Table of Contents
Introduction
A sure way to have an expensive repair bill is to attempt recording action sequences with your smartphone. The price of action cameras has decreased dramatically over the last few years, so don’t risk ruining your phone; buy one of the following cameras designed to cope with being knocked around. Our comparison of the best 5 action cameras under $100 gives you all the information you need to start filming high-energy activities with budget-friendly devices. For example, it may seem crazy, but the AKASO V50X Native 4K action camera produces similar results to a GoPro but at a fraction of the cost. Keep reading to discover why we think this camera is a great starting point for recording your next adrenaline-fuelled escapade.
From helmets to handlebars and from surfers to skiers, action cameras are attached to anything and anyone likely to be involved in extreme sports. If you want to take your first steps into vlogging or simply record your outdoor adventures to share with your family, one of the following action cameras is sure to suit your needs.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
- The AKASO V50X Native 4K should be at the top of your shopping list when you want a feature-packed action camera but only have a limited budget.
- It’s a compact camera weighing only 2.8 ounces (80 grams) that can record high-quality videos and take photos in all kinds of environments.
- Its main claim to fame, though, is being able to record 4K video at 30 frames per second and HD video at up to 90fps. It can even shoot photos at 20 megapixels!
- Could an action camera in this price range possibly have funky features such as time-lapse and slow-motion video? Surprisingly, the AKASO V50X Native 4K does! You get all of this and can enjoy its 2-inch touchscreen and long battery life of up to 90 minutes.
- If it’s this good, why is it so cheap compared to higher-priced action cameras? It lacks key features such as High Dynamic Range which helps you get better shots in high-contrast situations. It also doesn’t handle dim conditions very well, with high grain (electronic noise) showing in images taken in low light.
- The other main problem with this action camera is the poor audio quality compared to dearer options.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- The Apeman has the ubiquitous black plastic casing surrounding the 7-element, f/1.8 lens. It has similar dimensions to the other cameras reviewed here and weighs just 2.7 ounces (76 grams).
- You can film in true (native) 4K video at 30fps, so the footage is bright and clear, and it captures photos up to 20-megapixel per image.
- In daylight, filming is surprisingly good for a budget camera, but because the image sensor is so tiny, the results suffer during filming at night.
- As usual with action cameras at this price point, the audio from the internal microphone is poor, which is unfortunate because it doesn’t have a port for an external microphone.
- The 2-inch touchscreen is responsive, and shooting modes include video, time-lapse, and still images. It even has a distortion correction mode that significantly improves filming. Overall, it’s an impressive action camera, especially since it falls within the category of a budget-level device.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
- The AKASO EK7000 Pro weighs only 2.15 ounces (61 grams) and contains a lot of value in this small package. It has superior audio to the V50X and Apeman action camera but falls short in key areas.
- Still shots are captured at 16 megapixels, which is fine but not as high as the two cameras just reviewed. And although it is advertised as able to record in Ultra High Definition 4K video, as with all of these cameras (apart from the AKASO V50X Native 4 and the Apeman Trawo A100), this is only made available through an up-scaling of the footage using interpolation.
- When set to 4K video, it is only at 25 frames per second which makes for a noticeable decrease in filming quality resulting in extra pixelation and lower resolution. It also has a less dynamic range than the AKASO V50X, which shows up in low-light situations.
- One final gripe is that the 2-inch touchscreen is much less responsive than the V50X.
- If you want to record at higher frame rates for less flickering and for doing epic slow-motion footage, it comes at the expense of your resolution. A video in 4K can be made at 25fps, whereas if you want 60fps, you end up with Full High Definition resolution instead.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
- Perhaps you are wondering why there is yet another Akaso-branded camera on this list. AKASO is now one of the biggest names in the budget range of action cameras. These three cameras made it to this comparison because they are all excellent value for money, and it would be a disservice to leave any of them off in order to gain brand diversity.
- It weighs about the same as its competitors (2.25 ounces – 64 grams) and is just as compact and lightweight. It has a reasonable sensor capturing 20-megapixel photos, but as mentioned in the previous camera’s description, although this camera is marketed as having 4K video recording abilities, this is only available through interpolation from 2K filming. But it can record native video at 1080p with 60fps.
- Unlike previously described action cameras, this unit’s 2-inch screen is not touch-activated. Apart from showing the scene in front of you, it is used to display the camera mode, remaining battery life, and memory card space.
- Battery life has an expected duration of 90 minutes. It comes fourth on the list because it costs more than most others without delivering any extra benefits.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
- When reviewing action cameras bought for less than $100, you must remember that they will never match the more expensive models with superior sensors and software. Still, all of the models listed above are surprisingly good. This one is a disappointment, however. It’s the cheapest option but seriously lacks some features that you take for granted in the other models.
- It features 4K recording at 30fps (interpolated, of course) and shoots still photographs at 16 megapixels, but the results are poorer than the previously listed cameras.
- It doesn’t have a touchscreen, but it has a driving mode, so you can use it as a dash cam. It also incorporates the option to take a series of photos through its burst photo mode and has a wireless remote control attached to a wristband.
- Switch to time-lapse or slow motion when you want to be creative.
What to Look For
Most of the cameras mentioned in the list above provide incredible footage but have been designed with cost-cutting measures in place. Keep the following information in mind when making your purchase.
Native 4K Vs. Non-Native 4K
Although all of these cameras claim 4K recording capabilities, look beyond the marketing. You’ll find that only two of the cameras on this list (AKASO V50X Native 4 and the Apeman Trawo A100) can truly film in native Ultra High Definition 4K video. The rest is digitally up-scale footage through interpolation. Although the result can be claimed to be a 4K video, the difference in quality is very noticeable.
An action camera that records native 4K video is the best way to record clear footage without pixelation. Be aware that shooting at native 4K resolution, especially when combined with a fast frame rate, will decrease the battery’s running time.
How Important is Image Stabilization?
If you purchase an action camera, you will likely use it while pursuing high-intensity outdoor activities like parachuting. Don’t waste money on a camera that renders unusable, bouncy footage.
The AKASO V50X Native 4K has impressive in-built image stabilization. Thanks to its electronic image stabilization software, you get steady video even while hurtling along a mountain bike trail. Of course, it can’t compete with a GoPro camera’s stabilization, but that’s because GoPro’s HyperSmooth option is far beyond compare. You have to pay for that extra stability with a much higher price tag.
For its price, the Apeman Trawo has a surprising amount of Electronic Image Stabilization performance available through six-axis gyroscope technology. Its stabilization is through an ‘Anti-Shake’ system, providing smooth video footage even when it’s in the middle of hardcore action sports.
The AKASO EK7000 Pro cannot use Image Stabilization while filming in 4K, so the footage is jittery. If you plan to record the action on the go and want the 4K experience, you’d be crazy if you didn’t spend another $30 and upgrade to the AKASO V50X, which has a better Electronic Image Stabilization system built in.
The AKASO Brave 4 has a smart gyroscope for anti-shake stabilization, which works fairly well. The Dragon Touch 4K Vision 3, unlike all the others reviewed in this action camera comparison, doesn’t have effective inbuilt image stabilization. This camera has a ‘sport/running’ mode (in 720P) that helps reduce the jumpiness of footage, but it doesn’t perform as well as those cameras with proper image stabilization.
What Accessories Should I Expect?
When you open the box for the AKASO V50X Native 4K, you may be surprised at how many accessories are included. There is an underwater housing that can be taken down to 130 feet (40 meters), a spare battery, and 12 GoPro-compatible mounts.
The Apeman Trawo A100 comes with a clip-on cage to surround the camera, giving you the option to use all the mounting brackets that are included in the purchase price. A wide variety of other accessories is included with the camera, including a waterproof housing rated to 130 feet (40 meters). The cage means this camera can mount to GoPro and third-party accessories, which makes it highly versatile. Two rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries are included, and it’s suggested they each last over 60 minutes when filming in 4K and up to 120 minutes at 1080P. Capping the recording at thirty frames per second when filming a 4K video helps avoid excessive drain on the battery.
The AKASO EK7000 Pro comes with a range of mountings and waterproof housing that lets you dive to 130 feet (40 meters). A spare battery is supplied, and since it lasts up to 90 minutes per charge, this is an excellent entry-level action camera that will record under harsh conditions and produce good results. Among the accessories is a handy remote for taking photos or starting and stopping the video.
A waterproof case is included with the AKASO Brave 4, and with this on, you can dive to 100 feet (30 meters). With its 170˚ adjustable field of view, you’ll capture all the underwater action you desire.
The Dragon Touch 4K Vision 3 has a waterproof case allowing you to take it swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and diving to 100 feet (30 meters). It has 18 accessories, including helmet mounts, a remote, and a spare battery. Each battery is good for 90 minutes of filming.
To keep the price down on these action cameras, the manufacturers don’t make the bodies waterproof; you have to slip them into waterproof housings before getting them wet. But don’t let that put you off these budget-version cameras. It can be a bit fiddly to lock them in, but if you don’t have the cash to splash on an expensive model of action camera, you have to deal with these little inconveniences. And note that the poor audio on these cameras is reduced even further when the camera is locked into a waterproof case.
Which One Should You Buy?
Immersing yourself in action produces exhilarating content for YouTube and TikTok, but your recording device must be tough enough to handle the pressure. And it has to make clear footage that will thrill your audience, so that’s why the AKASO V50X Native 4K is our choice for the best action camera under $100. While it may not have the rich colors of GoPro action cameras, the AKASO V50X Native 4K device is a close match for image stability and clarity. And we love the sharp photos it produces from its wide-angle camera. Its native 4K filming is an essential factor in this choice, but so is the electronic image stabilization software that gives it such good results for a camera that can match your rugged lifestyle but won’t break the bank. The Apeman Trawo A100 is the other highly recommended camera because it can record native 4K video.
