The best action cameras can record high-resolution photos and videos just about anywhere. Waterproof, rugged and easily portable, they’re the best way to capture memories without putting your phone at risk. For many years, GoPro has dominated the market, but both DJI and Insta360 offer some impressive cameras of their own. All our picks record at least 4K video, have impressive image stabilization and are small enough to fit in a pocket. We’ve tested all the top options in a variety of situations to help you find the best camera for whatever adventure you have in store.
The best action camera for 2025
The best action camera overall is the GoPro Hero 13 Black. It can record 5.7K-resolution video, high-speed or high-resolution slow-mo videos and has an app that makes editing it all together quite easy. With a GoPro subscription (not required but useful), you can have your videos edited automatically in the cloud, ready for you to post a short time later. While not as good in low-light as some cameras or as capable of the creative options of a 360 camera, for most people, the Hero 13 Black will be all the action camera they’ll need.
Pros
- Excellent video and photo quality
- Interchangeable lens options
- Big, useful, front-facing screen
Cons
- Low-light performance is quite poor
The GoPro Hero 13 Black is the best action camera for most people because of its excellent image quality, breadth of features, smooth stabilization and ease of use.
Why I like it
With 5.7K resolution up to 60 frames per second, the Hero 13 can record extremely detailed videos. Pair that with impressive image stabilization, and the result is great-looking videos in just about every situation. The Hero 13 also has the ability to swap in different lenses for wider fields of view, better background blurs, anamorphic lens flares and more.
Who should get it
If you’re looking to capture your next adventure, the Hero 13 will do a great job no matter what it is. It’s easy to use and very rugged.
Who should skip it
Low-light performance has never been a strength for action cams, and it is pretty mediocre with the Hero 13 Black. If you want to record anything at night, it’s not going to look great. In my testing, the best option for shooting in low-light conditions is the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro.