Camera tech has come a long way. Today's best action cameras are incredibly feature-rich, waterproof, ridiculously rugged and can be securely mounted to anything from your bicycle helmet to your pet dog. Capture top-quality footage and stills in places where you just couldn't take a regular camera.
The best action camera right now is the GoPro HERO 10 Black – the latest and greatest model in GoPro's flagship range. This cam packs a brand new processor, making it noticeably smoother and slicker than its predecessors. At number 2 is the HERO 9 Black; the first GoPro to add a long-awaited, integrated front-facing screen. You might be getting the picture that GoPro dominates in the action camera market, and to be honest you'd be right. Our best GoPro guide runs through the differences between all the available models.
Beyond GoPro, though, there are several other genuinely ace action cams worth checking out. In fact, we have a whole separate guide dedicated to the best GoPro alternatives. If price is the deciding factor, you might want to also check out our guide to the best budget action cameras or today's top GoPro deals.
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How to choose the best action camera for you
There's a huge amount of choice in this market, which can make finding the best action camera for your needs a little difficult. Image quality is one of the most important factors to consider, and it's always worth checking out frame rates rather than max resolution. This is because while a lot of cameras shoot in 4K resolution, some cheaper models use a frame rate of 15fps, which makes the video look jumpy. If you're shooting in 4K you want at least 30fps, or just shoot in 1080p HD at 60fps.
The best action cameras also come bundled with accessories and a versatile system of mounts – or least have the option to buy the ones you want. Waterproofing without a case comes as standard with some models, but with others you'll probably want to invest in waterproof casing to safeguard your cam for everything from watersports to an unexpected downpour.
Because things can get expensive at the top end of the market, it's key to consider which features are most important for how you're going to actually use your cam. Things like image stabilisation and GPS are mainstays, while newer additions such as voice control might be important to you depending upon your chosen sport and whether you need to be hands-free to do it.
The best action cameras right now – ranked
The GoPro HERO 10 Black is hands-down the best action camera right now, The newest addition to the HERO range, it might look very similar to the HERO 9 Black (in at #2), but it packs a brand new processor that means this GoPro is smoother and slicker than its predecessor, with a quicker boot and faster transfers. As you'd expect from a flagship GoPro, it's feature packed and ridiculously capable. Frame rates are doubled over the HERO 9 Black at higher resolutions, video tops out at a massive 5.3K, 60FPS, 4K at a blistering 120FPS, and 2.7K/240p, and stills have been boosted to up to 23MP.
Vloggers will appreciate the inclusion of a front facing live preview screen, introduced with the HERO 9 Black but here smoother and more responsive. It's equally as robust as the other HEROs, but GoPro has here added a hydrophobic, more scratch resistant lens that watersports fans in particular will benefit from. Tweaks and improvements across the board mean features like HyperSmooth and TimeWarp are even better on the H10 than in its HERO siblings, and horizon leveling is now supported up to a massive 45 degree tilt.
On the downside, it's one of the priciest action cameras you can buy, especially if you're averse to signing up for a GoPro subscription, and the battery (which is the same capacity as in the HERO 9 Black) can't struggle to keep up with the rest of the camera. For the full story, you'll need to head to our GoPro HERO 10 Black review, or to see exactly how it compares to the model down in our GoPro HERO 9 Black vs GoPro HERO 10 Black showdown.
The Insta360 One RS takes a different tack to GoPro, with an ultra-flexible modular design that's super fun to play around with. For all configurations you'll need the ONE RS Core (the control model), Battery module and mounting bracket, but you can swap out various lenses depending on the situation – 4K Boost Lens, 360 Lens or 1-Inch Wide Angle Lens (pleasingly, there's also backwards compatibility with the earlier One R model, if you already have one of those). This premium action camera packs an impressive raft of features, both in terms of hardware and software. In our Insta360 ONE RS review, our tester was especially impressed with the build and image quality, and found the swap-and-switch setup compelling, effective and fun to fiddle with. See how it compares with the best GoPro has to offer in our GoPro HERO 10 Black vs Insta360 ONE RS faceoff.
It's no longer the newest GoPro on the trails, but the HERO 9 Black, released in September 2020, remains one of the very best action cameras you can buy. This was the first HERO to feature that long-awaited front facing screen, previously only available with the addition of a Mod. That means means for anyone who wants to be able to frame themselves in shot, it's the oldest GoPro you'll want to go for (unless you fancied a DJI Osmo Action instead). There's also a removable lens cover, which is handy... although it's not hydrophobic as you'll find with the HERO 10.
Elsewhere, the GoPro HERO 9 Black appears similar to the HERO 8, with the bunny-ears mount present, along with caseless waterproofing to 10m. Look closer, though, and the improvements are many and varied (check out our GoPro HERO 8 Black vs HERO 9 Black showdown for a direct comparison). Under the hood, there's a bigger sensor (23.6MP), which means this cam can now shoot 5K/30 video and 20MP stills, and a very welcome 30% battery boost. Incredibly impressive horizon levelling now comes baked in, although you won't be able to tilt the camera quite as much as you can with the HERO 10 Black. Hindsight and Scheduled Capture tools add new opportunities to get creative, and Hypersmooth and Timewarp features – upgraded over the HERO 8 but not quite as good as in the HERO 10 – remain excellent.
This action cam that's both extremely easy-to-use for beginner, but still astonishingly capable for the pro – an impressive balance.
Read more: GoPro HERO 9 Black review
It's now been succeeded twice, but the frameless GoPro HERO 8 Black is still an exceptional action camera, and perhaps the model that delivers the best value for money, assuming you don't need that front-facing screen. As is the trend with GoPros, this camera improves on almost all the features of its predecessor (the flip-side being that almost everything is improved on again in the HERO 9 and 10). There are lots of easy-to-use presets for enhanced levels of action photography, regardless of whether you’re a beginner or are more experienced. The HERO 8 Black was also the camera to introduce a new system of excellent GoPro accessories known as the GoPro Mods.
Design-wise, the most obvious thing to change with the GoPro HERO 8 Black is that it was the first HERO to go frameless. Rather than having to add a case when you want to mount it, the camera – and all subsequent GoPros – is fitted with two folding fingers at the base. These lie flat when not in use, but pop them out and you can use the camera with a mount.
There's no integrated front-facing display like you'd find on the new HERO 9 Black and DJI Osmo Action elsewhere in this best action camera guide, but that isn't to say you can't have a front-facing display on the Hero 8 Black: you can, via the 'Display Mod'. This essentially adds a front- or rear-facing flip-up display to the action camera. HyperSmooth 2.0 video stabilisation improves pitch-axis stabilisation and works across all frame rates and resolutions as standard, although you'll need to go for a newer model if you want horizon levelling baked-in. New-to-this-model capture presets enable you to intuitively select the right setting for whatever activity you're filming. A revamped SuperPhoto feature offers up ghost-free HDR action photos, and all-new LiveBurst captures 1.5 seconds of 12MP (4K 4:3) footage before and after the shutter.
Read more: GoPro HERO8 Black review
DJI is better known for being the maker of most of today's best drones. While it can't quite translate that same magic into its latest action camera, the DJI Action 2 is still well worth a look. This is the long-awaited successor to the DJI Osmo Action (further down the list), but it doesn't bear too much of a resemblance. DJI has taken a novel approach and split its camera into modules. The main camera unit is neat and compact, and accessory units – including an extra battery and a front-facing screen – can be snapped on magnetically as required, to extend the camera's capabilities. The main camera unit is water resistant to 10m, as well as being dust- and drop-proof. Head to our DJI Action 2 review to find out more, or see how it matches up against our top pick in our DJI Action 2 vs HERO 10 Black comparison.
The GoPro HERO 7 Black was bumped out of the GoPro lineup when the HERO 10 Black launched. Despite being the lowest-specced GoPro you can easily get hold of, it's still a very capable action cam. The H7 brought with it stabilisation at 4K60, and while it's not as impressive as newer Hypersmooth versions, it's still good enough that you don't need a gimbal. This rugged action camera is waterproof down to 10 metres on its own, you can expand that to an impressive 30 metres with an optional GoPro waterproof housing. The H7 was the last HERO not to sport that frameless design – no bunny ears here – but it'll still work with the wide range of mounts and extras in the GoPro ecosystem if you add a case first.
The touchscreen is decent, although not as smooth and slick as the newer GoPros. As for the voice control, it's not perfect (in fact, still not in the current flagship), but it does come in handy in situations where you can't physically reach the HERO 7 easily, such as when it's mounted to your helmet during climbing or snowboarding, or fixed on the end of your surfboard.
When it first launched, the HERO 7 Black was locked in a close fight with the then-new DJI OSMO action (replaced in 2021 by the Action 2, further down this list), although in our GoPro HERO 7 Black vs DJI Osmo Action comparison, the GoPro won in the end.
Read more: GoPro HERO7 Black review
Looking for something a little different? The OCLU action camera bucks tradition with a top-mounted screen and a wide, low-profile body, making it perfect for mounting beneath a skateboard or under a helmet peak when you're riding. It has four customisable shooting modes and simple three-button operation, and it there's one outstanding feature called LiveCut that'll make your life a lot easier, giving you the ability to deleted unwanted footage as you record.
With a great ultrawide lens and the ability to record at up to 4K 30fps it's a solid and impressive camera; however its video stabilisation is only available at 1080P. That said it's a fantastic and different-looking camera for shooting action sports, and while it's listed at $299 you can get it direct from OCLU for $199, which makes things just that bit sweeter.
Read more: OCLU action camera review.
Released around the same time as the Hero 8 Black, the GoPro Max shares many design cues with its conventional stablemate and addresses the issues that marred GoPro’s original 360-camera – the Fusion. The Max also boasts some of the Hero 8 Black’s excellent video capture facilities such as HyperSmooth image stabilisation and TimeWarp video sequences, as well as a user interface that operates in the same intuitive manner.
The offset front and rear mounted lenses allow you to easily create stunning 360 visuals via the in-built software that stitches together what each lens is capturing. The only way to see the live, stitched together, 360-degree view though is via the GoPro app on your smartphone – which handily also allows you to operate the camera remotely. Once you’ve captured your content, downloading to it your phone allows you to use the powerful app to get seriously creative and create kaleidoscopic stills, mesmerising videos with shifting POVs and much more. The Max’s only weak spot is that it can’t shoot conventional footage in 4K, but despite that, it’s still the best and most feature-rich 360-degree action camera available.
Read more: GoPro Max review
The DJI Osmo Action launched around the same time as the HERO 7 Black, and was the first rival to give GoPro a real run for its money. The standout at the time was the inclusion of a colour front-facing screen in addition to the 2.25-inch touchscreen at the back. Indeed, that's still a draw for vloggers and the like, but you'll now also find this feature on the latest GoPros. This model has since been replaced by DJI Action 2 (higher up the the list) but is still fairly easy to get hold of, and remains worthy of inclusion amongst today's best action cameras.
The Osmo Action offers a range of control options, including voice activation. There are two built-in microphones, but we’d recommend adding an external microphone to enjoy the best audio quality. In terms of spec, there’s little separating it from the HERO 7 Black, although obviously newer HEROs are more impressive. Other downsides to consider are the lack of live streaming support, and relative limitations when it it comes to mounts and accessories.
Ultimately, the Osmo Action is simple to use, produces excellent images and benefits from RockSteady electronic image stabilisation. It should be attractive to vloggers looking for a rugged, reliable and easy setup. Like the GoPro, this DJI will rock out with you in the surf, at the bike park and when skateboarding, so it’s an ideal playmate for extreme sports too.
Read more: DJI Osmo Action review
Insta360 has plenty of experience making dedicated 360-degree cameras, but the Insta360 One R was its first venture into the action cam market. In 2022, it was replaced by the RS (higher up this list), but the modules are pretty much interchangeable between the two options, so it should be possible to mix and match. The ONE R has a more basic Core processor and battery base than the RS, but the 360 lens and wide angle lens are the same across the two models. To start shooting, decide whether you want to record conventional or 360-degree content, select the relevant lens, then clip the modules together. The system works really well, the quality of the 360-degree video is excellent and only really falls short of what the GoPro Max can achieve due its more obvious stitching errors. However, the Insta360 One R can record conventional video in 4K, albeit at a 4:3 ratio at 30fps, which trumps the Max’s highest conventional resolution of 1440P at 60fps. If you’re looking a versatile action camera system, Insta360 is an excellent choice.
Read more: Insta360 One R review
If you're on the hunt for GoPro-matching 4K60fps resolution at a snip of the price of our number one action camera, the SJ8 Pro is a worthy contender. This stealthy cam offers plenty of other resolution options too, including 1080p120 and 720p240 for capturing ace slo-mo shots. With a clear focus on shooting the best quality video footage possible, the SJ8 Pro’s lens comprises 7 layers of glass for added clarity and reduced distortion, alongside a fixed 2.8mm focal length, f2.8 aperture and 170° field of view. Driving the show is a powerful Ambarella H22 S85 chipset and SONY IMX377 sensor.
An ace up this camera’s sleeve is the 8x digital zoom function, on-hand to capture those extreme action close-ups. To cap it all off, 6-axis image stabilization helps smooth out footage during the bumpiest activities. Out back is a 2.33-inch IPS Retina touchscreen for crystal clear playback and tweaking settings. The SJCAM Zone app (iOS/Android) is a simple affair, but makes post production and sharing easy – footage transfer takes place over 2.4GHz or zippy 5GHz connections. It might lack voice control and native waterproofing (the SJCAM is waterproof down to 30m once nestled in the supplied case), but the SJ8 Pro is a great little shooter if video quality is the main requirement of your next action camera.
The Sony RX0 has long sat in our best action cameras buyer's guide, and now it has been reimagined into the Sony RX0 II, a 'tiny tough' cam with a super-rugged build to help it to withstand knocks, bumps and scrapes during your outdoors adventures and everyday use. While Sony's camera features its own take on electronic image stabilisation (EIS), plus some nifty imaging tech, when we tested the RX0 II, we found that overall it's just too fiddly to use for capturing properly spontaneous bursts of action like the other cameras featured above. Why do we say that? It's because you need to get used to surfing through detailed menus using buttons – there's no touchscreen here! – and you'll need a tripod if you want properly smooth footage (which the likes of the GoPro and DJI don't).
However, if you want a super-tough outdoors-friendly compact camera for capturing fantastic stills plus video (if the camera is stabilised by a tripod), the RX0 II can be relied upon due to its monster 1-inch sensor. It also features a 180-degree tiltable 1.5-inch rear screen, which is handy for vlogging as you can see whether you're in frame.
Read more: Sony RX0 II review
If you like the look and feel of the best GoPro action cams but don’t quite have the budget for one, here's a good lookalike. The YI 4K+ is a well-featured action camera with the ability to record 4K at 60fps. Video recording is smooth, although admittedly not as impressive as what the GoPro delivers at 4K 30fps. YI technology makes a big deal about the 4K+'s voice command function, but we that it can be a little patchy. The screen is crisp and easy to read, which is handy for viewing and framing in sunlight. Unlike the GoPro HERO6, the YI 4K+ isn't waterproof and requires a waterproof casing before you can take it beneath the waves. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but it adds an extra layer of faff and cost that might put you off.
Want your own camera crew? A seriously impressive 360º camera as adept with creating widescreen action camera-style video as it is wraparound imagery, the Insta360 One X2 is all about 'shoot first, edit later’. The editing suite is comprehensive, permitting everything from third-person perspective video, time-lapses and hyperlapses to freeze-frames, 'smart track’ face recognition and much more besides. Waterproof and with new modes for vlogging and for instant panoramic photos, the pocket-sized camera is processing-intensive, with editing on a phone a battery-hungry exercise, but here’s a 360º camera that will exceed the expectations of anyone trying to do something new and expansive-looking without the need for drones and a camera crew.
Read our full Insta360 One X2 review
Here’s a tiny 4K camera that wants to go everywhere with you. While the likes of GoPro tout wide-angle footage, the 36g Akaso Keychain – so-called because it’s just so tiny – has a narrow field of view. That’s actually a lot better if you want to film something specific. As well as being small, this camera is magnetic, so begging to be attached to everything from a car to a bike to weights in a gym or a kitchen knife. It’s for getting new perspectives and creativity, which is why it comes with an app that allows you to endlessly edit its portrait or landscape videos and photos with fades, wipes, subtitles and special effects. Its six-axis image stabilisation system helps produce smooth-looking video while time-lapse, loop record and 20-megapixel photo options make this a novelty camera with legs.
Read more: Akaso Keychain review
The Drift Ghost 4K offers a range of resolution and frame rate options ensure you bag the best footage for any situation. When shooting more sedate activity, the max 4K Ultra HD resolution dialled to 30fps makes your antics shine on screen. Digital image stabilisation kicks in below 1080p, taming the vibrations of more high-octane action and producing smooth footage. The camera’s low-profile design and rugged outer shell make the Ghost 4K ideal for two-wheeled adventures (mounted to bars or helmet), or accessorise with Drift’s waterproof housing to explore depths of up to 40m. Some action cameras fall short when it comes to audio, but not the Ghost 4K. The camera houses dual microphones, front and rear, which enhance sound quality and help combat pesky wind interference.
The original Virb introduced GPS and motion sensors to the action camera pie, and the Garmin Virb Ultra 30 builds on that with 3-axis image stabilisation, a 1.75-inch touchscreen, GPS capture, high-quality microphones and a G-sensor. Those of you who ride downhill will get the most of out of the G-Matrix tech, as it captures performance data including speed, altitude, G-force and heart rate; the latter if you pair the action cam with a compatible heart rate monitor. As with some of our newer best action camera choices, voice control is one of the Ultra 30's key features. You can tell it to start, stop or pause filming, as well as “remember that” to make finding specific events easier. Video quality is good with 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, and the Wi-Fi connection and compatible app are well designed.
The Sony FDR-X3000 4K Action Camera is designed to be three times more stable than previous Sony action cams, thanks to advanced SteadyShot system. A ZEISS lens ensures your video is sharp and free from glare. One big advantage to this action camera is the built-in measure. This reduces wind noise so the audio on your videos should be clear. This could be particularly important to those of you looking for a camera to take on climbing trips. This action camera also has a waterproof case, micro HMDI output, micro USB, and a microSD card slot, so you're up and running straight out of the box.
