DJI Osmo Action 6 vs Action 5 Pro

Buy the DJI Osmo Action 6 if you are buying your first action camera and you shoot at dawn, dusk or indoors, where its larger sensor and f/2.0 setting should help. Buy the Action 5 Pro if you ride or swim in daylight and want to spend less. If you already own an Action 5 Pro, upgrade only if you need f/2.0 for low light, 4K HorizonSteady or the square 4K Custom mode, because the battery and water rating do not change.

Every listing is on the price pages: Action 6 Standard Combo, Action 6 Adventure Combo, Action 5 Pro Standard Combo and Action 5 Pro Adventure Combo.

What actually differs

These stay the same: 155° field of view, 4K 120fps and 1080p 240fps slow motion, a 120 Mbps maximum bitrate, the two touchscreens at the same sizes, a 1950 mAh battery with DJI's 240 minute figure, and 20 m water rating without a case, 60 m with the Waterproof Case. Both also list Pre-Rec, SuperNight and Subject Tracking.

What each difference means when you shoot

Sensor. A 1/1.1-inch sensor is larger than a 1/1.3-inch one, but DJI publishes the same 2.4 μm pixel size and up to 13.5 stops of dynamic range for both cameras. So the clearest low-light difference on paper is the Action 6's f/2.0 setting against f/2.8. In harsh midday light on a highway, expect the two to be closer.

Variable aperture. The Action 5 Pro is fixed at f/2.8. The Action 6 opens to f/2.0 for dim scenes and closes to f/4.0. In Auto mode you pick from five aperture ranges, and there is a fixed f/2.0 Large Aperture mode. DJI notes that f/4.0 also gives sharp focus from 0.2 m, which helps for close object shots on the handlebars or a table.

Square sensor and 4K Custom. The Action 6 can record 3840×3840 and let you crop for 16:9 or 9:16 later. If you post one clip to both YouTube and Reels, this removes a decision at shooting time. The Action 5 Pro has no equivalent mode.

8K. The Action 6 records 8K up to 30fps. DJI sets real limits on it. It is 16:9 only, stabilisation is limited to RockSteady or RockSteady+, field of view options shrink, Film Tone and Quality Priority are off, maximum ISO is 12800, or 6400 in D-Log M, and 8K editing in DJI Mimo needs an iPhone 15 Pro or later. Most riders will spend their time in 4K.

HorizonSteady. The Action 5 Pro holds a level horizon up to 2.7K 60fps. The Action 6 does it up to 4K 60fps, including 4K Custom. For bike and motorcycle footage where the frame must stay level, this is a real gain.

Photos. The Action 5 Pro has a slight lead at about 40 MP against about 38 MP. This won't decide anything for most buyers.

Mounting and charging. DJI says official accessories attach with the dual-direction quick-release locking clips, and third-party action camera accessories fit through the Quick-Release Adapter Mount. For fast charging on the Action 6, DJI asks for a USB-C charger with PD 3.0 at 30 W or above, so check what you already carry.

New shooting features. DJI lists Portrait mode, Gesture Control, film tones, 2x lossless zoom and 4K Live Photo as Action 6 additions. Gesture Control starts or stops recording with a palm gesture, even in gloves, so you do not have to reach the camera.

Upgrade if, stay if, or buy the older one if

Upgrade from Action 5 Pro to Action 6 if:

• You often shoot in low light, and f/2.8 has been holding you back.
• You need level horizons at 4K, or you publish one clip in both vertical and horizontal.

Stay on your Action 5 Pro if:

• Your rides and dives are in daylight, and 4K is your highest resolution anyway.
• Your rides and dives are covered by the same 20 m rating and 240 minute battery figure, so the Action 6 adds nothing for you there.

Buy the Action 5 Pro new if:

• You want the lower price and you shoot mainly in good light.
• You want slightly higher resolution photos.

If the live gap between the two Standard Combos is small, take the Action 6. The sensor and f/2.0 setting are the parts you cannot change later.

If you are also weighing GoPro, see our GoPro vs DJI Action guide. For a wider view of the whole category, read the best action camera guide.

The real cost beyond the camera

Both have a little built-in storage, 50 GB usable on the Action 6 and 47 GB on the Action 5 Pro. That runs out quickly in 4K, so a card is still a good first purchase.

Cards. DJI names U3 A2 V30 microSD cards from Lexar and Kingston for the Action 6. Its list for the Action 5 Pro uses the same class. Up to 1 TB is supported on both.

Battery. DJI's store lists the Osmo Action Extreme Battery Plus (1950 mAh) as compatible with the Action 6, the Action 5 Pro and the Osmo 360. If you buy an Action 6 and already own 1950 mAh Extreme Battery Plus spares, those carry over. A spare is worth having, since 240 minutes is DJI's lab figure at 1080p with the screens off.

Audio. DJI's product pages list direct connection to two DJI microphone transmitters for both cameras, with no receiver. DJI's footnote says two DJI microphones are required for that connection, and that the first-generation DJI Mic does not connect directly. A third-party mic works on the Action 6 through the Osmo Action 3.5mm Audio Adapter. See our wireless microphone guide for more choices.

Before you buy

Check the bundle. A Standard Combo and an Adventure Combo come with different accessories, so their prices are not comparable. Ask the store what is in the box, then compare the same bundle across cameras.