March 2023

Action Video Cameras: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of Action Camera rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2023.

Summary

Between 4 Mar 2023 and 7 Mar 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 89 Action Camera endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

29 Action Video Cameras were endorsed in total, only 17 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 7 Mar 2023, GoPro Hero11 Black takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed action camera with 9 expert endorsements. 7 experts out of 9 recommended it as the '#1 action camera' this month. It is followed by GoPro Hero10 Black and GoPro Hero 9 Black , with 9 and 9 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking action video cameras start at $99.99 (Akaso V50X) and go up to $747.84 (Insta360 One R 1-inch edition). Median action camera costs $359.90 (Insta360 ONE X2).
$99.99
$747.84

At a glance - March 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price Action Camera
Wirecutter
Tom's Guide
TechRadar
WIRED
Rtings.com
Camera Jabber
PCMag
T3
Pocket-lint
Digital Camera World
1
- $449
GoPro Hero11 Black
3
1
4
1
-
1
1
1
1
1
2
- $389
GoPro Hero10 Black
1
3
1
4
1
3
-
2
5
2
3
- $300
GoPro Hero 9 Black
2
6
6
8
2
6
5
5
-
7
4
- $329
DJI Osmo Action 3
-
5
5
3
-
2
4
-
2
8
5
- $415
Insta360 One RS
-
2
-
2
-
-
7
3
4
3
6
- $289
Insta360 Go 2
-
4
12
-
5
7
-
-
3
5
7
- $260
DJI Action 2
-
-
8
9
-
-
3
8
-
4
8
- $430
Insta360 X3
4
-
-
5
-
-
2
4
-
-
9
- $112
Akaso Brave 7 LE
-
-
2
-
3
-
-
-
-
10
10
- $480
Insta360 One R
-
-
10
-
-
4
-
6
-
-
11
- $339
DJI Pocket 2
-
-
13
-
6
-
-
-
-
6
12
- $500
GoPro Max
-
-
11
-
-
-
6
12
-
-
13
+1 $210
GoPro Hero8
-
-
7
-
-
-
-
7
-
-
14
+1 $399
GoPro Hero7 Black
-
-
9
-
-
-
-
10
-
-
15
+1 $460
Olympus Tough TG-6
-
-
14
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
16
+1 Check price
Akaso Brave 8
-
-
-
-
-
12
-
11
-
-
17
+1 Check price
SJCam SJ8 Pro
-
-
-
-
-
10
-
14
-
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price Action Camera
#9 $111.99 Akaso Brave 7 LE [buy] [more info]
#13 $210 GoPro Hero8 [buy] [more info]
#7 $259.95 DJI Action 2 [buy] [more info]
#6 $289 Insta360 Go 2 [buy] [more info]
#3 $299.99 GoPro Hero 9 Black [buy] [more info]
#4 $328.99 DJI Osmo Action 3 [buy] [more info]
#11 $339 DJI Pocket 2 [buy] [more info]
#2 $389 GoPro Hero10 Black [buy] [more info]
#14 $399 GoPro Hero7 Black [buy] [more info]
#5 $415 Insta360 One RS [buy] [more info]
#8 $430 Insta360 X3 [buy] [more info]
#1 $449 GoPro Hero11 Black [buy] [more info]
#15 $460 Olympus Tough TG-6 [buy] [more info]
#10 $479.99 Insta360 One R [buy] [more info]
#12 $499.99 GoPro Max [buy] [more info]

We ranked GoPro Hero11 Black #1 in March 2023 because:

  • 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
  • Out of those, 7 experts ranked GoPro Hero11 Black as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Wirecutter

The ultimate in frame rates and features

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

The best action camera overall

Pros
Innovative editing features
Larger image sensor
Amazing motion stabilization

Cons
Bulky

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best flagship action cam for social cropping

Pros
Versatile aspect ratio for cropping
10-bit mode useful for color grading

Cons
Still not great in low lighting
Budget rivals offer better value

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Overall

Go to ranking

Camera Jabber

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Action Cam Overall / Editors' Choice

Pros
Great-looking 5.3K60 video
4K120 and 2.7K240 slow-motion
10-bit color sampling
Numerous time-lapse modes
Waterproof to 33 feet
Solid touch interface and voice command support
Subscription service with useful features

Cons
Not ideal for long-form recording or macro work
One battery won't get you through the day

Go to ranking

T3

The current flagship GoPro is the best action camera you can buy

Pros
New sensor amps up the quality everywhere
Better battery life
Same physical dimensions as the Hero 10

Cons
Only incremental improvements over older model

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

Best Action Camera

Pros
Best in class stabilisation
10-bit colour video capture with high bitrate
Extremely wide HyperView digital lens

Cons
Fairly bulky
Quite expensive

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

The TikTok-ready action cam adds simplicity, and a new 8:7 sensor / Editor's Choice

Pros
Captures versatile 8:7 content
Excellent image stabilization
Horizon locking at up to 5.3K
Simplified interface for beginners

Cons
Lowlight video isn't great
Front display is not touch sensitive
GoPro membership required to unlock features

Go to ranking

We ranked GoPro Hero10 Black #2 in March 2023 because:

  • 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
  • Out of those, 3 experts ranked GoPro Hero10 Black as #1.
Critic endorsements:
Wirecutter

The best action camera

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

GoPro's older, but still very capable action camera

Pros
Excellent image stabilization
Removable lens
Media “Mods” add functionality

Cons
Heavy

Go to ranking

TechRadar

Best overall action camera

Pros
Powerful new processor
Handy 4K/120p mode
Class-leading stabilization

Cons
Same sensor as Hero 9 Black
Pricier than rivals

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Value

Go to ranking

Rtings.com

Best Action Camera

Go to ranking

Camera Jabber

Go to ranking

T3

The GoPro Hero 10 offers almost everything the new Hero 11 boasts, for a considerably cheaper price

Pros
Speedy and slick thanks to new processor
Higher resolution and framerate than H9
Water-repelling lens cover
Horizon leveling up to 45-degree tilt

Cons
Most expensive option
Battery can struggle to keep up

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

Still a great buy

Pros
The best image quality around
Incredible image stabilisation
Extreme high resolution and frame rate options

Cons
Relatively heavy
Can be prone to overheating

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

The best traditional action cam all round with 5.3K video and 23MP stills

Pros
Faster user interface
Increased frame rates
Hydrophobic lens coating

Cons
Incremental upgrade on Hero9 Black
Bigger than the Hero8 Black and Hero7 Black
Not compatible with older batteries

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Action Video Cameras.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Action Video Cameras, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for March 2023 ranking

We ranked GoPro Hero 9 Black #3 in March 2023 because:

  • 9 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Wirecutter

The best budget-friendly action camera

Go to ranking

Tom's Guide

An older GoPro

Pros
Front-facing screen
Removable lens
Media “Mods” add functionality

Cons
Heavy

Go to ranking

TechRadar

An excellent GoPro action cam if don't need 4K slo-mo

Pros
5K video captures lots of detail
Front display for vlogging
Improved battery life
New software skills

Cons
Rear screen currently unresponsive
Little improvement to 4K video

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best On Sale

Go to ranking

Rtings.com

Best Mid-Range Action Camera

Go to ranking

Camera Jabber

Pros
No need for waterproof housing
Dual Screen
8X Slow-motion

Cons
Mods are expensive
Not great in low light

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best GoPro for Budget Shoppers

Pros
Up to 5K quality at 30fps
Front-facing color LCD
Exceptional video stabilization
Up to 240fps HD slow motion
Time-lapse, buffering, and HDR imaging
USB-C charging
Strong app support
Compact and waterproof

Cons
You'll likely want to carry extra batteries
Subscription service adds recurring costs
Discounted pricing not available from all retailers

Go to ranking

T3

Not quite the newest GoPro, but still an outstanding action camera

Pros
Integrated front-facing screen
Removable lens cover
Native horizon levelling
Very easy to use

Cons
Not quite as slick as the HERO 10
No hydrophobic lens cover

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

It might have been released in 2019 but specs wise, it's not fat off the GoPro Hero 10 and it's cheaper!

Pros
Front-facing screen
20MP photos
14.7 MP grabs from video

Cons
Larger physical size than other GoPros
5K video takes up a lot of memory

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Osmo Action 3 #4 in March 2023 because:

  • 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

A great budget GoPro alternative

Pros
Solid video quality
Innovative mounting options
More affordable than a GoPro

Cons
Photo quality is limited to 12 MP
Upload and edit process is entirely manual

Go to ranking

TechRadar

The best value action camera for most people

Pros
Best-in-class diving specs
Convenient mounting setup

Cons
Poor low-light performance
Video quality can’t compete with GoPro

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Budget Camera

Go to ranking

Camera Jabber

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best for 4K120 on a Budget

Pros
Front and rear color touch displays
Easy to change lens filters
Continuous 4K60 recording without overheating
Up to 4K120 and 1080p240 slow motion
75-minute battery
Waterproof to 52 feet

Cons
Smartphone activation a strict requirement
Video limited to 4K, 8-bit quality

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

A super choice

Pros
Excellent magnetic mounting solution
Extremely wide FOV
Handy front touchscreen

Cons
Needs a bracket for vertical shooting
The rubber lens protector can easily be lost

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

Does DJI’s 3rd generation action camera have what it takes?

Pros
Dual touchscreen control
Good vlogging tool in vertical or horizontal
No module confusion (compared to Action 2)
Extreme batteries included as standard
Cheaper than GoPro
No subscription payments required

Cons
12-megapixel images and 4K maximum video resolution
No period of cloud backup included
We’d like to see a start and stop timer
Vertical format use requires frame
Voice control somewhat spotty

Go to ranking

We ranked Insta360 One RS #5 in March 2023 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

This 360 camera has a modular design

Pros
Innovative modular design
Multiple lens options including 360 lens
Reversible screen for front facing option
Impressive in-camera stabilization

Cons
Small screen size
Needs frame for mounting

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best for Those Who Want It All

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best for Mixing 360 and 4K Footage

Pros
Compact design
Swappable lens modules
Waterproof to 16 feet
Stabilized 4K60 and 5.7K 360 video
HDR available at 4K30
2:35 wide-screen mode
Mobile and desktop app support

Cons
In-camera mics disappoint outdoors
Modular design can get in the way
Small touch LCD
Battery only good for 75 minutes of 4K
Heat can limit long-form recordings

Go to ranking

T3

The most flexible action camera

Pros
Compelling modular design
Outstanding image quality
Good battery life

Cons
Fiddly SD/Charge port cover

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

Three-in-one transformer

Pros
The most configurable of the bunch
Robust and waterproof despite modularity
Up to three cameras in one

Cons
Small screen
Can't compete with GoPro on image quality

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

You might find the ONE RS's modular design more fiddly, but you get an action camera AND a 360 camera in one!

Pros
4K and 360º lens options
RAW photos and 100mbps video
Optional 1-inch action cam mod

Cons
Small-ish touchscreen

Go to ranking

We ranked Insta360 Go 2 #6 in March 2023 because:

  • 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Tom's Guide

The best really small action camera

Pros
Very small
Takes good photos and videos for size
Charging case doubles as remote

Cons
Gets hot in use
Shorter battery life than other action cameras

Go to ranking

TechRadar

A tiny action cam with a very clever case

Pros
Truly tiny form factor
Tripod charging case

Cons
No display for framing
Only waterproof to 4m

Go to ranking

Rtings.com

Most Portable Action Camera

Go to ranking

Camera Jabber

Pros
Miniscule size
Easy to use
Waterproof
Good video quality

Cons
No 4K video
No microSD card slot

Go to ranking

Pocket-lint

Tiny but mighty

Pros
The tiniest action camera around
Versatile magnetic mounting options
Great stabilisation

Cons
Battery life can be limiting
Maxes out at 1440p 50fps

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

It's not 4K or waterproof, but this tiny magnetic camera can go where others can't!

Pros
Tiny when used 'naked'
High resolution for its size
Charge case and mounts included

Cons
Short run time
Can 'flick' out of mounts

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Action 2 #7 in March 2023 because:

  • 5 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

A unique action cam that's very modular and expandable

Pros
Versatile, modular design
Handy horizon-leveling

Cons
Overheating limitations
Not great in low light

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best Ultralight

Go to ranking

PCMag

Most Innovative Design

Pros
Tiny, go-anywhere form factor
Magnetic mount and snap-on accessories
Effective digital stabilization
Up to 4K120 video
12MP photos
Waterproof to 33 feet
Works as a webcam

Cons
Front screen option pushes price high
Overheating is a concern
No card slot or charging port on main camera module
Front screen and battery aren't waterproof

Go to ranking

T3

An innovative, modular action cam

Pros
Compact and lightweight
Modular, magnetic system is inspired
Excellent image stabilisation

Cons
Overheating cuts off video clips
Not great in low light

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

DJI's groundbreaking modular design makes the Action 2 a very clever bit of kit

Pros
Use compact or with combo unit
Dual touchscreen interface
Live streaming

Cons
Internal storage in camera (microSD cards need secondary unit)
Secondary unit must be attached to charge or use memory cards

Go to ranking

We ranked Insta360 X3 #8 in March 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Wirecutter

The action camera to capture everything

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best 360 Cam for the Action Enthusiast

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best 360 Camera for Creators / Editors' Choice

Pros
5.7K30 HDR video
Slim, waterproof build
Big touch screen with straightforward interface
Robust desktop and mobile editing tools
Loads of capture modes

Cons
Video must be processed before editing
A bit of a learning curve to grasp 360-degree editing
Mobile editing app limits resolution

Go to ranking

T3

The best all-in-one 360 action cam you can buy

Pros
Easy to use
Solid image performance
Waterproof and rugged

Cons
Stitching still not perfect
Not a generational leap over the X2

Go to ranking

We ranked Akaso Brave 7 LE #9 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best action camera on a budget

Pros
Dual screens
Case-free water resistance
Class-leading build quality

Cons
Poor 60fps footage
Jumpy electronic stabilization
Cheaper options have better 4K

Go to ranking

Rtings.com

Best Budget Action Camera

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

You wouldn't put the Akaso Brave 7 LE in the same class as GoPro, but it's way, way cheaper

Pros
Front LCD screen
4K video capture
6-axis stabilization
Low price

Cons
Needs to be put in case to be fully waterproof

Go to ranking

We ranked Insta360 One R #10 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

An impressive, if imperfect, modular option with great quality

Pros
Modular design offers unrivaled versatility
Solid 4K and 360-degree image quality

Cons
Very small screen
Significant bugs at launch

Go to ranking

Camera Jabber

Pros
Modular design
Incredible image quality
Both standard and 360º video

Cons
Joins get filled with mud
App home screen cluttered

Go to ranking

T3

A cheaper version of the RS

Pros
Clever modular system
360-degree live previews on device
Flippable screen for vlogging
Easy to upgrade or replace modules

Cons
Stitching errors on 360 content

Go to ranking

We ranked DJI Pocket 2 #11 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

What it lacks in ruggedness it makes up for with great stabilization

Pros
Useful gimbal stabilization
Impressive tracking

Cons
Poor low light performance
Can get hot while filming 4K

Go to ranking

Rtings.com

Best Handheld Action Camera

Go to ranking

Digital Camera World

Not your traditional action camera, but we think the Pocket 2 is amazing

Pros
Sensational stabilization
Fantastic pocketability
Simple operation

Cons
Relies heavily on extras and accessories

Go to ranking

We ranked GoPro Max #12 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

The best waterproof, 360-degree action camera

Pros
Shoots 5.6K, 360-degree video
In-camera stitching

Cons
Low-resolution 2D footage
Not the best in low light

Go to ranking

PCMag

Best Audio in a 360 Cam

Pros
360-degree capture
Also works as a single-lens camera
Intuitive software tools
Strong stabilization
Good in-camera audio
Waterproof without a case
Integrated mounting clips

Cons
Effective resolution is really 1080p
Single-lens capture tops out at 60fps
Requires more editing time to get the best results from spherical footage

Go to ranking

T3

The best dedicated 360-degree camera on the market

Pros
Stunning 360-degree video
360 degree photos
Sturdy construction

Cons
Conventional video resolution is lower than rival
Image stitching can look glitchy

Go to ranking

We ranked GoPro Hero8 #13 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

A good all-rounder if you don't need a front-facing screen

Pros
Best-in-class digital stabilization
Time-saving Capture Presets
Built-in mounting arms
Improved mic

Cons
Poor low-light performance
No front display

Go to ranking

T3

There's no front-facing screen, but this camera delivers plenty of bang for your buck

Pros
Extremely capable and easy to use
Frameless design with folding mount fingers
Feature-packed and hugely robust

Cons
No front-facing preview screen
Not quite as good as the H10 or H9

Go to ranking

We ranked GoPro Hero7 Black #14 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

An older GoPro flagship that's more now affordable

Pros
Great 4K video and image quality
HyperSmooth is very effective

Cons
Can struggle with voice commands
Screen unresponsive at times

Go to ranking

T3

Not new,but still great

Pros
Great image quality and stabilisation
Waterproof without housing

Cons
No frameless design, so cases needed

Go to ranking

We ranked Olympus Tough TG-6 #15 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
TechRadar

An action camera disguised as a hardcore compact

Pros
Internally stacked zoom lens
Up to 4K video resolution

Cons
Quality drops in bright conditions
Small sensor at its core

Go to ranking

WIRED

Best for Underwater Action

Go to ranking

We ranked Akaso Brave 8 #16 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Camera Jabber

Pros
Good range of specifications
High-quality video
Touch Screen

Cons
Not great in low light
SuperSmooth is limited
App good but limited

Go to ranking

T3

A well-specced action cam that's worth a look

Pros
Strong spec list
Excellent package of mounts
Decent stabilisation

Cons
Buggy launch software

Go to ranking

We ranked SJCam SJ8 Pro #17 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Camera Jabber

Pros
Excellent value
Large clear screen
Decent video quality

Cons
Waterproof housing
The app interface can be clunky when used with Gimbal

Go to ranking

T3

Pro video quality on a tighter budget? This is the action cam for you

Pros
Excellent video quality
Large 2.33-inch IPS touchscreen
Includes dashcam ‘car mode’
USB-C charging

Go to ranking