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Best Overall
GoPro Hero 12
The Best Not-a-GoPro
DJI Action 4
Best for Those Who Want It All
Insta360 One RS
Most Fun
Insta360 Go 3 Action Camera
Choosing the right action camera used to be simple: Go with GoPro. That’s still good advice, in that the GoPro ranks high on our list and is our top pick for most adventure-seeking photographers, but we’ve finally found a few worthy competitors.
To figure out which cameras are the best, we dove with them, climbed with them, surfed with them, and handed them to reckless 10-year-olds on bikes. We found a number of great options that will record, and survive, your adventures on the ski slope, beach, or skate park.
If an action cam isn’t your speed, be sure to check out our other guides, including the Best Compact Cameras, Best Mirrorless Cameras, and Best Instant Cameras.
Updated October 2023: We’ve added the Insta360 Go 3, DJI Action 4, and the GoPro Hero 12.
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Photograph: GoPro
Best Overall
GoPro Hero 12
The Hero 12 Black (8/10, WIRED Recommends) picks up where the Hero 11 left off and adds better battery life, smarter stabilization, support for Log video, wireless mic support, and a tripod mount. It’s everything we love about the Hero 11, with some added bonuses. There is one downside though: GoPro dropped GPS support from the Hero 12.
The Hero series has always stood above its competitors when it comes to image stabilization, arguably the most important feature in an action camera. The Hero 12 Black brings HyperSmooth 6 (GoPro’s name for its image stabilization software), which offers better stabilization with even less cropping. Couple this with the much-improved battery life (and less overheating) and the GoPro Hero 12 is our top pick for most people.
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Photograph: DJI
The Best Not-a-GoPro
DJI Action 4
DJI’s Action 4 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a fantastic action camera. The magnetic mounting system is the best we’ve tried, the menu system makes switching between modes a snap, and the resulting photos and video are great. There are two places I think the GoPro Hero 12 edges ahead. The big one is 5.3K video. The other is stabilization, particularly horizon lock, which I’ve found less reliable on the Action 4. That said, this is an awesome camera and it integrates well into the DJI ecosystem. If you have a DJI drone, or DJI mics (8/10, WIRED Recommends), and plan to mix together footage, I would pick this over the Hero 12 because of how seemlessly DJI’s various tools works together.
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Photograph: Insta360
Best for Those Who Want It All
Insta360 One RS
Do you want an action cam? How about a 360-degree cam? The answer is, you want both, and now you can get both in one package. Insta360’s One RS (8/10, WIRED Recommends) eliminates the 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 some of the best video quality I’ve seen from an action camera.
The updated Insta360 One RS differs from its predecessor in both the 4K mod, which can now shoot 5.2K video, and the processor, which brings the company’s motion-smoothing algorithm to the camera, rather than requiring the app. I also like that Insta360 regularly adds new features and improvements via firmware updates, rather than releasing a whole new camera body every year.
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Photograph: Insta360
Most Fun
Insta360 Go 3 Action Camera
Insta360’s Go series cameras never struck me as true action cams until this third version. The Go 3 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a completely redesigned, hybrid camera that transforms from a traditional action-camera form factor to a more portable go-anywhere wearable camera. In action camera mode, it’s much like everything else in this guide, though the flip-up rear screen is a nice extra; it makes composing shots with you in them much easier. The Go 3 isn’t fully waterproof in this mode, which is a significant downside, but when you remove the camera from the case, the camera itself is waterproof. The case can also continue to act as a remote monitor even when you pull the camera out. Couple that with the extremely strong magnetic mounting system on the camera pod and the Go 3 becomes capable of shots and angles that no other camera in this guide can match.
Most importantly though, this camera is just plain fun. I keep mine in my bag all the time and find myself using it more and more. The video resolution tops out at 2.7K, which makes it a little hard to cut together with higher resolution footage, but the simplicity and ease of use more than make up for it in my experience.
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Photograph: GoPro
Best On Sale
GoPro Hero 11 Black
The Hero 11 Black (9/10, WIRED Recommends) remains a fantastic camera and if you want GPS support to record details like your track or speed, this is the GoPro to get. It has the same sensor and processor as the new Hero 12, though it is missing the latest generation stabilization. What makes the Hero 11 compelling though is that it’s only $350, and it may end up dropping even lower during upcoming sales events like Black Friday/Cyber Monday. If you see it around $300 don’t hesitate to grab one.
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Photograph: Insta360
Best 360 Cam for the Action Enthusiast
Insta360 X3 Camera
Insta360’s X series 360-degree cameras have never been in this guide before because previous versions were not really “action” cameras. The X3 (8/10 WIRED Recommends) is different. It shoots 5.7K 360 video out of its dual lenses, but you can also switch to a new single lens mode and use it like a 4K action cam. The X3 is slim, relatively lightweight, and can shoot very high resolution (and fun! don’t forget fun!) 72-megapixel spherical images.
The result is a camera that’s great for people who primarily shoot 360 footage but want to occasionally shoot something more action-oriented.
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Photograph: GoPro
Best Budget Camera
GoPro Hero 10 Black
The Hero 10 Black (8/10, WIRED Recommends) added a faster processor, which speeds up capture times, ekes more resolution out of the 23.6-megapixel sensor, and adds much-improved image stabilization. The main place that the new Hero 11 and 12 trump this camera is the newer, more squared processor, image stabilization, and higher resolution stills. Still, for most of us, the quality of results you get from the Hero 10 is going to be plenty. If you have to cut videos to vertical format then grab the Hero 11 or 12. If you don’t, this is probably good enough and easier on the pocketbook. That said, don’t spend more than $280 on it.
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Photograph: Olympus
Best for Underwater Action
Olympus Tough TG-6
The 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, though it is now about five years old and beginning to show it’s age. Olympus has abandoned its camera business, so there will probably never be a TG-7. I still think the TG-6 is the camera to get if you’re shooting a lot of underwater footage, but the results vs the Hero 8 in 2019 were more impressive than the results vs the Hero 12 in 2023.
That said, this is a seriously tough camera: 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.
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Photograph: Oclu
Best for Tight Spots
Oclu Action Camera
Oclu 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. 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 and up or Insta360 One RS. Sound, on the other hand, is excellent, and I got far less wind noise than with other cameras. All things considered, it’s hard to beat the Oclu’s performance for the price.
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Photograph: Best Buy
Best Ultralight
DJI Action 2 Camera
DJI’s Action 2 camera (6/10, WIRED Review) was a significant departure from the company’s first action camera and it abandoned the design for its third and fourth, which leaves the Action 2 in an odd spot. 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.
It’s unclear what support for the Action 2 will be going forward, given that the Osmo Action 3 and 4 have since come out. There is some risk you’re buying a system DJI has no plans to support in the future. But DJI is still selling this one so we’re keeping it in here for people who want a tiny camera.
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Photograph: Dragon Touch
The B Roll
Honorable Mention
You 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 ($50) 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.
Readers often ask, why spend $400 on a GoPro when they 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 GoPro Hero 9 or 10.
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Photograph: GoPro
Best Accessories to Trick Out Your Action Cam
Once you have an action camera, you’re really good to go for most use cases. GoPro, Insta360, and DJI all provide helmet mounts and other ways to stick your camera where you want it. That said, there are some nice extras that can make getting that shot you’re dreaming of even easier. Here are a few of our favorites.
- A Good microSD Card: You may get an SD card with your camera. Insta360’s SD cards are pretty good actually, but I tend to use SanDisk’s Extreme Pro cards because they’re fast and, as an added bonus, waterproof. You can pick up a 256-GB card for around $30.
- GoPro Media Mod ($80): GoPro’s sound is okay out of the box, but if you want higher quality audio, this is where you start. Not because the media mod produces great sound—it’s better than the camera, but still not great. What if offers is a microphone jack. Plug in a high-quality microphone and you’ll finally have awesome sound. Not recommended while skydiving. Also available at GoPro ($80).
- Joby GorillaPod 3K ($42): This flexible tripod extends your action camera’s mounting possibilities to include just about anything. My GoPro almost never leaves this tripod. It coils around SUP guys, tree branches, even my dashboard. Be sure to grab some tripod adapters below.
- Motorcycle Accessory Bundle ($45): If you ride, this mount for the Insta360 X3 (and One R) is a must-have. We’re still testing, but so far so good.
- Tripod mount ($8): Action cameras offer many ways to mount them, but one that’s curiously missing is the traditional quarter-inch tripod screwmount. The GoPro Hero 12 changes that, but this 4-pack of adapters solves the problem for the others.
- Polarizer and ND Filters: If you shoot around water, through glass, or in any other high-glare situation, a polarizing filter will help cut that glare. Neutral Density (ND) filters hold back light to let you shoot at wider aperture in bright light. Both are great additions to your action camera kit. I’ve tested and like Freewell’s polarizing and ND filters for GoPro ($20) and Insta360 ($30). I suggest starting with an 8 stop ND or combo ND and polarizing filter.
- Floaty ($30): Another one for the water shooters, but well worth the money since it’ll keep your GoPro from ending up at the bottom of the sea.
