For quite some time, GoPro has ruled the high-end action camera world. While plenty of other companies have tried to dethrone the action camera giant, and some have come close, none have quite hit the nail on the head. DJI, the company best known for its drones, is having a go again with a new pro-level model of its own action camera.

The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro brings substantial updates over the Osmo Action 4. Those include what DJI says is a brand-new 1/1.3-inch sensor with 2.4μm pixel size for improved dynamic range (13.5 stops) and low-light performance, a subject tracking mode, 50% battery life than the Osmo Action 4, and better audio recording. The new sensor also allows for double the photo quality, moving from 3,648 x 2,736 pixels to 7,296 x 5,472 pixels.

Additionally, DJI took its action camera to the next level for water sports with two extra meters of waterproofing (now 20 meters) and included a built-in pressure gauge to record and display water depth, altitude, and other data in real-time. I’ve been using the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro for a few weeks, but unfortunately, my schedule has kept me from any highly adventurous outings. However, I’ve been thoroughly impressed by the camera on my bike rides, hikes, and during daily life.

Price, availability, and specs

The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is available for purchase for $349 for the standard combo, which includes the Horizontal-Vertical Protective Frame, one battery, and a curved adhesive base. There are also plenty of other combos to choose from with different accessories, including an Adventure Combo with two additional batteries, Multifunctional Battery Case 2, and 1.5 meter extension rod for $449. Or, choose a combo based on the activities you participate in, such as motorcycling or mountain biking, hiking, diving, road cycling, surfing, and more. At $547, the Vlog Combo is the most expensive, but it includes everything you get in the Standard Combo, plus a DJI Mic 2 Transmitter and Multifunctional Charging Handle.

What I liked about the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

Easy yet impressive performance

Quite frankly, there’s a lot to like about the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, and I could easily see this replacing the GoPro as my go-to action camera. First and foremost, though, the camera is very easy to use. The touchscreen is responsive with intuitive controls. Plus, the front OLED is also a touchscreen and provides settings access, making it easier to change settings if you’re recording yourself.

There are preset modes for all the most common use cases, which adjust the type of recording, field of view, quality, and level of stabilization. Of course, you have the option to fully adjust (and save) settings that better suit your needs. There are also manual controls should you really want to get into the nitty gritty of your camera settings, making the Pro name fitting for the camera. Among those Pro controls are 8-bit, 10-bit, D-Log M and HLG color profiles, giving you more control over the look of your footage and how much time you want to spend editing.

One of the newly added recording modes is the Subject Tracking mode. In it, the camera will automatically detect the subject and then crop the footage to a social media-ready 16:9 ratio. I found it to work extremely well with people, even in low-light conditions. It never did register my black cat, though, and was hit-and-miss with my black dog. But, for those recording vlogs for social media, it will make the process of getting content posted much faster and easier.

The Osmo Action 5 Pro video footage is excellent, even with the default color settings. The footage looks sharp (but not overly so) in daylight and well-lit conditions with pleasingly saturated colors. It doesn’t look overly saturated or processed, which has been the case with some action cameras I’ve reviewed. The camera also performs quite well in low-light conditions, which is typically a weak spot for action cameras. It won’t equal the quality of a larger camera, but is quite a bit better than the GoPro Hero 12 (we haven’t tested the 13, yet).

The RockSteady electronic stabilization was more than enough for most situations, resulting in beautifully smooth footage. Should you be recording more jarring activities, the RockSteady+ mode offers even more stabilization, though with a crop. Plus, the HorizonBalancing mode does a good job of keeping shots level in most situations, albeit with an even greater crop.

As a photographer, I was also very impressed by the SJI Osmo Action 5 Pro’s still photo quality. The 7,296 x 5,472-pixel resolution allows plenty of room for cropping and captures a lot of detail for an action camera. You can also shoot in raw, and I was surprised by how much dynamic range I had access to when editing the .dng file. The camera is also extremely quick to take photographs, so there’s no waiting for it to process and save before moving on to the next shot, something that couldn’t be said for the GoPro or the Insta360 cameras I’ve reviewed.

The Pro name also fits this camera because of its build quality. It feels really solid and well-made. I was recently hit by a car while out for a walk with the camera, and somehow, it doesn’t have a single scratch or scuff on it, which I can’t say for my body. I was thoroughly shocked when I looked at the camera afterward. Unfortunately, I didn’t have it recording to capture the footage.

DJI says it will also operate in extreme conditions, from -4° F to 113° F. I took it on a bike ride in 95° F and sunny conditions, and likely in part due to the constant wind on it, the camera didn’t even feel warm the entire ride. It’s waterproof to 20 meters (65 feet) without a case, double the depth the GoPro Her 13 Black can handle without a waterproof case. DJI says it is compliant with international EN13319 certification, meaning it’s safe to take diving.

The battery life of the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is a star of the show here as well. DJI says it can record for up to four hours thanks to a more power-efficient 4nm processor, increased battery capacity, and a new algorithm that optimizes energy use. I set the camera to record at 4K60 with 4K with RockSteady image stabilization turned on during a longer bike ride, and the internal storage (47GB) was the limiting factor, filling up within an hour and 15 minutes. The battery, which was at roughly 90% when I started, was still at 24% when I was out of room for storage. That wouldn’t get me to the four hours of promised time, but at a lower resolution, that four hours is doable.

Finally, the magnetic mounts are one of my favorite features of the Osmo Action 5 Pro. The camera itself features a mount on the bottom for horizontal shooting, and it comes with a frame that not only adds some extra protection but offers a vertical mounting location. Then, you can simply snap your mounts or accessories on or off, meaning it takes only seconds to change your setup. It made it much easier to quickly check the camera on my bike ride without having to fuss with unscrewing and screwing a traditional mount.

What I didn’t like about the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

No 5.6K video quality options

The only potential negative aspect of the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is that video quality tops out at 4K. The camera’s main competitor, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, offers up to 5.3K60 video. So, those looking for top-of-the-line video quality should opt for the GoPro. Similarly, if you need the flexibility to crop significantly when editing, the Osmo Action 5 Pro may not be the right fit due to the lower quality. However, for most people (myself included), 4K resolution is plenty.

The latest GoPro also stands out above DJI’s action camera because of its lens mod option. The GoPro Hero 13 allows you to use lens mods that enable macro shooting, among other styles. These lenses communicate electronically with the camera so that it automatically adjusts to whatever lens mod you use. GoPro offers three options right now: an ultra-wide, a macro, and a set of ND filters.

Action cameras typically are quite bad at any sort of closeup shot, and indeed, that is the case with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro. It can’t focus very close at all, and even the narrowest lens option is too wide for true closeups. GoPro’s unique lens mods then, add quite a bit of versatility that you miss out on with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro. For those just shooting standard action camera-style footage, it won’t be a problem. However, anyone who wants more out of their tiny pocket camera may prefer the versatility of GoPro’s new system.

Should you buy the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro?

If you’re in the market for an advanced, high-quality action camera, then yes, you absolutely should by the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro. It offers superb quality in both photo and video settings, with lots of flexibility in terms of settings and recording modes. The stabilization is just as good as GoPro’s, smoothing out even jarring activities. Plus, with the magnetic quick-release mounts, the option to connect to the DJI Mic 2, and Subject Tracking mode, the camera offers quite a bit of versatility for those looking to create content with a pocketable camera.

Of course, GoPro’s new Hero 13 Black offers a few advantages, including higher video quality and the new lens mod system for even greater versatility. But, for the first time in a while, the GoPro has a real competitor with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro. Plus, DJI’s standard combo is $50 cheaper than GoPros, offering a little bit of savings.