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. All in all, the AKASO Brave 7LE action camera is is a superb little camera that can be controlled remotely, and has all the extras you could need for your active life.

The best action camera for 2023: top cameras for adventures

You want 10-bit video: If you like to color grade in post-production, later GoPro Hero models offer 10-bit video support. In terms of cons and comparisons, the camera doesn’t handle low light as magnificently as a GoPro and you will need to work a bit harder to get acceptable night-time and dusk type shots. It can shoot highly impressive 4k/60 video as well aso capture 8k timelapse and x16 slow-motion clips. In terms of still photos, it takes 48MP which is decent for an action camera but obviously not as good as a DSLR. To be honest, these days pretty much every action camera on the market offers a battery lifespan that caters for most uses. However, the battery on the Akaso Brave 8 is a bit on the average side. That display makes the Go 3 more intuitive to use than the Go 2, especially when framing up vlogs. Even with a few connectivity glitches, we found it responsive to use as a wireless viewfinder, and less clunky than doing the same with a smartphone. We do wish the Action Pod was waterproof like the Go 3 itself, though.

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 camera powers off automatically even when the remote control is activated in the menu, so be sure to change the auto power-off setting. You need the best performance: Dated microSD memory limits the Action 4's clip lengths and resolutions. On paper, at least, the Akaso Brave 8 looks as though it would compare relatively well with a more premium action camera such as the GoPro Hero 10, but in reality, it comes second in almost every department.

AKASO Brave 8 4K60fps 48MP SuperSmooth Action Camera | 8K

All the same, the Insta360 One R produces some of the best stills and video you can get from an action camera. Its 1-inch sensor also handles the crop of image stabilization better than most. A flexible 5K camera with solid low-light skills, the Insta360 One R is one of the best action cams around. It is fair value for what it can do and you can get all the accessories included which marks a change from some other manufacturers.The Akaso Brave 7 is not a GoPro beater, but if you’re after a relatively cheap camera, and you don’t intend to use it in very wet conditions, and you’re not expecting high-end levels of performance and quality – and you don’t care about audio – it’s not bad.

Akaso Brave 8 action camera review: not the GoPro rival it

It’s good to see a removable lens cover on the Brave 7 – I’ve replaced it on my GoPro Hero 7 twice due to welding spatter and having it too close to an angle-grinder. The Hero 8 didn’t have a replaceable cover, but 9 nine and 10 do. The problem is that I can’t find replacement lens covers for the Akaso for sale anywhere online. You want a touchscreen: It's easy to use, but its underwater credentials mean the TG-6 doesn't have a touch display. I’ve got three GoPros (all of which I’ve bought myself) – a Hero 3+, a 5 and a 7, so while I can’t compare this Akaso to the most recent Heroes, I was pretty excited at the idea of upgrading my current kit for less money. When GoPro first launched there was plenty of speculation over whether this unknown brand would be able to cut it in a world of big names like Canon and Nikon, yet now it’s the benchmark for action cameras.My GoPro Hero 7 is far from perfect, the battery sometimes being completely dead just a day after charging it (it seems to not properly shut down sometimes), and the odd glitch here and there. Close inspection of the footage can sometimes show over-processing in the camera, but there’s a reason that professionals use these; even the BBC World Service videographers use them as second cameras at times. The level of control and the general reliability and sturdiness help justify the higher price. You do get what you pay for.