Which GoPro to choose? Our complete comparison guide

You dream of an action camera that follows you on all your adventures and you’ve set your sights on GoPro, creator of the concept and market leader. But problem, several models are available on the official website of the manufacturer. So, which GoPro should you choose? Is it absolutely necessary to get the latest model, or can an older version do the trick? In this guide, we’ll compare the different options available to you and help you find THE GoPro that fits YOUR needs. Let’s go!

Which GoPro to choose? Questions to ask yourself

Before you do anything else, it’s important to start by answering the questions that will help you decide which GoPro to choose. Here are the 4 essential questions to ask yourself.

What do you want to do with your GoPro?

The choice of the GoPro will strongly depend on the use you want to make of it. Depending on the activity you practice and for which you want to film yourself, some features will not be necessary, or others could, on the contrary, be essential:

• You are practicing extreme sports, you want to film yourself riding a BMX or doing back wheels on a motorcycle? Perhaps you’ll be more interested in the smaller size of the GoPro 11 Mini, or the 360-degree shooting capability of the GoPro MAX.
• Are you a fan of diving? All the GoPro cameras we present in this article are waterproof, but the GoPro HERO is waterproof to 10 meters without housing, against 5 meters for the GoPro MAX.
• You publish on different platforms, so you need to shoot both portrait and landscape? The 8:7 aspect ratio of the latest GoPro HERO 11 and 12 could come in very handy.
• Are you a vlogger? You may need the GoPro HERO front screen from HERO 9 upwards, or the editing and audio capabilities of the GoPro MAX.

What features do you absolutely need?

GoPro cameras are equipped with many features to achieve visually interesting photo or video effects. The more generations pass, the more the manufacturer adds new modes.

The latest? The Night modes of the GoPro HERO 11 and 12, which let you create superb light trails from the lights that emerge from the darkness. For example, there is the Vehicle Lights mode, which creates moving trails of light from car lights, or Star Trails, which uses the Earth’s rotation to create circular trails of light from the stars.

But do you need all these features for your editing? If your goal is to make more classic montages, or only focused on your performance in a particular activity, you can surely do without it and get a more affordable GoPro.

What image quality do you need?

The latest GoPro models can shoot video at a maximum resolution of 5.3K at up to 60 frames per second. With such a camera, you can make very high quality videos that will look great on the big TV in your living room.

But do you need this kind of image quality? If your goal is to create videos for your Instagram stories or for TikTok, you will surely not need such qualitative videos, especially since they have a significant weight to consider.

What is your budget?

This is often THE determining factor. When money doesn’t matter, you can afford to buy the best, but finances are a constraint for the vast majority of us!

So, do you absolutely need the latest GoPro? If you’re just starting out and aren’t sure how to use all of its features, you may want to consider a more economical model. Especially since even GoPro cameras that are a few years old are excellent cameras packed with interesting features and producing a more than correct image.

What’s more, with the purchase of a GoPro, one is often required to buy additional accessories, such as a backup battery, a handle or a selfie pole. It might be a good idea to save a little money on the price of the camera so that you can buy accessories that will be very useful for the use you want to make of it.

Which GoPro to choose? The different models

Now that you’ve asked yourself the right questions, we can move on to discovering the different models still offered for sale, to date, on the GoPro website. The six nominees for the title of the GoPro that will follow you on all your adventures are: the GoPro HERO 12 Black, the GoPro HERO 11 Black, the GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini, the GoPro HERO 10 Black, the GoPro HERO 9 Black, and the GoPro MAX.

GoPro HERO 13 Black

Standard Pack	449.99€	See on Amazon
Creator Edition Pack	679.99€	See on Amazon

The GoPro HERO 13 Black features few major changes compared with its predecessors, but it does offer some interesting improvements. The design remains unchanged, with the same dimensions and weightas previous models, the main evolution being in the mounting system, which now includes a universal screw thread and magnetic fasteners.

The major new feature is the newHB-Series lens range, including a macro lens and ND filters. These lenses considerably enhance the camera’s creative capabilities, notably by enabling close-up shooting with manual focus, or capturing ultra-wide-angle video.

In terms of sensors, the HERO 13 Black retains the same 1/1.9-inch CMOS sensor introduced with the HERO 11, offering video resolutions of up to 5.3K at 60 frames per second. Although image processing has not evolved, a new HLG HDR color profile is introduced, improving performance in high-contrast scenes. However, low-light performance remains unchanged.

In terms of autonomy, the GoPro HERO 13 is equipped with a new 1900 mAh Enduro battery, offering up to 1h30 of 5.3K recording, but this battery is not backwards compatible with older models.

In short: the GoPro HERO 13 Black doesn’t revolutionize the range, but it remains a solid action camera with image quality that’s still top-notch, and its new HB-Series lenses make it more versatile than ever.

➡️ Find out more in our full review of the GoPro HERO 13 Black (click here).

GoPro HERO 12 Black

GoPro HERO 12 Black

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The GoPro Hero 12 Black retains much of the same design as its predecessors: unchanged dimensions and weight, and the two color screens on the front and rear. But for the first time in several generations, the company has made a few small additions: the surface of the camera now features small blue sequins , and above all, a universal 1/4-inch screw thread appears under the camera between the two usual mounting lugs.

The HERO 12’s improvements are essentially software-based. The same camera with the same sensor, and therefore the same image resolutions, as on the previous generation. No change, then, in image quality per se.

But there are a few new features. In terms of photo and video stabilization, although already very good, we’ve upped the ante with HyperSmooth version 6.0. HDR video makes its appearance, retouching contrasts to improve rendering in the highlights, and the new, flatter GP-Log color profile satisfies all those who like to retouch color themselves on their computer. And still on the post-production side, it’s now possible to synchronize different tracks from several HERO 12s in the blink of an eye, thanks to the Timecode function.

The same Enduro battery is also used, but GoPro has managed to increase autonomy by up to 2 times, depending on the mode used. According to the manufacturer’s data, this means 70 minutes in 5.3K resolution at 60 fps, 1.5 hours in 5.3K at 30 fps and 2.5 hours in 1080p at 30 fps.

Another cool new feature is that up to 4 devices can now be connected via Bluetooth, enabling the use of earpieces such as Airpods to record an additional audio track (the audio track captured by the camera is retained), but also to activate voice commands.

In short: this GoPro incorporates minor evolutions or those that will be of interest mainly to professionals and advanced videographers, but this also makes it one of the best GoPro’s created by the market leader. Available from €399.99, it’s an interesting option for those who want a high-performance GoPro but don’t need the latest model’s new features.

➡️ Find out more in our full review of the GoPro HERO 12 Black (click here).

GoPro HERO 11 Black

GoPro HERO 11 Black

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Released in 2022, the GoPro Hero 11 Black comes with several improvements, but the most important is certainly the new 1/1.9-inch sensor capable of filming in 8:7. This almost square format can then be cropped in post-production to portrait or landscape depending on your needs, whether you want to post on Youtube or TikTok. Ideal for content creators.

Other new features include HyperSmooth 5.0 with Autoboost, which offers improved stabilization, as well as 360° horizon maintenance. So if you’re the kind of person who likes to move your camera around, like an extreme sports enthusiast, these features could be useful for you. Especially since the GoPro 11 also has the Hyperview angle, even wider than the Superview angle present on previous models, which plays on the impression of speed and makes first-person videos even more immersive.

In terms of image quality, the GoPro 11 can film up to 5.3K at 60 fps and take photos in 27MP. It is also the first model to support 10-bit color, a real asset for editing professionals who want to fine-tune color and exposure. In our opinion, the HERO 11 offers the best image quality for a GoPro, with better contrast and wide dynamic range.

The GoPro Hero 11 follows the design of the HERO 9 and 10, and also features a dual-screen design for vloggers, as well as a10-meter waterproof rating for water sports enthusiasts. A small bonus compared to the two previous versions is that it comes with the Enduro battery, which is more efficient in extreme conditions and offers up to 38% more recording time.

In short: almost on a par with the HERO 12, the GoPro HERO 11 Black remains a safe bet, available for €299.99 from the manufacturer’s website or other retailers such as Amazon. If you don’t really need the new features it incorporates, it’s certainly one of the best value-for-money products on the market, and the best choice for you.

➡️ To learn more, check out our full review of the GoPro HERO 11 Black (click here)

GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini

GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini

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The GoPro HERO 11 Back is also available in a special version: the GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini. The Mini is equipped with the same sensor as the “normal” HERO 11, and therefore has the same capabilities in terms of image.

The difference is simple: it has no screen to make it more compact, which can make it the ideal camera if you don’t need a screen, and just want a “box that films” to attach anywhere, like a motorcycle helmet for example, as light and small as possible.

A small defect to be noted on this model: it is provided with a non-removable integrated battery. So when you reach 0% autonomy, impossible to put a battery backup, you will have to recharge the camera directly.

In short: the GoPro HERO 11 Black Mini may be the perfect camera for anyone who needs an extremely compact camera that just does the basics: filming. Ideal for extreme sports enthusiasts, for example. At €299.99, it remains an attractive option, and one that boasts the best image quality GoPro has to offer.

GoPro HERO 10 Black

GoPro HERO 10 Black

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If you’re looking to save a little money on your GoPro purchase, the GoPro HERO 10 Black can be a great option. With its identical design to the HERO 9, but also to the latest HERO 11, the HERO 10 now looks like the HERO 11 “light” and is still a powerful camera. A sure value.

The HERO 10 uses thefront screen that appeared with the HERO 9, which is very practical for easy framing and previewing of images. The big update that came with this release is more on the inside: the GP2 processor, which has increased the frame rate throughout the device, but also gives a boost to the user interface, which was much needed due to its slowness.

The image quality benefits greatly from this new processor: at the highest resolutions, the frame rates have doubled compared to the previous generation. We can shoot in 5.3K up to 60 fps, in 4K up to 120 fps, and in 2.7K up to 240 fps.

On the photo side, we can take pictures up to 23MP. HyperSmooth stabilization has been improved to version 4.0, and horizon hold is also possible, with the ability to tilt the image up to 45 degrees without it moving. Finally, an almost invisible improvement has been made to the hardware: a hydrophobic and more scratch-resistant lens cover that works wonderfully.

In short: if you don’t need the new features of the GoPro 11 (such as the 8:7 aspect ratio, especially for content creators), the GoPro HERO 10 will save you a lot of money, for virtually the same image quality.

GoPro HERO 9 Black

GoPro HERO 9 Black

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The GoPro HERO 9 Black has many of the same qualities as its predecessor the HERO 8 Black. Lacking the GP2 chip that will arrive on the HERO 10, it may not be as fluid and powerful as the latter, but it has added its share of hardware improvements to make the difference with the generation that preceded it.

Aesthetically, the GoPro 9 is a little larger than the 8 on each axis. But the big visual improvement is this: it is the first GoPro to have a front screen! This makes it much easier to frame yourself, which is extremely useful for vloggers.

The rear screen has been enlarged to 2.27 inches, and the camera now has a detachable lens, allowing the addition of filters such as the Max Lens Mod, which adds a few features such as 360-degree horizon lock and ultra-wide 155-degree Max SuperView mode. The battery is 30% more powerful and we find the waterproofness to 10 meters without case.

On the image side, the big news is the considerable increase in the sensor that opens the door to 5K video at 30 fps, and 20MP photos. Of course, the frame rate is not as high as on the latest models, so you won’t get as impressive slow motion. To be taken into account if you are a fan of slow motion.

On the other hand, Hypersmooth stabilization has been further enhanced to version 3.0, and the GoPro 9 becomes the first GoPro to offer integrated horizon-keeping. The latter is not as large as on subsequent generations, but it is still quite impressive.

In short: If you’re not a slow-motion enthusiast, the GoPro HERO 9 is still a solid choice, especially for vloggers. It supports Hyperlapse, works with the Max Lens mod, and even though its stabilization is not the latest generation, it still performs well. It is no longer available on the DJI website since the release of the HERO 12, but can be found at €249 from other distributors.

GoPro MAX

GoPro MAX

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Here we enter another category, that of 360 degree cameras. The GoPro MAX is a dual-lens camera that allows you to film simultaneously in all directions around it. The creative experience of this camera is very different from the HERO range, and allows you to create impressive ultra-immersive content. Ideal for those who are passionate about editing.

The MAX replaces its predecessor, the GoPro Fusion, and surpasses it in every way. More compact and light, it also has the advantage of a color touch screen, where the Fusion had only a small monochrome screen to display basic information. The MAX is also waterproof to 5 meters like its predecessor. Note, however, that this is half as much as the cameras in the HERO range which are waterproof to 10 meters.

On the image side, the GoPro MAX is capable of filming videos in 5.6K up to 30 fps. The quality is lower than on the last HERO, but it is still excellent. There are features that are very popular with HERO cameras, such as Hypersmooth stabilization, 360-degree horizon hold, and TimeLapse and TimeWarp accelerated video features.

Finally, note also that the MAX is equipped with 6 microphones, which allows it to offer the best sound you can find on a GoPro, and therefore be a particularly interesting choice for vloggers.

In short: the GoPro MAX is not the best GoPro camera overall, but it is unique in its ability to shoot 360 degrees. So if you want to be able to shoot in all directions, the choice will be easy for you. The GoPro MAX is available for €529.99 from GoPro or Amazon.

Which GoPro to choose? The comparative table to summarize

Finally, we have prepared a small comparison table that will allow you to compare the main features of the different GoPro cameras at a glance:

	HERO 13	HERO 12	HERO 11	HERO 11 Mini	HERO 10	HERO 9	MAX
Sensor	1/1.9 inch CMOS	1/1.9 inch CMOS	1/1.9 inch CMOS	1/1.9 inch CMOS	1/2.3 inch CMOS	1/2.3 inch CMOS	1/2.3 inch CMOS
Max video resolution	5.3K / 60 fps	5.3K / 60 fps	5.3K / 60 fps	5.3K / 60 fps	5.3K / 60 fps	5K / 30 fps	5.6K / 30 fps
Max photo resolution	27MP	27MP	27MP	27MP	23MP	20MP	16.6MP
Formats	16:9 4:3 8:7	16:9 4:3 8:7	16:9 4:3 8:7	16:9 4:3 8:7	16:9 4:3	16:9 4:3	Spherical
Max video rate	120 Mbit/s	120 Mbit/s	120 Mbit/s	120 Mbit/s	100 Mbit/s	100 Mbit/s	78 Mbit/s
Idle max	x8	x8	x8	x8	x8	x8	x2
Stabilization	HyperSmooth 6.0	HyperSmooth 6.0	HyperSmooth 5.0	HyperSmooth 5.0	HyperSmooth 4.0	Hypersmooth 3.0	Hypersmooth Max
HDR	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Screens	Rear: 2.27 inch touch Front: 1.4 inch	Rear: 2.27 inch touch Front: 1.4 inch	Rear: 2.27 inch touch Front: 1.4 inch	No	Rear: 2.27 inch touch Front: 1.4 inch	Rear: 2.27 inch touch Front: 1.4 inch	1.7 inch touchscreen
Microphones	3	3	3	3	3	3	6
Waterproofing	10 meters	10 meters	10 meters	10 meters	10 meters	10 meters	5 meters
Batteries	1900 mAh Enduro	1720 mAh Enduro	1720 mAh Enduro	1500 mAh Enduro integrated	1720 mAh	1720 mAh	1600 mAh
Dimensions	71.8 x 50.8 x 33.6 mm	71.8 x 50.8 x 33.6 mm	71.8 x 50.8 x 33.6 mm	52.8 x 51.2 x 38 mm	71.8 x 50.8 x 33.6 mm	71.8 x 50.8 x 33.6 mm	64 x 69 x 24 mm
Weight	154 g	154 g	154 g	133 g	158 g	158 g	154 g