The Best Action Cameras
Choosing the right action camera used to be simple: Go with GoPro. It's still good advice. The GoPro ranks high on our list and is our top pick for most people. But we've finally found a few worthy competitors.
To figure out which cameras are the best, we tried them all. We dove with them, climbed with them, biked with them, and handed them to reckless 9-year-olds on bikes. We found a number of great options that will record, and survive, your future adventures.
If an action cam isn't your speed, be sure to check out our Best Compact Camera, Best Mirrorless Camera, and Best Instant Camera guides as well.
Updated November 2021: We've added the DJI Action 2 camera and updated pricing throughout.
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- Photograph: GoPro
Best Overall
GoPro Hero 10 BlackThe Hero 10 Black (8/10, WIRED Recommends) builds on the foundation of its predecessors with a new processor that speeds up capture times, ekes more resolution out of the 23.6-megapixel sensor, and adds much-improved image stabilization. You could say the Hero 10 is like a Hero 9, but it goes to 11.
The Hero series has always stood above its competitors when it comes to image stabilization, often the most important feature in an action camera. The Hero 10 Black improves on this by bringing HyperSmooth 4 (GoPro's name for its image stabilization software) to 5.3K, 30-fps video. Not only do you get gimbal-like smoothness at 5.3K, but you still have room to crop and export to 4K.
Also new in this update is video tone mapping for pulling out details in shadows and the ability to pull 19-MP still images from video. The Hero 10 also offers better noise reduction, higher image resolution, and a water-shedding lens cover.
- Photograph: Insta360
Best for Those Who Want It All
Insta360 One R Twin EditionDo you want an action cam? How about a 360-degree cam? The answer is, you want both, and now you can get both. Insta360's One R (8/10, WIRED Recommends) eliminates this debate by bringing interchangeable lenses to the action camera.
There are three lenses, or "mods": a 4K mod that mirrors what you'll get from the other cameras on this page, a dual-lens 360-degree camera, and a wide-angle Leica lens paired with a 1-inch sensor that's capable of capturing 5K video. The best value lies in pairing the 4K mod with the 360 mod, but if you can afford it, the Leica 1-inch mod delivers the best image and video quality I've seen from an action camera.
Insta360 has released a series of firmware updates for the One R that have greatly improved low-light performance, and added a slew of new features, like the ability to turn your One R into a webcam. Not only is it nice to get some new shooting capabilities, but it's also nice to see this level of ongoing support in a world where some companies churn out a new model every year.
- Photograph: GoPro
Best Value
GoPro Hero 9 BlackOur previous top pick, the Hero 9 (9/10, WIRED Recommends), was a huge update for the Hero camera line. GoPro brought in a new 23.6-megapixel sensor, which is still the sensor in the Hero 10.
If you don't need the stabilized 5.3K video, higher-resolution JPG stills, or faster frame rates, the Hero 9 is a better value. It's still got great stabilization, shoots 5.3K video (without stabilization), captures 20-MP still images, and can extract 14.7-MP images from that 5K video.
The Hero 9 can do 80 percent of what the Hero 10 can do, and it's usually $100 cheaper. That's great value for the money, and even more so if you wait for Black Friday, when it will likely be on sale.
- Photograph: Best Buy
Best Ultralight
DJI Action 2 CameraDJI's new Action 2 (review upcoming) is a significant departure from DJI's first action camera. The Action 2 takes a page from Insta360's playbook and is a modular camera system. The difference is that DJI's camera doesn't have to have any extra modules—you can shoot with just the tiny lens/screen on one piece of the combo.
Unfortunately you can't buy just that part. You'll have to pick up either the battery pack combo or the dual screen combo, but you can use the lens alone. The only catch is limited storage (32 gigabytes) and limited battery (about 15-20 minutes shooting 4K). If size is your deciding factor, the Action 2 is unbeatable. If you're planning to use it in the water, you'll need the underwater case ($65). In combo form, this camera isn't waterproof.
- Photograph: Olympus
Best for Underwater Action
Olympus Tough TG-6The Olympus TG-6 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) isn't a strap-it-to-your-head-and-shred camera, but if you're shooting underwater—a common use case for these cameras—this is your best bet. The sensor in the TG-6 is the largest of the bunch and produces correspondingly high-quality images and video.
It's seriously tough: freeze-proof, crush-proof, dustproof, and shockproof (you can drop it from 7 feet). It also has "real" camera features you won't find elsewhere, like focus stacking for close-ups, an extensive set of add-ons, extra lenses, and even an underwater case that extends its depth rating.
- Photograph: Oclu
Best for Tight Spots
Oclu Action CameraOclu 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 or under a helmet visor, for instance. The Oclu shoots 4K at 30 frames per second 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 8.
The one place the bigger names pull ahead of the Oclu is image stabilization. It does have stabilization, but it doesn't help nearly as much as what you get with the Hero 9 or Insta360 One R. Sound, on the other hand, is excellent, and I got far less wind noise than with other cameras. All things considered, at this price, it's hard to beat the Oclu's performance.
- Photograph: DJI
Best Bargain
DJI Osmo ActionThe DJI Osmo Action (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a relative newcomer to this field, but it has all the pedigree of DJI's drone cams behind it. The dual touchscreen display was an innovation when it arrived, but it has since been copied by the Hero line. Still, the Osmo is selling for less these days—sometimes as little as $200, if you're lucky.
The Osmo Action has excellent image stabilization and an HDR video option that opens up shadows in difficult, backlit shots. It's also compatible with most action camera mounts and accessories. On the downside, it's missing GPS support and doesn't have the social sharing features found in the GoPro.
- Photograph: GoPro
Best on Sale
GoPro Hero 8 BlackThe GoPro Hero 8 Black (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is still a great camera, and it's often on sale for as little as $250. It has most of what we like about its successor: customizable menus, a cageless design, and improved software. With HyperSmooth stabilization now available in all video modes and the ability to capture RAW images even in time-lapse, the Hero 8 produces excellent results.
The one complaint we have is that the lens housing is not removable—a design flaw that GoPro fixed in the Hero 9. Still, if you pair a Hero 8 with GoPro's lens protector set ($19), it can preserve your investment. While it's still a solid investment, don't spend more than $280 on the Hero 8.
Photograph: Dragon TouchThe B Roll
Honorable MentionYou can buy cheaper action cameras, but they won't offer all the features of our top picks and likely aren't as durable. Typically they have lower build quality, inferior lenses, no waterproof ratings, and crappy chipsets and specs. Still, depending on your needs, something like the Dragon Touch ($80) might be good enough. The results won't be GoPro-caliber, but if you're just getting into action cams, this is a good way to test the waters.
We also tested and like the Mokacam Alpha3, but the company is still having trouble shipping to its Indiegogo backers (and there are plenty of colorful comments). It has also drawn sharp criticism for its lack of customer support in the past.
Readers often ask, why spend $400 on a GoPro when I 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 intended 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 the DJI Osmo or GoPro Hero 8.
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