The 10 Best Action Cameras as of July 2026

How we ranked these action cameras

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

Performance (35%) — how well each action camera does its core job.
Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

We also weigh real-world owner reviews — star ratings and how many people left them — and whether each product has the features you'd expect in its class.

At a glance: top 10 compared

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links →

#	Action Cameras	Score	Best for	Resolution	Approx. Price	Amazon links
1	GoPro Hero 13 Black	9.3	Best overall	5.3K	£400	View Price
2	DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro	9.0	Best for low light	4K	£350	View Price
3	Insta360 X4	8.9	Best 360°	8K 360	£450	View Price
4	Insta360 Ace Pro 2	8.8	Best image quality	8K	£380	View Price
5	GoPro Hero 12 Black	8.6	Best value GoPro	5.3K	£300	View Price
6	DJI Osmo Action 4	8.4	Best value all-rounder	4K	£250	View Price
7	Insta360 Go 3S	8.4	Best tiny/wearable	4K	£350	View Price
8	AKASO Brave 7	8.2	Best budget all-rounder	4K	£120	View Price
9	AKASO Brave 8 Lite	8.0	Best budget	4K	£100	View Price
10	AKASO EK7000	7.9	Best ultra-budget	4K	£60	View Price

The full ranking

Best overall

GoPro Hero 13 Black

9.3Our number one pick.

The GoPro Hero 13 Black is the action-camera benchmark, with superb 5.3K video, class-leading HyperSmooth stabilisation, rugged waterproof build and a huge mount ecosystem. It is pricey and battery life is modest, but it is the most capable all-rounder.

Video: 9.4Stabilisation: 9.4Durability: 9.0Value: 8.4

Pros

Superb 5.3K video
Best-in-class stabilisation
Huge accessory range

Cons

Pricey
Modest battery life

Check price on Amazon≈ £400

Best for low light

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

9.0A superb runner-up.

DJI's Osmo Action 5 Pro rivals GoPro with excellent stabilisation, strong low-light performance, long battery life and a handy front screen. It has a smaller ecosystem, but for value and battery it is superb.

Video: 9.0Stabilisation: 9.2Durability: 9.0Value: 9.0

Pros

Great low-light video
Long battery life
Front screen

Cons

Smaller accessory range
No 5.3K

Check price on Amazon≈ £350

Best 360°

Insta360 X4

8.9Rounds out our top three.

The Insta360 X4 is the leading 360-degree action camera, capturing everything around you for reframing later, with 8K resolution and excellent stabilisation, brilliant for creative shots. It needs more editing, but for 360 capture it is the best.

Video: 9.0Stabilisation: 9.2Durability: 8.6Value: 8.8

Pros

Reframe anything in 360
8K capture
Excellent stabilisation

Cons

More editing work
Lens protectors recommended

Check price on Amazon≈ £450

Best image quality

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

8.8A standout in the upper half.

The Insta360 Ace Pro 2, co-engineered with Leica, offers excellent image quality, a large sensor, a flip screen and strong AI features, a versatile flagship. It is bulkier than rivals, but the image quality and flip screen are excellent.

Video: 9.2Stabilisation: 9.0Durability: 8.8Value: 8.6

Pros

Excellent image quality
Flip screen
Useful AI features

Cons

Bulkier
Smaller mount ecosystem

Check price on Amazon≈ £380

Best value GoPro

GoPro Hero 12 Black

8.6A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The previous-generation Hero 12 Black still delivers excellent 5.3K video and top stabilisation, now at a lower price, a smart value pick within the GoPro range. It misses the latest tweaks, but remains hugely capable.

Video: 9.0Stabilisation: 9.2Durability: 9.0Value: 9.0

Pros

Excellent 5.3K video
Top stabilisation
Cheaper than latest

Cons

Older battery
Last-gen features

Check price on Amazon≈ £300

Best value all-rounder

DJI Osmo Action 4

8.4Great value in the middle of the pack.

DJI's Osmo Action 4 offers strong stabilised 4K, good low light and long battery life at a wallet-friendly price, excellent value for most users. It is a generation behind, but covers the essentials brilliantly.

Video: 8.6Stabilisation: 9.0Durability: 8.8Value: 9.2

Pros

Strong stabilised 4K
Long battery
Great value

Cons

Last-gen
Smaller ecosystem

Check price on Amazon≈ £250

Best tiny/wearable

Insta360 Go 3S

8.4A dependable pick if the price is right.

The Insta360 Go 3S is a thumb-sized wearable camera that magnetically sticks anywhere for unique POV shots, with surprisingly good stabilisation. The battery is tiny and it is pricey for the size, but nothing else is this discreet.

Video: 8.4Stabilisation: 8.8Durability: 8.4Value: 8.4

Pros

Tiny and wearable
Magnetic mounting
Good stabilisation

Cons

Tiny battery
Pricey for size

Check price on Amazon≈ £350

Best budget all-rounder

AKASO Brave 7

8.2Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

AKASO's Brave 7 packs native 4K, dual colour screens and improved EIS 2.0 stabilisation into a rugged IPX8 waterproof body with external-mic support, a capable budget all-rounder. It can't match premium low light or stabilisation, but it covers far more than its price suggests.

Video: 8.2Stabilisation: 8.0Durability: 8.6Value: 9.0

Pros

Native 4K with dual screens
Waterproof with external-mic support
Strong value

Cons

Low light trails premium cams
Bulkier than a GoPro

Check price on Amazon≈ £120

Best budget

AKASO Brave 8 Lite

8.0A budget-friendly option worth a look.

AKASO's Brave 8 Lite delivers 4K video and electronic stabilisation with a waterproof case and accessories for a fraction of GoPro money, great budget value. The stabilisation and low light trail premium cams, but it covers the basics well.

Video: 8.0Stabilisation: 8.0Durability: 8.4Value: 9.2

Pros

Affordable 4K
Waterproof case included
Lots of accessories

Cons

Weaker stabilisation
Poorer low light

Check price on Amazon≈ £100

Best ultra-budget

AKASO EK7000

7.9Rounds out our top ten.

AKASO's EK7000 is about the cheapest usable 4K action camera, a fine introduction for kids and casual use with a waterproof housing and mounts included. It is basic with limited stabilisation, but for the price it is great fun value.

Video: 7.8Stabilisation: 7.6Durability: 8.2Value: 9.2

Pros

Very cheap
Waterproof housing
Accessories included

Cons

Basic stabilisation
Average image

Check price on Amazon≈ £60

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the action cameras in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the GoPro Hero 13 Black, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and Insta360 X4 are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best action cameras without overthinking it, the GoPro Hero 13 Black is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £400

Our top picks at a glance

GoPro Hero 13 Black

GoPro Hero 12 Black

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

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How we ranked these action cameras

At a glance: top 10 compared

The full ranking

GoPro Hero 13 Black

Pros

Cons

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

Pros

Cons

Insta360 X4

Pros

Cons

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Pros

Cons

GoPro Hero 12 Black

Pros

Cons

DJI Osmo Action 4

Pros

Cons

Insta360 Go 3S

Pros

Cons

AKASO Brave 7

Pros

Cons

AKASO Brave 8 Lite

Pros

Cons

AKASO EK7000

Pros

Cons

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

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