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GoPro introduced its latest Hero action camera in the market recently and we got a chance to dive deep and look for its quality.
The new GoPro action cameras get more versatility and battery life
GoPro is known to almost everyone, even if you are not an adventure or travel junkie. The action camera segment is pretty much synonymous with the brand, and its founders live up to that mood and vibe with its casual launches. The Hero Black 13 is GoPro’s latest iteration in the action camera universe where the competition is much bigger than before.
The Hero Black 13 is its flagship offering for the next 12 months, and GoPro seems to be headed in a different path to its rivals, which is good and not so good in equal measures. So, does the new Hero Black 13 offer the same punch as the previous models and add a bit more extra to the rugged package? We used the new model for a few weeks to find a definite answer.
Giving Cameras New Purpose
GoPro has focused on the action side of its cameras but the Hero Black 13 sees a creative addition in the form of new lenses that can be interchanged. This brings a level of versatility to the GoPro camera that people would be excited to try and invest into the ecosystem. You get a wide range of lenses in the package, albeit, for an extra cost, which most people would be happy to invest in, especially with support coming directly from GoPro. It would be interesting to track how GoPro plans to build this ecosystem in the next few years and if they are made backward compatible to keep the older models relevant in the market.
Video Stabilising Gets Better
GoPro has somehow managed to make the video stabilisation better on the Hero Black 13 and we could feel the difference when compared with the Hero 12. The tuning and the hardware changes might have helped but the overall results are evident when you use the Hero 13 extensively and the stutters are less in the visuals which gives a cleaner outcome.
That’s not all, the slow-mo impact is also much better because of these changes, and the polished results will surely excite people. Being an action camera means stabilisation is always going to be a pivotal part of the package, and GoPro has upgraded to make the Hero 13 a better prospect for such activities.
The Feature-Rich Travel Gadget
GoPro has also made some important upgrades that make the GoPro Hero 13 a feature-rich package for those looking to invest in action cameras. You get Wi-Fi 6 out of the box which allows you to transfer footage much faster. It might not seem like a lot but when you see the results, the change does help. GoPro has also now made it easy to charge the battery without opening the lid, which saves some time and effort for you to charge the device. And yes, before we forget, the Hero 13 sees the return of GPS so that you can geo-tag the location to your clips that allows people to keep an easy record of their memories.
How It Performs
GoPro has offered a mixed bag with the performance of the Hero 13 Black but it is not all doom and gloom. The brand is using the same sensors that you had on the Hero 11 and the Hero 12 versions. But somehow the quality of the footage has improved which is a definite plus for the company. Having said that, the dated sensors show their age when it comes to low-light captures, and the amount of details missing from the footage is the reason why GoPro needs a definite upgrade next year.
All these feature upgrades are incomplete without the battery upgrade that GoPro has given the Hero 13 Black. The additional mAh on board means you get more time out of the action camera so that you get all the shots you need.
The GoPro Hero 13 Black is a solid upgrade which looks like its predecessor but the real value is what you get within the device. The new interchangeable lenses is a smart idea that can be worked on and made into an ecosystem. Having GPS back is good, and the additional battery capacity helps with longer support. The dated sensors show their age in low-light conditions but a classic adventure freak would love the Hero 13 Black package, especially if they are coming from older models.