The GoPro Hero is the smallest 4k camera in the range, and the easiest to use. The Hero has a super-light design that can fit right in your pocket, and simplified controls that make it perfect for getting started with filming your outdoor adventures. Just push the shutter button to capture immersive 12 megapixel photos, slomo-shots and crystal-clear 4k video. Once youve recorded your footage, just use the GoPro Quik app to play it back. The app automatically uses HyperSmooth video stabilisation to make even the shakiest footage silky-smooth. Plug it in to charge and your footage will be uploaded to the cloud and sent to your phone, so you can see all the highlights. And of course the camera is built for the outdoors, with a rugged frame thats waterproof up to 5 metres. A fantastic entry-level option for capturing your favourite moments outdoors.
The GoPro Hero is the smallest 4k camera in the range, and the easiest to use. The Hero has a super-light design that can fit right in your pocket, and simplified controls that make it perfect for getting started with filming your outdoor adventures. Just push the shutter button to capture immersive 12 megapixel photos, slomo-shots and crystal-clear 4k video. Once youve recorded your footage, just use the GoPro Quik app to play it back. The app automatically uses HyperSmooth video stabilisation to make even the shakiest footage silky-smooth. Plug it in to charge and your footage will be uploaded to the cloud and sent to your phone, so you can see all the highlights. And of course the camera is built for the outdoors, with a rugged frame thats waterproof up to 5 metres. A fantastic entry-level option for capturing your favourite moments outdoors.
The GoPro Hero is the smallest 4k camera in the range, and the easiest to use. The Hero has a super-light design that can fit right in your pocket, and simplified controls that make it perfect for getting started with filming your outdoor adventures. Just push the shutter button to capture immersive 12 megapixel photos, slomo-shots and crystal-clear 4k video. Once youve recorded your footage, just use the GoPro Quik app to play it back. The app automatically uses HyperSmooth video stabilisation to make even the shakiest footage silky-smooth. Plug it in to charge and your footage will be uploaded to the cloud and sent to your phone, so you can see all the highlights. And of course the camera is built for the outdoors, with a rugged frame thats waterproof up to 5 metres. A fantastic entry-level option for capturing your favourite moments outdoors.
The GoPro Hero is the smallest 4k camera in the range, and the easiest to use. The Hero has a super-light design that can fit right in your pocket, and simplified controls that make it perfect for getting started with filming your outdoor adventures. Just push the shutter button to capture immersive 12 megapixel photos, slomo-shots and crystal-clear 4k video. Once youve recorded your footage, just use the GoPro Quik app to play it back. The app automatically uses HyperSmooth video stabilisation to make even the shakiest footage silky-smooth. Plug it in to charge and your footage will be uploaded to the cloud and sent to your phone, so you can see all the highlights. And of course the camera is built for the outdoors, with a rugged frame thats waterproof up to 5 metres. A fantastic entry-level option for capturing your favourite moments outdoors.
Last updated at 03/21/2026 11:18:18
GoPro HERO Camera, Touch LCD Display, Rugged & Waterproof, Capture 4K video at 30/25 fps, 12MP Photo Capability, Multiple Shooting Modes, 1255mAh Endu
Delivery between 25 Mar – 1 Apr $33.49
GoPro Hero 4K (Black)
Delivery $50
GoPro Hero camera 2026
Delivery $39.36
GoPro Hero 4K Action Camera Black CHDHF-131-AS
Free delivery
GoPro Hero 4K Action Camera Black CHDHF-131-AS
Free delivery
GoPro HERO - Helmet camera
Delivery $97.05
Gopro Hero Camera Black
Delivery $19.99
Gopro Hero Camera
Delivery $73.38
GoPro HERO Action Camera
Delivery $74.02
originally posted on bestbuy.com
The GoPro HERO (insert number here) line has long been THE standard in action cameras with great picture / video quality and top notch features. But as the years have gone on, the mainline cameras have added more and more features and the price has also crept up. That's created room in the market for more basic action cameras with fewer features and lower prices to match. While these were all well and good, they weren't a GoPro.GoPro has now returned to reclaim this "entry level" action camera market with the simply titled "GoPro HERO Action Camera" - a simpler and MUCH smaller action camera that brings the GoPro goodness back to a lower price tier. And a lot of goodness there is. You get a fully waterproof action camera with a USB-C PD rechargeable battery, GREAT ... MoreThe GoPro HERO (insert number here) line has long been THE standard in action cameras with great picture / video quality and top notch features. But as the years have gone on, the mainline cameras have added more and more features and the price has also crept up. That's created room in the market for more basic action cameras with fewer features and lower prices to match. While these were all well and good, they weren't a GoPro.GoPro has now returned to reclaim this "entry level" action camera market with the simply titled "GoPro HERO Action Camera" - a simpler and MUCH smaller action camera that brings the GoPro goodness back to a lower price tier. And a lot of goodness there is. You get a fully waterproof action camera with a USB-C PD rechargeable battery, GREAT optics that GoPro is known for and 4K30 FPS recording capabilities (or 2.7K60 FPS, or 1080P 60FPS - or still pictures of course). You get a replaceable lens cover in case they get scratched up (easily replaceable with a twist off) and even the long typical mounting "fingers" to use any standard GoPro mount accessory. It's compatible with the GoPro Quik mobile app, including live streaming features (some features, including cloud upload, do require a paid subscription). Pictures and videos both come out GREAT in action and in stills.So then what you do lose in this cheaper and smaller camera? First, you lose replaceable batteries, with only the built in one available. Second, you get far fewer on camera settings - you can't really change the resolution or FPS at all (even with the app), only really getting 4 choices of settings (either normal or slow mo - which each have normal and "battery saver" modes for a total of 4). Third, advanced video processing like hyper stability is only available once you take the footage off the camera, moving the processing to your phone. And they do get a bit warm. But most of these things are not that hard to live with, particularly in the smaller size / price.So all in all, this camera is at its heart still a GoPro and it excels at taking pictures and videos in all conditions. You do get far fewer features than most recent models, but with a far lower price to match - and still great pictures and videos. If that sounds like a good tradeoff to you, then this camera could be just what you want. Give it a try today!
originally posted on bestbuy.com
Summary: The GoPro - HERO Action Camera is an inexpensive, lightweight and simple way to get into the action camera world, but be aware that the simplified camera does lack some of its big brothers’ featuresI have a GoPro Hero9 Black that I’ve used for filming: skiing, biking, trail running, sailing, off-roading, etc.. Recently, I took up motorcycles and wanted to test out using a GoPro as a dashcam/safety device. The new GoPro - HERO Action Camera seemed to be a great option given its smaller size & lighter weight. Initial testing indicates that my plan works quite well for short rides, but may not be the best for longer rides.First, just overall impressions are that the camera is great! The size and weight are decidedly smaller; GoPro cameras have never been ... MoreSummary: The GoPro - HERO Action Camera is an inexpensive, lightweight and simple way to get into the action camera world, but be aware that the simplified camera does lack some of its big brothers’ featuresI have a GoPro Hero9 Black that I’ve used for filming: skiing, biking, trail running, sailing, off-roading, etc.. Recently, I took up motorcycles and wanted to test out using a GoPro as a dashcam/safety device. The new GoPro - HERO Action Camera seemed to be a great option given its smaller size & lighter weight. Initial testing indicates that my plan works quite well for short rides, but may not be the best for longer rides.First, just overall impressions are that the camera is great! The size and weight are decidedly smaller; GoPro cameras have never been overly large or obtrusive, but I’ve got a chin mount for my full-face motorcycle helmet and having the camera be as small and light as possible is a good thing. With only a couple buttons and pretty simple controls, starting & stopping recording are possible even with gloves on.My only real issues are things I should have researched ahead of time & part of what makes the GoPro - HERO Action Camera the least expensive and smallest camera in the GoPro lineup at this writing. I guess the reduced size required some compromises in features. For my purposes, a couple key areas are the battery & reduced recording options. The battery is built-in and not removable like most of the larger models. With only an hour of expected battery life and no option to swap the battery, only short trips will be fully captured. Of course, the camera can always be plugged in and continually powered (would likely require a bike-mounted setup vs. current helmet mount), the GoPro - HERO Action Camera also has a much simpler set of menu options and looped recording is not one of the video options (looping allows the camera to fill up the SD card with specific length recording segments that can then be overwritten starting with the oldest first).All in all, I’m pleased with the camera and will find ways to put its simpler & smaller format to use!
originally posted on bestbuy.com
I want to start off by saying this is the 1st GoPro product that I have had, so I can’t really compare it to another product. But as my review title states, good things come in small packages. I never thought the HERO would be this small, and when I first received the package I thought this must really be crammed in there, but its just that small, but don’t let the size fool you.I received this and my youngest son is an avid trout fisherman to the point he and his friends will hike/bike for miles to go to lakes or streams that most people won’t due to the fact that its so far off the beaten path. He had been shopping for an action camera to record his trips in & out and also to record his fishing experience. He had purchased a rig to use his cellphone but he said ... MoreI want to start off by saying this is the 1st GoPro product that I have had, so I can’t really compare it to another product. But as my review title states, good things come in small packages. I never thought the HERO would be this small, and when I first received the package I thought this must really be crammed in there, but its just that small, but don’t let the size fool you.I received this and my youngest son is an avid trout fisherman to the point he and his friends will hike/bike for miles to go to lakes or streams that most people won’t due to the fact that its so far off the beaten path. He had been shopping for an action camera to record his trips in & out and also to record his fishing experience. He had purchased a rig to use his cellphone but he said it was too bulky and was more cumbersome than helpful. He did purchase an aftermarket “carrier” off of the internet and unfortunately on his first trip it didn’t attach properly and the HERO fell off as he was biking in, the camera was not damaged but filming of his trip was not very pleasant to say the least.What he likes about this GoPro HERO is again the size of it, it is super small but it records video crystal clear, he purchased an extreme rated memory card that was 256 gb and it was recognized by the camera and formatted immediately. He downloaded the GoPro Quick app and it paired to his phone w/ in minutes and after setting up his account he was recording. He plans to start a blog on one of the video channels on the internet to allow others to see the trips that they take and the detail of this camera. I was shocked of the clarity and the quality of the videos. The Quick app makes quick work of downloading video a breeze, GoPro really has this well thought out and makes the process super easy.It comes w/ limited attachments, a power cord to charge it, which we did and again the entire process from unboxing to filming is simple and not time consuming. This is a well built camera for outdoor enthusiasts and people that are into recreation that take life to the edge and want to record it. He has used it only a handful of times to this point but I can see many uses for this camera.If you are in the market for an action camera to record “living on the edge” this GoPro HERO is highly recommended.
| Lens Aperture | F2.3 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Color Video Bit Depth | 8-bit |
| Maximum Video Bit Rate | 50Mbps |
GoPro HERO Camera, Touch LCD Display, Rugged & Waterproof, Capture 4K video at 30/25 fps, 12MP Photo Capability, Multiple Shooting Modes, 1255mAh Endu
Delivery between 25 Mar – 1 Apr $33.49
GoPro Hero 4K (Black)
Delivery $50
GoPro Hero camera 2026
Delivery $39.36
GoPro Hero 4K Action Camera Black CHDHF-131-AS
Free delivery
GoPro Hero 4K Action Camera Black CHDHF-131-AS
Free delivery
The GoPro HERO (insert number here) line has long been THE standard in action cameras with great picture / video quality and top notch features. But as the years have gone on, the mainline cameras have added more and more features and the price has also crept up. That's created room in the market for more basic action cameras with fewer features and lower prices to match. While these were all well and good, they weren't a GoPro.GoPro has now returned to reclaim this "entry level" action camera market with the simply titled "GoPro HERO Action Camera" - a simpler and MUCH smaller action camera that brings the GoPro goodness back to a lower price tier. And a lot of goodness there is. You get a fully waterproof action camera with a USB-C PD rechargeable battery, GREAT ... MoreThe GoPro HERO (insert number here) line has long been THE standard in action cameras with great picture / video quality and top notch features. But as the years have gone on, the mainline cameras have added more and more features and the price has also crept up. That's created room in the market for more basic action cameras with fewer features and lower prices to match. While these were all well and good, they weren't a GoPro.GoPro has now returned to reclaim this "entry level" action camera market with the simply titled "GoPro HERO Action Camera" - a simpler and MUCH smaller action camera that brings the GoPro goodness back to a lower price tier. And a lot of goodness there is. You get a fully waterproof action camera with a USB-C PD rechargeable battery, GREAT optics that GoPro is known for and 4K30 FPS recording capabilities (or 2.7K60 FPS, or 1080P 60FPS - or still pictures of course). You get a replaceable lens cover in case they get scratched up (easily replaceable with a twist off) and even the long typical mounting "fingers" to use any standard GoPro mount accessory. It's compatible with the GoPro Quik mobile app, including live streaming features (some features, including cloud upload, do require a paid subscription). Pictures and videos both come out GREAT in action and in stills.So then what you do lose in this cheaper and smaller camera? First, you lose replaceable batteries, with only the built in one available. Second, you get far fewer on camera settings - you can't really change the resolution or FPS at all (even with the app), only really getting 4 choices of settings (either normal or slow mo - which each have normal and "battery saver" modes for a total of 4). Third, advanced video processing like hyper stability is only available once you take the footage off the camera, moving the processing to your phone. And they do get a bit warm. But most of these things are not that hard to live with, particularly in the smaller size / price.So all in all, this camera is at its heart still a GoPro and it excels at taking pictures and videos in all conditions. You do get far fewer features than most recent models, but with a far lower price to match - and still great pictures and videos. If that sounds like a good tradeoff to you, then this camera could be just what you want. Give it a try today!
Summary: The GoPro - HERO Action Camera is an inexpensive, lightweight and simple way to get into the action camera world, but be aware that the simplified camera does lack some of its big brothers’ featuresI have a GoPro Hero9 Black that I’ve used for filming: skiing, biking, trail running, sailing, off-roading, etc.. Recently, I took up motorcycles and wanted to test out using a GoPro as a dashcam/safety device. The new GoPro - HERO Action Camera seemed to be a great option given its smaller size & lighter weight. Initial testing indicates that my plan works quite well for short rides, but may not be the best for longer rides.First, just overall impressions are that the camera is great! The size and weight are decidedly smaller; GoPro cameras have never been ... MoreSummary: The GoPro - HERO Action Camera is an inexpensive, lightweight and simple way to get into the action camera world, but be aware that the simplified camera does lack some of its big brothers’ featuresI have a GoPro Hero9 Black that I’ve used for filming: skiing, biking, trail running, sailing, off-roading, etc.. Recently, I took up motorcycles and wanted to test out using a GoPro as a dashcam/safety device. The new GoPro - HERO Action Camera seemed to be a great option given its smaller size & lighter weight. Initial testing indicates that my plan works quite well for short rides, but may not be the best for longer rides.First, just overall impressions are that the camera is great! The size and weight are decidedly smaller; GoPro cameras have never been overly large or obtrusive, but I’ve got a chin mount for my full-face motorcycle helmet and having the camera be as small and light as possible is a good thing. With only a couple buttons and pretty simple controls, starting & stopping recording are possible even with gloves on.My only real issues are things I should have researched ahead of time & part of what makes the GoPro - HERO Action Camera the least expensive and smallest camera in the GoPro lineup at this writing. I guess the reduced size required some compromises in features. For my purposes, a couple key areas are the battery & reduced recording options. The battery is built-in and not removable like most of the larger models. With only an hour of expected battery life and no option to swap the battery, only short trips will be fully captured. Of course, the camera can always be plugged in and continually powered (would likely require a bike-mounted setup vs. current helmet mount), the GoPro - HERO Action Camera also has a much simpler set of menu options and looped recording is not one of the video options (looping allows the camera to fill up the SD card with specific length recording segments that can then be overwritten starting with the oldest first).All in all, I’m pleased with the camera and will find ways to put its simpler & smaller format to use!
I want to start off by saying this is the 1st GoPro product that I have had, so I can’t really compare it to another product. But as my review title states, good things come in small packages. I never thought the HERO would be this small, and when I first received the package I thought this must really be crammed in there, but its just that small, but don’t let the size fool you.I received this and my youngest son is an avid trout fisherman to the point he and his friends will hike/bike for miles to go to lakes or streams that most people won’t due to the fact that its so far off the beaten path. He had been shopping for an action camera to record his trips in & out and also to record his fishing experience. He had purchased a rig to use his cellphone but he said ... MoreI want to start off by saying this is the 1st GoPro product that I have had, so I can’t really compare it to another product. But as my review title states, good things come in small packages. I never thought the HERO would be this small, and when I first received the package I thought this must really be crammed in there, but its just that small, but don’t let the size fool you.I received this and my youngest son is an avid trout fisherman to the point he and his friends will hike/bike for miles to go to lakes or streams that most people won’t due to the fact that its so far off the beaten path. He had been shopping for an action camera to record his trips in & out and also to record his fishing experience. He had purchased a rig to use his cellphone but he said it was too bulky and was more cumbersome than helpful. He did purchase an aftermarket “carrier” off of the internet and unfortunately on his first trip it didn’t attach properly and the HERO fell off as he was biking in, the camera was not damaged but filming of his trip was not very pleasant to say the least.What he likes about this GoPro HERO is again the size of it, it is super small but it records video crystal clear, he purchased an extreme rated memory card that was 256 gb and it was recognized by the camera and formatted immediately. He downloaded the GoPro Quick app and it paired to his phone w/ in minutes and after setting up his account he was recording. He plans to start a blog on one of the video channels on the internet to allow others to see the trips that they take and the detail of this camera. I was shocked of the clarity and the quality of the videos. The Quick app makes quick work of downloading video a breeze, GoPro really has this well thought out and makes the process super easy.It comes w/ limited attachments, a power cord to charge it, which we did and again the entire process from unboxing to filming is simple and not time consuming. This is a well built camera for outdoor enthusiasts and people that are into recreation that take life to the edge and want to record it. He has used it only a handful of times to this point but I can see many uses for this camera.If you are in the market for an action camera to record “living on the edge” this GoPro HERO is highly recommended.
I’m new to using a GoPro – so this cheaper Hero 4K version is a good starting point for those of you that are new to this as well. The Hero 4K GoPro offers less features than say the Hero12 or latest Hero13, but still delivers awesome usability and picture quality. Shooting at 12MP photo resolution produces high quality images (note the more expensive GoPro models shoot at 27MP). There isn’t a TimeWarp or Time Lapse setting, so you’ll have to do that with software.Speaking of software, the GoPro Quik App is what’s you’ll load on your Phone or Desktop. It has things like Automatic Highlight videos to quickly make your little athlete stand out on the field or court! It will import shots from your phone, GoPro or any other camera.Of course there’s a subscription ... MoreI’m new to using a GoPro – so this cheaper Hero 4K version is a good starting point for those of you that are new to this as well. The Hero 4K GoPro offers less features than say the Hero12 or latest Hero13, but still delivers awesome usability and picture quality. Shooting at 12MP photo resolution produces high quality images (note the more expensive GoPro models shoot at 27MP). There isn’t a TimeWarp or Time Lapse setting, so you’ll have to do that with software.Speaking of software, the GoPro Quik App is what’s you’ll load on your Phone or Desktop. It has things like Automatic Highlight videos to quickly make your little athlete stand out on the field or court! It will import shots from your phone, GoPro or any other camera.Of course there’s a subscription service that you can purchase as well. With that you can get unlimited cloud storage of your GoPro footage, guaranteed camera replacement, discounts on accessories, automatic highlight videos and more.Battery lasts roughly an hour depending on conditions and shooting mode, and recharges in 1-1.5 hours. If you’re doing an all day shoot and have the storage, you’ll need to bring a portable charger with. It’s a 1255mAh battery, while the other models have a bigger capacity.The microphones work surprisingly well (there are 2 mics) and didn’t pick up much wind noise when using.There are lots of other specs we could discuss – like it’s USB-C charging port, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, etc. Too much to cover – and it’s all online in the specs.Overall – very happy with this base model as I’m just starting out but may want to upgrade to a model with more features in the future.
I'll have to start this off by saying, I've never owned an action camera though I've always wanted one so while I have owned digital cameras of many kinds over the years, one like this was new to me.Packaging:To start, packaging was straightforward, a long narrow box with the GoPro in it and a charging cable and some literature. Nothing excessive here.Setup and use:Being that I'm new to action cameras I do know there are more expensive models with front screens (why?) and more features than this one. But honestly I feel like unless you just need those features. To me being small and light and easy to use while still being 4k capable with multiple aspect ratios and speeds is all I can imagine needing. It doesn't have a replaceable battery so if that's important ... MoreI'll have to start this off by saying, I've never owned an action camera though I've always wanted one so while I have owned digital cameras of many kinds over the years, one like this was new to me.Packaging:To start, packaging was straightforward, a long narrow box with the GoPro in it and a charging cable and some literature. Nothing excessive here.Setup and use:Being that I'm new to action cameras I do know there are more expensive models with front screens (why?) and more features than this one. But honestly I feel like unless you just need those features. To me being small and light and easy to use while still being 4k capable with multiple aspect ratios and speeds is all I can imagine needing. It doesn't have a replaceable battery so if that's important to you and you do that much recording that may be the tipping point for you, but since I'm new to this I haven't needed to replace the battery.Speaking of resolutions: 4K30, 1080p30 video, and 2.7K60 and 1080p60 at slo-mo, as well as 12 megapixel pictures or 8 megapixel pictures from video. Again, unless it's just not covering what you need, this is more than enough for most people.One thing I found strange was that the image stabilization is not hardware based on this device. It is applied via software through the app, but it works well so no real concerns.Bottom line:If you're new to the action camera scene or you're looking for something affordable that covers 90% of the things the top end cameras do without the cost, I feel like this is the one to get. I'm sure I'll get loads of use out of it.
The new GoPro - Hero Action Camera is part of GoPro’s new camera lineup this year.The GoPro Hero action camera is very compact at just over 2 inches wide and just over an inch in depth and weighing less than half a pound. The GoPro Hero action camera also sports a LCD screen in the back that is 1.76 inches and is surprisingly responsive. You can navigate your menus by swiping left, right, up & down. The Hero also comes in at 12 megapixels and can record up to 4K. It has slow motion, regular picture mode and video recording modes and that is about it. This action camera is also water resistant up to 16 feet depth of water. This unit also has voice features as well to start and stop recording when you don’t have your hands available which I thought was neat until I ... MoreThe new GoPro - Hero Action Camera is part of GoPro’s new camera lineup this year.The GoPro Hero action camera is very compact at just over 2 inches wide and just over an inch in depth and weighing less than half a pound. The GoPro Hero action camera also sports a LCD screen in the back that is 1.76 inches and is surprisingly responsive. You can navigate your menus by swiping left, right, up & down. The Hero also comes in at 12 megapixels and can record up to 4K. It has slow motion, regular picture mode and video recording modes and that is about it. This action camera is also water resistant up to 16 feet depth of water. This unit also has voice features as well to start and stop recording when you don’t have your hands available which I thought was neat until I actually had to use it. Also GoPro states this unit has up to an hour or battery life which I find that hard to believe based on my usage.The GoPro Hero Action camera has a fair enough amount of features for it being a basic action camera in this years lineup.But despite’s those features at an entry level price point I’d say this action camera falls a little short. Battery life is pretty bad, for example I recorded a 30 minute video and it took almost half my battery life down. The downside of the internal battery is that it is not swappable, imagine you’re out on a hike or doing something adventurous and your battery goes out, instead of swapping batteries you’ll have to charge this camera essentially ruining the moment. Also this little camera does get fairly hot. This camera is also pretty bad in lowlight conditions being and action camera I’d expect a little better. I guess if you’re getting into action cameras and don’t want to invest too much into it this would be a good start. You just have to know what this camera is capable of and use it for that case scenario and not have too many high expectations.
The quick start guides you through downloading the Quik app and going through the setup and camera update. I had a slight scare in that I accidentally powered off the Hero while the app was trying to connect to it. It put it into a state where both front and back status lights were solid red, and device would not respond to anything. Holding down the power button for a really long time, which felt like 20 seconds, powered it off and then I was able to power back on and continue with setup.You can do quite a bit with the Quik app including change settings, monitor and control recording, manage media and more. It establishes a Wi-Fi connection from your mobile device to the Hero and then automatically switches back to whatever Wi-Fi connection you were using after ... MoreThe quick start guides you through downloading the Quik app and going through the setup and camera update. I had a slight scare in that I accidentally powered off the Hero while the app was trying to connect to it. It put it into a state where both front and back status lights were solid red, and device would not respond to anything. Holding down the power button for a really long time, which felt like 20 seconds, powered it off and then I was able to power back on and continue with setup.You can do quite a bit with the Quik app including change settings, monitor and control recording, manage media and more. It establishes a Wi-Fi connection from your mobile device to the Hero and then automatically switches back to whatever Wi-Fi connection you were using after closing the app.The included mounting options are limited to the buckle and adhesive mount. You’ll have to purchase extra mounting accessories if you want more options.The Hero is the little brother to the Hero13 and you give up a removable battery and front LCD screen and some advance video controls but you gain a much smaller and lighter unit plus quite less expensive. If you don’t need the extra features the base Hero is a great deal, and I also find the door latch much easier to open than on thelarger model.I say this for a number of consumer electronics that include the charging cable with USB-C on both ends that it would be better to have USB-A on the other end because most charging adapters people have laying around are going to have an A vs C connector.There are some basic voice control commands that you can use if you enable the feature from the menu. You can start and stop recording, take a photo and turn off. These can be handy when mounted somewhere not easy to reach like a helmet.The on-screen controls are easy to use and haven’t changed much from older GoPros that I have used. A quick swipe up gets you to the recordings and then left and right to go through them. If you are connected with the app from your mobile device its easier to scan through them in a gallery view. You can also easily edit and share them from the app.
This is my first time using an action cam and initial impressions of it are positive. First thing i took note of was the small size. The compact size along with the solid build quality feel nice in the hand and nothing about it seems cheaply made or of questionable build quality. The rear screen on the back while it seems small is clear and crisp and I have no trouble seeing or reading anything on it. There is no front screen so it is not ideal for vlogging purposes. I was surprised to see that this small unit had a speaker that will play back sound from the videos. Not the loudest, but it's better than having nothing. Save for the side door with the water tight seal for USB C and MicroSD card slot, the Hero is a self contained unit. So the battery is built in.Out ... MoreThis is my first time using an action cam and initial impressions of it are positive. First thing i took note of was the small size. The compact size along with the solid build quality feel nice in the hand and nothing about it seems cheaply made or of questionable build quality. The rear screen on the back while it seems small is clear and crisp and I have no trouble seeing or reading anything on it. There is no front screen so it is not ideal for vlogging purposes. I was surprised to see that this small unit had a speaker that will play back sound from the videos. Not the loudest, but it's better than having nothing. Save for the side door with the water tight seal for USB C and MicroSD card slot, the Hero is a self contained unit. So the battery is built in.Out of the box, setting up the Hero with downloading the app and updating the firmware was quick and painless. My child was up and running around the house filming everything to her heart's content. Pressing the top button will wake up the Hero (about 5-6 seconds) and immediately begin recording, which makes it easy to start from off.Battery life has been fairly solid at over an hour for 4K/30 recording and over double that when dropped to 1080/30p. I never record that long anyway but if I needed to I can connect an external battery pack for additional runtime. Recharging from 50% to about full is about 20mins or so. It gets warm while charging but have not experienced it get hot during recording although I have not tested it in very hot weather yet. Couple battery life with a 128GB or 2 I can record more video than I know what to do with.There are 3 modes that the Hero records, slo mo, regular video and photo mode all with a fisheye view with no way to zoom. I guess everything will can be cropped in post. I'm excited for the winter to strap to my pack and take videos of my child snowboarding! I have been using it so far for taking video while bike riding, but the video is disorienting while on my kid's helmet because her head is a constant swivel. That being said the image stabilization definitely smooths things out from being vomit inducing Blair Witchery footage. I want to get different mounts for maybe the handle bars. I have also seen magnetic mounts that I may want to try.There is no shortage of relatively inexpensive accessories for GoPro cams available, but it would've been nice if a basic carry case would be supplied. I disapprove of this less is more approach to EVERYTHING.The Hero is a fairly basic action cam, but it seems to do most of what it is intended to do. I look forward to using different types of mounts and slapping it on say the outside of my car or on the top deck of my snowboard. I feel the price point should be below the $150 mark, maybe a few years ago it would have been. I wouldn't be surprised to see it on sale for that regularly. At that price point it is a solid basic action cam that wouldn't as bad a kick in the wallet gut.
One of the biggest downsides is the inability to easily modify the resolution on the camera itself or through the app. In many cases, you might not need the highest resolution for every situation—whether it's to conserve storage space or extend battery life. Unfortunately, GoPro doesn’t give you a simple way to step down the resolution. This is a major limitation because action cameras are often used in different situations where you’d want the flexibility to adjust settings quickly and easily. Without that, it feels like you're stuck using more power and storage than necessary, which is frustrating when you're trying to maximize battery life or simplify your footage needs. I believe that if you place the camera in "battery saver mode", It will adjust the resolution ... MoreOne of the biggest downsides is the inability to easily modify the resolution on the camera itself or through the app. In many cases, you might not need the highest resolution for every situation—whether it's to conserve storage space or extend battery life. Unfortunately, GoPro doesn’t give you a simple way to step down the resolution. This is a major limitation because action cameras are often used in different situations where you’d want the flexibility to adjust settings quickly and easily. Without that, it feels like you're stuck using more power and storage than necessary, which is frustrating when you're trying to maximize battery life or simplify your footage needs. I believe that if you place the camera in "battery saver mode", It will adjust the resolution to 1080.The second major issue is the touch screen interface. It’s sluggish and lags noticeably when trying to change settings or review footage. This is disappointing in a premium product that should be streamlined for ease of use. Relying so heavily on the app to make adjustments adds to the frustration, especially for those who don’t always want to carry their phone around when using the camera. I personally prefer to keep things simple when I’m on the go or outdoors, and constantly having to rely on the app makes the experience more cumbersome than it should be. I can see this interface being a real pain for people who just want to make quick adjustments on the fly without needing to fiddle with a phone.Another concern I have is with the fold-out mount on the bottom of the camera. While it’s a convenient design for quick mounting, it also seems like a weak point that could easily break over time. To be fair, it looks like GoPro designed it so that the mount could be swapped out if necessary, but that doesn’t negate the fact that I’d prefer something more durable right out of the box. The idea of having to replace or repair a mount on an action camera—something that's supposed to be rugged—isn't ideal.That said, not everything about this camera is negative. The video quality is fantastic, which is a huge plus. Whether you’re shooting in 4K or any of the other available resolutions, the footage is crisp, vibrant, and exactly what you’d expect from GoPro. Additionally, I haven’t encountered any issues with overheating, which is great considering some past models had that problem. The battery life is also reasonable for most adventures, though it’s worth noting that the battery isn’t replaceable. This might not be a big deal for everyone, but if you’re planning long shoots without access to a charger, it’s definitely something to keep in mind.
I used a GoPro many years ago with fond memories and then switched to just using a Sony Digital Camera and my various smartphones over the years but the ultra compact GoPro Hero intrigued me for many potential uses so I decided to give it a try.Arriving in a wrapped box that has the actual box inside, you will find 2-3 pieces of literature, some stickers and a QR code for their Quik App along with the GoPro itself and a few accessories mainly for attaching it to various support devices and a USB-C cable.You really can't do anything with it until you update it and to do that you will need to download the GoPro Quik App. I have many issues with this approach and the fact there is no Windows/PC program support for this device as some quick research shows GoPro has ... MoreI used a GoPro many years ago with fond memories and then switched to just using a Sony Digital Camera and my various smartphones over the years but the ultra compact GoPro Hero intrigued me for many potential uses so I decided to give it a try.Arriving in a wrapped box that has the actual box inside, you will find 2-3 pieces of literature, some stickers and a QR code for their Quik App along with the GoPro itself and a few accessories mainly for attaching it to various support devices and a USB-C cable.You really can't do anything with it until you update it and to do that you will need to download the GoPro Quik App. I have many issues with this approach and the fact there is no Windows/PC program support for this device as some quick research shows GoPro has discontinued PC Windows desktop support so everything has to be done through your Smartphone. My idea setup is to hook it up via USB-C to my computer and update and offload footage that way not have to use my Smartphone as an intermediate.As for the Hero itself, it is small, compact and feels very well built. It oozes the look and feel that GoPro has polished up over the years nicely done. It is very small which means it can be used in many scenarios a larger GoPro may not work which really is the one saving grace for the Hero.First issue is to actually setup and update the Hero you will need an SD Card but surprise, there isn't even a starter SD Card included. GoPro recommends an A2 V30 card of 64GB or larger. In my collection of SD cards, I did not have any of these as recommended, so I ordered one. Once it arrived, I couldn't get the update to work properly, so I ended up using the SD card to update the Hero with, yep, my PC to set up the SD card before inserting it into my Hero to auto update. Interestingly, on the website it says if the update fails to remove the battery and reinsert it to try again. Seeing as the battery on this model is not removable....Another issue is the built in battery. Unlike other GoPro and GoPro like devices, you are now boxed in with finite battery life which depending on your activities can be a problem. In the past, I've had to swap out and use batteries before when on the go for a protracted period of time. I guess I could take a portable charging battery with me, but that makes it cumbersome and defeats the purpose of hot swappable batteries when needed.Auto stabilization (aka Hypersmooth) is not built in but is now software derived in the GoPro Quik App. This makes absolutely no sense to me as it is a core hardware feature of previous models. If you try direct exporting, it will not be stabilized. I prefer everything done within the hardware minimizing external software support. There is no way of getting around having to use the Quik App for video footage exporting. You are locked into the Smartphone app and no recourse on the desktop since they discontinued the Windows PC program/app.It does 4k at 30fps, but if you want 60fps, you must drop down to 2.7k. We're to the point now that even many budget minded smart cameras can capture footage at 4k 30fps.It is waterproof as always, but unlike some of their other models, it is limited to ~16ft which for any type of decent underwater adventures, even some snorkeling let alone shallow to medium dives, this is a no go with the Hero. Scuba diving becomes a cautionary tale with a ~16ft limit.I'm having issues trying to livestream, but that may be user error. I hope it is and not another limitation.In the end, I'm left puzzled and I think GoPro has reduced the size of their GoPro to the point it has lost a lot of what makes a GoPro a "GoPro." This feels like a budget camera wrapped around a lot of pushing to subscription services. The lack of interchangeable batteries, very limited recording options compared to their other offerings and software required stabilization just add to the list of woes.It does capture decent but not great video, but for me, the only real option if you want to go with a GoPro, is to dig deep and pick up a Hero13 for a larger form factor that really checks the boxes, pick up an older GoPro Hero 8 or just continue to use my Smartphone and for very select situations use the Hero. There are many negatives for me starting with those listed above to make this a solid buy.If you absolutely must have the tiniest and lightest GoPro for your use case (IE helmet mount, drone support, etc..) and are willing to accept the many tradeoffs, the Hero may make sense. In any other scenario, there are many other and much superior options out there including most likely the Smartphone in your hand.
| Lens Aperture | F2.3 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Color Video Bit Depth | 8-bit |
| Maximum Video Bit Rate | 50Mbps |
