Quick picks
- Best all-round: GoPro HERO13 Black.
- Best DJI to buy in the US now: DJI Osmo Action 6, with the largest sensor here.
- 8K with a flip screen: Insta360 Ace Pro 2.
- DJI's older model, cheaper: DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, at a lower Amazon price in a different bundle.
- Smallest, hands-free: Insta360 GO Ultra.
- 360 video: Insta360 X5, with GoPro MAX2 as the cheaper 360 option.
- Budget: GoPro HERO.
We tested none of these cameras. Every figure below comes from the linked maker pages, so each pick is framed by what the specs say on paper, not by how the camera performs.
What to buy in the US
Prices below were read on US stores on Oct 16, 2026, at 5:03 p.m. ET. Stores change prices often, so check the store page before you buy.
- GoPro HERO13 Black: $429.99 at the GoPro US shop.
- DJI Osmo Action 6: $421.00 for the Enhanced Combo on Amazon.com, in stock, sold by DJI Tech Hub and shipped by Amazon.
- Insta360 Ace Pro 2: $329.99 for the Dual Battery bundle at the Insta360 US store.
- DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: out of stock at the DJI US store, where the Standard Combo ($319) and Adventure ($419) pages showed a "Notify Me" button. Amazon.com had the Essential Combo at $309.00, a different bundle.
- Insta360 GO Ultra: $379.99 at the Insta360 US store.
- Insta360 X5: $464.99 for the Standard Bundle at the Insta360 US store, marked down from $549.99.
- GoPro MAX2: from $299.99 at the GoPro US shop.
- GoPro HERO: $219.99 at the GoPro US shop.
GoPro HERO13 Black: best all-round
The HERO13 Black is the conventional pick: 5.3K video up to 60 fps and a removable battery. It suits buyers who want the GoPro accessory range.
It launched in September 2024. Its spec page gives 8x slow motion at 2.7K and 1080p, and a runtime claim of more than 2.5 hours at 1080p30.
DJI Osmo Action 6: best DJI to buy in the US now
DJI's Action 6 spec page lists a 1/1.1-inch sensor, the largest here, and 8K video at up to 30 fps.
Water rating is 20 m, or 60 m with DJI's Waterproof Case. Like the Action 5 Pro, the Action 6 has 64 GB built in plus a microSD slot. The run time is a DJI reference-conditions figure. Its launch date is not on the spec page.
Insta360 Ace Pro 2: 8K with a flip screen
The Ace Pro 2 pairs a 1/1.3-inch sensor, larger than the HERO13 Black's, with 8K video at up to 30 fps and a flip touchscreen.
It has no built-in storage, so you need a microSD card. Insta360's spec page gives its run time as a lab figure (1080p24, Active HDR off, Endurance Mode). The US price above is for the Dual Battery bundle.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: DJI's older model, cheaper
The Osmo Action 5 Pro shares the Action 6's 20 m rating without a case, and is a few grams lighter. Its sensor is smaller than the Action 6's, and it tops out at 4K video.
The Amazon price is lower, but the Essential Combo is a different bundle from the Action 6's Enhanced Combo, so compare contents as well as price. DJI's spec page gives its run time as a reference-conditions figure.
Insta360 GO Ultra: smallest, hands-free
The GO Ultra is a body-mountable camera. The camera alone is rated IPX8 to 10 m. With the Action Pod, the pod is only IPX4 splashproof.
It suits clip-on, head-mounted and chest-mounted use where the others are too big. It was announced in August 2025. It requires a microSD card, up to 2 TB.
Insta360 X5: the 360 pick
The X5 records 360 video at up to 8K (7680x3840) at 30 fps, and a single lens records 4K60. Insta360 lists a 1/1.28-inch sensor, a 15 m water rating and a 2400 mAh battery.
Against the MAX2, the X5 spec sheet offers a larger sensor, a higher water rating and a bigger battery. Insta360's lab run times include 93 minutes at 8K30.
GoPro MAX2: the cheaper 360 option
The MAX2 records 360 video at up to 8K at 30 fps, using two 1/2.3-inch sensors. A single lens records 4K60. It was announced in September 2025.
It has replaceable lenses and six microphones. Choose it if you want to reframe footage after shooting and pay less than the X5 costs. It is not a direct swap for the other cameras here.
GoPro HERO: the budget pick
The GoPro HERO is the cheapest camera here, with 4K video at up to 30 fps. It weighs 86 g and is waterproof to 5 m.
GoPro's spec page says HyperSmooth stabilization is applied in the Quik app, not in the camera. Check that workflow suits you. The battery is built in and not removable. It was announced with the HERO13 Black.
Spec comparison: action cameras
| HERO13 Black | Ace Pro 2 | Osmo Action 6 | Osmo Action 5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 1/1.9 in | 1/1.3 in | 1/1.1 in | 1/1.3 in |
| Top video | 5.3K60, 4K120 | 8K30, 4K120 | 8K30, 4K120 | 4K120 |
| Slow motion | 8x at 2.7K and 1080p | 1080p240 | 1080p240 | 1080p240 |
| Stabilization | HyperSmooth 6.0 | FlowState | RockSteady 3.0 | RockSteady 3.0 |
| Waterproof | 10 m | 12 m | 20 m, 60 m with case | 20 m, no case |
| Weight | 159 g | 184 g | 149 g | 146 g |
| Battery | 1900 mAh | 1800 mAh | 1950 mAh | 1950 mAh |
| Run time (maker claim) | 2.5 h+ at 1080p30 | 180 min | 240 min | 240 min |
| Storage | microSD | microSD, up to 1 TB | 64 GB built in, microSD up to 1 TB | 64 GB built in, microSD |
| Screens | 2.27 in rear, 1.4 in front | 2.5 in flip | 2.5 in rear, 1.46 in front | 2.5 in rear, 1.46 in front |
Spec comparison: small, 360 and budget
| GO Ultra | Insta360 X5 | MAX2 | HERO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 1/1.28 in | 1/1.28 in | two 1/2.3 in | 1/2.8 in |
| Top video | 4K60 | 360: 8K30; single lens 4K60 | 360: 8K30; single lens 4K60 | 4K30 |
| Stabilization | FlowState | not confirmed | Max HyperSmooth | applied in the Quik app, not in camera |
| Waterproof | 10 m camera only | 15 m | 5 m | 5 m |
| Weight | 52.9 g camera, 108.5 g with pod | 200 g | 195 g | 86 g |
| Battery | 500 mAh, pod 1450 mAh | 2400 mAh | 1960 mAh | 1255 mAh, built in |
| Run time (maker claim) | 70 min, 200 min with pod | 93 min at 8K30 (lab) | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Storage | microSD, up to 2 TB | microSD, no built-in storage listed | microSD | microSD |
| Screens | 2.2 in flip on pod | not confirmed | 1.82 in touch | 1.76 in rear touch |
Run times use each maker's own test conditions, so they are not directly comparable. Figures come from the maker pages linked in the header rows.
What we could not confirm
- Insta360 X5 screen size and launch date: not confirmed.
- MAX2 run time: not confirmed on GoPro's page.
- GoPro HERO run time: not stated on GoPro's page.
- DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and Action 6 launch dates: not on DJI's spec pages.
- Insta360 Ace Pro 2 US launch price: not confirmed.
