GoPro HERO10 Black: Full Review

GoPro cameras have become synonymous with action cameras and point-of-view recording. The company pioneered the concept of rugged, compact cameras that could capture immersive footage from the user's perspective. GoPro's HERO line represents their flagship consumer offering, bringing pro-level capabilities to thrill-seekers and content creators.

The GoPro HERO10 Black sits at the top of the current HERO lineup as the most advanced model available. Building upon the success of previous generations, the HERO10 Black provides a feature-packed option for recording ultra-high definition 5.3K video along with 23MP photos. It combines new cutting-edge capabilities like HyperSmooth 4.0 video stabilization with classic GoPro strengths like waterproofing down to 33 feet. For adrenaline junkies, athletes, or social media creators, the HERO10 Black aims to be the ultimate versatile action camera.

Design

The GoPro HERO10 Black features a rugged, waterproof design that GoPro action cameras are known for. It has dimensions of 71 x 55 x 33 mm and weighs 158g.

The camera body is made of durable plastic that can withstand drops and bumps. It has a rubberized coating for enhanced grip. The HERO10 is waterproof up to 33ft (10m) without a housing, making it great for underwater activities.

The front display makes it easy to frame shots when the camera is mounted on gear or your body. The rear touch screen provides intuitive control and playback. Overall, the HERO10 has a very portable, durable design optimized for action cameras.

The GoPro HERO9 Black is also a robust and waterproof action camera. It features a slightly larger 1720mAh battery that ensures longer shooting times. The HERO9 Black has a front-facing screen for vlogging and selfies, and a larger rear touchscreen for easy control. With its HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization feature, it provides smooth footage in any situation. It also offers 5K video recording capabilities, making it ideal for capturing stunning action shots.

Image Quality

The GoPro HERO10 Black features a new 23MP sensor capable of capturing stunningly detailed photos and videos. The increased resolution allows it to output 5.3K video at 60fps and 23MP photos, a notable upgrade from the HERO9's 20MP sensor.

In well-lit conditions, images show excellent sharpness and fine details, especially when shooting in RAW. The larger sensor size also helps improve dynamic range and low light performance. While image noise becomes more apparent at higher ISO levels, the HERO10 still holds up well compared to other action cameras.

Footage is crisp and clear at up to 5.3K resolution, providing a lot of flexibility for cropping and using techniques like digital zoom. Slow motion frame rates up to 240fps at 2.7K are very smooth and detailed. The HERO10's new GP2 processor enables advanced local tone mapping for more highlight and shadow details in HDR video modes.

Overall, the boost in resolution, new sensor and updated processor result in a significant jump in image quality over previous GoPro models. It's arguably the best image quality you can get in an action camera today for both photos and videos.

The GoPro Hero7 Black remains a solid choice for those looking for a reliable action camera at a more affordable price point. It features a 12MP sensor and can capture 4K video at 60fps, along with advanced stabilization technology. Although it lacks the 23MP resolution and 5.3K capabilities of the HERO10, the HERO7 still delivers impressive image and video quality. The HyperSmooth stabilization makes it ideal for capturing smooth footage during high-intensity activities, making it a strong contender for adventurous videographers on a budget.

Video Capabilities

The GoPro HERO10 Black offers some of the most advanced video capabilities of any action camera on the market. It can shoot video at up to 5.3K resolution at 60 frames per second, giving incredibly detailed and smooth footage.

The camera has a number of lower resolution and frame rate options as well, making it easy to tailor the settings to your needs. At 4K resolution, you can shoot up to 120fps for super slow motion footage. 1080p video can be captured at up to 240fps.

HERO10 Black features HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization, GoPro's most advanced video stabilization yet. It results in gimbal-like stabilization by predicting camera movements and makes corrections accordingly. This produces incredibly smooth footage, even during intense activities like mountain biking or surfing.

You also have the option to boost the stabilization further with Horizon Leveling. This will keep the horizon perfectly level during activities with lots of movement from side to side.

Slow motion capabilities are excellent with 8x slo-mo available in 1080p or 4x slo-mo in 2.7K. This allows you to highlight dramatic moments and turns them into epic slow motion scenes.

Overall, the video capabilities of the GoPro HERO10 Black are extremely impressive. With high resolution options, excellent stabilization, and flexible frame rates, it's ideal for capturing stunning, professional-quality video during your adventures.

Photo Capabilities

The GoPro HERO10 Black features a powerful 23MP sensor that allows you to capture stunning high resolution photos. It shoots in JPEG and RAW formats so you can get the most out of your images during editing.

Some key photo capabilities include:

• 23MP resolution for large, detailed images
• Burst speeds up to 30fps to capture fast action
• LiveBurst mode shoots frames 1.5 seconds before and after you hit the shutter for the perfect moment
• Night mode for low light shots down to near complete darkness
• Timelapse mode to create dramatic timelapse videos and photos
• SuperPhoto applies HDR, local tone mapping, and multi-frame noise reduction for optimal images
• RAW format captures the most image data for advanced editing

The HERO10 gives you full manual control over exposure settings like shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and more. You can shoot in single, burst, night lapse, and time lapse modes. Overall, it provides exceptional image quality and control suitable for everything from action shots to landscapes.

Audio Quality

The GoPro HERO10 Black has excellent audio capabilities thanks to its improved microphones and audio formats. It features three microphones - one front-facing and two on the sides. These allow the camera to capture high-quality stereo audio and reduce wind noise.

The microphones do an impressive job of picking up clear, detailed sound both near and far from the camera. Voices come across cleanly without distortion even in noisy environments. The side microphones help reduce wind noise when filming outdoor activities.

The HERO10 Black records audio in AAC format at bitrates up to 256kbps. This allows it to capture CD-quality 16-bit 48kHz audio. You can really hear the difference compared to lesser quality audio formats. Explosions, car engines, and other loud sounds have impactful thump and clarity. More subtle sounds like footsteps and voices are also crisp and defined.

Overall, the audio recording capabilities elevate the HERO10 Black above most other action cameras. The quality is good enough to use the audio directly in videos without needing to overdub or use an external mic. Crisp, powerful audio matches the stunning video quality.

Connectivity and Accessories

The GoPro HERO10 Black has various connectivity options and is compatible with a wide range of accessories to enhance your filming experience.

Ports

It has a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, allowing you to connect the camera directly to your computer or another USB-C device. There is also an HDMI port to enable a wired connection to TVs or external monitors.

Wireless Connectivity

The camera has built-in Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities. This allows you to connect wirelessly to the GoPro app on your smartphone or tablet. From the app you can change settings, start/stop recording, monitor footage and transfer files.

Compatible Accessories

Some of the many compatible accessories include various mounts, grips, cases and external mics. The mounts allow you to attach the camera to helmets, chest harnesses, surfboards, bikes and more. The grips and cases add protection and improve handling. External mics provide higher quality audio capture compared to the built-in mic. There are also LED light mods and screens to enhance filming capabilities.

Overall, the abundant ports and wireless connectivity combined with a vast ecosystem of compatible accessories greatly expands the usability and versatility of the GoPro HERO10 Black.

Battery Life

The GoPro HERO10 Black has a 1720 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This is a slight upgrade from the 1625 mAh battery in the previous HERO9 Black model.

In terms of battery life, GoPro estimates the HERO10 Black can record up to 70 minutes of 5.3K video at 60 fps on a single charge. If recording at 4K resolution and 60 fps, the estimated recording time increases to 85 minutes per charge. For 2.7K video at 120 fps, the estimated recording time is 75 minutes.

When recording video at the most demanding settings like 5.3K and 60fps, the battery life is decent but not exceptional. You'll likely need to carry spare batteries or an external charger for longer shooting sessions. The battery life is better at 4K/60fps, but still limited compared to some other action cameras on the market.

One way to extend battery life is to reduce the frame rate when possible. Recording at 30fps can nearly double recording times versus 60fps on a single charge. The HERO10 Black also has improved power efficiency over past models to help increase battery life. But heavy use of features like HyperSmooth stabilization, live streaming, and rear touch screen will drain the battery faster.

Overall, the battery life is adequate for casual use and short video clips. But those who need to record ultra high-resolution, high frame rate videos for extended periods may want to invest in additional batteries to swap out when one dies. The battery is removable and rechargeable for convenience.

Price and Value

The GoPro HERO10 Black has a retail price of $399.99. This puts it at the higher end of the action camera market, but its features and capabilities make it well worth the price.

For the money, you get GoPro's newest and most advanced action camera. It offers a best-in-class combination of video resolution and frame rates, still photo resolution, image stabilization, rugged waterproof design, touch screen controls, and a wide range of accessories.

Compared to other action cameras in this price range, the HERO10 Black stands out with its higher resolution 5.3K video, 23MP photos, improved HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization, and faster frame rates for smooth slow motion. These capabilities surpass what you'll find on less expensive models.

The HERO10 also brings new convenience features like the front-facing screen and faster, more responsive touch controls. For content creators, the high image quality enables more flexibility in post-production and provides higher production value.

While not cheap, the HERO10 Black delivers performance and capabilities that justify the price tag for serious action camera users and professionals. Given GoPro's reputation for quality and innovation, the HERO10 represents a worthwhile investment for those looking to capture immersive, stabilized, high-resolution footage and photos during their adventures.

Pros and Cons

The GoPro HERO10 Black has many excellent features that make it a top choice for action cameras, but there are also a few downsides to consider.

Pros

• Excellent image stabilization provides smooth, steady videos and photos even during fast motion activities.

• Can shoot stunning 5.3K video at 60fps and 23MP photos for crisp, detailed results.

• The new GP2 processor enables HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization and faster frame rates.

• Front display makes framing selfie shots simple.

• Rugged, waterproof design without a housing required up to 33 feet.

• Useful new features like HindSight and Scheduled Capture.

• Intuitive touch controls and voice commands.

• Compatible with a wide range of GoPro mounts and accessories.

Cons

• Battery life could be longer when shooting high frame rates or resolutions.

• Lens is fixed, so no optical zoom capabilities.

• Low-light performance is just okay, not great.

• No built-in live streaming capabilities.

• Price is on the higher end for action cameras.

• Some users report overheating issues during extended video recording.

• No included waterproof housing like with some older models.

So in summary, the HERO10 Black has excellent video/photo capabilities and stabilization packed into a rugged, waterproof body. But the battery life leaves room for improvement and the price is relatively high. It's a top-tier action cam for those willing to pay for premium performance and features.