Are you looking for the best action camera at a low price? This buying guide will help you find the best action camera for your budget. We’ve reviewed all the top budget action cameras, from entry-level models to older flagships that are more affordable. You’ll find the perfect budget action camera for you, whether you need a rugged camera to capture your adventures or a small pocket camera that you can take with you everywhere.
Which is the most affordable action camera? The Kaiser Baas X450 action camera is our top pick. Although it is simple in build and audio performance is not exceptional, the Kaiser Baas X450 is lightweight at 73g, and can capture beautiful, detailed 4K footage at 30fps. It also has the best stabilization, if not a GoPro camera, in this guide.
It might not be the right choice for you. A model might be more affordable for you. In that case, the Akaso EK7000 may be a better choice. This is a flawed, but very capable option for those with a limited budget. You could also look for a GoPro camera made a while ago. In that case, it is worth looking out the best deals on models like the Hero 7 Silver.
No matter what your budget, the following list will help you find the perfect action camera. This definitive guide features the best budget action cameras. We have compared them side-by side to find the best deals. Although some cameras aren’t perfect due to the price limit, we included every camera because it represents genuine value. Some cameras are so inexpensive that you can attach them to your helmet, handlebars or harness without worrying about it getting lost.
RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU…
Are you unsure how to balance the different options with your budget? To help you choose the best cheap action camera, we have included some buying tips at the end of the list.
1. Kaiser Baas X450
Budget boss for 4K quality daylight images
Specifications
Weight: 73g
Waterproof: 40m (with case, included)
4K video: 30fps
1080 video: Up to 60fps
720 video: 120fps
Stills resolution: 14MP
Battery life: 90 minutes
There are many reasons to buy
+Lovely, detailed 4K video+Pleasant colour management+Above-average EIS
Avoidable reasons
-Basic construction, with exposed ports-Poor sound and no mic input-No Webcam Mode
The Kaiser Baas X450 is a good choice if you are looking for ready-to-roll 4K footage. The X450 shoots beautiful 4K footage. It has a 14MP sensor that captures slightly more detail than the GoPro Hero 9 Black at its wide setting. This is based on a frame analysis at sunset.
This comparison is not fair as GoPro Black cameras are much wider than the Kaiser Baas X450. However, we remain impressed. The Apeman A100 has similar detail, but the Kaiser Baas is superior in color processing, rendering more appealing clips and generally rendering them with warmer colors. As you would expect, noise handling in low lighting is slightly better than the Apeman A100.
This guide also lists the X450 as having the best non-GoPro stability. An action camera must make use of a Gyroscope to achieve this effect. This can detect when a natural handshake causes tilt motion. Although it can’t provide the same level of stabilization as an Insta360 and GoPro, we are impressed with this cheap action camera.
The diving case is required to ensure water resistance. Ports are visible just like a budget action camera. The Kaiser Baas X450 doesn’t include a microphone input or a tripod thread. The box does contain the accessories you need.
Kaiser Baas is not as generous as the majority of the companies listed in this guide. For example, you don’t get 2 batteries. You only get 1. Its capacity is only 1,050mAh. Other cameras costing more than $80-plus use 1,350mAh batteries. The audio quality of the camera’s audio is poor. It has a lower output than the Akaso Brave 7 LE, and it uses the same absence treble and gated sound as the Apeman A100.
The Kaiser Baas X450 cannot be used as a Webcam. Although there are many ways to improve the X450, this action camera is the best for image quality and stabilization.
2. Akaso EK7000
It is fragile, but it is surprisingly good value for money
Specifications
Weight: 59g
Waterproof: 30m (with case)
4K video at up to 25 fps
1080 video: Up to 60fps
720 video: Up to 120fps
Stills resolution: 12MP
Battery life: 90 minutes
+Surprisingly good results @ 1080/60p+Decent Interface+Comes bundled with many accessories
Avoidable reasons
-4K motion is a suck-No stabilisation
The Akaso EK7000 is very similar to the Dragon Touch Vision 4 Lite (see above). The Akaso EK7000 has exactly the same design, with the same diamond pattern sides and an all-button interface. Although it lacks stabilization and has a slightly less appealing screen, we loved it and it is a good buy for those with tight budgets.
Two main reasons are the reason. It’s not difficult to use the Akaso EK7000 interface. Although there are a lot of options to choose from, the Akaso EK7000’s interface is easy to use. It has four buttons that can be used to reduce this amount of button-mashing.
The 1080p footage looks amazing. This is important because the 4K mode’s motion, much like the Dragon Touch Vision 4 Lite’s, is extremely jerky. Akaso claims that the EK7000 records 4K at 25fps. However, judging from what we see, it could be dropping frames or double up on them in final files.
You can get down to 2.7k at 30fps, or 60fps for 1080p, and you’ll see a significant improvement. You don’t lose much detail at 1080p, and the tone is more natural. While many cameras have footage that looks different when you switch between resolutions, this one has a very slight detail loss. For best results, stick to 1080p/60 or 2.7k.
We’d be happy with the Akaso EK7000’s 1080/60p video for this price. Do we miss electronic image stabilization? Absolutely. Although 60fps can make motion smoother, it will not eliminate bumps. You can still edit your clips with video editing software such as iMovie, which will do the job better that most action cameras’ in-body processing.
What are the down sides? The default field of view is set to ‘wide’. There is no way to adjust it. Although we would argue that it is best to keep the field of view wide as inexpensive action cam hardware doesn’t withstand digital cropping, the option would be great. It’s also very poor in audio quality. The Akaso EK7000 is muffled and quiet which makes it a difficult option for vlogging. It is, however, one of the most affordable budget-friendly action cameras available.
3. Akaso Brave 7 LE
The DJI Osmo Action is available in a budget version
Specifications
Weight: 127g
Waterproof: IPx7 (no case required), 40M (with case).
4K video at up to 30fps
1080 video: Up to 120fps
720 video: Up to 240fps
Stills resolution: 20MP
Battery life: 120 minutes
Today’s top Akaso Brave7 LE deals
Every day, we check more than 250 million products to ensure the best price
There are many reasons to buy
+Dual screens+Case-free water resistance+Class-leading build quality
Avoidable reasons
-Poor 60fps footage-Jumpy electronic stabilization-Cheaper options have better 4K
With the Brave 7 LE, Akaso has revolutionized the market for cheap action cameras. This action camera is affordable and has most of the same features as a high-end model.
These include dual displays on the back and front and weather sealing. The rubber bungs that cover the ports offer IPx7 water resistance, without the need for a case. If you don’t want to go snorkeling with your camera, it’s enough. You also get a 40m waterproofing case in diving style.
We also feel that the Brave 7 LE feels more expensive than any other camera at this price. This is largely due to the camera’s weight. It weighs in at 127g, which is twice as much as action cameras that look like empty boxes once you pick them up. Plastics used are also of higher quality.
While making a first impression is important, Akaso has also put more effort into other areas. When used in a quiet environment, the Akaso Brave LE 7’s sound quality is superior to any other non-GoPro. The mic’s quality is excellent. It’s susceptible to wind noise because it only has one mic. However, there is a basic mode for wind noise reduction that can be used to reduce it. However, you only have so much that you can do with one mic array.
The user interface of Akaso is fantastic. It is touchscreen-driven and has a gloss that you won’t find in other GoPro clones. It’s quicker and easier to use than GoPro’s original for basic tasks.
The Akaso Brave 7 LE is as good as it sounds. We weren’t impressed by the video quality. It can record at 4K resolution and 30 frames per second. The video shot in this setting looks great, but it doesn’t have the same clarity or detail as the Apeman 100100. We expected that the Brave 7 LE would be the top chart-placer, given the amount of effort put into this video. But it didn’t. It also happens at 60fps mode, which is available at 2.7k resolutions or below. The footage looks very aliased or ‘blocky’ so the 2.7k clips don’t have as much detail.
The Akaso Brave 7 LE also heavily relies on noise reduction when the light level drops, making your footage look soft regardless of its resolution. Although electronic image stabilization works well, it can be a bit jumpy. It focuses on slowing down motion and not making pans look smoother.
The Brave 7 LE is still a great budget action camera for the price. However, a little more work (and perhaps a better sensor) would make it an actual rival to the GoPro Hero 9 Black or DJI Osmo Action. Although the camera can be used as a webcam with either our MacBook Pro or Windows 10 laptops, we were unable to get it working. Perhaps you’ll have more luck.
