The Top Action Cameras of 2024
Action cameras are a must-have for adventurers and sports enthusiasts looking to capture their experiences. Whether you’re snorkeling, mountain biking, skiing, or just recording your daily adventures, a good action camera makes all the difference. With so many options on the market, choosing the right one can be challenging. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best action cameras of 2024, taking into account all the essential features you look for in an action camera.
Before we dive into the Best action Cameras, it’s important to know what features to consider when choosing an action camera:
- Portability: The camera should be compact and lightweight so you can easily take it everywhere.
- Ease of Use: A simple interface and easy operation are crucial, especially when you want to quickly capture moments. Some cameras offer voice control features, which are useful when you’re on a motorbike or skiing.
- Water Resistance: The camera must be waterproof, so you can use it in rain, snow, or underwater.
- Minimal Additional Costs: It’s annoying to buy a camera and then discover you need various accessories to use it properly. Everything you need should be included in the basic package.
- Durability: The camera should survive a fall or at least offer good protection options, like sturdy cases.
- Battery Life: Long battery life is essential so you don’t run out of power halfway through an adventure.
- Image Quality: Excellent video and photo quality are a must.
- Mount Options: The camera should have versatile mounting options so you can attach it to your helmet, bike, surfboard, etc.
- Audio Quality: Good sound recording is important, especially for capturing conversations or ambient sounds.
- Image Stabilization: This might be the most important feature, as it ensures your recordings are smooth and shake-free.
With these criteria in mind, let's look at the Best action cameras of 2024.
The Best Action Cameras of 2024
1. DJI Osmo Action 4
The DJI Osmo Action 4 is a powerhouse with 4K video recording at 60fps and superb image quality. It features dual screens – a front-facing screen for vloggers and a rear touchscreen for easy navigation. Its water resistance up to 18 meters without a case, combined with excellent image stabilization, makes it a favorite for adventurers. The Osmo Action 4 is built to endure harsh environments and offers impressive slow-motion capabilities, making it perfect for capturing fast-paced action.
Pro's
- Battery Life
- Magnet Mount System
- Double Touchscreen
- High Quality Recordings of 4k
- User Friendly
- Bluetooth Audio Support
- Horizon Lock stabilization
Cons
- Only Has an Mobile App
- Dimensions: 70.5 × 44.2 × 32.8 mm (L × W × H)
- Weight: 145 g
- Waterproof: 18 m without the Waterproof Case, 60 m with the Waterproof Case (IP68 rating)
Screens
- Front Screen: 1.4-inch
- Rear Screen: 2.25-inch
Storage
- Supported SD Cards: microSD (up to 512 GB)
Camera
- Sensor: 1/1.3-inch CMOS
- Lens: FOV 155°, Aperture f/2.8, Focus Range 0.4 m to ∞
- ISO Range: Photo/Video: 100-12800
- Electronic Shutter Speed: Photo: 1/8000-30 s, Video: 1/8000 s to the limit of frames per second
- Max Photo Resolution: 3648 × 2736
- Digital Zoom: Photo 4×, Video Max 2×
Video Recording
- Standard Recording
- Slow Motion
- Hyperlapse
- Timelapse
Stabilization
- EIS: RockSteady 3.0, RockSteady 3.0+, HorizonBalancing, HorizonSteady
Audio
- Recording: 48 kHz 16-bit, AAC
Battery
- Type: LiPo 1S
- Capacity: 1770 mAh
- Energy: 6.8 Wh
- Voltage: 3.85 V
- Operating Time: 160 minutes (tested at 25°C with 1080p/24fps, RockSteady on, Wi-Fi off, screen off)
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2. GoPro HERO12
The GoPro HERO12 Black continues to set the standard in action cameras. Renowned for its exceptional image stabilization, the HERO12 Black delivers 5K video recording at 60fps, ensuring stunning clarity and detail. It’s waterproof up to 10 meters without additional housing, making it perfect for underwater adventures. With a robust build, it’s designed to withstand tough conditions. The HERO12 Black also has a long battery life and is compatible with a wide array of GoPro accessories and mounts, providing versatility for any activity. It’s definitely an upgrade compared to the GoPro Hero 11!
Pro's
- Battery Life
- Horizon Lock stabilization
- Bluetooth Audio Support
- High Quality Recordings of 5.3k
- User Friendly
- Voice Control
Cons
- No touchscreen on Front screen
- Not Great In Lowlight
- Dimensions: 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6 mm (L × W × H)
- Weight: 154 g (with mounting fingers and battery), 121 g (without battery)
- Waterproof: 10 m (33 ft) without Protective Housing, 60 m (196 ft) with Protective Housing
Screens
- Rear Screen: 2.27-inch Touch Display
- Front Screen: 1.4-inch Color Display
Storage
- Supported SD Cards: 1 microSD (with at least V30 or higher UHS-3 rating)
Camera
- Sensor: 1/1.9-inch CMOS
- Resolution: 27.6 MP active pixels (5599 × 4927)
- Lens: FOV 156° in 8:7 aspect ratio, Aperture f/2.5, Min 12 mm, Max 39 mm
- ISO Range: Photo/Video: 100-12800
- Max Photo Resolution: 27.13 MP (5568 × 4872)
- Digital Zoom: Up to 2× (video), 4× (photo)
Video Recording
- Stabilization: HyperSmooth 6.0
- HDR Video: 5.3K (16:9) 30/25/24 fps, 4K (8:7) 30/25/24 fps, 4K (16:9) 60/50/30/25/24 fps
- Digital Lenses: HyperView, SuperView, Wide, Linear, Linear + Horizon Lock / Leveling
Time-Lapse
- Modes: TimeWarp, Star Trails, Light Painting, Vehicle Light Trails
- TimeWarp Video Speeds: Up to 5.3K
Audio
- Recording: 48 kHz 16-bit, AAC
- Microphones: 3-mics, with Advanced Noise Reduction
- 3.5mm Audio Mic Input: With Media Mod for HERO12 Black or Pro 3.5 Mic Adapter (sold separately)
- Wireless Audio: Supports AirPods and other Bluetooth headsets
Battery
- Type: Removable 1720mAh Enduro Battery
- Operating Temperature: -10°C to 35°C
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi Frequency: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
- Wi-Fi Protocol: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth: BLE 4.2
- USB Port: USB-C
- HDMI Port: Via Media Mod (H9B/H10B/H11B/H12B)
User Interface
- Protune: Yes
- Presets/Custom Presets: Yes
- Languages Available: EN, FR, DE, IT, SP, CN-S, CN-T, JP, KR, PT, RU, SW
- Voice Control: 14 commands in 11 languages with 6 accents
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3. Insta360 Ace Pro
The Insta360 Ace Pro stands out as the ultimate vlogging camera choice. Featuring dual movable touchscreens, it allows flexibility to position the screen either at the front or back, ensuring you always have a clear view of your live video footage on a large display. With impressive 8K video output and waterproof capabilities up to 10 meters, it supports versatile shooting environments. Its intuitive controls enable effortless camera operation through hand gestures or voice commands during recording. Plus, the advanced 6-axis Flowstate Stabilization ensures your footage remains remarkably smooth throughout.
Pro's
- Double Touchscreen
- Horizon Lock stabilization
- Flip screen
- High Quality Recordings of 8k
- User Friendly
- Magnet Mount System
Cons
- Price
- Bulkier Design
- Audio Quality
General
- Dimensions: 71.9 × 52.15 × 38.5 mm (L × W × H)
- Weight: 179.8 g (including battery and memory card)
- Waterproof: 10 m without immersion housing, 60 m with immersion housing
Storage
- Supported SD Cards: microSD
Camera
- Sensor: 1/1.3-inch
- Effective Pixels: 48 million pixels
- Lens: 35 mm equivalent focal length: 16 mm, Aperture f/2.6
- ISO Range: 100-6400
Video Recording
- Max Video Resolution: 8K (16:9) – 7680 × 4320 @ 24 fps, 8K (2.35:1) – 7680 × 4320 @ 24 fps
- Video File Format: MP4
- Video Modes: Video (with internal Active HDR), FreeFrame Video, PureVideo, Slow motion, Starlapse, Time lapse, TimeShift, Pre-recording, Loop recording
- Stabilization: 6-axis gyro
Time-Lapse
- Modes: Starlapse, Time lapse, TimeShift
Audio
- Recording: 48 kHz, 16-bit, AAC
- Microphones: Includes wind noise reduction, stereo, directional amplification
Battery
- Type: Insta360 Ace Pro battery
- Capacity: 1650 mAh
- Operating Time: Approx. 100 minutes
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- USB Port: USB Type C
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4. Insta360 ONE RS
The Insta360 ONE RS stands out with its modular design, allowing users to switch between different lenses, including a 360-degree lens. It offers 4K 360-degree video and wide-angle footage, providing flexibility in capturing immersive content. Waterproof up to 5 meters without a case, the ONE RS is ideal for versatile shooting scenarios. Its FlowState stabilization ensures smooth footage, and the AI editing features make post-production a breeze.
Pro's
- Horizon Lock stabilization
- 360- Degree Videos
- High Quality Recordings of 4k
- Modular Design
Cons
- Price
- Small Touch Screen
- Medium Battery Life
General
- Dimensions:
- 70.1 × 49.1 × 32.6 mm
- 70.1 × 49.1 × 43 mm
- 78.7 × 55.7 × 47.2 mm
- Weight:
- 125.3 g
- 135.3 g
- 163 g
- Waterproof:
- 5 m without housing, 60 m with housing
- Run Time:
- 75 minutes (tested in lab environment under specified conditions)
- 82 minutes (tested in lab environment under specified conditions)
- 84 minutes (tested in lab environment under specified conditions)
- Max Video Bitrate: 100 Mbps
- Gyroscope: 6-axis gyroscope
- Compatible Devices:
- iOS Devices: Compatible with iOS mobile devices with chips A11 or above and iOS version 11.0 or above.
- Android Devices: Compatible with Android mobile devices with specific chips and requirements.
Storage
- MicroSD Card: exFAT formatted microSD cards with UHS-I bus interface and Video Speed Class V30 rating (max storage of 1TB recommended)
Camera
- 35mm Equivalent Focal Length:
- 16 mm
- 7.2 mm
- 14.4 mm
- ISO Range:
- Photo: 100-6400 / 100-3200 / 100-3200
- Video: 100-6400 / 100-3200 / 100-3200
- Shutter Speed:
- Photo: 1/8000 – 120s
- Video: 1/8000 – to the limit of frames per second
- White Balance: 2000K-10000K
Photo
- Resolution:
- 8K
- Format:
- mp4 (for files prefixed with “PRO_”, import into app/Studio to adjust aspect ratio and apply Post FlowState stabilization)
- insv (can be exported via App or Studio)
- Modes:
- Standard Video, Slow Motion, Active HDR, Timelapse, TimeShift, Loop Recording, 6K Widescreen
- FlowState (in-camera stabilization), Post FlowState (in-app stabilization)
- Color Profiles: Standard, Vivid, LOG
Audio
- Recording: 48 kHz, 16-bit, AAC
- Microphones: Includes wind noise reduction, stereo, directional enhancement
Battery
- Type: 1445 mAh battery
- Charging Method: USB Type-C
- Charging Time: 70 minutes (powered off)
- Operating Temperature: -4°F to 104°F (-20℃ to 40℃)
Connectivity
- Bluetooth: BLE 5.0
- Wi-Fi: 5 GHz, 802.11 a/n/ac (standard range of approximately 20 meters, max transmission speed of 20 MB/s)
- USB Port: Type-C (supports wired connection to Android devices, full wireless support for both iOS and Android)
Live Streaming
- Modes: 360 Live, Reframe Live (streamer sets a fixed perspective)
Exposure Value
- Range: ±4EV
5. Akaso Brave 8
Pro's
- Price
- Audio Quality
- High Quality Recordings of 4k
- 16X Slomo Options
- User Friendly
- 2 Batteries
- Dual Battery Charger
- Wireless Remote Controller
- Camera Frame
- Mounts
Cons
- Not Great in Low Light
- Poor exterior material
- Horizon Lock Stabilization
General
- Dimensions: 63 × 36.5 × 45 mm (L × W × H)
- Weight: 114.8 g (including battery)
- Waterproof: 33 ft (10 m)
- Max Video Bitrate: High, Medium, Low
Camera
- Sensor: 1/2” CMOS
- Effective Pixels: 48M
- Lens: Equivalent to 16mm f/2.5
- ISO Range:
- Photo: 100 – 3200
- Video: 100 – 6400
Battery
- Type: 1550 mAh * 2
Storage
- Supported Memory Cards: microSD (up to 512 GB)
Time Lapse
- Interval: NTSC/PAL: 8K, 4K 4:3, 4K 16:9, 2.7K 4:3, 2.7K 16:9, 1440P, 1080P
- Motion Time Lapse: NTSC/PAL: 4K 16:9, 2.7K 4:3, 2.7K 16:9, 1440P, 1080P
Angle
- Super Wide Angle / Wide Angle / Portrait Perspective / Narrow Angle
Meter Mode
- AI Face Metering, Center Average Metering, Center Metering, Spot Metering
Photography
- Photo Resolution: 48MP, 12MP
- Time Lapse Photo Resolution: 48MP, 12MP
Record Video
- NTSC:
- 4K30 4:3, 4K60 16:9, 2.7K90 4:3, 2.7K120 16:9, 1440P180, 1080P200
- PAL:
- 4K25 4:3, 4K50 16:9, 2.7K75 4:3, 2.7K100 16:9, 1440P150, 1080P200
Other Features
- Stereo Audio / Human Voice Mode / Dark Light Mode / Bluetooth Connection / One-click Capture / External Mic / Visual / Remote Control / USB-C Port
Video Formats
- H.264 / H.265
Slow Motion
- 16x, 8x, 4x, 2x
Photo Formats
- JPEG / JPEG + RAW
6. Olympus Tough TG-6
The Olympus Tough TG-6 boasts a robust exterior material capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -10°C and is waterproof up to 15 meters, making it an excellent choice for diving in various environments. It captures high-quality 4K videos and offers an impressive battery life of up to 110 minutes. The camera has a more complex user friendly interface compared to all the other action cameras, this cam requires more camera skills. It Also lacks a flip screen, which is inconvenient for vlogging as you can’t see yourself while recording. On the upside, changing lenses is remarkably easy, even underwater! The camera is shockproof against drops from 2.1 meters, ideal for activities like mountain biking, skateboarding, or hiking where falls may occur.
Pro's
- Great exterior material
- No Touchscreen
- Microscope Mode
- GPS Feature
- High Quality Recordings of 4k
Cons
- Weight
- Horizon Lock stabilization
- No Flipscreen
- Weight
General
- Body Type: Compact
- Dimensions: 113 x 66 x 32 mm
- Weight (incl. batteries): 253 g (0.56 lb / 8.92 oz)
- Waterproof: 15 m without housing
- Battery Life (CIPA): 340 shots
Sensor
- Max Resolution: 4000 x 3000
- Effective Pixels: 12 megapixels
- Sensor Size: 1/2.3″ (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
- Sensor Type: BSI-CMOS
- Processor: TruePic VIII
Image
- ISO Range: Auto, ISO 100-12800
- White Balance Presets: 6
- Custom White Balance: Yes (4 slots)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
- CIPA Image Stabilization Rating: 2.5 stops
- Uncompressed Format: RAW
- JPEG Quality Levels: Super fine, fine, normal
Optics & Focus
- Focal Length (Equiv.): 25–100 mm
- Optical Zoom: 4×
- Maximum Aperture: F2–4.9
- Autofocus:
- Contrast Detect (sensor)
- Multi-area
- Center
- Selective single-point
- Tracking
- Single
- Continuous
- Face Detection
- Digital Zoom: Yes (4X)
- Manual Focus: Yes
- Normal Focus Range: 10 cm (3.94″)
- Macro Focus Range: 1 cm (0.39″)
- Number of Focus Points: 25
Screen / Viewfinder
- Articulated LCD: Fixed
- Screen Size: 3″
- Screen Dots: 1,040,000
- Touch Screen: No
- Screen Type: TFT LCD
- Live View: Yes
- Viewfinder Type: None
Photography Features
- Minimum Shutter Speed: 4 sec
- Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/2000 sec
- Aperture Priority: Yes
- Shutter Priority: No
- Subject / Scene Modes: Yes
- Built-in Flash: Yes
- External Flash: No
- Flash Modes: Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Slow sync. (1st curtain), Red-eye Slow sync. (1st curtain), Fill-in, Manual, Flash Off
- Continuous Drive: 20.0 fps
- Self-timer: Yes
- Metering Modes: Multi, Spot
- Exposure Compensation: ±2 (at 1/3 EV steps)
Videography Features
- Format: MPEG-4, H.264
- Microphone: Stereo
- Speaker: Mono
Storage & Connectivity
- Storage Types: SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-I support)
- USB: USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
- USB Charging: Yes
- HDMI: Yes (micro HDMI)
- Microphone Port: No
- Headphone Port: No
- Wireless: Built-In
- Wireless Notes: 802.11b/g/n
- Remote Control: Yes (via smartphone)
Physical
- Environmentally Sealed: Yes (Waterproof, Shockproof)
Other Features
- Orientation Sensor: Yes
- Timelapse Recording: Yes
- GPS: Built-in (GPS with e-compass, manometer, thermometer, accelerometer)
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