September 2021
Action Video Cameras: Aggregated Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Action Camera rankings posted by key online experts, as of September 2021.
At a glance - September 2021 Ranking
| Rank | Change | Price | Action Camera |
Digital Camera World
|
CNET
|
PCMag
|
WIRED
|
Camera Jabber
|
Wirecutter
|
Pocket-lint
|
Tom's Guide
|
T3
|
TechRadar
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
- | $400 |
GoPro Hero 9 Black
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
2
|
- | $300 |
GoPro Hero8
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
|
3
|
- | $299 |
Dji OSMO Action
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
5
|
6
|
|
4
|
- | $250 |
GoPro Hero7 Black
|
3
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
7
|
2
|
-
|
4
|
3
|
5
|
|
5
|
- | $479 |
Insta360 One R
|
5
|
2
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
7
|
7
|
|
6
|
- | $698 |
Sony RX0 Mark II
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
11
|
|
7
|
- | $140 |
Akaso Brave 7 LE
|
8
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
|
8
|
- | Check price |
SJCam SJ8 Pro
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
|
9
|
- | $484 |
GoPro Max
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
9
|
|
10
|
- | $299 |
Insta360 Go 2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
10
|
|
11
|
- | $549 |
Insta360 One R 1-inch edition
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
|
12
|
- | $70 |
Akaso EK7000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
|
13
|
- | Check price |
Oclu Action Camera
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
|
14
|
- | Check price |
YI 4K Plus
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
-
|
|
15
|
- | Check price |
Olympus Tough TG-Tracker
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked GoPro Hero 9 Black #1 in September 2021 because:
- 10 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
- Out of those, 9 experts ranked GoPro Hero 9 Black as #1.
Digital Camera World
Editor's Choice
|
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
|
PCMag
Best for 5K Capture
|
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
|
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
No need for waterproof housing
Dual Screen
8X Slow-motion
|
Cons
Mods are expensive
Not great in low light
|
Tom's Guide
The best action camera overall
|
Pros
Front-facing screen
Removable lens
Media “Mods” add functionality
|
Cons
Heavy
|
T3
The latest and greatest GoPro from the action cam kings
|
Pros
Integrated front-facing screen
Improved specs all round
Native horizon levelling
Still very easy to use
|
Cons
Most expensive option
|
TechRadar
The most versatile action camera ever
|
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
|
We ranked GoPro Hero8 #2 in September 2021 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked GoPro Hero8 as #1.
Digital Camera World
A great value and smaller,lighter alternative to GoPro’s new flagship
|
Pros
Super image stabilization
Crisp, smooth 4K video
Built-in acccessory mounts
|
Cons
Screen is smaller than DJI
|
PCMag
Best for Sports and Adventure / Editor's Choice
|
Pros
Stabilized 4K at up to 60fps.
Rugged, waterproof design.
Crisp touch LCD.
Integrated mount.
Improved user interface.
USB-C charging.
Companion app with automated editing.
Promising Mod expansion system.
|
Cons
Wi-Fi video transfer can take some time.
Cramped memory card slot.
|
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
No need for waterproof housing
Incredible stabilisation
Stunning video quality
|
Cons
Premium price for the brand
Mount can be tricky
Mods not available at launch
|
Tom's Guide
The next best action camera
|
Pros
Much-improved audio quality
Sleeker accessory mounting system
Media “Mods” add functionality
|
Cons
Battery door is awkward to close
Lens is not removable
|
T3
T3 Awards 2020 Winner
|
Pros
HyperSmooth 2.0
TimeWarp 2.0
Frameless design
Folding mounting fingers
|
TechRadar
A fine all-rounder that's ideal 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
|
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 September 2021 ranking
Digital Camera World
CNET
PCMag
WIRED
Camera Jabber
Wirecutter
Pocket-lint
Tom's Guide
T3
TechRadar
We ranked Dji OSMO Action #3 in September 2021 because:
- 8 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Digital Camera World
DJI's entry in the action cam market brings a front-facing selfie screen
|
Pros
Front color LCD monitor is great for vlogging
Excellent image stabilization
|
Cons
Doesn't have all the accessory options of the GoPro range
The app needs some work
|
PCMag
Best for Vloggers
|
Pros
Rugged, waterproof build.
Stabilized 4K footage at up to 60fps.
1080p slow-motion at up to 240fps.
Easily swappable filters.
Supports HDR and flat profiles.
Front and rear color displays.
Filters included.
|
Cons
Battery life could be better.
HDR video isn't stabilized.
Stabilization not as good as GoPro.
No tripod socket.
|
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
Excellent video quality
Robust build
Excellent Rock Steady stabilisation
|
Cons
Battery life could be better
No live-streaming capability
|
Tom's Guide
The best action camera for selfies
|
Pros
Good motion stabilization
forward-facing screen
rich colors in video
|
Cons
Motion stabilization doesn't work with HDR
No livestreaming
|
T3
GoPro's fiercest competition yet,and a solid choice for vloggers too
|
Pros
Impressive image stabilisation
Colour front-facing screen
ease of use
|
TechRadar
More than just a GoPro clone
|
Pros
Forward-facing color monitor
Good motion stabilization
Rich color reproduction
|
Cons
No motion stabilization for HDR video
No livestreaming
|
We ranked GoPro Hero7 Black #4 in September 2021 because:
- 7 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Digital Camera World
2018’s flagship remains worth investigating for handheld time-lapses
|
Pros
HyperSmooth feature
Great quality 4K video
|
Cons
Screen can be unresponsive
Voice commands need work
|
PCMag
Best for Budget Shoppers / Editor's Choice
|
Pros
Compact, rugged design.
Waterproof to 33 feet.
4K 60fps recording with stabilization.
Up to 240fps at 1080p.
Voice control.
Smartphone app with streaming support.
|
Cons
Battery life could be better.
Wi-Fi file transfer time can be lengthy.
|
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
HyperSmooth Image Stabilisation
Incredible Price
Ultra high-quality video
|
Cons
Still requires cage for waterproofing
No framerate or resolution boost since the Hero6
|
Tom's Guide
Still one of the best action cameras
|
Pros
Shoots impressively smooth video
Improved touch controls on viewfinder
Sharp 4K videos
|
Cons
Livestreaming could use some tweaks
Still images can be hit-or-miss
|
T3
Not new,but still great
|
Pros
Great image quality and stabilisation
Waterproof without housing
|
TechRadar
A former flagship that still offers great value
|
Pros
Great 4K video and image quality
HyperSmooth is very effective
|
Cons
Can struggle with voice commands
Screen unresponsive at times
|
We ranked Insta360 One R #5 in September 2021 because:
- 6 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Digital Camera World
A unique proposition of both 4K and 360 action cams
|
Pros
4K and 360º lens options
RAW photos and 100mbps video
Optional 1-inch action cam mod
|
Cons
Small-ish touchscreen
|
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
|
T3
A modular 360-degree camera to rival the GoPro Max
|
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
|
TechRadar
An imperfect but impressive modular option with solid quality
|
Pros
Modular design offers unrivaled versatility
Solid 4K and 360-degree image quality
|
Cons
Very small screen
Significant bugs at launch
|
We ranked Sony RX0 Mark II #6 in September 2021 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Digital Camera World
The RX0 Mark II gets much needed internal 4K recording
|
Pros
Large Exmor 1-inch sensor
Super-slow motion available
Front-facing selfie/vlogging screen
|
Cons
Very expensive
|
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
1-inch sensor
Very lightweight
Flip-out monitor
|
Cons
Very expensive
Tricky to handle
|
T3
A one-inch sensor in a 'tiny tough' camera? Say hey to incredible imagery
|
Pros
Huge sensor
Flip-up screen for vlogging
Very rugged build
|
TechRadar
The world’s smallest 4K video cam
|
Pros
Impressive specs
Articulating screen
|
Cons
Expensive
|
We ranked Akaso Brave 7 LE #7 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Digital Camera World
A twin-screen action cam for less
|
Pros
Front LCD screen
4K video capture
6-axis stabilization
Low price
|
Cons
Needs to be put in case to be fully waterproof
|
TechRadar
A great budget alternative to the DJI Osmo Action
|
Pros
Dual screens
Case-free water resistance
Class-leading build quality
|
Cons
Poor 60fps footage
Jumpy electronic stabilization
Cheaper options have better 4K
|
We ranked SJCam SJ8 Pro #8 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Digital Camera World
A great-value 4K action camera offering surprisingly high-quality footage
|
Pros
Stabilised 4K footage
High-quality touchscreen
|
Cons
Clunky waterproof housing
Basic smartphone app
|
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
Excellent value
Large clear screen
Decent video quality
|
Cons
Waterproof housing
The app interface can be clunky when used with Gimbal
|
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
|
We ranked GoPro Max #9 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
PCMag
Best for 360-degree Video
|
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
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Insta360 Go 2 #10 in September 2021 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
Miniscule size
Easy to use
Waterproof
Good video quality
|
Cons
No 4K video
No microSD card slot
|
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
|
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
|
We ranked Insta360 One R 1-inch edition #11 in September 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
TechRadar
Better than a GoPro in low light
|
Pros
Large sensor for great image quality
Strong low-light performance
|
Cons
Processing niggles
Sluggish software
|
We ranked Akaso EK7000 #12 in September 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
TechRadar
As good as you can get the price
|
Pros
Surprisingly good results at 1080/60p
Decent interface
Comes with lots of bundled accessories
|
Cons
4K motion sucks
No stabilisation at all
|
We ranked Oclu Action Camera #13 in September 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
T3
A great value and slightly unconventional action camera
|
Pros
Easy three-button operation
Fantastic build quality
Delete on the fly
|
Cons
Image stabilisation at 1080P only
App will drain your battery
|
We ranked YI 4K Plus #14 in September 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
Market-leading resolution and framerate
Exceptional 4K video quality
Large touch screen
|
Cons
Requires waterproof housing
Hasn't been updated
|
T3
A well-rounded action cam that won't break the bank
|
Pros
4K at 60fps
USB-C
|
Cons
Only waterproof with housing
Temperamental voice command control
|
We ranked Olympus Tough TG-Tracker #15 in September 2021 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Action Video Cameras” rankings.
Camera Jabber
|
Pros
Waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, freezeproof
4K at 30fps video
Flip-out monitor
|
Cons
8MP resolution
|
Tom's Guide
Camcorder meets action camera
|
Pros
Good color and definition
Waterproof to 100 feet
Built-in 60-lumen lightFold-out monitor
|
Cons
Awkward mechanics
Hard to change field of view
|