Basically, action cams are used to film extreme sports like surfing, rock climbing, or scuba diving and much more. Now obviously with good video quality and with all the latest features, an action camera should also have a strong external built, because they are used in harsh conditions. But while being durable, it is really important for an action camera to be small in size. Because these cameras are mounted on helmets, backpacks, bicycle, and on all type of other objects. And doesn’t matter how strong external built an action camera has, it’ll surely last for a short time by coming off its mount due to its heavyweight. Whereas, a smaller action camera with less weight would last longer on these kinds of objects, without getting in way of your sporting spirit. And that is why we’ve come up with a list of 7 best Smallest Action Cameras to make it easy for you to find your perfect action cam. If you’re not sure what to look for in your action camera, then you can first see our buying Guide for small action camera. In case you are in a hurry then have a look at our quick comparison table!
Best Smallest Action Cameras
1. Akaso V50 Elite
1 Best Smallest Action Cameras1.1 1. Akaso V50 Elite1.2 2. YI 4k Action Camera1.3 3. Sony FDRAX53/B1.4 4. Apeman Native 4K TRAWO1.5 5. AKASO Brave 41.6 6. GoPro Hero 71.7 7. Akaso EK7000 Pro2 Small Action Camera Buying Guide2.1 Size2.2 Video Quality2.3 Electronic Image Stabilization/Optical Image Stabilization2.4 Waterproof2.5 Voice Control/Wireless Remote Control2.6 WiFi And GPS Connectivity2.7 Accessories2.8 LCD Screen2.9 Battery life3 Conclusion
Akaso V50 Elite is just 2.4 x 1.6 x 1.2 inches and weighs only 1.3 pounds, making it light enough to stay perfectly well on the surface of the object you’re sticking it on. It comes with a 2-inch responsive touch screen, making it easier for you to change settings, or playback recorded videos with a single touch. This small action camera can record your adventures in an amazing 4K quality at 60fps covering a 170° field of view. And with that bewildering video quality, it also offers Advanced Electronic Image Stabilization(EIS). EIS provides you with smooth and steady videos even during fast movements. But the image stabilization does come with a setback, as it only works in video resolution of 4K/30fps, 2.7k/30fps, 1080p/60fps, and 1080p/30fps. You can capture stills with a whopping 20MP camera, and the Distortion calibration feature makes sure the camera gets rid of fisheye distortion when recording. You can also zoom in on your recordings up to 8 times, so what more you could want in your camera. But still, if that wasn’t enough, then let’s talk about other features like voice control, WiFi connectivity, and wireless remote control. The voice control lets you give the command to your camera to capture a photo or to start recording video. And with the WiFi connectivity, you can easily gain access to your camera and share or edit videos directly from your phone. You can also control the camera with the wireless wrist remote control when you’re in action. This action cam comes with a waterproof case which lets you dive underwater up to 40m or 131 ft, without damaging the camera (Do note that the wrist remote control isn’t waterproof). As of memory, it can support a memory card having a maximum memory of 64GB. But you’ll have to use a high-speed memory card, like with a speed of at least 100MBps. And finally, it comes with two rechargeable 1050mAh Batteries with one battery charger. One battery can last for about 90 minutes when fully charged, so with 2 batteries, you don’t have to worry about your camera running out of power. Apart from these, the camera comes with other useful accessories which are listed below. Package Content: 1x Bicycle Stand/ 7x Mount/ 1x Clip/ 1x Helmet Mount/ 1x Bandages/ 5x Tethers/ 1 x Protective Backdoor/ 1x USB Cable/ 1x Lens Cloth
Pros
Touch ScreenHigh-Quality 20MP camera8x Slow motion video at 720p/240fpsVoice controlWiFi connectivityWireless wrist remote control included2x Batteries included
Cons
EIS doesn’t work with all video resolutions
2. YI 4k Action Camera
This small 4k action camera by the Young Innovator(YI) comes with a user-friendly 2.19-inch LCD touch screen. It is 2.6 x 1.7 x 1.2 inches in dimension and weighs only 3.36 ounces, making it astonishingly light in weight. The LCD touch screen is protected with gorilla glass, so you don’t have to worry about getting it scratched. The camera is also designed with dual microphones, which is helpful in getting rid of the wind noise from the audio. This action cam gives you a perfect picture quality by recording videos in 4K resolution at 30fps while recording a video in 720P at 240fps. The 7-layer glass lens with f2.8 aperture automatically enhances the exposure of light, to provide you with crisp and clear footage. The camera offers Electronic Image stabilization, so you don’t have to worry about getting a blurry picture quality even when your camera is shaking. However, EIS is not available in all resolutions and framerates. It covers a maximum field view of 155° and can capture a high-quality picture at 12MP. Moreover, the Lens Distortion Correction(LDC) in the camera adds more to its picture quality. As of features, the camera comes with voice control, so you can get the camera to record footage or capture a still just by your voice command. However, voice control is only available with the latest firmware. The camera can be connected to a low power wireless Bluetooth remote control, which is not included in the package. So you’ll have to spare some extra bucks to can gain access of camera from afar. Despite Bluetooth connectivity, the camera also has WiFi. And with WiFi connectivity, you can not only get the recorded videos directly on your phone, but you can also live-stream your adventure on social media. The camera comes with a rechargeable 1400mAh battery, which can last for more than 2 hours. Also, the battery is replaceable, so you can always replace the older battery with the new one. It supports a memory card with a maximum capacity of 64GB, but the downside is that the memory card isn’t included with the camera. And if you are into diving deep into the water, then with the YI waterproof case, you can take the camera up to 132 feet. And just so you know, the waterproof case isn’t included with the package either. So if you can afford to buy the important accessories that aren’t included with the camera, then with multiple features and good video quality, this camera might work well for you. Package Content: 1x YI 4K Action Camera, 1x rechargeable battery, 1x USB cable, 1x Manual
Pros
Long battery lifeWiFi and Bluetooth connectivityVoice controlDual microphoneLens distortionLDC to correct distortion in the pictureLive-streamingGorilla Glass to resist scratches
Cons
Very few accessories available in the packageEIS doesn’t work in all resolutions.
3. Sony FDRAX53/B
Sony is very well known for its quality and the brand stands up to its reputation with this product. Sony FDRAX53/B is one of the best small action cameras when it comes to design. It is just 7.44 x 5.91 x 4.25 inches and weighs 2.54 pounds, making it not too small, but light in weight at the same time. The camera comes with a strong built to make the camera withstand extreme environments. It comes with a small 3″ screen where you can see and change the settings, which can also be operated by touch (touch panel). With this action camera, you can record videos at 4K resolution, making your video quality ultra HD. The thing that makes this camera stand out from other products is Balanced Optical SteadyShot (B.O.S.S.) image stabilization, which makes image stabilization much more efficient than Electronic Image Stabilization. You can record videos at a field of view (FOV) of 10 mm (equivalent to 35mm). But it comes with the adjustable FOV so you can narrow it down in other resolutions. And if you want to capture a still image, it comes with a camera with a zoom of 26.8-536.0 mm.
4. Apeman Native 4K TRAWO
No products found. This mini action camera is 2.6 x 1.8 x 0.9 inches and weighs only 1.1 pounds. And with that compact design, it comes with a 2-inch retina touch screen. So with that user-friendly interface, you can easily watch recorded videos even without transferring them to your PC/Laptop. Despite recording videos in Ultra HD 4k quality at 30fps covering a maximum field of view of 170°, it also provides you with features like white balance effects and diversified scene modes. The white balance effects adjust light and color according to different environments. Whereas, diversified scene modes like scenery mode, diving mode, people mode, and remove the fog mode, capture pictures according to different scenes. It can capture stills at 20MP, giving you stunning picture quality. Moreover, The Electronic Image Stabilization adds more to its video quality. The video can be recorded in slow-motion at ultra HD quality of 720p at 120fps, which is truly impressive for a camera in this price range. The auto ISO settings, which can be manually changed, automatically adjust the light in a dark environment. The camera doesn’t come with remote control of any kind, but with WiFi connectivity, you can still access the camera with your smartphone. However, the camera does come with a waterproof housing case, which can resist damage to the camera up to 40M. It can support U3 micro SD card with a maximum memory of 128GB, but it doesn’t come with the camera. It also includes two 1350mAh Battery, with each battery lasting for about 90 minutes under 4k resolution when fully charged. Package Content: 24+ Mounting brackets, 2 rechargeable batteries, dustproof case, waterproof case.
Pros
2 included batteries with long lifeISO setting for low light areasWhite balance effectsDifferent scenery modesElectronic Image StabilizationWiFi connectivity for mobileHigh memory capacity
Cons
No wireless remote controlSound level is affected when in the waterproof housingNo voice control
5. AKASO Brave 4
This is one of the smallest action cameras with a 2 inch IPS display screen is 2.3 x 1.6 x 0.9 inches and weighs 5.6 ounces. The IPS display screen isn’t a touch display but still, you can easily watch videos and change settings due to its user-friendly compact design. The camera can record videos in 4K resolution at 24fps, which to be honest is low frame rate for a 4K resolution. Nevertheless, the video quality of this camera is still good. It can capture your still moments at 20MP, which can provide you with more crisp and detailed picture quality. It does have the Electronic Image Stabilization, to prevent the shakiness in the captured footage. And even though it doesn’t have wind noise reduction, this camera still stands out in terms of audio quality, as it can clearly record audio even when packed in the waterproof housing case. It comes with an adjustable field of view option, so it can cover a field of view of 170°, 140°, 110°, and 70°. With the WiFi connectivity and a wireless wrist remote control, you can control your camera even from a distance, which is really convenient. You can also connect the camera with your smartphone with the CamKing app to review videos and photos in real-time. The included waterproof housing case lets you take the camera 30M deep into the water. (Do note that the wireless remote control isn’t waterproof.) The camera supports a class 10 SD card with a maximum memory of 64GB, which by the way is not included with the camera. It does include two rechargeable 1050mAh Batteries and each battery can last for about 90 minutes. However, the battery lasts for about an hour when recording in cold weather and even less while using anti-shake and remote control. Package Content: 1x 2.4G Remote Control, 2x 1050mAh Battery, 1x Waterproof Case, 1x Bicycle Stand, 7x Mount, 2x Clip, 1x Helmet Mounts, 1x Bandages, 5x Tethers, 1x Protective Backdoor, 1x USB Cable, 1x User Manual.
Pros
2 rechargeable batteries includedThe waterproof case is includedMultiple accessories includedElectronic Image StabilizationDecent video qualityWireless remote control with WiFi connectivity
Cons
No wind noise reductionA Low frame rate for 4K resolutionNo Auto low light feature
6. GoPro Hero 7
GoPro is the brand that started this whole action camera trend. So our list of best smallest action camera wouldn’t be complete without at least one GoPro action cam. GoPro Hero 7 is just 1.8 x 2.4 x 1.3 inches and weighs only 4.2 ounces, making it astonishingly small. It comes with an intuitive touch screen, making the navigation much easier. It can record videos in 4k resolution at 60fps, giving you a truly incredible video quality with a superwide field of view. The Hypresmooth Video Stabilization, which is the next level of Electronic Image Stabilization, gives you smooth footage by correcting the shakiness (Hypersmooth will not work in 4k resolution and other resolutions with the high frame rate.) As of the photo quality, the camera can capture photos at an impressive quality of 12MP. And if you want to get photos or record videos in the portrait mode for your Instagram and Snapchat account, then you can do that by turning the camera vertically. And now let’s come to features. In addition to voice control, the camera also has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. So, you can gain access to your camera through the GoPro remote control. However, the remote control isn’t included with the camera. But you can still connect your smartphone with the camera to manage your videos. You can get your exact coordinates and speed in the video as the camera has GPS. What’s truly amazing in the Hero 7 Black is the TimeWarp feature, which basically makes your video more stable as compared to your typical time-lapse video. The camera doesn’t come with a waterproof case, but what is epic is that you can still take your camera about 10M deep into the water without any housing case. The camera supports a memory card with a maximum memory of 128GB. And it doesn’t come with a memory card so you’ll have to buy it on your own. But it does come with a 1220mAh battery. With multiple features being used while recording a video in high resolution, the battery doesn’t last as long as it should be. So, you might have to buy additional batteries if you don’t want to miss out on amazing moments. Package Content: 1 Camera Frame, 1 Rechargeable battery, 1 Curved Adhesive Mount, 1 Flat Adhesive Mount, 1 Mounting Buckle, 1 USB-C Cable
Pros
High Memory capacityHypersmooth video stabilizationWaterproof up to 10M without any housing caseCan shoot photos and videos verticallyAmazing video and photo qualityWiFi and GPS
Cons
No remote controlLow battery life
7. Akaso EK7000 Pro
Akaso EK7000 Pro is the updated version of Akaso EK7000. The camera is 2.4 x 1.6 x 1.3 inches and weighs only 2.08 ounces. It is designed with a 2 inch IPS touch screen, to make it easy for you to playback your favorite videos, choose different video modes, and change other settings. The camera can record videos in 4k resolution at 25fps, which should have been at least 30fps. It also provides a promising video quality. And talking of quality, this action cam gives you high-quality pictures at 16MP. It comes with an adjustable field of view, with a maximum field view of 170°. There are different shooting modes like diving mode, continuous lapse, Time-lapse video and much more. The Electronic Image stabilization is pretty decent, although, this feature is not available in high resolutions like 4K and 2.7K. You can control your camera either by wireless wrist remote control or by connecting your camera with your phone through WiFi. It comes with a waterproof housing case, so you can dive up to 40M/131ft without worrying about your camera. When diving underwater, you can also use the Diving Mode to get a more clear video quality. With Loop recording and upside down modes, you can also use this camera as a dashcam in your car. The camera supports microSDXC UHS-I Card with a maximum memory of 64GB, which you need to buy on your own. It comes with 2 rechargeable 1050mAh Batteries and a battery charger. The power in each battery may last for about 45-50 minutes when using best settings, and it can last even longer in lower settings. Package Content: 1 Bicycle Stand, 7 Mount, 2 Clip, 1 Helmet Mounts, 1 Bandage, 5 Tethers, 1 Protective Backdoor, 1 USB Cable, 1 Lens Cloth
Pros
Electronic Image stabilization2 batteries includedWireless remote control includedCan be used as a dash camDiving mode for good underwater video qualityMultiple accessoriesWiFi connectivity
Cons
Low battery lifeA low frame rate for 4k resolutionEIS doesn’t work in all resolutions/frame rates
Small Action Camera Buying Guide
This is a brief buying guide which can really help you to understand that what you should look for in an action cam before spending your money on it. But if you want, you can also read a detailed Action camera buying guide to learn about each and every feature in much more detail.
Size
Size is a really important factor to consider before buying an action camera. Action cameras are mounted on objects that are in continuous motion, and an action camera will probably fall off the object in the middle of the action if it is too big or heavy. And that is why almost every premium action camera is small in size, but that doesn’t mean it’ll lack any latest features because of its size.
Video Quality
Almost every good action camera is giving 4K video quality, which provides you with Ultra HD picture. But asides from resolution, what makes a video quality even better is the framerate. Like a 4K resolution at 25fps might give you a rough video quality, while 4k resolution at 30fps or 60fps will surely give a better and smoother video quality.
Electronic Image Stabilization/Optical Image Stabilization
Both Electronic and optical image stabilization serves a similar purpose, which is getting rid of the shakiness from the video. The shakes which were in the video due to fast up-down or left-right movements of the camera. However, the Electronic and optical Image stabilization serve this purpose differently. In ElS the image is corrected electronically. The chip inside the camera corrects the image if it senses any sudden motion or shakes in it. Whereas the Optical Image Stabilization gets the same result, and even better, by correcting the image through the variable-angle prism in front of the lens. The Optical Image Stabilization provides a better result than EIS but it does make the camera heavy due to an additional physical component.
Waterproof
This factor is also really important when it comes to action cameras. Because if you truly want to enjoy your action cam, then you want it to be waterproofed. Most action cameras come with a waterproof housing case or are itself waterproof, which enables you to take your camera underwater. Some housing cases may resist damage up to 30M, while some premium housing cases may protect your camera up to 60M. Do note that being water-resistant doesn’t mean a camera is also waterproof. Being water-resistant means that the camera is protected against water splashes to a certain degree. But being waterproof means that the camera can be completely submerged into water, but up to a certain depth.
Voice Control/Wireless Remote Control
Voice control or Wireless remote controls can be really important especially when it comes to action cameras. You generally use your action camera while doing some physical activity like riding a bicycle, river rafting or something else. Now you really don’t want to take your camera off the mount every time you want to turn it on/off or start/stop recording, especially when you’re in the middle of the activity. Most action cameras come either with a wireless remote control or with the voice control so that you could use your camera from a distance.
WiFi And GPS Connectivity
WiFi connectivity is pretty much available in every action camera. And it is really important for you to transfer your videos/photos directly to your smartphone. WiFi is especially helpful in controlling your camera through phone if the camera doesn’t have a voice and wireless remote control. However, GPS only comes in some premium action cameras. With the help of GPS, you can learn about your exact location and speed in the video. Enabled GPS function might be completely unnecessary for some people, but for some people, it can turn out to be really useful.
Accessories
Accessories are really important if you want to use your action camera in the way it is supposed to be. There are some necessary accessories like waterproof housing case and wireless remote control. But it is always good to get some additional accessories like a helmet mount, bike mount, or USB cable camera with the camera.
LCD Screen
An action camera with an LCD screen can be really helpful if you want to playback or preview your videos on the camera. It is also useful in changing settings or choosing different video modes. Most action cameras come with an LCD screen which can be touch-controlled or otherwise.
Battery life
Action cameras come with a minimum of 1 rechargeable battery. The average life of a fully charged battery range from 50-60 minutes when using the best resolution with the highest frame rate. The power in the battery may last even longer when using lower settings. But if the power in a battery runs out within 30-40 minutes, then you might have to consider buying an additional battery. That is the same reason why some cameras include 2 batteries with the camera.
Conclusion
Action cameras come in different shapes and sizes and with different features. Some features like WiFi connectivity and Image stabilization are necessary, while some features like GPS may feel like a luxury. You might find an action camera with all the latest features, although there might be another action camera with fewer features but with good performance. So, you just have to look for one which will fulfill what you require the most.
