DJI Osmo Action 3 vs GoPro Hero 4K (2024)

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Overview of the DJI Osmo Action 3

DJI Osmo Action 3☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo Action 3
DJI's 2022 premium action camera: 4K120fps video
The DJI Osmo Action 3 was released in 2022 and while it is a few years old, it offers incredible 4K120fps video at a very affordable price. It's successor, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is mostly an incremental improvement, making the Action 3 a great budget friendly action camera.
  • Pros
  • 4K120fps footage
  • Freeze-proof
  • Good image stabilization
  • 52ft / 16m waterproof without case
  • Cons
  • Older model

Overview of the GoPro Hero 4K (2024)

GoPro Hero 4K (2024)☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
GoPro's 2024 budget action camera: 4K video, slomo & photos
The Hero 4K (2024) is GoPro's new entry level action camera, offering very decent performance at less than half the price of their flagship GoPro Hero 13 Black. The resulting product is extremely simple, with only 3 modes (video, slomo and photo), but for most casual usage, it's 4K video will be good enough to capture the fun and action of the moment and share it with your friends.
  • Pros
  • Simple & straightforward
  • Lightweight
  • Replaceable lens guard
  • Cons
  • Limited functionality
  • Stabilization only in app
  • Only waterproof down to 16ft / 5m
  • Battery not removeable

Comparison of the Action 3 vs the Hero 4K (2024)

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Video performance

Only the Action 3 offers HDR video. Both cameras feature slomo video. The two cameras have image stabilization.
DJI Osmo Action 3
GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
4K video at 120fps
Max resolution
4K video at 30fps
4K
HDR video
HDR video unsupported
8x at 1080p
Maximum slow motion
2x at 2.7k
RockSteady 3.0
Stabilization
Hypersmooth in Quik Application
Why it matters: A high resolution will give you crisp footage but also allow you to reframe your video without losing too much quality. A higher framerate (fps) will result in smoother video and is important when filming action scenes or fast moving subjects. Image stabilization is a crucial feature for an action camera, as it removes camera shake, vibrations, rotation and other movements that deteriorate your final footage.

Battery life

The Action 3 offers a much larger battery capacity. The Action 3 has a removable battery whereas the Hero 4K (2024)'s battery is not removable
DJI Osmo Action 3
GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
1770mAh
Battery capacity
1225mAh
Removable
Removable battery
Removable
160min at 1080p
Battery life
75min at 4K30fps
Why battery life matters: Nothing worse than running out of battery just before capturing the best footage of the day! A long battery life is reassuring and convenient when shooting footage outdoors where options to charge are limited. Even the use of a power bank can be tedious or simply impossible like when filming watersports. Having removable batteries allows battery swapping on the go which further extends your runtime.

Storage

Neither camera features built-in storage. Both the Action 3 and the Hero 4K (2024) support SD cards. The Hero 4K (2024) supports a lot more storage than the Action 3.
DJI Osmo Action 3
GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
No built-in storage
Built-in storage
No built-in storage
microSD
Storage format
microSD
256GB
Maximun storage supported
1TB
Why storage matters: High quality footage can quickly take up lots of space and insufficient storage can soon be frustrating. Having a large amount of storage and the possiblity to extend it or swap SD cards while on a outing will ensure you will always be able to capture the footage you want. However, smaller, wearable action cameras often rely on built-in storage because of their small size.

Weight and size

The Hero 4K (2024) is a slightly smaller camera. The Hero 4K (2024) is a lot lighter than the Action 3.
DJI Osmo Action 3
GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
2.78in x 1.74in x 1.29in / 70.5mm x 44.2mm x 32.8mm
Dimensions
2.23in x 1.88in x 1.16in / 56.6mm x 47.7mm x 29.4mm
5.11oz / 145g
Weight
3.03oz / 86g
Why size and weight matter: Weight is important for action cameras because we often mount them on helmets, or hold them at the end of a selfie stick while moving. Therefore a heavier camera can be difficult or uncomfortable to film with. Weight is even more crucial for certain sports like road cycling or running.

Waterproofing and usage conditions

The Action 3 is a lot more waterproof. The Action 3 is far better for extreme cold. The Action 3 beats the Hero 4K (2024) in high heat conditions.
DJI Osmo Action 3
GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
52ft / 16m
Waterproof
16ft / 5m
197ft / 60m
Waterproof with diving case
Feature missing
-4°F / -20°C
Min operating temperature
14°F / -10°C
113°F / 45°C
Max operating temperature
95°F / 35°C
Why it matters: Most action cameras are waterproof for accidental splashing or use above water, but if you plan on Snorkeling or Scuba Diving, we recommend choosing a camera which offers a diving case and always using it for underwater footage. If you plan on filming Snowboarding, Skiing or other wintersports in extremely cold conditions, you should pick a camera that is rated for those temperatures, most cameras are only rated down to 14°F / -10°C. Many action cameras are prone to overheating, even in ordinary conditions, so if you plan on filming in hot environments, you should choose a camera that can function at high temperatures.

Camera and sensor technology

The Action 3 and the Hero 4K (2024) both feature 12MP. The field of view of the Action 3 is a little better than the Hero 4K (2024)'s. The Action 3 features a much higher bit rate than the Hero 4K (2024)
DJI Osmo Action 3
GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
12MP
Pixels
12MP
155°
Field of view
140°
130Mbps
Video bite rate
50Mbps
Why it matters: A higher amount of pixels will offer better quality footage and higher resolution photos. A higher field of view means that the camera captures over a wider angle and therefore more action can be seen in the final footage. Some cameras require accessories to enable the maximum FOV. A higher bitrate at a similar resolution will offer higher quality video.

Camera settings

DJI Osmo Action 3
GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
100-12800
ISO range
Feature missing
+/-4
Exposure Compensation
Feature missing
Why these settings matter: The ISO range and exposure compensation settings will mostly allow you to tweak your action camera for low light situations.

DJI Osmo Action 3 versus GoPro Hero 4K (2024) specifications

NameDJI Osmo Action 3GoPro Hero 4K (2024)
Year of release20222024
Width2.78in / 70.5mm2.23in / 56.6mm
Height1.74in / 44.2mm1.88in / 47.7mm
Depth1.29in / 32.8mm1.16in / 29.4mm
Weight5.11oz / 145g3.03oz / 86g
Waterproof52ft / 16m16ft / 5m
Waterproof with diving case197ft / 60m-
Min operating temperature-4°F / -20°C14°F / -10°C
Max operating temperature113°F / 45°C95°F / 35°C
Battery capacity1770mAh1225mAh
Removable batteryYesNo
Battery life160min at 1080p75min at 4K30fps
Charging time49min60min
Storage formatmicroSDmicroSD
Storage rating requiredV30 or UHS-3V30 or UHS-3
Maximun storage supported256GB1TB
Rear screen size-1.76in
Front screen size-No
Field of view155°140°
Sensor1/1.7"1/2.8" CMOS
Pixels12MP12MP
ApertureF2.8F2.3
Focal length-15mm
ISO range100-12800-
Video zoom-2x
Color Depth10bit8bit
Video bite rate130Mbps50Mbps
Exposure Compensation+/-4-
360-degree videoNoNo
4K video120fps30fps
2.7K video120fps60fps
1080p video240fps30fps
Slow motion at 4K4-
Maximum slow motion8x at 1080p2x at 2.7k
HDR video4K-
StabilizationRockSteady 3.0Hypersmooth in Quik Application
Horizon lock-No
Video formatH.264 (MP4)H.264 (MP4)
Live streamingNo-
Timelapse modeYes-
Starlapse modeYes-
Timeshift modeYes-
Loop recording modeYes-
Subject trackingNo-
Photo burst modeNoYes
RAW format supportedYesYes
Microphones32
Stereo audioYes-
Noise reductionYes-
Audio formataac-
Wifi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
BluetoothBLE 5.0BLE 5.2
USBType-C USBUSB-C
GPS integratedNoNo
Voice commandsYesYes