Action cameras rated for the cold

Cold does two things to an action camera: it takes capacity out of the battery, and on a bad day it stops the camera entirely. Makers publish a minimum operating temperature and the spread is wide — from −20 °C on most of the DJI and Insta360 bodies down to a 0 °C floor on the Osmo Pocket 3 and both Ricoh THETAs, which is a real limit on a ski trip.

How this list is ordered: filtered to cameras with a published cold rating, ranked by lowest rated operating temperature. 29 of the catalogue’s cameras qualify. Cameras their makers no longer sell in the US keep their figures but are listed last.

1. 1GoProGoPro MISSION 1rated to -4°F · 2150 mAhFootage that has to survive a real grade~$599116 mm²
2. 2GoProGoPro MISSION 1 PROrated to -4°F · 2150 mAhLow light and heavy grading without giving up a waterproof body~$699116 mm²
3. 3DJIDJI Osmo 360rated to -4°F · 1950 mAh360 work that has to be graded rather than just posted~$54996 mm²/lens
4. 4Insta360Insta360 X6rated to -4°F · 2600 mAhThe 360 camera to buy if you only buy one~$66992 mm²/lens
5. 5DJIDJI Osmo Action 5 Prorated to -4°F · 1950 mAhLow light and long days without a bag of spare batteries~$31972 mm²
6. 6DJIDJI Osmo Action 4rated to -4°F · 1770 mAhA big sensor on a small budget~$23972 mm²
7. 7Insta360Insta360 Ace Pro 2rated to -4°F · 1800 mAhVlogging to camera, where you need to see yourself framed~$39972 mm²
8. 8Insta360Insta360 X5rated to -4°F · 2400 mAhThe default 360 camera for people who will scratch the lenses~$54972 mm²/lens
9. 9Insta360Insta360 GO Ultrarated to -4°F · 500 mAhHands-free POV you can wear all day and forget~$44972 mm²
10. 10KandaoKandao QooCam 3rated to -4°F · 1600 mAhSpherical stills and virtual tours on a budget~$34951 mm²/lens
11. 11KandaoKandao QooCam 3 Ultrarated to -4°F · 2280 mAhSpec-per-dollar in 360, if you can live with the weight~$50943 mm²/lens
12. 12Insta360Insta360 X4 Airrated to -4°F · 2010 mAhSelfie-stick and helmet 360 where weight decides everything~$39938 mm²/lens
13. 13Insta360Insta360 X4rated to -4°F · 2290 mAhDaylight 360 capture on a budget~$42931 mm²/lens
14. 14Insta360Insta360 X3rated to -4°F · 1800 mAhA first 360 camera without spending flagship money~$27931 mm²/lens
15. 15SJCAMSJCAM SJ30rated to -4°F · 2000 mAhAll-day recording where runtime beats resolution~$25931 mm²
16. 16Insta360Insta360 GO 3Srated to -4°F · 310 mAhPet, kid and first-person angles a bigger camera cannot reach~$39928 mm²
17. 17GoProGoPro HERO13 Blackrated to 14°F · 1900 mAhHelmet and handlebar mounting where the accessory ecosystem matters~$39934 mm²
18. 18GoProGoPro HERO12 Blackrated to 14°F · 1720 mAhGetting flagship stabilisation without flagship pricing~$36934 mm²
19. 19GoProGoPro MAX2rated to 14°F · 1960 mAh360 capture where the lenses will take a beating~$29934 mm²/lens
20. 20GoProGoPro HERO (2024)rated to 14°F · 1255 mAhA first action camera, or a disposable extra angle~$19928 mm²
21. 21GoProGoPro LIT HEROrated to 14°F · 1255 mAhNight vlogging and enclosed spaces where there is no other light~$26928 mm²
22. 22GoProGoPro MAXrated to 14°F · 1600 mAhA cheap second camera that shoots both spherical and straight~$36928 mm²/lens
23. 23DJIDJI Osmo Pocket 3rated to 32°F · 1300 mAhHandheld vlogging where the footage has to look glassy, not mounted~$439116 mm²
24. 24RicohRicoh THETA Z1 51GBrated to 32°F · 1350 mAhProfessional 360 stills where image quality decides the invoice~$1,099116 mm²/lens
25. 25RicohRicoh THETA Xrated to 32°F · 1350 mAhProperty tours and site documentation, not sport~$72931 mm²/lens
26. 26DJIDJI Osmo Action 6Not sold by DJI in the USrated to -4°F · 1950 mAhBright-light shooting and vertical-plus-widescreen delivery~$37996 mm²
27. 27DJIDJI Osmo NanoNot sold by DJI in the USrated to -4°F · 530 mAhHands-free POV where a full-size camera is too much~$29972 mm²
28. 28GoProGoPro HERO11 BlackNo longer sold by GoProrated to 14°F · 1720 mAhVertical and landscape delivery from one take~$24934 mm²
29. 29GoProGoPro HERO11 Black MiniNo longer sold by GoProrated to 14°F · 1500 mAhA set-and-forget second angle on a helmet or chest mount~$19934 mm²