Take your videos and photos to the next level with an action camera. Then, share your daring adventures and priceless moments. These days you will be amazed at what a small camera, not much bigger than a matchbox, can do.
That’s why I’m giving you awesome suggestions on the best action cameras for under 100 dollars.
From high-quality stills to time-lapses and slow-motion footage and more. These cameras complement your creativity and storytelling skills.
Looking at the cheaper end of the scale for action cams, there are many great products for under $100. So don’t believe that you need to break the bank to get good quality or sacrifice good functions.
That might have been true in the past but not today. Most action cameras on the market offer 4K shooting and the ones we will review have this function.
Our best suggestions
It is worth noting that at this price range, most cameras do not offer wind noise reduction. That said, they do record sound that is slightly muffled when in the waterproof housing.
If you consider how much you get for such a low price tag, you’re still getting a great deal.
Table of Contents
External microphone compatibility is also very rare in this price range. That said, one of the cameras in this article does offer it. Take that into consideration if this is decisive to you.
Comparison table:
| Product Name | Video Quality | Photo Quality | Battery Life | Extra Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APEMAN Native 4K Action Camera TRAWO | 4K/30fps, 2.7K/30fps, 1440P/60fps, 1080P/60fps, 720P/120fps | 20MP, f/1.8 aperture | 2 batteries, 120 minutes each | 6x axis gyroscope for anti-shake and image stabilization |
| APEMAN A80 | 4K/24fps, 1440P/30fps, 1080P/30fps/60fps, 720P/30fps/60fps/120fps | 20MP | 2 batteries, 120 minutes each | Gyroscope for anti-shake and image stabilization |
| AKASO Brave 4 | 4K/24fps, 2K/30fps, and 1080P/60fps | 20MP | 2 batteries, 90 minutes each | Gyroscope for anti-shake and electronic image stabilization |
| YI Lite Action Camera | 4K/20fps, 1080p/30fps, 1080p/60fps | 16MP, f/2.8 aperture | 1 battery, lasts up to 130 minutes at 1080p | Electronic image stabilization |
| DBPOWER 4K N6 Touchscreen | 4K/24fps, 2.7K/30fps | 20MP | 2 batteries, 90 minutes each | Anti-shake |
| Victure Action Camera 4K | 4K/25fps, 2.7K/30fps, 1080P/60fps, 1080P/30fps, 720P/120fps, 720P/60fps | 16MP | 2 batteries, 90 minutes each | None |
| Dragon Touch SY0092 | 4K/30fps, 2.7K/30fps, 1080P/60fps | 16MP | 2 batteries, 90 minutes each | Electronic image stabilization |
| AKASO EK7000 | 4K/25fps, 2.7K/30fps, 1080P/60fps | 12MP | 2 batteries, 90 minutes each | None |
Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!
Apeman Trawo
Main highlights:
- 120fps available at 720P
- 6-axis gyroscope for image stabilization
Video resolution and frame rates:
- 4K@30fps
- 2.7K@30fps
- 1440p@60fps
- 1080p@60fps
- 720p@120fps
The Apeman Trawo is a step up from competitors. A few key features make it stand out but at a price.
You still get great value. This camera offers 4K and 2.7K shooting at 30fps while most others only offer 4K at 24fps, therefore you get a more realistic look in videos. Higher frames per second capture more detail.
It offers a selection of resolutions and frame rates. The range includes 1080p at 60fps and 720p at 120fps. These allow you to slow down your footage and have it look smooth. But at 120fps you can slow it down dramatically for a spectacular effect.
At that frame rate, you have to settle for 720p. You can keep the 1080p resolution at 60fps and still get a decent slow-motion effect.
It can shoot up to 20MP stills which is the highest resolution of these action cameras.
The lens has 7 layers of glass. It features UV protection and an IR filter (ultraviolet and infrared). That helps reduce color distortion and aberrations.
This is also one of the few cameras in this review that is waterproof up to 130ft with its external case. Many users have praised its underwater capabilities.
The two batteries that come with the camera also have a longer life than most of the other action cameras. Depending on the shooting mode, they last up to 120 minutes.
With a 6-axis gyroscope, this camera produces very stable footage as well.
Pros:
- Amazing quality footage and photos
- Longer lasting batteries
- Awesome waterproof depth
- Geat image stabilization
Cons:
- None
Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!
Apeman A80
Main highlights:
- 120fps available with 720p
- Electronic image stabilization
Video resolution and frame rates:
- 4K@24fps
- 1440p@30fps
- 1080p@30fps/60fps
- 720p@30fps/60fps/120fps
Main highlights:
- 120fps available with 720p
- Electronic image stabilization
Video resolution and frame rates:
- 4K@24fps
- 1440p@30fps
- 1080p@30fps/60fps
- 720p@30fps/60fps/120fps
Here is another option to consider from Apeman. The A80 camera has similar specs to the Trawo with a slightly more affordable price tag.
It’s a great option between the two if you are on a tighter budget. Or if you’re not interested in the extended options of the Trawo.
The A80 has almost as many shooting options, including 4K and 120fps. But as expected, at 4K the highest frame rate it has is 24fps while the Trawo offers it at 30fps.
The lens has 6 layers as opposed to the TRAWO’s 7 and also has the IR (infrared) filter. But you don’t get a UV (ultraviolet) filter in the A80.
These small differences might be a deal-breaker for a camera buff when choosing between the two. If you’re looking for an affordable camera to take on holiday or film your adventure sports, this is a great option.
It has great features like the diving mode. That is the perfect way to capture your underwater expeditions. For that, it includes a waterproof housing that allows the camera to film 130ft (40m) deep.
Pros:
- Offers almost as much as the next model up from APEMAN for a lower price
- Amazing quality footage and photos
- Longer lasting batteries
- Greater depth for waterproof
- Electronic image stabilization
Cons:
- None
Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!
Akaso Brave 4
Main features:
- 120fps available with 720p
- Electronic image stabilization
- 5X zoom
Video resolutions and frame rates
- 4K@24fps
- 2K@30fps
- 1080p@60fps
The Akaso Brave 4 is another low-cost action camera that has impressive features. It offers great quality footage and stills.
It has 4K shooting and 20MP stills. Its quality is up there with other cameras in the same price range. It also offers the 5x zoom function which many of the more affordable action cameras do not offer.
It is one of the many cameras that also have a 2.4G wrist remote control. You can operate it from up to 33ft (10m) away. It’s a helpful function if want to capture yourself in your setting. Or if you need to put your camera in a hard-to-reach place to get the right shot.
There are a few reviews claiming that the manufacturers placed notes inside the packages. Those would offer users extra accessories in trade for five-star reviews. So it’s important to use your own judgment when considering this camera.
As with most of the cameras we are reviewing, on paper the specs are great. And for the price, it’s still a lot of bang for your buck compared to what you would get even a few years ago.
Pros:
- Remote control extends as far as 33ft
- Great camera features
Cons:
- Questionable reviews
Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!
YI Lite
Main features:
- Fisheye mode is optional
- f/2.8 aperture setting
Video resolution and frame rates:
- 4K@20fps
- 1080p@60fps/30fps
The Yi Lite is one of the well-known competitors of GoPro. It’s comparable to most of the other cameras in the range. But it also has unique features.
One of the big benefits of this camera is the ability to turn the fisheye effect on and off. The effect causes the lens to capture the wide-angle more naturally than a flat image. This is something that could be corrected in post-production. But it saves time and hassle being able to shoot all your footage normally.
It also has a large aperture allowing a greater depth of field. That means that the background is sharp as well as the foreground. In general, this is better for the types of filming and photography that you would use it for. For example, capturing a natural landscape or street photography.
A smaller depth of field is more commonly used for close-up photography. That’s the case with portraits because only the foreground is sharp. But that isn’t the purpose of an action camera.
Another handy feature is its LCD touch screen. It allows users to change settings and modes with ease.
Many users reported that they were surprised by the quality of the camera itself. It didn’t have the cheap feel to it like some action cameras do. Remember to consider this according to its price range.
Pros:
- Can reach up to 131ft (40m) depth with underwater housing
- LCD touch screen
Cons:
- Only includes one battery but it lasts up to 130 minutes
- Wide-angle is only 150 as opposed to 170 for most other action cameras
- Waterproof housing must be purchased separately from a different supplier
Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!
DBPOWER N6
Main highlights:
- Extra-large LCD touch screen
- 2.4G wrist remote control
Video resolution and frame rates:
- 4K@24fps
- 2.7K@30fps
DBPOWER is a strong contender in the affordable action camera market. They have a few cameras featured in our articles.
It packs a large LCD touch screen. At about 2.3 inches (58mm) the screen takes up most of the back of the camera. Users reported its ease of use and responsiveness.
The camera also provides 20MP shooting. And the lens has 7 glass layers like the Apeman Trawo.
This camera uses a Sony Image Sensor. It provides great quality photographs for a small affordable camera.
Wrist control is present, like in a lot of these cameras. Its 2.4G technology gives you a strong connection to the camera.
Pros:
- Large, bright, useful touch screen
- Easy to use
Cons:
- The instructions manual isn’t very useful
Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!
Victure Action Camera
Main Features:
- Upside down shooting
- High frame rate shooting and many resolution options
Video resolution and frame rates:
- 4K@25fps
- 2.7K@30fps
- 1080p@60fps/30fps
- 720p@120fps/60fps
For such an affordable camera, the Victure Action Camera offers a lot. You get great shooting resolutions and frame rates.
As you noticed, 4K is pretty standard in this review. Other than that, it also allows frame rates of 60fps and 120fps. 60fps is available at a resolution of 1080p which is very commonly used. Not all processing equipment and storage can handle a lot of 4K footage.
Having 60fps at 1080P allows you to capture very lifelike footage and slow it down if desired. If you want to have even slower footage, you can shoot at 120 frames per second. That way you’ll achieve lovely slow-motion effects. But that comes at a cost: the resolution will drop to 720p.
It also features an upside-down shooting. Therefore, that’s a must-have feature in case your camera cannot be mounted normally. For instance, when you’re attaching it to a drone.
Users enjoyed its capabilities when shooting outside, even in very cold conditions.
Pros:
- Great camera features
Cons:
- Does not have anti-shake
Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!
Dragon Touch SY0092
Main Features:
- Allows an external microphone
- Electronic Image Stabilization
Video resolution and frame rates:
- 4K@30fps
- 2.7K@30fps
- 1080P@60fps
Another affordable action camera in this article is the Dragon Touch’s SY0092. It has similar features to the rest of the cameras in this review. This camera does stand out in one aspect, though.
In fact, it’s the only camera in this review that is compatible with an external microphone. While most of these cameras have decent microphones, none offer wind noise reduction. The introduction of an external microphone can combat this issue.
If the sound is an important part of your video then this is a great option for you. The camera also has electronic image stabilization to give you smoother footage.
Pros:
- 16MP stills
- Can use an external microphone
Cons:
- None
Click the image to check the price on Amazon now!
Akaso EK7000
Main features:
- 4K shooting
- 1080p@60fps
Video resolution and frame rates:
- 4K@25fps
- 2.7K@30fps
- 1080p@60fps
The Akaso EK7000 doesn’t offer much more than other cameras in this price range. However, it has a great reputation among users.
Many of the users reported they received an offer for free accessories in return for reviews or 5-star reviews. Many left good reviews anyway.
From the thousands of reviews, the majority are positive, praising the camera’s good quality for such a low price.
You can see that you will still get clear, good-quality results from all the photos and videos shared by users. And you’re not paying a lot for the camera.
Pros:
- Great reviews
Cons:
- Skepticism over the authenticity of reviews
Wrap-up
It’s unbelievable how much bang for the buck you get with these products. You now have a selection of great products to buy.
Still in doubt about what to look for when getting one of these products? Please check out our Action Cameras Buying Guide.
If for some reason you haven’t found your action camera, check out our other articles:
