If you’ve been considering picking up a new action camera, chances are you’re already familiar with the name GoPro.
Since 2004, GoPro has been a steadfast name in the rugged camera space – and for good reason.
The most recent update to the action camera line is 2023’s GoPro Hero 12 Black. The action camera brought with it HDR support, HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilisation, new mounting threads and wireless earbud and mic support. We’ll be sharing our review of the GoPro Hero 12 Black soon, but in the meantime 2022’s GoPro Hero 11 Black sits at the top of this list thanks to its handy 8:7 sensor, excellent dynamic range and rich range of accessories.
One of the perks of picking up a GoPro is that the company typically updates its flagship camera every year. This means you can easily bag a bargain on an older model without worrying about it being a decade old or significantly out of date. In fact, the GoPro Hero 10 Black is still available to buy through GoPro’s website as of updating this best list.
Below, you’ll find our rundown of the best GoPros available right now, including the best overall GoPro, best cheap GoPro and best 360 GoPro. We put these rugged cameras through a series of tests during our reviews, examining the design, display (or displays), features, battery life and image quality to reach a final verdict.
Of course, GoPro isn’t your only option. It’s always worth shopping around to see if there’s another camera that better fits your needs. In this case, you’ll want to look toward companies like DJI and Insta360 as both brands sell their own action cameras with specs, features and prices that consistently rival GoPro. For a full rundown on how they compare to the GoPro and each other, visit our guide to the best action cameras.
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
- Best overall GoPro: GoPro Hero 11 Black
- Best cheap GoPro: GoPro Hero 10 Black
- Best 360 GoPro: GoPro Max
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.
- 8:7 sensor perfect for content creation
- A rich range of accessories
- Excellent dynamic range for an action camera
- Mediocre low-light performance
- Mounting doesn’t best DJI’s magnetic system
- Pricier than the main competiton
- 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
- Struggles in low light
- Very steep price tag
- Easy to use
- Simple editing
- Good environmental audio capture
- Multiple fields of view
- Non-360-degree video quality not near Hero 8 Black level
- Cheaper alternatives are now plentiful
GoPro Hero 11 Black
Best overall 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 camera available right now.
Launched in 2022, the Hero 11 Black is the latest update to GoPro’s flagship action camera range and one of three Hero 11 Black cameras, along with the Hero 11 Black Creator Edition and the 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.
Recently succeeded by the Hero 11 Black, 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 and second only to the Hero 11 Black.
Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full review: GoPro Hero 10 Black
GoPro Max
Best 360 GoPro
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 11 Black and the Hero 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
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See all reviewsFAQs
The best cheap GoPro we’ve tested is the Hero 10 Black, which has since been succeeded by the Hero 11 Black. GoPro has also launched the even more affordable Hero 11 Black Mini 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 11 Black is waterproof up to 33ft.
No, GoPros do not include an autofocus system to track your subject.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
