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GoPro Hero 9 Review: Still a Solid Action Camera?
GoPro has spent years building its reputation as the go-to brand for action cameras. Its HyperSmooth stabilization continues to outshine the competition.
But as smartphone cameras keep getting better, it’s gotten harder to justify buying a separate action camera. So what did GoPro do about it?
The Hero 9 answers with 5K video capture, a bigger battery, a front-facing color display, and a bunch of welcome feature upgrades. Let’s break it all down in this GoPro Hero 9 review.
The Hero 8 from 2019 introduced a slimmer, cageless body with built-in mounting fingers and a smaller front lens. The Hero 9 builds on that foundation. It’s slightly larger in every dimension, though not noticeably heavier.
One nice fix: the lens cover is now replaceable. If it gets scratched, you can just swap it out instead of dealing with a permanent blemish. That was a real pain point with the Hero 8.
Technical Specifications
- Sensor Type: CMOS Sensor
- Sensor Size: 1/2.3″
- Sensor Resolution: 23.6 Megapixels
- Max Shooting Resolution: 5K (2880p)
- Display: Front: Live-view Monitor and Rear: 2.27″ Fixed-Type Touchscreen
- Image Capture Speed: 30 fps
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Lens Mount: Max Lens Mod
- Optical Zoom: 2x
- Video Format: AVC (H.264) and HEVC (H.265)
- Video Output: USB Type-C 3.0
- Native ISO: 100-6400
- Shutter Speed: 1/30 – 1/4,000 sec
- Audio Input: None
- Audio Output: None
- Storage: 1x SD, SDHC or SDXC
- Microphone: Built-in directional microphone
- Battery: 1720mAh Li-ion
- Dimensions: ‐2.8 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches
- Weight: ‐5.6 ounces
Other Key Features
Battery
The Hero 9’s battery is a noticeable step up from previous models, coming in at 1,720mAh. That’s roughly a third more capacity than what GoPro offered before.
For more on this, take a look at our camera polarizer lens guide.
It’s not backward compatible with older GoPro batteries, which is a bit annoying. On the upside, GoPro says the bigger battery performs better in cold weather.
Design
This is GoPro’s biggest design overhaul since the Hero 5, and the results are solid, with a couple of caveats.
Three major changes stand out from the Hero 8: a new 1.4″ front display, a larger 2.27″ rear touchscreen, and a bigger body overall.
These additions feel like a direct response to the DJI Osmo Action, which made GoPro’s lineup look a bit dated in certain areas. The Hero 9 levels the playing field, though some of the new features come with their own quirks.
Image and Video Quality
The GoPro Hero 9 Black delivers some of the best stills and video you’ll get from an action camera. That said, it’s not a massive leap over the Hero 8.
The new 5K@30fps mode captures more detail than any previous GoPro flagship, especially at the high 100Mbps bit rate setting. Thanks to the efficient HEVC (H.265) codec, file sizes stay manageable in some modes, though they can be demanding on your editing machine.
On a similar note, our action camera microphone attachment article has more practical tips.
If you’re mostly shooting video for social media or phone viewing, the jump to 5K won’t make a dramatic difference. You’ll really only notice the extra detail when pixel peeping on a 4K monitor or cropping heavily.
Performance
The Hero 9 packs plenty of new features, but raw speed isn’t really one of them. In everyday shooting, you probably won’t notice major performance gains over the Hero 8.
That doesn’t mean the Hero 9 is a slouch. HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization is still excellent and perfect for first-person sports footage, even with that slightly “floaty” look it can produce.
The addition of HyperSmooth Boost to 4K@60fps and 5K@30fps modes is nice on paper. But for most people, setting HyperSmooth to “high” already smooths out enough motion blur that you won’t miss the extra option.
Price
The combo package includes the camera, a spare battery, a magnetic swivel clip, a micro SD card, and a floating handle.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of action cameras on the market, but GoPro still holds the top spot, and the Hero 9 keeps that reputation intact.
With strong image quality and a full set of features, the Hero 9 remains one of the best action cameras you can buy as of August 2026.
