Wirecutter

The Hero8 captures video that’s a bit less stabilized than the Hero9 Black, offers less versatile hyperlapses, and lacks a front-facing selfie-screen, but is otherwise the same while costing 30% less.

Consumer Reports

When mounted on a snowboarder's helmet or the fork of a motorcycle, a great action camcorder needs great image stabilization. And the Hero8 Black delivers better performance in this regard than any previous GoPro, providing hi-def images that are almost gimbal-smooth.
The Hero8 also has a new housing that removes the need for separate mount, meaning you can pocket it and attach it to your helmet or other gear as needed.

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Best for Most

RTINGS

The best action camera that we've tested is the GoPro HERO10 Black. Like its predecessor, this premium action camera is remarkably portable and well-built. It comes with a second front-facing screen that lets you monitor yourself through Live View for vlogging or taking selfies. You can easily mount it on any number of compatible action cam rigs and mounts, and it's waterproof to an advertised depth of 33 ft, so it's fit for watersports or underwater shooting.

It does an exceptional job smoothing out camera shake, thanks to its 'HyperSmooth' digital stabilization feature, though enabling it does incur a noticeable crop. It delivers okay video quality overall, relative to other cameras, but its upgraded processor gives it better low-light performance than previous iterations of the GoPro. It also offers a wide selection of frame rate and resolution options, including 1080p and 2.7k video at up to 240 fps, 4k video at up to 120 fps, and 5.3k video at up to 60 fps.

That said, it doesn't have any inputs or outputs aside from its USB-C port, which you can use to charge it or connect it to a PC. If you want to connect it to an external display over HDMI or attach an external microphone for better audio, you have to buy a GoPro Media Mod at an additional cost. Still, this camera's relatively impressive video quality, fantastic stabilization, and extensive frame rate options make it one of the best cameras for sports video that we've tested.

The GoPro HERO10 Black isn't just one of the best action cameras we've tested, but it's also one of the best cameras for YouTube vlogging. Though GoPros are best for capturing POV footage of action or sports, they also work very well as portable vlogging cameras when mounted to an extension pole or selfie stick. Models like this one and its predecessor, the GoPro HERO9 Black, also have a second front-facing screen that lets you monitor yourself in Live View while recording.

The camera's 'HyperSmooth' digital stabilization feature does an outstanding job smoothing out camera shake, though enabling it does incur a crop. It offers a ton of resolution and frame rate options, including 5k video up to 60 fps, 4k video up to 120 fps, and 1080p video up to 240 fps, so you can capture natural-looking footage or generate smooth slow-motion. It also has an improved horizon-leveling feature that can help keep videos steady when tilting the camera from side to side. Video quality is okay and marks an improvement over other action cameras in low light.

That said, its battery life tested slightly worse than some other GoPros we've tested, and it can overheat during longer recording sessions. It's worth noting, though, that battery performance and overheating risk can vary with your usage habits and choice of settings. It also lacks inputs aside from a USB-C port, though you can purchase a 'Mod' from GoPro to add additional inputs and functionality. All in all, this is one of the best vlogging cameras you can get for action videos or if you're just looking for something super portable.

If you're looking for a portable action camera, the best camera for YouTube videos that we've tested is the GoPro HERO10 Black. This mountable action cam is incredibly portable, and you can attach it to any number of objects and mounts for unique POV action footage. It's advertised to be waterproof to a depth of 10 m, and it has a front-facing screen that you can use for Live View to monitor yourself as you record.

It supports a ton of frame rates and resolutions, including 1080p and 2.7k up to 240 fps, 4k up to 120 fps, and 5.3k up to 60 fps, allowing you to capture everything from high-speed action footage to slow-motion. Its video quality is reasonably good, particularly when compared to other action cameras, and its new processor gives it improved low-light performance over its predecessor, the GoPro HERO9 Black. Its digital stabilization feature also does a fantastic job smoothing out camera shake.

That said, the camera doesn't have any inputs aside from its USB-C port, which means you have to purchase a 'Media Mod' from GoPro at an additional cost if you want an HDMI port and directional mic for better audio. Its battery life is also mediocre, though it supports USB charging, and you can keep using it while it charges. All in all, this is one of the best action cameras we've tested, and it's a great choice for YouTube content creators and sports vloggers.

Action cameras are a great option if you want 4k video in a more portable and rugged package, and the best action camera we've tested for 4k video is the GoPro HERO10 Black. This premium action camera is sturdy and well-built, and it's waterproof to an advertised depth of 33 ft. You can easily mount it to any number of action cam rigs and mounts or simply use it with a stick or tripod. It also features a front-facing screen with Live View, making it a great option for vloggers who prefer a simpler setup.

It supports several frame rate and resolution options, including 4k at up to 120 fps, so you can easily capture smooth action footage or incorporate slow-motion sequences into your videos. If you like, you can also record video in 5.3k at up to 60 fps or 1080p at up to 240 fps. The camera's 4k video quality is fairly good overall, especially compared to other action cameras. It performs relatively well in low light, thanks to its upgraded processor. There's also no recording time limit, which is great.

That said, the battery life on this camera is unremarkable. It lasts for approximately 80 minutes of video recording, which isn't bad but may not be enough for long days of shooting. However, battery performance can also vary drastically depending on your usage habits and settings. Overall, this is one of the best action cameras we've tested, and its relatively good video quality and high 4k frame rates make it a great choice for 4k action video.

The best action camera that we've tested for under $500 is the GoPro HERO10 Black. It's a premium action cam that improves upon its predecessor in a few ways, including an all-new processor for faster overall performance. It feels incredibly well-constructed, with a rugged body that's advertised to be waterproof up to a depth of 33 feet. Like the GoPro HERO9 Black, it features a front-facing screen with Live View, so you can monitor yourself while recording vlogs or taking selfies.

GoPro's digital video stabilization feature does an exceptional job smoothing out camera shake, whether you're recording in 4k or 1080p, although enabling it does incur a noticeable 1.36x crop. That said, the camera offers a ton of frame rate and resolution options, including 5.3k at up to 60 fps, 4k at up to 120 fps, and both 2.7k and 1080p at up to 240 fps, meaning it can capture high-quality fast-action footage or generate smooth slow-motion video.

While its video quality is okay for an action camera, it performs poorly in low light due to its small sensor. It also doesn't have any inputs aside from a USB-C port, so if you want to connect an auxiliary microphone or connect it to an external display via HDMI, you have to purchase a GoPro Media Mod at an additional cost. Still, this is a premium, feature-rich action camera and the best GoPro that we've tested.

Of the action cameras we've tested, the best camera to video sports with is the GoPro HERO10 Black. This premium action camera is perfect for capturing sports thanks to its high frame rate options and digital stabilization feature. It's also advertised to be waterproof to a depth of 33 feet, and you can easily mount it on any number of action camera mounts or objects, including helmet and chest rigs.

Like the GoPro HERO9 Black, this model has a second front-facing screen that lets you monitor yourself while recording through Live View. It can shoot in several resolutions and frame rate options, from 1080p at up to 240 fps to 4k at up to 120 fps and even 5.3k at up to 60 fps, meaning you can shoot high-res action video and smooth slow-motion. The camera also does an exceptional job smoothing out camera shake in both 4k and 1080p thanks to its 'HyperSmooth' digital image stabilization feature, though it incurs a noticeable crop on your videos.

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with too many mounting accessories in the box, and it only has a USB-C port. If you want to connect an auxiliary microphone for better audio or connect it to an external display for playback over HDMI, you need to purchase a GoPro 'Media Mod' at an additional cost. Still, this is one of the best cameras for sports that we've tested, thanks to its excellent action video performance and dense feature set.

The GoPro HERO10 Black is the latest flagship action cam from GoPro. It's reliably well-built, comes with a ton of frame rate options, and has an upgraded processor over its predecessor that's advertised to give it improved low-light performance. On top of its sturdy construction, it's also waterproof to an advertised depth of 33 feet and has a front-facing screen that lets you monitor yourself in Live View while recording.

It's the most capable GoPro yet, with 5.3k video recording up to 60 fps, 4k video up to 120 fps, and 2.7k and 1080p video at up to 240 fps, so you can easily capture high-res slow-motion footage as well as regular smooth action video. Its digital image stabilization feature reduces camera shake incredibly well for handheld recording, although it does incur a noticeable 1.36x crop. The overall video quality is also better than most action cameras we've tested, particularly when it comes to low-light recording.

That said, its battery life is unremarkable and falls a bit short of older GoPro models we've tested, though battery performance can also vary depending on a lot of different factors, including settings and environmental conditions. It can sometimes overheat and shut down when recording continuously for longer periods. Despite that, however, this is still a fantastic all-around action camera thanks to its wide range of frame rate options, durable build quality, and stabilization performance.

The Hero10 offers even higher frame rates, better stabilization, and a smoother interface than the Hero9, but costs a lot more money.

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Upgrade Pick

With a modular design that allows for different lenses and sensors, including a 360-degree spherical video option, the One R offers more creative choices than our picks from GoPro.

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If you're on a tighter budget, the AKASO Brave 7 LE is a solid GoPro alternative that won't break the bank. Despite its relatively affordable price point, this camera feels well-built and has an IPX7 rating, so it can withstand being submerged in 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. For more extensive waterproofing, it also comes with a protective case that renders it waterproof to an advertised depth of 131 feet.

Like the GoPro HERO10 Black and GoPro HERO9 Black, this camera has a secondary front-facing screen that's helpful for vlogging. It has an intuitive menu system and a great battery life depending on what settings you use. You can also keep using it while it charges via USB-C, which is handy for longer shooting sessions. It can record 1080p video at up to 120 fps, which is great for slow-motion capture. Its stabilization feature does an excellent job of reducing camera shake in 1080p and works very well in 4k at slower speeds, though enabling it does incur a severe 1.6x crop, which is unfortunate.

The camera also has a lot of noticeable rolling shutter effects, causing distortion with vertical lines when panning rapidly from side to side. Video quality is also disappointing, whether you're shooting in 4k or 1080p. Its 4k frame rate options are also very limited, as it can only record 4k at 30 fps. Still, this is the best cheap action camera that we've tested for those looking for something sturdy and affordable.

If you want something a little cheaper, check out the AKASO Brave 7 LE. It doesn't have as many frame rate options as the DJI Osmo Action and doesn't feel as well-built, but it's considerably cheaper, and it still comes with a front-facing live view screen to help you monitor yourself as you record. The camera itself has an IPX7 rating, so it's only waterproof to a depth of 1m for about 30 minutes. However, it also comes with a protective case that renders it waterproof to an advertised depth of 131 ft for underwater recording. There are several mounting accessories included in the box, as well. Its video stabilization feature is inconsistent but still does a great job smoothing out camera shake. That said, enabling it incurs a severe 1.6x crop on your footage. Unfortunately, it's also limited to 4k at 30 fps and 1080p from 30 fps to 120 fps, giving you fewer frame rates to shoot different video styles.

Get the DJI if you want more frame rate options and a camera that feels better built overall. However, if you're not willing to pay that much for an action camera, the AKASO is a solid alternative.

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Despite its diminutive size, this Kodak PixPro action cam is rugged enough to withstand a 7-foot drop and water-resistant to a depth of 33 feet. The 2-plus hours of battery life per charge put it among the best in its class. The camera comes with a 1.5-inch LCD and an image stabilizer to counteract shaky hands, not to mention vibrating handlebars. According to our testers, the camera delivers good photos and video. And there’s a nice extra: the ability to capture photos at 10 frames per second in burst mode.

Like most Sony models, the HDR-AS50 has a very good image stabilizer. It provides a simple, intuitive interface, so you can get the camera up and running in a jiffy. The video quality is good, as is the audio quality. The battery life stretches to 100 minutes. Like the other models on this list, this Sony survived our dunk and drop tests, but the company also sells an additional protective housing that it claims will keep this model dry up to a depth of 197 feet. For a little bit extra, you could opt instead for the Sony HDR-AS50R, which includes a wrist-mounted remote and an LCD screen.

Best DJI Osmo Action Alternatives

Things to consider when looking for the best DJI Osmo Action alternatives

GoPro Hero8 Black

GoPro Hero10 Black

Insta360 One R

AKASO Brave 7 LE

Kodak PixPro SP1

Sony HDR-AS50