GoPro unveiled its latest flagship action camera in the Hero 10 Black, equipping it with new ways to capture video and photos.
The overall design isn’t dramatically different, except new components underneath enable the camera to do more than its predecessors could. You still get the same ruggedized build, so no problem taking it in the mud, snow, sand or water, and it is compatible with all accessories made for the previous Hero 9 Black. You can also still use it as a webcam, among other things.
What’s new with the GoPro Hero 10 Black
Much of what’s new begins and ends with the Hero 10 Black’s new GP2 processor. This is a newer chipset that replaces the GP1, which GoPro used since the Hero 6 Black. The additional processing power makes it possible to shoot video in 5.3K at 60fps (frames per second). You can also shoot 4K at 120fps, or even 2.7K at 240fps for really smooth slow-motion shots. All of these numbers bump up from the Hero 9 line, opening up new ways to capture content.
It also improved the software to take advantage of the hardware muscle. HyperSmooth 4.0 adds an extra layer of electronic stabilization to ensure footage looks smoother than before. You still get all the same modes and features from previous iterations as well.
GoPro is also positioning the Hero 10 Black as a viable still camera. You can take photos at 23-megapixels, or even freeze a frame in a 5.3K video and grab a 15.8-megapixel image from it. Without testing, it’s hard to tell how much of a difference you can expect, but GoPro claims it improved low-light performance and contrast enough to stand out from the past.
Working with the cloud
A big part of this launch is GoPro’s cloud-based support. The Quik app on iOS and Android usually acts as the platform to transfer over video and photos for editing. The Hero 10 Black will have Wi-Fi connectivity that also acts automatically. Plug it in to charge, and it will automatically upload everything you shot to the cloud. The one catch is that it needs to be a home Wi-Fi network, as there is no cellular connectivity here.
To do this, you will need a GoPro subscription, which is $60 for the year. The company is pushing the Hero 10 Black as an action cam that plays nicer with smartphones. You could already connect the two to control the camera from a phone, only now you can transfer content faster. GoPro will even include a cable to let you do it in a wired form, rather than just wireless.
You don’t need a subscription to manually transfer stuff over, and the company says it’s up to 30% faster, though I haven’t tested that yet.
One other thing: if you want to livestream anything using the GoPro Hero 10 Black at the highest quality, you will need a subscription. There are also editing tools in the Quik app only available to subscribers.
Coming soon
The GoPro Hero 10 Black is available for pre-order now. Check out other GoPro cameras and accessories made for the popular action cam line.
