The GoPro Hero 13 Black features the same software smarts in a new package. The company has made its new camera more modular and easier to mount. It is also claimed to last longer than before. The Hero 13 Black is accompanied by a smaller action camera, the Hero, which weighs just 86 grams and has 35% less volume and 46% less mass the the flaghsip.
Most of the GoPro Hero 13 Black upgrades are on the outside. You get a new magnetic latch mounting system alongside the built-in mounting fingers and 1/4-20 mounting threads for three ways to mount the camera. The Hero 13 Black also features a magnetic charging system alongside the Type-C port, but you’ll need to buy the proprietary cable separately.
It packs a redesigned battery that’s 10% larger and offers better efficiency than the Enduro battery. It is claimed to provide 1.5 hours of continuous recording at the highest resolution 4K30 and 5.3K30 settings, and over 2.5 hours of continuous recording at HD-quality 1080p30.
GoPro has announced Hero Black (HB)-Series lenses that are automatically detected by the Hero 13 Black, but they’re not backward compatible. This means if you have an older GoPro action camera, these lenses won’t work with your device. They’re only compatible with the Hero 13 Black.
There are four HB-Series lenses that are compatible with GoPro-patented HyperSmooth stabilization. These include ultrawide ($100/INR 9,990), macro ($130/INR 12,990), anamorphic lens mods (price not yet announced), and a 4-pack ND filter ($70/INR 6,990).
The GoPro Hero 13 Black features a new 13x Burst Slow-Mo mode that captures up to 400 frames per second at HD-quality 720p video, 5.3K at 120 frames per second, and 900p at 360 frames per second video. It includes WiFi 6 for up to 40% quicker content transfer speeds than before. GPS is making a comeback so you can track speed, path, terrain, altitude, and g-force.
The GoPro Hero 13 Black goes on sale starting September 10 and is available for pre-order already. It is priced at $400/INR 44,990 for the standalone camera. You can get the Creator Edition bundle with a Volta Power Grip, Media Mod, and Light Mod for $600/INR 64,990.
I’m looking forward to testing the new GoPro action cameras. While I was expecting an upgrade on the lens to improve low-light capabilities, the Hero 13 Black doesn’t feature a 1-inch sensor like the Insta360 Ace Pro. However, the new lens mods are an interesting way to enhance the hardware experience, and I’m glad there’s some sort of battery improvement over the GoPro Hero 12 Black.
