Not sure if you should get a GoPro or an AKASO action camera? Then you’re definitely in the right place – in this post we compare all the current generation action cameras from both brands, in order to help you find the best one for you!
There are lots of things to consider when buying an action camera. Have you used one before? Are you a casual or a professional user? Do you primarily take images or videos? What is your price range?
At A Glance: Our Top Picks
Answer those questions before you do anything else. And then, read our guide section, to see which brand is the better fit for you!
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Best High-End
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Cheapest Option
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Best Mid-Range
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The current generation of GoPros features 4 action cameras. Three of those are Hero7 cameras, and one of those is the Fusion.
The Hero cameras are your standard cameras, and the Fusion is an action camera capable of recording 360 video – perfect for people who are looking to get into AR/VR filming.
The Hero7 White is GoPro’s entry-level camera. It’s priced accordingly, and this is actually the cheapest current gen GoPro camera. However, there are currently some promotions on Amazon, and the Hero7 Silver is actually just some $6 more expensive than the White.
If the promotion is still active while you’re reading this, I highly recommend you go for the Silver, since it is a much more capable action camera.
When it comes to taking photos, the Hero7 White has the same capabilities as the Hero7 Silver – it has a max resolution of 10 MP, it supports continuous photo capture and exposure control. The camera does not have the option of taking time-lapse images, nor does it allow you to shoot in RAW.
The reason why the Hero7 White is the cheapest option becomes obvious when you start to look at the other features. The video quality maxes out at 1440p / 60 fps, and the camera only features standard image stabilization.
The Hero7 White is waterproof up to 33 feet, and it features a 2-inch touch screen with touch zoom. The UI is very easy to use – at least that’s true for all the GoPro action cameras. Additionally, the White also supports voice controls, which allows you to take images and video without actually having to touch your action camera.
The Hero7 Silver is GoPro’s mid-range option. It is an amazing action camera, but it’s not quite at the level of the Hero7 Black. It’s capable of recording 4K footage at 30fps, and 1440/1080p at 60 fps.
As for image quality, the Silver can take shots in 10MP resolution, and it is a cable of burst photos and continuous shooting. The action camera is waterproof up to 33 feet,
The Hero7 Silver features a very intuitive touch screen, just like its more expensive counterparts. And that includes the touch zoom feature, which is very convenient. This action camera also supports time-lapse video, which allows you to capture some truly stunning footage. But it is not capable of time-lapse images, so keep that in mind.
This action camera has electronic image stabilization, which performs well. But, the footage is definitely not as smooth as on the Hero7 Black, which utilizes GoPro’s new EIS – HyperSmooth.
Here’s the thing – the Hero7 Silver is a good action camera. However, when you compare it with the more expensive GoPros, it actually lacks a lot of great features. Which is most noticeable when looking at the video quality. When looking at image quality, the difference between the two GoPros is not drastic.
Because of that, I would recommend the GoPro Hero7 Silver to people who are mostly looking to capture images and the occasional video. However, I also recommend that you check out AKASO’S V50 range if that’s the case because you can save a lot of money.
The Hero9 Black is famous for being one of the first (and one of the few) action cameras that can record 5k at 30fps and 4k at 60fps.
And if you go down to 1080p, the frame rates go all the way up to 240 – which results in the action camera’s amazing 8x Slo-Mo. If you’re about capturing epic moments and reliving them, the Hero7 Black will definitely not disappoint you.
Especially because the action camera employs HyperSmooth (electronic) video stabilization. And miraculously, you won’t experience any deterioration in video quality, since the Hero7 Black uses HyperSmooth when recording 4K at 60fps. This GoPro takes photos at 20MP resolution, which is pretty great.
And it uses GoPro’s SuperPhoto – automatic image processing. SuperPhoto options include HDR (High Dynamic Range), Local Tone Mapping, and Multi-Frame Noise Reduction. Depending on the conditions, SuperPhoto chooses one of these four effects to significantly improve your images.
It’s a mode that you have to enable manually. Definitely do that if you don’t like editing your photos a lot.
The Hero9 Black is waterproof up to 33 feet, it supports live streaming and voice controls, and it comes with a very intuitive touch screen interface. It supports both Bluetooth and WiFi, and it is able to automatically offload content to your phone so that you never run out of space.
The GoPro Fusion is just something else. It’s a very different action camera, and it is definitely not aimed at the casual consumer. If you know very little about action cameras, this is definitely not the one for you.
The Fusion requires two SD cards, it is capable of recording 5.2k at 30 fps and 3k at 60 fps, and it has 4 microphones. It supports RAW image shooting, time-lapse photos, and it has insane spherical image stabilization.
But the main thing about this action camera is that it is capable of filming 360 video and sound (literally). That is only possible because the camera has two lenses – one in the front and one in the back. And it’s actually very easy to use – the navigation is not that different from the navigation of the Hero7 cameras.
When it comes to editing your videos, that’s when things start to get complicated. You will need GoPro’s Fusion Studio software, at the very least, to create some decent footage. Keep in mind that each of the action camera’s SD cards stores footage from one lens – Fusion Studio allows you to stitch that footage together into one mind-blowing video.
In addition, to that, you will need a pretty powerful computer to process the footage, something in the newer MacBook Pro range. While the lower-end laptops are capable of processing the edited footage that can take up to an hour for one minute of stitched footage on a MacBook Air. And storage can quickly become an issue, as one minute of 360 video is usually about 4-5GB large.
The current generation of AKASO action cameras features 7 action cameras in three different ranges. There’s the Brave range, the EK7000 range, and the V50 range.
Each of the ranges and the action cameras in it has different capabilities, and it is aimed at a different type of consumer. The EK7000 cameras are their entry-level cameras, the Brave is the mid-range ones and the V50 are the pro action cameras.
You don’t have to be a Hero to be Brave – I think that’s where they were going when deciding what to name this range of action cameras. The name is an obvious nod to the signature GoPros, but so are the specs. Especially if we’re comparing the Brave 4 to a GoPro in a similar price range – the Hero7 White.
And by similar, I mean twice as expensive. Unlike the cheapest GoPro, this AKASO action camera is actually capable of filming 4K videos, at 24FPS. To get the coveted 60FPS, you will have to get the resolution down to 1080P. It’s not game-changing, but it’s pretty amazing for the price.
This action camera features a 170° adjustable field of view, with 5x digital zoom. That means that you can take some truly amazing photos with it – you can even take time-lapse photos, which is not the case with the cheapest GoPro.
The Brave 4 does not have a touch screen, but it does have a pretty intuitive UI. You navigate the menu with the buttons on the side. It comes with a waterproof case and a bunch of other accessories, which gives you pretty good value for money. And that includes two 1050mAH batteries, which give you a total of 180 minutes of use.
It might not have all the bells and whistles of a GoPro, but it does have several different photo and video modes – burst photo, time-lapse photo and video, looping video, and diving mode. Overall, it’s a really good action camera for under $100.
The Brave 6 is an upgraded version of the Brave 4. It has some of the same features as the cheaper action camera, but it also has a few other premium features. These include voice commands, advanced electronic image stabilization, and 6x digital zoom.
Unfortunately, you still don’t get a touch screen with this AKASO camera. The UI and the navigation are the same as on Brave 4 – a standard shooting menu that you navigate with physical buttons.
And since there are no improvements in image and video quality over the Brave 4, it’s debatable whether or not it’s actually worth paying $30 for slightly better zoom and voice controls. This one is up to you.
This action camera also comes with a lot of accessories, including a waterproof case, an additional battery, and remote control, among other things. Each battery gives you about 90 minutes of use at 1080P resolution, and only 60 minutes if you’re filming in 4K. So, it’s pretty good that you actually get two.
Overall, the Brave 6 is a good action camera if you always have your hands busy and really need something that supports voice commands. But if that’s not the case, then I think you’re better off saving $30 and getting the Brave 4.
The EK7000 is AKASO’s most affordable action camera. It’s just under $60, which is truly a bargain. Especially for an action camera that is capable of filming videos in 4K.
But that hot price tag comes with a huge disadvantage – this action camera feature no image stabilization at all. Because of that, I don’t think this camera is right for you if you’re looking to actually film some videos. Image stabilization plays a huge part in the quality of your videos, especially when you’re on the move.
So, even though you can film in 4K, the videos won’t really be that good unless the camera is completely stationary. This also means you can film some really great time-lapse videos with the EK7000. But it’s definitely not great for sports.
The images, on the other hand, will look pretty great. The camera has a 170° wide-angle lens, which allows some stunning wide-angle photos. However, the field of view on the EK7000 is not adjustable, so you are pretty much limited to wide-angle shots.
Overall, the AKASO EK7000 is a decent action camera if you’re looking for something to snap cool photos and the occasional time-lapse video. It’s extremely cheap, so it’s a good choice if you’re on a really tight budget. But if you can afford to spend just $15 more, I recommend you pick up the EK7000 Pro.
If you’re looking for great value for money, then the EK7000 Pro is one of the best action cameras for you. It’s seriously affordable, at some $75. And you get a lot of accessories along with the action camera – a waterproof case, 7 different mounts, a bicycle stand, two batteries, and a few other things.
This action camera is capable of taking 16 MP images and recording 4K at 25fps. If you’re looking for a higher frame rate, you can drop the resolution to 1080p to get 60fps. This AKASO camera comes with a built-in EIS, which uses an inner three-axis gyroscope to ensure your footage looks good.
It is waterproof up to 40 meters with the case you get in the box, which is pretty great. And it has a diving mode that is specifically designed to make it easier to get great shots underwater.
Other modes of the EK7000 Pro include burst photo, looping video, and time-lapse. So, definitely not the same variety of options you get with a GoPro Hero9 Black, but pretty comparable to the Hero7 White. And nearly three times cheaper.
In addition to that, this action camera features a touch screen UI, which is pretty easy to operate. It also comes with a remote control that allows you to capture amazing images and videos without touching your camera. Pretty useful, since it does not support voice controls.
The V50 cameras are the only ones that actually get close to the quality of the GoPro. With the touch screen, intuitive UI, excellent image stabilization, and great video and photo quality, these AKASO cameras are without a doubt the best they have to offer. And all three V50 cameras are still cheaper than the GoPro Hero7 White.
So, the value for money is definitely there. Especially when you consider all the accessories you get with the V50 Pro – 2 batteries, a remote control, a waterproof case, 12 mounts, and a bicycle stand.
This action camera films in native 4K at 30fps, and it has built-in EIS with a 6-axis-gyroscope. That allows for some truly amazing footage, especially if you want to play with all the shooting modes. It has a diving mode, built-in filters, burst, and time-lapse photos, long exposure photos, and slow-motion and time-lapse videos. And I haven’t even named them all.
The touch screen of the V50 Pro is easy to use, and the user interface is very intuitive. But one of my favorite features of this camera is that it supports an external microphone. That was an issue with the cheaper AKASO cams – the recorded audio sounds a bit muffled, and you can’t really improve that.
But with the V50 series, that’s no longer a problem – you can use a great external microphone, and the cameras even feature advanced wind noise reduction for superb audio quality.
This is a special edition of the V50 Pro action camera. It has some improved features, but more importantly than that, a portion of funds from all sales of these cameras goes directly to the Leave No Trace/Access Fund.
The organization’s main goal is the preservation of nature and wildlife, which includes clearing out trash from nature and water, informing the public about issues, and connecting kids to nature.
It’s a worthy cause, and if you would like to support it, you just have to buy the V50 Pro SE. And I would honestly recommend it anyway because it is an amazing action camera. It’s capable of recording 4k/60fps, it has excellent EIS, it supports voice controls, and comes with a really good touch screen.
Additionally, this action cam comes with three batteries, all of which can last up to 90 minutes if you’re filming in 1080p. That 270 minutes of use, without having to recharge one of the batteries or purchasing any additional equipment!
The V50 Pro SE is a great option if you like shooting slow-motion videos. With 720p/240fps capability, it can slow down footage 8 times and capture some really amazing moments.
And that is just one of the shooting modes this camera supports – you can also shoot time-lapse photos and videos, underwater videos without a red light filter with the diving mode, burst photos, fast motion videos, and many others.
This AKASO action camera also supports an external microphone, and it features advanced wind noise reduction when recording audio.
Unfortunately, I was not able to find any footage shot with the AKASO V50 Pro SE.
The V50 Elite is another outstanding action camera by AKASO. It’s cheaper than the V50 Pro SE, and it’s still some $60 more affordable than the cheapest GoPro. I think this action camera is actually the best value for money you can get from AKASO because it performs exceptionally well and it is very reasonably priced.
It can film 4K at 60FPS, the image resolution goes all the way up to 20MP and it features 8x digital zoom. The V50 Elite has a built-in EIS that works insanely well and allows you to shoot some really great footage on the go. It has a touch screen with an intuitive UI and has an adjustable view angle.
The camera comes with a waterproof case, two batteries, and remote control, as well as a bunch of different mounts. And it has a lot of different shooting modes; pretty much all the ones you’ve seen on the other AKASO cameras, but a couple of new ones as well – auto low light and drive mode.
This action camera supports voice commands, which is really handy if you’re always filming when your hands are busy – like when you’re riding your bike. But the V50 Elite does not support an external microphone. So, I guess you really can’t have it all with AKASO.
There’s no denying that GoPro was and still is the leader in the action camera market. When they first launched nearly two decades ago, they took the market by storm because they were extremely innovative. After all, they are the company that created the action camera.
But a lot did change since 2002. Just look at how much our cellphones have evolved, and how many new companies exist in our day and age. The same goes for action cameras –GoPro might have been your only option 15 years ago, but it is not anymore. Many people aren’t afraid to try something new and to give more brands a shot. And that is where AKASO comes in.
Their cameras are much more affordable, and so they can appeal to a completely new audience – the casual user. If you’re someone who is just getting into action cameras and you don’t intend to use one professionally, then AKASO is by far the better option for you. You don’t have to spend $500 on an action camera; in fact, you can get an entry-level AKASO for less than $100.
It’s much better value for your money, and it will help you get the hang of how action cameras work. And if you feel like upgrading to a GoPro after a year or two years, you will have a much better idea of the features you actually want out of your action camera.
So, yes, it is a fair comparison.
Let me take a wild guess and say that the main reason why you’re looking at AKASO cameras is the pricing of the GoPros. They are pretty expensive, especially for people who are just starting to get into the whole action camera thing.
In this aspect, AKASO is by far the clear winner. With their action cameras, you are getting excellent value for money, and that’s the whole point. The footage might not be of the highest quality imaginable, but it’s going to be more than you expected for the price point.
The prices of GoPro cameras are pretty high, but you’re paying for quality. They are the premium option, but here’s the thing – not everyone really needs the premium product. Sure, if you are going to use an action camera professionally, then definitely pick up a GoPro – in the long run, it will be the better option.
And then there’s the product range. AKASO is also in the lead in this area, because they have more options for casual consumers. They have three camera ranges, with 2-3 options in each range; a total of 7 action cameras. I will tell you a little bit about each one and list all the important specs in product information tables.
With GoPro, you only have 4 options. The Hero White is their cheapest camera, and it is still about twice as expensive as a mid-range AKASO. However, the Hero White actually produces images and videos of pretty much the same quality as the Mid-Range AKASO, so there’s that.
In the end, it mostly depends on how you plan to use your action camera. And how much you can afford to spend on it. If you can cash out $500 and not even feel it, then there’s no reason not to get a GoPro. But if you’re on a budget and looking for a good alternative to the Hero, then AKASO is the brand to go for.
Keep in mind that I will only talk about the current gen cameras in this review. You can go and buy a Hero 3 on Amazon for less than $100, but you’re not getting features that are expected of tech products in 2019.
And I will link to YouTube videos with footage shot on each one of these cameras so that you can have a really good sense of what you’re getting for your money.
*Note: Not all of the AKASO cameras are available for purchase at the moment of writing this post. However, since AKASO is the official seller on Amazon, it is expected that they will be restocked fairly soon.
Still not completely sure which action camera is just right for you? No worries. Here are the top three cameras in three different price ranges!
The best entry-level (and cheap) action camera is the AKASO Brave 4. It’s very cheap, it is capable of filming in 4K/24FPS, and it features a pretty good EIS. The camera has an adjustable field of view and 5x digital zoom, both of which allow for some stunning photos.
And it’s insanely good value for money – you will get two batteries, a waterproof case, remote control, and plenty of mounts all for less than $80.
The best mid-range camera is the AKASO V50 Pro SE. The footage quality is seriously up there with the quality of the GoPro, and for a lot less money. If you’re not keen on spending too much money, but you still want a very capable action camera, then this is the one you’re looking for.
With support for an external mic, 4K/60FPS capability, and a great touch screen, the V50 Pro SE does not disappoint. Plus, it comes with a ton of different accessories, and it supports a worthwhile cause!
If you want the bells and the whistles, get the GoPro Hero9 Black. It’s undoubtedly the best in the Hero9 range, and it has some truly amazing capabilities. This GoPro is waterproof without a case, it records 5K at 30FPS and it has HyperSmooth image stabilization, which is just insane.
This camera also features SuperPhoto mode, which pretty much removes the need for editing your images. And the cherry on top of the cake is that you can live stream all your footage to social media, as well as automatically offload it to your phone.
Those would be my top three choices. I hope you enjoyed this comparison, and I really hope it helped you figure out which action camera is just right for you.
Head over to Amazon to check out the prices of all the action cams featured here, and get some great deals!
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