When you're enjoying the thrill of an adrenaline-rush adventure, you need a camera that can keep up with you, and action cameras are designed to do just that.

　　They shoot photos and videos in almost any environment, from snowy mountaintops to rough rocky terrain, and even underwater. Thanks to their rugged build, they’re difficult to break — and since they have image stabilization on board, you won’t be left with shaky, unusable footage, either.

　　The Best Action Cameras of 2023

　　Even if you’re not a cliff jumper or extreme athlete, action cameras capture life’s precious moments from family vacations and hikes to beach trips without the risk of breaking thanks to their rugged builds. Whether you’re buying one for yourself to take on your next ski trip or for the adrenaline junkie in your life, action cameras record vibrant video, are compact and easy to travel with, have plenty of mounts, deliver long-lasting battery life, and have software experiences that are intuitive and easy to use. That way you can spend less time transferring and editing footage and more time planning your next adventure.

　　What to Consider

　　Screens

　　If you’re shopping for someone who flies solo, make sure the action camera has a front-facing screen so they can shoot selfies and frame their solo shots easily that way they’re centered and in frame. Pay attention to whether or not the action camera is equipped with a touchscreen or relies on a remote control for adjusting settings. If you plan to edit and share video on the fly, we recommend opting for something that has a large main screen as well.

　　Mounts and Accessories

　　Chances are you or your giftee will use the action camera for a variety of activities, so prior to making a purchase, ensure that the camera is compatible with a wide range of mounts and accessories to maximize its versatility. This will allow for more creative angles and perspectives when capturing footage.

　　Image Quality

　　We strongly encourage you to shop for a camera that has electronic image stabilization on board which is vital for capturing smooth footage, particularly during high-action activities such as mountain biking. This feature reduces unwanted camera movement and vibration so your shots won't appear shaky.

　　Pay attention to the camera’s resolution and frame rate as well, as these are important factors in achieving high-quality footage. Some options record 30 fps in 5K quality. Lower-priced models record at 60 fps in Full HD quality. We recommend opting for something that records footage in 4K quality at up to 30 frames per second. If you want to record slow motion, consider something that records at 120 or even 240 frames per second.

　　waterproof cameras, which are better suited for still photography, along with our reviews of 360-degree cameras and wearable cameras. Lastly, every action camera on this guide will require a microSD card to store content, so make sure you budget for one.

　　Best Overall

　　

　　Best Overall

　　GoPro HERO11 Action Camera

　　

　　

　　Best Overall

　　GoPro HERO11 Action Camera

　　$299 at Amazon$422 at Walmart$499 at B&H PhotoPros

　　Key Specs

　　

Now 46% Off$244 at Amazon$380 at Walmart$399 at B&H PhotoPros

Interface is fast and easy to interact with

Impressive stabilizationCons

Doesn’t have the best low-light performance

Key Specs

Resolution and Frame Rate

Resolution and Frame Rate Image Quality Water Resistance Audio

5K video capture at 60 fps, 4K video capture at 120 fps, 2.7K video capture at 240 fps, 1080p video capture at 240 fps

23MP

Waterproof up to 33 feet without housing

Stereo audio, 3.5mm audio mic input sold separately

If the GoPro HERO11 Black is too far out of your budget, we recommend opting for its predecessor, the HERO10 Black. Its image and video quality, stabilization, and overall design are quite similar. What differs is the sensor size. The HERO 10 is equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor, compared to the HERO 11’s 1/1.9-inch sensor which allows users to shoot in 8:7 aspect ratio (in addition to the 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios that HERO 10 is capable of.)

　　This one captures 23MP still images that are plenty detailed with a well-balanced dynamic range. It shoots cool slow-motion videos, time-lapses, and has convenient voice controls for times when you can’t use its touchscreen. Speaking of screens, this one still is equipped with a screen on its front, which comes in handy for selfies and framing shots.

　　There’s still plenty to love about the GoPro HERO10 Black, its footage is crisp and smooth, it’s plenty durable and waterproof, and the software experience is a breeze to use. We’re also fans of the even cheaper , which still has some remaining stock left at the time of publishing. The HERO9 has shorter battery life, not as visually stable recordings, and lesser video quality. We say you should spring for whatever GoPro action camera best aligns with your budget.

　　

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　　Best 360 Camera

　　Best 360 Camera

　　Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition Action Camera

　　

　　

　　Best 360 Camera

　　Insta360 ONE RS Twin Edition Action Camera

　　$412 at AmazonPros

　　

　　Offers more versatility than any other action camera

　　

　　Has a 6K widescreen modeCons

　　

　　Live-streaming features are hard to use

　　Key Specs

　　

Resolution and Frame Rate	6K widescreen Mode with 2:35:1 ratio, 4K video capture at 60 fps with wide-angle lens, 5K video capture at 30 fps with dual 360 lens
Image Quality	48MP still images, optional RAW format capture, HDR mode, burst mode
Water Resistance	Waterproof up to 16 feet without housing
Audio	3.5mm audio mic input adapter sold separately

The Insta360 ONE RS is one of the most versatile action cameras money can buy. What sets it apart from the GoPro is its modular design, which allows users to swap out various lenses and sensors for different features and shooting options. With the Insta360 ONE RS’ interchangeable lenses, it’s truly like two cameras in one, since you can also use it as a standard action cam or a 360-degree camera, depending on which bundle you choose.

　　The Twin Edition, our recommended bundle, includes the 4K Boost Lens, which is the standard 4K action camera lens with an improved 1/2-inch 48MP image sensor for more detailed 4K 60fps videos and 48MP photos. It also comes with 5.7K 360 Lens which uses two fisheye lenses for capturing 360-degree video. The camera is water-resistant up to 16 feet, and although the GoPro HERO11 Black has a slight edge in video quality, battery life, and overall software experience, it doesn’t offer users the ability to record 360-degree video without the purchase of an entirely separate $300-plus camera.

　　The more expensive Core bundle comes with the dual-lens 360 camera and a wide-angle lens with a 1-inch sensor. The improved sensor allows users to shoot 5.3K video at 30 fps, 4K video at 60 fps, and 1080p video at 120 fps.

　　Overall, the Insta360’s One RS is an impressive futureproof camera with unique modular parts that gives you the best of both worlds for recording in ultra high resolution and a 360-degree format.

　　

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　　Best Waterproof Camera

　　Best Waterproof Camera

　　Olympus Tough TG-6 Action Camera

　　

　　Best Waterproof Camera

　　Olympus Tough TG-6 Action Camera

　　$489 at Amazon$414 at Walmart$500 at B&H PhotoPros

　　

　　Extremely durable

　　

　　Very easy to useCons

　　

　　It’s hard to see the LCD in direct sunlight

　　Key Specs

　　

Resolution and Frame Rate	4K video recording 25 or 30 fps
Image Quality	12MP sensor, f/2.0 lens with 4-times magnification optical zoom
Water Resistance	Waterproof (up to 50 feet), shockproof, crushproof (up to 220 pounds), freezeproof
Other Features	Built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, compass, and temperature sensor

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is geared more toward taking photos rather than recording videos, but it exceeds at doing both with excellent quality. The camera has a rich set of features designed for making the most of your adventures and features an ultra-tough build.

　　The TG-6 can capture detailed 12MP stills in up to a whopping 20 frames per second, as well as ultra-crisp 4K video through its 4-times magnification optical zoom lens with f/2.0 aperture. Microscope mode for ultra-close-up shooting is also among the camera's features, as is the ability to capture panoramas and time-lapses. Advanced photographers have the option to save their images in RAW file format for more extensive edits.

　　Of course, there's also the option to take underwater photos via four dedicated modes. The camera is waterproof up to 50 feet, so you can even take it snorkeling with you.

　　The rest of the camera’s highlights include Wi-Fi for smartphone connectivity, GPS, a built-in eCompass, and a temperature sensor. And the 3-inch LCD display makes navigating through all the camera’s features easy, although we do wish it were a touchscreen.

　　

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　　Best Budget Action Camera

　　Best Budget Action Camera

　　AKASO Brave 7 LE Action Camera

　　

　　

　　Best Budget Action Camera

　　AKASO Brave 7 LE Action Camera

　　Now 18% Off$140 at Amazon$150 at B&H PhotoPros

　　

　　Affordable price

　　

　　Front-facing displayCons

　　

　　Its competitors have stronger image quality

　　Key Specs

　　

Resolution and Frame Rate	4K video capture at 30 fps
Image Quality	20MP still images, time-lapse and slow-motion modes
Water Resistance	Waterproof up to 98 feet with housing
Audio	Wi-Fi and HDMI connectivity

Priced below $150 with an included waterproof housing, the AKASO Brave 7 LE is a great starter action camera for buyers on a tight budget. It has a sleek design with dual-color displays on each side, intuitive touchscreen controls, and good-enough image stabilization on board.

　　The Brave 7 LE is equipped with a high-quality Sony image sensor, which allows it to capture 4K video at 30 fps, or 1080p footage at up to a rather brisk 120 fps, as well as nice-looking 20MP still images. The camera's electronic image stabilization won’t compete with the likes of GoPro and Insta360, but it will suffice for most amateur videographers.

　　We like the action camera for its tough design, its front-facing selfie screen, and its easily adjustable settings. We also were happy to see that it comes with two batteries and a handful of mounts, but wish it used the newer USB-C port for recharging.

　　There's a plethora of shooting modes to choose from. They include time-lapse, slow-motion, and burst image capture, among others. The gadget has Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can connect it to your smartphone.

　　For those in search of something priced closer to $100, consider the even cheaper , instead. The biggest difference between the two is that Brave 7 LE is equipped with a useful front-facing screen that’ll come in handy for framing shots, but you can expect similar video quality between the two. Both are impressive action cameras for an affordable price point.

　　

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