Best waterproof action cameras for underwater video

Top pick: DJI Osmo Action 6 Standard Combo — the newest of the bunch, and the one I'd take underwater: it shoots crisp 4K with strong stabilization, so handheld reef footage stays smooth, and it's built to go in the water without a housing.

Who the others suit:

• GoPro HERO13 Black — the familiar choice if you want GoPro's color and a big accessory ecosystem; night mode helps in dim water.
• DJI Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo — the value route: same waterproof, stabilized 4K formula, a generation older.
• Kodak PIXPRO WPZ2 — a simple point-and-shoot for snorkeling and pool days, not for serious video.
• AKASO Brave 7 LE — budget starter, but it needs its case to go under.

Skip the cheap no-name cams if underwater video is the point.