Olfi one.five review

Cheap, and extremely cheerful

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Build quality and handling

  • 55g body-only
  • 110g with waterproof housing
  • Oversized buttons

Even out of its protective cladding, the Olfi one.five feels like a sturdy little camera. Although it's not waterproof straight out of the box, like the GoPro Hero5 Black, it gives the impression that it could withstand a bump or two.

The wide-angle lens is slightly recessed behind its rubbery casing, meaning it isn't liable to scratch if dropped face-down, while the hatched plastic running along the edges make it easy to grip.

If you handed a naked Olfi one.five to a friend and asked them to guess a price, we'd be amazed if they didn't return figures well in excess of the £149.99 / $179.99 price tag – it looks well proportioned, streamlined and neatly designed.

Once inside its chunky, waterproof housing (this takes the overall weight up to 110g), the little camera quickly takes a more serious tone, with the thick plastic  and oversized buttons suggesting it can withstand a pummelling.

However, even though the casing ruins some of the camera's more delicate features, it still boasts some cool red detailing around the lens, which gives it a bold look in the increasingly crowded action cam field.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the small range of accessories that came with our review unit. The main anchoring base didn't quite fit the plastic thumbscrew points affixed to the waterproof housing. As a result, the camera had a tendency to flop forwards under its own weight, regardless of how tight the thumbscrews were ratcheted.

The package also contained a glorified selfie-stick, complete with wireless remote, as well as chest strap and a watch-style wrist strap for the aforementioned remote.

Despite feeling a little lightweight and flimsy in the hand, the remote worked exceptionally well. It pairs easily with the camera when you press two buttons simultaneously, and handles the basic camera functions without complaint.

The wrist strap felt cheap, though, and we wouldn't be surprised if the brittle plastics gave up the ghost after a few strenuous workouts. It's a similar story with the selfie-stick and chest strap.

However, as previously mentioned, the Olfi one.five will happily sit in any mount and accessory that has been designed for GoPro cameras, meaning there's a bustling marketplace for owners to plunder.

Leon Poultney
EVs correspondent

Leon has been navigating a world where automotive and tech collide for almost 20 years, reporting on everything from in-car entertainment to robotised manufacturing plants. Currently, EVs are the focus of his attentions, but give it a few years and it will be electric vertical take-off and landing craft. Outside of work hours, he can be found tinkering with distinctly analogue motorcycles, because electric motors are no replacement for an old Honda inline four.

Latest in Compact Cameras
Image showing detail of the Leica D-Lux 8
Still can't get a Fujifilm X100VI? This premium Leica compact costs less, and it's in stock
Fujfilm GFX 50R
First Fujifilm GFX100RF images leaked in build-up to expected reveal – here’s what they tell us about the unique premium compact camera
Canon PowerShot V1 in user's hands, oudoors with a snowy Japan backdrop
I review cameras for a living, and the new Canon PowerShot V1 could be this year’s vlogging star – here’s why
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III
Canon’s rumored PowerShot V1 point-and-shoot could hit the sensor sweet spot – and be first of two new PowerShots for 2025
Flashback ONE35 redisposable digital camera on a wooden surface
I tested the Flashback ONE35 "re-disposable" camera, and it's a novel idea let down by a shoddy app
Canon compact cameras tipped for a big return with rumored Powershot V1 – and I think that's Canon's most exciting play for 2025
Latest in Reviews
Viltrox 135mm F1.8 Lab lens for Nikon Z-mount, in the hand, attached to a Nikon Z6 II
I tried the stunning Viltrox 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens for Nikon and it’s my new favorite portrait lens, except for one drawback
Scan 3XS GWP TR Ada main image
I tested the Scan 3XS GWP TR Ada - see what I thought of this incredibly powerful workstation
Poly Studio X52 with TC10 main image
I tested the Poly Studio X52 with TC10 - see what I thought of this conferencing solution
Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 (Intel) main image
I tested out the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 - read what I thought of this slim laptop with a big battery
Kyocera Ecosys P2235dn main image
I tried out the Kyocera Ecosys P2235dn - find out what's wrong with this b/w laser printer
Assassin's Creed Shadows
I’ve played Assassin’s Creed Shadows for more than 40 hours and can’t stop collecting tea sets, painting birds, and assassinating evil schemers