GoPro Hero 9 Black review

With more screens, more detail, more photos and more battery, the new flagship GoPro GoPro Hero 9 Black is hard to beat

5 Star Rating
GoPro Hero 9 Black review
(Image: © Jamie Carter/Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

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

Pros

  • +

    All-new front display

  • +

    Larger rear display

  • +

    Excellent image stabilization

  • +

    20MP photos and 14.7 MP grabs from video

  • +

    Stable connection to a phone

  • +

    Easy-to-use app

Cons

  • -

    Larger physical size

  • -

    Batteries are not backwards-compatible

  • -

    Touchscreen is laggy

  • -

    Max Lens Mod costs extra

  • -

    Hit-and-miss horizon leveling

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If you’re a taker of selfies, a vlogger or an adventure filmmaker, GoPro’s new flagship camera is made for you. There was a time when action cameras were primarily for capturing sports, but the new GoPro Hero 9 Black pushes in a new direction by including a front-mounted LCD 'selfie' screen to challenge the DJI Osmo Action and the Akaso Brave 7 LE

However, there’s plenty on the Hero9 Black for the all-rounder. As well as upping the resolution to 5K for video, it increases photos to 20MP and adds the ability to capture 14.7MP stills from video, too. Add improved image stabilization , improved time-lapses and a longer-lasting battery and the Hero9 Black is the best GoPro we have seen to date, and probably the best action camera to boot – not to mention one of the best cameras with GPS

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Jamie Carter
Astrophotography expert

Jamie has been writing about all aspects of technology for over 14 years, producing content for sites like TechRadar, T3, Forbes, Mashable, MSN, South China Morning Post, and BBC Wildlife, BBC Focus and BBC Sky At Night magazines. 

As the editor for www.WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com, he has a wealth of enthusiasm and expertise for all things astrophotography, from capturing the Perseid Meteor Shower, lunar eclipses and ring of fire eclipses, photographing the moon and blood moon and more.

He also brings a great deal of knowledge on action cameras, 360 cameras, AI cameras, camera backpacks, telescopes, gimbals, tripods and all manner of photography equipment.