Compare Our Top Pick Action Cameras
Max Video Specs Battery Life Max Bit Rate FOV Screen Weight (including battery) DJI Osmo Action 5 4K/120fps (with 10-bit D-Log), 1080p/240 fps with Slo-Mo mode 118 minutes 4k/60fps 100 155 degrees, expandable to 182 with Wide Angle lens. Rear: 2.5-inch rear OLED touchscreen Front: 1.46-inch OLED touchscreen 145g GoPro Hero 13 Black 5.3K/60 fps (with 10-bit log), 4K/120 fps, 2.7K/240 fps, & 720p/400 fps with Burst Slo-Mo 75 minutes 5K/60fps, 91 minutes 5K/30fps, 120 (200 with GoPro Labs firmware) 156 degrees, expandable to 177 with Ultra Wide Lens Mod Rear: 2.27-inch Touch Front: 1.4-inch Color Display 159g Insta360 Ace Pro 2 8K/30 fps, 4K/120 fps (with 8-bit color, no log) 105 minutes at 4k/30fps 180 (but only 8-bit color) 157 degrees Rear: 2.5-inch flip touch LCD 177g GoPro Hero 4K/30 fps, 2.7K/60 fps 87 minutes at 4K/30fps 50 (8-bit color) 155 degrees Rear 1.76-inch Touch LCD 86g Insta360 Go Ultra 8K/60 fps 65 minutes 4K/30fps (pod only)/195 minutes 4K/30fps (using base station) 180 (but only 8-bit color) 156 degrees Rear:2.5-inch flip touch LCD 53g (pod)/160g (with base) GoPro Hero 12 Black 5.3K/60 fps (with 10-bit log), 4K/120 fps 49 minutes 4K/30fps 120 156 degrees, expandable to 177 with Max Lens Mod Rear: 2.27-inch Touchscreen Front: 1.4-inch color 154g Olympus TG-7 4K/30fps 330 shots/~50 4K/30fps 100 4x optical zoom (35mm equivalent: 25mm to 100mm) 3-inch 1080p LCD 249g
The B-Roll
DJI Osmo Action 4 Photograph: DJI
Some of our previous picks remain good cameras, though their features lag behind more recent releases.
DJI's Osmo Action 4 Camera for $276: The Action 4 is a fantastic action camera. The magnetic mounting system is the best we've tried, the menu system makes switching between modes a snap, and the resulting photos and video are great. The Action 5 trumps it in a number of ways, but if you're on a budget, this is an awesome camera and it integrates well into the DJI ecosystem.
Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition for $300: I loved the interchangeable lens system when this camera launched, but it's been two years since it was updated and feels a little like abandonware at this point. If you want 360 and action with the same camera, I recommend the Insta360 X4 above. It has better image quality, a better screen, and better battery life for not much more money.
Oclu Action Camera for $199: Oclu has a very different take on the action camera, eschewing the usual design for a flat body with the primary screen on top. The result is a camera that can fit places others won't—like the bottom of a skateboard. The Oclu shoots 4K at 30 fps or, if you want slo-mo footage, 1080p at 120 fps. The video and image quality is on par with what you get from the GoPro Hero 9. My gripe is the stabilization—it doesn't help nearly as much as what you get with others in this guide. Sound, on the other hand, is excellent; I got far less wind noise than with other cameras. All things considered, it's hard to beat the Oclu's performance for the price.
All those cheap cameras on Amazon: Readers often ask, why spend $400 on a GoPro when they can get a camera with 4K video for $100? It's a fair question, and the answer comes down to software, primarily image stabilization. Action cameras are designed to be strapped to helmets or clipped to your chest while you skydive, rock climb, and race through the city on a scooter. Without stabilization, the results are something even your closest friends won't sit through. So yes, you'll get 4K footage with the cheaper cams, but it'll be footage no one wants to see. In our view, you're better off spending another $100 for an older GoPro (Hero 10 or 11) on sale.
Best Accessories to Trick Out Your Camera
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