A basic action cam that doesn’t rise to superhero status
The GoPro Hero ($199.99) is an affordable, compact, and tough action camera that makes it simple to capture pleasing 4K footage. However, it lacks several features from the company’s higher-end models, such as in-body stabilization and the ability to narrow the view of its very wide-angle lens. We’re also not fans of how GoPro locks useful abilities behind a subscription. The Hero is fine for adventures in which you need a compact camera for on-body mounting, but we recommend you seek out discounted older models, such as the DJI Osmo Action 4 and the GoPro Hero11 Black, if you need something more versatile for content creation. If your budget is flexible, it’s worth stepping up to the $349 DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, which is significantly more capable and our Editors’ Choice winner for action cams. Design: Small, Light, and Waterproof
The Hero is impressively tiny, coming in at just 1.9 by 2.2 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and 3.0 ounces. It’s smaller and lighter than the Hero13 Black (2.0 by 2.8 by 1.3 inches, 5.6 ounces), which I count as a positive if you plan to mount the camera on a helmet or chest harness. But given how slight action cameras are in general, the Hero’s smaller frame won’t make a notable difference in most cases.
GoPro cameras are made to take some abuse and rough handling, and the Hero is no different. Its metal frame means it can survive drops, while a waterproof rating of up to 16 feet without a housing makes it appropriate for poolside activities and snorkeling, though other action cameras can go deeper. The Hero5 Black and newer models in that lineup can all survive to 33 feet, the Osmo Action 5 Pro is good to 65.6 feet, and the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is fine up to 39 feet. GoPro doesn’t offer a dive case for the Hero, so you’re stuck at 16 feet. Cases for Hero Black, DJI Osmo, and Insta360 Ace cameras enable them to operate at depths of up to 197 feet.
The Hero includes a single set of mounting clips to connect to standard GoPro mounts; you get the same with the older Hero10 and Hero11 Black models. Some newer cameras (including the Hero13 Black and DJI Osmo Action 4 and 5 Pro) use magnetic mount attachments instead. These are a major benefit for creators who want to quickly move the camera from one mount to another, but then you must also invest in multiple magnet mounts. It’s not surprising that GoPro thought a magnetic mount would be an unnecessary and expensive complication for the Hero.Power: Roll Long Clips Without Overheating
The camera’s metal exterior has a built-in heat sink on the front and a touch screen on the rear. This is a departure from GoPro’s most recent tiny action camera effort, the Hero11 Black Mini (2.0 by 2.1 by 1.5 inches, 4.7 ounces). The Mini suffers from overheating issues during long-form recordings and doesn’t have any screens, which limits its ease of use. The Hero addresses these shortfalls head-on.
The Hero does a good job of dealing with heat. In my battery rundown and overheating test, the Hero recorded for 100 minutes in 4K30 before it ran out of juice. It didn’t encounter any heat issues during that period. The internal battery charges via USB-C, which means you can top it off with a power bank if you’re on the go. However, creators who want to record for longer during a day should budget more for an action cam with swappable batteries, such as any of the current Hero Black models and the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro.
The Hero initially shipped with an unfortunate bug that caused the battery to drain quickly when the camera was off. You might see some customer reviews complaining about the problem, which was a real downer prior to a fix. Firmware version 1.20, which GoPro released on November 6, 2024, resolves the issue. If you have this camera or plan to buy one, make sure to update it to the latest software. The only caveat is that you might have to install the update manually via a memory card rather than automatically through the Quik app. Prior to the fix, my review unit was losing charge entirely after a few days of non-use.
