gopro hero+ camera with lcd touch screen review price

GoPro considers the Hero+ LCD an entry-level camera and, looking at its specs and capabilities, it has stripped of much of what you"d find on the higher-end Hero4 Silver and Black models.

The GoPro Hero+ LCD puts a live-view touchscreen on the back of a camera that"s capable of very good 1080p video capture at 60 frames per second. Built-in wireless lets you use your phone or tablet to remotely control the camera.

The camera is permanently in its polycarbonate housing; the battery is nonremovable; limited shooting options compared with others in its price range and a significant drop in features and performance from the $400 Hero4 Silver.

The GoPro Hero+ LCD isn"t exactly a bargain for its entry-level specs, but if you appreciate a streamlined feature set and its built-in touchscreen, it"s worth the extra money over the very basic Hero.

The Hero+ LCD"s price, on the other hand, does not say "entry level." At $300 in the US and £250 and AU$430 in the UK and Australia, respectively, this is a somewhat pricey camera for the category given what it can do. The $130 (£100, AU$169) Hero model is truly entry level in price and features. That"s a considerable price gap between it and the Hero+ LCD.

For one, you get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that can be used to connect to GoPro"s Smart Remote (not included), which basically replicates the camera"s controls so you can remotely change settings and shooting modes and start and stop recordings and take pictures.

The wireless is also used to connect to an iOS, Android or Windows mobile device to use GoPro"s app to control the camera and change settings as well as remotely preview and review your shots and transfer them to your device for sharing.

Beyond that, the Hero+ has a higher-resolution sensor -- 8 megapixels as opposed to 5 -- and instead of just a single 0.5-second time-lapse interval setting you get seven. You"ll also get a loop record feature, so you can more easily use this as a dash cam and it supports GoPro"s HiLight Tagging, which lets you quickly mark a section of your video for easier editing later on.

It does have that screen, though, which again isn"t something you"ll find from most of the competition. If that"s a must-have feature for you and you just need good-quality video for sharing online, your search is over.

That is, as long as you"re willing to put up with the rest of the Hero+ LCD"s design. Like the Hero, this camera is permanently in its rugged housing. Some might find this to be a plus since it means the camera can"t fall out and is always protected. However, since you can"t pull the camera out, if you damage the housing you"re not easily swapping it for a new one. While it can certainly handle a lot of abuse, if you manage to scratch the lens glass, you"re stuck.

Next to the screen are the microSDHC card slot supporting cards up to 64GB and a Micro-USB port. So what"s missing? The Hero lacks a Micro-HDMI port letting you playback directly from the camera to a display or HDTV. Not a huge loss, but still it"s a loss.

With its standard solid plastic backdoor, the housing is waterproof to 131 feet (40 meters). There is also a waterproof touch backdoor that"s good down to 10 feet (3 meters) as well as a skeleton door that lets more sound reach the built-in mic. External mics, by the way, are not supported on this model.

Along with the backdoors you"ll get a Micro-USB cable for charging and transfers; two adhesive mounts, one flat and one curved; a quick-release buckle to use with the mounts and a rubber-locking plug to keep the quick-release buckle from accidentally releasing from a hard impact.

Shooting options are better than the Hero, but just barely. Video resolutions include 1080p at 60 frames per second and 720p at 60fps. There"s also a 720p at 60fps with GoPro"s SuperView feature, which basically takes 4:3 video and digitally stretches it at the sides so you get a taller 16:9 video. To help you out when you lose daylight, GoPro"s Auto Low Light feature can be turned on, dropping the frame rate so your video isn"t too dark when shooting in dim light.

The touchscreen is no doubt the easiest route and GoPro simplified navigation compared with the Hero4 Silver. Instead of swiping and tapping your way through menus, you just tap on the right side of the screen to bring up the mode menu, while the left side opens a context-sensitive menu related to what mode you"re in. One other nice addition: You can trim out 5-, 15- or 30-second clips or grab a still from a video on camera.

Of course, the more you use the touchscreen or wireless, the less battery life you"ll have for recording. Even with both of those off you"re looking at a maximum of 2 hours of continuous recording at 1080p at 60fps or up to 2 hours and 30 minutes set to 720p at 60fps in SuperView mode.

The camera"s QuikCapture feature, which allows you to turn on the camera and start recording with a press of the record button, helps maximize battery life. However, if you"re not careful about how you store the camera, you can easily turn the camera on accidentally and drain your battery.

On its own, the video from the Hero+ LCD is very good and stands up to other models priced around $300 such as the Drift Ghost-S and Replay XD Prime X, though only the former has a live-view screen. Sony"s Action Cam Mini with its Live-View Remote is another option and is better in image quality and features, though it"s not as easy to use.

For casual viewing on a smartphone or tablet and posting to YouTube, you likely won"t be disappointed with what you get from the Hero+ LCD. As with most cameras in this category, when viewed at larger sizes you"ll see compression and motion artifacts and details are pretty soft and mushy. These things only get more pronounced when shooting in low light.

If you want to view your videos at larger sizes like on an HDTV, you"ll want to spend the extra money for the Hero4 Silver. You"ll get fewer artifacts, sharper fine details, better color performance and greater dynamic range.

It"s pricey for its shooting options and performance, but the GoPro Hero+ LCD is also one of the few action cameras available with a built-in live-view screen. That"s a feature that"s tough to beat, especially if you"re looking to simplify your shooting experience.

GoPro has introduced the Hero+ LCD camera, sharing many features with the entry-level Hero with the addition of a touchscreen. The Hero+ LCD is waterproof to depths up to 40m/131 ft, and adds both Bluetooth and integrated Wi-F with support for the Android and iOS GoPro App. Videos can be recorded at up to 1080p/60, and 8MP still image capture is offered.

The Hero+ LCD"s features include HiLight Tagging for marking notable moments while recording or playing back footage, as well as in-camera video trimming for rapid editing and sharing without the use of a computer. Content can be shared directly to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Like the Hero, the Hero+ LCD offers a QuikCapture setting, allowing the user to power the device on and start recording with one button press. The battery allows for about two hours of recording per charge; microSD cards up to 64GB are supported.

The Hero+ LCD will launch in the United States at retailers and online on June 7 for $299.99 USD. The camera will then go on sale internationally on July 12.

SAN MATEO, CALIF. (June 1, 2015) – GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRO), enabler of some of today"s most immersive and engaging content, has announced the availability of its new HERO+ LCD camera. Capturing life-like high definition 1080p60 video and 8MP photos, the HERO+ LCD features a convenient touch display for easy shot framing, settings control and access to an all-new in-camera video trimming feature. Like the entry-level HERO, the HERO+ LCD is built directly into its waterproof housing. The simplicity of this all-in-one design now combines with expanded features to make capturing life’s memorable moments easier than ever.

Rugged and waterproof to 131’ (40m), HERO+ LCD also includes advanced features like HiLight Tagging and in-camera video trimming to make it easier to identify and share your favorite moments. HiLight Tagging lets you mark key moments while recording and during playback so you can easily find them later, and the all-new video trimming feature allows you to create short clips in-camera for easier sharing without a computer.

Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® connect the HERO+ LCD to your GoPro App-enabled smartphone or tablet for easy camera control and shot preview when your camera is mounted or out of reach. The GoPro App also allows for easy content sharing to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and more and combines with the new in-camera video trimming feature to form a convenient content sharing solution.

“HERO+ LCD illustrates that even as we push the limits of life capture with bleeding-edge devices like the HERO4 Black, we’re also focused on delivering accessible, high-quality capture solutions to anyone wanting to GoPro,” said Nick Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro.

Whether you are a first-time user or a GoPro veteran, the HERO+ LCD is an impressive capture solution. It combines GoPro’s famed image quality, versatility and durability with WiFi connectivity, long battery life and touch display convenience in an all-in-one design.

HERO+ LCD will be available for purchase in the U.S. at authorized GoPro retailers and GoPro.com beginning June 7, 2015. International availability will begin July 12.

²Applies only to purchases made on GoPro.com. Some accessories excluded. Learn more. Limited to a maximum of 10 items per subscription anniversary year.

²Applies only to purchases made on GoPro.com. Some accessories excluded. Learn more. Limited to a maximum of 10 items per subscription anniversary year.

Our comprehensive GoPro HERO 9 review, complete with all the new features, comparisons with old cameras, and an honest opinion on whether you should upgrade or not.

After years of being the world’s number one action sports camera, GoPro managed to deliver another stellar product in 2020 as an upgrade to the wildly popular 8 series.

From travel to snowboarding, scuba diving to mountain biking and just about everything in between, we’ve put our GoPros through some tortuous environments.

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Perhaps the biggest upgrade for the HERO9, especially considering it has been wanted by the community for years, is the complete overhaul of the sensor.

According to us, this is one of the biggest ‘game-changing’ upgrades this year. We’ve tested out the sensor alongside our high-end professional cameras, and are amazed at the photo quality the GoPro HERO9 produces.

The in-built image stabilisation was so good, you could literally point the camera and walk (or run, or mountain bike) while filming, and still come away with buttery smooth footage.

The main difference is that now the GoPro HERO 9 Black has horizon levelling built directly into the camera, which automatically adjusts the crop to ensure your horizon is as close to level as possible.

Previously you would have to do this through the GoPro app or in post-production. So this feature saves you time in the future when editing your videos.

First introduced in the HERO7, TimeWarp got an upgrade on the HERO8 to allow the user to tap on the screen to toggle between quick-time and real-time.

TimeWarp 3.0 goes two steps further, and now with a simple tap of the larger rear screen you can not only set the hyperlapse to real-time, you can then drop it to slo-mo!

The most obvious upgrade straight out of the box, and something we can’t fail to mention in this GoPro HERO 9 Black review, is the inclusion of the colour front display LCD screen.

That’s not a problem anymore though, because with the GoPro HERO 9 Black, you can now set the exact time you want to start recording at, put your camera in place then walk away.

Perhaps one of the best things about GoPros isn’t necessarily the action cameras themselves, but all the incredible accessories you can get along with them!

The GoPro Media Mod is a housing that your HERO9 slides into that features a bi-directional microphone, cold shoe mounts, USB-C input/output and a 3.5mm microphone jack.

The latest and greatest modular accessory is the Max Lens Mod. Leaning on the ultra-wide capabilities of its bigger 360-degree sibling, the Max Lens Mod replaces the original lens cover on the GoPro Hero 9 Black to give it a super-wide perspective with excellent field of view.

Ok, you’ve read through all of the above specifications and are now thinking, “Wow, that camera sounds epic! I should run out and buy one right this second!”

We’ve taken it on all kinds of cool adventures, including road tripping around Far North Queensland, snorkelling with turtles on the Great Barrier Reef, downhill mountain biking and general travel vlogging.

In fact if we’re going out with friends or heading out on any adventure, we’ll have the GoPro HERO 9 Black in our bag and leave the big cameras at home.

On all of our multi-day hikes in fact, we use the HERO9 for vlogging because it’s just so damn versatile, light and easy to use (plus the footage looks great).

Surely it wouldn’t take much to have this feature, and considering they push the camera as a fantastic vlogging setup, we think it should be included without the need to buy an additional unit.

And the last thing that we’re not completely happy about with the GoPro HERO 9 Black is that it isn’t compatible with older GoPro HERO batteries or the HERO 8 Black media mod.

Now that we’ve run through all the major new features in this GoPro HERO 9 Black review, you’re probably wondering what sets this action camera apart from its predecessors.

If you don’t currently own a GoPro, and are looking for a camera that you can use in a range of environments, then the HERO9 is absolutely worth buying.

Whether you want a durable, waterproof camera, something for vlogging or just an all-round travel camera, the GoPro HERO 9 Black is one of the best action cameras on the market.

If you’re sitting on the HERO7, or perhaps one of the earlier models, then upgrading to the HERO9 is going to completely change your perspective on just how powerful these little action cameras can be.

The jump from the HERO6 to HERO7 was huge, from HERO7 to HERO 8 Black less so. But going from the HERO7 directly to the HERO9 is a worthy choice, especially if you’re in the market for a new product.

While, in our opinion, the HERO7 to HERO8 was a minor upgrade, the HERO8 to HERO9 is a fairly major one with the inclusion of the front-facing screen, 5k, new camera sensor, etc.

On the other hand, if you’re the kind of person who would use their smartphone 90% of the time and only pick up the GoPro now and then, we’d say save your money and perhaps buy a couple of awesome accessories instead.

Wait what? When is the GoPro HERO 10 being released? If historical dates are any indication, you can expect to see the GoPro HERO10 in September 2021. HOWEVER with the current chip manufacturing shortage in Taiwan and the fact that zero rumours have come out about any new camera, there’s a high likelihood that there isn’t going to be a release this year. If you need a camera now, don’t wait. Just get this current model.

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We"ve put the new camera to the test in this comprehensive GoPro HERO 9 review. Dive into the new features, how it performs and whether it"s worth upgrading.

Exactly one year ago today GoPro announced the Display Mod, as part of the larger Hero 8 suite. At the time, a year before the Hero 9 would come out, it promised a way to see yourself from the front of the camera, aimed somewhat at vloggers, but realistically anyone that just wanted to frame the subject from in front of the camera (which I think is way more people than just vloggers). Undoubtedly it was a response to the DJI OSMO Action with its dual front and rear color screens.

Unfortunately, with delay after delay after delay, it wouldn’t finally see the light until just a week or two ago. By then, the GoPro Hero 9 had launched, which featured a similar front-facing screen as the DJI OSMO Action, negating the value for most people. Still, plenty of people have the Hero 8 cameras, and the Display Mod also offers a larger screen than the Hero 9’s front facing display. So perhaps there was still some value there – it was time to find out!

To begin, the Display Mod comes with both a USB-C charging cable (just like a normal GoPro would), as well as a small case for it, keeping it safe for when it’s not on your camera:

The GoPro Display Mod requires the GoPro Media Mod. In the case of the Hero 8, that’s the Hero 8 Media Mod, and in the case of the Hero 9, that’s the Hero 9 Media Mod. These are different models and aren’t cross-compatible because the GoPro Hero 8 and Hero 9 are different sizes, thus their shells are different sizes:

But, the good news is that as long as you have the appropriate Media Mod for the right camera, then you can use the same Display Mod with either. Also, for fun, I tried using the Media Mod with the GoPro Hero 7 (which has an HDMI port on it), and while it would illuminate, it would only show a gallery view of existing content on the card (like plugging into a TV), except half the navigation icons are cut-off, so you’re basically navigating blindly with the Hero 7 Mode & Power Buttons, hoping you don’t delete anything in the process.

Then, you’ll go ahead do a funky twisting snake maneuver with the cable to get it into its micro-HDMI hole without it flopping all over the place. It’ll look like this when done:

Now, you’ll twist up the Display Mod, which has the screen on the front-facing side. This hinge seems well built in terms of up/down movement, but wouldn’t do well with a strong shear (lateral) or twisting force on it. Long term I think disconnecting and re-connecting the wire is probably what will break first.

Next, go ahead and hold down the left button, this turns it on. If you have the screen on, but not yet the GoPro, you’ll see this (which assumes you haven’t connected the cable). You’ll also see the battery state in the corner (of the display mod). Once you turn on your GoPro, you’ll see yourself on the Display Mod, and the GoPro Hero 8 or 9 back screen will turn off:

On the front Display Mod screen you’ll only ever see the exact same thing: Yourself and the Display Mod battery. Meanwhile, on the front GoPro status screen you’ll see the recording time details more or less like normal. You’ll see the mode you’re in, recording time, battery life of the GoPro, etc…

At first you’re like – OK, no biggie, right? Except…biggie. See, you can’t adjust any settings now unless you literally turn off the Display Mod (which means it’s now sitting there flipped up and off – cause if it’s flipped down, it blocks your rear touchscreen):

See, the Display Mod isn’t a touchscreen, and it *NEVER* shows display settings, or allows you to adjust settings. It just shows yourself. That’s it. Again, it only shows yourself. Take for example this super cool new audio feature on the Hero 9 Media Mod (green lines at the bottom) – this is when the Display Mod is turned off:

Or, perhaps you want to adjust from Wide to the new GoPro Hero 9 Linear Horizon Leveling mode. Nope, you can’t do that either without shutting off the Display Mod, waiting for it to slowly disconnect itself, and then illuminate the other screen. And then of course once that’s done, you’ll turn back your Display Mod on.

So when you’re not having the Display Mod in use, then you can flip down the screen like this (shown partially, it goes all the way down as shown above elsewhere):

And that’s fine, you can still see the GoPro screen. Except it doesn’t go to sleep like the normal screen does. So it’ll just burn battery forever. Also, again, you can’t adjust any settings, or even see the recording times from the back – because that’s only on the status.  Mind, you, all this is the same on the Hero 8 or Hero 9.

Further, it ignores the GoPro display timeout settings as well. It’ll just stay on forever, until the GoPro turns off physically, in which case two minutes later the Display Mod turns off too. But this doesn’t match the normal settings where the displays go to sleep (timeout) earlier to prevent battery drain.

As in, there’s nothing else to talk about. That’s the sum total of the GoPro Display Mod’s capabilities. It’s basically a simple non-touchscreen display that you clip on the top and it reduces the functionality of your GoPro, by only very slightly increasing one aspect (seeing yourself on the front if on the Hero 8, or slightly bigger on the Hero 9). But that’s a massive tradeoff for the functions.

No, the Media Mod is required for either the Hero 8 or Hero 9, since neither camera has a micro-HDMI port. The Media Mod does, which is required for the Display Mod.

The screen measures 2” diagonal and has a resolution of 480×320, the exact same as the GoPro Hero 8 rear screen (but smaller than the Hero 9 rear screen).

No, it has its own battery that you must charge separately. Meaning, you’ll need to plug in two cables (one to your GoPro to charge that battery, and one to your Display Mod to charge that battery). The Media Mod doesn’t have an internal battery, so no need for a third cable there.

No, according to GoPro “Current hardware limitations prevent output to the Display Mod and enabling the full functionality of the Hero 9 Black back touchscreen at the same time”. Which, is exactly what I’ve seen. It will show status on the Hero 9 front display screen, just like the Hero 8 front display screen.

When GoPro announced the Display Mod, it was clearly in response to DJI. Some day we’ll find out for real whether this was in the hopper before DJI announced their OSMO Action 5 months earlier. My guess is it might have been on a napkin somewhere, but that’s about it. When GoPro held various media events leading up to the Hero 8 launch last September, the Display Mod was nowhere to be found, save under a glass case…untouchable. Yet, it was still slated to be released by December 2019 (something I was skeptical on at the time).

Fast forward to January 2020 and the Display Mod made its first appearance at CES in the booth for all to touch and caress. From briefly playing with it then, it was clear it was a hot mess. Which, probably explains why it was delayed and delayed and delayed until now.

I’ve bought literally almost every product GoPro has made. Every action cam, almost every mount, and even that drone. Yes, the remotes and accessory cables too. And ultimately, I think this is the most disappointing thing GoPro has made.  It’s as if the concept never really left the napkin stage and went through a proper productization. It’s as if someone shipped the napkin off to a manufacturer in Asia, and they shipped back this hardware with a coffee-stained half-ripped sticky note that says “KThxBye!”.

For Hero 8 users this would have helped bridge the gap, and sure, if you’ve already got the Hero 8 + Hero 8 Media Mod, and don’t care about changing settings or often changing the direction of your camera to point at something else, then maybe this is a good intermediate option for ya. But if you’ve got a Hero 8 with no Media Mod, you’re basically looking at $160 for both the Media Mod + Display Mod, which is about half-way to the cost of a Hero 9 assuming you’ve got GoPro Plus.

Even in the case of the Hero 9, there’s so much real potential for the Display Mod for its intended target audience – vloggers. Why couldn’t GoPro have put the audio levels on the screen? Why not an exposure graph? Why not additional ProTune metrics on the screen like ISO or shutter speed? Why not the ability to change zoom levels like the Hero 9 screen? Why not a 16:9 overlay when recording 4:3 content? Why not even GoPro GPS-based metrics that are available through the app, like speed? Why not dual-screen support like their actual product page originally showed? Why doesn’t it auto shut–off the screen per the GoPro screen savings settings? Why can’t I change settings when the Display Mod is enabled?

While I can hope some of those things happen, the reality is that I suspect they won’t. Which is too bad, as I think there actually are some use cases for the Display Mod, but as of today I’d have a really hard time recommending it to anyone. But hey, on the bright side – the Hero 9 Media Mod and Hero 9 Max SV Mod are actually mostly pretty cool…so more on those shortly.

Hopefully you found this review useful. At the end of the day, I’m an athlete just like you looking for the most detail possible on a new purchase – so my review is written from the standpoint of how I used the device. The reviews generally take a lot of hours to put together, so it’s a fair bit of work (and labor of love). As you probably noticed by looking below, I also take time to answer all the questions posted in the comments – and there’s quite a bit of detail in there as well.

If you"re shopping for the GoPro Display Mod or any other accessory items, please consider using the affiliate links below! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but your purchases help support this website a lot. Even more, if you use Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with coupon code DCRAINMAKER, first time users save 15% on applicable products!

And of course – you can always sign-up to be a DCR Supporter! That gets you an ad-free DCR, access to the DCR Quarantine Corner video series packed with behind the scenes tidbits...and it also makes you awesome. And being awesome is what it’s all about!

Thanks for reading! And as always, feel free to post comments or questions in the comments section below, I’ll be happy to try and answer them as quickly as possible. And lastly, if you felt this review was useful – I always appreciate feedback in the comments below. Thanks!

Hopefully you found this review useful. At the end of the day, I’m an athlete just like you looking for the most detail possible on a new purchase – so my review is written from the standpoint of how I used the device. The reviews generally take a lot of hours to put together, so it’s a fair bit of work (and labor of love). As you probably noticed by looking below, I also take time to answer all the questions posted in the comments – and there’s quite a bit of detail in there as well.

If you"re shopping for the GoPro Display Mod or any other accessory items, please consider using the affiliate links below! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but your purchases help support this website a lot. Even more, if you use Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with coupon code DCRAINMAKER, first time users save 15% on applicable products!

And of course – you can always sign-up to be a DCR Supporter! That gets you an ad-free DCR, access to the DCR Quarantine Corner video series packed with behind the scenes tidbits...and it also makes you awesome. And being awesome is what it’s all about!

Thanks for reading! And as always, feel free to post comments or questions in the comments section below, I’ll be happy to try and answer them as quickly as possible. And lastly, if you felt this review was useful – I always appreciate feedback in the comments below. Thanks!

The $199 GoPro Hero comes from a strong lineage, bringing good audio and video performance, an easy-to-use touch-screen interface, remote control via a mobile app, and image stabilization to an affordably priced action camera. For those not interested in 4K resolution or super-high frame rates, the GoPro Hero may be the go-to action camera in this price range, but it faces steep competition from the Yi Lite, which costs $100 less. Still, there"s enough to recommend this camera that it made it to our list of best action cameras.

Just by looking at the Hero versus any of these other higher-end models, one would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between them. The Hero maintains the same physical design: a matte gray exterior, a power/mode button on the right side, and a button on the top to take pictures and start recording.

A small, square display on the front highlights the mode, recording time, how much recording time is left on the card and the battery charge, while a small, almost imperceptible LED in the top-left corner turns red to indicate the camera is either recording or charging.

On the rear is a two-inch touch screen with menu items and information that run along the top and bottom edges. A wheel-like interface allows users to easily change these settings.

Compared with the carbon-fiber front of the Yi 4K+ action camera, the design of the GoPro Hero looks a little "blah." However, its native waterproof capability certainly makes up for that.

Compared with the carbon-fiber front of the Yi 4K+, the design of the GoPro Hero looks a little "blah," but its native waterproof capability (up to 33 feet) certainly makes up for that.

The GoPro Hero comes with a few accessories, including the most important one: a frame-like housing that allows the camera to be mounted to any number of GoPro and third-party accessories. Unlike the Yi 4K+ and the Yi Lite, however, the GoPro does not have a built-in tripod mount — a slight disappointment.

Like its big brothers, the Hero 5 and the Hero 6, I was able to turn on Wi-Fi in the camera and connect to it using the Google Pixel 2 and the iPhone 6s Plus without any issues. Through the app, I could change settings, view previously recorded clips and start recording while watching the output of the camera on my phone"s screen. When I turned the phone on its side, the video changed to landscape, which was nice.

Unfortunately, 1440p and 1080p at either 30 or 60 fps are the only two resolution/frame-rate combinations available. Surprisingly, 720p is not offered, and there’s no slow-motion option, unlike more expensive models in GoPro’s lineup.

Video shot during a road trip through Vermont was impressive. Trees were lush and a deep shade of green, while the sky appeared a saturated blue with white, wispy clouds. The lines and the signs on the road were the appropriate colors of white and yellow. Additionally, the GoPro Hero did an adequate job of recording details in the shadows of the trees.

The GoPro does not need a plastic housing to be waterproof. Instead, it relies on a frame that allows it to mount to accessories. The benefit of this design is that the audio quality will be much better than that of a camera that does need a waterproof housing.

In the footage while driving, you can certainly hear the wind noise, but the camera"s internal software seems to lower it to an audible level so as not to drown out everything else. In the video taken while I was on my bike, you can easily hear the cars passing on my left.

In the footage while driving, you can certainly hear the wind noise, but the camera"s internal software seems to lower it to an audible level so as not to drown out everything else.

Compared with the sound in video taken with the Yi Lite, the GoPro Hero"s audio quality was slightly better at foreground voices and noises. However, the wind-noise reduction in the GoPro Hero video was far superior, outputting a usable clip.

The $199 GoPro Hero is a solid performer, offering quality video up to 1440p, adequate image stabilization, a waterproof housing, an intuitive interface and a great app.

If you"re looking for a budget action cam, check out the Yi Lite ($99), which also has image stabilization and shoots video comparable to that of the GoPro. There are a few trade-offs, however: Iit needs a housing ($40, sold separately) to make it waterproof, its Android app is a bit wonky and it lacks a touch screen.

If recording 4K or slow-motion video is important to you, move up to the Yi 4K+ or last year"s GoPro Hero5 Black, both available for $299. But if you want a great midrange action cam, the GoPro Hero is a great bet.

At its best, the GoPro is a fantastic piece of kit. These small and incredibly rugged little action cameras offer class-leading video and audio, a wealth of creative modes and can often be picked up for a very reasonable price. And, while GoPro has built its reputation off of documenting some of the most extreme activities going, its easy-to-use, versatile line of cameras are just as at home with vloggers, commuters and holidaymakers.

If you"re new to GoPro action cameras, you"re probably taken aback by the variety of similar-looking models available, but don"t panic: we"re here to help you choose the best GoPro for you.

If you"re a seasoned action camera veteran looking for a comprehensive list of the best GoPro action cameras on the market, feel free to scroll further down the page, where you"ll find our top picks. Newcomers, however, should start with our brief guide that explains how to find the best GoPro for you.

Offering incredible video stabilisation and superb image quality, the GoPro Hero 11 Black is the best action we"ve reviewed yet. Originally launched at £450, GoPro subscribers have been able to pick one up for £400 since day one. Right now, however, it"s even cheaper still. GoPro is currently offering the Hero 11 Black with a 12-month GoPro subscription for just £350.

GoPro"s current lineup consists of the flagship Hero 11 Black, mid-range Hero 10 Black, budget Hero 9 Black and the dual-lens GoPro Max 360 camera. GoPro has also recently introduced a compact, stripped-back Hero 11 Black Mini and, if you shop around, you may still find stock of the older Hero 8 Black.

When shopping for your ideal camera it can be worth bearing in mind that the best GoPro for you may not be the most expensive model or the one capable of recording at the highest resolutions or frame rates. The ability to film high bit-rate, high refresh-rate 4K and 5K footage might sound appealing but remember you have to have plenty of disk space to store the files and your laptop or PC needs plenty of power to process and edit the footage once you"re back at base.

Indeed, for many, good-quality 1080p or 1440p footage still holds up well for sharing to social media and it"s a lot easier to edit, move around and upload than 4K or 5K. The good news is that even the cheapest GoPro cameras can do that, with even the old budget Hero 7 Silver models capable of recording all the way up to 4K30.

What the more expensive models do offer, however, is GoPro"s impressively effective HyperSmooth stabilisation. While older models still offer basic stabilisation, they"re unable to match the impressively steady results of the HyperSmooth stabilisation found in the newer Hero Black models. The latest flagship models even pack a nifty "Horizon Leveling" feature, ensuring that your footage remains both smooth and level.

These days all of GoPro"s cameras are natively waterproof right out of the box and come with built-in mounting prongs for quick and easy set-up with GoPro"s near endless range of compatible mods, mounts and accessories.

With an all-new sensor, class-leading video stabilisation and a wealth of high-resolution recording options, the Hero 11 Black is GoPro"s best action camera to date.

Breaking from GoPro"s 4:3 sensor tradition, the Hero 11 Black features a brand new 27-megapixel chip with a near-square 8:7 native aspect ratio. Recording 8:7 videos enables creators to crop landscape and portrait orientation clips from the same take, changing the game for those who want to publish to both YouTube and TikTok. A new HyperView mode is also available which compresses the full 8:7 image into a standard 16:9 frame for a stretched super-wide effect, ideal for exaggerating fast-paced action.

The Hero 11 Black packs everything you"d expect from flagship action cam. Spec-wise it supports 5.3K video recording at up to 60fps, 4K at up to 120fps and both 2.7K and Full HD clips can be recorded at up to 240fps. The Hero 11 also features GoPro"s most effective video stabilisation yet, HyperSmooth 5.0. When enabled the camera is able to smooth out the wildest of camera movements, resulting in cinematically-smooth clips. There"s even a Horizon Lock function which is able to correct a full 360-degrees of tilt, ensuring you"re always able to maintain a perfectly level shot. Overall, the Hero 11 Black"s image quality is the best we"ve encountered from an action camera.

Like GoPro"s other modern Hero Black cameras, the 11 is waterproof to 10m without the need for an additional housing, has built-in mounting prongs and is compatible with GoPro"s full range of accessories and Mods.

The Hero 11 retails for around £450 at online retailers such as Amazon and Argos, but if you buy direct from GoPro you can pick up a new Hero 11 Black bundled with a 12-month GoPro subscription for £400.

Competitively priced and well appointed, the Hero 9 Black is the ideal entry-level GoPro. In fact, while it can"t match the blistering frame rates of the latest Hero 11, it will likely tick all the right boxes for most users.

The Hero 9 Black was the first Hero to benefit from GoPro"s latest redesign, which means it packs both front- and rear-facing colour LCD displays, built-in mounting prongs and native 10m water resistance straight out of the box. It"s also compatible with GoPro"s latest accessories, including the firm"s range of Mods for external microphones, lights and displays, along with the new Enduro battery.

As for performance, the Hero 9 Black supports high resolution video recording at up to 30fps at 5.3K or 60fps in 4K. GoPro"s HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilisation is on hand to keep your shots nice and steady and there"s even up to 27-degrees of horizon levelling to keep your clips level too.

The GoPro Max is an action camera but not as you know it. With fisheye lenses mounted on the front and the back, it can shoot in all directions at once, including up and down.

While we"ve seen 360-degree cameras before, the GoPro Max takes things to another level, capturing superb-quality video and making the viewing and sharing the footage easier than ever. 360 videos are stitched automatically in-camera, you can then opt to upload the files to YouTube as interactive videos that users can pan and zoom around in, or "reframe" the footage using GoPro"s smartphone or desktop app. Reframing allows you to take your favourite angles from within the 360 clip and export them as standard video files - essentially, it"s like filming with multiple cameras at once.

For more traditional videos, you also have the option of using a single lens and engaging GoPro"s incredible Max HyperSmooth stabilisation. Max HyperSmooth is not only capable of keeping your footage incredibly stable but it also offers a full 360 degrees of Horizon Leveling correction, ensuring your videos remain perfectly level too.

Utilising GoPro"s latest GP2 processor, the Hero 10 is able to offer double the frame rates of the older Hero 9 Black, supporting 5.3K video recording at up to 60fps and 4K video at up to 120fps. GoPro"s HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilisation tech is on-hand to keep your recordings exceptionally stable and there"s 45-degrees of horizon levelling available too.

The camera sports both front and rear-facing colour LCD displays, is waterproof to 10m without the need for an additional housing and is compatible with GoPro"s latest Mod accessories, including the Max Lens Mod.

Although no longer listed among GoPro"s current lineup of action cams, if you shop around you can still find older Hero 8 Black cameras in stock. Compared to GoPro"s latest offerings it is starting to show its age a little now. Its video recording options top out at 4K60, it lacks a front-facing display and it can"t be used with GoPro"s latest Mod accessories.

With all that said, however, if you"re shopping for a straightforward 4K action cam on a budget, the Hero 8 Black is still worth considering. It"s smaller and lighter than its successors and its HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilisation is still capable of producing respectably smooth clips.

Its lack of a front-facing display may rule it out for vloggers but if you"re looking for something to stick on your helmet or handle bars, produce time lapses with or employ in a dashcam capacity it"s a solid option. If your budget can stretch to it then the newer Hero 9 Black will provide you with more future-proofing but if the price is right the Hero 8 won"t let you down.

For the price, this is a very solid purchase, new or used. The key with GoPro is it is nigh on indestructible so even if it"s used, it won"t seem like it.

The GoPro is a small powerhouse putting out great video, pictures, you name it. Even at the 3+ (yes, I know the 7 exists now) the quality is impressive for most people. It may lack some of the glitzy features of the newer counterparts but it is slightly smaller and much cheaper by now.

There are a few key features to think of though before purchasing one. The battery life is quite low but that comes with the territory of the size and image quality. Most times, you"ll get roughly 2 or so hours of time while it is powered on. Obviously lowering quality capture or turning off features will extend this while increasing the load on the camera will decrease this. The positive? It can be charged by USB to a wall plug (needs adapter) or to a PC or laptop so you can charge on the go (granted most cars have USB plugs now too but I cannot confirm it charges in those that link to a music "channel" in your car).

One other slight downside is that the camera requires some form of case or enclosure to mount to anything. The camera itself is smooth on all sides so you have to enclose it in the waterproof case or a different case with mounting gear attached. if you get the accessories bag, you will get a case that the camera goes in to mount with. This case is a bit large but it is 100% waterproof. The only issue with the case is when you first put the camera in it is likely to push the buttons on the camera. This only happens when you first close it and is easily fixed.

Update 16/9/20: GoPro has released some new firmware for the Hero 9 Black, which could resolve some of the slight issues we found with its touchscreen interface and auto exposure – we"ll update this review as soon as we"ve tested it fully.

The GoPro Hero 9 Black is the most powerful and versatile action camera you can buy, but collectively its new features don"t provide quite enough real-world benefits over its predecessor to justify the price.

The two biggest upgrades are its new sensor and front display. That new 23.6MP sensor shoots 5K video that does deliver slightly more detail than the Hero 8 Black, in the right conditions.

But perhaps the bigger benefit is to its electronic stabilization, with the Hero 9 Black able to provide HyperSmooth Boost – GoPro"s strongest stabilization – in all shooting modes. This makes it a top performer for those who demand high-quality 4K (and 5K) video.

That new front color display, while far from perfect, is also a very useful new feature for vlogging or general shooting. It"s a little laggy and no match for a dedicated articulating screen like the one on the Sony ZV-1. But if you like to frame yourself in videos a lot, then this is probably the GoPro for you.

However, some of the GoPro Hero 9 Black"s other new features aren"t quite as polished. The new battery boosts its stamina a little, but it"s only a minor improvement and we found the Hero 9 Black more prone to overheating that its predecessors.

While you get slightly improved stabilization with GoPro"s new flagship, the actual quality of its 4K video isn"t noticeably better than the Hero 8 Black"s. Other features like Scheduled recording, while useful on occasions, aren"t yet completely reliable. And most frustratingly, we found the Hero 9 Black"s rear touchscreen to be pretty unresponsive at times.

The GoPro Hero 9 Black is available to buy now for $449.99 / £429.99 / AU$699.95, which represents an 11% price increase on Hero 8 Black"s launch price.

However, you can get a sizable discount on the Hero 9 Black if you get it with a one-year GoPro subscription. If you go this route, the GoPro Hero 9 Black is available to buy $349.99 / £329.99 / $559.95, including the subscription.

Formerly known as GoPro Plus, the latter brings advantages like unlimited cloud storage and replacements for broken cameras (up to two per year). While GoPro is clearly hoping you"ll carry on paying the $49.99 / £49.99 / $69.99 annual subscription after the first year, it is possible to cancel the auto-renewing service.

If you fancy getting a few accessories with your new action cam, there is also a Hero 9 Black bundle. This includes a GoPro Handler floating grip, Magnetic Swivel Clip, spare battery, microSD card and the camera itself, all of which sets you back $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95.

GoPro has also revealed pricing and availability for its various "Mod" accessories. The new Max Lens Mod, which is only compatible with the Hero 9 Black, will cost $99.99 / £89.99 / $159.95 when it becomes available in October. That ultra-wide lens accessory will bring Max HyperSmooth video stabilization (also seen on the GoPro Max) and the ability to lock the horizon even when it"s rotated 360-degrees.

There is also a Media Mod for Hero 9 Black accessory, which fits the new flagship"s redesigned body, available to buy now for $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.95. This bring bonuses like a built-in directional mic and 3.5mm mic port for external microphones.

Finally, there"s the Display Mod (available for both Hero 9 Black and Hero 8 Black) for those who want a larger front-facing screen the Hero 9 Black"s 1.4-inch display. That"s available now for $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.95, and joins the already on-sale Light Mod (US$49.99 / £49.99 / $84.95).

The Hero 9 Black is the biggest redesign of GoPro"s flagship action camera since the Hero 5 Black, and the results are mostly positive (with a few caveats).

There are three big physical changes from the Hero 8 Black: a new 1.4-inch color display on the front, a beefier body (to house its bigger battery), and a larger rear 2.27-inch rear touchscreen.

First, the good news. That 1.4-inch color display on the front is definitely a handy new addition for vlogging. It thankfully isn"t touch-sensitive, otherwise your memory card would quickly fill up with lots of unhappy accidents, but it does provide a live video preview of your scene and some useful shooting info.

Being a square display, it certainly isn"t quite in the same league as the side-hinged screens seen on cameras like the Sony ZV-1, or your smartphone"s screen when mounted on gimbals like the DJI OM 4. While the latter give you a generous live preview of your whole shot, the Hero 9 Black"s is more of a rough guide. It"s enough to make sure your face is going to be in the frame, at least.

Naturally, the new color display comes with greater battery demands, which is partly why GoPro has inflated the Hero 9 Black"s body size to squeeze in a new 1,720mAh battery. That battery"s capacity is 40% bigger than the 1,220mAh ones its predecessors, which GoPro says leads to a 30% real-world improvement. As we"ll see later in the "performance" section, that"s slightly optimistic according to our tests.

A GoPro redesign was inevitable at some point, so we can"t be too critical about that, but one of our biggest disappointments with the Hero 9 Black is the responsiveness of its rear touchscreen. This 2.27-inch display is slightly bigger than the Hero 8 Black"s, but it still has large, dated bezels and feels noticeably slower when responding to touches and swipes.

It"s possible this is down to a processor bottleneck, given the GP1 chip now has to drive a larger rear screen and color front display simultaneously, while recording. Either way, GoPro has confirmed that a fix is coming in a November firmware update, but it"s not ideal for a flagship model with this price tag.

Still, GoPro has at least reintroduced the removable lens cover, which it omitted from the Hero 8 Black. Whether you"re replacing a cracked lens or adding an ND filter, this is a useful bonus, even if it can"t exactly be considered a "new" feature.

The reason GoPro has backtracked on its removal is because it"s created a new Max Lens Mod, which screws onto the Hero 9 Black"s lens mount to give you a super-wide field of view and even stronger electronic stabilization. We"ll update this review when we"ve had the chance to take it for a spin.

Overall, the Hero 9 Black remains a handy, pocketable action camera that"s waterproof down to ten meters and is now much better for vlogging. We"d just like to see some updates smooth out its slightly rough overheating and touchscreen edges.

GoPro"s special sauce has long been the combination of its class-leading HyperSmooth stabilization, first seen on the Hero 7 Black, and clever software features like TimeWarp. While the Hero 9 Black improves on these features and broadens its versatility, it doesn"t really introduce one killer reason to upgrade from the Hero 8 Black.

Not there aren"t some significant changes under the hood. GoPro flagships have had 12MP sensors going all the way back to Hero 3 Black in 2012, but the Hero 9 Black takes the radical step of pushing this resolution up to 23.6MP with a new sensor. This allows it to shoot 5K/30p video and take 20MP stills, while also supporting the more powerful HyperSmooth Boost stabilization mode (which crops your footage by 25%) in all resolutions and frame-rates.

Of course, greater resolution doesn"t necessarily mean better image quality. Other factors, including image processing, lens quality and sensor size, can all have an equally big impact on the final result. The Hero 9 Black"s 1/2.3in sensor is also exactly the same size as its predecessors, making it significantly smaller the 1-inch Edition module for the Insta360 One R.

But that new 23.6MP resolution is nevertheless the key that unlocks the Hero 9 Black"s headline features. In good light and the right conditions, there"s no doubt that its 5K/30p mode, particularly when combined with the "High" 100Mbps bit-rate, can capture more detail than any GoPro so far.

That resolution boost also gives the Hero 9 Black the extra pixels needed to support HyperSmooth Boost stabilization, which can iron out judder from the bumpiest of mountain bike rides, in both 4K/60p and 5K/30p modes. This simply isn"t possible on the Hero 8 Black.

On the other hand, neither HyperSmooth 3.0 nor TimeWarp 3.0, which are GoPro"s moving timelapses, are radical improvements on their Hero 8 Black equivalents. HyperSmooth 3.0 effectively just gives you Boost stabilization in those two higher resolutions and frame-rates, plus some handy horizon leveling that"s previously only been available in the GoPro app.

And TimeWarp 3.0, while still one of our favorite GoPro effects, really only brings the ability to add a "speed ramp" during the middle of your video to briefly slow it down while adding some audio. It"s a nice touch that fast-tracks the editing process, but it"s more of a firmware upgrade than a headline-worthy feature.

More interesting are the Hero 9 Black"s new "Power Tools". These handy little software tricks were first teased in GoPro Labs, its new platform for GoPro users to trial new beta features. Some of the best ones have now been built into the Hero 9 Black.

Our favorite is "Hindsight". Turn this on and the action cam will constantly buffer video in anticipation of something GoPro-worthy happening. Once said incident occurs – your cat performing the perfect cartwheel, for example – you can press the shutter button and it"ll retrieve the previous 15 or 30 seconds of video. It"s definitely a good way to avoid filling up memory cards if you"re trying to capture your Rube Goldberg machine in action.

The other "Power Tools", including "scheduled capture" and "duration capture", feel like they should have been on GoPros long ago, but work well and boost the Hero 9 Black"s versatility.

Still, it"s worth knowing that you can bring some of these features and others to your Hero 8 Black, albeit in a more rough-and-ready form, by loading the GoPro Labs firmware onto your camera.

While the Hero 9 Black has lots of new features, it doesn"t bring many major performance enhancements over the Hero 8 Black – or ones that will be hugely noticeable in your videos, anyway.

This doesn"t mean that the Hero 9 Black isn"t a fine action camera, just that its upgrades don"t necessarily justify the premium over its two predecessors. For example, HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization is still excellent and ideal for shooting first-person sports, as long as you don"t mind the "floaty" look.

What about the Hero 9 Black"s new, bigger battery? It does help boost its stamina, but probably not enough to make a huge practical difference to how you shoot.

In our side-by-side battery test with the Hero 8 Black, with both cameras shooting 4K/30p with HyperSmooth on, we got an extra 12 minutes from the Hero 9 Black (84 minutes, compared to 72 minutes from its predecessor). And that included a short overheating break for the new model, which we didn"t get on the Hero 8 Black.

We did also get an overheating shutdown when shooting 5K/30p video, with the Hero 9 Black needing a cool down after 28 minutes of continuous shooting. In both cases it did recover enough after five minutes to keep shooting, and shooting 5K is significantly more demanding than any mode on any other GoPro. But it certainly still makes sense to carry a spare battery, or an external USB charger, if you want it to last the day. With mixed, intermittent use (shooting video, stills and time-lapses), our Hero 9 Black lasted around 4-5 hours.

Sadly, there are no real improvements to high frame-rate shooting, either. We"d have loved to see a 4K/120p mode for some crisp slo-mo footage, but that"s still only possible at 2.7K resolutions or below (the same as on the Hero 8 Black and Hero 7 Black).

Again, the Hero 9 Black does take some good quality slow motion clips that are great for breaking up your social media videos. But the usual rules apply – like its predecessors, this is best done in bright sunlight, because from dusk the high ISOs will turn your clips into a noisy, smudgy mess.

One pleasant surprise we did find with the Hero 9 Black, though, was a slight improvement in its handling of wind noise. The Hero 8 Black made some big leaps here, and it seems the new model has improved the voice isolation in noisy environments even further, which could be handy if you like to provide live commentary over your action sports adventures.

The new 5K/30p mode certainly captures more detail than any other GoPro flagship, particularly when you switch to the high 100Mbps bit-rate mode. File sizes also aren"t noticeably bigger thanks to the use of the efficient HEVC codec in some modes, although they can very demanding on your computer.

Of course, if image quality is your main concern and you want the best detail possible from any action camera, then the Hero 9 Black could well be worth the investment. But for most people, the Hero 8 Black and Hero 7 Black are perfectly good enough in this department. After all, the three cameras all have the same size sensor. And as good as GoPro"s Hypersmooth stabilization is, even tiny amounts of judder can be enough to negate that resolution boost.

When shooting 4K/30p on both the Hero 9 Black and Hero 8 Black, we sometimes actually preferred the latter"s video. Out of the box, the Hero 9 Black"s footage can look more processed and oversharpened, which is possibly down to some slightly more aggressive noise reduction. Having more photosites crammed onto the same size sensor can improve detail, but it can also increase the amount of noise that needs to be managed.

We did also find that the Hero 9 Black has a greater tendency overexpose bright scenes, particularly in the sky, compared to the Hero 8 Black. This may be fixed in a firmware update, but it"s another example of other factors being more important to image quality than resolution.

Still, you certainly won"t be disappointed with the footage you shoot on the Hero 9 Black, particularly in its 5K/30p mode. HyperSmooth stabilization remains the best you can get from an action camera, and the in-camera horizon leveling is a useful (if not entirely flawless) addition.

The new sensor does also let you shoot 20MP still photos, and grab 14.7MP frames from your videos. While this does deliver a slight increase in detail over its predecessors, there isn"t a major step up in the Hero 9 Black"s stills photography.

You get all the same options as before – the option to shoot in Linear mode to correct wide-angle distortion, plus SuperPhoto for regaining some highlight detail. In good light, the results are very good, with sharpness across the frame and crisp detail.

But in challenging conditions, such as backlit scenes like the above, the performance shows how far flagship smartphones like the iPhone 11 Pro (right) have moved ahead of GoPros like the Hero 9 Black (left) for stills.

You do have the option of shooting in raw to lift the shadows a little, but on a sensor of this size the amount of leeway you get is pretty small. The lack of zoom can also be frustrating, making the Hero 9 Black more of an emergency, waterproof backup to your smartphone for stills, rather than a genuine alternative.

The Hero 9 Black"s front LCD is one of its main benefits over earlier GoPros. This doesn"t make it the perfect vlogging camera, and alternatives like the Sony ZV-1 offer better quality, but if you need one that can survive outdoor adventures and sea dunkings, it"s the best around.

Other GoPros offer better value for those who simply want to shoot travel videos and stills, but the Hero 9 Black is the best all-rounder of the bunch. Handy new features like HindSight, scheduled captures and the webcam mode all make it the most versatile pocket camera around.

The Hero 9 Black"s 23.6MP sensor and 5K video mode aren"t unqualified successes and not everyone will benefit from their improved resolution. But if you shoot for the big screen and need a tough B-cam to go into places that your dedicated video camera can"t reach, then it could be the best GoPro for you.

The Hero 9 Black"s new features aren"t collectively a big upgrade on its predecessor, which is compatible with most of the same Mod accessories and is a very solid performer. Even Hero 7 Black owners might consider it an unnecessary upgrade, unless they need a front LCD for vlogging.

GoPro"s flagships have never been the cheapest action cameras, but the Hero 7 Black now offers the kind of value that makes the Hero 9 Black look a little pricey. Unless you need all of the latest features, you"ll find its two predecessors offer better bang for the buck.

There"s a certain comfort in knowing that your camera can take pretty much all the abuse that"s thrown at it. But if you tend to shoot most of your video away from action sports, there are better pocketable vlogging options, including the DJI Osmo Pocket and Sony ZV-1.GoPro Hero9 Black: Price Comparison

The GoPro HERO11 action camera has been out for a couple months now and I’m sure a 12 is on its way (probably September 2023). If you are buying a GoPro for the first time which one should you buy? If you have an 8 or 9 should you be upgrading to a 10 or 11?

Price is always going to be a factor. Prices are falling and sales happen all the time, you can usually pick up a GoPro for a good price somewhere online.

GoPro now has a subscription you can get at any time. You can get a big discount on a new camera so that’s the best time to get it. You can cancel it any time.

The main reason to get the subscription is unlimited video uploads into the cloud. They automation come straight from the camera (or app or web) and go into your GoPro cloud account. You can edit and use all the footage any time from the cloud and it won’t take up any space on your computer or phone.

The subscription will cover (for a fee) up to 2 camera replacements if they break. You have to ship them back so lost cameras don’t count but if it’s been smashed snowboarding or mountain biking just ship it back for a brand new one. Replacement fee is $99 for a GoPro 10 and 9 and $79 for an 8.

Cameras have a processor, or brain, just like in your computer and phone. They run process the images, control each function and run the touch screen.

Resolution is the size of the picture and how many pixels you are recording. The standard aspect ratio (pixels across vs down) of 16:9 in a 5.3K video on a GoPro 10 is 5312 pixels across by 2988 pixels down. A lot of pixels!

GoPro have a touch screen on the back where you control each of the functions and see what you are recording. They got a back screen back in the Hero 3 days with an optional, detachable touch screen. The 1.95″ screen on the GoPro 8 got upgraded in the 9 and 10 to 2.27″ as the camera body got bigger.

Up until the Hero 8, GoPro’s had a small front screen that showed how many images or video you had taken. In the GoPro 9 it got upgrade to an actual video screen showing what a preview of the video.

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