The GoPro Hero 10 Black is GoPro’s best action camera to date. The new GP2 processor provides 5.3K/60 fps shooting and HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization, while the body is protected from water and shocks.

The previous model, the GoPro Hero 9, radically changed the design of GoPro cameras-for example, there were two touch displays, front and back. The design of the Hero 10 Black differs little from its predecessor, but the changes in the internal components are significant.

However, the main question is, does anyone need it? Few people remember the latest GoPro models, and the popularity of action cameras has fallen dramatically. At the same time, the Hero 9 Black will cost you $379. It may be the best action camera today, but some of the changes are disappointing. Why? Find out here.

The GoPro processor is equivalent to the human brain if the lens and sensor are the human eye. The biggest transition from a GP1 processor to a GP2 processor was made with the HERO10 update. The more calculations can be performed more quickly, the faster your brain is.

The GoPro Hero 10 has improved various aspects of performance.

• Performance doubles: 5K30p > 5.3K60p, 4K60p > 4K120p.
• Improved image quality: 23MP photography is now possible.
• Evolution of image stabilization: HyperSmooth 4.0
• Improved operability Improved interface response
• Improved file transfer speed: Equipped with a wired transfer function.

Design comparison

The GoPro Hero 10 Black is a lot like the Hero 9, with the same dual displays, the same key layout, and 10m penetration protection.

The dimensions are the same: 7.1 x 5.5 x 3.36 cm, but the weight has become 5 g less—153 grams with a battery and a memory card. On the front of the case are a lens, a microphone, and a 2.5 x 2.5 cm LCD display.

The lens has improved scratch resistance, a coating that repels water and reduces ghosting. The lens can be removed, and the Max Lens Mod accessory can be added for wide-angle shooting.

Thanks to the same dimensions, the new model supports the same accessories as the Hero 9.

The back of the Hero 10 Black is almost entirely occupied by a significant 5.0 x 3.3 cm touchscreen. The top side of the action camera houses the shutter button, while the left houses the power key.

On the right is a water-resistant cover, behind which are the connectors for the battery, memory card, and a USB-C port.

Front: The GoPro HERO10 Black has a blue logo. The back is the same.

The back is the same.

The color of the logo drawn on the right side is also blue.

The left side is exactly the same.

From the top, you can see that the depth of the camera module and the position of the buttons are the same.

The bottom is the same.

The GoPro HERO 10 Black has an identical appearance to the GoPro HERO 9 Black, but the “GP2” proprietary image processor offers better performance overall. As you can see in the video below, I tried to start it at the same time to compare how it felt during the operation. As a result, the Go Pro HERO 10 Black has a quicker startup time of 1 to 2 seconds. The touch display on the back has also seen an increase in refresh rate, which appears to have improved operability and smoothness of scrolling.

Moreover, just like the previous model, the GoPro HERO10 Black allows you to play back recorded video by swiping up from the bottom edge of the rear display. The “I” icon is now visible in the upper right corner, in contrast to the previous model. By tapping this “I” icon, you can look back at the settings of the recorded video.

Functions and Modes

The GoPro Hero 10 Black has three main shooting modes: photo, video, and time-lapse.

It is possible to create your own presets for taking photos or videos; it is easy to switch between them. There are resolution settings, viewing angle, stabilization and other parameters.

One of the most exciting features of the Hero 10 Black is the HindSight mode. The camera is constantly active, and the last 15 or 30 seconds are stored in memory when you press the shutter button.

Digital lenses allow you to choose the amount of frame coverage. The focal length can vary from 16 to 27 mm. The widest viewing angle appears when the SuperView function is enabled, although it is only available in resolutions up to 4K.

The GoPro Hero 10 Black can be controlled through the GoPro Quik app. It allows you to quickly mount a video, transfer files to a smartphone or share the shooting results on social networks.

The GoPro HyperSmooth was 3.0 on the GoPro HERO 9 Black but evolved to 4.0 on the GoPro HERO 10 Black. In HyperSmooth 3.0, it was “off,” “on”, “high”, and “boost,” but in HyperSmooth 4.0, it is “off,” “standard,” “high,” and “boost.”  The following are both movies shot with HyperSmooth set to “High”, and the color settings are set to “Flat”. If you compare them, you can see that the GoPro HERO 10 Black has a little stronger image stabilization and a higher sense of stability in the image.

Controls

The interface of the GoPro Hero 10 Black is familiar to anyone who has used the company’s cameras in recent years.

It is convenient and intuitive. Even beginners can take advantage of all the features of the camera. To switch between photo, video, and time-lapse modes, swipe left and right. Swiping up displays the recorded photos and videos, while swiping down displays the settings.

Shortcuts can be set up on the display to provide quick access to frequently used features.

One of the drawbacks of the Hero 9 was the slow response of the touchscreen. The GP2 processor solved this problem. Using the Hero 10 is much more pleasant.

Shooting quality

Videos on the GoPro Hero 10 Black look great, with accurate and balanced colors and a wide dynamic range.

The video retains a recognizable style, although you can set many options to your liking in the settings. When recording at 5.3K resolution, the detail is incredible, and you can zoom in and crop out parts of the frame without sacrificing quality. If there are many objects in the frame, it is better to turn on the bitrate of 100 Mbps; the standard 60 Mbps is not always enough.

Stabilization is essential for any camera; in the Hero 10, Black HyperSmooth 4.0 technology is responsible for this, which does its job flawlessly. There is absolutely no judder, and camera movement is smooth and natural.

The HyperSmooth 4.0 cannot compete with a real gimbal, but its capabilities are more than enough for an action camera.

The useful feature “Level Horizon” allows you to align the video even if the camera is tilted 45 degrees. The function works at any resolution and with any frame rate. That’s a big step up from the Hero 9’s 27 degrees but nowhere near the DJI Action 2’s 360-degree tilt correction.

The sound is recorded by built-in microphones, which should be of high quality, as with all the latest GoPro cameras. Voices sound clear, and the sound can be recorded in RAW for further processing.

Camera performance

GoPro had two types of color settings, “GoPro” and “Flat”, but with the GoPro HERO10, it has evolved into three types: Flat, Natural, and Clear.

Image quality: The maximum image quality in still image mode has improved from 20MP for the GoPro HERO9 to 23MP for the GoPro HERO10.

Video performance: The main video performance of HERO10 is as follows compared to the previous generation HERO9.

GoPro HERO 10	GoPro HERO 9
5.3K 60p	5.0K 30p
4K 120p	4K 60p
2.7K 240p	2.7K 120p

Equipped with a GP2 processor, the processing speed has improved, and the frame rate has doubled for many video sizes. With HERO10, slow motion editing, which was hesitant with HERO9, is now easier to do at once.

Image stabilization: HERO 9’s HyperSmooth is 3.0, which allows horizontal maintenance up to 27°, while HERO 10’s HyperSmooth 4.0 allows horizontal maintenance up to 45°.

Expanding the horizontal maintenance range allows even more intense movements to be corrected smoothly. Even in sports such as skiing and surfing, you can shoot smooth and fast-paced images.

Frame Grabs: The performance of the frame grab function has also been improved.

This function is a “Quick” app that allows you to take a screenshot of the captured video at the same resolution. If you take a screenshot of a normal video, it will be captured at the screen resolution, so the resolution will always decrease. However, by using the frame grab, you can extract the image with the same resolution as the video.

HERO 9 has a maximum export performance of 14.7MP, and HERO 10 has a maximum of 19.8MP.

Key Differences

Camera

The Hero 10’s camera has improved photo resolution to 23 megapixels and can record up to 5.3K videos at 60 frames per second. The GoPro Hero 10 Black can record videos at up to 5.3K resolution and 60 frames per second because it has a more potent chip. In contrast, the Hero 9 can only achieve 5K at 30 frames per second. For other resolutions as well, the supported frame rates on the Hero 10 have doubled. 2.7K and 4K videos can now be recorded at 240 and 120 frames per second, respectively. In contrast to the Hero 9’s 20 megapixels, the Hero 10 Black can take still photos with a resolution of 23 megapixels.

Speed

The performance of the Hero 10 is double that of the Hero 9. Speed-wise, the GoPro Hero 10 Black has undergone a significant improvement. When used alongside the Hero 9, the Hero 10 Black’s interface feels much smoother because of its GP-2 processor. The camera is noticeably faster to use in general. According to GoPro, the Hero 10 is twice as quick as the Hero 9 Black.

Stabilization

For steadier video, the Hero 10 has upgraded HyperSmooth. The GoPro Hero 10’s image stabilisation is excellent with HyperSmooth 4.0, and it is noticeably superior to HyperSmooth 3.0 on the Hero 9. Even when you’re moving quickly, there won’t be much jitter in the video. Additionally, you get an even more stable image when you enable Boost. Additionally, Hero 10 Black’s Hypersmooth 4.0 can be used at higher resolutions like 5.3K/30fps, 4K/60fps, and 2.7K/120fps.

Low Light Capability

Compared to Hero 9, Hero 10 performs better in low light. The GoPro Hero 10’s photos and videos taken in low light have undoubtedly improved. Compared to the Hero 9 Black, the images and videos in Night mode have sharper details and significantly less noise. This disparity isn’t too significant, though.

Conclusion!

If you liked the look of the GoPro Hero 9, you’re in luck. The GoPro Hero 10 introduces minimal changes in this aspect, among which the change in the color of the logo (white is replaced by blue) and a rougher texture that will allow us to hold it more comfortably.

In terms of weight, only five grams separate one from another. In this case, the GoPro Hero 10 is slightly lighter with a weight of 153 grams. Focusing on the dimensions, both cameras are the same size.

It is worth mentioning the hydrophobic treatment that the GoPro Hero 10 lens cover has received , which facilitates greater slippage of water on its surface. (An important detail is that this cover is compatible with the GoPro Hero 9) In addition, it offers greater resistance thanks to improved glass that makes it more resistant to bumps and scratches.

We also have to say that both cameras are waterproof to a depth of 10 meters . It is important if you like to spend time underwater.

As we have seen, the two Go Pros offer enviable performance and excellent image quality. It is true that there are differences, but they are not insurmountable at the moment.

On the other hand, if we talk about autonomy, both the Hero 10 and the Hero 9 are powered by a 1720 mAh battery, which equalizes them in terms of usage time.

Starting with the basics, both models have a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection and also have an integrated USB-C connector that facilitates the transfer of data and files.

Suppose you have a GoPro Hero 9. It is true that this model lags behind in various aspects, such as performance (it has an older processor), video stabilization, or fps, but we are talking about a very complete camera with excellent performance. It is so effective that it matches the GoPro Hero 10 in many ways and has little to envy.

On the other hand, if you are considering purchasing one or the other, we recommend that you choose the GoPro Hero 10 , an evolution of the previous model with a more powerful processor and more technology. In addition, the price difference with the previous model is not so large.

In short, the GoPro Hero 10 is an upgrade from the previous model, so the GoPro Hero 9 is far from unseated.