If the answer is yes, you’re in luck! In this article we have compiled all the relevant information about four 4K sports cameras that you can’t miss. And not all of them are GoPro, although we have found cheaper alternatives that are just as interesting. So if you’re ready to find out which 4K action cams are the most worthwhile today, we encourage you to read our review to the end!
[amazon box=”B0881FLJ1Q, B09D15SFMQ, B08D6P1NKR, B07W4H5XMF” grid=”4″]
The top 4K action cameras of 2022
As promised, we’ll show you all the most important elements of the 4K sports cameras in this selection below.
1) AKASO Brave 7 LE: good image quality, but with some shortcomings
If you don’t know the AKASO brand, we invite you to investigate it, as it has a wide range of cameras in its catalogue. Today we are focusing on the Brave 7 LE, the first thing we would like to highlight is the 6-axis gyroscope it incorporates, which allows it to solve vibrations and stabilise the image in real time.
It has a resolution of 4K at 30 fps and 1080P at 60 fps, while the photos have a quality of 20 MP. Another aspect to take into account is that it incorporates a dual screen: a front screen for taking selfies and seeing the world in real time, and a 2-inch touch screen on the back. But you won’t be able to view them at the same time.
If you’re a water sports enthusiast, you’ll be interested to know how it performs in this regard. Truth be told, it’s not the most advanced of the four in terms of water resistance.
In fact, it can only be submerged to a depth of 1 metre, as it is IPX7 rated. It is not recommended to be submerged for more than half an hour without a waterproof case. If you choose to put the case on, you can submerge it up to 40 metres.
Finally, it has built-in WiFi and HDMI, but no voice control or built-in microphone.
[amazon box=”B0881FLJ1Q”]
2) GoPro Hero 10: the star brand that everyone loves
Think for a moment about which sports camera brands come to mind first. We are convinced that one of them, if not the first, is GoPro. This company has managed to position itself in the customer’s mind in the sports camera segment, and has built up an impeccable reputation in the market.
We are talking about a camera that can be submerged to a depth of 10 metres and has two screens, a front live preview screen and a rear touchscreen. Another highlight is the HyperSmooth 4.0 video stabiliser, which improves its performance in dark conditions and allows for a higher tilt and horizon alignment.
In terms of image resolution, it’s one of the sharpest cameras you’ll find. It captures stills at 23 MP and video at 5.3K resolution at 60 fps. On the other hand, in slow motion it captures 8x images at 2.7K, and allows you to pause videos to extract 15.8 MP stills.
Another area where GoPro has improved on its last model is the processor, upgrading to the GP2. The result is faster performance, twice the frame rate and touch controls that adapt more easily.
And, so you don’t lose any of your footage, GoPro is always connected to the cloud. Through the Quik app you can upload all your images and videos easily and effectively.
[amazon box=”B09D15SFMQ”]
3) GOOKAM Go2 4K: great versatility and reduced autonomy
The third protagonist of our review is the GOOKAM Go2 model, whose most outstanding feature is its great versatility. This is a multifunction camera, in which you can choose from different predefined modes: loop recording, sequential video, slow motion, burst, sequential photo, car mode, underwater mode, audio recording, etc. In this sense, this model does include a microphone, so you can record audio.
Another common feature with the previous model is its ability to be up to 40 meters underwater, which will allow you to use it without any problem if you practice water sports such as surfing or snorkelling. It also supports WiFi.
The resolution is 4K and 10 MP, while as far as video recording is concerned, each battery is 1080P and allows you to record for around 90 minutes. And, like many of its competitors, it has a 170-degree wide-angle camera.
[amazon box=”B08D6P1NKR”]
4) Apexcam M90 Pro: anti-vibration system and optimal autonomy
Last but not least, the Apexcam M90 Pro. Although it is not so well known, it is very interesting. In fact, the resolution and image quality is not far from GoPro. It has a resolution of 20 MP and 4K at 30 fps, 2.7K at 30 fps or 1080P at 60 fps.
One of the highlights of this camera is that it features EIS anti-shake technology, which provides a much more stable and fluid image. In terms of camera type, it employs a 170° wide-angle for video and a 7-glass fisheye camera.
The next notable element is the depth to which it can be submerged, which in this case is up to 40 metres, as it has an IP68 protection rating. If we look at the battery, it has a battery life of up to 240 minutes recording in 4K. This is due to the fact that it incorporates two batteries, thus increasing the power and resistance.
Finally, it can be synchronised with an app to keep up to date with the latest updates or simply to upload content. And for the latter, you can choose from a wide variety of content: time-lapse, cyclical recording, burst shooting, white balance, etc.
[amazon box=”B07W4H5XMF”]
What aspects are important when evaluating different sports cameras?
This is one of the big questions that often arises when we are considering different alternatives. Especially if you haven’t owned one before and don’t know which criteria are most important and which ones make the most difference. These are some of them:
- Stabilisation system: this complement is fundamental in action cameras. Precisely, this type of device is used to capture images in sudden movement and in real time, which requires a good video stabiliser so that they can be perceived clearly.
- Image quality: in this case, we are focusing on cameras with 4K resolution, but you can also find very interesting models with Full HD resolution on the market. The good thing about recording in 4K is that the result is much sharper, but this type of camera requires more storage capacity than Full HD.
- Fps: we are talking about frames per second, and this parameter defines the sharpness in the movement of people or objects that are captured. To give you an idea, recording at 60 fps results in much more fluid and realistic movement, and is a better alternative for applying effects such as slow motion.
- Types of cameras and lenses: the lens is the type of camera included in each device. There are several types, although one of the most common in these cameras is the wide-angle lens, whose main characteristic is that they capture images with a wider angle.
Which is the best 4K action camera?
In this comparison something unusual happens, and that is that we find two very different economic ranges, without this difference corresponding in performance.
On the one hand, GoPro outperforms its competitors in most functionalities, as well as in image resolution and video stabilisation. Also, its price is four times higher than that of its rivals.
On the other hand, the cameras from GOOKAM, AKASO and Apexcam are not as recognisable, but are very good value for money. In fact, while GOPro is close to 500 euros, its three rivals range between 90-140 euros.
As we have already mentioned, the difference in performance, resolution and technical quality is not so marked as to justify such a high price jump. Therefore, any of the three lesser-known models is a really interesting purchase option.
However, it may be the case that you’d rather opt for a GoPro, in which case the Hero 10 is one of the company’s best cameras today. We think it’s a bit pricey compared to the rest, but that’s just our opinion.
Amazon: these are the best-selling action cams
We understand that you still have doubts about which sports camera to buy. To help you out, we’ve put together a ranking of the most popular models on Amazon, where you can check out the experiences of other users and see the difference in price and functionality.
[amazon bestseller = “action cams” items = “5”]