Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

The Miofive S1 offers many of the same features we like in our top pick, but for a fraction of the price. It has 4K recording, GPS, good image quality day or night, a supercapacitor instead of a battery, and a 24-hour parking mode.

Although its image quality isn’t as good as the Viofo A229 Pro’s, it’s still much better than that of nearly all the other dash cams we tested. It does not have a rear or interior camera, but for double the money, the S1 Ultra adds a 4K rear camera to everything we like about the S1.

Their image quality is very good, especially for the money. Even though the S1 has 4K resolution, its images weren’t as sharp as the Viofo’s. However, they were still better than those of most of the cameras we tested, and even at night you can read license plates from a reasonable distance.

The S1 Ultra’s 4K rear camera is a rarity in the dash cam market, though it records at 25 fps, compared with the 30 fps of the main and rear cameras of our other picks. This means the video won’t look quite as smooth, and fast motion might be a little blurrier, but it will be hard to notice the difference most of the time. It’s also not quite as sharp as the front camera, but for a rear camera, it’s very good.

Upgrading to the Ultra doubles the price of the base S1, but that’s still cheaper than the Viofo. For a little less money than the Ultra, the S1 Pro has a lower-resolution rear camera. You can read more about that in the Competition.

They’re easy to set up and use. The app connects easily, and it lets you crop and trim videos before sharing. After you download videos to the app, you can see where they were recorded on a map. There’s a parking-locator feature, which is helpful if you’re someone who regularly forgets where you’ve parked. We had some connectivity issues, but nothing excessive or beyond the occasionally finicky nature of all the dash cam apps we tested.

Like our top pick, these dash cams use a supercapacitor instead of a battery. The lithium-ion batteries that come in most modern electronics don’t react well to extreme temperatures. Instead, the S1 has a supercapacitor, which keeps it running long enough after you shut off the car to save the last video and power down.

Though the buttons and body feel cheaply made, the large screen helps make the S1 easy to use. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

The S1 is very small. Despite having a larger screen than the Viofo (3-inches), the S1 is one of the smallest cameras we tested: 3.75 inches wide by 2 inches tall by 1.5 inches deep. That makes it a better fit for cars with shorter windshields.

The mount is useful but feels cheap. The S1’s mount lets you rotate and pivot the camera. This makes installation a little easier than it is with our non-adjustable top pick, since you don’t need to get perfect placement.

However, the mount is plastic and feels very cheap, with a lot of give and jiggle. This likely isn’t a problem if you plan on setting it up and never touching it, but it doesn’t inspire confidence if you want to regularly adjust and tweak it. When you’re driving over rough surfaces, there’s more camera shake visible in recordings than with the other cameras.

A wiring kit is available. If you want to use the 24-hour parking monitor feature, you’ll either need to have a power outlet in your car that doesn’t turn off when the car does or to hardwire the camera to your fuse box. Miofive has a kit available, though your specific vehicle may or may not require additional parts. Check out the How to set up a dash cam section for more information.

A circular polarizing lens (CPL) is available separately. Unlike the Viofo, which includes one, a polarizer is only available as an add-on for the Miofive. It’s $20.

A microSD card is not included with the S1. Like most of the cameras we tested, the base S1 does not come with a microSD card. (The S1 Ultra comes with a 64 GB SD card in the box, which is a nice bonus.) The camera supports up to 512 GB of storage, and if you don’t already have a card lying around, we recommend these.

Because this camera records 4K video, you shouldn’t get a cheap microSD card. Miofive doesn’t explicitly recommend specific speeds, but the cards it sells to go with the camera are UHS-III (V30).

The build quality could be better. While it has impressive features and performance for its price, the Miofive S1 doesn’t have the high-quality fit and finish of the other cameras we tested. Among other things, the mount is cheap-feeling, and the buttons feel flimsy. You should keep this in mind and set your expectations appropriately.

Memorial Day is almost here, announcing the start of summer and putting millions of people on the road for a quick vacation. If you’re opting for a road trip, you’ve probably already got your playlist ready, snacks in the car and your phone charged so Google Maps can get you there faster. Turn-by-turn directions make it easy to avoid traffic jams and road closures during your road trip. But if you’re driving through areas with poor signal, things can get dicey in the blink of an eye.

Without an internet connection, Google Maps can’t help you reroute, search for gas stations or recover from a wrong turn. You’re stuck with whatever directions you started with — unless you planned ahead and downloaded your map for offline use.

Luckily, there’s a smart workaround. With offline maps, you can still access turn-by-turn navigation even when you’re completely disconnected. Here’s how to make sure you’re never lost, even without service.

Want to learn about other Google Maps tips and tricks? Check out how to blur your house on Google Maps and three Google Maps features you’ll definitely want to know.

Watch this: How to Use Google Maps Like a Pro 09:29

How to download Google Maps offline

First off, you won’t download all of Google Maps in its entirety. Instead, before your trip, you’ll want to download a specific area, which could be a city, county or region where you’ll be spending time and might not have service on your phone.

To download a map in Google Maps offline, open the Google Maps app on iOS or Android and tap your profile picture on the top right (you must be logged in to your Google account for this to work). In the menu that appears, tap Offline maps > Select Your Own Map.

You can download multiple Google Maps areas offline. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

Use your fingers to place the map you want to download within the confines of the rectangle border. Use one finger to move across the map, and a two-finger pinch to zoom in and out. As you move around the map, you’ll see how much storage space the download will take up on your phone. Once you’re happy with the area, tap Download.

Note: Alternatively, you can type a city or other area into Google Maps and then hit the Download button that appears in the pull-up window to download the map offline but this only works on the iPhone.

Read more: Google Maps Cheat Sheet: Most Useful Tricks

You must be connected to Wi-Fi to download the map. If you want to download over cellular, go to the Offline maps page, tap the gear icon on the top right, tap When to download offline maps and select Over Wi-Fi or mobile network. Once your map is downloaded, you’ll be sent back to the Offline maps page, where you can see all your offline maps.

You can only download a map that’s a maximum 250MB (what will appear in the selected map is roughly the size of Maine). Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

Now you’ll be able to use Google Maps even when you’re offline in the area you downloaded — and in that area only. You won’t get extremely accurate travel times or alternate route options because traffic and other road issues are not accounted for but you will get a general ballpark idea of how long your trip should take. Transit, bicycling and walking directions also are not available offline — only driving directions.

You’ll know you’re using your offline map when you see a little cloud icon with a line through it in Google Maps. Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

If you want more tips on Google, make sure to read which Google Home settings you need to change ASAP and our picks for the best Pixel phones.

GoPro might have pioneered the action camera category, but it faces stiff competition in 2025. We should know: we’ve reviewed more than 50 action cameras, from first-gen GoPros to the latest 8K contenders from Insta360. Our in-depth testing means we know what sets the best action cameras apart in the real world and which one is worth strapping to your helmet, bike or board.

In our experience, GoPro still sets the pace. Our real-world review praised the Hero 13 Black as a versatile, adventure-proof action camera. We welcomed support for Lens Mods and ND filters, as well as new color profiles and slow-mo modes. That said, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 raises the bar with stunning 8K video, while DJI’s Osmo Action 5 is our top pick for underwater content.

The guide below breaks down each camera’s strengths and weaknesses, based on the outcomes of our expert testing. Whether you’re hitting the trails, the slopes or the waves, we’ve labelled each recommendation to help you easily identify the right choice for your needs and budget.

The quick list

If you want a shortcut to the best action cameras, you can use the quick list below for an instant overview of the top options. If you’d like to know more about a specific model, the link beneath each entry will take you to our in-depth summary.

Written by Written by Timothy Coleman Cameras Editor Tim is TechRadar’s Cameras Editors, with more than 15 years in the photo video industry. As a freelance photographer and tech journalist, Tim’s has tested many of the best action cameras over the last 10 years, including GoPro flagships and challengers from the likes of Insta360. As a result, he has a deep knowledge of what makes a good action camera. Tim notes, “while GoPro remains the brand to beat in the action camera market, Insta360 is offering serious competition. Its latest model, the Ace Pro, is the first action camera to record 8K video. DJI’s Osmo Action series is keeping things interesting, too.”

The best action camera in 2025

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the best action cameras in our list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best action camera overall

Image 1 of 5 (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future | Tim Coleman)

GoPro Hero 13 Black sample video

Buy it if: ✅ You want a versatile action cam: Support for optional Lens Mods and ND filters make this a flexible tool to shoot with. ✅ You want cinematic video: New color profiles and slow-mo modes complement an arsenal of useful modes for filmmakers.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You don’t need to swap lenses: If you don’t need the option to swap in new Lens Mods, previous editions are better value. ❌ You shoot a lot in low light: If you’re recording after dark, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro delivers better results than the 13 Black.

Like most recent GoPro flagships, the Hero 13 Black isn’t a radical upgrade from its predecessor. It has the same sensor, video resolution and useful 8:7 aspect ratio, the same class-leading HyperSmooth stabilization and the same waterproofing specs as the Hero 12 Black – and the Hero 11 Black before it. So if you already own either of those perfectly capable action cameras, it isn’t necessarily worth upgrading. But based on our in-depth testing, there are a few upgrades that make the Hero 13 Black our top pick.

Chief among them is a new range of Lens Mods and ND filters. These attach to a redesigned mount on the 13 Black that detects which accessory is attached and adjusts settings accordingly, instantly unlocking creative shooting options. In our review, we also praised the addition of magnetic mounting, as well as improved battery life and heat dissipation. Burst Slo-Mo mode also gives you the option to shoot 400fps at 720p, although clips are slow to process. While these improvements aren’t revolutionary, they all add up to make the Hero 13 Black the most complete GoPro action camera to date.

Read our in-depth GoPro Hero 13 Black review

The best budget action camera

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2. Akaso Brave 8 Lite The best cheap action camera you can buy Our expert review: Specifications Weight: 114g Waterproof: 10m 4K video: up to 60fps 2.7K video: up to 120fps 1080p video: up to 120fps Stills resolution: 20MP Battery life: 150 mins Today’s Best Deals View at Amazon (HDR) Reasons to buy + Excellent value for money + Compact, lightweight build + Good companion app Reasons to avoid – Quality suffers in low light – Poor image stabilization – Fragile plastic construction

Akaso Brave 8 Lite sample video

Buy it if: ✅ You’re on a tight budget: The Akaso Brave 8 Lite offers fantastic features and value for a reasonable price. ✅ You want dual screens: Despite its low cost, the Brave 8 Lite features front and rear displays to help with framing.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You need reliable stabilization: In shaky scenarios, image stabilization struggles to produce usable footage. ❌ You shoot a lot in low light: Video quality drops off significantly in low-light conditions, with a lot of noise.

A cheaper, lighter version of the Akaso Brave 8, the Lite is an affordable action camera for buyers on a budget. In our review, we noted that the cost savings can be felt in the flimsy plastic construction. Yet we also commented positively on its modern design, compact dimensions and lightweight build. Other takeaways from our testing include the smartphone app, which we found easier to use than the camera’s own interface. In ideal lighting, 4K video footage also proved vivid and accurate, if a little high in contrast.

That’s not the case in lower lighting, where we found that the sensor struggles, with a large amount of noise negatively affecting image quality. Stabilization was disappointing too, with the Brave 8 Lite failing to smooth out camera shake while walking or cycling. At 150 minutes of 1080p footage, battery life wasn’t remarkable either. Yet while its video quality won’t worry premium flagships, we still think the Brave 8 Lite offers fantastic value, with a solid set of specs that’s tough to beat for the price.

Read our in-depth Akaso Brave 8 Lite review

The best premium 8K action camera

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Insta360 Ace Pro 2 sample video

Buy it if: ✅ You need 8K recording: If you need video at the highest possible resolution, the Ace Pro 2 is one of the few action cameras capable of 8K video. ✅ You want a quality all-rounder: A small, rugged tool with a decent-sized screen and decent low-light video, the Ace Pro 2 performs well in all conditions.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You need perfect 8K video: While the resolution is there, 8K recording doesn’t support the best image stabilization or the full set of color profiles. ❌ You don’t like a flip screen: The flip-up screen gives a bigger front-facing preview, but you have to flip it down when you switch back to rear recording.

Like the original Ace Pro, 8K video is what grabs the headlines with the Ace Pro 2: it’s one of the few action cameras that can record at that resolution, now at frame rates up to 30fps. Our tests found that 8K recording isn’t a perfect experience, though. You don’t get the top level of image stabilization, nor support for the flat I-log color profile, and overheating can be an issue. What we actually found more impressive in our review is the Ace Pro 2’s overall performance as an all-round action camera.

This is a small, lightweight yet rugged tool. Its 2.5-inch flip-up touchscreen isn’t the most useful if you need to quickly switch from front to rear recording, but it does offer a larger perspective when recording solo. 4K video results proved excellent and we were impressed by the quality of low-light footage for an action camera, with useful I-log support for color grading in post. Image stabilization performance was also excellent, making this a very versatile choice.

Read our in-depth Insta360 Ace Pro 2 review

The best underwater action camera

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DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro sample video

Buy it if: ✅ You want a reliable action cam: Freeze-proof, waterproof to 20m and good for up to 4 hours, the Action 5 Pro is solid. ✅ You have a DJI Mic 2 for audio: Compatibility with DJI’s tiny wireless mic makes the Action 5 Pro great for voiceovers.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You want the sharpest footage: 4K will be fine for most, but others offer higher-res results at up to 8K. ❌ You want perfect results after dark: SuperNight mode delivers better results than a GoPro, but it’s still average.

Breathing down the neck of GoPro’s Hero 13 Black, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is a feature-packed action camera that gives our top pick a good run for its money. Waterproof to 20m, it can survive at double the case-free depth of GoPro’s best. With a wider window of operating temperatures, it’s the best choice for shooting in all conditions. We also praised its interface in testing: the Action 5 Pro is small and light, with touchscreens front and rear that are sharp and clear.

While its maximum 4K resolution is bettered by others in this list, we were impressed by the dynamic range and detail displayed in test footage. We also praised the Action 5 Pro’s long battery life and reliable video stabilization in our review, as well as the ability to pair it seamlessly with the DJI Mic 2 for crisp wireless audio recording on location. Image quality does drop off in low lighting, but DJI’s SuperNight mode still produces better results than most action cameras. If you want something reliable, versatile and more affordable than the GoPro Hero 13 Black, this is your winner.

Read our in-depth DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro review

The best 360-degree action camera

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Insta360 X4 sample video

Buy it if: ✅ You want the sharpest 360 video: With a total resolution of 8K across both lenses, the Insta360 X4 captures spherical footage with a lot of detail. ✅ You want a really versatile camera: 360-degree video at 8K, as well as single-lens 4K shooting and a 100fps slow-mo mode, make this a flexible tool.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You don’t have the hardware for large files: 8K video files take a huge amount of space and need some serious processing power to handle them. ❌ You don’t need top-spec 360: The X3 is cheaper with 5.7K video, while standard action cameras are better value if you only need single-lens video.

If you want to capture action in 360 degrees, we think the Insta360 X4 is the best tool for the job. With resolution boosted to 8K at 30fps (versus the 5.7K shot by the Insta360 X3), it’s the sharpest 360 camera out there. In testing, we found it capable of capturing excellent detail, even if stitch lines are still visible when reframing spherical footage. We also found that 360-degree horizon lock and image stabilization work effectively together to smooth out footage.

As is the nature of 360 cameras, there are compromises. Low-light quality remains average, while 8K file sizes require some solid computing power. It’s overkill on cost if you only have a passing interest in 360. But the X4 is also an incredibly versatile piece of kit. It has a useful 4K single-lens option, 100fps slow-mo support, plus a range of creative modes, backed up by solid battery life and waterproofing to 10m. All of which mean the X4 is essentially several action-ready cameras in one well-designed package.

Read our in-depth Insta360 X4 review

The best modular action camera

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Insta360 Go 3S sample video

Buy it if: ✅ You want the smallest action camera: Lightweight and miniature, the Go 3S is as tiny as 4K cameras get, unlocking unique angles. ✅ You want a range of shooting options: Use the clever FreeFrame mode and you can choose a vertical or horizontal aspect later.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You want a completely rugged system: The Action Pod upgrades the shooting experience but it doesn’t have the same waterproofing. ❌ You want all-day battery life: Due to its size, the Go 3S has a modest battery life that can’t compete with rival cameras.

We praised the Insta360 Go 3 for its miniature design, foolproof interface and useful magnetic mounting abilities. Its successor improves on that proposition with a sharper 4K resolution, which makes the FreeFrame mode more versatile: based on our review, you can stick the Go 3S in places other cameras can’t go, then choose your preferred video orientation after the fact. If you want an easy way to capture unique angles or creative POV footage, the Go 3S will serve you well.

Its tiny size does come at the expense of battery life and overall video quality, especially in low-light conditions. Inserting the Go 3S into the Action Pod attachment does extend longevity, as well as enhancing the shooting experience with a responsive flip-up touchscreen, but it’s worth noting that the Action Pod doesn’t benefit from the same waterproof credentials. All the same, if versatility matters more to you than overall resolution, we think there’s no action camera quite like the Insta360 Go 3S.

Read our in-depth Insta360 Go 3S review

The best tough action camera

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OM System Tough TG-7 sample images

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Buy it if: ✅ You want a rock-solid family camera: Easy to use and as rugged as the come, the TG-7 is the perfect point-and-shoot for family adventures. ✅ You shoot images in all conditions: Designed mainly for stills, the TG-7 offers a surprising range of photography features and modes.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You want the best quality: Even with its range of photo modes, the sensor size and resolution mean many smartphones shoot sharper. ❌ You want a touchscreen interface: The 3-inch LCD is usable enough, but it’s not touch-sensitive, which may put discourage some users.

A rugged point-and-shoot that’s easy to use and packed with a versatile set of photography features, we think the OM System Tough TG-7 is a top choice if you want a compact you can rely on in all conditions. It doesn’t represent a huge upgrade over the Tough TG-6, but it’s still the one we’d pick. Its durability credentials aren’t in any doubt, with protection against dust, drops, crushing, freezing and submersion. In testing, we also appreciated its tactile controls and accessible handling, even though its screen isn’t touch-sensitive.

We did find its 4K/30p video dated in our review, while image quality from its 12MP sensor can be bettered by most modern smartphones. That’s true, even with a fast f/2 aperture at the wide end of its 25-100mm zoom range. On the other hand, we were pleasantly surprised by its range of shooting modes, which includes macro focusing and white balance presets based on water depth. While this isn’t a camera to buy for the best quality images, it will see you through just about any type of action.

Read our in-depth Olympus Tough TG-7 review

The best value GoPro

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GoPro Hero 10 Black sample video

Buy it if: ✅ You want a great GoPro for less: If you don’t need 10-bit video, this is a modern, capable GoPro at a lower price. ✅ You shoot slow-mo: 4K/120p recording gives the Hero 10 Black slow-mo credentials to match the Hero 11 Black.

Don’t buy it if: ❌ You want to shoot vertically: With its 8:7 aspect ratio sensor, the Hero 11 Black is a better choice for vertical recording. ❌ You want 10-bit video: If you like to color grade in post-production, later GoPro Hero models offer 10-bit video support.

It’s no longer top of the GoPro range, but the Hero 10 Black remains an excellent choice if you want a good value GoPro that still has the skills to capture smooth, sharp 4K footage. In testing, we found its ability to capture 4K/120p video genuinely impressive, while it’s far more responsive touchscreen makes it a better choice than the GoPro Hero 9 Black.

In our review, we found it more versatile and fun to use than its predecessor. With GoPro’s effective HyperSmooth stabilization available across most shooting modes, it’s an ideal tool for recording 4K adventures and handheld vlogs alike. Thanks to its waterproof build, it’s also more durable than your smartphone. The newer GoPro Hero 11 Black offers greater editing flexibility, while cameras like the DJI Osmo Action 3 probably represent better value overall. But if you want a GoPro action camera for less than flagship money, we think the Hero 10 Black is a great choice.

Read our in-depth GoPro Hero 10 Black review

(Image credit: Basil Kronfli)

Also consider

We’ve reviewed a whole range of action cameras, which means there are other options which almost made it into this list. Here are a few honorable mentions to consider.

Best last-gen GoPro – GoPro Hero 12 Black: No longer top of the pile, GoPro’s former flagship can now be picked up at a discount, yet still offers a huge feature set, including incredible stabilization and 10-bit log capture. If you don’t need the lens mods of the Hero 13 Black, the Hero 12 Black shoots just as sharp.

Best 360-degree GoPro – GoPro Max: With no concrete sign of a successor several years after its launch, the Max remains the go-to GoPro for 360-degree video. It has limited shooting modes and is poor in low light, but in-camera processing of 5.6K footage makes it easy to shoot compelling and immersive video.

Best Insta360 alternative – Kandao QooCam 3: Its companion apps aren’t perfect, but this 360-degree action cam is still a solid alternative to mainstream contenders. It shoots footage at up to 5.7K and stands out in low-light conditions, courtesy of 1/1.55-inch sensors and wide f/1.6 apertures. It’s easy to use, too.

How to choose the best action camera for you

How to choose the best action camera While many of the best action cameras have unique features which set them apart from the competition, there are certain core skills that every good action cam should have. An action camera should be rugged enough to endure your adventures, plus waterproof down to at least a few meters. It should also be straightforward to use and operate, even in extreme conditions. Touchscreens can make an action cam easier to control, but if you plan to shoot while wearing gloves, it might make more sense to select a model with physical buttons. You’ll probably use an action cam on the move, so image stabilization is an important feature. This should smooth out camera shake to produce more watchable footage. The quality of image stabilization can vary significantly, so it’s worth thinking about how smooth your video needs to be (or whether you can live with a few wobbles). A higher resolution sensor can help: digital image stabilization will often crop the frame to eliminate movement. Footage cropped from 4K will look better than video that’s been reduced down from 1080p. Many of the top action cameras also offer smartphone connectivity, which allows you to easily edit and share your latest videos quickly. Some models also support live-streaming straight to platforms like YouTube. This can be demanding on battery life, but will be useful if you plan on vlogging directly to social media. Most action cameras can shoot slow-motion footage at upwards of 120fps, while some of the top models also offer more creative shooting modes, such as hyperlapses. Some in-camera effects can be replicated with editing software, but it’s worth considering a camera with creative presets if you’re looking to add variety to your videos with minimal effort. The majority of models ship with a range of mounting options. If you’re planning to use one during a more niche activity, be sure to check that there’s a suitable attachment available to fit your needs. A few action cams go further, offering a modular setup which allows you to augment your shooting with optional accessories, such as microphones, lights or even a 360-degree lens.

(Image credit: Basil Kronfli)

What is an action camera used for? The best action cameras are compact, tough and easy to operate. Thanks to their rugged build, action cams can be used to shoot footage in the kind of scenarios where most standard cameras simply can’t survive. And because the top options offer outstanding image stabilization, action cams are ideal for recording smooth video while you’re on the move. Many people use action cameras to capture footage of their adventurous pursuits, such as mountain biking, skydiving or snowboarding. The best action cams are also waterproof, so some outdoor enthusiasts employ them to shoot watersports or record underwater video while swimming or diving. Most action cams come with a range of mounts, which make it easy to attach them to your helmet, handlebars or even a strap which wraps around your chest. So you should always be able to find an attachment that suits. Action cameras can also be fitted inside vehicles, either to record the road like a substitute dash cam, or to capture what the driver is doing. Several motorsport series fit in-car action cameras to record racing drivers. Not everyone uses action cameras for extreme activities, though. Because the best models are easy to control, feature creative shooting modes and offer excellent connectivity options (including live-streaming support), a lot of vloggers use models like the GoPro Hero 10 Black to shoot videos for social media. Image stabilization means they’re great for walking and talking, while their compact size makes action cams good for on-the-go recording. Some content creators deploy action cams as a second camera alongside their main mirrorless model, for shooting slow-motion b-roll or capturing additional angles to add variety to their videos.

Meet the team

Our team of reviewers has amassed many years of experience testing all of the latest and greatest cameras of the last 20 years. That includes every action camera of note, from the very first GoPro to the latest 360-degree models.

Tim Coleman Cameras Editor Tim is TechRadar’s Cameras Editor and has been cutting his teeth in the photo and video industry for almost 20 years. He looks after all of TechRadar’s cameras content, covering buying guides, features, reviews and news.

Sam Kieldsen Sam has been writing about tech and digital culture for over 20 years, starting off in video games journalism before branching out into the wonderful worlds of consumer electronics, streaming entertainment and photography. Over the years he has written for Wired, Stuff, GQ, T3, Trusted Reviews and PC Zone, and now lives on the Kent coast in the UK – the ideal place for a camera reviewer to ply their trade.

Mark Wilson News Editor Mark is TechRadar’s Senior news editor and has been a technology journalist since 2004. Formerly Trusted Reviews and TechRadar’s cameras editor, Mark has tested cameras over many years from all of the leading brands.

James Abbott James Abbott is a professional photographer and freelance photography journalist. He contributes articles about photography, cameras and drones to a wide range of magazines and websites where he applies a wealth of experience to testing the latest photographic tech.

Paul Hatton Paul is a digital expert. In the 20 years since he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science, Paul has been actively involved in a variety of different tech and creative industries that make him the go-to guy for reviews, opinion pieces, and featured articles. You’ll also find his writing in other places, including Creative Bloq, Digital Camera World, and 3D World Magazine.

How we test action cameras

(Image credit: Future)

Why you can trust TechRadar ☑️ 100s of cameras reviewed

☑️ 15 years of product testing

☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total

☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

Action cameras are among the toughest cameras around, so we properly put them through their paces to make sure they live up to their rugged billing – and can shoot excellent video and stills, too.

We take each one through a range of real-world tests including cycling, swimming and, if possible, an experience like an adventure course. These not only give us a good idea of each model’s ability to withstand the elements, but how easy they are to operate in difficult conditions.

When it comes to footage, we record in a variety of resolutions and frame-rates to help gauge each action camera’s strengths, and review these clips on a calibrated monitor. We look at default color reproduction and noise levels in shadows and highlights, and look out for any common image quality issues including clipping, softness, barrel distortion and over-zealous processing.

(Image credit: Future)

We go through a similar process to analyze each camera’s image stabilization, which is crucial to maintaining image quality during movement, and look at the quality of any special shooting modes too, including slo-mo and timelapses.

For battery life tests, we continuously record at different resolutions and frame-rates. We note down both how long the action cams lasts and when it has to shut down due to overheating. Lastly, we evaluate how user-friendly each camera is, by testing both their touchscreen interfaces and companion apps.

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

The GoPro Hero13 Black is the ultimate action camera, offering the highest-quality video we’ve seen in the category. Its tall image sensor lets you easily create vertical videos for Instagram Stories and TikTok, but with its high resolution, it can still capture horizontal videos for YouTube.

The standard 0.25-inch mount lets you attach the Hero13 Black to any traditional camera mount or tripod, and it’s compatible with new easy-release magnetic mounts. The Hero13 Black has longer run times than its predecessor thanks to its larger battery, yet it also includes GPS, which previous cameras lacked. Optional lenses, including an ultra wide-angle, a macro, multiple neutral density filters, and (soon) an anamorphic lens, greatly increase the types of videos you can capture.

It offers the best image quality we’ve seen from an action camera. The Hero13 Black can record 5.3K video at a smooth 60 frames per second. Footage looks razor-sharp and vibrant, with smooth transitions between colors and no banding. Thanks to its extremely high bit rate of 120 Mbps, it minimizes video noise and keeps the detail high during fast motion.

If you don’t need that level of detail, the Hero13 Black also offers 4K recording at 120 fps, and for ultra-smooth slow motion, 2.7K-resolution video at up to 240 fps is possible. A burst slo-mo mode even allows you to capture several minutes of 720p video at 400 fps or 20 seconds of 5.3K video at 120 fps.

In addition, the Hero13 Black accommodates HDR video shooting up to 5.3K at 30 fps for high dynamic range situations, such as at sunset or in canyons. It even has HLG (hybrid log–gamma) support for professionals.

The Hero13 Black’s optional simplified menus make it easy for beginners to get started quickly. Geoffrey Morrison for NYT Wirecutter The Hero13 Black accommodates HDR video capture up to 5.3K at 30 fps for high dynamic range situations. Geoffrey Morrison for NYT Wirecutter The Hero13 Black’s optional simplified menus make it easy for beginners to get started quickly. Geoffrey Morrison for NYT Wirecutter

It’s rugged. The Hero13 Black is waterproof to a depth of 10 meters (33 feet). The lens cover is 2-millimeter-thick Gorilla Glass (the same material used for many phone screens) with a hydrophobic coating to reduce the chance of water beading on it when the camera is splashed. And if you manage to scratch this lens, it’s replaceable.

It has the longest run time we’ve seen from a GoPro camera. Thanks to a new, larger battery, GoPro claims, the Hero13 Black is good for up to 79 minutes of continuous recording at 5.3K 60 fps—13% longer than what the company claimed for the Hero12 Black.

That roughly aligned with our testing results, though many variables will affect real-world run times. You might get more, or less, depending on factors such as ambient temperature and ventilation. Lower resolutions and frame rates can greatly increase run times, while direct sun can reduce them. And if you’re recording at max settings, your Hero13 Black is likely to overheat long before its battery runs out.

Bear in mind that this new battery is physically larger than the Hero12 Black’s battery, so if you have an older camera and you’re upgrading, your existing batteries won’t fit.

Creating videos for social media is a snap. The Hero13 Black’s image sensor has a nearly square 8:7 aspect ratio instead of the typical rectangular 16:9. This makes creating a mix of vertical (for TikTok or Instagram Stories) and horizontal (for YouTube) content easier, since you can record using the full sensor area and then crop the footage in the GoPro Quik app to vertical or horizontal as you desire without reducing the resolution and quality.

Other cameras sacrifice the quality of one orientation for the other or require you to physically rotate the camera to maintain quality, which is not always possible depending on your mount or situation.

Beginners will find it easy to use. This camera’s optional simplified menus help novices figure out the various modes better than those of other cameras we’ve tried. Experienced users can switch to menus that are more in-depth but still easy to navigate. Like most new action cameras, the Hero13 Black also offers optional voice control, in this case supporting 11 languages and six accents.

Its stabilization is impressively effective. GoPro’s latest stabilization processing, which it calls HyperSmooth 6.0, is capable of locking the horizon to level even if you rotate the camera 360 degrees. Videos remain smooth even during strong vibrations.

Most action cameras, regardless of brand, have solid stabilization these days, but in our testing the Hero13 Black seemed a little better than competitors and previous GoPro models in this regard.

GoPro is everywhere. One of the main reasons we like GoPro cameras is their near-ubiquity. Just about every dive shop, surf shop, and electronics store is likely to have GoPro accessories. If you lose, forget, or suddenly find a need for a new kind of mount or an additional battery for an unexpected adventure, they’re easier to find than add-ons for action cameras from other companies.

GoPro’s app is really good. The GoPro Quik app (iOS and Mac, Android) lets you control the camera, organize your recorded content, and edit photos and videos. That last function is especially powerful, as it allows you to crop, zoom, combine clips, and even add music. You need a fairly new phone with lots of storage space to get the most out of it, though.

The camera offers clever shooting modes. In addition to the standard Time Lapse (for when the camera is stationary) and TimeWarp (for when the camera is moving) modes that you can find on most action cameras, the Hero13 Black has a variety of other modes that help you easily capture unique-looking videos.

For instance, action cameras typically aren’t great in low light, but GoPro’s Star Trails (you can see an example in this video, recorded with the Hero12 Black) and Vehicle Light Trails modes both create stylized videos with cool lines of light that look great on social media.

The standard 0.25-inch mount lets you attach the camera to any traditional camera mount or tripod, and it’s compatible with easy-release magnetic mounts. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

It takes decent pictures, too. GoPro cameras are primarily intended for video, but they can take still photos, as well. The Hero13 Black can capture 27-megapixel (5568-by-4872-pixel) images in several modes.

Though the image quality can’t match the results of a high-end phone’s camera or a traditional camera, it’s very good for an action camera, and it works well for posting on social media. GoPro’s SuperPhoto mode, which stacks several exposures to create an image with better dynamic range, is an especially big plus.

Optional lenses offer new video possibilities. GoPro has long offered an ultra-wide lens option, but the Hero13 Black is compatible with a broader range of new optional lenses. They include a macro lens for better close-up videos and multiple ND (neutral density) filters, which are useful when you’re shooting in bright light. For me, the most interesting is an anamorphic lens that creates cinematic, 2.35:1 ultra-widescreen videos. However, that one won’t arrive until 2025.

GoPro’s subscription is a solid deal. For $25 for the first year and $50 after that, the GoPro Premium subscription offers unlimited cloud storage for GoPro content, 25 GB for footage from other cameras, camera replacement, discounts on GoPro’s website (including on cameras), and—most interesting—automatically edited videos.

The simplicity of that last feature is unique to GoPro. Just plug your camera into power and connect it to Wi-Fi, and it automatically backs up its footage to the cloud. A short time later, you get a highlight video that’s either okay to post as is or suitable as a convenient base for making your own video.

Two additional tiers are available as well, though they are less useful for most people. The budget Quik Subscription costs $10 a year and provides full access to the Quik app’s features while dropping cloud storage, cloud editing, and camera replacement. (We like some free app options better.)

The $100-per-year GoPro Premium+ subscription is for “advanced creators,” adding 500 GB of storage for non-GoPro cameras and HyperSmooth Pro video stabilization on top of everything you get with the regular Premium sub. For most people, we think the HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization that comes with the Hero13 Black is plenty.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

The Asus ROG Ally X is the best Windows-based gaming handheld you can buy right now. It delivers the best, most consistent frame rates in current video game releases of any gaming handheld we tested, and it has the best battery life, squeaking past the Steam Deck OLED in that regard. It also works with every gaming storefront on Windows, including Steam and the Epic Game Store (the home of Fortnite). In addition, it supports Xbox Game Pass and comes with a three-month subscription to the service. However, the display’s image quality isn’t as good as that of the Steam Deck OLED, the handheld is expensive, and the Armoury Crate software still has some kinks, though it has improved dramatically in the past year.

It plays games better than the competition. Asus’s ROG Ally X is the most technically capable handheld gaming console available from any major manufacturer. Although this model has the same AMD Ryzen Z1 processor as Asus’s older ROG Ally Extreme and Lenovo’s Legion Go, Asus has paired it with much more and faster RAM, in addition to redesigned cooling technology that allows the Ally X to run faster without overheating.

The result is a system that can hit slightly higher peak frame rates. But more importantly, the Ally X can maintain performance in demanding games such as Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora; it was the only handheld we tested that was capable of running that game at playable frame rates. The Ally X also ran Starfield better than any handheld we tested, often hitting and staying at 60 frames per second—and even when it couldn’t manage more than 40 fps, its variable-refresh-rate screen ensured that gameplay remained smooth. Asus’s ROG Ally handhelds are the only models in our test group that support VRR, and we really wish more companies would adopt the feature.

The software is as close as Windows has come to a console-style interface. The Armoury Crate software on the Ally X has seen numerous minor updates and a couple of major revisions, and as of fall 2024 it remains well ahead of the Windows-based handheld competition in ease of use, performance, and useful features. You can activate the Armoury Crate software via two different buttons, each of which brings up a different overlay. A dedicated button on the right side summons the full Armoury UI, which presents you with a library of installed games as well as a secondary tab for different gaming storefronts. You’ll also find pages of settings to tweak to your preference, and a reasonably intuitive update page. It’s absolutely critical to the user experience on a handheld gaming console for the UI to provide a snappy response, and Armoury Crate handily beats similar offerings from MSI and Lenovo in this regard.

The Armoury Crate software provides convenient, easy-to-manage library navigation. Armoury Crate Settings management is also console-like, as is customization of the Ally X’s command center. Armoury Crate The Ally X’s Command Center button brings up a screen overlay that allows you to change settings quickly and easily at any time. Arthur Gies/NYT Wirecutter The Ally X’s performance overlay can help you determine how well your games are running and how much they’re affecting your battery usage. Arthur Gies/NYT Wirecutter The Armoury Crate software provides convenient, easy-to-manage library navigation. Armoury Crate

The ROG Ally X also provides an overlaid UI that allows you to change multiple settings on the fly, which is especially useful. Its primary use is to change the active power profile of the Ally X, which lets you throttle down the system for less demanding games in order to extend the battery life, but the panel offers plenty of other tools as well. You can force the analog sticks to work as a de facto mouse (which is more helpful than you might think), change the resolution of the screen, limit the refresh rate, force-close a window, trigger airplane mode, reduce brightness, or access numerous other helpful functions.

It has the best battery life of any handheld console we tested. The Ally X has an enormous 80-watt-hour battery, and although Windows simply isn’t quite as battery-efficient as SteamOS seems to be, the Ally X has slightly better battery life than even the impressive Steam Deck OLED. Playing Starfield in Turbo mode (the highest performance option) on an hour-long subway commute, I stepped off the train with approximately 70% battery remaining, and 40 minutes of Dragon Age: The Veilguard left my battery at just under 70%. It helps that Asus’s Armoury Crate overlay provides power-management options, including Silent, Performance, and the aforementioned Turbo, which help to throttle the Ally X’s processor and provide longer battery life for less demanding titles. The Ally X lasts four or five hours when playing smaller and less graphically intense games but only two or so hours when playing bigger releases.

It can sit in a bag for weeks without losing its charge. The software of the Ally X includes a hibernation mode to preserve its battery life that goes above and beyond what I’ve seen on almost every other device I’ve used in the past 10 years. I put the Ally X in my messenger bag, forgot about it for more than two weeks, turned it on, and found the battery at 94%. Although you aren’t likely to forget about the Ally X as long as I did, if you do, it will be waiting for you, still ready to play.

It works seamlessly with Game Pass. Xbox’s Game Pass subscription service is one of the best deals in gaming, and that’s especially true of PC Game Pass. Since the Ally X runs Windows 11, Game Pass just works, which is almost worth the price of admission alone. The Ally X is a fantastic Game Pass machine, and the service integrates fairly well with the Armoury Crate software. Asus also includes a three-month Game Pass subscription with the Ally X.

It’s quiet. The Ally X is the quietest gaming handheld we’ve tested. Although we don’t have an anechoic chamber to fully benchmark the Ally X’s acoustic profile, we have found that it’s noticeably quieter than rival handhelds such as the Lenovo Legion Go or even the Steam Deck OLED. Even under full load, it’s quiet enough that it shouldn’t bother someone sitting next to you on the couch.

Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter

It’s full of useful features that make for a better experience. The Ally X has a variety of seemingly minor features that add up to a generally better user experience in comparison with other Windows-based gaming handhelds. It has two USB-C ports, so it can charge and connect to two USB-C devices such as another controller or a monitor at the same time (and in a pinch, the Ally X becomes a fully capable mini-PC when you connect a display, mouse, and keyboard). Its power button includes a Windows Hello–compliant fingerprint reader, which has proven invaluable for secure log-ins and passkey support for websites and Chrome’s password manager. The audio quality is even pretty good.

It has an SD card slot for storage expansion, but notably it also includes a full-size, 2280 M.2 slot for its NVMe storage. If you want to upgrade its storage, its support for full-size desktop-style NVMe drives will allow you to more easily find cheaper, large-capacity options, in contrast to the smaller, 2230-size drives that other handhelds require.

The Ally X also includes a UEFI-based (think BIOS screen) network-recovery tool, which allows you to perform a hardware reset or even install a factory-standard OS on a newly installed NVMe drive without going through the trouble of downloading and installing Asus-approved software to a separate USB key.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It’s expensive. The Asus ROG Ally X is currently the most expensive gaming handheld from a mainstream manufacturer that you can buy. Although you get what you pay for, including 1 TB of storage, you still pay significantly more for this model than you would for even the Steam Deck OLED. The Ally X has already seen some sales and discounts, but they rarely last for long.

It has an LCD screen rather than an OLED display. The Ally X’s variable-refresh-rate support is excellent, and the screen is bright with pretty good color levels, but I would have liked to see an OLED display with HDR support at this price.

Armoury Crate still isn’t as good as SteamOS. Asus has released a slew of impressive improvements to Armoury Crate over the course of the past year and a half, but the software is still subject to some occasional bugs and hiccups. When a gaming device is as expensive as the Ally X is, these moments stick out a little more than they otherwise might.