Action Cameras Better than GoPro

GoPro has been the default action camera for years now with the newest GoPro hero 11 hoping to continue this trend. However now in 2022 the market is full of great alternatives including dji action 3, insta360 x3, and more. Here I give my best non GoPro action cameras for 2023.

Top action cameras:

Honorable mentions:

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[rickaguilar]

Actual suggestions or alternatives to Gopro begin at 3:30 minutes! Thank you!

[TheGoodContent]

I am a professional artist (cinematography/photography) with multiple national awards and 20 years carreer about to buy one action camera and was between these 3, x3, dji and gopro. This was my logic for choosing the one im going to buy:

-X3: If you scratch the lens for whatever reason the camera becomes useless. So you'll ALWAYS have that thought inside your mind, you will always have to take special care to were you put it, how, scared of any situation doubting everytime if the lens is going to scratch or not. And yes, apparently there are lens protectors but they hugely decrease the video quality. Also the X3 is not water proof.
EDIT: I just found out that the X3 HAS some level of waterproofing. However, the image stitching doesn't work well underwater due to light refraction, and according to some users they don't know how well the waterproofing will work over time.

-Dji: Less video quality and dynamic range than the gopro with focusing problems and of course it is a Chinese company that HAS TO obey to the corrupt CCP goverment that murders people, kidnaps them, is committing a genocide right now and does all bunch of corrupt things, including spying on users of Chinese technology for whatever reasons they'll want. You would be giving money and power to them, which for many it would be just fine but for me as an artist and a fighter for freedom and humanity is a simple no no.

-Gopro: Better quality, better stabilization, better focusing, better resistance, water proof. Of course I'm concerned about the heat issues but I researched and those appear if you record 5k at 60fps during a hole hour. To some that would be a draw back, not for me, I want the casual short shots or maybe a 30 minute recording or 1 hour at lower frame rates (not everything needs to be recorded at 60fps). When you become a pro you end up looking for peace of mind. I want to grab the camera and trow it everywhere not being afraid of damaging it, soaking it in water, scratching it. I just want to point and shoot, I'm not filming a movie with it, I have other cameras for that, although I'm planning to do some cinematography shots with it.

I had never own an action camera but for me the decision is obvious and simple, the gopro is the best of them all. The ocasional cases of people having it stop recording are apparently in the small minority, that always happens with every tech product like hard drives. People tend to focus on the negative instead of the positives, tend to asume a negative is the norm and will 100% happen to them when in reality is more likely that they get struck by lighting or something before they have an issue with the equipment. Humans simply don't understand statistics that well.

I'll come back here if my decision backfired or changed over the time I use it. If I don't return everything went ok.

[PatFarrellKTM]

Big difference for motorsports users: the Hero 11 (and most recent GoPros) have a built in GPS that can record speed, location, altitude, etc. The DJI lacks this completely.

[MrMrluo]

I fly fpv, the gopro subscription is a perfect solution for me . Smashed 2 hero 10 black, the first one I paid $100 to replace. The second one I paid $0. My man just straight up replaced my $400 gopro for free. I like to see anyone else Try and beat that . Not to mention that I just like gopro image quality much more than DJI’s.

[emldummy]

this is why a muffler foam casing is the NO 1 best thing to buy with a Gro pro..
reduces wind noise...soaks up heat....keeps it warmer in cold weather AND helps with knocks...only downside..cant be used in wet conditions

[johnd]

I have and use both insta 360 cameras and gopros. I do believe 360 is the future but one thing GoPro does VERY well is compiling footage into edits, right off the rip. I go record some footage and plug my camera in, and all the footage uploads automatically and in about 20 minutes I have a pretty damn good edit of all the highlights of the day. I didn’t do a single thing. If you want to get footage out there quickly it’s a miracle. It’s AI does really good editing all things considered. Change the music to your liking and it’s ready to view.

[zerooneonetwothree]

Thanks, we all needed someone to go trough specs... No need to compare the footage side by side or anything...

[Simon.]

I use 2 action cameras that are cheaper added together £69.99 &£70.99 both film in 4k and have stabilization campark action cam and surfola action cam price may vary in different countries both sold at Amazon

[towtruckeryt]

Go pro stabilization is superior to anything you can buy in the price range. All the go pro haters don't actually need a real rugged outdoor camera so they don't understand how durable they are. 165k on youtube, 700k on facebook, 100 milliion views. Buy whatever camera you want but I know what's worked for me.

[TeamCykelhold]

The thing is, gopro is still king on the image quality except the insta with the 1inch leica lens.

[johnbellis]

I've just bought a GOPRO Hero 11 with the intention of using the Quick Desktop. I have now discovered that the desktop version of Quick is no longer "Under Development" ?? After a bit of research online it would appear that this App has not worked for a considerable length of time or if ever at all. GOPRO will still happily sell you a new HERO 11 though but without making the buyer fully aware of this situation. I'm now stuck with an excellent camera but without a way to edit my footage. This is really poor customer service especially when I'm paying a subscription for something that I cannot use. Check what editing software is available for the camera of your choice before buying because the software is half of the package.

[rayngrace]

Which company is most intrusive or take your Privacy before use?
Insta360 TOS is pretty intrusive as I'm finding out as I upload them to my Channel.
Yes the lens scratches easily. I just laid mine down on soft dirt and there's lines in my videos.
I use the Protective Lens but there's reduced in video quality

[velosportsgirl]

What about cycliq cameras? For cyclists? Have you reviewed them? Looking for a recording device with lights that can be used while riding? Dual purpose. These camera last 6 hrs ? Any thoughts?

[nekomanz]

GOPRO also with there bloatware app you forcefully have to use... I would be happy to get one but what im seeing is you cant transferee files easy at all and not with a USB-C from what ive heard? witch would be insanely dump on them. At this point im about to just get a good phone and a mount... at lest that way i dont need extra bloatware to edit on my pc

[ajnako]

Stood question. High app do you you for the white boarding during the video?

[PCkiller]

Above all, the camera must be reliable and works first time and all the time. And of course not over heat, looking at you gopro. this is why couple years ago I went with the Osmo action and have a look back.

[HeroShotz]

Osmo 3 is great but that insta360 x3 is a delicate little flower that shouldn't be called an action camera. Don't breathe on that lens to hard or it'll scratch.

[brodelridesbikes]

I'm sorry but you're only comparing the cameras based on the fine print and not real life performance. Prices are also way cheaper than what you are showing if you shop elsewhere.

[OrlandoPla]

Well .... as a stock shooter .... I believe that GoPro style cameras and 360 cameras are TWO DIFFERENT THINGS for different shooting scenarios. If a camera has a very high probability of getting damage, lens receiving an Impact or getting lost, I prefer a GoPro style camera. (I use mine inside a cage because cameras always fall to the ground.) If the previous situations does not exist then Insta 360 3x is a good choice. Cages for the Insta 360 do not protect the lens. Better to have both.

[tonebonetones]

Good review. There is no perfect choice, but I would lean to the more flexible 360 cams.