DJI has announced its first action camera, dubbed the ‘Pro’, and it comes with a host of impressive new features that will rightly impress content creators and other pro users. These include a four-hour battery life – that’s double that of the GoPro Hero 13 Black, thanks to an industry-first 4nm chip; 20m water resistance with pressure gauge (which is again double that of its rivals); and larger, bolder dual OLED displays.
We’ve already reviewed the Osmo Action 5 Pro and came away mightily impressed during our extensive time with what is now one of the best action cameras around. There are plenty of other areas where it edges out GoPro’s best action cam, the Hero 13 Black , including the hassle-free Bluetooth connectivity with microphones including the DJI Mic 2 for better audio (think the perfect marriage of an iPhone and AirPods ), but this is still not a one-sided battle.
DJI has doubled down on improving its 4K video footage rather than upping the resolution to compete with rivals – the Hero 13 Black shoots 5.3K video while the Insta360 Ace Pro shoots 8K – and rumours suggest we’ll see an Insta360 Ace Pro 2 soon. What we get instead, according to DJI, is 13.5 stops of dynamic range – that’s the sort of performance you’d expect from a pro-level mirrorless camera.
The sensor is still a 1/1.3-inch type, however, as we saw in the Action 4. Many action cam fans were right to hope that DJI would introduce an even larger 1-inch sensor. After all, such a sensor is also in the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, our favorite vlogging camera.
However, DJI has added internal storage up to 47GB alongside micro SD, plus GoPro has paired it with Wi-Fi 6 to speed up uploading images to your phone. Taking all these upgrades into account, the Action 5 Pro offers an all-around improved user experience, but at a 10% higher price point than the Action 4.
The Osmo Action 5 Pro costs $349 / £329 / AU$599 for the Standard Combo – that’s slightly cheaper than the Hero 13 Black in the US and UK – or $449 / £409 / AU$769 for the Adventure Combo, which also includes the Quick-Release Adapter Mount, multi-function battery case and 1.5m extension pole.
Has DJI dethroned GoPro as the king of action cams?
In this article we compare the GoPro Hero 13 Black with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro to give you insight into the differences between the two leading action cameras.
There’s no question who’s improving faster, and it’s DJI. While the hardware inside GoPro’s flagship Hero Black series of cameras has remained largely the same for years, DJI has made significant improvements to each generation of its Osmo Action series.
The Action 4 had a larger sensor than the Osmo Action 3, with class-leading low-light performance. However, that camera only shot 4K video and 10MP photos, meaning it lags behind rivals for outright detail in good light. DJI has upped the photo resolution to 40MP this time around, while the hardware has also been tweaked for what is undoubtedly a better user experience.
That said, GoPro has opened up a whole new avenue for action cameras with the Hero 13 Black: interchangeable lenses. This opens up action cameras to a whole new audience, including vloggers who will appreciate the Macro Lens Mod and serious filmmakers curious about the new Anamorphic Lens Mod.
With rumors of the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 coming with improved 8K video and AI features, we could soon be seeing three very different versions of the action camera from three leading brands. And we, the users, get to benefit from the fierce competition.
The Osmo Action 5 Pro seems like the best option for anyone looking for a top-quality action cam with a hassle-free microphone jack, and who is happy to accept the limitations of (better quality) 4K video.