Are you in the need of an action camera but at the same don’t want to spend tons of money?
If so, keep on reading this article.
This best budget-friendly action camera review will show you what are the top 5 affordable action cameras on the market. You can read about the technical specifications and main characteristics of each model to see which one is the best for you and your needs based on their features, design, and price.
Budget Action Camera 101
Action Camera Cheap Price
A cheap action camera is a notion somewhat difficult to define since budgets vary from one person to another. This is why in this post you can check out some of the best action cameras under 200 or even best action cameras under 100 or 50 dollars models. Keep in mind that a higher price doesn’t always mean better quality.
Look For Included Accessories
A lot of more expensive but also budget-friendly action camera models come with included accessories and mounting kits. Since there are so many models like this, make sure you look for the model that provides at least some basic bike or helmet mounts to up your recording options.
Different Video Modes
Just like the accessories, a lot of newer affordable action cameras come with a few video and photo settings and different shooting modes. Features like time-lapse, slow-motion videos, time-lapse videos, or photo bursts can be fun to use and to record some amazing memories and adventures with.
Additional Useful Features
There is plenty of action camera features you can take into consideration when trying to find the best model for you. Some of them may be good image stabilization or built-in gyroscope, built-in Wi-Fi or GPS technology, waterproof recording modes, and case, high resolution, etc.
Best Cheap Action Camera Offer
Online retailers like Amazon have some of the most versatile and large offers when looking for best action cameras on a budget. Oftentimes you can also get a significant discount that you may not get in a retail store like Best Buy, Target, and others.
Top 5 Budget Action Cameras
Best Action Action Camera Under 100 Dollars
Polaroid Cube Act II Lifestyle Action Video Camera
Amazon’s Choice Budget Action Camera
Polaroid Cube Act II lifestyle action camera is one of the best cheap action cameras you can get if you are on a strict budget. This camera will cost you somewhat around 20 dollars and it is also rated as one of Amazon’s choice models which means it has great feedback and you get every dollar worth.
Pocket-Size Mini Action Camera
Polaroid Act II cheap action camera is also one of the smallest models in the market. It has a small cube-like design and measures 1.4 x 1.4 x 1.4 inches. It is also super lightweight weighing only 1.6 ounces so it can fit any pocket.
Wide-Angle Lens
Even though it’s a mini model in its dimensions, the Polaroid Act II action camera is big in impressive features. For instance, it has a wide-angle lens that can capture anything within 124 degrees. You can purchase some bike or helmet mounts to make it record the most beautiful panoramic landscapes while you enjoy your rides and any other adventures.
Good Camera Quality And Stabilization
Polaroid cameras are known to have good camera quality and that is the case for this mini model as well. It allows you to record full HD 1080P or 720P videos. You can also take pictures at a 6-megapixel resolution. The camera is equipped with a good image stabilization system to avoid excess shakiness.
- Shockproof and splashproof
- Records full HD 1080P videos
- Magnetic base
- Mini design
Best 4K Action Camera Under 100 Dollars
Sjcam SJ4000 Air 4K Wi-Fi Action Camera
Cheap Waterproof Action Camera
Sjcam SJ4000 Air 4K action camera could have also gone under the best waterproof action camera under $100 since it is waterproof and costs approximately 60 dollars. It comes with an underwater camera case and can go down to 30 meters.
Amazing 4K Video Quality
This budget 4K action camera by Sjcam offers a choice between a few high video resolutions for you to choose from. The highest is the 4K at 30 fps, 2.7K at 30 fps, 1080P at 60 or 30 fps, and lastly, 720P at 120 fps.
Connects To Smartphone
Sjcam SJ4000 budget action camera also comes with built-in Wi-Fi technology. This gives the possibility to connect it to a Smartphone or tablet and control it that way. The Wi-Fi range is around 3 to 5 meters.
Various Video And Picture Modes
If you are tired of the standard picture and video modes and want to step up your recording skills, the Sjcam SJ4000 action camera offers some more settings. You can opt for loop recording, time-lapse, or slow-motion for videos and drama shots for pictures.
Accessories Provided
Sjcam SJ4000 inexpensive action camera comes as a full package. The brand provides you also with a waterproof case, batteries, fixing base, switch supports, helmet, and mount bases, stickers, adapter, manual, and a USB cable.
- An hour and a half long battery life
- 170-degree angle camera lens
- Time-lapse videos
- Wi-Fi technology
Best Action Camera Under 200
Akaso V50 Elite Touch Screen Wifi Action Camera
Action Camera Under 200 Dollars
While Akaso V50 Elite touch screen camera isn’t the cheapest model in this article, it certainly is one of the best ones. Unlike some comparable models that can reach prices of a few hundred dollars, Akaso V50 is still priced under 150 dollars and it showed more than satisfying features and quality.
Portable Action Camera
Like most action cameras, this model is also a very portable one that you can carry pretty much anywhere with you without having to worry about packing a whole another bag just for a camera. Without waterproof camera housing, Akaso V50 measures only 2.4 x 1.6 x 1.2 inches.
Practical Touch Screen And Remote Control
Akaso V50 action camera has a simple design with a 2-inch intuitive touch screen with an IPS display without unnecessary side control buttons. If you decide not to use the touch screen to adjust settings and start recordings, you can do it also using the provided remote control placed on a convenient wristband perfect for sporty people wanting a hands-free usage.
Voice Control Operations
Going hand in hand with what I stated previously, there is one more way to control the Akaso V50 Elite action camera. The voice command operating is convenient when you are for example snowboarding or riding a bike and just want to be able to start recording without having to stop everything you are doing.
Budget Action Camera With Stabilization
Akaso V50 Elite is notorious for great camera quality and smooth and sharp results, be it with videos or pictures. It has built-in upgraded and advanced electronic image stabilization that can predict and detect movements and adjust the camera automatically to get clear shots even in fast-moving action scenes.
- 4K at 60 fps max. resolution
- 2-inch touch screen
- Uses voice commands
Best Budget Action Camera With Image Stabilization
Campark X20 Action Camera Native 4K Ultra HD
Cheap Action Camera With Good Quality
Campark X20 Native 4K action camera is such a good choice for those that don’t want to invest a lot of money but still expect good camera quality for the amount they do put in. This model costs approximately 60 dollars and has more features than some other more expensive cameras.
Waterproof Action Camera
Campark X20 Native is one best waterproof action camera under $100. The main camera body isn’t waterproof in itself but it does come with a provided underwater case that allows it to go down 40 meters. Also with a wide 170-degree angle lens, it can capture all of the sea world wonders.
Touch Screen And Vice Screen
This cheap 4K action camera features an IPS touch screen on the rear side. It makes it easy to preview, capture, and look back at your camera footage. Another feature is the small front vice screen that updates the battery level, time left when recording, and recording mode that is one.
Long Battery Life
To prevent you from running out of battery midst your outing or sports activity, Campark X20 Native action camera comes with two rechargeable batteries so you can always have one in the camera and other on hand. The recording time depends on the camera modes that are on but can go from about 60 to 90 minutes of non-stop using.
Other Important Features
Some of the other interesting features Campark X20 Native action camera has included built-in Wi-Fi, provided small remote control for easy operating, advanced EIS system, loop recording and time-lapse video modes, photo burst mode, and more.
- Continuous shooting mode
- Comes with remote control
- Touch screen and vice screen
- Waterproof with case
Best Budget Underwater Action Camera
Crosstour Action Camera 1080P Full HD Waterproof Cam
Cheap And Portable Action Camera
Crosstour action camera connects two important factors when purchasing an action camera. Firstly, it is very affordable with it costing only around 30 dollars. Also, this model is portable and practical measuring only 2.4 x 1.6 x 1 inch.
Works As A Dash Cam
Crosstour recommends using this camera also as a dashcam. Not only is it practical because of its dimensions but it also comes with 18 multifunctional accessories. Besides that, it has a driving mode you can choose for the best outcome.
Cheap Hd Action Camera
The Crosstour budget action camera has a full HD video and photo resolution. It can capture high-resolution 12-megapixel photos and record full HD 1080P videos. This is also enhanced with a 170-degree wide-angle lens to capture the most possible.
Webcam For Live
This cheap action camera also can work as a webcam for live streams. It is equipped with wireless technology so you can easily connect it to your Smartphone. It has a feature to use its 1080P resolution to record video chats and live stream with your friends on your social media.
- Driving mode
- Burst photo mode
- Waterproof down to 30 meters
Conclusion: What Is The Best Budget Action Camera?
Akaso V50 Elite Touch Screen Wifi Action Camera is one of the best action cameras under 200 dollars and is the one with the highest frames per second rate as well as picture quality. However, if you need a model that is even more affordable and still has good features, check out Campark X20 Action Camera Native 4K Ultra HD.
To discover more models and brands in this category, you can check out my other posts called the best action camera for the money or best budget action camera. If you are interested in small action cameras like some models reviewed previously, read mini action camera reviews.