GoPro Hero 9 Black

The company's newest action camera adds a full-color front screen, 5K, and software enhancements that make capturing the moment easier than ever.

GoPro’s slogan for the Hero 9 launch is “More everything,” and there really are enough new things here for that to feel fair. GoPro regulars will appreciate the higher resolution, while the new front screen fends off competition from DJI. The introduction of lens mods indicate the Hero 9 could remain versatile long after its launch, and the return of the removable lens cap and bigger battery life squashes two of the main negatives from previous cameras.

Considering the upgrades, though, $449 is still a reasonable price for what you’re getting. Sure, you can grab the Hero 8 Black for around $350 now or DJI’s Osmo Action for $250, but neither of those cameras can shoot at 5K. And then there is Insta360’s One R with a 1-inch sensor mod for $500, but I much prefer the color the GoPro puts out more, and well, the Hero 9 is $50 less.

The GoPro Hero 9 Black is the most versatile action camera you can buy, but other models offer better value. Its new design and sensor produce mixed results that don't collectively represent a big step up from the Hero 8 Black, while its usability has taken a slight step back. Vloggers and filmmakers will appreciate the front display and extra resolution, but everyone else should consider its two predecessors.

Action cameras and going modular. GoPro’s latest attempt to get one-up on the DJI Osmo Action and the Akaso Brave 7 LE means a front display for vloggers and taking selfies, high-resolution photos and video grabs, but most importantly a removable lens cover. The latter makes it ready for GoPro’s new Max Lens Mod, though at its core this action camera’s excellent stabilization, clever time-lapse modes and higher resolutions make the Hero9 Black pricey, but worth it despite its larger physical size than previous iterations.

The GoPro HERO 9 Black rocks a front-facing colour screen and boosted specs across the board, yet GoPro has kept complexity to a minimum, meaning pretty much anyone can pick up a HERO 9 Black and shoot genuinely impressive 5k video. That impressiveness isn't mainly to do with the resolution – although that is near-Hollywood quality – but the astonishingly good stabilisation and capture options. This is the new action cam to beat.

The bigger screen coupled with a new larger battery are nice upgrades, but also mean the 9 is the largest Hero in the standard series and incompatible with older batteries and cage mods. Owners of the 7 and 8 will certainly be tempted, but it’s a significant upgrade over older models, as well as an ideal choice for anyone buying their first action camera. Like all GoPros, the small sensor means it’s best-suited to bright conditions, but little if anything can match the stabilisation and unique opportunities the camera presents.