There are a ton of quality action cameras on the market right now, but which one is going to be the best for you and your specific needs. In this video we’re going to be checking out the five best action cameras available right now. I made this list based on build quality, resolution, price and more. I’ve included options for every type of consumer, so if you’re looking for a budget option or the best product money can buy to record all the action, we’ll have the product for you.
The fifth product on our list is the Akaso Brave 7 LE. This is our best budget action camera. For adventure seekers, content creators and vloggers looking for a cheaper alternative to go pros, the Akaso Brave 7 LE is a great option with plenty of features even at its entry level price.
Currently priced at 120 dollars the Brave 7 LE is feature rich compared to most budget action cameras on the market, including 4k video, a water-resistant body and it comes with various mounts a wrist remote and dive housing for your camera for your underwater adventures.
The build quality isn’t bad, it’s small and compact making it easy to take along on all your excursions. The dual screen is a big plus for vloggers. Now you can record with confidence knowing that you’re in frame and in focus no more blurry takes.
The image quality isn’t bad, the video bit rate is quite low, so although you’re recording in 4k resolution, you’re not getting the same level of detail as some higher ended cameras. The A Brave 7 LE has auto exposure but if it’s too bright or too dark the results can be a little unpredictable.
The key features are:
Dual screen. Comes with a rear touch screen display plus a front facing camera.
4k video. Shoots amazing 4k video at 30 frames per second.
Write remote. The wi-fi enabled remote lets you record hands-free.
The pros are:
Water resistant. The body is rated ipx7 so it’s ideal for beaches, boating adventures and it’s safe to use up to 3.3 feet of water without the case for up to 30 minutes, and with the included waterproof case you can record underwater up to 131 feet.
Smooth recording. Record smooth and steady videos with gimbal-like 6-axis stabilization.
And for the cons:
Small selfie display. The front-facing display is a little on the small side.
Image stabilization. Although it reduces shakes and vibrations it could be better.
If you’re looking for a cheap alternative to the go pros then the Akaso Brave 7 LE delivers many of the same features for a whole lot less making it ideal for adventure seekers, content creators and vloggers on a budget.
The fourth product on our list is the DJI Osmo Action. This is our best action camera for vloggers. Although DJI may be known for their drones, their action camera is also getting some well-deserved attention and it’s perfect for action vloggers. Currently priced at 200 the DJI Osmo Action can’t quite compete with the go pro hero 9 but can go head-to-head with go pro’s older models.
The build is solid and meant for rugged use but looks quite utilitarian. With its three aspherical layers lens the HDR image quality is great. You’ll get vibrant crystal-clear footage in both dark or bright scenes. And with the rock steady image stabilization your videos will be extremely smooth and steady, plus its eight times slo-mo gives you buttery smooth 240 frames per second action sequences.
The DJI has a removable battery which is great, you get about 90 minutes of continuous recording at 4k with rocksteady turned on, so you’ll likely want to have extras for extended shoots.
The key features are:
HDR. Delivers enhanced, dynamic range to your videos.
Waterproof. The camera body can be submerged up to an incredible 36 feet of water.
4k video. You can record stunning 4k video, up to 60 frames per second.
Dual screen. In addition to the rear touch screen display the front display works well for vloggers that need the camera trained on them.
The pros are:
Stabilization. Rocksteady combines EIS with complex algorithms so you can shoot stable, shake free footage.
Eight times slow motion. Allows you to capture all the action with detail and clarity at 240 frames per second.
Voice control. Hands-free operation so you don’t have to stop the action.
And for the cons:
Audio quality. The two on-board mics pick up sound quite well, but you’ll get a little distortion with louder bangs and booms.
Limited motion stabilization. Unfortunately, rocksteady stabilization doesn’t work in HDR mode.
If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to the new go pro hero 9 then the DJI Osmo Action offers a great balance of features and price with 4k video, dual displays, motion stabilization and an HDR video option making it perfect for cost conscious adrenaline junkies and vloggers.
The third product on our list is the GoPro Hero7 Black. This is our best value action camera. The GoPro Hero7 Black may be a few years old but it’s still a great action camera. It may not have all the new features of the Hero 9, but for those looking for a solid performing 4k action camera the hero 7 packs a lot of features and value.
Currently priced at 250 the GoPro Hero7 Black isn’t just a toned-down version of the hero 9. Only a few years ago it was the GoPro flagship. It’s waterproof up to 133 feet and that’s without a casing. You’ve got the ability to record 4k video, various frame rates up to 120 frames per second and its hyper smooth video stabilization is really impressive.
The image quality is solid, but you do get a little distortion on the sides especially with the wider field of view. Although the previous DJI Osmo Action boasts similar specs the Hero 7 offers live streaming and better audio recording giving you a bigger bang for the buck.
The key features are:
Hyper smooth video stabilization. You’ll get gimbal-like stabilization for extremely smooth and steady footage.
Live streaming. Share your adventure with video streaming to Facebook and YouTube.
4k video. Capture stunning 4k at 60 frames per second.
Super photo. Shoot 12-megapixel images with optimized HDR for amazing still photos.
The pros are:
Voice control. Control the Hero 7 hands-free, so you won’t miss any of the action.
Eight times slow motion. Capture all the action with detail and clarity with 240 frames per second.
Durable. It’s rugged and waterproof to 133 feet for your extreme adventures.
Timewarp. Combines regular time-lapse shooting with hyper smooth giving you stabilized lapse video that looks really cool.
And for the cons:
Voice commands. Struggles with voice commands occasionally.
Heats up. Can get quite hot when recording 4k video.
It may not be the most advanced action camera these days but the GoPro Hero7 Black still packs a lot of value with a core feature set and build quality that still beats out most competitors at this price point. It’s a great waterproof action camera for most people that want quality build, 4k video, solid motion, stabilization and live streaming features.
The second product on our list is the Insta360 One R Twin Edition. This is our most versatile action camera. The Insta360 One R Twin Edition offers some innovative features, and its modular design offers incredible versatility, making it great for casual users and content creators that are not just into extreme sports.
Currently priced at 410 dollars, the Insta360 One R Twin Edition modular design lets you swap out the lenses depending on your shooting needs. You get a 4k wide angle lens for more traditional action footage and a 360-degree dual lens that shoots incredible still images even in low light conditions.
Vloggers will like that you can snap the display to be front facing and for content creators, you’ll love that you can output in prores 422 video for your edits. The image quality is pretty good but if you’re after the best possible image quality then stay tuned for the GoPro hero 9 black coming up next with 5k ultra-HD video.
The key features are:
5.7 k, 360 plus 4k wide. With the dual lens you can shoot 4k video at 60 frames per second or 5.7 k with its 360-degree lens.
Flow state stabilization. New scene detection algorithm captures clear and steady footage even in low light.
Point to track plus deep track. You can select your subject with a tap when shooting in 360 and the ai powered tracking algorithm keeps it locked in center frame.
The pros are:
Slo-mo. Captures seamless 360-degree slo-mo at 3k frames per second or 1080p wide angle footage at up to 200 frames per second for dynamic action.
Night shot. Photos at night or low lighting scenes are natural looking, clear and vibrant.
Formats. Outputs both h.265 and prores 422 video.
Download free editing. Let’s you edit your footage on your phone without having to download it first.
And for the cons:
Small display. The 1.3-inch display is a little small to use.
Stitching errors. Stitching on 360 contents can be problematic.
The Insta360 One R Twin Edition is definitely a complete package and a great choice for casual users, content creators and vloggers looking for a single action camera that provides versatile shooting options.
The first product on our list is the GoPro Hero 9 Black. This is our best overall action camera. If you’re looking for one of the best single lens action cameras around that delivers performance and incredible features packed into a compact action camera then the latest GoPro Hero 9 Black sits at the top.
Currently priced at 400 the GoPro Hero 9 Black records amazing 5k video while others struggle with capturing quality 4k. You can also shoot pro quality 20 megapixel still photos with vivid colors and sharp details.
For vloggers, you’ve got the front facing screen to frame your shots. For content creators, you’ll be able to capture incredible details shooting 5k video. For adrenaline junkies, the hyper smooth boost is GoPro’s strongest stabilization giving your action footage incredible smoothness and the eight times slo-mo makes it look epic.
The key features are:
5k video. You can shoot stunning 5k videos that maintain incredible detail even when zooming in.
20-megapixel photo with super photo. Take crisp pro quality still photos.
Dual display. It comes with a larger rear touch screen with touch zoom and a front-facing screen to frame your perfect shot.
Live streaming and webcam. You can live stream on social media from the camera or even hook it up to your computer to broadcast in full HD as a webcam.
The pros are:
Hypersmooth 3.0. You’re going to get ultimate smoothness with GoPro’s most advanced video stabilization.
Time warp 3.0. Record mesmerizing time lapse scenes and the speed ramp capability that lets you select real speed or half speed while recording.
Eight times slo-mo. Add hyper smooth, and you’ve got epic slo-mo that captures all the action at 240 frames per second.
Hindsight. Never miss the moment Hero9 will capture video from 30 seconds before you press record.
Mods. There are plenty of mods available including the ultra-wide max lens mod, light mod, display mod and media mod to expand your creativity.
And for the cons:
Screen responsiveness. The touch screen response could be better.
Whether you’re a vlogger, content creator, adrenaline junkie or just want one of the best action cameras for your holidays the feature rich GoPro Hero 9 Black is a top choice for all types of users.
