Even if you’ve never bought an action camera before, you’ll likely be familiar with the brand GoPro. The word ‘GoPro’ has become almost synonymous with the image of an action camera since 2004 – even if brands like DJI and Insta360 have stepped up to give it some healthy competition in recent years.
It’s been more than 20 years since GoPro introduced its first action camera, making it a household name in the rugged camera space.
The brand is currently on its 13th iteration of the flagship Hero line. The GoPro Hero 13 Black launched in September 2024, bringing with it a new magnetic mount, up to 13x slo-mo recording, new audio tuning settings, a larger battery and returning the GPS to the camera. We haven’t shared our full review of the Hero 13 Black just yet, which is why the camera remains absent from this list. However, we have tested the cameras up to last year’s Hero 12 Black, giving us a very good idea of how the line-up compares otherwise.
With each GoPro generally being a subtle (but much appreciated) update on its predecessor, you might opt to pick up an older model to save a bit of cash. After all, you can get a sharp 5K resolution back to 2021’s GoPro Hero 10 Black. This means your decision might not be as cut-and-dry as picking up the latest model.
For this reason, we’ve included a range of GoPros from the last few years in this list, including the GoPro Max for those looking to capture stunning 360 video.
There are also a growing number of rivals entering the action camera market for those happy to shop around a bit. Cameras like the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and the Insta360 X4 are some recent releases or you can check out our guide to the best action cameras for more excellent recommendations.
If you’re interested in venturing beyond the realm of action cameras, we also recommend visiting our guides to the best vlogging cameras, best mirrorless cameras and best drones to ensure you snag the right video camera for your needs.
Best GoPro at a glance
How we test
We test every camera we review thoroughly. We use set tests to compare features properly and we use it as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.
GoPro Hero 12 Black
Best overall GoPro
Pros
- Sharp and vibrant video
- Improved battery life
- AirPod support makes recording audio easier than ever
Cons
- There are better options for low light
- Still no touch support on the front screen
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is GoPro’s newest action camera for 2023 and its best one yet. The camera isn’t a huge departure from the Hero 11 Black that came before it, but instead builds on the 11 with a range of new and updated features.
Visually, the Hero 12 Black is almost identical to the Hero 11 Black with the same build, weight and two displays. The only design changes here are the new speckled finish and 1/4-20 mounting threads. Otherwise, the Hero 12 Black is rugged and waterproof up to 10m, with touch controls and a single MicroSD slot for media storage.
The Hero 12 Black supports a range of familiar features, including the latest version of GoPro’s HyperSmooth stabilisation with AutoBoost and Horizon Lock to keep the horizon level. There’s also up to 8x slo-mo and three creative Night Effects that invite you to play with light to achieve varying effects.
New features include the Interval Photo setting, which prompts the camera to automatically snap photos at set intervals, as well as Timecode Sync, which allows you to synchronise multiple Hero 12 Black cameras to record simultaneously.
There’s support for audio recording and remote voice commands via your Bluetooth earbuds, meaning you can now use your AirPods to record sound. Additionally, there are a range of features in the GoPro Quik app, though some are locked behind GoPro’s Premium/Premium+ paywall and require a yearly subscription to access.
When it comes to performance and image quality, the GoPro is powered by the GP2 processor paired with a 1/1.9-inch CMOS image sensor. This combination allows the action cam to capture sharp and vibrant 5.3K/60p video, 27-megapixel images, and 24.7-megapixel stills from video.
These resolutions will be familiar to Hero 11 Black users, though GoPro has added HDR video into the mix, allowing the camera to capture a greater dynamic range. The camera also supports a wider range of modes when recording at an 8:7 aspect ratio.
Like its predecessors, the Hero 12 Black can fall short when shooting in low light. If you’re searching for an action camera equipped to film in low light conditions, we’d recommend checking out the DJI Osmo Action 4.
Finally, the Hero 12 Black has received a major boost in battery life, with the action camera offering twice the recording time of its predecessor when shooting at 5.3K/60p.
Reviewer: Hannah Davies
Full Review: GoPro Hero 12 Black
GoPro Hero 11 Black
Best alternative GoPro
Pros
- 8:7 sensor perfect for content creation
- A rich range of accessories
- Excellent dynamic range for an action camera
Cons
- Mediocre low-light performance
- Mounting doesn’t best DJI’s magnetic system
- Pricier than the main competiton
The GoPro Hero 11 Black is the best GoPro if you don’t want to splash out on the latest model.
Launched in 2022, the Hero 11 Black is one of two Hero 11 Black cameras along with the smaller, screenless Hero 11 Black Mini.
The biggest update here compared to 2021’s Hero 10 Black is the camera’s new 8:7 sensor. This allows it to record 360-degree horizon-locked video at up to 4K resolution and capture footage that can be cropped for a variety of platforms.
The camera delivers impressive 5.3K60 video quality, is capable of capturing 24.7-megapixel stills and footage can also be slowed down for an up to 8X slo-mo effect when recording at 2.7K240. We found the video quality to be GoPro’s best yet, with plenty of dynamic range in bright environments and smoother colour gradation thanks to 10-bit colour support.
The Hero 11 Black takes advantage of best-in-class stabilisation with the help of HyperSmooth 5.0. Stabilisation has received an update over the HyperSmooth 4.0 found on the Hero 10 Black with AutoBoost and Horizon Lock now built-in to HyperSmooth.
The design of the camera is identical to that of the 10, with the same dual-screen layout, and the camera is waterproof up to 33ft. However, it comes with a new Enduro battery for longer improved performance in cold temperatures and up to 38% longer recording times in moderate temperatures compared to the Hero 10 Black.
The mounting system is more fiddly than that on the DJI Osmo Action 3 and the camera is pricier than the competition, but the Hero 11 Black is still our action camera of choice and a fantastic follow-up to the Hero 10 Black.
Reviewer: Basil Kronfli
Full review: GoPro Hero 11 Black
GoPro Hero 10 Black
Best cheap GoPro
Pros
- UI is speedier than ever thanks to the GP2 processor
- Higher fps rates across the board
- HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilisation is a technological marvel
- Eye-catching footage
Cons
- Struggles in low light
- Very steep price tag
If you’re looking to save a bit of money on your next GoPro, then look no further than 2021’s Hero 10 Black.
Succeeded by the Hero 11 Black in 2022 and the Hero 12 Black in 2023, the 10 remains an excellent GoPro with plenty of useful features for anyone looking to trade out their smartphone for a more rugged action camera.
Like the Hero 11 Black (and the Hero 9 Black before it), the Hero 10 Black boasts a compact and durable design with plenty of accessories available to upgrade it and a waterproof rating of up to 33ft.
The biggest upgrade that arrived with the 10 was the long-awaited GP2 processor. Not only did the new processor increase the frame rate across the board, but it also delivered a much-needed speed boost to the previously sluggish UI, allowing it to better compete with the best camera phones on the market.
The Hero 10 also included the Hero 9’s biggest update – the front display. This, along with the touchscreen on the back of the camera, makes framing and previewing shots significantly easier than on older GoPros.
Other features here include HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilisation and a battery life we found was good enough to get us through a day.
Footage captured with the Hero 10 is strikingly detailed and colourful in daylight and the camera is able to transition to underwater scenes quickly and almost instantaneously. Low-light performance is less impressive, with the dedicated Night Mode unable to produce images of the same quality seen in daytime capture. This is something we also experienced on the newer Hero 11 Black.
The Hero 10 Black is also pricier than much of the competition. Regardless, the camera is still a powerful action camera.
Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: GoPro Hero 10 Black
Pros
- Easy to use
- Simple editing
- Good environmental audio capture
- Multiple fields of view
Cons
- Non-360-degree video quality not near Hero 8 Black level
- Cheaper alternatives are now plentiful
If you’re looking for a 360-degree camera, the GoPro Max is the best GoPro available right now.
Unlike the flagship Hero line, the Max isn’t designed for straightforward video capture. Rather, the Fusion follow-up is built for those looking to get creative with super wide fields of view.
Like the Hero 12 Black, 11 Black and 10 Black, the GoPro Max features a compact design. However, the Max feels a bit more delicate with its convex lenses on either side sticking out and lens caps supplied in the box.
However, like the Hero line, the Max does have built-in mounting fingers and is water-resistant (though only to 16ft instead of the 33ft on the Hero). This means that, while the Max can handle surface-level swimming and snorkelling, it shouldn’t be used for high-speed water sports. The Max is also worse off for underwater shooting due to the visual aberrations caused by the way the lens reacts to the refraction of light through water.
The Max is also limited to one display whereas the Hero line has two. However, the screen is bright and the camera’s dual-lens design means you can film vlogs with the display pointing either way anyway, so there’s less of a need for two screens.
The biggest benefit to the Max is how versatile and simple it is to use. We found it to be comparable to using two action cameras in one, with multiple fields of view designed to mimic those on the Hero line, along with the 360-degree option.
Editing and sharing footage is easy with the GoPro app and features like Reframe and Timeline make the app better than Insta360’s. You can also use the app to control your GoPro, while features like Time Lapse and Time Warp offer sped-up capture styles.
Video quality is good, though not as high as that across the Hero line. The Hero line is more detailed, sharper and highly contrasted at 1080p with a 27mm field of view and even the impressive-sounding 5.6K resolution on the 360-degree mode is less so when spread across such a wide capture.
However, stabilisation is superb and the horizon appears level even if you spin the camera 360-degrees with horizon levelling switched on.
If you’re looking for the best 360-degree GoPro – and don’t require the very best 4K action camera around – the GoPro Max is an easy choice.
Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full review: GoPro Max
FAQs
The best cheap GoPro we’ve tested is the Hero 10 Black, which has since been succeeded by the Hero 11 Black and Hero 12 Black. GoPro also launched the even more affordable Hero 11 Black Mini in 2022 for those less fussed about having a screen. However, we haven’t tested this one yet so you won’t find it on this best list.
Yes, GoPros can be used to take photos and videos underwater. You’ll need to check the specs on each GoPro to determine exactly how water resistant each model is, but the Hero 12 Black is waterproof up to 33ft.
No, GoPros do not include an autofocus system to track your subject.
