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GoPro's product line is all about action cams: small video cameras, typically built around a wide-angle lens and toughened up to withstand water and roughshod handling. It's not surprising that many of GoPro's action cameras are PCMag award winners—the company invented the concept, after all, and with each generation, it mixes in some new features that push performance further. And we should know; we've been testing GoPro's camera line since the Hero2 and have seen its cameras mature to be creative powerhouses. We think the year-old Hero12 Black is the best GoPro for the price, but check out all of our top picks below.
Our Top Tested Picks
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- GoPro HERO13 Black Waterproof Action Camera — $339.99 (List Price $399.99)
- GoPro HERO12 Black Waterproof Action Camera — $299.00 (List Price $399.99)
- GoPro HERO11 Black Mini Action Camera — $249.00 (List Price $299.99)
- DJI Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo — $209.00 (List Price $299)
- Insta360 X4 Waterproof 8K Action Camera Standard Bundle — $424.99 (List Price $499.99)
- GoPro HERO13 Black Action Camera H13 Accessory Bundle — $349.99 (List Price $449.99)
- AKASO Brave 4 4K 20MP Waterproof Wi-Fi Action Camera — $67.99 (List Price $99.99)
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Best Feature Set for the Price
GoPro Hero12 Black
- Class-leading video stabilization
- 10-bit HDR, GP-Log, and SDR video profiles
- Up to 5.3K60, 4K120, or 2.7K240 recording
- More useful Easy Controls than on Hero11
- Front and rear displays
- Pro controls and timecode sync
- Tough, waterproof build
- Small enough to mount in tight spots
- Drops long-running GPS feature
- Only a few headphones support wireless audio feature
- One battery won't last all day
Last year's GoPro is nearly as good as the latest Hero13 and is now available for $349.99, down from $399.99 at launch, so we see it as the best option for the money in the Black series. Its video specs are excellent; it has a true HDR profile, so it gets bluer skies and better shadows in mixed lighting than the Hero11, and it has a 10-bit GP-Log profile for pros who take the time for color correction. An 8:7 aspect sensor lets you record for YouTube (16:9) or TikTok (9:16).
The camera can push 5.3K60, 4K120, or 2.7K240, which gives you plenty of options for slow-motion looks. It also offers an immersive Hyperview angle and compatibility with the ultra-wide Max Lens Mod 2.0 add-on lens ($99.99). Support for horizon-locked video and time-lapse modes for Star Trails, Auto Light Trails, and Light Painting are now available in the user-friendly Easy Control mode, too. You'll get all these (and a bit more, including a GPS and support for more add-on lenses) if you step up to the Hero13 Black ($399.99), but we don't think most action cam fans will need to.
Best Budget GoPro
GoPro Hero10 Black
- 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
- Included battery drains quickly
- Heat limits long-form recording
GoPro keeps its older models on sale when a new one comes out but cuts the price. That means you can get the Hero10 Black for $200 or less, though supplies may not last forever. It's the best value GoPro you'll find, thanks to its 8-bit 5.3K60, 4K120, and 2.7K240 video. It also works with the same Media Mod accessories as the newer entries in the series, so you won't have to buy new add-ons if you upgrade in a couple of years. It has the same build quality as newer models, with a 33-foot waterproof rating and two color displays, one on the front for self-recording and a rear touch screen.
Vloggers looking to put together a camera kit may find the Hero10 a good alternative to the Hero13 because it leaves a bit more room in the budget for the Media Mod, Volta handle, or an ultra-wide Max conversion lens. You can skip a gimbal for handheld recording and action, too, as the Hero10's Hypersmooth digital stabilization is nearly as good as in newer models.
Best GoPro for Add-On Lenses
GoPro Hero13 Black
- Superb digital video stabilization
- 10-bit HDR HLG, GP-Log, and SDR profiles available
- Continuous 5.3K60, 4K120, and 2.7K240 capture
- Short slow-motion clips at up to 400fps
- Dual displays
- Rugged, waterproof chassis
- Small enough to mount
- New battery provides minor improvements
- Accessory lenses and mounts add to cost
- Rear screen is overdue for an upgrade
The GoPro Hero13 Black is the company's latest flagship acton cam, and its most capable. Its video engine enjoys very modest upgrades versus the Hero12 Black, maintaining the same 10-bit 5.3K60, 4K120, and 2.7K240 record modes, superlative digital stabilization, and your choice of SDR, HDR, or flat color profiles. Build quality is the same—the Hero13 is tough enough to survive rough and tumble handling and is waterproof to 33 feet.
GoPro swapped to a new battery for this iteration, though it proves to be only minimally better than the Hero12 for recording time. If you're looking for a good reason to pick it up over last year's model, its trio of add-on lenses is a real selling point, though each is sold separately and adds to the cost. Even so, you can use the Hero13 for ultra-wide, macro, or anamorphic video, whereas earlier GoPros only offered ultra-wide add-ons. This camera also re-introduces a built-in GPS, last seen in the Hero11, so it's also worth a splurge if you want to geotag or leverage GPS data to add overlay information to videos. Many GoPro fans use GPS data visualization to show the path of a car on a race track, for example.
Best for 360-Degree Capture
GoPro Max
- 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
- Effective resolution is really 1080p
- Single-lens capture tops out at 60fps
- Requires more editing time to get the best results from spherical footage
The GoPro Max is a dual-lens camera for 360-degree creators. It provides a substantially different creative experience than other action cameras, giving you the option to share an all-around view for VR headsets or pull out 16:9 frames for 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 that can reward creators with skill in the field and the editing room. It's an especially attractive pick for vloggers because of its microphone quality, which is the best of any GoPro.
What to Expect From a GoPro
GoPro cameras are, as a rule, tough, waterproof, and ready for adventure. The GoPro lineup includes one entry-level model, the Hero, a trio of more fully featured Black line cams—the Hero11, Hero12, and Hero13 Black—and an older dual-lens 360-degree entry, the Max.
The Hero is basic and just $200. It records 4K30 in its normal video mode and 2.7K60 slow-motion, plus 12MP stills. It cuts some corners to make price: Its lens is restricted to an ultra-wide angle and shows heavy fish-eye distortion, plus stabilization is done in software, not in-camera as with other GoPros. Because of these drawbacks and strong competition, the Hero didn't score well enough to make the grade for this roundup, even though it's quite simple to operate and comes with a 16-foot waterproof rating.
The Hero Black series is generally more capable. Because GoPro keeps older models in circulation at a discount and is on a yearly update schedule, you're better off getting a Hero10 Black (now selling for $249) as an entry-level option. It has a far more configurable video engine with in-camera stabilization, supports faster frame rates for slower slow motion, and can go as deep as 33 feet underwater.
Each fresher entry in the Hero Black iterates and builds on the previous. The Hero11 Black comes with an 8:7 aspect ratio option so you can more easily pull out widescreen and vertical video from the same clip, and it upgrades video to 10-bit color. The Hero12 Black adds a tripod socket as an addition to GoPro's long-running clip mount system, and the Hero13 has all that, plus works with magnetic mounts. All of these models support wide-angle add-on lenses, and the Hero13 also supports macro and anamorphic add-ons, though you'll need to buy extra lenses separately in every instance.
The Hero Black 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 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 Hero10 (now a few years old), but you may not need to spend for the Hero13 if its upgrades aren't compelling.
Should You Get a GoPro Premium Subscription?
GoPro cameras are capable by themselves, but a GoPro Premium subscription unlocks some worthwhile perks. One benefit is unlimited cloud storage for video captured with a GoPro. Another is that the camera can upload all of your footage as soon as you plug it in at home, as well as automatically clear your memory card once the upload finishes. AI-based editing tools can also put together a highlight reel of your day and send it to your phone, and you get extra features in the phone-based GoPro Quik editing app. You can use GoPro.com to livestream with your account, too.
Recommended by Our Editors
The subscription bundles other discounts. Our cynical side says it's a good way to get you to spend more money, but 50% off retail for mounts and accessories is nothing to sneeze at. You can also trade in a damaged camera and get a new one, though that incurs a fee ($99 for most GoPro models). Finally, if you want to get a new GoPro, you can get a one-time $100 discount, assuming you are in your second year of membership.
We're understandably skeptical about subscription services but find the cloud upload and storage features a real benefit, especially for editors who like to work on an iPad Pro or even a smartphone. If your workflow involves a desktop or laptop, you might find it less of a draw. Mull the cost of the service, $24.99 for the first year and $49.99 each year thereafter, to determine whether it would be of value to you. A Premium+ tier is available, too. It costs $99.99 annually, adds support for Hypersmooth+ post-processing stabilization, and provides more cloud storage space for content you shoot with cameras from other brands.
The Best GoPro Alternatives
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, including the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, which beat out the Hero13 Black this year for Editors' Choice. We also have recommendations for vloggers looking for cameras and accessories and creators shopping for a gimbal.
