When looking for the best action camera under 200 $, you’d be surprised to see several budget options that would give GoPro and DJI a run for their money. In this article, we will review some of the top sub-200 $ cameras for you. We will also provide a comprehensive guide and address some commonly asked queries of buyers that will help you choose the right action camera for your needs.
What we like about these sub-200 dollar action cameras is their flexibility in terms of usability and their value for money. They can be used for different shooting styles. For instance, you can mount them on your helmet, fix them on your car’s dashboard, or carry them in your pocket for your on-the-go quick vlogging. These budget action cameras boast both excellent features and video quality. And despite their reasonable price, they are waterproof, capable of shooting 4K, offer image stabilization, feature WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and at their best offer touch screens. And don’t be surprised to also see an older model of your GoPro for under 200 $ now.
Top 10 Best Action Cameras Under 200 Dollars In 2024
| 1 | Dragon Touch 4K |
| 2 | DJI Osmo Action 03 |
| 3 | YI 4K |
| 4 | Akaso EK7000 Pro 4K |
| 5 | Akaso Brave 4 |
| 6 | SJCAM SJ7 Star |
| 7 | ThiEYE T5e |
| 8 | Veho Muvi Kx-1 |
| 9 | GoPro Hero Session |
| 10 | Xiaomi YDXJ01FM Mi 4K Action Camera |
Best Action Camera Under 200 $ – Reviews
1. Dragon Touch 4K
- Specifications:
- Megapixel: 16 MP
- Resolution: 4K at 30fps
- Water Proofing: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Screen type: 2-inch screen
- Image Stabilizer: Lacks proper image stabilizer
- Battery Life: 1.5 hr
Dragon Touch 4K is the best action camera under 200 $ that provides you with a 4K video. It is a wireless wrist remote-control action camera that helps in recording the moments conveniently, even at places you can’t reach. This can be placed at 33 meters below water and fixed on your helmet to record the event with 2 rechargeable 1050 mAh batteries. It has a nice, high-quality, polaroid-inspired style model. Its features are unique and have no comparison to other models. The camera has a zooming power of 4x for close-ups, and it can take shots of 4K videos at 30 fps. In addition to that, it has a touchscreen display which makes the zooming feature easier as all you have to do is pinch on the screen. It has an angle-adjustable lens with an adjusting capacity from 70 degrees to 170 degrees with other basic features.
The color presentation in the videos is flawless, and the still images are impeccable which sets them apart, and is worth sharing. This budget 4k action camera has a collection of shooting modes that includes image rotation, driving mode, exposure, brightness balancing, and drama shot functions. To set the driving mode, you have to use it as a dashcam by turning on the image rotation function. This best action camera under 200 also has time-lapse recording, loop recording, and slow-motion recording modes. With the dragon touch, you will enjoy more than just basic functions in an action camera.
2. DJI Osmo Action 03
- Specifications:
- Megapixel: 12 MP
- Resolution: 4K at 120fps
- Water Proofing: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Type-C
- Screen type: LCD Touchscreen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Battery Life: 2.5 hrs
The DJI Osmo Action 3 Standard is one of the best action cameras under 200 $ that truly impresses. It is surprising to see how durable it is.
It seems like it is designed for action lovers. The rugged and compact design fascinates everyone around. There are magnetic clasps on the bottom to give you an unshakeable device grip during adventures. These mounting sockets with latches are hard to open even during mountain bike rides.
When it comes to its performance the stabilization is excellent. DJI Osmo Action 3 captures vibrant, natural colors without over-saturation. The auto settings are beneficial for most of the scenes. However, based on experience, manual settings are helpful for dark scenes to avoid graininess. It supports 4K capture up to 120fps, but for a balance between quality and battery life, 2K at 120fps is ideal. If you prefer 4k recording, keep the frame rate at 60 fps to prevent overheating and extend battery life.
Speaking of battery life, the adventure combo, which includes a 3-pack battery case, is highly recommended for trips. Each battery provides about 60 minutes of 4K 60fps recording. In addition, they support fast charging, reaching 90% in just 15 minutes. At the same time, the underwater performance is superb. It handles depths up to 10 meters without issue. The camera’s software is intuitive and responsive, with dual touchscreens that work even underwater. In addition, the mobile app makes downloading and editing clips easy.
The DJI Osmo Action 3 provides a smooth, user-friendly experience with excellent performance. It is a top choice for outdoor and travel enthusiasts.
3. YI 4K
- Specifications:
- Megapixel: 12 MP
- Resolution: 4K at 30fps and 2. 7k at 60fps
- Water Proofing: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Screen type: LCD Touchscreen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Battery Life: 2 hrs
The YI 4k is an old fellow still loved by many budget action camera fans. It offers great features and performance along with a long battery life.
One of its standout features is its performance during the daylight. It gives amazing quality footage during sunlight. However, the little disappointment we face in dark light is negotiable at this price. Although it gives 4k videos at 120 fps, the stabilization works excellent at 2k. For half of the cost of Go Pro Hero, YI packs in a lot of technology. Plus, the internal microphone’s sound quality exceeded my expectations, effectively reducing road noise during a car trip.
Unlike Go Pro, you cannot use YI 4k without a water case. When it comes to connectivity, you can use high-speed wifi to connect your phone to control the camera via an app. The smartphone app is nice. It may take time to connect to the wifi occasionally but once it is connected life gets easier with this smart app. It will handle shooting, editing, and sharing without much trouble. You can also watch live videos or saved clips through the app.
Though it lacks loop recording, it supports up to 128 GB SD card.
Besides, the touch menu is laid out well and the screen responds quickly. With its touchscreen, you can fully control the camera. There are many options for various recording modes and settings.
Other notable features include a built-in tripod adapter and the ability to run directly off a USB power bank, with or without the internal battery. The camera is available in white, which helps with heat management during outdoor recordings on hot days.
4. Akaso EK7000 Pro 4K
- Specifications:
- Megapixel: 16 MP
- Resolution: 4K at 25fps
- Water Proofing: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Screen type: 3-inch tilted touchscreen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Battery Life: 1.5 hr
Akaso EK7000 Pro 4K is arguably the best budget camera that is all you need. It is very well-designed and convenient to use. It is best for diving and water sport with an underwater recording capacity of up to 40 meters deep. Its diving mode enables video recording in the absence of red light underwater and guarantees underwater shots as incredible as they are on land. The electronic image stabilization feature ensures that the footage is recorded smoothly when the object moves fast or records the subject in action.
On the other hand, its adjustable viewing angle controls the footage from narrow to extra-wide. Video quality and still image resolution are flawless enabling you to take realistic shots. It has a recording feature of 4K at 25fps, 2.7k videos at 30fps, and 1080p videos at 60fps. These three features of video recording are so thoughtful because recording high-resolution videos takes up more space. If longer footage is to be shot, it can be turned to 1080p and recorded at 60fps. Not a single activity can be missed when you have such a variety of high frame rates. This Akaso action camera can be wirelessly controlled using a remote through its built-in Wi-Fi. With this best action camera under 200, you get impressive picture quality at an even shutter speed and capture your stills at 16MP.
5. Akaso Brave 4
- Specifications:
- Megapixel: 20MP
- Resolution: 4K at 24fps
- Water Proofing: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Screen type: 2-inch tilted IPS screen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Battery Life: 1.5 hr
This other best affordable action camera from Akaso is an upgrade of Akaso EK7000 which is the best-selling model of this brand. It is also one of the best action cameras under 200 $ that records 4K footage at 24fps and 2K footage at 30fps while recording its slow-motion footage at full HD. The images are captured at a high resolution of 20MP. Within the budget price, it has an amazing image quality. The view angle is adjustable between 70 degrees to 170 degrees, and it has an anti-shake feature due to the built-in gyroscope.
For underwater activities, this best action camera under 200 does an incredible job and is an excellent choice for that. It is waterproof up to 100 feet deep in water. We really liked its wireless remote-control wristband that operates the camera underwater by simply touching the buttons to switch between different shooting modes and can zoom and narrow down the subjects up to 5 times. It has a collection of impressive mounting accessories at no extra cost to it. It comes at a reasonable price with these features and qualities, making it the best action camera under 200 you can get in 2024.
6. SJCAM SJ7 Star
- Specifications:
- Megapixel: 12MP
- Resolution: 4K at 30fps
- Water Proofing: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Screen type: 2-inch LCD touchscreen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Battery Life: 1-2 hr
SJCAM SJ7 Star is a desirable choice when you do not want to lighten your pockets for a good quality action camera. In the SJCAM brand, the SJCAM SJ7 Star is a GoPro alternative with convincing video quality. This action camera has the amazing feature of capturing your photos at 12 MP with 4K at 30 fps recording. It has an underwater recording function with a waterproof case and allows to use of different fantastic features. It has a high-resolution camera that gives excellent-quality pictures with nice details. It has a bunch of mounting accessories with it to get better results.
SJCAM SJ7 Star is a waterproof action camera and comes with 2 rechargeable batteries 1050 mAh. Its protective case is waterproof, and image-resistant helps capture the videos underwater even at 30 meters deep down. Its long-life batteries and external charger make it easier to record wonderful moments. It has a wide vision angle that ranges up to 170 degrees. Its image stabilization feature records smooth and good-quality videos and the electronic image stabilization is for anti-shaking purposes. This best action camera under 200 has gyro stabilization to record slow motion and time-lapse. It is helpful when recording fast movements and helps to minimize the blurring with less movement effect. Last but not least it allows you to connect your favorite type of external microphone for even better audio input. At this affordable price, this sports action camera is highly recommended.
7. ThiEYE T5e
- Specifications:
- Megapixel: 16 MP
- Resolution: 4K at 30fps
- Water Proofing: Yes
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Screen Type: 2-inch IPS touchscreen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Battery Life: 1.15 hr
Most action cameras have waterproof coverage for up to 50 to 100 feet, but ThiEye T5e is 197 feet waterproof, making it the best choice for underwater footage. It has a wide 170-degree vision angle. For amazing color presentation and light performance, it has a Sony IMX117 sensor and an Ambarella A12S processor.
It has a high resolution of shooting 4K videos at 30 fps and around 240 fps for slow-motion recording. It has a bundle of mounting accessories that includes 2 x 1100 mAh batteries with a life of 150 minutes. For capturing panoramic shots, it has a 360-degree rotating buckle. This also stabilizes the camera and electronic image stabilization EIS gives smooth-quality videos. ThiEye T5e is an excellent choice and the best action camera under 200 $ with amazing features.
8. Veho Muvi Kx-1
- Key Specifications:
- Resolution: 1440p at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps/30Fps
- Megapixel: 12 MP
- Screen type: LCD touchscreen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Waterproofing: With cases up to 40 meters
- Battery life: 5 hours
K-series has launched its new model Veho Muhi Kx-1 which is 40% smaller than its previous model. And the good thing is this best action camera is only under 200$. It is the best low-light action camera with a low-light recording mode. It captures incredible videos and images even at low lights. With its easy control, you can also set up the broadcast video quality for professional use. Veho Muvi Kx-1 can shoot stills at 12MP.
This is the best action camera under $200 that comes with a range of shooting modes. The burst shooting mode allows you to take 10 photos in one second, which is ideal for shooting an object in fast action. The interval shooting mode sets up time from 1 to 60 seconds and then continuously takes time photos to capture your best action moment.
Another feature of Veho Muvi Kx-1 is 180-degree rollover which means if it is mounted upside down the recording will play the correct way up. The G-sensor auto-start allows you to record with even a slight movement of the camera.
Veho Muvi Kx-1 comes in a rugged carry case which is best for carrying a camera when traveling. The accessories kit includes a waterproof protective case with which you can record underwater up to 40 meters deep. It has operational buttons on its case to set up the camera underwater for capturing pictures and video. The case has a jacket that can be opened, and you can operate an LCD touchscreen while the camera is on land.
The kit also includes a frame that’s not water-proof but protects the camera when mounted in rocky places and protects the camera lens from fog and dust. Listing all its features you are recommended to add it to your list to record your adventures.
9. GoPro Hero Session
- Key Specifications:
- Resolution: 1440p at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps
- Megapixel: 8 MP
- Screen type: LCD Screen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Waterproofing: Without a case up to 33 feet
- Battery life: 2 hours
Looking for a GoPro under 200 $? GoPro Hero Session is for you. GoPro Hero Session is the most convenient and simplest action camera to use. You can call it an everyday camera that is perfect for the user who is having his hands first time on GoPro.There is a single power button on the GoPro Hero Session, and as you press it, the recording starts automatically. And as you stop the recording, the camera powers off automatically.
GoPro Hero Session has a still image resolution of 8MP and a video resolution of 1080p at 60 footage per second. It has good image quality, and with its rugged design, you can carry it easily to your adventures like riding a motorbike in deserts, surfing on waves, and skating on snow. Indeed, it can be your next best action camera for a motorcycle.
Its high-quality video has a resolution of 1440p at 30 frames per second and 720p at 100 frames per second. The burst shooting mode supports 10 footage per second and the time-lapse mode supports 0.5 to 60-second time-lapse images. In addition to that, this best action camera under 200 features two internal microphones, which ensures better audio input for your footage.
Moreover, the GoPro Hero Session has a waterproof design, and you won’t need a separate waterproof casing for your underwater adventures. It is waterproof up to 10 meters in depth without the housing and as light as 74 grams. The microSD card has a space of 128GB for having all coverage you can format your microSD card regularly. With its convenient use and impressive features, the GoPro Hero Session is highly recommendable.
10. Xiaomi YDXJ01FM Mi 4K Action Camera
- Key Specifications:
- Resolution: 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 100fps and 720p at 200fps
- Megapixel: 8 MP
- Screen type: 2.4-inches touch screen
- Image Stabilizer: Yes
- Waterproofing: With cases up to 50 meters
- Battery life: 2 hours
Do you want a 4K action camera for under 100 $? Look no further than the Xiaomi Mi (Mijia) 4K action camera. The Xiaomi Mi 4K action camera comes with an IMX317 image sensor that gives you high-quality pictures and videos. It is a good cheap action camera that records 4K at 30 footage per second, 1080p at 100 frames per second, and 720p at 200 frames per second. It takes still at 8MP resolution.
Xiaomi Mi 4K has Electronic Image Stabilization EIS that captures steady action and fast-moving objects, ensuring smooth footage. It supports a 1450 mAh rechargeable battery that has a life of 2 hours. It comes with a Mi Power Bank Pro 10000 mAh that powers your camera through the USB port when batteries are uncharged. The high-performing cooling system prevents it from overheating.
Moreover, the Xiaomi Mi 4K has a 2.4-inch touchscreen so you can do settings, previewing, and recording through the screen. The touchscreen has gorilla glass that prevents it from scratching. It also has a wi-fi and blue-tooth connectivity that supports wireless camera control through its remote control. This best action camera under $200 features a range of recording modes including time-lapse, slow-motion, burst recording shooting, and much more.
Buyers Guide: Things to consider when looking for the best action camera under 200 $
When shopping for the best action camera under $200, there are several things to consider. Here are some of the most important factors:
Video quality
Look for a camera that can shoot high-quality video, ideally in 4K resolution, which will provide better detail and clarity. However, 1080p action cameras also give preferable results.
Image stabilization
This is important if you plan to use the camera for action shots. Make sure that your best action camera under 200 $ has good image stabilization to avoid shaky footage.
Battery life
Always go for the action camera with the longest battery life. Before purchasing the best inexpensive action camera ensure that its battery can last for an extended period.
Waterproofing
If you plan to use the action camera for fishing, or water sports, make sure it is waterproof and can withstand harsh conditions.
Field of view
The wider the field of view, the better the camera will capture action scenes.
Accessories
Check if the camera comes with necessary accessories like mounts, cases, and cables, as this will save you money and time.
User-friendly
Ensure the camera is user-friendly and has an intuitive interface.
Brand reputation
Consider the brand reputation and read customer reviews to gauge the performance of the camera.
By considering these factors, you can find the best action camera that meets your needs and budget under $200.
FAQ about the best action cameras under 200 $
Are budget action cameras worth it?
Yes, the best budget action cam can be worth it, as it can still provide good-quality footage and is often more affordable than high-end models. However, it’s important to research and compare different options to ensure you get the best value for your money.
What is the benefit of buying a budget action camera under 200 $?
Buying the best cheap action camera under $200 can offer benefits such as affordability, portability, durability, and versatility. These cameras are great for capturing action-packed footage during outdoor activities, travel, and adventure sports. They often come with a range of features including waterproofing, image stabilization, and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to capture and share high-quality video and photos with ease. Additionally, they can serve as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive action cameras, without sacrificing too much in terms of performance and quality.
Can I find a GoPro for under 200 $?
GoPros are usually expensive, however, the GoPro Hero Session is still available for under 200 $.
How we tested and reviewed the best action cameras under 200 $
When looking for the best action camera under 200 $, we made sure that we did not choose any basic camera. We ensure that you get an action camera that brings the best of both features and value for money. Therefore we spend hours researching the internet, reading numerous online camera blogs, and analyzing thousands of customer reviews to find the best action cameras available. In the beginning, we were able to locate 23 top models suggested by experts and highly rated by users. However, we narrowed down our selection by comparing their specs and functionalities. Finally, our experts tested these models firsthand, and based on their evaluation, we ranked them and compiled them into a list of the top 10 best action cameras under 200 $ that you can choose from.
Final Thoughts
As you can see our list of the best action cameras under 200 $ includes some excellent options like Dragon Touch 4K and Campark ACT74 which offers excellent native 4K resolution. We have also included some bigger names like Akaso, SJCam, and GoPro that you can buy for an affordable price of 200 $ only. All the options offer excellent functionalities and specs that you can otherwise expect only from high-end models. So, feel confident when buying any action camera from our list, all the cameras are the best value for money.
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