If not the best action camera on the market right now, definitely among the top three. The battery lasts for many hours with heavy use and when you charge it, from 10% it reaches 100% in half an hour to forty minutes. Amazing screens that you can see clearly even in strong sunlight, internal memory that, for someone without huge memory demands—since most of us now transfer files to our phones—the 47GB it offers is enough to record plenty of material, and even if you want to buy another card to be sure you won't run out, you don't have to buy one with huge capacity and spend a lot of money. With a 64GB memory card, you're all set!
It has an easy menu, amazing features, and you learn how to use it easily as long as you spend a little time with it. I was between this and the insta360 Ace Pro 2, but in key areas the Action 5 Pro excels and also costs less. There are two advantages of the Ace Pro 2 that I would like to see in the Action 5 Pro: the removable wind noise reduction cover over the microphone and the foldable rear screen, which is handy when you want to shoot low-angle shots and don't have to bend down to see what you're filming.
Congratulations to DJI, which, although relatively new to the action camera field, has produced amazing cameras!

After extensive research, as I always like to do before making a purchase, I ended up choosing the Action 5 Pro. I bought the camera during a holiday offer for €297 plus a €15 coupon from Skroutz, making the final price €282. An excellent price for this camera, and I added €59 for a 3-year warranty extension after the two-year factory warranty, so I can have peace of mind for five years.

Initially, it’s worth mentioning that the leading companies right now are DJI and Insta360. My research led me to these brands, through reviews I read and countless YouTube videos I watched. I didn’t even consider GoPro, due to its disappointing night shot performance and its long-standing reputation for overheating issues, even in its latest model.

My choices, therefore, were the Insta360 models (Ace Pro I, Ace Pro II) and DJI (Osmo Action 4, 5 Pro, and Action 6). A small factor giving DJI models an edge is that here in Greece, after the warranty expires, DJI offers service support, whereas Insta360 does not. So, if the camera has any issue, you have to send it abroad, which means dealing with customs and long waiting times.

The Ace Pro 2 is an amazing camera, as is the Action 6, but they are priced at €380 and above, which was beyond my budget. At lower prices, I could buy the Action 4 for €195 and the Ace Pro 1 for €220. As 2024 models, they lack some features compared to the 2025 ones, but for most people, these are insignificant, and they do their job more than well! For example, the Action 4 doesn’t have burst mode, but who cares? It’s one of the best cameras out there, and for anyone wanting a very good camera for little money, the Action 4 at €195 is a MUST.

Before moving on to the camera review, for those buying an action cam for the first time like me, keep in mind that besides the camera, you’ll need to spend extra money on products such as:
- A fast, high-capacity SD card, so it can handle high-resolution videos smoothly. These range from €25-40 or more. DJI recommends some on its site (Kingston, Sandisk, Lexar) and they must meet specific specs. Capacity depends on your use and needs. I got a 256GB one to be sure, which may be excessive since I transfer content to my phone, cloud, and hard drives. With a 64GB card you’ll barely manage, ideally a 128GB one is fine.
Here’s the link to the memory card I got:
https://www.skroutz.gr/s/53623289/Sandisk-Extreme-PRO-microSDXC-256GB-U3-V30-A2-UHS-I-me-antaptora.html?product_id=255093328&sponsored=fbt
- You may also need some mounting bases for the camera. Even if you don’t, you’ll definitely need a good, long selfie stick and extra magnetic connectors with quick release like the one included in the camera package, a case, and protective glass. So, budget €20-50 or more depending on your equipment needs. Search for these on Ali/Temu because prices in Greece are extremely high.
- Finally, a second battery is always useful. Genuine ones cost €30-35, aftermarket around €20.
All these affect your budget, even if you buy them gradually. With the camera, warranty extension, and equipment, I reached nearly €500.

Now, onto the camera review...
Positives:
- Excellent image. Both in 1080p and 4K, it shoots amazing videos. The photos satisfied me as well, though that’s not its primary purpose. Their resolution won’t blow you away in standard shots, but they shine in wide angle. For example, your phone may take better standard resolution photos, but not wide-angle ones of this quality unless you have a flagship phone. With the action camera, wide-angle photos are unbeatable!
- I love its small, almost "spy" size. It feels sturdy, light, but heavy enough to give a sense of quality. Good plastics, with a textured surface that’s hard to scratch.
- I’ve never seen stabilization like this. You can run and the footage stays steady. The stabilization is truly impressive.
- Front and rear OLED screens, with vibrant colors and good resolution, so you can see clearly even in sunlight. The ability to control the menu from the small front screen while taking selfies makes the camera very convenient.
- This and the Action 6 are the only models with built-in 47GB memory (Action 6 has 50GB), which I find extremely useful. When your memory card fills up, you know you have the camera’s backup, and if you haven’t bought a card yet, you can still shoot. Excellent advantage!
- The camera’s functions won me over from the start. If you watch some YouTube videos and practice with its settings, even an amateur can do wonders, and the camera becomes really fun, breaking away from monotonous video recording. Hyperlapse, timelapse, slow motion—I’ve enjoyed them all!
- The DJI MIMO app you download on your phone is very useful and user-friendly. You can quickly transfer, edit, and even create videos from your footage. The app offers many editing options. The best part is you can see on your phone’s screen what the camera is recording. It also has an AI editing function that removes the selfie stick from the video, just like 360 cameras do.
- Removable lens. If it gets scratched, it can be replaced (€20), or swapped for a lens with an even wider angle, though the original is expensive. You can find cheaper ones on Ali for €35-40. I haven’t tried this, but it’s an option. It screws on in place of the original.
- Excellent battery. All reviews say the Action 5 Pro has the longest-lasting battery of all models. In my first week of heavy use, learning the camera, taking lots of photos and videos, I only charged it three times. The first time, the battery was at 60% out of the box. Each time I charged it, it lasted longer as I didn’t let it drop below 10%. The third time was during an outing with my family from morning till late afternoon, taking lots of photos and videos in all resolutions and modes. From 100% when I left home, it was at 30% when I returned. So, draw your own conclusions. Note: to help the battery last longer, I set the camera to turn off the permanent function of both screens. You can set one screen to turn off when you need the other. For example, for selfies with the small front screen, I swipe up to activate it, and the rear screen turns off. And vice versa. If both screens are always on, you’ll use more battery, though the difference isn’t huge, but every little bit helps.
- Overheating... never. I’ve shot lots of 4K videos, long recordings, and the camera doesn’t heat up at all.
- Finally, night shots are simply wonderful! It takes excellent, clear photos even in very low light, and the supernight mode works great.

Negatives...
- Something it lacks, which I would really like, is the ability to pause video recording and continue in the same clip. Most cameras don’t have this. Only one does, and I find it very useful: the Insta360 Ace Pro 2. A friend has it, and I’ve used it, so I consider it an excellent camera. The Action 5 Pro and this one are rivals and models of the same year, each with its own strengths. But the Pause function would make the Action 5 Pro the perfect camera, in my opinion.
- The ON/OFF button, which also serves as a quick mode switch, could be a bit softer. It’s a bit stiff and needs force to press. The button for taking photos or videos is softer and you feel the "click," but the other button is less tactile. Not a serious reason to skip the camera, just a detail for those who care. To be fair, this stiffness is present when you use the protective "cage" case included in the package, which is actually a positive feature I didn’t mention above.
- Another negative for me is that in previous DJI models and others like GoPro, Insta360, the option to switch from standard to wide or ultra-wide is right on the screen and opens with one tap. On the Action 5 Pro, you have to press the button to open the resolution and fps settings, then another button to open the menu to choose the angle and stabilization mode. Maybe you don’t see this as a negative, but for my taste, I’d prefer a one-tap option.

That’s it for the positives and negatives for now. I bought the camera mainly for daily use, outings, trips, car and motorcycle video recording, and underwater shots in the summer, which we all love. I’ll update my review after testing it at the beach this summer!

Update 5/1/26:
I tried recording video with a mount outside the car while it was moving, and the microphone noise was intense even with noise reduction set to high. I ordered a foam case from Temu for €5 to reduce noise, but the difference was small.

Update 3/6/26:
I bought the DJI Mic 2 on offer for €55, and the noise issue is now completely solved. This purchase should have been made DAY ONE with the camera. Perfect connection between the two, huge range, no interruptions, and clear, strong sound with no noise. It’s funny I was bothering with the foam case.

The camera is amazing. I’ve had it for almost a year and a half. Its battery is a little monster and charges to 100% in 20 minutes. The stabilization is of a very high level, as are the shots in dark environments. No comparison with GoPro. It is absolutely VFM at its current price. It doesn’t break, it doesn’t malfunction.

Very good camera. Video and image quality are excellent for its category. Flagship-level stabilization. Quite good for night shots. Quality construction. I have only tested it on a mountain in low temperatures. I have mounted it on my helmet. It did not show any overheating or shutdown malfunctions. It does not come off the magnetic mount under any circumstances. Very good retention. It connects instantly with DJI Mimo and you have the ability to monitor and use it from your phone or tablet. Finally, the operation is immediate. With the camera off, you just press the record button and it immediately starts recording. If price is not an issue for someone, it is an excellent action camera by today’s standards.