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Are you looking for a small camera that you can take anywhere—even underwater—and use to grab epic slow-motion videos of surfing, rock climbing, parasailing, or another adventurous activity? If so, you need an action camera. These compact wonders support fast frame rates, high-pixel video, and mounting on your person or in a tight space. They also provide stabilization for handheld recording, making them suitable for vlogs and travel videos. PCMag has been independently reviewing action cams for more than 12 years, and our current Editors' Choice winners are the single-lens GoPro Hero12 Black and the dual-lens Insta360 X4 for 360-degree recording. But you can trust that all our picks below are well worth a look if neither of those grabs your attention. Make sure to read past the list for a full rundown of what you need to know before buying.
Our Top Tested Picks
GoPro Hero10 Black
DJI Osmo Action 4
Insta360 One RS
The Best Action Camera Deals This Week*
- GoPro HERO12 Black Waterproof Action Camera — $349.00 (List Price $399.99)
- GoPro HERO11 Black Mini Action Camera — $234.99 (List Price $299.99)
- DJI Osmo Action 3 Standard Combo — $199.00 (List Price $329)
- AKASO EK7000 4K 30FPS Waterproof Wi-Fi Action Camera — $52.99 (List Price $79.99)
- AKASO Brave 4 4K 20MP Waterproof Wi-Fi Action Camera — $69.99 (List Price $99.99)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
- RELATED:
- Best GoPro Cameras
- Best 360-Degree Cameras
- Best Phone Cameras
- Best Point-and-Shoots
- Best Digital Cameras
Best Overall
GoPro Hero12 Black
- Class-leading video stabilization
- 10-bit HDR, GP-Log, and SDR video profiles
- Up to 5.3K60, 4K120, or 2.7K240 recording
- More useful Easy Controls than on Hero11
- Front and rear displays
- Pro controls and timecode sync
- Tough, waterproof build
- Small enough to mount in tight spots
- Drops long-running GPS feature
- Only a few headphones support wireless audio feature
- One battery won't last all day
The GoPro Hero12 Black is, bar none, the best action cam you can buy today. It's the latest version of the camera that defined the concept and the most technically advanced. It supports 5.3K60, 4K120, and 2.7K240 capture and matches them up with best-in-class stabilization and horizon-leveling. Scenes with mixed lighting benefit from HDR at 5.3K30 or 4K60. A nearly square image sensor boosts picture quality for creators pulling vertical 9:16 frames for TikTok, while its rugged and waterproof build means you don't need an add-on case.
The Hero12 Black is as versatile an action cam as you can find. Surfers, skateboarders, and other X Games participants can strap the camera to their person or board to get first-person views of stunts. Vloggers should appreciate its front-facing color display, standard tripod socket, and Media Mod accessory system. And 10-bit video with your choice of standard, HDR, or log color is a real benefit for editors.
Best 360 Camera for Creators
Insta360 X4
- Up to 8K video capture
- Easy to hold and use
- Waterproof build
- Large touch screen
- Capable editing software
- Accessories add to cost
- Runs hot
The Insta360 X4 is the camera to get for dual-lens, 360-degree video. It captures an all-around view of the world and gives you the software tools to do interesting and creative things with the video. The camera is waterproof and can survive rough handling, too, so it's suitable for mounting and capturing action.
Creators who want to try their hand at 360-degree capture and the editing techniques that go with it should find a lot to like about the X4. Its HDR video profile handles mixed lighting well and you can use the camera for special effects shots like Matrix-style bullet time and time-lapse with motion.
Best GoPro for Budget Shoppers
GoPro Hero10 Black
- 5.3K capture at up to 60fps
- 120fps 4K for slow motion
- Class-leading video stabilization
- Front-facing color screen
- Waterproof without an add-on case
- Media Mod support
- Extended-run Enduro battery available as add-on
- Wi-Fi and USB transfer for phones and tablets
- Included battery drains quickly
- Heat limits long-form recording
Now two generations old, the Hero10 Black remains in the GoPro lineup as the affordable option. It records 5.3K60 and 4K120 video just like the Hero12, but it uses a 4:3 aspect sensor that isn't as versatile for pulling out vertical frames and lacks the newer model's HDR profile. Even so, the camera produces sharp video with effective stabilization and works with the same Media Mod accessory system.
This is a good pick for action cam fans on a budget. At around $250, it undercuts the price of other GoPro and DJI models, and if you're willing to pay for an annual GoPro subscription, adds useful features like automated video editing and direct uploads from camera to cloud.
Most Innovative Design
DJI Action 2
- Tiny, go-anywhere form factor
- Magnetic mount and snap-on accessories
- Effective digital stabilization
- Up to 4K120 video
- 12MP photos
- Waterproof to 33 feet
- Works as a webcam
- Front screen option pushes price high
- Overheating is a concern
- No card slot or charging port on main camera module
- Front screen and battery aren't waterproof
The DJI Action 2 rethinks the action cam design. It's modular and has magnetic mounting points that let you place the camera in tight spots that can't quite hold a GoPro. You can even use the camera as a wearable body cam with the included pendant necklace mount. Video quality is strong too, with 4K120 recording available for action and slow motion.
If you're looking for a small, wearable camera for travel logs and adventures, the Action 2 is a good choice. The camera's video features are competitive with GoPros and the industrial design is a winner for style-conscious influencers.
Best Low-Light Action Cam
DJI Osmo Action 4
- Wide-angle lens with excellent digital stabilization
- Front and rear touch screens
- Up to 4K120 slow motion
- 10-bit D-Log color
- Waterproof to 59 feet
- Works as a webcam
- Smartphone-based product activation
- Quick-release mount is easy to lose
- Rear display isn't visible through polarized sunglasses
The DJI Osmo Action 4 uses a big Type 1/1.3 format image sensor to produce crisp video in dim light, better than what you get from the GoPro Hero12. The Osmo's pixel count isn't as high as the Hero 12's, but it still supports up to 4K120 or 1080p240 video and takes 10MP snapshots. We also like its 75-minute battery life, dual touch screens, and 59-foot waterproof rating.
The Osmo Action 4 is worth a look if you like to explore the world after the sun goes down. The front touch screen is handy for self-recording, and the camera's tough build quality means you don't have to worry about it breaking during rough-and-tumble use.
Best Audio in a 360 Cam
GoPro Max
- 360-degree capture
- Also works as a single-lens camera
- Intuitive software tools
- Strong stabilization
- Good in-camera audio
- Waterproof without a case
- Integrated mounting clips
- Effective resolution is really 1080p
- Single-lens capture tops out at 60fps
- Requires more editing time to get the best results from spherical footage
GoPro's dual-lens action camera uses two lenses to record the entire world around it, but can also function as a single-lens action cam. The Max's strengths as a 360-degree camera are its sharp video quality and software reframing tools. That's not to mention the six internal microphones that grab the best in-camera audio of any action cam we've tested. As you might expect from a GoPro, the Max is also tough and waterproof (though only to 16 feet).
The GoPro Max is a top pick for creators who want a dual-lens 360 camera and care a lot about audio quality. Travel vloggers and others who present to the camera won't have to fiddle with an external mic with this one, and the Max is waterproof to boot. GoPro offers reframing tools for creative edits too, though they're not quite as polished as what you get with the Insta360 X3.
Best Wearable Action Cam
Insta360 Go 3
- Stabilized 2.7K30 video
- Versatile, ultra-compact design
- Waterproof to 16 feet
- Action Pod attachment has flip-forward touch LCD
- Action Pod housing isn't submersible
- Non-removable battery and no storage expansion slot
- Some video modes require post-processing
- Wearable footage looks unsteady
Cameras don't get much smaller than the Insta360 Go 3. The capsule-sized model records 2.7K30 video, is waterproof, and works well for point-of-view captures, an aspect that video creators are sure to like. The included Action Pod housing turns the Go into a standard action cam with a flip-forward touch screen, so it's not a one-trick pony.
The Go 3 should appeal to creators who want a wearable camera or adventurers who want something they can mount in interesting places to capture unique perspectives. Make sure you are comfortable with video editing tools, however, since the Go 3 requires you to run footage through its app to create time lapses or apply digital stabilization.
Best for Mixing 360 and 4K Footage
Insta360 One RS
- Compact design
- Swappable lens modules
- Waterproof to 16 feet
- Stabilized 4K60 and 5.7K 360 video
- HDR available at 4K30
- 2:35 wide-screen mode
- Mobile and desktop app support
- In-camera mics disappoint outdoors
- Modular design can get in the way
- Small touch LCD
- Battery only good for 75 minutes of 4K
- Heat can limit long-form recordings
The Insta360 One RS is an action cam that supports swappable lenses, a unique capability for sure. When we tested a basic kit with a 4K main lens for 16:9 footage and a dual-lens 360 module for all-around recording, we appreciated the versatility and creative features. For higher-quality recording, Insta360 offers Leica-branded modules for both single-lens and dual-lens recording, thus making the camera upgradeable.
If you can't quite decide between a standard single-lens cam and a dual-lens 360 model, the Insta360 One RS might be the camera for you. It records pleasing 4K60 video with stabilization and supports extra-wide 2.35:1 recording. The dual-lens module does 5.7K30 and works with Insta360's excellent editing tools.
What Are Action Cameras?
Action cameras are small, lightweight, and sometimes even waterproof. They're useful because you can mount them to pretty much anything—from skateboards, surfboards, and bicycles to helmets, body parts, and even your pets.
They have all but replaced traditional camcorders in the marketplace. Family historians and budding cinematographers now use a GoPro or similar camera for wide shots and vlogs, while smartphones and newer mirrorless cameras are the tools of choice for home movies.
Action cams also have a place in professional work. You should use a camera with a big sensor and interchangeable lenses when you can, but modern action cams capture video that's good enough to intercut. Think about movie or TV scenes that show the interior of an exploding or crashing car—a GoPro likely recorded the footage.
Do Action Cameras Need 4K?
The first thing to consider is a camera's video resolution. 4K is a minimum requirement these days, and the best models offer more than double that resolution. The GoPro Hero12 Black, for instance, supports 5.3K.
Next, take a look at the available frame rates, expressed as frames per second (fps). Some action cameras offer up to 240fps recording, whereas ultra-budget options might top out at only 30fps. The latter is perfectly fine for standard playback, but the frame rate matters when you want to slow footage down in editing to create dramatic scenes. You can slow 240fps recordings down and play them back smoothly at one-quarter speed, for instance. If you want a cinematic look, pick a camera that has a 24fps capture option; that's the speed that most Hollywood productions use.
The best action cams put fast frame rates and high pixel counts together—the GoPro Hero12 Black pushes 240fps at 2.7K, for example, better than the 1080p240 you get from the DJI Osmo Action 4.
If you're more serious about video, look for a model that offers a flat video profile that grades easily. We've not yet seen Raw video support in an action cam, but you can get that feature from larger models, including the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6K. Some sort of stabilization is important as well since it can help you get smooth footage without a tripod or gimbal. As long as you buy a newer DJI, GoPro, or Insta360 action cam, you won't have to worry much. All include extremely effective digital stabilization, so you can get smooth footage regardless of whether you're handholding or mounting the camera.
The Best Action Cameras With Wide Lenses and 360-Degree Video
Most action cams have a lens with a wide, wide view of the world. You are thus likely to encounter some fish-eye distortion, especially if you mount it really close to what it's filming. Newer models compensate for that effect automatically. Most action cams also let you select a narrower angle for recording to avoid distortion at the outset.
Some entries have two lenses for spherical video capture, though not as many as during the height of the 360-degree video fad. The cameras that survived serve a dual purpose, leveraging software so you can use video for both VR headsets and flat screens. Software tools allow you to manipulate video in interesting ways, as you can see in the GoPro Max clip above.
There are also outliers in the design department. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 has a gimbal-stabilized camera—it's not rugged, but vloggers should take a look.
How to Mount Your Action Cam
You should also consider your specific needs. Not all cameras are suitable for every sport and certain designs lend themselves better to particular activities. On top of that, different shapes allow for different mounting accessories and possibilities. If you want to catch a unique perspective, like an under-skateboard shot, pay close attention to a camera's size.
GoPro's mount system is prevalent across the industry. Most action cams include built-in or bundled mounts that match up with the integrated mounting clips on recent GoPros. DJI Osmo cameras use removable mounts and include both GoPro and standard tripod options in the box. Meanwhile, the Insta360 X4 has a standard tripod socket, and the GoPro Hero12 Black is the first model in the series to include both clips and a standard tripod socket.
Waterproofing is an important aspect to consider if you plan to record underwater or even around water. Some waterproof cameras can go deeper than others or even have built-in waterproofing, so you don't need to worry about an extra housing.
The Best Editing Tools for Action Cameras
Longtime editors might be happy working with desktop editing software, but adventurers might want to cut footage on a smartphone or tablet. Look for a model with built-in Wi-Fi at a minimum if mobile editing is important.
You get better software support from name-brand options. DJI, GoPro, and Insta360 all include full-featured smartphone apps for on-the-go editing, so you can get videos right onto your social channels.
If you go with a brand that doesn't supply an editing app, you have to bring your own. It's easy enough to use iMovie or Adobe Premiere Rush to cut clips together on your phone, however. If you need software for your desktop or laptop, check out our top video editing recommendations.
