunities to capture a better picture or video this way.

VERDICT

Compact, stylish and easy to use, it’s a fun gadget to have on hand wherever you go – if you’re not particular about capturing the perfect shot.