10 best action cameras in 2026 (167+ compared)

Our top-rated AKASO action camera is AKASO Brave 8 Lite, achieving an overall score of 7.53 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 90 min, and priced around £180.

The Akaso Brave 8 Lite is a compact action camera featuring a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor capable of capturing 4K video at 60fps and 48MP still photos. Its main characteristics include dual color screens for easy framing, an IPX8 waterproof rating allowing submersion up to 10 meters without a case, and 'SuperSmooth' stabilization for steady footage.

Runner-up: AKASO Brave 7, with an overall score of 7.18 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 110 min, and a price of around £130.

For more top-rated models from this brand, check our best AKASO action cameras guide.

Leading the DJI lineup is DJI Osmo Action 6, delivering an overall score of 8.71 points, up to 8K video, a battery life of up to 240 min, and retailing for around £330.

The DJI Osmo Action 6 is a flagship action camera featuring an all-new 1/1.1-inch square CMOS sensor and an innovative variable aperture ranging from f/2.0 to f/4.0, significantly enhancing low-light performance and creative depth-of-field control. Key technical specifications include 8K video recording at 30fps, 4K at up to 120fps, and high-dynamic-range capabilities with up to 13.5 stops.

Runner-up: DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, with an overall score of 8.58 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 240 min, and a price of around £330.

See our complete best DJI action cameras guide for in-depth comparisons and alternatives.

The best GoPro action camera is GoPro HERO13 Black, with an overall score of 8.43 points, up to 5.3K video, a battery life of up to 150 min, and a price of around £400.

The GoPro HERO13 Black is a high-performance action camera featuring a 1/1.9-inch sensor capable of 5.3K60, 4K120, and 2.7K240 video, along with 27MP photos and a new Burst Slo-Mo mode reaching 400fps at 720p. Main characteristics include HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization, a rugged 33ft waterproof build, and a magnetic latch mounting system.

Best value alternative: GoPro HERO9 Black, with an overall score of 7.94 points, up to 5K video, a battery life of up to 105 min, and a price of around £180.

Explore our dedicated best GoPro action cameras guide for full model rankings.

The best Insta360 action camera is Insta360 X5, with an overall score of 8.53 points, up to 8K video, a battery life of up to 135 min, and a price of around £520.

The Insta360 X5 is a flagship 360-degree action camera that captures immersive 8K video at 30fps and 5.7K at up to 60fps with Active HDR, powered by dual 1/1.28-inch sensors and a dedicated 5nm AI chip. It features a rugged, waterproof design down to 49 feet (15m) without a case and introduces a first-of-its-kind user-replaceable lens system for enhanced durability.

Best value alternative: Insta360 Ace Pro, with an overall score of 8.31 points, up to 8K video, a battery life of up to 100 min, and a price of around £290.

Our top-rated Ricoh action camera is Ricoh THETA Z1, achieving an overall score of 6.14 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 60 min, and priced around £950.

The Ricoh Theta Z1 is a premium 360-degree camera featuring dual 1-inch back-illuminated CMOS sensors that capture 23-megapixel (6720 x 3360) RAW/JPEG stills and 4K video at 30 fps with 3-axis image stabilization. Its main advantages include superior low-light performance with a maximum sensitivity of ISO 6400, a selectable variable aperture mechanism (f/2.1, f/3.5, f/5.6), seamless in-camera stitching, and a durable magnesium alloy body with an integrated OLED status display.

Best value alternative: Ricoh WG M2, with an overall score of 6.12 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 80 min, and a price of around £290.

Leading the SJCAM lineup is SJCAM SJ10 Pro Action, delivering an overall score of 6.78 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 140 min, and retailing for around £130.

The SJCAM SJ10 Pro is a mid-range action camera powered by an Ambarella H22 chipset and a 12MP Sony IMX377 sensor, capable of recording native 4K video at 60fps and shooting JPEG or RAW photos through a 170-degree wide-angle f/2.8 lens. Key characteristics include a responsive 2.33-inch IPS touchscreen display, a removable 1300 mAh battery offering up to 140 minutes of 1080p recording, and dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity.

Runner-up: SJCAM SJ8 Pro, with an overall score of 6.59 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 90 min, and a price of around £190.

Ranking first among Veho models is Veho MUVI K2, with an overall score of 5.51 points, up to 1080p video, a battery life of up to 240 min, and available for around £190.

The Veho Muvi K2 is a compact action camera powered by the XA-7 Achilles chipset, capable of recording Full HD 1080p video at 60fps (19 Mbps) and 720p slow-motion at 120fps, alongside capturing 16-megapixel still photos with a wide 140-degree lens. Main characteristics include built-in Wi-Fi with a 60-metre mobile app range, G-sensor motion activation, a 10x digital zoom, and an interchangeable 1500mAh battery that delivers a generous continuous recording time of up to 4 hours.

Runner-up: Veho MUVI Atom, with an overall score of 3.92 points, up to 480p video, a battery life of up to 40 min, and a price of around £80.

Ranking first among Garmin models is Garmin VIRB Ultra 30, with an overall score of 6.21 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 135 min, and available for around £380.

The Garmin Virb Ultra 30 is a high-performance 4K action camera capable of recording Ultra HD at 30fps, 1080p at 120fps for slow motion, and capturing 12MP stills. Key characteristics include its G-Metrix technology—utilizing a built-in GPS and sensors like an accelerometer, altimeter, and compass to overlay data gauges on footage—and support for Sensory TrulyHandsfree voice control.

Runner-up: Garmin VIRB XE, with an overall score of 5.89 points, up to 1440p video, a battery life of up to 120 min, and a price of around £350.

Topping the GoXtreme selection is GoXtreme Manta, earning an overall score of 6.21 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 90 min, and costing around £110.

The GoXtreme Manta is a versatile 4K action camera featuring a 12MP CMOS sensor capable of recording real 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at up to 60fps. It is equipped with a 170° ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2.0-inch touchscreen for intuitive navigation, alongside built-in WiFi for smartphone control and file sharing.

Runner-up: GoXtreme Black Hawk Plus 4K, with an overall score of 6.07 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 90 min, and a price of around £130.

Our top-rated Kandao action camera is Kandao QooCam 3, achieving an overall score of 7.06 points, up to 5.7K video, a battery life of up to 58 min, and priced around £340.

The Kandao QooCam 3 is a rugged 360-degree action camera featuring dual large 1/1.55-inch sensors and a fast f/1.6 aperture, allowing it to capture high-resolution 62MP panoramic photos and 5.7K video at 30fps. Key characteristics include an IP68 waterproof rating (up to 10 meters), four-channel ambisonic audio for spatial sound, and a compact square design with a 1.9-inch touchscreen.

Runner-up: Kandao QooCam 8K, with an overall score of 6.99 points, up to 8K video, a battery life of up to 90 min, and a price of around £530.

Leading the Rollei lineup is Rollei Actioncam 5S WiFi Motorbike, delivering an overall score of 5.54 points, up to 1080p video, a battery life of up to 90 min, and retailing for around £320.

The Rollei Actioncam 5S WiFi Motorbike is an action camera featuring a 14 MP CMOS sensor, a 175° ultra-wide-angle lens, and 10x digital zoom, capable of recording Full HD videos at 1080p/30 fps or 1080i/60 fps for slow motion. Key advantages include an integrated, detachable 40-meter range DW-10 WiFi transmitter for Android/iOS smartphone control, a removable 1.4-inch live TFT display, continuous autofocus, and an expansive accessory bundle featuring a dedicated motorbike handlebar mount (32-55 mm), a wireless remote control, and a 60-meter underwater housing.

Best value alternative: Rollei Bullet 4S, with an overall score of 5.42 points, up to 1080p video, a battery life of up to 150 min, and a price of around £160.

Topping the YI selection is Xiaomi YI 4K, earning an overall score of 6.57 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 120 min, and costing around £240.

The Xiaomi Yi 4K is a high-performance action camera featuring a 12MP Sony IMX377 sensor and an Ambarella A9SE75 chipset, capable of recording true 4K video at 30fps and 1080p up to 120fps. Key characteristics include a responsive 2.19-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen, dual-band Wi-Fi for fast app connectivity, and a robust 1400mAh battery providing approximately 120 minutes of 4K recording.

Runner-up: Xiaomi YI 4K Plus, with an overall score of 6.41 points, up to 4K video, a battery life of up to 73 min, and a price of around £200.

Check out our in-depth best YI action cameras guide to view detailed specifications and ratings.