Best Action Cameras in 2024

If you are looking for the king then the GoPro HERO 8 Black sits at the throne of action cameras. The device has a long legacy of bringing new features and the latest iteration brings everything to the table. The only gripe we had with the older GoPro cameras was the weird cage mount which is replaced by something more intuitive.  The fold-out feet means you have a mount built right into the device.

The GoPro HERO 8 Black weighs only 126 grams, it is waterproof up to 10 meters and has 4K video recording at 60 FPS. That’s not all, the footage is also stabilized with the new stabilizing features. Want to shoot some cinematic slow-motion footage? You can shoot up to 240 fps in 1080p with this tiny bad boy. There is a better lens and a touch screen on the back of the GoPro HERO 8 Black. Overall, all these features are going to cost you money but you already knew that. It is a great device for people who regularly need it.

We are huge fans of DJI camera drones so naturally, we were excited about the DJI Osmo Action Camera as well. Thankfully, the action camera is just as great as their drones and excels at providing almost everything you’d ever need from an action camera. The DJI Osmo Action Camera is equally great as the GoPro but comes at a lower cost. This is exactly why we are calling it the best pick on the list.

The DJI Osmo Action Camera can record 4k footage with 60 frames per second. The camera is not only great for recording your adventures but also for vlogs thanks to its front-facing colored LCD. Don’t worry, there is an even bigger colored LCD found on the back of the device. The unit is also waterproof up to 11 m without even needing a dedicated case. The image stabilization of the camera is also excellent, as well as the trail cameras also seen in our guides.

You don’t always need an expensive action camera, sometimes a budget option can do a great job. The Apeman Action Camera A80 is capable of providing 4K footage at 24 frames per second which is quite enough for most people. If you just want to have a handy action camera and don’t want to spend lots of money, this is the best option for you. Just pack your camera, camping gear, a great electric shaver (if you want to shave on the go) and you are ready for your camping trip.

The Apeman Action Camera A80 also brings a 170° wide-angle lens which will make all your landscape shots look stunning. There is also a 2-inch screen on the back, and the shaking for videos and image stabilization. While the stabilization is not as great as other options, it is a serviceable job. This budget action camera is also IP 68 waterproof and you can take it 40 m underwater. The camera is capable of recording up to 180 minutes which is a very respectable number. Overall, if you don’t want all the fancy features and want to save a lot of money, this is one of the best options available.

The Insta360 One R Sports Camera is a unique device and so is its modular design. What this means is that you can interchange the important units and completely change how the camera works. With this action camera, you can easily shoot 4K footage with up to 60 frames per second and then switch a module to shoot 360° footage. You can also opt for a pro version that comes with a 1-inch sensor with better low light performance.

The image quality you get out of the Insta360 One R Sports Camera is quite good. While it doesn’t reach the levels GoPro, it is still remarkable in its quality. The main advantage of the Insta360 One R Sports Camera is that you’ll be getting 2 modules for the price of one. There are some unique features on the action camera like the tracking mode. In 360° footage, you’ll be able to track a person or a pet and the camera will follow them around, our guide on the best cat cameras are a must see. 

If you don’t want to spend a lot of cash on the latest and greatest, then the GoPro HERO 7 Silver is going to be a great choice for you. The GoPro HERO 7 Silver offers 4K recording at 30 frames per second has advanced wind noise reduction thanks to its 2 microphone processing. The rugged exterior makes it perfect for your outdoor adventures. We highly recommend this action camera for your camping trips along with a good quality travel cot for your baby.

The GoPro HERO 7 Silver is waterproof and can be submerged up to 10 m. The camera is capable of capturing 10-megapixel photos with 15 photos in one second. This makes it a perfect camera to capture some real high-speed action. This also comes with a built-in rechargeable battery that is capable of recording for at least 80 minutes. For cameras that have long battery life, check out our guide on the best trail cameras.

The DJI Osmo Pocket takes the stabilization to a whole another level thanks to its 3 axis gimbals. That’s right, the action camera comes with superb stabilization and can fit easily in pockets as well. The camera is capable of shooting 4K footage at 60 FPS as well.

You can also shoot slow-motion videos with the DJI Osmo Pocket at 1080p and 120 Fps. The camera captures 12 MP stills as well. Despite its unorthodox shape the DJI Osmo Pocket is easy to use and produces some great quality footage thanks to its ½.3 inch sensor.

The Campark X30 Action Camera may not be very well known but it does bring a ton of features you’d want in an action camera. It has 4K recordings at 60 and 30 fps. It can even do 120 fps slow motion on 1080p and 240 fps on 720p. The 20 MP sensor comes with built-in electronic stabilization and gyroscope. While it is not as stable as other cameras, it does an admirable job. The Campark X30 Action Camera is also waterproof up to 40 meters making it a perfect companion to your deep sea dives.

The Sony DSC-RX0M2 Cyber Shot brings in some serious image quality, we were blown away by how amazing the footage and photos from the camera came out. The price is also incredibly high though which is the only downside of this rugged image processing beast. The 1 inch Exmor CMOS sensor brings out details and can even be used as a stills camera. If you are a vlogger that needs a great companion, the Sony DSC-RX0M2 Cyber Shot is perfect for you.

Want to shoot 360-degree footage while retaining the option to shoot standard footage? The GoPro Max 360 Camera is made for you. The superbly stabilized camera brings 360 capturing and live streaming to one package. The camera shoots cinematic footage no matter what you are doing. The GoPro Max 360 Camera is also capable of capturing incredible 270-degree panoramas. There are 6 mics on the unit that deliver amazing stereo sound recording.

Yes, this is the same company that made instant photo cameras back in the days, and they are back with the Polaroid Cube+. To be fair, it is not that great of an action camera. It is more of a style statement, and we only recommend it for its unique looks and its ability to capture videos with ease. The 8Mp still images look sharp enough and you can record up to 1440p footage on it, The Polaroid Cube+ provides 107 minutes of continuous recording on one charge. The device also comes with a 124-degree wide-angle lens.