DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro HERO13: Which Action Camera for Travel?
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DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro HERO13 Black is a choice between low light, battery and storage, and resolution, slow motion and lens mods. On the makers' pages the Action 5 Pro has a 1/1.3-inch sensor, 4K120, 20 m of waterproofing and 64 GB built in; the HERO13 shoots 5.3K60 and takes HB-Series lenses. We read both pages and the US list that mentions DJI on 9 October 2026, and checked both Amazon pages with a US address.
Quick answer
Checked on 9 October 2026. Pick the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro if you film in dim light or all day: the testers we read found its low-light footage clearly better and its battery longer, and it adds 47 GB of built-in storage and 20 m of waterproofing. Pick the GoPro HERO13 Black if you want 5.3K60, stabilization that keeps working in slow motion, and the lens mods and GPS overlay GoPro lists. Both were sold new by Amazon.com on the day we looked.
All 2 picks, with a buy button each
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Essential Combo Waterproof Action Camera
1/1.3-inch sensor, 4K120, 47 GB built-in storage. Sold and shipped by Amazon.com. Read more
GoPro HERO13 Black Waterproof Action Camera with 5.3K60 Video
5.3K60 video, 27 MP photos, HB-Series lens mods. Sold and shipped by Amazon.com. Read more
Where to go deeper
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs GoPro HERO 13
The same GoPro against a Leica-lens rival with a flip screen. Read more
How we compared them
The NomadsToolsLab team read DJI's spec page for the Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro's HERO13 Black page end to end on 9 October 2026, read the FCC fact sheet behind the US list that mentions DJI, and checked both Amazon pages with a US address. What surprised us: that fact sheet names no company and does not mention cameras. It covers foreign-made drones and drone parts, and says it does not stop the sale of models the FCC authorized earlier. The Action 5 Pro was on sale new, sold and shipped by Amazon.com, on the day we looked.
Testers lean the same way. Fstoppers (October 2024) called the Action 5 Pro 'by far' the best of three cameras in low light. Think Media (March 2025, a video sponsored by DJI) gave DJI 8 points to GoPro's 4, with GoPro winning on resolution, slow-motion stabilization and lens options. Jake Sloan (September 2024) measured 168 minutes of 4K30 from the DJI against 111 from the GoPro. Amazon's review summary says owners find the Action 5 Pro intuitive, with up to 4 hours of continuous recording; the HERO13 listing we linked has too few reviews for Amazon to write one. Every number in the table comes from the makers' own pages unless a tester is named.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro HERO13 Black side by side
| Spec | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro | GoPro HERO13 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 1/1.3 inch | GoPro HERO13 Black: 1/1.9 inch (Fstoppers and Jake Sloan; not on GoPro's page) |
| Max video | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 4K at 120 fps | GoPro HERO13 Black: 5.3K at 60 fps, 4K at 120 fps |
| Photos | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: About 40 MP | GoPro HERO13 Black: 27 MP |
| Waterproof, no case | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 20 m (60 m with case) | GoPro HERO13 Black: 10 m (33 ft) |
| Weight | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 146 g | GoPro HERO13 Black: 157 g (MountMedia) |
| Battery | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 1950 mAh | GoPro HERO13 Black: 1900 mAh Enduro |
| Maker run time | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 240 min (1080p24) | GoPro HERO13 Black: Over 2.5 h at 1080p30, over 1.5 h at 4K30 and 5.3K30 |
| Measured, 4K30 (Jake Sloan) | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 168 min | GoPro HERO13 Black: 111 min |
| Storage | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 64 GB built in (47 GB usable) plus microSD | GoPro HERO13 Black: microSD only |
| Screens | DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: 1.46 inch front, 2.5 inch rear, both touch | GoPro HERO13 Black: Front and rear, front not touch (Jake Sloan) |
Figures are the makers' own claims unless a tester is named, read on 9 October 2026 on DJI's spec page and GoPro's HERO13 Black page. DJI's run time is lab-measured at 25 C with RockSteady on and the screen and Wi-Fi off. GoPro's is measured at 25 C with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HyperSmooth on and both screens on. "Not listed" means the page we read does not give that figure.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro: low light, battery and built-in storage
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Essential Combo Waterproof Action Camera
DJI lists the Osmo Action 5 Pro with a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, a 155 degree lens at f/2.8, 4K up to 120 fps, RockSteady 3.0 stabilization and a 1950 mAh battery. It weighs 146 g and is waterproof to 20 m without a case. Storage is 64 GB built in, 47 GB usable, plus microSD up to 1 TB. DJI's limits are plain: close the battery and USB-C covers and tighten the lens cover before use, and use the waterproof case for long dives.
Testers found the same strengths. Think Media called its low-light performance dramatically better than the GoPro's, found the audio clearer and noted that it takes DJI's wireless mics directly; after a morning of shooting the GoPro was at 20 to 30% and the DJI at 60 to 70%. Fstoppers says the same about low light and calls the DJI easier to use, with built-in memory that saved a shoot. The catches: Fstoppers found some daytime footage over-processed, with an HDR look, and DJI's own page says electronic stabilization is not supported in slow-motion or timelapse modes. For a wireless mic, see our DJI Mic 2 vs RODE Wireless GO comparison.
GoPro HERO13 Black: resolution, lens mods and slow motion
GoPro HERO13 Black Waterproof Action Camera with 5.3K60 Video
GoPro lists the HERO13 Black at 5.3K60, 4K120, 2.7K120 and 1080p240, with HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization, 27 MP photos, 10-bit color with HLG HDR and GP-Log, and waterproofing to 10 m (33 ft). The new 1900 mAh Enduro battery is not compatible with older GoPros. HB-Series lens mods (Macro, Ultra Wide, Anamorphic and ND filters) are sold separately and the camera detects them. It also has Burst Slo-Mo and GPS data overlay, and cloud backups need a GoPro subscription.
Testers credit it where DJI is weak. Think Media notes the HERO13 keeps stabilization in slow motion and has built-in mounting fingers, while the DJI does not; Jake Sloan notes it records native 5.3K and has GPS built in, where the DJI needs an accessory. On the other side Fstoppers found its menus hard to navigate and some settings only on the phone app, and Jake Sloan measured 111 minutes of 4K30 in a 20 degree room, against 168 for the DJI.
DJI and the US list: what we found
Read this if you buy in the US. On 22 December 2025 the FCC updated its Covered List to include foreign-made drones and critical drone parts. Its fact sheet names no company and does not mention action cameras. It says the update does not prohibit the import, sale or use of existing models the FCC authorized before, and that the restriction applies to new device models.
Digital Camera World (27 July 2026) reports that DJI was named on the Covered List late last year, that this effectively bars future DJI cameras and accessories, and that existing DJI products remain legal to buy and use in the US. It does not mention the Action 5 Pro. On 9 October 2026 the Action 5 Pro Essential Combo was in stock on amazon.com, sold and shipped by Amazon.com, with an Add to cart button. We did not look up its FCC authorization, and this is a US rule: we checked only the US listing. Read the FCC fact sheet for the current state, as it may change. If you buy outside the US, check your local store for the Action 5 Pro and the HERO13.
Which one to pick
Evenings, cloudy days and low-light vlogs: the Action 5 Pro. A whole day without swapping the battery: the Action 5 Pro, going by the two battery tests we read. Snorkeling and dives without a case: the Action 5 Pro at 20 m, against 10 m. Slow motion with stabilization, a 5.3K frame and lens mods: the HERO13. Speed and altitude overlays: the HERO13, which has GPS built in.
If a camera that is bigger on features does not matter, a flip-screen rival is covered in our Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs GoPro HERO13 comparison. For pocket cameras and mirrorless see the camera guide for digital nomads, and because 5.3K and 4K files are large, read how to back up your footage while traveling. Our other camera comparisons cover the Insta360 X5 vs X4 and the Insta360 GO Ultra vs GO 3S.
- The Action 5 Pro has the larger sensor (1/1.3 inch), 47 GB of built-in storage and 20 m of waterproofing; the HERO13 records 5.3K60.
- Jake Sloan measured 168 minutes of 4K30 on the DJI and 111 minutes on the GoPro.
- Think Media and Fstoppers both found the DJI clearly better in low light; GoPro keeps stabilization in slow motion and has lens mods.
- The FCC fact sheet names no company and says models authorized before can still be sold; on 9 October 2026 the Action 5 Pro was for sale on amazon.com.
- Think Media's video was sponsored by DJI, and Jake Sloan received the DJI camera for his test; both said so.
Watch: Action 5 Pro vs HERO13 side by side
Fstoppers tests the two cameras and an iPhone side by side in low light, 4K60, slow motion and battery.
Video by Fstoppers.
Seen enough? Here is the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro from this article.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Essential Combo Waterproof Action Camera
Think Media awards points across a dozen categories. The video is sponsored by DJI, which says so at the start, and the description has affiliate links.
Video by Think Media (sponsored by DJI).
Here is the GoPro HERO13 Black from this article.
GoPro HERO13 Black Waterproof Action Camera with 5.3K60 Video
FAQ
Is the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro better than the GoPro HERO13?
For low light, battery and built-in storage, the testers we read say yes. For resolution, slow-motion stabilization and lens mods, they say the HERO13.
Which has the longer battery life, the Action 5 Pro or the HERO13?
The Action 5 Pro. DJI lists 240 minutes at 1080p24 and Jake Sloan measured 168 minutes of 4K30, against 111 minutes for the HERO13. GoPro lists over 1.5 hours at 4K30.
Is the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro still sold in the US?
On 9 October 2026 it was in stock on amazon.com, sold and shipped by Amazon.com. The FCC's 22 December 2025 fact sheet says models authorized before can still be sold. Digital Camera World says existing DJI products remain legal to buy and use.
How deep are the Action 5 Pro and HERO13 waterproof?
DJI rates the Action 5 Pro to 20 m without a case and 60 m with its case. GoPro rates the HERO13 Black to 10 m (33 ft).
Does the GoPro HERO13 need a subscription?
No for basic use, but GoPro says cloud backups and some editing features need a GoPro subscription.
Is there a newer DJI Osmo Action than the 5 Pro?
Amazon.com also lists the DJI Osmo Action 6, which we did not compare. We chose the 5 Pro because it is the model people search against the HERO13 and it was for sale new from Amazon.com on 9 October 2026.
Affiliate disclosure. This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy something, this site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. Picks are based on published specs, independent tests and manufacturer information. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full affiliate disclosure. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
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