It’s not surprising that GoPro’s action cameras are perennial award winners here at PCMag—the company invented the concept after all, and with each generation, it mixes in some new features that push performance further. Action cams are small video cameras, typically built around a wide-angle lens and toughened up to withstand water and roughshod handling. They’re generally meant to document extreme sports and other activities that would endanger a smartphone or a swappable lens camera.
All of the current GoPro cameras share some things in common—they support better-than-4K video with slow motion and superb digital stabilization, they have lenses with wide-angle views and integrated mounting clips so you can position them in interesting places, and they’re protected without the need for an external housing. They also work with the same mounts and accessories, a plus for creators using multiple cameras.
The current Hero series shares a lot of features, including lenses with multi-angle support (ranging from ultra-wide to moderately wide angle), standard and flat color profiles, Hypersmooth digital stabilization, and Hyperlapse for moving time lapses. They also share the same big drawback—about one hour of capture time at the highest-quality recording settings. Extra batteries or a Volta battery grip will come in handy for longer recording sessions.
There are differences, too. You miss out on some of the latest features if you opt for a Hero9 (now a couple of years old), but you may not need to spend for the Hero11 if its upgrades aren’t compelling.
There are a pair of specialty models in the line too, the screen-free Mini and the dual-lens 360-degree Max. We’ve not yet reviewed the Mini so it’s not included in this recommendation list, but its imaging engine is identical to the Hero11 Black. The design is the differentiating feature—the Hero11 Black Mini is smaller than the Hero11 Black and doesn’t include any sort of display for monitoring. Instead, it includes dual mounting points, so you can mount it in even more unique places.
With all of these differences between each model to consider, we’re listing all of the current models here, breaking down what makes each one unique. Read on to find the GoPro for you.
GoPro Hero11 Black
Best GoPro for Professional Use
GoPro’s latest (and most expensive) camera is the Hero11 Black, available for $499.99 ($399.98 with subscription). As such, the Hero11 is the most technically capable GoPro. It’s the first model to support 10-bit video, a boost for editing pros who want to fine-tune color and exposure, and its 8:7 aspect sensor lets you record in full-frame and crop footage for YouTube (16:9) or TikTok (9:16).
For video, the camera can push 5.3K60, 4K120, and 2.7K240, offering up plenty of options for slow-motion looks. Its angle of view is broadened by its 8:7 sensor, and the camera offers up an immersive Hyperview angle that’s not available in the Hero9 or Hero10. Support for horizon-locked video, and preset time-lapse modes for Star Trails, Auto Light Trails, and Light Painting are also new to the Hero11.
PROS
- Great-looking 5.3K60 video
- 4K120 and 2.7K240 slow-motion
- 10-bit color sampling
- Numerous time-lapse modes
- Waterproof to 33 feet
- Solid touch interface and voice command support
- Subscription service with useful features
CONS
- Not ideal for long-form recording or macro work
- One battery won’t get you through the day
GoPro Hero10 Black
Best Midrange GoPro
GoPro keeps its older models on sale when a new one comes out, but cuts the price. That means you can get the previous-generation Hero10 Black for $449.99 on its own ($349.98 with subscription). The $50 discount comes at the cost of some of the Hero11’s new features (like Hyperview and 10-bit video), but the Hero10 is still quite capable. It supports 8-bit 5.3K60, 4K120, and 2.7K240 video, and works with the same Media Mod accessories as the Hero9 and Hero11.
Vloggers looking to put a camera kit together may find it to be a good alternative to the Hero11, leaving a bit more room in the budget for the Media Mod or Volta handle. Likewise, action videographers who don’t spend time color-correcting video can get as-good-looking footage from the Hero10 as from the Hero11.
PROS
- 5.3K capture at up to 60fps
- 120fps 4K for slow motion
- Class-leading video stabilization
- Front-facing color screen
- Waterproof without an add-on case
- Media Mod support
- Extended-run Enduro battery available as add-on
- Wi-Fi and USB transfer for phones and tablets
CONS
- Included battery drains quickly
- Costs more when bought without a subscription
- Heat limits long-form recording
GoPro Hero9 Black
Best Budget GoPro
The GoPro Hero9 Black has enjoyed a price cut since its introduction, it’s now at $399.99 on its own or $299.98 when bought with a GoPro subscription. As such, it’s a strong value alternative to the Hero10 and Hero11 Black, though it’s not quite as capable as the newer iterations. The Hero9 Black doesn’t push as many frames as newer models, so it’s not quite as impressive for slow-motion. You won’t get any slowdown effect at 5K30, and can only go half-speed at 4K60 and quarter-speed at 2.7K120.
If you’re not a slow-motion maven, the Hero9 Black is a solid pick, especially for vloggers. It supports Hyperlapse, works with the Max Lens mod and other GoPro accessories, and even though its stabilization isn’t the latest generation, it’s still quite good by today’s standards. If you’re after a GoPro and don’t want to spend a bunch, the Hero9 is a safe bet.
PROS
- Up to 5K quality at 30fps
- Front-facing color LCD
- Exceptional video stabilization
- Up to 240fps HD slow motion
- Time-lapse, buffering, and HDR imaging
- USB-C charging
- Strong app support
- Compact and waterproof
CONS
- You’ll likely want to carry extra batteries
- Subscription service adds recurring costs
- Discounted pricing not available from all retailers
GoPro Max
Best 360-Degree GoPro
The GoPro Max is a dual-lens camera for 360-degree creators. It provides a very different creative experience than other action cameras, giving you the option of sharing an all-around view for delivery to VR headsets, or pulling out 16:9 frames for delivery to flat screens. The latter gives editing wizards the ability to highlight an important portion of a scene, and even pan from one portion to another to guide the viewer’s eye. Creative effects like the Little Big Planet extruded view and 24-style split-screen are possibilities too.
The Max is certainly a specialty tool, but one that can reward creators with skill in the field and in the editing room. It’s an especially attractive pick for vloggers because of its microphone quality, which is the best you’ll find in any GoPro.
PROS
- 360-degree capture
- Also works as a single-lens camera
- Intuitive software tools
- Strong stabilization
- Good in-camera audio
- Waterproof without a case
- Integrated mounting clips
CONS
- Effective resolution is really 1080p
- Single-lens capture tops out at 60fps
- Requires more editing time to get the best results from spherical footage
Buying Guide: The Best GoPro for 2022
Should I Get a GoPro Subscription?
GoPro’s pricing is worth talking about. The company gives an upfront discount if you buy a camera along with the company’s cloud subscription service, cutting the cost of the camera by $100 and waiving the $50 fee for the first year of service. For example, the Hero11 Black is priced at $500 on its own, but can be had for $400 when bundled with a subscription.
We’re understandably skeptical about subscription services, but we encourage GoPro buyers to take the discount and give the GoPro service a try (at least for the first year). It adds some useful features, including cloud storage and automatic uploads directly from the camera, that you may find worth spending $50 a year for. If you don’t end up taking advantage of it, it’s simple enough to cancel.
The Best GoPro Alternatives
DJI Osmo Action 3
(Credit: Jim Fisher)
Are you looking for an action camera, but not set on GoPro? Check out options from other brands in our picks for the best action cam, We’ve also got recommendations for vloggers looking for cameras and accessories, and creators shopping for a gimbal.
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