GoPro is in financial trouble – but the action camera giant’s latest move under the threat of potential bankruptcy reflects the company’s founder and CEO’s outlook for the brand. Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO, is expected to loan the company $20 million through the purchase of shares, the company announced on July 08.

Last month, GoPro filed “going concern” paperwork that informed investors that the lowered sales numbers and higher material costs could mean that the company “may be required to significantly reduce, restructure, cease operations, or seek protection under the Federal bankruptcy laws although no specific plans to file for bankruptcy protection have been initiated or considered.”

That potential bankruptcy news followed an announcement that GoPro is considering a potential sale or merger, a move that Woodman said that he “fully supports.”

The announcement for the $20 million loan from the company’s founder also comes with an update on the brand’s search for a potential merger or buyer, as Woodman says that the plan “continues to progress.”

"An independent committee of the board of directors evaluated a range of financing options and concluded this structure offered the most favorable terms for GoPro and our shareholders," Woodman wrote in a statement. "My financing reflects my enthusiasm for GoPro and its several go-forward opportunities. I continue to strongly support the board's evaluation of strategic alternatives, a process we announced on May 11, 2026, and which continues to progress."

The $20 million loan isn’t the first time Woodman has made a change to aid the company – Woodman declined his own salary for part of 2025.

Woodman’s loan is expected to be due in two years with a 6.5 percent interest, but the paperwork filed along with the announcement suggests that if GoPro is sold, the new buyer also takes on the agreement.

Woodman founded GoPro in 2002, launching the first camera in 2004, before bringing the company to public trading on the stock market in 2014. Woodman, now 51 years old, launched the company with a film camera in a waterproof case after a surfing trip left him frustrated that he couldn’t find a camera to capture photos of himself surfing.

In the last financial year, GoPro reported a US$93.5 million loss, selling around 20 percent fewer cameras than the year before. The increased competition in the action camera category, along with Increased material costs, including the higher cost of memory, plays into GoPro’s financial struggles.

GoPro has met the lowered sales with the launch of the Mission 1 series, bringing a one-inch sensor into the action-cinema camera Mission 1 Pro, alongside a fall 2026 launch of a mirrorless camera with the same sensor.

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I love photographing the stars, but my favorite lazy photographer astrophotography hack is to start a time-lapse – and then go to sleep. The GoPro Mission 1 Pro seemed ripe for such a shot.

GoPro says that the battery life is the best yet, and the larger sensor improves low-light performance, so I abandoned the newest GoPro on a beach overnight.

The Mission 1 Pro isn’t the first GoPro that I’ve used to photograph the night sky. I’ve previously set up my GoPro Hero 12 Black on a time-lapse during northern lights activity so I could move around and snap a variety of different compositions with my mirrorless camera.

I was surprised at how well the action camera then managed to capture the night sky – but in the past I’ve always used the GoPro Volta battery tripod in order to record a complete time-lapse from darkness to sunset.

Curious to see just how much the camera’s new 1-inch sensor and larger battery make a difference, I set the new Mission 1 Pro on a tripod just after midnight and started recording.

I set the camera to create a 4K timelapse, as I wanted more detail than FullHD but didn’t want a lot of noise with the starlight conditions. That meant the still images were around 8MP.

I set the camera up to use a slower 20-second shutter speed, to let in the most light and blur the lake. I programmed the camera to take a photo every minute, shooting both an assembled video and JPEG images, and then went to sleep.

Under these settings – and a hot summer evening – the Mission 1 Pro managed to record from about 00:20 to 05:30. That was long enough that I had to cut the last second off my video, as the battery lasted long enough to run just past sunrise and overexpose the last few frames.

That’s an impressive length of time for such a small camera to keep shooting without plugging into an external battery pack.

The still photos that the GoPro stitched into a video are equally impressive, coming from such a small camera and as 8MP shots. The stars aren’t quite tack-sharp, and I did pull up the shadows a bit to see more detail from the lake shore, but, I thought the shots were very good coming from an action cam rather than a mirrorless camera.

Yes, I could get more resolution by using 8K or shooting 50MP RAW photos – but I wanted to balance low-light quality and battery life. Considering the GoPro still recorded past sunrise, now I’m eager to try an 8K timelapse next.

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro feels like a natural evolution for the popular action camera maker. The camera still looks, feels and operates like a GoPro, but that boosted sensor and battery are a welcome change.

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I also tried out the GoPro Mission 1 Pro as a point-and-shoot camera. Read more about the best action cameras.

GoPro’s 360 action camera is now capable of capturing more detailed shots, thanks to a new firmware update that unlocks 200Mbps bit rates. Announced today, June 25, the firmware update v1.30 for the Max 2 opens up higher bit rates, along with more options for color grading.

The higher 200Mbps bit rate helps reduce compression artifacts, GoPro says, along with helping the camera record finer detail. The new maximum bit rate will be available in the 8K 360 video mode, as well as using the 4K single lens shooting mode.

While the Max 2 already had 10-bit color for serious videographers looking for control over color grading, those options are now available for time lapses. The 10-bit and GP-Log options are now available inside Time Warp, Night Effects, Time Lapse, and Night Lapse modes.

The addition of 10-bit allows GoPro’s different time-lapse modes to capture more color depth, while GP-Log encoding across those same modes allows for more flexibility when color grading in post.

The firmware also brings the blur reduction setting previously available for 360 shots into the GoPro Max 2’s single lens mode.

The update also gives creators a toggle to switch between 60z and 50Hz shutter speeds. This helps eliminate screen flickers when traveling to different countries with varying NTSC and PAL standards.

The firmware update is available directly from GoPro's website or through the GoPro mobile app.

The firmware update comes at a time when the GoPro Max 2 has dropped to its lowest price yet in some regions during the Amazon Prime Day sale.

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The GoPro MAX2 has dropped to its lowest-ever price of just $299, down from $499.99 and saving you an awesome $200.99 on GoPro’s latest 360-degree action camera.

For anyone who has always wanted to experiment with immersive video, this is a deal that immediately deserves attention. Rather than forcing you to choose a single viewpoint while recording, the Max 2 captures everything around you and allows you to select the best angles afterwards.

That freedom makes it particularly useful for travel, cycling, skiing, hiking, and action sports, where it can be difficult to predict exactly where the most exciting moment will happen. You can record first, reframe later, and create several different shots from the same piece of footage.

The GoPro Max 2 can capture detailed 8K 360-degree video, giving you greater flexibility when cropping and reframing your footage. GoPro’s stabilisation technology also helps keep everything looking smooth, even during fast-moving adventures.

Its rugged design and replaceable lenses make it a practical option for creators who plan to take their camera into demanding environments. It can also produce more traditional flat videos from its 360-degree footage, making it far more versatile than a conventional action camera.

At just $299, the GoPro Max 2 has become considerably easier to recommend. With a huge $200.99 saving and its lowest-ever price, this is one of the strongest 360-camera deals I have spotted and a brilliant opportunity to try immersive filmmaking without paying the original premium.

Taxes and inflation might make almost everything feel more expensive, but there is something particularly satisfying about getting a newer product for the same price as the model it replaces.

That is exactly what has happened with the GoPro LIT HERO, which has dropped to just $179 – the same price the original HERO launched at in 2024.

The Lit Hero might not be the most powerful action camera straight out of the box, especially when compared with some of the more advanced models currently on the market. Its feature set is more streamlined, and serious filmmakers may still prefer one of GoPro’s flagship cameras, but that is not really the point of this model.

This is an action camera designed to be simple, affordable, and easy to carry. For holidays, family adventures, days at the beach, cycling, hiking, social media clips, and everyday recording, it offers plenty of GoPro appeal without forcing you to pay a premium price.

Its compact design also makes it the kind of camera you can throw into a pocket or small bag and take almost anywhere. Rather than worrying about complex settings or carrying a full filmmaking setup, you can simply switch it on and start capturing the moment.

There are certainly more powerful action cameras available, but many of them also cost considerably more. At $179, the Lit Hero becomes a far more approachable option for beginners, casual users, and anyone who wants a dependable everyday action camera without paying flagship money.

The fact that you can now buy the newer GoPro Lit Hero for the same price as the "original" Hero launched in 2024 makes this deal even sweeter. It might be cheap, but at $179, this is one seriously lit GoPro deal.

The DJI Osmo Action 7 could be less than 12 weeks away, according to this product history – but some people have suggested that there might be something even sooner than that.

Looking at the number of days that each of the Osmo Action cameras has spent in DJI's list as the flagship before being superseded by a new model, we can see that – at the moment – a life of somewhere between 322 and 425 days seems realistic. We are already at 216.

The first iteration, admittedly, had a very different 896 days. But that was an Action camera during the days of a global pandemic, so there was likely no hurry for a replacement – and there were some unavoidable delaying factors.

For several generations, DJI has comfortably sat at the top of my best action cameras guide thanks to the company's superior low-light capabilities and, frankly, better pricing than the iconic GoPro brand.

The latest GoPro Mission 1 Pro has upped the game for action cameras in several respects, at least for the American brand, by delivering 8K. DJI, however, was already offering most of this – for a lower price. So what can it do, on the technical side at least, to stay ahead of the game?

Bigger sensors have been part of DJI's path before, but there might be a sensible limit in action cameras. DJI has already included a variable aperture in the Action 6, a "feature" that GoPro resisted.

The other most obvious upgrade would be 8K 60fps video, since 8K has been a widely promoted feature not only of the GoPro but also the AcePro 2 from Insta360.

I would anticipate, too, iterative updates to what might be considered 'AI' software – electronic image stabilization, horizon steadying and face tracking.

The real difference for customers, though, will likely still be the lack of first-party support for the DJI camera in the US. DJI has not sold it directly in the US since the company was added to the covered list, though we know that it is still fighting this decision…

Wearable and not much bigger than your thumb, the POV camera is a new sub-category of action camera that is exciting for vloggers and anyone who wants to capture their lifestyle with as little interruption as possible.

If the traditional boxy GoPro-style action camera is too big, then wearable POV cameras are the solution. Some are small enough to be known as pill cameras (but not for medical reasons). Most designs now include the very practical magnetic clip – so much so that "magnetic camera" is another term for them. They are worn as easily as modern wireless microphones, and sport a range of different solutions to control.

Like the traditional action cameras, these cameras compete on their compact nature and low weight, their ability to capture high-resolution (and store it), and the ability to get stable video despite being worn on clothing. Desirable features also include waterproofing, a good battery life, and some form of remote control – via case, app, or both.

Image stabilization takes processing power, but there is no way that you can wear a camera on a hat, your chest, or handlebars without it picking up some movement. I've already picked all the best action cameras; here I've looked closely at the best tiny POV cameras and put them to the test myself.

Best for most people

Coming with a battery housing (”Action Pod”) that boasts a folding 2.5-inch touchscreen, from which the detachable 4K 60fps camera pops out, even without the ‘tiny camera’ option, this would be a compelling action camera with the vlogger’s favorite benefit of a good-sized fold-up display. A nice touch is that a MicroSD card can be added to the Action Pod to increase storage options, though video is initially recorded to the camera’s internal memory.

The camera has a 1/1.28-inch image sensor, making it ever so slightly bigger than any of the competition. The result is a camera that has very little in the way of compromise, and even has an acceptable low-light mode.

As camera-only, it can be worn in two main ways – clipped onto a hat or, thanks to the magnet, worn on a pendant. Typically, you'd hang the chain around your neck and the other side of the magnet behind your clothes, so you can pop the camera on and off very discreetly. Cleverly Insta360 has also designed the pendant to be twisted to set the camera angle up or down – a very useful touch.

Insta360’s image stabilization does seem to have the edge, and includes a horizion balancing mode which many find useful. There is also support for Insta360's microphones for vloggers.

Read my full review of the Insta360 Go Ultra and see sample video

Best for pro quality

Offering creatives the benefit of a The 1.9-inch display isn’t the biggest in this list, but it is a crisp OLED touchscreen which I found great to use (it's responsive) and it’s worth remembering that it is easily detached from the camera so you can keep it nearby if you are worried about the size. The design also means you can point the camera away from or toward the 'screen side' when it is attached to the "Multifunctional Vision Dock" as DJI call it.

The camera’s other big plus point is the 4K120fps slow motion (though this comes at the cost of the stabilization, but 4K60 can be captured with DJI's impressive digital stabilization – which, like Insta360's, can balance the horizon if you want). Another nice touch is pre-roll (hit record after the moment!), though this feature is never quite as good as I hope – because you do need the lens pointing the right way!

The key advantage, though, to this camera is the 10-bit recording in DJI's D-Log M, which allows a lot of flexibility for those who like to preserve color and brightness information until the edit.

DJI has also built in a receiver for the company’s own microphones, as well as cramming stereo mics into the frame. Included with the camera 9either 64GB or 128GB versions) you'll find a hat clip and a magnetic lanyard, as well as a protective case and a ball joint mount with a suction cup (to, perhaps, sticck the camera on a dashboard?)

See my full DJI Osmo Nano review for a sample video

Best cheap

This is a super-cheap camera without a screen, small in design so it looks a lot like the Insta360 Go 3, or 3S, cameras. It it also worn with a magnetic lanyard so it appears to float on the fabric of what you are wearing but is held in place firmly enough for activity.

Unlike that camera, though, there is no separate wireless controller. There is a TF card slot (compatible with a MicroSD card) in the camera, and it records 4K video directly to this. Simple operation is via a start-and-stop button. It is incredibly compact and remarkably robust, constructed from a sturdy plastic composite that easily survives accidental drops. It also skips a display entirely to keep its footprint as small as possible, making it a very simple, no-nonsense point-of-view shooter.

In low light the camera will look a bit less than ideal – the noise or grain is a factor – but the 120-degree field of view has decent (if not perfect) clarity across the whole image.

The camera offers respectable battery life for an action cam, providing around 90 minutes of 4K recording or up to three hours if you drop the resolution down to 1080P (fine for action, not ideal for the kind of people who might have bought one of Boblov's body cams). Ultimately, for a starter camera or an affordable way to capture memories on vacation without worrying about premium low-light performance, it exceeds expectations at its bargain price.

See our full Boblov W4 review for sample videos

Best for low weight

The Insta360 Go 3S was the first 4K camera in this form factor (though the even cheaper Go 3 came before it if you're happy with 2.7K). It's light enough to clip nearly anywhere and go unnoticed, yet it retains the benefit of the magnetic pendant that many of the other cameras on this list offer.

Insta360 has not left this camera alone since launch, either. Retro chic fans will love the unique 3S Retro Bundle with old-style housing, with prism-and mirror framing device much like an old 110 camera.

In lower light, a camera this small will inevitably experience some "noise" (look a bit grainy), and the battery life is only 30 minutes when you're not inside the 'Action Pod' housing, but the housing can top it up fast. The housing also boasts a flip-up display which, again, makes this a handy vlogging tool.

The camera also has good image stabilization – including horizon balancing, and a 'kids mode' that enables you to let the kids wear the camera while you control it remotely (and they don't press anything that'll ruin your POV capturing of their future memories).

Read my full review of the Insta360 Go 3S with samples

Best glasses

An alternative to a clip-on or body-worn camera is a pair of sunglasses with a built-in camera – controlled from your phone. That is what Meta, the owners of FaceBook, created jointly with Ray-Ban (a brand you just might have heard of). The result is a very convenient in a lot of POV shooting situations.

Smart camera glasses work by connecting to your phone wirelessly, and you can command them from the touchpad on the arm, the app on your phone, or using the built-in microphone with an instruction beginning "Hey Meta...". For example "take a picture," but the AI can also take advantage of the camera to see from your POV, so you could also ask, "What does that sign mean?"

There are hidden speakers over your ears in the arms, which you can use to listen to music and take calls – though the sound is audible to anyone very near you.

Incidentally, here is a cost-saving option: The Gen 2 model that I have chosen here is the better quality option for photo/video with 3K recording but I'll freely admit to being the camera nerd. Just as good (as it uses exactly the same camera system and software) are the Oakley Meta smart glasses.

If you're looking for a cheaper way to capture the fun from your POV, and the specs don't matter the original RayBan Meta smart glasses are still Ray-Bans, so you still look cool, but will have enough left over for a nice holiday drink or ten too.

Read our full review of the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 2)

Cheap alternative

How we test POV cameras

Like everything, the best way to get to know something is to try it out in the real world, so this list includes products that we at Digital Camera World have hands-on personal experience with. That also means that if you want to know even more, you can tap through to a full detailed review.

See how we test cameras at Digital Camera World

Action camera giant GoPro is in financial trouble. On June 01, GoPro shared updated stock market filings warning of “substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue” as the action camera giant faces declining sales and the increasing cost of memory.

The Securities and Exchange Commission filing comes after GoPro has already shared that it is considering a potential sale, news that followed a a $93.5 million net loss for 2025 and $432.3 million in 2024.

The latest filing indicates further struggles for the action camera manufacturer, including both an 80% to 110% increase in memory hardware costs and reduced supply from its suppliers amid the AI data crisis. The report also indicates “further softness in sales” for April and May 2026.

The 8-K form that GoPro has filed with the SEC indicates that the company could struggle to pay its debts over the next 12 months. The form re-files the company's 2025 financial results with an auditor's report.

“Without obtaining additional sources of financing or consummating a strategic transaction,” the filing reads, “the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern would be materially and adversely impacted, and the Company may be required to significantly reduce, restructure, cease operations, or seek protection under the Federal bankruptcy laws although no specific plans to file for bankruptcy protection have been initiated or considered.”

While the filing indicates serious financial strain, the paperwork on its own doesn’t necessarily mean that bankruptcy is imminent – and the filings also state that no specific plans for bankruptcy have been considered. For example, Kodak filed a similar statement last year, but resolved its debts using a pension fund and ended the year in growth.

GoPro has already implemented some changes, including a 23% reduction in staff. The company also shared earlier this year that it is considering potential offers for a sale. However, concerns over the company’s ability to repay debt remain.

While the filings indicate lower-than-expected sales in April and May, the report does not mention the new GoPro Mission 1 series of cameras, which began shipping just days ago. The new series evolves GoPro’s offerings with a 1-inch, 8K-capable sensor (see more in our GoPro Mission 1 Pro review).

GoPro has not yet responded to Digital Camera World’s request for a comment.

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GoPro is best known for its action cameras, but the new GoPro Mission 1 Pro is a tiny camera that toes the line between action camera and serious video rigs. But in true GoPro fashion, the Mission 1 Pro also launched with a new accessory that makes the camera feel more like a point-and-shoot.

I love using compact cameras for travel – I even used a waterproof compact camera more than my mirrorless on one of my vacations. After I unboxed the GoPro Mission 1 Pro with its point-and-shoot grip, I decided to see just how worthy of the point-and-shoot title the new camera is – and took it to a day at the splash park and beach.

I’ve used a few GoPros in the past – I have a Hero12 Black that I use for behind-the-scenes video tucked into my camera bag. I knew going into the beach day shoot that the new GoPro would have both some strengths and weaknesses compared to traditional point-and-shoots. This is what I shot, swapping my point-and-shoot for a GoPro.

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro has plenty of resolution, almost zero focus misses, and a waterproof design

The biggest change moving from the Hero to the Mission series is that the new Mission 1 Pro uses a one-inch sensor. For video, it’s capable of 8K60, but using it as a point-and-shoot, the tiny cam has a 50MP mode as well as a 12MP mode for low light.

The shots that I captured on the GoPro Mission 1 Pro had plenty of detail at 50MP. I was also pleasantly surprised at the wide dynamic range that it captured. I was shooting on a sunny day, and the shadows weren’t too dark, but the sky wasn’t blown out to white either.

Like the Hero series, the Mission 1 Pro uses fixed focus. That means that there’s no autofocus at all, but it’s not needed – anything that’s around 60cm and farther from the camera lens will be in focus. That means there’s no focus delays and, unless you get too close, no focus misses. That helps the camera capture still action photos easily, not just for video – it’s also great for getting high and low angles without the aid of the screen.

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro surprisingly doesn’t feel much larger than my Hero12 – but there is such a thing as a camera that’s too small. On its own, the Mission 1 Pro doesn’t have enough to comfortably wrap my fingers around. But the point-and-shoot grip accessory had just enough of a grip to comfortably wrap my fingers around and a solid thumb rest in the back.

Importantly, the Mission 1 Pro is still waterproof. The camera didn’t have any issues getting dunked at the splash park (although sadly, the water clarity was too poor to try a swim). The temperature around 80 degrees F / 26 degrees C didn’t seem to bother the camera either. I even accidentally bumped the shutter button and ended up taking a 45-minute 4K video of the inside of my backpack without heat issues. (Lesson learned: The Quick Capture function that starts a recording when the power button is pressed should be turned off if you’re storing it in the point-and-shoot grip.)

But the Mission 1 Pro doesn’t have a zoom or (much) bokeh

GoPro’s fixed focus lens is excellent for freezing action without misses – but it also hints at what I missed from my more traditional point-and-shoot camera. Fixed focus works because the Mission 1 Pro uses an ultra-wide lens that, even with the larger one-inch sensor, makes the depth of field wide enough to easily get (almost) everything in focus.

The downside is that, with nearly everything in focus, there’s no bokeh, or background blur. I couldn’t let distractions melt into the background.

The Mission 1 Pro, of course, also doesn’t have a true zoom on it – just the ultra-wide lens – so it’s hard to get close enough to eliminate distractions. There is a digital lens option (one that crops) that helps keep lines straighter than the native ultra wide, but otherwise there’s no zoom.

True point-and-shoots often have lenses with some macro capabilities – the OM System Tough TG-7, for example, has an excellent close-up mode. Shots like this aren’t possible with a fixed focus ultra-wide.

Of course, there is no viewfinder – but that feels increasingly common on point-and-shoots. The screen was sometimes challenging to see all the details on shooting in the sun. (The secondary front screen on the front is great for selfies though!)

As a camera that’s video-first, shooting stills on the Mission 1 also feels a little different than on a stills-first camera. There’s a one-second countdown that pops up on the screen for still photos, and it can be challenging to time the shot right in single-shot mode. Thankfully, the Mission 1 Pro has burst mode. The burst mode does function a bit differently – if you set it to 30fps bursts, you will get 30 photos regardless of whether the action stops before then.

There’s another trick for getting perfectly timed action stills – I can also pull stills from the 8K30 video files using the GoPro Quik app, and the resolution is still 44MP.

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro isn’t a point-and-shoot camera – I missed the bokeh, zoom, and flash that come from cameras geared specifically towards still photos.

But the Mission 1 Pro did surprisingly well at ultra-wide snapshots with excellent dynamic range, resolution, and speed – enough so that video-first shooters may not need a separate point-and-shoot if macro and longer focal lengths aren’t on the must-have list.

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I used the new GoPro as a point-and-shoot, but DCW's action camera expert is putting the camera through all the paces – read the full GoPro Mission 1 Pro review for more insight. Or, browse the best waterproof cameras.

GoPro is the name almost everyone associates with action cameras, but for those in the know, there is a bit more to it than that.

GoPro as a company has several product lines, and the traditional ‘GoPro’ – the action camera everyone thinks of under that name – is a sub-brand known as the Hero Black, now in its thirteenth generation.

The company has been very open about the demands that success has placed on the Hero Black camera; it still needs to be rugged, but filmmakers are starting to demand features like high resolution,

That’s where the Mission 1 series came along; a new ‘premium’ tier concentrating on the specs that people like me – photographers and video makers – are obsessed about.

The Mission 1 Pro, the camera I am testing, is the higher-spec of the first two cameras with built-in lenses (but a clever adaptor system). The third, which will come a little later, is a slightly different proposition – with a fully interchangeable lens system.

The key question – has GoPro done the right thing by, well, listening to requests from folk like me, and is it worth the investment?

GoPro Mission 1 Pro: Price

The Mission 1 Pro is $699.99 MSRP and $599.99 at GoPro.com for existing GoPro subscribers – that’s $100 more than the non-Pro version of the Mission 1, and notably more expensive than the Hero 13 Black, which will remain on sale, but is arguably the most compelling in terms of features.

GoPro are also creating a number of bundles – a Grip Edition ($779.99), Creator Edition ($1,099.99), and, coming later, an Ultimate Creator Edition $1,199.99.

GoPro Mission 1 Pro: Specs

GoPro Mission 1 Pro: Build and handling

If you’ve held one of the recent GoPro Hero Black cameras, the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro will not hold too many surprises for you. The essentials are very similar; a robust camera that gives an immediate feeling of confidence, with a waterproof door at one end.

That door is home to the battery, the USB-C port, and the MicroSD card slot (there is no additional onboard memory, unlike some competitors).

The battery supplied is a new 2150mAh “Enduro 2,” which is 13% more capacity than the Hero Black battery; however, the Enduro 1 battery will fit into the same slot, simply delivering slightly less life – good news for those who already own a GoPro.

The Enduro 2 batteries also boast a fast-charging tech which flies along, topping up about 80% in 20mins in my test.

Much like the tried-and-tested Hero Black, the camera design features a touchscreen at the back and an additional screen at the front next to the lens so selfies can be composed.

It isn't always easy to see this screen behind the lens protector, but it's only really a composition tool.

The lens itself is bigger, allowing for the 1-inch sensor that exists beneath it, and is cupped with a large rubber surround providing drop protection. This can be removed and pushed back into place reasonably easily. Moreover, the glass element that covers the lens can also be removed by twisting the mount, much like the Hero 12 Black and later, though of course it’s a different fitting.

This means it’s possible to easily replace a damaged cover, or fit lens adaptors, and these will identify themselves to the GoPro so it adjusts its settings accordingly – making it very easy to get the best possible results from attachments. From a user perspective, this is a little like the way a serious camera communicates with interchangeable lenses, though in fact it is one way; there is no focusing or adjustment taking place in the removable attachments.

It is especially ironic, though, given that the ILS version of the camera in this range (due in Q3 this year) has no means of identifying the lens attached, so focus adjustments will have to be entirely manual. That camera, though, is really more likely to be used for some specialist applications.

At the base of all these cameras is GoPro’s hinged doors, again as seen on previous Hero models. These have effective magnetic clips, which I certainly trust, for example, on the top of my cycle helmet. They fold out of the camera body, though, to replicate the traditional GoPro clip and which can survive even more extreme environments. The combined design remains excellent, and copes with the weight.

GoPro has added a new processor chip, the GP3, which offers more power than its predecessor. That is evident throughout the user experience, which just feels a lot less laggy than older GoPro cameras.

It has also been put to use with features like Subject Tracking, a video tuning mode for Dive that color-corrects automatically, and some processing in low-light images. Sport POV and Vlog are among others.

Stills photographers will appreciate the arrival of a grip (a little like the Insta360 one), and this is bolstered by the 50MP stills option as well as the standard 12, but it is in wide only because it uses the whole sensor. More usefully it's possible to take control of all the key exposure settings if you feel so inclined – though it's worth noting that there is no adjustable aperture, unlike the DJI Osmo Action 6.

The need for it on a camera this side is a matter for debate, of course, but in any case it is one less moving part!

GoPro Mission 1 Pro: Performance

When they handed the device to me to begin my early testing, the GoPro team explained that their imaging philosophy was not about creating excessive processing, even though there is now the capability of neural processing on board.

I think that is well evidenced in the very naturalistic-looking footage the camera produced in its default settings, though it wasn't always able to make perhaps the choice I'd have preferred about exposing for me in selfie / vlogging situations.

It was great to have the option of 10-Bit color, which is recorded with the new GP-Log2

Stills were genuinely impressive and I can see myself using this as a rugged compact camera, though it is a shame that the zoom has to be adjusted on the touchscreen.

As the adjustable visualizer below shows, the camera's built-in software has a great handle of very difficult light – better, arguably, than my Sony a7iii. The GoPro is wider than the 28mm option (as far as the kit lens on my Sony would offer), so took in even more bright and dark areas, yet

GoPro 12MP

Sony a7iii

The GoPro also offers a 50MP image which it described as 'W' (presumably 'wide') yet didn't seem to offer me any alternatives, I'm guessing because it was using every available pixel. Again, though, at default settings while the image is even wider than the standard photo mode, it handles the color in a way which feels more or less spot on despite the very harsh light.

The upshot is that the footage from the camera looks natural and can reasonably be intercut with other cameras.

To my eye, that is especially true of the low light mode, which is slightly less aggressive than some alternatives from DJI and Insta360. This might be a matter of personal preference – the more cinematic choice, perhaps? – but I think many will appreciate this approach. Moreover it's nice to finally have a GoPro that can compete in the low light territory at all.

GoPro Mission 1 Pro: Overall verdict

The camera produced some of the best footage I've ever seen from an action camera, and, for a company that has been languishing a little behind DJI and Insta360 in terms of the specification race, reaching that point seems like a significant achievement.

I genuinely feel like I've been experiencing a camera built with a philosophy much closer to mine, and that's a joy. I'd rather spend a little bit more to have the option of amazing frame-rate slow motion or really convincingly sharp 8K than spend nearly as much for something that cuts corners. Perhaps that's because I don't want to do the action in question too many times – and because I see these cameras taking over a lot of other jobs.

Catering for filmakers it is not without issues, of course. The camera is physically bigger, but that is addressed by GoPro's other smaller and lighter cameras (or perhaps some of the competition!) I would also argue that I still don't love a business model that seems to make subscription unavoidable, but at least there is a significant discount on the camera.

Some will wait, no doubt, for the micro 4/3rds swappable lens, but that won't be waterproof. This camera seems to me, for now, to be the cinematic best that cameras this rugged can actually be, and I love it.

Alternatives

How I test

I think the best way to get to know a camera is to take it out and use it, and that applies to action cameras especially. The Mission 1 Pro arrived in an especially sunny time and I've mostly been doing walks, so I imagine I'll be adding some additional thoughts when it cools enough for me to feel safe on my bike.

As a camera nerd and GoPro user, I’ve been following GoPro’s monumental shift into the Mission 1 series closely – but there’s a key term that I have yet to hear GoPro use to describe its new trio of 1-inch sensor cameras: action camera.

The brand best known for creating the first action cameras does not describe the new Mission 1, Mission 1 Pro and Mission 1 Pro ILS as such. Instead, GoPro’s latest announcements are littered with another key term: cinema camera.

When GoPro finally unveiled the full specifications – and price – after a series of teasers, I was pleasantly surprised at the mix of more advanced features for the price point. But, it’s hard to deny that the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro look closer to a GoPro action camera in appearance than a cinema camera.

I wouldn’t call the GoPro Mission 1 series an action camera, but I wouldn’t call it a cinema camera either. Instead, I feel like the newest high-end GoPros bridge the gap between action and cine cams – and if they live up to GoPro’s many promises when shipping begins on May 28, I think they could be quite popular.

One of the reasons that GoPros and action cameras have been so popular in the past is that they are incredibly easy to use. There are plenty of auto shooting modes and, with the fixed ultra-wide lens, everything stays in focus and within the frame. (This does not apply to the Mission 1 ILS, which uses manual focus.)

GoPros aren’t a point-and-shoot, but a mount-and-shoot. The simple shooting format has been a key feature for GoPros for a long time, as it enables even those who aren’t video experts to capture solid footage.

The action cameras are even used in TV shows when a traditional film crew isn’t possible. For example, the Artmeis II crew used GoPros to capture their experience for a National Geographic special.

But with the Mission 1 series, GoPro is going after creators who may not just be surfers, bikers and athletes looking to capture POV action. The Mission 1 Pro has a 1-inch sensor capable of 8K 60p video as well as 8K 30p in open gate. The processor has been improved for better performance and low-light shots, and the battery life is also much longer.

Yet the Mission 1 Pro doesn’t look much larger than the GoPro Hero13, carries a similar control layout and is still waterproof.

The Mission 1 Pro straddles the line between action camera and cinema camera – but I don’t think the camera’s ill-defined boundaries are a bad thing. By sitting somewhere between the two, it becomes highly flexible.

In the latest video shot on the Mission series, I lost count of the number of different ways that creators were using the cameras. Handheld as an underwater point-and-shoot. On a handle as a travel vlogging camera. Mounted on vehicles, gimbals, cages, cranes, drones, dollys, ziplines, selfie sticks.

There’s even a shot of a rig where a GoPro is sitting on an arm to take behind-the-scenes footage of another GoPro in action.

A camera with a 1-inch sensor isn’t going to beat out the cinema cameras with full frame and medium format sensors – but it could go places and in more dusty, wet conditions that those oversized cameras cannot. (Though I have to admit, the Mission 1 ILS looks comically small in some rigged-out cinema kits.)

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro defies categorization – but because the camera doesn’t quite fit in with the action cameras and doesn’t quite fit in with the cinema cameras, I can see several different types of creators drawn to the tiny, durable camera.

I can see serious athletes and longtime GoPro fans opting for one. I can see vloggers and content creators picking one up for the mix of resolution and portability. I can see it doubling as a point-and-shoot camera. And I can see even professional film crews who need POV shots, who can’t have a traditional film crew, or who simply need something smaller and more durable, being drawn to the camera.

Hybrid cameras have risen rapidly with the growth of video content, but the GoPro Mission 1 Pro feels like an entirely different kind of hybrid. It shoots both video and photos, yes, but the compact size, waterproof build, and plethora of available mounts make it a camera that is hybrid not just in dual types of content but in a wide range of scenarios.

I’m not entirely convinced that “cinema camera” is the right word for the Mission 1 Pro, but I don’t think it’s quite an action camera either. I’m eager to try one out and see if GoPro delivers on its many promises for the new series.

One thing that I’m sure of? This is a pivotal moment for the company that has needed to diversify beyond the action camera category for quite some time.

Both the GoPro Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro are available for pre-order, with retail shelf availability beginning May 28. The mirrorless Mission 1 ILS is expected to arrive later this year.

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GoPro’s ability to stream POV feed to a smartphone and adjust the settings has been part of a patent dispute for over a decade, but a ruling from a federal judge on May 14 may have freed the action camera giant from an $8.2 million payment.

Last week, California District Judge William Orrick granted a post-trial motion that cleared the action camera giant from a $8.2 million patent infringement suit posed by lower courts in a case between GoPro and Contour IP Holdings LLC. (That converts to about £6.1 million / AU$11.6 million / CA$11.3 million.)

Orrick also turned down Contour’s request for a new trial that sought even more damages of $172 million (about £128.4 million / AU$247.7 million / $CA236.8 million).

The court case dates back to 2015 when Countour, a holdings company that owns and manages patents, and iON Worldwide filed a lawsuit against GoPro, claiming that several Hero action cameras infringed on a patent for the tech that allows the action cameras to have wireless real-time viewing and control through a mobile app. iON, a former maker of cylindrical-shaped action cameras, declared bankruptcy in 2016 and was later dropped from the lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that GoPro infringed on Contour’s patent that generates two video streams – one high quality to save to the memory card and a secondary lower quality stream. That lower-quality stream can be sent wirelessly, enabling live view of the camera feed from a mobile app as well as remote controls.

The patent infringement case doesn’t include more recent cameras from the action camera giant but included the GoPro Hero7 Black, Hero7 Silver, Hero7 White, and Hero8 Black, as well as the original Max. There was some deliberation on whether the Hero9 Black should be included in that infringement, but newer models since 2020 were not part of the case.

The claims have been in and out of the court system for more than a decade. In 2022, a judge ruled that the technology couldn’t be patented because it was “an abstract idea executed in a generic environment.” But when Contour appealed, a Federal Circuit reversed that decision in 2024.

In a trial in September 2025, a jury found that GoPro did not infringe on most of Contour’s patent claims, but did side with Contour on one “Live Preview” tech infringement, leaving GoPro with a $8.2 million payment.

However, the judge’s decision last week wiped out that debt, saying that the claim was invalid.

Contour could potentially file for an appeal, but, for now, GoPro has told investors that it has “no liability arising from the case.”

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Action camera giant GoPro is considering a potential sale of the company or another “strategic event” – and it’s a move that founder and CEO, Nicholas Woodman, says he “fully supports.”

Earlier this week, GoPro announced that it would find a financial advisor to help review potential strategies, which “could include a sale of the company or merger.”

Just two days later, the company announced that it had retained Houlidhan Lokey, Inc, a global investment bank with experience in both the defense and consumer sectors, to aid in that investigation.

While the news does not mean that a sale is certain, the announcement makes it clear that the action camera goliath is seriously considering a potential sale or merger.

The announcement actually stems from “several unsolicited inbound strategic inquiries” that GoPro received after it announced that it was looking into expanding into the defense and aerospace industries.

Woodman, who declined part of his salary after laying off 15% of the GoPro workforce, says that the potential change has his backing.

"I fully support the effort to review a potential sale of the company to maximize shareholder value, and this process has the full support of GoPro's Board of Directors and management team.”

At this point in the process, it’s unclear if the move will result in a sale, merger or another change – and GoPro notes that it has not set a timeline for reviewing the process, either.

While the announcement doesn’t come with a certain sale, one thing seems certain: GoPro is at least considering a potential sale.

The move comes as the action camera specialist has struggled amid rising competition in the market. In the first quarter of 2026, GoPro posted a 26% revenue loss year-over-year, stemming from a 29& drop in action camera sales.

The move, however, comes shortly after GoPro announced the new Mission 1 series, a more cinema-oriented line with larger 1-inch sensors. The Mission 1 line launches at the end of May with two fixed-lens models, with a mirrorless body expected to follow later this year.

GoPro’s recent expansion beyond action cameras – with both the defense industry and the launch of the cinema series – may be key to the offers the California-based company considers.

Woodman says that GoPro “has substantial unrecognized value,” hinting that the action camera giant’s reputation for durable, portable cameras could be integrated into other industries, much like the announcement to look into the defense sector and the Mission 1 cinema series.

For GoPro fans and users of the longstanding lineup of action cameras, the potential sale or merger could bring significant changes. Just how significant it will likely depend on what companies are in the running.

A sale to a company in the defense market, for example, could mean a significant shift compared to a sale to a consumer electronics or camera company.

The investment advisor that GoPro has selected has “strong ties” with both defense and consumer sectors, GoPro says.

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The one point-and-shoot category that has weathered the storm of smartphone photography (pun intended) better than most is the waterproof compact camera. I’ve been writing about cameras for more than ten years, and one of the cameras that I’ve seen requested repeatedly is a waterproof compact with a larger sensor.

But with the launch of GoPro’s Mission series with one-inch sensors, I have to wonder, are photographers finally getting that wish, just in an unexpected form?

Don’t get me wrong, the GoPro Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro are not point-and-shoot cameras, or at least, not in their native form. The two new fixed-lens cameras look quite similar to GoPro’s flagship Hero cameras.

However, the launch comes with a point-and-shoot grip that converts those cameras into something that feels more like a classic compact camera, including a grip and a larger lever at the top that presses the camera’s shutter button.

GoPro isn’t the first to do this – Insta360 also has a grip option for the Ace 2, while third-party brands like SmallRig also offer add-on grips for action cameras. But, the grip combined with the one-inch sensor has me wondering just how well the Mission 1 could work as a waterproof compact camera.

While GoPro is calling the Mission series cinema cameras, the list of features hints at cameras that seem more than capable of taking still photos. The Mission 1 cameras use a one-inch Quad Bayer sensor. The Quad Bayer design means the camera can take 50MP photos, or combine four pixels together for a 12MP photo mode for less noise in low light.

And, like the Heroes before it, the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro are still waterproof – down to 66 feet / 20m without extra housing.

The one feature that doesn’t quite feel like a classic point-and-shoot is the lens. The Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro use a lens that’s roughly equivalent to a 15mm lens on a full-frame camera. Like most action cameras, the lens uses fixed focus, which is fantastic for fast action, but limits shots like macro.

Using the Mission 1 (or the Mission 1 Pro) as a compact camera, then, it won’t have the zoom or the macro mode of popular waterproof compact cameras like the OM System Tough TG-7. But, the trade-off for that fixed lens is the larger sensor with a higher 50MP maximum resolution.

What’s perhaps most enticing is that the Mission 1 actually slides in at a competitive cost compared to popular waterproof compacts like the TG-7, which retails for $649 / £499 / AU$699 / CA$649.

In comparison, the most affordable Mission 1 camera – which doesn’t have 8K open gate but should have identical photo capabilities – will retail for $599 / £529 / CA$819 AU$949. That’s less than the TG-7 in the US, but slightly more in other regions.

Of course, adding the grip will typically add to the cost – though GoPro is including the point-and-shoot grip as a free add-on with pre-orders at the moment.

The GoPro Mission 1 series has only just been announced – it’s a bit too early to tell if the GoPro Mission 1 will, in fact, work as a modular sort of replacement for a waterproof compact camera. GoPro hasn’t even shared full specs yet.

But, based on what we know so far ahead of the camera’s official shipping date, I think it could be a distinct possibility that the GoPro Mission 1 could potentially be that larger sensor waterproof compact camera that photographers have been asking for – just in an unexpected form factor.

Pre-orders for the Mission Series are open directly from GoPro's online store.

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Wildlife YouTubers are capturing crazier and crazier footage, and sometimes this footage helps expand our knowledge of the natural world. Well, that’s exactly what Barny Dillarstone, a videomaker from the UK, does as he travels the world capturing images of exotic marine life.

Dillarstone is an established YouTuber, and his signature tool is a night vision camera, which he plunges into the cold, dark depths of the world’s oceans to reveal the weird and wonderful life that inhabits them.

On his latest project, Dillarstone dropped the camera to 700ft (213m) into the Indian Ocean off the coast of Nusa Penida, an island that forms part of the province of Bali, Indonesia, and is known to locals as “Black Magic Island.”

Dillarstone plunged the camera into the pitch-dark nighttime waters with bait attached to attract visitors. Speaking to Surfer, he said: “Across several days, we recorded all sorts of strange deepwater creatures, including hound sharks, moray eels, and enormous stingrays.”

According to Dillarstone, this is the first time anyone has recorded at night here, and also the first time footage has revealed an Indonesian hound shark alive in the wild. In the YouTube video Dillarstone published following the project, he says that he “consulted experts” who confirmed this.

Perhaps more frightening than an elusive shark is the giant stingaree that was also caught on camera. In the interview with Surfer, Dillarstone said: “This is the biggest [ray] of them all — the giant stingaree. This male is not only enormous — it’s as long as I am tall — but strong and determined.”

He went on to explain: “Its power is extraordinary, with jaws designed to crush hard-shelled prey on the seabed. Needless to say, the sharks were happy watching from a distance.”

It never fails to blow my mind just how advanced camera technologies are getting, and I hope people like Barny Dillarstone continue capturing world-first footage of our oceans’ fascinating inhabitants.

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GoPro has used the Hero name since 2004, but the action camera giant is ushering a new era of cinema cameras with the Mission 1 series – and the upcoming 8K, 50MP cameras are already taking home awards.

GoPro announced the Mission 1 series ahead of the NAB Show and, rather than calling the tiny cameras “action cameras,” GoPro is calling the Mission 1, Mission 1 Pro, and Mission 1 Pro ILS “cinema cameras.” That’s due to the series's larger one-inch sensors and 8K capabilities, which, excluding the more affordable Mission 1, are also in open gate.

GoPro – who recently announced layoffs for 23 percent of its staff – needs the Mission 1 series to be well-received. The cameras don’t ship until May 28, but, recent awards suggest that the upcoming cameras have been well received.

During the NAB Show, the first time that the cameras were on display, the series took home three show awards, including the Best In Show award from RedShark News for the full series, while GoPro’s first mirrorless camera, the Mission 1 Pro ILS, won the CineD Best of Show award for the camera category and was one of ten to receive the ProductionHUB Awards of Excellence.

GoPro wasn’t among the awards given out by the NAB Show, where the Overall Project award went to BlackMagic DaVinci Resolve 21, which now supports photos as well as videos, and awards in the camera category went to Zenith Cameras, the Fujifilm GFX Eterna 55, Sony PXW-Z300 Camcorder, and the PortalCam spatial Camera for virtual production.

The GoPro Mission series was one of the key announcements during the National Association of Broadcasters Show held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the awards hint at the cameras being well-received, alongside GoPro opening pre-orders early due to “enthusiasm from the community.”

All three of the newly announced Mission 1 cameras use the same one-inch Quad Bayer sensor with video up to 8K and photos up to 50MP. The GoPro Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro look more like a classic GoPro with a fixed 15mm equivalent lens. The key difference between those two is that the model without the Pro in the name tops out at 8K30, and Open Gate is only available at 4K and lower resolutions. That differentiation means the GoPro Mission 1 retails for $599 / £529 / CA$819 / AU$949 while the Mission 1 Pro retails for $699 / £599 / CA$949 / AU$1099.

The third camera in the lineup is perhaps the most unusual: The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS is the action camera giant’s first mirrorless camera. The ILS launches later than the other two models, expected sometime in the third quarter of 2026.

Without the ultra-wide fixed lens that allows GoPros to use a fixed focus in design that keeps everything a certain distance from the lens in focus, the Mission 1 Pro ILS is a manual focus-only camera. The ILS uses a Micro Four Thirds mount on a one-inch sensor, which means a 3x crop factor. The ILS will list for the same price as the Mission 1 Pro.

Pre-orders for the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro are already open from GoPro’s online store.

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GoPro may be best known for action cameras, but if there’s one thing that’s almost just as synonymous with the GoPro name, it’s the accessories. The launch of the GoPro Mission series, then, unsurprisingly, came with several new camera accessories. But what’s most surprising? Most of them are backwards compatible with the Hero series.

The GoPro Mission series looks like a classic GoPro action camera, but the new series leans more towards high-end video with larger one-inch sensors capable of up to 8K open gate, along with the brand’s first mirrorless camera.

But another thing that GoPro cameras are known for is durability – I imagine NASA isn’t the only one still using an 11-year-old GoPro. Plus, the Mission 1 Pro ILS isn’t a replacement for the Hero13 Black, which will continue to remain available.

While some mods are exclusively designed for the Mission series, like the new point-and-shoot grip, ND filters, and Media Mod, these new GoPro accessories are backwards compatible with some Hero series cameras.

GoPro Wireless Mic System

With the Mission series, GoPro also announced its first mic – and it’s compatible with a number of cameras, including non-GoPro models. The wireless mic set has a USB-C receiver that allows it to work with a number of cameras and smartphones. GoPro Hero Black models and Mission series cameras have an easy pairing mode, GoPro says.

The mic offers 24-bit, 48kHz audio and works from up to 150 meters away. The kit includes two mics, a receiver, and a charging case, with a battery life of about 6.5 hours per mic.

GoPro Vertical Mount Adapter

Social media is all about those vertical videos right now – but GoPro hasn’t launched its own vertical mount until now. The Vertical Mount Adapter makes shooting vertically with a GoPro faster, even on mounts that don’t have the ability to natively tilt the camera to its side. The L-shaped adapter gives the GoPro three attachment points instead of mounting exclusively from the bottom. The adapter is also magnetic, so it’s made for quick swaps from vertical to horizontal and back again.

The Vertical Mount Adapter, which is made with aluminum, is compatible with the Hero12 Black and Hero13 Black cameras as well as the new Mission series. It mounts on other GoPro accessories using the traditional finger mounts, magnetic mount, or a 1/4-20 mounting tripod thread.

GoPro Volta 2

I’ve used the original GoPro Volta to keep a GoPro running long enough to capture a time-lapse of the northern lights all night long. GoPro is refreshing this popular accessory, which is an external battery, mini tripod, and grip all in one.

The update offers an even higher capacity battery at 5800mAH, up from 4900mAH. That’s good for up to 9 hours of 4K30 video.

GoPro Light Mod 2

One of the biggest accessories that can improve video footage is having enough light. The GoPro Light Mod 2 is a constant LED light that’s 33 percent brighter than the earlier version at 200 lumens. The light has a cold shoe mount, so it’s compatible with any camera that has a cold shoe mount, so it works with earlier GoPros with a media mod and can also be mounted separately.

Enduro 2 Battery

New batteries are typically not compatible with older cameras because they are a different size, but the new GoPro Enduro 2 battery is compatible with both the Mission series and the Hero13 Black. The catch? The battery life isn’t as long on the Hero13 Black as it is on the Mission cameras. A new charger that charges two Enduro 2 batteries at once is also launching.

The new GoPro accessories won’t be available until May at the earliest, but the company is launching each one on a rolling basis, so others may not arrive until the third quarter of the year (along with the Mission 1 Pro ILS mirrorless).

Pricing details have not yet been announced.

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The launch of the GoPro Mission 1 series is arguably the action camera giant’s biggest launch in several years, marking a shift towards high-end video. But in a letter to investors, CEO Nicholas Woodman is already hinting at what’s next for the company, including “utility-focused products” planned for 2027 and beyond.

The Mission series marks a major shift from the action cameras that have almost exclusively carried the Hero name since the first-ever GoPro camera in 2004. The Mission series uses larger one-inch sensors with 8K 60p recording, and while the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro take on a familiar GoPro form factor, the Mission 1 Pro ILS puts the action camera maker into the mirrorless arena for the first time.

This shift comes at a perilous time for the American camera brand – the company’s stock is at risk of becoming delisted, but has shown signs of recovery with stock over $1 since the announcement of the Mission series. The company has announced a 23 percent reduction in staff following a 25 percent drop in the number of action cameras sold last year.

But now, in a letter to shareholders as part of the company’s annual report, Woodman highlights where he sees the company headed next. The longtime CEO and founder’s boldest statement? GoPro isn’t an everyday camera.

“If your imaging needs are everyday…then we’re not the brand for you,” Woodman wrote. “But if you’re pushing the boundaries of capture and require mission-critical imaging tools that enable content like the world has never seen…then GoPro is your camera company.”

In a way, Woodman’s statement makes some sense – the number of smartphones that are increasingly becoming waterproof is likely one of the causes behind the company’s dwindling sales numbers, along with increasing competition from brands like DJI and Insta360.

But while a growing number of smartphones are capable of everyday waterproof captures, there’s also a growing number of content creators, a category that fits somewhere between consumers and professionals, that would be a smart target for the action camera company.

The launch of the Mission series raises questions about whether or not fans will see the long-awaited GoPro Hero14 Black. When I asked GoPro about the Hero13 Black, the company assured me that the camera would remain available but – as every company does – declined to comment on future products.

Woodman also dropped a hint about 2027 products, listing the new GP3 processor cameras (the Mission series), a motorcycle helmet being built with AGV, and ”the new specialized, utility-focused products we have planned for 2027 and beyond.”

“Utility-focused” could mean a lot of different things, but the phrase could tie into a major theme in Woodman’s letter: that GoPros are “tools, not toys.”

“As we look to grow, we consider what opportunities we have to develop imaging tools that become indispensable – tools, not toys– for markets and end users that need them most,” Woodman wrote. “How can we increase GoPro’s utility and relevance to new and existing customers in a manner that in parallel drives brand, financial, and shareholder value creation. Again, more tool…less toy.”

The letter comes along with the information for shareholders ahead of a vote, including proposing adding additional shares to create reserve funds to “ attract, motivate, and retain qualified employees.”

The Mission series is likely a critical moment for the longstanding action camera company. The company needs to strike a balance between retaining existing GoPro fans and attracting new customers. The first two Mission cameras start shipping on May 28, with the Mission Pro ILS slated for sometime in the third quarter of 2026.

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The GoPro Hero 12 Black Creator Edition Bundle dropping to $349 at B&H feels like one of those deals that immediately makes sense the second you see it.

That is a straight $200 cut from its usual $549 price, and for anyone who has been waiting to jump into action cameras or upgrade an older GoPro, this is the kind of discount that moves it from “maybe later” to “buy it now.”

What makes this offer hit harder is that this is not just the camera body on its own. GoPro's Creator Edition bundle includes the Hero 12 Black, the Media Mod, the Light Mod, and the Volta battery grip, which turn it into a much more complete content creation kit right out of the box.

That matters, because this bundle is clearly built for people who want to vlog, film, livestream, and shoot on the move without having to piece the setup together one accessory at a time.

The camera itself still has plenty going for it, too. B&H lists the Hero 12 Black as capable of 5.3K60 video, 4K120, 2.7K240, and 27MP RAW photos, and it also brings HDR capture, HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization, and improved battery performance over the previous generation. In real terms, that means this is still a seriously capable little camera for creators who want crisp footage, slow motion, and stabilization that can handle movement without the whole thing falling apart.

What really makes this deal stand out to me, though, is the value. B&H’s own related pricing shows the regular Hero 12 Black at $339.99, which means this Creator Edition bundle is sitting at just a few dollars more while adding the creator-focused accessories that make the system far more useful. At that point, it stops being a question of whether the bundle is worth it and starts looking like one of the smartest GoPro buys on the site right now.

If you are a content creator, traveler, cyclist, hiker, or just someone who wants a camera you can throw into a bag and use anywhere, this is the sort of deal that is hard to ignore.

The Hero 12 Black Creator Edition was already designed as an all-in-one package, but at $349, it feels less like a premium bundle and more like a bargain setup for anyone serious about video. For me, that $200 saving is not just a nice discount; it is what turns this into a genuinely compelling buy.

GoPro is launching its most advanced cameras yet, but the announcement of the new GoPro Mission 1 series was lacking one key detail: price. Now, at the NAB Show, the action camera giant has finally revealed the price point for its Mission 1 Pro, Mission 1, and Mission 1 Pro ILS cameras – and it's higher than the Hero13 Black but lower than some popular compact cameras with one-inch sensors.

In the US, both the GoPro Mission 1 Pro and upcoming Mission 1 Pro ILS mirrorless will list for $699, while the Mission 1 will sit at $599. Existing GoPro subscribers get $100 off that price.

In the UK, the GoPro Mission 1 Pro and ILS list for £599, with the Mission 1 at £529. Subscribers get £90 off.

In Canada, the Mission 1 Pro and ILS list for CA$949, with the Mission 1 at CA$819. GoPro subscribers save CA$140.

In Australia, the Mission 1 Pro and ILS sit at AU$1099 and the Mission 1 at AU$949. Subscribers get an AU$150 discount.

GoPro also opened pre-orders earlier than the original announcement, noting it was due to unexpected early enthusiasm about the new series. Pre-orders are open directly from GoPro in the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada for both the Mission 1 Pro and Mission 1 and include a free point-and-shoot grip and one year of a GoPro Premium subscription.

Along with being available on its own, the new Mission series cameras will also be available in bundles with accessories, like the new point-and-shoot grip and the new wireless mic.

The pre-orders for the Mission 1 Pro ILS are expected to be out in the third quarter of 2026.

While that price is a step up from the Hero series, the list price on the Mission cameras is actually better than what I was expecting. When GoPro announced the Mission series, I speculated that the series may be around twice the price of the GoPro Hero13 Black’s $429 / £399 / AU$649 list price. I was also expecting the mirrorless to be more than the fixed lens models. But the prices are less than twice the cost of the Hero13 Black, and the ILS sits at the same price as the Mission 1 Pro.

The Mission 1 series uses a larger one-inch sensor to record 8K, and (excluding the entry-level Mission 1 without the Pro in the name) that’s in open gate too. That comes along with bodies that look a lot like you’d expect a GoPro to look, including a compact dual-screen chassis and, on the fixed lens cameras, waterproofing.

Plus, GoPro is calling the Mission 1 Pro a cinema camera, not an action camera, which is a category that typically comes with a higher price tag. Those details all hinted towards a price point that would be significantly different than the Hero series.

The Mission 1, the most budget-friendly of the three new cameras, offers the same sensor, stabilization, and waterproofing of the Pro model, but the video tops out at 8K 30p, and open gate is only available on the 4K120fps and lower resolutions.

How does the GoPro Mission 1 Pro price compare?

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro is really a camera that’s quite different from existing options, which makes comparing the price point to competing models tougher – but not impossible.

Take a look at compact vlogging cameras with a one-inch sensor, for example. The Sony ZV-1 II lists for about $899 / £870 / AU$1,349. The Canon PowerShot V1 is similarly priced at $899.99 / £959.99 / AU$1399.95, though that has a 1.4-type sensor. But, those are point-and-shoot cameras and lack the waterproofing and specs like 8K/60p video and 4K/240fps slow-mo of the Mission series.

A better comparison may be looking at GoPro’s key competitors in the action camera segment, like DJI and Insta360. The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 can also shoot at 8K – though only up to 30fps and has a smaller 1/1.3-inch sensor. That action camera sits at $399 / £410 / AU$679.

The newly announced DJI Pocket 4 has a one-inch sensor with 4K/120fps, 37MP stills, and is built into a gimbal rather than using electronic stabilization. That lists for £445 / €499 / AU$769 but, thanks to the FCC’s DJI ban, isn’t available in the US.

The Sony RX0 II is a waterproof camera with a one-inch sensor, but it tops out at 4K video and sells for $998 / £730 / AU$1,359.

GoPro is calling the Mission series cinema cameras, but even the budget Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema 4K ($1095 / £1,140 / AU$1,499) uses larger Four Thirds sensors.

GoPro really needs the Mission series to do well – the company recently posted $93.5 million in losses and announced a 23 percent reduction in staff. The right price will likely be key to how well the Mission series sells.

As a GoPro user and pro photographer, I’m excited to see how well those Mission 1 specs hold up in real-world use. Shipping begins on May 28.

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GoPro is the brand that defines the action camera. Many people I know, to my frustration, still call all of the neat little actioncams devices "GoPros" even when they're made by DJI, Insta360, or one of the other rival manufacturers. That is the kind of brand success that belonged to tranformational devices such as Sony's Walkman or Apple's iPod.

Now, though, like those products before it, the GoPro is struggling. There is less need for it, and those competitors have gotten good.

How has GoPro sought to solve the problem? Well, the company's new range of Mission 1 cameras offers a new name and the option of a significantly more irritating camera mechanism.

"Irritating you say? Are you mad – this is the choice photographers have been crying out for!" you respond.

I know what I mean. But let me explain.

Well, GoPro never really used autofocus on its previous cameras, so the company might not think it's a big thing.

The GoPro Hero 13 Black, the top of the line before the Mission 1 Pro ILS came along, had fixed focus. Objects in the foreground and the background appeared in focus (the reason for this was that the image sensor was relatively small).

Didn't GoPro say the Hero13 had interchangeable lenses?

Well, not exactly, though the company certainly gave that impression. The Hero 13 had swappable lens modifiers (Lens Mods) and filters and what made them relatively unique was the arrival of GoPro's 'HB-Series' which delivered auto-detection.

What that meant to the user was that when you put a lens modifier or filter onto the camera's main lens (which never changed), you saw what looked a bit like a part you shouldn't see for a bit – and, when you had finished, the camera sensed the change and made the necessary software adjustments.

What didn't happen, unlike the new ILS, is that you couldn't actually see the image sensor and (if you wanted to for some crazy reason) reach inside and prod it.

I'm sure one of the lenses was focusable?

That's right. The Macro Lens Mod had a focusing ring so the focus could be adjusted – traditional variable manual focus. The Macro lens could focus down to 11cm, while the standard lens was limited to about 60cm (problematic for selfies).

So that's what is happening again. Manual focus or Fixed Focus?

Yes and no. Yes, the focus will be manual, so a bit like the Macro Lens Mod on the Hero 13, but the Mission 1 cameras boast larger image sensors of 1-inch across the diagonal. That should mean that users wouldn't be able to take advantage of 'most' of the focal range being 'close enough' to in focus without the assistance of AF.

So there will likely be a need to adjust the focus, especially if a subject is relatively near the camera and any one of hundreds of MFT lenses is being used – but that from a camera without the ability to do so (or much in the battery tank if it did have the ability).

Which makes me think something worse...

Which leads me to this alternate theory about the Mission 1 Pro ILS. GoPro doesn't care about it.

It's for attention.

After all, if you could get an interchangeable lens, how much do you really want one with a 3x crop factor?

The other cameras are actually slated to arrive within a reasonable timeframe – around six weeks from now – but there is no fixed date for the mirrorless.

The Mission 1 fixed-lens cameras are clearly a replacement for the Hero 14 – designed to take on the large image sensor and adjustable aperture of the DJI Osmo Action 6,

Call me a cynic, but after all the delays that faced the GoPro Max 2 (which did, admittedly, make it to market in the end), it is hard to be convinced by news of new cameras from GoPro that seem to have R&D difficulties and are yet to get a fixed date.

As my colleague Hillary – explained, even if it does work as described, it sounds problematic. Lenses are going to partially block the front LCD. Stabilization sounds like it might be tricky, depending on the additional crop.

Is this really going to be a camera, or is it a hack project to get a few looks at a trade show before what will amount to be a rebranding of 'Hero 14' as 'Mission 1' and 'Mission 1 Pro'?

Only time will tell.

GoPro is entering a new era with the launch of the Mission series. But while the April 14 announcement of the GoPro Mission 1, Mission 1 Pro, and Mission 1 Pro ILS came full of details like open gate 8K60 from a one-inch sensor, a key detail has yet to be revealed: price.

The Mission series is GoPro’s move into more cinema-grade cameras, sporting two fixed lens cameras and one mirrorless body that takes Micro Four Thirds lenses. All three Mission cameras have one-inch sensors larger than those of the brand’s longstanding Hero series.

But one detail that the company has yet to share? How much that sensor upgrade is going to cost. The price of the GoPro Mission 1 Pro, along with the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro ILS, have not yet been announced.

It’s not unusual for a camera announcement to come without an official price, but thankfully, it doesn’t seem that GoPro fans will have long to wait. GoPro says that the price will be unveiled during the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is slated for April 19-22.

While I’m fully expecting to find out the price of the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro in the coming days, I wouldn’t be surprised to have a longer wait for pricing details on the ILS mirrorless. The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS without a built-in lens isn’t launching until the third quarter of 2026, and without an exact launch date, I won’t be surprised if the price on the ILS model doesn’t come until later.

The Mission series is a major change for the action camera giant – while it may be easy to speculate on the price of the Hero cameras with its longstanding history, I’m less confident trying to guess the price point for the new cameras.

The Mission 1 Pro will certainly come at a higher price than the Hero13 Black, so guesses under $429 / £399 / AU$649 are just wishful thinking. The question is, how much more?

Looking at the price point of a few other cameras can offer some hints. The Sony ZV-1 II also has a one-inch sensor, and that’s priced at around $899 / £870 / AU1,349. The Canon PowerShot V1 has a 1.4-type sensor, and that’s priced at $899.99 / £959.99 / AU$1399.95.

But comparing the Mission series to a vlogging compact camera is like comparing apples to potatoes. Those point-and-shoots have zoom, the Mission 1 Pro does not, but it has 8K60 open gate too.

Another key factor? Waterproof cameras tend to be more expensive than non-waterproof options with similar specs, and the fixed lens Mission 1 models are waterproof without additional housing (the ILS is not waterproof).

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS is even harder to speculate on. While there have been one-inch sensor mirrorless cameras before, cameras like the Nikon 1 series are well in the past. And while the one-inch sensor suggests something more affordable than a budget APS-C camera, the specs like 8K60 open gate don’t sound cheap.

GoPro calls the Mission series cinema cameras, a category that isn't known for being cheap, but the one-inch sensor has me hoping that the Mission Series will be a budget alternative to high-end cinema cameras.

I can only guess at the cost of the GoPro Mission 1 Pro – and the slightly less speced out Mission 1 without the Pro in the name. I think price will be a major factor in just how well the Mission 1 series does.

But, according to GoPro’s announcement, the pricing will be revealed at the NAB Show, so GoPro fans likely only have a few more days to wait to find out.

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The brand that has become a household name for action cameras has ventured into mirrorless cameras for the first time. The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS brings several features from its longstanding action camera line into a tiny mirrorless camera with a 50MP one-inch sensor and a Micro Four Thirds mount.

But bringing the GoPro-like features into mirrorless cameras for the first time means that the Mission 1 Pro ILS is unlike any other mirrorless camera on the market. For starters, the Mission 1 ILS looks exactly how I’d imagined a GoPro with no lens would look, including the front and rear screens and a rather compact body. Surprisingly, it’s not much heavier than the Hero13 Black at 197g – only 38g / 1.34 ounces more than the earlier action camera.

But while the Mission 1 ILS brings GoPro’s style and yes, it’s much-loved stabilization, to the mirrorless world, the camera’s list of features isn’t without its oddities, including a mismatched sensor and mount and a lack of autofocus.

I’m a photographer who often uses a GoPro to shoot behind-the-scenes videos while I’m using my mirrorless camera. I sat down with GoPro to take a deep dive into the company’s first-ever mirrorless camera.

GoPro Mission 1 ILS: A one-inch sensor with Micro Four Thirds lenses

The GoPro Mission 1 ILS uses a one-inch sensor capable of 50MP stills and open gate video up to 8K60p, with slow-mo modes for 4K120p and 1080 at 960 fps. The camera supports 10-bit GP-Log2 and will have LUTs for color editing. The Mission 1 Pro and Mission 1 action cameras use the same sensor.

The camera uses a Micro Four Thirds lenses – a move that makes a lot of sense for a first-ever mirrorless, as that means the Mission 1 ILS will be compatible with hundreds of existing lenses at launch, without having to wait for a range of lenses to be developed.

The one-inch sensor is smaller than the Micro Four Thirds format that GoPro is borrowing the lens mount from, which will give the camera a 3x crop factor. A 50mm lens, for example, will look like a 150mm lens.

That’s going to help GoPro’s first mirrorless have an advantage with getting telephoto reach and close-up macro. However, that will make getting wide-angle shots more challenging – though not impossible. Lenses like the Olympus 7-14mm will act like a 21-42mm lens – so significantly less wide-angle than the 15mm equivalent lens that’s mounted on the fixed lens cameras in the Mission series.

The Mission 1 ILS isn’t the first mirrorless camera to use a one-inch sensor – Nikon’s now defunct 1 series also used a one-inch sensor on compact mirrorless cameras, with its own bespoke range of lenses, launched between 2011 and 2018 before the shift to the full-frame Z Mount system. Like the Nikon 1 series, the Mission 1 ILS is a rather compact mirrorless system – but unlike the Nikon 1, it’s launching at a time when compact cameras are trending.

GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS: A surprisingly compact design

GoPro says the Mission series is the smallest, lightest 8K open gate cameras yet – and the ILS is actually lighter than the Mission 1 Pro with a built-in lens. The GoPro mirrorless weighs 197g / 6.94oz with a battery installed – although that, of course, doesn’t include the weight of whatever lens is paired with the camera body. In comparison, the Hero13 Black is 159g / 5.6 oz – just 38g / 1.34oz lighter.

The camera body measures 89.6 x 58.7 x 46.1 mm (3.52 x 2.3 x 1.8 inches) – that’s less than 20mm / 0.7 inches wider than GoPro’s Hero13 Black.

The body will have a similar build quality to the fixed lens Mission cameras, but, since the lens is interchangeable, the ILS camera isn’t waterproof. GoPro did note that, if you mount a weather-sealed lens to the front, the camera would be splash-resistant, but it will need a housing to go underwater.

That compact size doesn’t leave much room for physical controls, but GoPro still fit in an LCD screen at the back and the front both. Most controls will be adjusted using the screen, which does have a revamped user interface and full manual controls as well as auto modes. Like the company’s action cameras, the Mission 1 Pro ILS uses microSD cards.

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS doesn’t have autofocus

While GoPro’s action cameras use fixed focus, that’s not possible with an interchangeable lens camera. The Mission 1 Pro ILS is manual focus only.

Manual focus only cameras aren’t uncommon in the cinema camera world, where many creators prefer to manually focus or use rigs with follow focus systems. But, it is uncommon for cinema cameras and vlogging cameras targeting a more entry-level creator to skip out on the autofocus.

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS seems poised as a prosumer model straddling the gap between action cameras and cinema cameras. Using manual focus will make using the ILS come with a higher learning curve than the Mission 1 Pro with a built-in, fixed focus lens.

Creators can still mimic the fixed focus technique using zone focusing, a longstanding technique that uses a narrower aperture to keep anything at a certain distance in focus. But, this technique will still have that higher learning curve than using a camera with autofocus.

One of the recurring rumors that I’ve seen over and over has been that GoPro would create a mirrorless camera – and now the action camera giant has finally gone and done just that. While the ILS carries the stabilization and compact design GoPro is known for, it comes with a 3x crop factor and manual focus.

GoPro needs a big win right now as the company continues to post financial losses and announces layoffs. The big question is, is the Mission 1 Pro ILS the win that the action camera giant needs right now? As a photographer who uses both mirrorless and GoPro action cameras, I’m intrigued by the stabilization, the 8K video, and the tiny design – but I really wish the camera had autofocus.

While GoPro’s new fixed lens Mission cameras will arrive at the end of May, GoPro fans will have to wait longer for the mirrorless camera. The camera is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2026 – so sometime between July and September.

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GoPro has crammed its iconic stabilization and durability into three cameras with one-inch sensors – and one of them is a mirrorless camera. The GoPro Mission 1 series evolves the action camera giant's lineup into the next generation using 50MP, 8K60p one-inch sensors inside the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro action cameras and the Mission 1 Pro ILS mirrorless cinema camera.

All three cameras use the same sensor – a one-inch sensor with a Quad Bayer design capable of taking up to 50MP stills – and the new GP3 processor. That sensor and processor combo is mixed with the stabilization and durability that GoPro is known for (though the Mission One Pro ILS won’t be waterproof), but also tweaks some of the complaints among Hero users, including up to 5 hours of recording time.

The Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro are both high-end action cameras that feel like a natural evolution of the Hero series. But the same sensor and processor will also be coming to a varrioless variant in the fall, the GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS, which is set for launch later in 2026, which mixes that one-inch sensor with a Micro Four Thirds lens mount.

The Mission 1 series, announced on April 14, is a monumental change for the company, which has used the Hero name since its first-ever camera in 2004 – only straying from the Hero name with its 360 cameras like the GoPro Max and GoPro Fusion, and the Karma drone.

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro and Mission 1

Using the same one-inch 50MP sensor that will also feature in the mirrorless variant, the GoPro Mission 1 Pro is the flagship of the two action cameras, with video specs that top out at 8K60p, slow-mo at 4K 240 fps, and 1080 at 960 fps. That feature list includes open gate, which GoPro says uses every pixel on the sensor for more cropping flexibility for creators who need to deliver video in multiple aspect ratios. 10-bit color with GP-Log2 is also included.

Those video specs have enough resolution that, if users don’t want to use the 50MP still photo mode, the stills pulled from the 8K footage are still 44MP. Similarly, bursts are up to 60 fps. RAW photos are supported, while SuperPhoto supports HDR JPEGs.

The Quad Bayer sensor design is one that allows four neighboring pixels to be used as one, powering a lower resolution mode that tends to create less noise than shooting at the maximum resolution. For the Mission 1 sensors, a 12MP photo mode and 4K Open Gate use those larger combined pixels for better low light quality,

Alex Cashman, Senior Manager of Image Processing at GoPro, says that the larger sensor doesn’t just bring the low-light performance that fans have been asking for, it’s also the “highest dynamic range ever from a GoPro” at up to 14 stops.

But, GoPro says that the Mission 1 Pro is the smallest, lightest, and most rugged 8K Open Gate cinema cameras yet. The Mission 1 Pro weighs 207g / 4.3 oz – that’s only about 48g / 1.7 ounces heavier than the Hero13 Black. The body measures about 80.1 W x 52.1 H x 44.3 mm.

Like the Hero13 Black, the Mission series uses LCD screens at both the back and front of the camera. The user interface has been revamped as well, and users will find controls to shoot in manual mode with shutter speed and ISO, along with GoPro’s intelligent capture auto modes geared around specific types of shoots, including vlogging, underwater dive, low-light, and subject tracking. The mobile GoPro Quik app is also supported in the new series.

Thanks in part to a new Endura 2 battery – which is backwards compatible with the Hero13 Black – and the improved efficiency of the new processor, the GoPro Mission 1 Pro can record 1080p30 video for as long as five hours on a charge, which is 70 percent longer than the Hero13 Black, and 4K30 for three hours.

GoPro’s HyperSmooth electronic image stabilization continues in the Mission Series, and the Mission 1 Pro and Mission 1 are also both waterproof to 20m / 66 feet without additional housing.

The Mission 1, without the Pro in the name, carries most of those same features but dials down the high-end video specs. The more affordable version tops out at 8K30, and Open Gate isn’t available in the highest resolution but is available for 4K modes, including the 120 fps slow-mo mode.

Both the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro will use ultra-wide 15mm equivalent lenses with fixed apertures and fixed focus, similar to the view from the longstanding Hero series.

GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro ILS carries the same sensor, processor, stabilization, and battery life of the fixed-lens – but swaps out the 15mm lens for a Micro Four Thirds Mount. Using a lens mount that already has a long history will allow the Mission Pro ILS to access hundreds of different compatible lenses, such as those from OM System and Panasonic, at launch.

The Micro Four Thirds sensor is larger than the one-inch type inside the Mission series, so lenses attached to GoPro’s first mirrorless camera will have a 3x crop factor. A 50mm lens attached to the GoPro mirrorless, for example, will look like a 150mm lens thanks to the smaller sensor.

Swappable lenses will allow the GoPro mirrorless to tackle a variety of shots that the brand’s fixed lens compact cameras haven’t achieved in the past, including macro and telephoto shots. Wide-angle shots will be harder to accomplish, but not impossible – there are a handful of Micro Four Thirds zoom lenses that start at 7mm, which would be 21mm on the GoPro mirrorless.

Removing the lens creates another key difference from the fixed lens Mission cameras as well as the past GoPro Hero cameras: How the camera focuses. Past GoPros have used fixed focus because the smaller sensor and ultra-wide lens leave much of the image in focus. The GoPro Mission 1 ILS won’t have fixed focus, but it won’t have autofocus either – the mirrorless will be manual focus. Manual focus is common on high-end cinema cameras, but the in-between cameras that cater to vloggers and beginners tend to use autofocus.

Since GoPro isn’t building the lens for the Mission 1 Pro ILS, the mirrorless camera isn’t submersible like the fixed lens cameras in the Mission series – at least, not without extra housing. GoPro did note that, if the body is paired with a weather-resistant lens, then the camera will be splash-resistant.

GoPro Mission accessories

,Like the stabilization and durability ratings, there’s another key trend that carries over from GoPro’s Hero Era to the Mission Era: accessories. And there are several launches with the new Mission series. All three cameras will have the traditional GoPro mounting fingers as well as the more recent magnetic mount and a tripod mount, so the new models will be compatible with more than 50 existing mounts.

One key GoPro first is that the company is launching its first wireless mic. Four built-in mics capture audio internally, including 32-bit float audio, on all three new cameras. But, creators can elevate the audio with the new GoPro Wireless Mic Kit, which has two transmitters, a receiver and a charging case. The wearable mics themselves weigh less than 10g, which is about the weight of two sheets of computer paper. The mic system is rated for distances up to 150m / 492 feet.

Like earlier GoPros, a new Media Mod will be available, which adds in a three-mic array as well as a cold shoe slot. A vertical mount adapter gives the GoPro Mission – and the Hero12 and Hero13 – a magnetic vertical mount. And, GoPro will even allow creators to turn it into a point-and-shoot camera with a Grip Edition accessory that makes the Mission 1 Pro feel more like a compact camera.

The Mission 1 Pro and Mission 1 will be available for pre-orders beginning on May 21, with shipping expected for May 28. The GoPro Mission 1 ILS does not yet have a firm launch date, but it is coming in the third quarter of 2026, so sometime between July and September 2026.

GoPro has not yet shared pricing details for the new Mission series. The cameras will be sold in multiple configuration bundles, including options paired with the new Mic.

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GoPro has just announced a new camera – the GoPro Mission 1 – in three distinct variants. The first two are both tiny 8K cinema cameras, but simply tweak the specifications between each other. The third goes all out and allows interchangeable lenses.

"GoPro is entering the premium end of the digital imaging market in a significant way" says the company's Senior VP Pablo Lema, and he isn't wrong about the step up from the GoPro Hero13 Black. That camera was slipping down the best action cameras league to newer competition from the likes of DJI, but the new Mission 1 boasts a 1-inch 50MP image sensor, which, GoPro tells us, offers up to 14-stops of dynamic range.

Backed up with the new image processing chip, the GP3, the company has previously shown, the Mission 1 Pro / Pro ILS cameras can even record 8K at 2x slow mo, through 4K at 8x slow mo (which, for the avoidance of doubt, means 240fps) right up to 960fps for 1080p (for up to 10 seconds). (The Mission 1 not pro is 8K30 at its limit and correspondingly less capable at slow motion too).

The improved GoPro specs don't stop at frame rates either. Data can be stored at 240Mbps, enabling HLG-HDR, 10-bit color and GoPro's GP-Log2, as well as support for Timecode sync.

There is an open gate sensor, which might help with image stabilization (the whole sensor's image is captured, not just the 16:9 that is being used). Sound recording is via four built-in microphones that pull in 32-bit float, as well as support for Bluetooth 5.3 mics.

On the other hand, is the design really that different from its predecessor (in so far as it has one) the GoPro Hero 13 Black?

To be honest, I'm not sure the bodies are as different as you might imagine if GoPro tells you the camera has a new name. The pictures tell you a fair bit there, but another clue for this journalist was the number of comparisons GoPro themselves made to the Hero series. To me, that implies this is seen as a successor, but one intended to make a splash (and it is waterproof to 20m / 66ft – except the ILS).

Now 'Mission' might seem a very topical name at this point in NASA's Artemis cycle, or if you happen to live in central San Francisco, but otherwise it's just a new name we'll have to get used to.

My theory is that GoPro weren't super excited by the idea of reducing the price of the previous 'Hero' model, so it thought that the upgraded model should have a new name. Then there is no need for GoPro to sideline its predecessor to obviously – and the company's cycle of reducing prices on the older model could break.

That doesn't explain the other new camera though – the Mission 1 Pro ILS, which boasts an interchangeable lens. That is a new feature for these compact cameras.

More than that, the swappable lens uses the MFT (Micro Four-Thirds) system, on a one-inch sensor, meaning that it's a bigger lens than the sensor. Presumably, this is essential because MFT is an established size, and GoPro is not in a position to establish a new lens size. DJI used MFT for the Inspire 2 drone, and users like me took advantage of the existing lens system when working.

Perhaps oddly, though, the GoPro cameras won't be capable of adjusting the focus on this system, presumably because the extra parts add size and weight. (It shouldn't be forgotten, though, that the camera system that the DJI Inspire 2 drone carried around supported MFT lenses with powered focus and zoom.)

Is ditching AF really a good idea?

Is getting rid of a feature like AF – key to the usability of cameras for many – really a brilliant idea?

To be fair to GoPro, the company is only really offering it as a way to help a niche gain access to interchangeable lenses. So it's a 'this or nothing' kind of choice, and most people would take the chance to choose themselves over simply not having access to the choice.

I suspect, though, that for many active sports fans the 13 capture modes in the cameras will be more than enough by way of settings, while those using the interchangeable lenses are less likely to be in a rough-and-tumble scenario, so won't mind stopping to check their focus.

Lest we forget, there are also other action cameras that have addressed some of the issues (like low light) that GoPro is finally taking on here. Check the very impressive DJI Osmo Action 6 or the Insta360 AcePro 2, the latter of which even has an equivalent to the point-and-shoot grip that GoPro has also just announced.

Check out our full guide to the best action cameras that are on sale now

Next week, at NAB, GoPro is going to announce a new product line. There are a lot of rumors circulating, but one that would make more sense than you might think at first is that DJI will launch a drone.

Nearly everyone in the industry knows the "Why not" of this story: the truly catastrophic original GoPro Karma drone, but that was launched in 2016, and the world has moved on.

The biggest problem for the Karma, other than a tendency for the sample models to fall out of the sky, was the arrival of far better competition from DJI drones. But nowadays this is where things are looking up for GoPro – the US government is making life very difficult indeed for DJI, which is currently barred from seeking FCC approval for any new products.

The last few approved DJI products are sneaking their way out now, and then GoPro will find itself in a much less competitive landscape.

Ten years is a long time, too, and no doubt a lot of R&D has been going on at GoPro, which might make for a very interesting drone.

The GoPro Max 2, which I reviewed last year, shows the company has moved things a long way in the sphere of 360-degree cameras (a little pun there for the fans). The company is also working on putting cameras in other robust shells, as the acquisition of helmet camera firms suggests.

It's also true that most of the complaints – in so far as there are any – directed at GoPro Hero 13 Black are only about low light photography, which isn't much of a problem for aerial work, so there shouldn't be any worries about the kind of camera GoPro bring to the table.

GoPro has also added a gimbal, the Fluid Pro AI, to its repertoire in the last year, suggesting another key drone tech is in the bag.

Perhaps some of the innovative – but ultimately too complicated – ideas of the original Karma drone could be abandoned in favor of something more straightforward.

The design need not be so complicated, heavy & pricey this time. Forcing the buyer to acquire a gimbal and a GoPro Hero camera, even if it worked more reliably, gave people a lot of tools, but it also pushed prices up and made things difficult to use.

The 2016 product recall had, also, been dreadful timing in terms of the 2016 holiday sales market – the same time DJI was bringing out the foldable Mavic Pro and essentially creating the template for drones as we've known them for a decade.

GoPro has proven that it is able to acquire companies to get the tech it needs, before adding the final shine of usability and the company's well-liked subscription cloud service.

There are likely to be several opportunities around the world to collaborate for a company with a record of approaching things in this way. Ironically, one might even be – depending on how it is approached of course (lawyers would need to take a good look, not to mention the parties in question) the possibility of cooperation with DJI again.

Now, yes, things ended badly before – Karma's position as number 2 to DJI's top spot in the drone market was not enough to save the 250 team members GoPro laid off in early 2018, but things could be different.

DJI CEO Frank Wang and GoPro CEO Nick Woodman did talk together about working together about two years before Karma, and it was largely arrogance on Woodman's part that led to Karma being set up alone (or, rather, with the help of US drone startup 3D Robotics.

DJI had a decade of dominance, 3DR ended up making enterprise software, and the US government has stepped in to change the rules. Fair or not, now is definitely an opportunity GoPro could make the best of!

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Camera announcements in 2026 have started at a rather slow trickle – but as a camera expert, I’m predicting that there will be a deluge of new announcements before the end of April.

Camera brands will often time launches with key industry events, and one is coming up in just a matter of days – the NAB Show from the National Association of Broadcasters is set for April 18-22 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

But I’m not basing my predictions on pure speculation. Thanks to teasers, I know creatives will see at least two camera announcements before the end of April.

GoPro has confirmed that it will launch next-generation cameras with the GP3 processor at NAB this year.

Competitor DJI has also released a teaser that confirms the DJI Pocket 4 – an update on a viral gimbal-clad camera – is coming on April 16.

That means I know that there will at least be a new GoPro and a new DJI camera before the end of the month – though of course, while it’s fairly clear when those cameras will be announced, it’s not clear when they will actually ship to eager creators.

I’m expecting both launches to be for cameras that are focused more on videos than photos. The existing Pocket 3 is more for videos than stills, and similarly, GoPro is known for POV videos.

I wouldn’t be surprised if NAB brought more than those two already teased announcements. But, NAB is a video-focused event, so I’m expecting any camera launches tied to the event will be focused on video, like cinema cameras, broadcast cameras, and vlogging cameras. If we see any announcements outside of those categories, I would be shocked if it wasn’t at least a hybrid made for taking videos and stills.

2026 feels like it has started a bit slow with camera announcements – though 2025 ended with a bang with the Canon EOS R6 Mark III and the Sony A7 V. There’s been the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, the Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo Cinema, and the Panasonic ZS300/TZ300, along with some budget point-and-shoots. But, that still feels a bit quiet for it now being more than a quarter through the year.

I’m expecting the NAB show will help pick up the pace with new camera launches. The event kicks off April 18.

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Read more on what we're expecting for the next generation GoPro announcement, or read our take on the DJI Pocket 4 teaser.

GoPro is poised to launch new high-end cameras this month, but the brand’s push beyond the action camera comes at a rocky time within the US-based company. On Tuesday, April 7, GoPro announced a restructuring plan that includes a global reduction in workforce of about 23 percent of the company’s staff, which means around 145 employees.

The news comes from 8-K paperwork filed with the SEC, which is required documentation that informs stockholders of major changes. According to the announcement, the reduction in workforce will happen in the second quarter of 2026 and will be largely completed by the end of the calendar year.

The company estimates that the restructuring will carry a cost between $11.5 million to $15 million, which includes one-time termination benefits and healthcare. The restructure, GoPro says, is designed to “reduce operating costs and drive stronger operating leverage.”

GoPro currently has around 631 employees, so a 145-person reduction will put the company’s staff at under 500 employees.

The restructuring isn’t the first sign of trouble for GoPro – last year, CEO Nicholas Woodman declined his own salary. In the last fiscal year, GoPro reported US$93.5 million in losses and around 20 percent fewer action camera sales than in 2024.

But, the news comes as, later this month, the company plans to announce new cameras – and the teasers hint the launch goes beyond action cameras. When GoPro announced the new GP3 processor in March, it said the tech would be used inside “vlogging cameras, and ultra-premium compact cinema-grade cameras.”

Another potentially major change? GoPro has hinted that this new processor will also power cameras with larger sensors.

Last year was also the first time in a decade that GoPro didn’t launch a new flagship action camera at its fall event, announcing the Max 2 and Lit Hero instead of the expected successor to the GoPro Hero13 Black.

The restructuring plan, coupled with the company’s move into vlogging cameras and cinema cameras, suggests GoPro could look very different at the end of 2026 than it did at the start of the year. Beyond the change in staff, if the teasers are any indication, GoPro’s catalog of cameras may be about to look quite different.

GoPro said that the new cameras will be announced during the NAB Show in Las Vegas, which is scheduled for April 19-22.

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Dive into the list of the best GoPros or the best vlogging cameras.

GoPro broke tradition when it didn’t launch the Hero14 Black last fall – but the update to the popular action camera series isn’t the GoPro that I’m most excited for as a camera expert. A new generation of GoPros is coming later this month – and as a camera expert, I’ve never been more excited for a new GoPro.

GoPro will launch “next generation” cameras later this month with a new processor capable of powering larger sensors – and no, that’s not an April Fools prank. GoPro has already confirmed that it’s launching next-generation cameras at the end of April. Official company teasers and press releases indicate that the company is working on a vlogging camera and a compact cinema camera, along with a confirmed launch date for the end of April.

GoPro has been steadily dropping hints as to what’s launching next month since announcing its latest processor, the GP3. The company has hinted that the processor will power cameras – yes, cameras plural – with larger sensors and CEO Nicholas Woodman has been saying that GoPro will be entering more advanced camera categories beyond action cameras since 2025.

GoPro’s teasers have not explicitly named the Hero14. But, it would be a terrible move for the action camera giant to not launch the expected Hero14 Black, so along with the teasers for entering into an advanced camera category, I’m expecting the Hero14 will come along as well.

As a professional photographer and GoPro user, I’m hoping the mysterious next-generation GoPros blend everything that GoPro is known for with the benefits of an advanced camera with a larger sensor. Specifically, my wishlist includes:

• GoPro-level stabilization: Shaky video is a pet peeve of mine, but stabilization is something that GoPro does well. If GoPro is targeting the vlogging market that’s in between novices and pro filmmakers, I think good stabilization is a must.
• GoPro-level durability: The teasers have already shown underwater footage, as well as shots in dusty locations. If GoPro’s advanced camera doesn’t at least withstand rain, I’m going to be majorly disappointed.
• New flexibility: One of the things that I don’t love about the action camera category is that it’s really just designed for POV and action shots. One of the teasers shows a close-up of the moon and some macro shots through, so I’m hoping the next-gen GoPro will have far more versatility.
• At least a Micro Four Thirds sensor (for the advanced camera): While GoPro’s official statements confirm that the GP3 processor will be able to handle larger sensors, “larger” isn’t very specific. I’m hoping for at least a Micro Four Thirds sensor for the more advanced vlogging camera, though at the right size and price, I would be okay with a one-inch sensor. That's for the "advanced" vlogging camera that's coming though, I'm expecting a smaller bump in sensor size – if at all – for the Hero14.

One of the biggest challenges that I think GoPro will face with these next-gen cameras is autofocus. GoPros use fixed focus; it’s a type that works well for action cameras when everything should be in focus. But a fixed focus won’t work on a larger sensor. GoPro is going up against camera brands that have a lot of experience building fantastic autofocus systems, so I think autofocus performance will be a key factor in just how well the upcoming camera(s) do.

I’ve never been more excited for a GoPro launch. But, I won’t have to wait long. GoPro says the next-gen cameras will be unveiled during the NAB show in Las Vegas, which is scheduled for April 19-22.

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Based on the teasers, this is what we know so far about the next GoPro. Or, browse the best action cameras or the best vlogging cameras available now.

GoPro has been slowly releasing hints that a high-end camera is coming – and the company has just confirmed both a larger sensor and an April announcement date.

On March 25, GoPro announced that the new generation of GoPro cameras will be unveiled at the NAB Show, which puts the announcement somewhere between April 19-22 – most likely on the first day of the show, as the products will be on display. But, the company has also confirmed that the upcoming cameras will include larger sensors after a teaser video previously hinted at the possibility.

The unnamed cameras will have the new GP3 processor, which GoPro says will offer “more than double the pixel processing, larger sensors, expanded features and market-leading low-light performance, resolution and frame rates.” (And yes, GoPro has mentioned cameras, plural, more than once, so it appears multiple cameras are coming.)

That “larger sensor” seems to confirm what has been widely speculated since GoPro CEO Nick Woodman first told investors that the company was working on a high-end low-light camera for 2026.

Another key tidbit from the latest teaser? The next generation doesn’t appear to abandon the longstanding GoPro durability, with newly released footage showing underwater and dust-filled shots.

“Our customers have made it clear they want more of everything from GoPro—larger sensors, world class low-light performance, higher resolutions and frame rates, next level image quality, improved audio capabilities, longer runtimes and bulletproof reliability in high heat conditions…everything, and more. And that's exactly what we're giving them with our newest line of GP3-powered cameras, debuting at NAB this April," Woodman said in the announcement.

Woodman's mention of longer runtimes and reliability in high heat points to some common complaints around some cameras that have shorter recording times to avoid overheating. GoPro's announcement claims "industry-leading runtimes and thermal capability across a wide range of environmental conditions."

GoPro cameras are arguably best known for their durability, dating all the way back to the very first GoPro Hero from 2004, which was a film camera for still photos that came with a waterproof housing. That means waterproofing has been part of GoPro longer than video. Waterproofing, along with the POV style wide-angle lens and wide range of mounting options, has long been associated with the GoPro name.

The launch during NAB, a show hosted by the National Association of Broadcasters, also speaks towards a more pro-oriented GoPro. The next-generation camera lineup will be on display at the show, the company notes, along with related accessories.

NAB attendees will be among the first to see the new GoPro lineup in person. The show is scheduled for April 19-22 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada.

"Come visit us at NAB to get a firsthand look at the world's most capable compact professional cameras," Woodman said. "If you're pushing boundaries and need cameras and equipment that can meet the demands of your mission…then GoPro is your camera company."

The news of the April launch date and confirmation of a larger sensor adds to what we already know about GoPro’s upcoming advanced camera from previous teasers.

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Browse the best GoPro or the best vlogging cameras.

GoPro is finally moving beyond action cameras. After teasing a move into the high-end vlogging camera category last year, GoPro has been steadily dropping official hints that something major is coming.

While rumors have been floating around about an advanced GoPro, the company has released several official teasers that contain key details and even footage from the upcoming cameras. The latest? GoPro confirmed an April launch date and a larger sensor.

I’m a photographer and a GoPro user who’s been following the trail of breadcrumbs since CEO Nicholas Woodman first hinted at the brand’s entry into more camera categories last year. While I’m not 100 percent convinced that the next GoPro is a mirrorless camera, this is what I know so far about the upcoming cameras. (Yes, that's cameras, plural!)

GoPro is working on “vlogging" and "ultra-premium compact cinema-grade" cameras

Earlier this month, GoPro announced its new GP3 processor, which is said to deliver more than twice the pixel processing power, along with better low-light and AI-driven subject recognition. But even more interesting than the processor itself is that GoPro says that the tech will be used inside “vlogging cameras, and ultra-premium compact cinema-grade cameras.”

I’ve known that GoPro was working on something bigger than an action camera since Woodman first teased the idea to investors last year. But until this month, it wasn’t quite clear what category the low-light camera would be in – until that GP3 announcement.

GP3 GoPros will have larger sensors

GoPro's second teaser video comes with a clear statement indicating that the upcoming advanced GoPros will have larger sensors. "GoPro's new GP3-powered cameras are more professionally focused than ever before, with more than double the pixel processing, larger sensors, expanded features and market-leading low-light performance, resolution and frame rates—all in compact, durable form factors that deliver industry-leading runtimes and thermal capability across a wide range of environmental conditions," the company wrote.

That's an official confirmation of larger sensors, although, of course, GoPro hasn't said how much larger. The Hero13 has a 1/1.9-inch sensor, so even a one-inch sensor would be larger. Some of the teaser videos contain close-ups that have excellent background blur, which is typically associated with larger sensors.

It's worth noting that GoPro has said on multiple occasions that it is launching cameras plural. GoPro does talk about larger sensors plural, as well, so my hope is that all the cameras are coming with a bump up in sensor size. I think it's safe to say that the "vlogging" and "cinema-grade" cameras will have larger sensors.

The mystery GoPros seem capable of macro and telephoto shots

The first footage from “the next generation of GoPro” indicates that at least one of the upcoming GoPros will be able to take macro and telephoto shots that look quite different from the GoPro's usual ultra-wide lens, even with the lens Mods.

But what's not clear is how the upcoming camera will achieve that range. The teasers have many fans speculating if the upcoming camera is a mirrorless with an interchangeable lens. That speculation comes from the fact that the sample footage includes footage that looks like it was shot with a macro lens, along with video that appears to be a telephoto shot of the moon.

A mirrorless GoPro is certainly a good guess, but that’s not the only type of camera that can take both macro and telephoto shots. The Nikon P1100 superzoom bridge camera, for example, can zoom in on the craters of the moon and still take macro from 1cm away. While the upcoming GoPro could certainly be a mirrorless camera, it could also be a camera with a really versatile lens built in.

The mystery GoPros will probably focus much differently than its action cameras

GoPro’s action cameras don’t have autofocus. The focus is instead fixed, which is a great feature for action cameras because it means the autofocus doesn’t have to struggle to keep up with fast action.

But GoPro’s fixed focus works because the smaller sensor and wide-angle lens make it easier to get most of the image in focus. If the next GoPro is capable of close-up and telephoto footage and has a larger sensor, a fixed focus isn’t going to work.

GoPro also said that its new processor will be used for AI-driven subject recognition. While that could be referring to detecting the subject to set the exposure in a smarter auto mode, I suspect it’s also going to power some autofocus features.

GoPro isn't abandoning its waterproof roots, promising "bulletproof durability"

GoPros are known for waterproofing and durability and ever since Woodman first hinted that an advanced camera was coming, I've been hoping that it would still have GoPro-level durability. The sample footage and a statement from Woodman suggest that my hopes haven't been misplaced.

“Our customers have made it clear they want more of everything from GoPro—larger sensors, world class low-light performance, higher resolutions and frame rates, next level image quality, improved audio capabilities, longer runtimes and bulletproof reliability in high heat conditions…everything, and more. And that's exactly what we're giving them with our newest line of GP3-powered cameras, debuting at NAB this April," Woodman said.

The sample footage also clearly shows an underwater shot and shooting in extremely dusty conditions. Again, keep in mind that GoPro is launching multiple cameras, so there could be some variety in how durable each camera is.

Woodman's statement also mentions recording in high-heat conditions, a key challenge for video cameras, particularly at high resolutions and in smaller camera bodies that leave less room for the heat to dissipate.

GoPro has a lot riding on this launch

While there’s a lot of speculation around the next GoPro, one thing is clear: GoPro has a lot riding on this launch. The company has been struggling financially in recent years, as the action camera giant now has to contend with competition from DJI and Insta360, not to mention smartphone cameras.

For the 2025 fiscal year, the company reported US$93.5 million in losses. The year before, Woodman declined to take his own salary.

Entering a new camera category could bolster the company, particularly if the company is able to cater to the growing number of content creators or the longstanding video pros.

That said, things could swing the other way for GoPro, too, if the launch doesn’t hit just right. I’m sure GoPro would probably rather forget the Karma, the recalled GoPro drone that’s the result of the last time the company tried to move beyond action cameras and 360 cameras.

The new GoPros will be announced in April

GoPro has now confirmed that the next generation of GoPros will be unveiled during the April 19-22 NAB Show in Las Vegas. That means we know the announcement is coming in April.

What's not clear at this point is how quickly after the announcement those new GoPros will ship. It's fairly common for a new camera launch to have a few weeks between the announcement and shipping.

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Browse the best GoPro camera or the best mirrorless cameras.

GoPro has been hinting at a move into more high-end cameras beyond the action camera – but GoPro may have just dropped its biggest hint yet. On March 17, GoPro shared the first-ever footage shot with “the next generation of GoPro,” and the footage has hints of shots that seem impossible with traditional action cameras.

GoPro didn’t say what camera the footage is from, other than “the new generation of GoPro.” GoPro is rumored to be launching the Hero14 Black, but GoPro’s new processor announcement earlier this month also hinted at an upcoming vlogging camera and compact cinema camera.

Watching the footage, it seems pretty clear that the video isn’t coming from an action camera, at least, not from an action camera anything like what GoPro already has on the market.

The first thing that I noticed? The footage includes close-ups, and the video comes with the teaser line “Find your focus.” GoPro’s action cameras have fixed focus that can’t be adjusted for a close-up. The Macro Lens Mod can get a little closer, but the “find your focus” tagline makes me think this isn’t just a lens mod.

The extreme close-up on a human eye hints that perhaps this teaser footage is from that upcoming vlogging camera or compact cinema camera, not the Hero14.

The close-up isn’t the only thing that has me excited to see what GoPro has in store. The video also includes a close-up of the moon that an action camera isn’t capable of. Of course, the latest models can swap lens mods, but GoPro doesn’t even offer a telephoto mod at the moment.

The video, which is less than 30 seconds long, also features what looks like slow-motion footage of fire and rain.

Another hint that this is from the cinema camera that GoPro has been hinting at? The footage looks like the cinematic 21:9 aspect ratio.

I own both a GoPro and a mirrorless camera, and the sample footage feels far closer to something shot on a mirrorless camera than an action camera. The close-up of a tree branch in the rain is oozing with the bokeh that small sensor cameras can’t capture.

The teaser doesn’t come with any timeline for when the camera that shot the footage will launch, though CEO Nicholas Woodman’s previous talks with investors hinted at a high-end camera coming out sometime in 2026.

Regardless, this is the most excited that I’ve ever been for a new GoPro!

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Browse the best mirrorless cameras or the best action cameras.

Action camera giant GoPro just added another type of action to its toolkit: Livestreaming youth sports. A new partnership between GoPro and the youth sports app GameChanger now allows coaches and other authorized staff to livestream the game using the action cameras.

GameChanger is a free youth sports app from Dick’s Sporting Goods and houses features like game schedules and scorekeeping. The app previously supported livestreaming from a smartphone camera, but now the partnership allows GoPro models to stream the game. (Some Mevo, Obsbot, and XBotGo cameras are also supported.)

The new livestreaming feature doesn’t require a brand-new GoPro – in fact, models as old as the Hero7 will work with the livestreaming feature. But the update allows coaches and their support staff or volunteers to stream the game without leaving their smartphone mounted for recording.

There are some safety protections in place – in order to livestream, the team administrator must grant streaming permissions to whoever is handling the livestreaming, such as a coach, staff, or volunteer.

GoPro says that mounting an action camera to stream the game offers a wide-angle view of the full field. The action camera’s small size also makes it easier to shoot through chain-link fences, while waterproofing means streaming is still possible during rainy games.

Along with livestreaming, GoPro can also stream and record to the device simultaneously, or record the game without livestreaming to share later. GoPro cameras are also able to livestream through the GoPro Quik app, but the new GameChanger partnership opens up an easy way to share those games with the entire team.

The livestreaming supports a handful of GoPro models from the Hero7 to the Hero13 Black and even the GoPro Max, so livestreaming doesn’t require a purchase for those who already own one of the action cameras. Budget models like the GoPro Lit Hero aren't listed among the compatible options.

However, Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering a new bundle that pairs the Hero13 with the larger Enduro battery, a microSD card, mounting buckle, adhesive mount, USB-pass-through door (for using an external power supply while livestreaming longer games), and a carrying case for about $450.

GameChanger is available to download for free in the US and Canada; watching five livestreams per season is included with the free membership, but subscriptions are required for fans to watch more live streams. The app is free for team coaches.

For more details, read about how to livestream on GameChanger with a GoPro.

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GoPro just had its Q4 earnings call and, a couple of days before, the company announced its GP3 image processor, which should be seen for the first time in cameras this spring – or Q2, as it was put to investors.

The reaction in the city was somewhat muted, but fair enough – the share price dropped based on the figures revealed, the obvious headline being that 2 million GoPros had been sold in 2025 (down from 2.2 in the year before), so the company slightly missed its target.

The format of these events – which happen every three months for investors – is necessarily bright and cheerful, but the revelation that the new image processor is to make its way into physical products so soon seems difficult to ignore.

Yes, it's true, I've heard Nick Woodman, CEO of GoPro, make one or two promises about devices that have gone onto be delayed. The world has watched as the GoPro Max 2, the company's 8K 360 camera, hit the market late.

But I think that's why things have to be different this time.

Another reason is that, with the slightly unusual 360 camera behind it, and the smaller GoPro Lit Hero also out of the way, the obvious next camera to refresh is the core of the company's business: the Hero Black, which for many years received an annual update, just like the iPhone.

Why didn't it happen last time, in late 2025? Because, I suspect, the new processor chip wasn't ready – and of course, because the company was focusing attention on the Max 2.

Now, if what I'm hearing is true – and the GP3 is a 5-nanometer system-on-chip (SoC) that delivers over twice the pixel processing power of the GP2 – then there is a good reason to update the flagship action camera, the GoPro Hero 13 Black.

Moreover, as an action camera expert, I've been maintaining the DCW best action camera guide. The GoPro has been slipping in the rankings as two key competitors – DJI and Insta360 – have concentrated on features that GoPro's processor and imaging chip has not helped it keep up with: low-light image processing.

Nick Woodman mentioned better battery life and "industry-leading resolutions and frame rates that go far beyond what the competition is capable of."

Now, even if there is a bit of exaggeration, it still seems likely we might see 8K on the GoPro Hero 14 Black. GoPro can already achieve a lot via 'burst' slow mo (as fast as 400fps) and sustained 120fps at 4K, but that could conceivably be doubled to 240fps at 4K with no worries about the camera overheating.

He did add, "When combined with low-light image sensors," so we can only assume they're coming – and "camera runtimes ranging from 40% to 90% longer" suggests that battery performance will be significantly better.

Get out of court and into development

"It's not the winning but the taking part that counts" joked one wag about GoPro's recent patent battles with Insta360. As a camera customer with a college-level understanding of law, I've got to admit that just knowing GoPro is expending a lot effort chasing competitors is a bit dispiriting.

Lawyers aren't cheap, whether you're an individual or a company like GoPro. (Even as I write this, I imagine my parents are wondering why I didn't follow that career path and ended up writing about tech.) The costs will be paid by anyone buying a GoPro and, personally, I'd rather that money was poured back into R&D than more spurious cases.

Don't get me wrong – it is, of course, well within a company's rights to defend its patents, but there are some things which seem more pressing.

And that's the point about the "taking part". It doesn't really seem like GoPro is concerned about winningl it comes across as somewhere between a desperate hope or just the time-honored strategy of making life difficult for the more successful company that you should have beaten 'fair and square'.

Would we have had a GoPro Hero Black with 8K sooner if the company had developed it first, rather than letting Insta360 beat it to the market and relying on ultimately unsuccessful court action to try to hamper its rival?

Will I buy a GoPro next time?

Ultimately, I'll just get the best camera for my needs (assuming there isn't a horrific sting in the tail in the form of a subscription that limits features if not acquired).

Action cameras are useful in so many ways, and GoPro has never really been out of the game. For people like me, who value low light performance (and, if I'm honest, aren't as high-speed in bright light as we used to be), it has been wise to examine alternatives for a while.

It sounds to me that the competition here is finally moving back to the tech first and the courts second – which is the way it should be, if you ask me.

And in that case, it feels like GoPro is going to deserve a lot of attention.

It's no secret that GoPro has had a rough spell, announcing yesterday that it lost another US$9.1 million in Q4, bringing it to US$93.5 million for the year. CEO Nick Woodman's solution – other than the new processor we have already seen – is elevating people called Brian.

Specifically, COO Brian McGee is having 'President' added to his title, with the goal of the company working better as a whole, while Brian Tratt will be the new CFO.

None of this means GoPro is going anywhere, and Woodman spoke of the program the company has created by which it is buying content from creators

He also spoke of the motorcycle helmet with built-in camera system which has long been expected since GoPro partnered with AGV Helmets and bought Forcite Helmet Systems – it seems that we can at least expect to get some glimpses of the first fruit of these deals (perhaps only in the form of teasers) before the year is out.

Woodman also spoke of the patent cases against Insta360, taking a slightly different view to the one I did. It seems that the CEO plans to "continue to defend" 1,500 patents, even though only a week ago the U.S. International Trade Commission seemed to take a different view. (I reported that GoPro lost 5-0 in that case).

More encouragingly, I'd say, for creators is GoPro's GP3 chip, covered recently, and Woodman says it has the company "fired up", with cameras resleases promised soon.

If you're a GoPro user, should you be worried? I don't think so.

Shareholders won't love the numbers, but the company has had to face tariffs, but still generated revenue of $202m versus guidance of $220 for 2025, so not far off, and still sold 2 million GoPro cameras. Subscriptions are not dropping significantly either.

That's still about 20% fewer cameras than in 2024, which superficially seems inevitable given the amazing competition that now exists in the best action cameras guide and the best 360 cameras, but at least GoPro is now a serious contender again.

If the GP3 chip lives up to the hype and starts shipping in devices as promised in Q2 2026 – perhaps only a month away – GoPro's future could be very exciting again.

The GoPro Max 2 is a brilliant, rugged 360-degree camera with all the features you could want and 8K resolution to boot. It's the top of the GoPro line, the cernterpiece of the company's last launch event, and now it's available for a massive £120 off at Wex

I'm the 360-degree camera expert at DCW, and, honestly, I was lamenting GoPro's gradual slipping behind in the 360-degree action camera race – until, that is, the brand shot back with the spectacular Max 2.

This camera matches all the other premium cameras from competitors by recording 8K (in fact GoPro even call it 'True 8K' for reasons of their own), and it also boasts the company's reputation for a rugged build.

In my review of the GoPro Max 2, I noted how far the company had come with this device – it features sensible design improvements over its predecessor, like back-to-back lenses for better image stitching (how the cameras make a single 'spherical' image that you can then re-direct in an app on phone or computer later).

What makes a 360-degree camera is as much the software as the device, and GoPro has also done a brilliant job of this, meaning re-pointing the view, and changing the perspective after you have made your video is simple.

Out of a possible 20 stars in the review summary, this got 18 – and one of those was for value. This deal definitely resolves that!

Now there is absolutely no need to consider the out-of-date GoPro Max (2025) – you can have the latest and greatest without compromise.

Major photo contests typically conjure images of big, high-end cameras – but not every photo that has won a major award was captured on pro gear. In fact, the Underwater Photographer of the Year has a category dedicated specifically to creators using compact cameras.

These award-winning images were taken with compact cameras – two of them with the Sony RX100 VII and one with a GoPro. But that’s not all the winning images have in common – the shots also illustrate how important light is to creating a successful underwater photograph.

Andrea Michelutti: Alpine Lookout

Andrea Michelutti won the compact camera category in the contest with this vibrant image a freshwater crayfish in Italy’s Lake Cornino. The photographer explained that the camera was dunked in the water with a Marelux housing, and the angle was too low to use the camera’s LCD screen. When the curious crawfish came up to the camera, the photographer fired off several shots without being able to see what the camera saw.

While the crayfish took center stage, the camera angle allowed the mountains to remain visible in the background.

What’s really striking about the photo, however, are the colors – and that’s due in part to Michelutti’s decision to use additional lighting along with the compact camera, adding light with a single Inon Z330 light.

Judge Peter Rowlands called the image “a compliment to the capabilities of compacts in the right hands.”

Manuel Wütherich: Veins of the Earth

The second-place runner-up in the compact category also used the Sony RX100 VII, but the gear used is outshone by the composition, lighting, and mash-up between the underwater world and the world above. Photographer Manuel Wütherich explained that this image was taken in the Cenote Dos Pisos.

A cenote is a natural, water-filled sinkhole, and in this shot, the diver is framed by tree roots, giving the underwater image a connection to the world above. Three video lights – the X-Adventurer M8000 – make the image pop with streaky light and contrast.

Contest judge Tobias Friedrich wrote, “All judges were very impressed by the sheer quality of the image...the composition and handling of the light inside the cave is just perfect.”

Rémi Conte: Natural Barriers

Rémi Conte brought the sky, land, and sea together with this shot taken with the GoPro Hero11 Black. The photographer explained that the colors of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in French Polynesia demanded attention. The shallow coral reefs also helped improve the image’s clarity – a constant battle for underwater photographers.

“This image would have been a serious contender in the ‘grown up’ Wide Angle and Coral Reef categories too, despite being taken on a comparatively minuscule GoPro,” wrote Judge Rowlands. “That is a testament to how good this image is. Pretty perfect.”

The shot was taken with natural light and a Shoot Dome Port housing.

The compact camera is just one of fourteen categories in the 2026 Underwater Photographer of the Year contest – browse winners from each category here.

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The long-rumored successor to GoPro’s GP2 processor is here – but GoPro’s teaser for the new GP3 comes with the news that the processor isn’t just made for action cameras – but vlogging cameras and “ultra-premium, compact cinema-grade cameras” too.

On Tuesday, March 3, GoPro unveiled the GP3, a 5-nanometer System-on-a-Chip (SOC) that the company says will support more than twice the pixel processing power, enhanced low-light performance, and AI-driven tools like subject recognition.

But, GoPro says that the GP3 isn’t just for its action cameras and 360 cameras but will also power “vlogging cameras, and ultra-premium, compact cinema-grade cameras.”

GoPro’s CEO Nicohlas Woodman has previously teased that the company expects to expand into a pro-grade low-light camera in 2026. But the CEO offered few hints as to what such a camera would look like. With the launch of the GP3, the company is offering a few hints, specifically naming the vlogging and compact cinema camera form factors.

“GP3's bleeding-edge, cinema-grade performance will enable GoPro to enter the ultra-premium end of the imaging market this year, serving the needs of a new, higher-end market segment that can grow GoPro's business and brand," Woodman said with the GP3 announcement. "We're excited for GP3 to empower GoPro as both an innovator and disruptor as we look to grow our business through market-leading technology and performance."

GP3 will debut in “new GoPro cameras” – yes, that’s cameras plural – sometime in the second quarter of 2026.

While the company hasn’t shared specs or specifics behind the GP3, the company’s announcement seems to focus on four key things. First, twice the pixel processing power compared to GP2, which should translate into higher resolution cameras and faster frame rates.

Second, GoPro describes AI-driven image quality, including scene recognition and subject detection. That will help the camera to adjust settings automatically and in real-time, the company says.

Third, the company mentions low-light performance multiple times. It’s unclear what sort of sensors and lenses the new GP3 processor will be paired with, but the repeated mention of low-light seems to suggest the processor does a better job of handling noise than the predecessor.

Finally, GoPro says that the new processor will help improve runtimes and thermal performance, hinting at longer battery life and longer runtimes.

And, while GoPro says multiple cameras are coming with the new processor, the brand has dropped a few photos taken with “GoPro’s Next Generation Camera System” using the GP3.

GoPro Senior Vice President of Product Management Pablo Lema says the company believes that GP3 will serve as a growth catalyst for the company. “We expect our new, exclusive GP3 processor to lead in every performance area—image quality, resolution, frame rates, low-light performance, and power and thermal efficiency. Launching in our new products in Q2, GP3 provides a scalable, proprietary foundation we can leverage to power GoPro cameras across existing and future product categories.”

The action camera giant has struggled in recent years, with Woodman refusing his own salary last year. Moving into more advanced categories could help the company regain its footing – and it looks like the GP3 is just a teaser for what’s ahead.

Last year was the first time in ten years that GoPro didn't launch a new flagship action camera during its fall launch event, so a Hero14 Black with the new GP3 processor seems a likely guess for one of those upcoming cameras.

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Browse the best action cameras or the best cinema cameras.

After a series of delays, the ruling finally came in on the wire that Insta360 won all five of the patent claims brought against it by GoPro, brilliant news for innovation in the action camera space.

What was officially known as Investigation U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) No. 337-TA-1400 covered five "utility patents" around action cameras, targeting Insta360's image stabilization – including horizon leveling. This kind of tech is used in all premium action cameras, so the idea it could be the subject of a patent claim is a worry for consumers who want to see competition and price controls in this space (even if they do end up choosing GoPro).

There were also claims relating to distortion correction and aspect ratio conversion.

In all cases, the commission found that the patents were invalid or not infringed, and also reversed a previous judgement by an Administrative Law Judge in GoPro's favor.

This is significant because the ITC's ruling is effectively final in these cases, and ends GoPro's policy which has looked, to many, like an attempt to stay ahead not through innovation but using the help of the courts.

JK Liu, founder of Insta360, hinted that he shared this perspective when he said "The ITC's decision reaffirms what the industry has long recognized: Insta360's technology is built on true innovation. The facts spoke for themselves..."

"True innovators compete by building better tools. The ITC's decision allows us to continue doing what we do best: empowering users with bold, boundary-pushing technology."

And perhaps even less subtly:

"The future of this industry should be shaped by better products, not legal tactics that protect market share at the expense of consumers."

Back in the distant past, before I turned to the more enjoyable path of cameras, I picked up a degree in Law, so I can confidently say what is interesting here for the future is the number of patents which the authorities didn't feel were actually something GoPro could use against other companies.

Technologies like image stabilization cannot now be owned by GoPro and licensed – certainly the aspects they attempted in these cases.

This might prove to be good news for consumers in the end, as it increases the incentive for GoPro to earn income from consumer sales by innovating and impressing potential customers.

This is something GoPro has done well recently with the GoPro Max 2, one of the best 360-degree cameras, which is very much a direct competitor to Insta360's home turf.

The future can only get more interesting.

Another year, another slew of camera rumors – but I’ve been noticing something a little odd with a handful of camera rumors lately. More than one brand known for action cameras is rumored to be working on cameras that fit under the more traditional type of camera rather than the action camera genre.

For the most part, action camera makers make action cameras, and camera makers focus on compact cameras and mirrorless cameras – although there are a few exceptions, like the Sony RX0 II. But a handful of rumors making the rounds seem to hint that brands like Insta360 and DJI could be crossing the line into more high-end camera territory.

One of these rumors has been fueled by the CEO of Insta360, who posted a photo of the back of a camera that looked nothing like what the 360 and action camera maker has currently on the market. Rumors are swirling that the camera shown in that photo could use a 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor.

But Insta360 is not the only one. Rumors are swirling once again over the idea of drone and action cam giant DJI making a mirrorless camera. No, this isn’t new – rumors of a DJI mirrorless date back to at least DJI’s stock acquisition of Hasselblad. One rumor last year even said such a camera would be out before 2025, and, well, that never happened. The latest talks suggests (or perhaps hopes for) a larger sensor cinema camera from DJI.

These early 2026 rumors aren’t the first hint that action camera makers may be growing out of their usual label. Last year, GoPro CEO Nicholas Woodman hinted that the company was looking to expand into an adjacent product category in 2026: “the higher-end low-light camera category for vloggers, prosumers, and professionals.”

Now, Woodman’s comment isn’t enough to determine what format such a higher-end camera could be – he very well may have been referring to an action camera with a larger sensor and not something like a vlogging camera or mirrorless camera.

But what’s interesting about these recent rumors is that they all seem to have a common theme – action camera makers breaking out of the category and into more advanced camera types.

The camera industry feels poised on the edge of another industry shift. Compact cameras have made a comeback (though far from the categories hey dey). More cameras have arrived with a vlogging and cinema focus as video becomes the dominant social media traffic driver.

And now, if the rumors are any indication, it seems action camera brands may be poised to dabble in more camera categories. Of course, it’s often hard to pick apart the made-up ramblings from the rumors that come from industry leakers. But, if the hints offered by GoPro and Insta360’s CEO provide any indication, the lines between action camera makers and traditional camera brands may be less clear-cut in the future.

Such a shift may be needed – GoPro is struggling enough financially that the CEO refused his salary last year. Insta360, with its wide product line that now spans 360 cameras, traditional action cameras, and even a drone, has reported boosted sales.

I am, admittedly, dubious about some of these action camera rumors, but I suspect 2026 may be a key year for action camera makers.

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Take a look at the top action cameras, the best 360 cameras, or browse more camera rumors.

The BCN Award 2026 has been announced, revealing the best-selling camera brands in Japan's digital camera and imaging market.

Based on nationwide retail sales data from January to December 2025, the award reflects actual purchase figures collected from 20 major electronics retailers, including Amazon, Bic Camera, and other leading chains across the country.

This year, Sony claimed the mirrorless camera crown for the third consecutive year and sixth time overall, while Canon continued its long-standing dominance of the DSLR segment with an 18th straight win.

In a first-time achievement, Kodak earned the top spot for compact cameras, and DJI took home the crown in both the video camera and action camera categories.

Unlike product-based honors, the BCN Award recognizes manufacturers rather than individual camera models, ranking brands by total sales volume and overall market popularity.

Let's take a closer look at the top three brands in each category and the companies shaping Japan's highly competitive camera market in 2025…

Compact

1. Kodak: 24%
2. Fujifilm: 13.9%
3. Kenko Tokina: 13.3%

Kodak takes the top spot in Japan's compact camera category for the first time, claiming 24%. The Kodak Pixpro FZ55, a simple, affordable point-and-shoot, dominated monthly sales charts and highlights the ongoing comeback of budget-friendly compact cameras.

Fujifilm follows with 13.9% of sales, led by its popular X100 series and the Instax hybrid instant cameras. Fujifilm's GFX100RF, a groundbreaking 102MP compact medium-format camera, was recognized with the DGP Imaging Award, one of Japan's most prestigious honors.

Tokina takes third at 13.3%. maintaining a steady popularity in Japan's compact camera segment.

Mirrorless

1. Sony: 29.9%
2. Canon: 27.4%
3. Nikon: 15.1%

Sony continues its dominance in Japan's mirrorless camera market, winning the BCN Award for the third consecutive year and sixth overall, with 29.9% of annual sales. Canon follows closely with 27.4%, while. Nikon holds third place at 15.1%, maintaining its position from the previous year.

The market has been defined by Sony and Canon. Sony's A7 V, released mid-December 2025, instantly became Japan's best-selling mirrorless camera in the second half of December.

Canon's high-end EOS R6 Mark III and entry-level R50 V, along with Nikon's Z5 II, are 2025's product examples that continue to be celebrated in Japan's competitive mirrorless market.

DSLR

1. Canon: 44.3%
2. Nikon: 38%
3. Pentax: 17.7%

Canon remains the undisputed leader in Japan's DSLR market, winning the BCN Award for the 18th consecutive year and 20th overall, with 44.2% of annual sales. Nikon holds second place with 28%, while Ricoh Imaging (Pentax) captures 17.7%.

Despite the mirrorless boom, DSLRs are far from obsolete. Canon's EOS 5D Mark IV continues to dominate the professional and enthusiast workflows, while models like the 1D X Mark III are still popular.

Nikon remains strong with, for example, the D850 and D780, while Pentax appeals to a dedicated niche with models such as the K-1 Mark II.

Canon's dominance isn't a surprise. It ships the majority of DSLRs worldwide. Even with mirrorless growth, nearly 800,000 DSLRs were shipped in 2024, underscoring that the DSLR experience remains valued among photographers.

Video

1. DJI: 64.7%
2. Panasonic: 18.9%
3. Sony: 11.1%

DJI had taken the top spot in Japan's video camera market for the second year in a row, capturing an overwhelming 64.7% share. Panasonic followed with 18.9%, and Sony held 11.1%.

Key DJI releases include the Osmo Action 6, launched late 2025, and the Osmo Pocket series – a compact handheld solution that some observers argue could also fit under action cameras due to its portability, though officially classified in the video camera category for BCN Award purposes.

Among Panasonic's most popular devices for professional video are the Lumix S5 IIX, and it updated its hybrid lineup with the Lumix S1 II, and camcorders such as AG-CX20. Sony continues to impress with the FX6, FX3, and hybrid models like the A7R V and A6700.

Action

1. DJI: 40.1%
2. Insta360: 37.9%
3. GoPro: 18.9%

DJI claimed the top spot in Japan's action camera category for the first time, capturing 40.1% market share. Arashi Vision (the company behind Insta360) followed closely with 37.9%, while GoPro fell to third place at 18.9%.

DJI's success in 2025 was highlighted by the Osmo Action 6 and the Osmo Nano, a tiny wearable camera, while the Osmo Action 4 and 5 Pro offered strong budget and professional options.

Arashi Vision continued to push innovation with the Insta360 X5 (8K 360°) and maintained strong momentum with the Ace Pro 2. Meanwhile, GoPro focused on its Max 2, while the Hero 13 Black remained a popular choice.

As Chinese manufacturers, DJI and Insta360 continued to gain ground, GoPro's market share declined amid intensifying competition.

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Browse the best compact cameras, the best mirrorless cameras, the best DSLRS, the best cameras for video, and the best action cameras.

A Supreme Court decision on the legality of “reciprocal” US tariffs could come as early as Friday, January 09 – and the list of more than 1,000 companies suing over tariffs now includes action camera maker GoPro.

A report by Bloomberg indicates that more than 1,000 companies are suing US President Donald Trump over tariff policies enacted under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). US-based action camera maker GoPro is listed among those companies.

The US Supreme Court could issue a ruling on whether or not the IEEPA gave the president the power to enact new tariffs as early as Friday, January 09, according to Bloomberg. However, while the Supreme Court’s first day for scheduled rulings for 2026 is set for January 09, it’s unclear if the tariffs will be among the decisions this week.

A majority of those 1,000+ lawsuits have all been filed since November, Bloomberg notes, as the list of companies hoping to recoup some of those tariff costs continues to grow. Several experts are anticipating a messy return process if the tariffs are turned down in court. Experts indicate that any potential refunds would go to the company paying the tariffs, not the consumers.

If the court rules against the tariffs, some experts warn that prices may not fall back to previous levels, depending on demand and changes to the supply chain.

Prices dropping as the import taxes change are not unheard of, however. For example, when the tariff rates on goods from China temporarily dropped from 145 percent to 30 percent, Leica lowered the list price of the D-Lux 8, though the $1,915 was still significantly higher than the $1,595 original US list price.

A majority of major camera manufacturers have now increased list prices in the US following the implementation of those tariffs last year. That list includes GoPro, which increased the list price of its action cameras by around ten percent in April 2025.

The Hero13 Black increased from $399 to $429 at list price following the new tariffs in April 2025. GoPro reported at the time that it only expected to recover about half of those tariff costs through the price change and a “continued supply chain diversification outside of China.”

While GoPro is based in the US, the action cameras are manufactured overseas. The company moved production from China to Mexico in 2019 in order to avoid higher import costs. In February 2025, GoPro told DCW that US-bound cameras were now made in Thailand, which at the time did not face higher tariffs. In October 2025, however, the US and Thailand reached an agreement that set tariffs at 19 percent on a majority of goods imported into the US.

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Browse the best action cameras or the best GoPro.

GoPros are meant to go where most cameras can’t – and now laptop giant Asus is taking inspiration from the popular action camera. The Asus ProArt PX13 GoPro Edition, launched during CES 2026, is a laptop with military grade durability, a 360-degree hinge touchscreen, and a dedicated GoPro shortcut key.

Originally teased in December, the special edition laptop is a collaboration between Asus and GoPro. The GoPro Edition shares several specs with the new standard edition ProArt PX13, including a touchscreen with a 360-degree hinge so the laptop can also be used like a tablet, or the screen can be turned around for sharing video previews on site. Both laptops also share specs like an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, up to 128 GB of memory, a 1TB SSD hard drive, and what the company calls “military-grade durability.”

But the GoPro Edition carries a Black Metal finish with ridges and CNC engravings inspired by the action cam. It comes with a matching laptop sleeve with a bungee for attaching accessories. The box it comes in is designed for collectors and uses a custom foam insert so that it can be repurposed to also hold GoPro gear.

The GoPro collaboration goes beyond the design, however. The ProArt PX13, including the non-GoPro Edition, has a microSD card port, so no adapters are necessary to plug in a GoPro’s memory card. The laptop supports GoPro Cloud for syncing footage without touching the memory card. A GoPro shortcut on the keyboard brings up the action camera giant’s Player software. Asus’ StoryCube software, meanwhile, helps organize and tag footage using AI – including support for 360 footage.

Both the GoPro Edition and standard version of the laptop have Asus Dialpad, although the GoPro Edition uses cyan blue in keeping with the color of the keyboard’s backlighting. Designed for creators, the laptop also supports using a stylus on the 3K, 13-inch OLED screen.

The laptop is tested to the military-grade MIL-STD-810 H standards – which means it’s designed for extreme temperatures, shock, vibration, dust, and sand. That list doesn’t include GoPro-level waterproofing, sadly, but extends the laptop’s use to outdoor, dry conditions. The laptop weighs 1.39 kg / 3 lbs and has a 15.8mm / .62 inch profile.

Do photographers, videographers, and content creators need a laptop that matches their camera? Well, no, probably not, but the set of features speaks to an increasingly mobile, flexible workstation.

Asus has not yet shared the pricing or availability for the GoPro Edition.

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Browse the best laptops for photo editing or the best action cameras.

I was already looking forward to seeing what GoPro has in store for next year – but it looks like 2026 will also bring another unusual product with the GoPro name: a laptop. Asus is teasing a ProArt x GoPro collab that’s expected to be unveiled in 2026.

In a teaser shared to the laptop-maker's social channels, Asus shared that “the ProArt GoPro Edition is about to break cover,” along with a save-the-date for January 6 at 9 AM PST, which is during the Consumer Electronics Show or CES.

In the teaser video, Asus shares a few hints, including a close-up of a GoPro shortcut key. The video also hints at a laptop with a textured front and what looks like the Asus DialPad included in some models.

A ProArt and GoPro collab makes sense – in fact, the two companies have worked together before, bringing the GoPro Cloud to the StoryCube media management app earlier this year. The previous collab also brought a complimentary GoPro Premium+ subscription with some ProArt purchases.

But, if the teaser is any indication, the upcoming ProArt x GoPro launch looks like the action-camera maker will be integrated in more than just software. There’s that GoPro key on the keyboard, for starters, and in the final image, there’s something boxy behind the laptop that’s also GoPro-branded.

The teaser leaves a lot of questions. Will the upcoming laptop borrow GoPro’s durability? Some ProArt models, like the P16, undergo tests for sand, dust, drops, extreme temperatures, and vibrations, so the idea doesn’t seem terribly far-fetched. What’s sitting behind the laptop in that teaser video?

GoPro fans won’t have to wait too long, as Asus says the livestream airs on January 6 at 9 AM PST / Noon EST / 5 PM GMT.

That’s not the only GoPro to look forward to, either. CEO Nicolas Woodman has indicated to investors that the company plans to launch a pro-grade low-light camera, which could come as early as 2026.

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Browse the best laptop for photographers, or take a deep dive into the Asus ProArt P16.

I’m a stills photographer, not a videographer, but it seems the social media algorithm has the biggest appetite for video, not photo. I’ve been searching for a simple way to shoot behind-the-scenes without diverting too much time away from the actual photos – and I’ve finally found a solution that doesn’t take up my hot shoe slot or require smart glasses.

I’ve spotted a number of different solutions to capturing behind-the-scenes videos on my feed when photographers work solo, without an assistant, as I do. Smart glasses seem popular, but I wear prescription glasses, and outfitting the tech with prescription lenses seemed expensive.

Another popular solution is to slide an action camera into the hot shoe mount on the camera. I like the simplicity of this approach (and I already own a GoPro), but there’s one big problem – I use my hot shoe slot for flash.

I tried a backpack strap mount, but I don’t wear my camera backpack all day at a wedding, and my camera harness moves around too much to clip it there.

The solution came when I wasn’t looking for it. I picked up a wooden grip to add a bit of custom flair to my mirrorless camera and immediately realized that it added a cold shoe mount at the side.

Not only did that leave my hot shoe free, but the cold shoe sits in the opposite direction – meaning it actually holds my GoPro vertically, so I’m losing even less resolution when I crop for the Reels format.

I added a GoPro cold shoe mount adapter, the older GoPro that I already had (though any action camera will work), and I finally had a way to shoot behind-the-scenes videos without diverting too much of my focus away from actually taking pictures.

Here are some Reels I created with this setup:

I’ve been admittedly slow to jump on the video trend but, as a wedding photographer, I’m extremely conscious of the fact that there are only so many hours, minutes and seconds for my couples to enjoy their day.

There has to be a balance between having enough time to capture memories of the day, and actually having time to make those memories. Spending even 15 minutes to shoot a Reel feels like stealing time from the best-day-ever so, above everything else, I wanted a solution that took seconds, not minutes.

When I have a GoPro mounted right next to my camera, I only have to press one button to get a video started, then continue on with my photography.

The grip that I bought is designed specifically for my Fujifilm X-T4 and won’t work with other models. I highly recommend doing a search for a grip customized to your specific camera model to find something similar first. Camera cages are another option, as many of them also add extra cold shoe mounts.

But, if you can’t find a custom option, there are a few cages and grips with universal compatibility and a vertical cold shoe. ChromLives makes an affordable and simple aluminum L bracket with two extra cold shoes, for example.

The best hack to shooting behind-the-scenes videos for photographers will depend on how you shoot – perhaps smart glasses or popping an action camera into the hot shoe will work for you. But as someone who already wears prescription glasses and needs the hot shoe for flash, I found a grip with an extra cold shoe and an action camera a wonderfully simple solution.

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Browse the best action cameras or the best cameras for Instagram.

The combination seemed like the perfect fit – an action camera giant creating a camera made for the skies. But when the GoPro Karma launched in 2016, the action camera maker’s first drone was quickly plagued with issues. The initial recall proved too much to recover from, and after manufacturing the Karma until 2018, the American action camera brand left the drone industry.

Fast forward to 2025, and the most well-known drone company is facing a ban in the US. If DJI does not pass a security review – which appears to have not yet even begun – by December 23, the company will be placed an FCC banned list and be unavailable for purchase in the US. It’s not just DJI either, as legislation also includes Autel, another China-based drone company.

As an American drone pilot, I can’t help but think of the GoPro Karma when eyeing the looming ban deadline. The Karma wasn’t American-made, but it was American-engineered at the company’s California headquarters.

An American drone company sounds like a fantastic idea in the wake of the pending ban (not to mention the tariffs) – but the Karma serves as a reminder that such developments not only take time, but experience to get just right.

GoPro makes fantastic cameras – I own one – and making a camera that flies seemed like a natural evolution of the company’s products. But creating a camera that can fly by itself is an entirely different beast, as the faulty battery latch that caused the Karma to lose power mid-flight illustrated.

GoPro isn’t the only US company to make drones. Skydio’s drones, for example, were solid options, but competing with DJI proved difficult, and the company now focuses on enterprise drones and doesn’t offer consumer UAVs.

There are non-DJI drones available to buy in the US, but many of the alternatives are also from a Chinese company, such as Autel. And just recently launched: the Antigravity A1, an 8K 360 drone that my colleague gave an impressive 4.5-star rating. Antigravity is owned by Insta360 and based in China, but the A1 has launched in US stores as well.

A drone from an American company will take time, as the rush to get the GoPro Karma to the market only to be met with recalls illustrates. Meanwhile, American drone photographers – not to mention 80 percent of first responders and law enforcement using UAVs – may be in limbo in the meantime.

The obvious answer would be to complete the security audit. But, the legislation did not name who would complete the audit, and now American drone pilots are facing a ban from inaction alone.

As an American drone pilot, I’m a bit afraid to fly right now, as the potential upcoming ban is coupled with a customs issue to keep DJI’s latest drone announcements out of the US. What happens if I crash and I can't replace my DJI drone? My hope is that the security review will happen before that December 23 deadline, but there’s less than 20 days left.

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Browse the best drones, or the best non-DJI drones.

I've been covering 360 cameras for years now, and I won't tell you the GoPro MAX360 (2025) is the latest and greatest because we all know the MAX2 just came out. That, I'm sure, is why this is so cheap. But that doesn't mean this isn't a decent working 360 camera – plus you get access to GoPro's software and the 2025 version was updated so (while it is mostly the older model) it charges & connects with USB-C so it should work for years to come!

A 360-degree camera like the MAX360 and its sibling the Max 2 pick up video from all around the device, so a lot of the technology on offer is available in the app which accompanies it.

For the 2025 release of the MAX360, as well as updating the connectivity to USB-C on its 360-degree camera, the company also improved the app, Quik, to add features like automatic subject tracking. That means that you just need to keep the camera in roughly the right place and tap on a subject later and the app will keep them in frame if you want to export your video – in any shape (horizontal, vertical).

GoPro, of course, can extend this further with cloud-based services if you choose, but there are plenty of cool effects available, like Spin, Flip, Roll, Wobble, Tiny Planet, and you can plot your own exports precisely using keyframes if you choose.

The MAX can be controlled remotely from your phone, and images and creations can be shared straight from there or edited and shared from there. It can also live stream at 1080P. There is a lot of potential here for vloggers!

The camera has an array of six microphones and is able to either detect spatial sound or use the extra data to minimise wind noise. Despite this, the whole camera is is also waterproof to 5m (around 15ft).

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Would I buy this camera, even at this price? Sure, as a gift! I don't think people appreciate how much fun a 360-camera is, or how useful it is.

That said, I also think as soon as you get one, you want a better one, so I do tend to point people to the guide to the best 360 cameras.

A new free firmware update for the GoPro Max 2 has unleashed some significant updates that improve camera quality – and if you're brave enough the GoPro Labs update turns the device into a real pro system.

Some of these will make a notable difference to the camera's performance, meaning the GoPro Max 2 that already impressed in reviews might be even better with expanded Protune controls that allow adjustment of Blur Reduction and Noise reduction by the user.

• See the latest Black Friday GoPro deals

If you have a GoPro Max 2, you'll be invited to update to the 1.20.00 version of the firmware.

This will also bring you POV Preset – a feature that offers on-screen guidance to help you capture shots, and Selfie Preset to help creators get their selfies right. New modes for slow motion, everyday social media and long recording are included too. All in all, the feature set has been expanded.

The Quik app also gains some features to match, including after-the-fact dynamic speed controls and "360 HyperSmooth Stabilization Control" which will, apparently, allow creators to decide whether to dial back vibrations further or embrace a bit of shake for effect.

The GoPro Labs process is for slightly braver camera owners prepared to try experimental features, but is carefully explained on the site. I was able to download and install the firmware for the Labs, though I didn't actually have time to get the features up and running before sharing with you.

Perhaps the most exciting pro option that are tucked in this experimental phase are 300Mbps Bitrate, offering pro editors better quality video out

The obvious compromise is that files will be significantly larger – the 'high' bitrate in. standard mode is 120Mbps and the camera defaults to lower. I'm not sure, as I've not tested it yet, but it might also get warmer.

Another is High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI) merge – a simple one-click process that can merge 8 to 11 bracketed exposures, all taken around two stops apart, into a single image with highlight and shadow detail which could be hugely useful for 3D, VFX and virtual production professionals.

The Labs features will also include low-light optimization features and the option to tune the image stitching, which is interesting.

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Check my full review of the GoPro Max 2 and see if it made it to the top of the best 360 camera guide.

GoPro didn't launch a new flagship camera this year - maintaining its Hero13 Black as its most capabale action camera to date. There are a fair few deals on this model – but the offer that appeals to us is the on that effectively gets you two extra batteries thrown in, making it the best GoPro Black Friday deal we have seen so far

This GoPro Hero13 Black Extended Power Bundle gets you the camera itself, three Enduro batteries, 64GB SanDisk Extreme microSD card, a hardshell case, and a dual charger - all for just $349.

The GoPro Hero13, launched a year ago, builds on the success of the 12 but expands on the available mods, allowing the camera to add a macro lens or even some filters. Another notable improvement is the addition of a magnetic mounting option.

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Not quite sure what to buy yet? Take a look at our guides to the best action cameras, or browse through the best GoPro alternatives.

I love action cameras; and in recent years they've become one of the simplest ways to gather video for vlogging in all kinds of situations – not just rough and tumble outdoors fanatics, but, simple walk and talks too. The pace of new features has not relented, with one of the market leaders, DJI, bringing out a new model just days before Black Friday. That, though, means that plenty of other cameras – which were top of the line only days ago, and are still pretty stunning now – are available for prices which

Sometimes in this world it pays to take advantage of uncertainty, and DJI – one of the biggest manufacturers in this sector – has been the victim of a lot of uncertainty following a campaign to place restrictions on some Chinese drone companies. Since DJI make drones, a lot of its products have struggled to make it to warehouses. On the plus side, that means when they have we've seen some exciting discounts put in place to get them moving, even brand new devices like the Osmo 360 action camera.

And, on the same note, the DJI Osmo Action 4 was a device that gave GoPro a lot to worry about when it came out and, frankly, still should. It has a large imaging sesnor and 10-bit recording (handy if you're going pro) and front and back screens for vlogging. It, too, is vulnerable to the DJI uncertainty but – if you've bought it you get to keep it and it's pretty solid, so, frankly, if it's available for a good price, why not? Sure the new model came out this week and it's got even more features, but, well, take a look...

These are just the deals I found today – I'm going to keep looking, but the thing I realized as I was reviewing the admittedly spectacular new DJI Osmo Action 6 is that so many of the specs we need were there a year or two ago and, because of the new models, they're being sold at significant discounts.

If you need 4K video and perhaps a bit of slow mo, now, before they sell out, is the time to snap up the deals because 'Black Friday' seems to have started already this year!