DJI Action 5 vs Action 6: Is the Upgrade Worth Waiting For?

Interactive Spec Comparison

Let's start with the hard data. Compare the full specifications side-by-side using our interactive spec comparator:

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

DJI

$349

DJI Osmo Action 6

DJI Osmo Action 6

DJI

$399

Spec	DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro	DJI Osmo Action 6
Screen	Front: 1.46 inches OLED, 342×342, 800 cd/㎡ Back: 2.5 inches OLED, 400×712, 800 cd/㎡, 1000 cd/㎡ peak	Front: 1.46 inches OLED, 342×342, 800 cd/㎡ Back: 2.5 inches OLED, 400×712, 800 cd/㎡, 1000 cd/㎡ peak
Microphones	3 Stereo Recording	3
Weight	146 g	149 g
Dimensions	70.5×44.2×32.8 mm (L×W×H)	72.8×47.2×33.1 mm (L×W×H)
Sensor	1/1.3-inch CMOS	1/1.1-inch square CMOS
Aperture	f/2.8	f/2.0 - f/4.0 Variable
ISO Range	100-25600 (Photo) 100-51200 (Video)	100-12800 (Photo) 100-25600 (Video) 100-51200 (Video, SuperNight Mode Only)
FOV	155°	155°
Photo Resolution	4:3, 7296 × 5472 (40 MP)	7168 × 5376 (38 MP)
Video Resolution	4K (4:3): 3840×2880 @100/120fps 4K (16:9): 3840×2160 @100/120fps 4K (16:9): 3840×2160 @24/25/30/48/50/60fps 2.7K (4:3): 2688×2016 @100/120fps 2.7K (4:3): 2688×2016 @24/25/30/48/50/60fps 2.7K (16:9): 2688×1512 @100/120fps 2.7K (16:9): 2688×1512 @24/25/30/48/50/60fps 1080p (16:9): 1920×1080 @200/240fps 1080p (16:9): 1920×1080 @24/25/30/48/50/60/100/120fps Supernight: 4K/2.7K/1080p @24/25/30/48/50/60fps Slow Motion: 4K/120fps, 2.7K/120fps, 1080p/240fps Timelapse: Hyperlapse 4K/2.7K/1080p @25/30fps; Timelapse 4K/2.7K/1080p @25/30fps	4K (16:9): 3840×2160 @24/25/30/48/50/60/100/120fps 4K (16:9): 3840 × 2160@24/25/30/48/50/60fps (SuperNight Mode) 2.7K (16:9): 2688×1512 @120fps 1080p (16:9): 1920×1080 @240fps Free Crop (1:1): Up to 4K @60fps
Video Bitrate	120 Mbps	120 Mbps
Video Codec	H.265	H.265
Log Profile	10-bit D-Log M	10-bit D-Log M
Video Format	MP4 (H.265)	MP4 (H.265)
Audio Recording	48 kHz 16-bit; AAC	48 kHz 16-bit; AAC
Stabilization	RockSteady 3.0/3.0+, HorizonBalancing, HorizonSteady	RockSteady 3.0+, HorizonBalancing, HorizonSteady
Waterproof	20 m (without Waterproof Case), 60 m (with Waterproof Case)	20 m (without Waterproof Case) 60m (with Waterproof Case)
Battery	Capacity: 1950 mAh; Energy: 7.5 Wh; Voltage: 3.87 V	Capacity: 1950 mAh; Energy: 7.5 Wh; Voltage: 3.87 V
Operating Time	240 mins (1080p/24fps 16:9 video)	195mins (4K/30fps video) 240 mins (1080p/24fps 16:9 video)
Charge Time	25 mins to 80%, 53 mins to 100%	25 mins to 80%, 50 mins to 100%
Storage	External microSD up to 1 TB	Built-in 50GB (105GB available) External microSD up to 1 TB
Wi‑Fi	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax); 2.4/5.1/5.8 GHz	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax); 2.4/5.1/5.8 GHz
Bluetooth	BLE 5.1	BLE 5.1
Ports	USB-C 3.0	USB-C 3.1
App Support	DJI Mimo	DJI Mimo
Pre-recording	5/10/15/30 s; 1/2/5 mins	5/10/15/30 s; 1/2/5 mins
Square Sensor	—	Horizontal/vertical switching without rotation
Free Crop Mode	—	1:1 recording up to 4K 60fps
Built-in Filters	—	Style presets (up to 4K 60fps 16:9)
Gesture Control	—	Hand gesture start/stop
DJI Mic Support	—	Up to 2 transmitters direct connection

The Core Innovation: Square Sensor Revolution

Visual Quality Comparison

Watch this side-by-side comparison to see the real-world image quality difference:

1. Square Sensor: The Real Game-Changer

The breakthrough: Action 6 uses a 1/1.1" square sensor vs. Action 5's 1/1.3" rectangular sensor.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

The square sensor isn't just about size—it's about flexibility. Here's the revolutionary part:

With Action 5 (rectangular sensor):

• Want horizontal video? Hold it horizontally
• Want vertical video? Physically rotate the camera 90°
• Switching between formats = awkward handling

With Action 6 (square sensor):

• Hold it however you want—horizontal, vertical, or anything in between
• Tap a button to switch between horizontal and vertical output
• No quality loss when switching between formats
• The camera orientation doesn't matter anymore

Free Crop Mode: Maximum Flexibility

Action 6 introduces a 1:1 Free Crop mode that records the full square sensor area:

What you get:

• Record a 1:1 square video (4K 60fps max)
• Crop to 16:9 horizontal or 9:16 vertical in post
• Adjust framing after shooting
• Fix composition mistakes in editing

Perfect for:

• Creating both horizontal and vertical versions from one shoot
• Posting the same content to YouTube (16:9) and Instagram Reels (9:16)
• Fixing framing errors without quality loss

Important note: The Free Crop mode's reference lines have a quirky bug—when enabled, they burn black corners into your footage. Don't enable the reference lines until DJI fixes this.

Image Quality: Modest Improvement

Here's the honest truth: In standard 16:9 horizontal shooting, the quality difference is not dramatic.

Why? Both sensors end up using similar effective areas for 16:9 video. The final footage is cropped from the sensor, so:

DJI quality ranking (based on official reviews):

1. Pocket 3 - Best overall image quality
2. Action 6 - Excellent action cam quality
3. Action 5 Pro / Nano - Very good
4. Osmo 360 - Good for 360 camera (not comparable to action cams)

Bottom line: The square sensor's real value is flexibility, not a massive quality jump. You get slightly better quality plus the ability to shoot any orientation without compromise.

2. Variable Aperture: Solving the Bigger Sensor Problem

Action 5: Fixed f/2.8 aperture Action 6: Variable f/2.0-f/4.0 aperture (industry-first for action cameras)

Why Variable Aperture? It's Not What You Think

Many assume variable aperture is for replacing ND filters. That's not the main purpose here.

The real reason: The Action 6's larger 1/1.1" sensor creates a shallow depth of field problem. Larger sensors = shorter focus distance = more things fall out of focus.

Variable aperture solves this:

• Daytime (f/2.8-f/4.0): Smaller aperture keeps everything in focus despite larger sensor
• Night (f/2.0): Larger aperture gathers more light for better low-light performance

Can It Replace ND Filters? Not Really

Here's the honest truth about the f/2.0-f/4.0 range:

For ND filter replacement, you'd need:

• F/2.0 → F/16 or F/22 range
• That's what professional cameras offer

Action 6 only goes to F/4.0:

• Not enough light reduction for bright snow/beach scenes
• Still need ND filters for extreme bright conditions
• The range is primarily for depth of field control, not light reduction

What Variable Aperture Actually Delivers

Real-world impact: The depth of field change from f/2.0 to f/4.0 is surprisingly noticeable despite the small range. You can see actual background blur differences.

Night Performance: The Real Winner

The f/2.0 aperture combined with the larger sensor delivers measurably better night footage:

Action 6 night improvements:

• Less noise and grain in shadows
• Better highlight retention (less overblown lights)
• Reduced smearing in low light
• Higher shutter speeds = less jittery motion in SuperNight mode

Compared to Action 5: The night performance gap is significant. If you shoot at dusk, dawn, or indoors frequently, this alone might justify the upgrade.

The Macro Lens Accessory

DJI also offers a macro lens attachment for Action 6 to compensate for the shallow depth issue:

What it does:

• Minimum focus distance: ~11cm
• Creates noticeable depth of field effects
• Useful for car wheels, product shots

Should you buy it? Unless you specifically need macro shots, probably not. The variable aperture handles most situations.

3. Quality of Life Upgrades

Beyond the sensor and aperture, Action 6 brings practical improvements that speed up your workflow:

Built-In Style Filters

What you get:

• Multiple color grading presets built into camera
• Apply filters during recording (up to 4K 60fps 16:9)
• Skip post-production color grading for quick sharing

Use case: Perfect for instant social media posts when you don't have time for editing. The filters are quite usable.

Limitation: Only works up to 4K 60fps 16:9. Not available in higher frame rates or Free Crop mode.

Gesture Control

New feature: Wave your hand to start/stop recording

Why it matters:

• More reliable than voice control in noisy environments
• Useful when camera is mounted far away
• No need to shout commands during action shots

Works well for: Solo shooting when you can't reach the camera

Dual DJI Mic Support

Built-in wireless audio:

• Connect up to 2 DJI Mic transmitters simultaneously
• No external receiver needed
• Dual-channel audio recording

Limitation: Only 2 channels (not the 4-channel support from DJI Mic 3). Would have been nice for multi-person vlogs or variety content.

Improved Stabilization

4K HorizonSteady:

• Full 360° horizon lock now available in 4K
• Rotate the camera any direction, horizon stays level
• Previously limited to lower resolutions

Storage Upgrade

Action 6: 50GB built-in storage (105GB available after formatting) Action 5 Pro: ~48GB built-in

Not a huge difference, but the Action 6 gives you slightly more recording time without an SD card.

Decision Matrix: DJI Action 6 vs 5

The DJI Action 6 vs 5 decision comes down to your specific shooting needs. Here's how to decide between Action 6 vs 5:

Buy Action 5 ($349) If:

Get Action 6 ($399) If:

Quick Decision Flow

Ask yourself ONE question: Do you regularly create content for both horizontal platforms (YouTube) AND vertical platforms (TikTok, Reels)?

• Yes → Action 6's square sensor saves massive time
• No, mostly horizontal → Action 5 is $50 cheaper with similar quality
• No, mostly vertical → Action 6 makes vertical shooting effortless

Final Verdict: DJI Action 6 vs 5

For Most Users: Action 6 Is Worth the $50 Premium

When comparing DJI Action 6 vs 5, the Action 6 at $399 delivers meaningful improvements for only $50 more:

The $50 difference is justified if you:

• Shoot both horizontal and vertical content
• Record at night or indoors frequently
• Want built-in filters for faster editing

Buy Action 5 If:

In the Action 6 vs 5 matchup, Action 5 still makes sense if:

• You only shoot horizontal 16:9 content
• You never shoot at night or in low light
• You want to save $50
• You already own Action 5 accessories

Reality check: For most content creators in 2025, vertical content is unavoidable. If there's any chance you'll post to TikTok or Instagram Reels, the Action 6's square sensor alone justifies the extra $50.

The Honest Take: DJI Action 6 vs 5

Action 6 advantages are real but specific:

What it does better:

• ✅ Effortless horizontal/vertical switching
• ✅ Noticeably better night footage
• ✅ More convenient with gesture control and filters
• ✅ 1:1 Free Crop mode for maximum flexibility

What's overhyped:

• ⚠️ Daytime image quality (only slightly better)
• ⚠️ Variable aperture (mostly for depth control, not ND replacement)
• ⚠️ Storage increase (only 2GB more)

Bottom line: If you create content for multiple platforms or shoot at night, get the Action 6. If you only shoot horizontal daylight content, save $50 with Action 5.

What About Used Action 5?

Smart strategy for the DJI Action 6 vs 5 debate:

With Action 6 now available, used Action 5 Pro prices will drop:

• Watch for Action 5 at $250-280 used (great deal)
• At that price, Action 5 becomes excellent value even with limitations
• Buy used Action 5, shoot for a year, upgrade to Action 7 when it arrives

New prices:

• Action 6 at $399: Best for multi-platform creators
• Action 5 at $349: Good if you only need horizontal
• Used Action 5 at $250: Excellent entry point

Frequently Asked Questions: DJI Action 6 vs 5

Is the DJI Action 6 worth the upgrade over Action 5?

The Action 6 vs 5 upgrade is worth it if you regularly create both horizontal and vertical content or shoot at night/indoors frequently. The $50 premium gets you a square sensor (effortless format switching), better low-light performance (f/2.0 aperture), and convenience features like gesture control and built-in filters.

What's the main difference between Action 6 vs 5?

The three key differences in the DJI Action 6 vs 5 comparison are:

1. Square sensor (1/1.1") - allows horizontal/vertical switching without quality loss
2. Variable aperture (f/2.0-f/4.0 vs fixed f/2.8) - improves depth control and night performance
3. Convenience features - gesture control, built-in filters, 1:1 Free Crop mode

Should I buy Action 6 or Action 5?

Buy Action 6 ($399) if you post to both YouTube (horizontal) and Instagram/TikTok (vertical), or if night shooting matters to you. Buy Action 5 ($349) if you only shoot horizontal 16:9 daylight content and want to save $50.

Does Action 6 have better image quality than Action 5?

In 16:9 horizontal daylight video, the DJI Action 6 vs 5 image quality is only slightly better. Action 6 wins significantly for:

• Vertical video (no crop, full sensor vs Action 5's heavy crop)
• Night/low-light (f/2.0 aperture + larger sensor = much better)
• Multi-format flexibility (1:1 Free Crop mode)

Can Action 6's variable aperture replace ND filters?

No. The f/2.0-f/4.0 range is too limited for bright conditions like snow or beach. You'd need f/16-f/22 for that. The variable aperture's main purpose is depth of field control to keep everything in focus despite the larger sensor, not light reduction. You still need ND filters for very bright scenes.

Is the square sensor really that useful?

Yes, if you create multi-platform content. With Action 6, you can hold the camera any way (horizontal, vertical, or even sideways) and switch output orientation with a tap. No quality loss. Perfect for creators posting to YouTube (16:9) AND Instagram Reels (9:16). If you only shoot horizontal, this benefit doesn't apply to you.