GoPro Hero 10 Review
The camera experience is similar to what we had with the GoPro Hero 9 last year in terms of size and ergonomics. The weight of the GoPro Hero 10 is 153 grams, five grams less than its predecessor. It is a minimal difference that is not noticeable from one camera to another.
if we wish to register ourselves subjectively or if we’re going to capture the landscape in front of us. In hand, the GoPro Hero 10 feels rubbery and pleasant, and its weight means that it is not uncomfortable to carry for several minutes of recording.
Performance
As we have commented previously, this new generation of GoPro makes sense thanks to its new GP2 processor, the renewed version of the GP1 that the GoPro Hero 9 Black had inside.
The GP2 improved the weaknesses we experienced last year, especially at the interface level and experience with the camera. This time, we have found a faster and stable software with very few hitches or errors compared to last year.
Battery
When I started using Hero 10, I was amazed at how quickly the battery drained. Just a short session with him burned most of the juice, but it’s essential to put this in the context of the device. I use action cameras to capture short clips, usually less than a minute long, and despite the concise battery life, I never felt limited by it. Still, you’ll want to have a couple of extra batteries to use with it, especially if you plan to shoot at 5.3K or high frame rates.
Price
At an MSRP of $ 499, the GoPro Hero 10 Black initially seems quite expensive, especially considering this is $ 50 more than the Hero 9 released a year ago. However, GoPro’s unique pricing model helps reduce this significantly if you opt for a GoPro subscription. With the subscription included, the total cost is only $ 399, which is much easier to swallow, plus you can enjoy all the benefits of the GoPro subscription for one year.
After your first year, that subscription will cost you $ 5 per month, or $ 50 per year. I would personally consider it a bargain for that price, particularly if you have an internet connection capable of handling auto-uploading of high-resolution images. The subscription includes other benefits, such as discounts and the replacement of the damaged camera.
An accessory pack with the Hero 10 is also available for $ 50 more and includes a small tripod, magnetic swivel clip, extra battery, and a 32GB MicroSD card.
Our take
The GoPro Hero 10 Black can be seen on the surface as a clone of its predecessor, but once you do your research under the hood, you will find that almost everything about this camera has undergone a drastic improvement. In an age where everyone carries a capable camera in a smartphone, it isn’t easy to design an attractive dedicated camera. The Hero 10 does this by being tough where your phone is fragile and incorporating an astonishing degree of versatility so it can lend itself to a wide range of different uses. The action can be where it shines, but the truth is that if you create videos of any kind, this is a tool that belongs to your kit.
The menus are intuitive and straightforward and distribute and divide the different recording and photography modes that we can use with this camera.
As its name suggests, the sequence mode is the one we must use if we want to do the classic time-lapses thanks to the TimeWarp 3.0 function, which this year maintains the same settings as last year.
It is an instrumental model if we want to show a lengthy video sequence such as a sunrise, a sunset or the path we travel on foot, by bicycle or by car from one point to another. Like last year, this model is still very versatile since while we are recording the sequence, we can choose to capture a particular moment at actual speed with sound and capture it again at a higher rate whenever we want.
If we talk about the result and the quality of the videos captured in sequence mode, it should be noted that we will have the option of recording with different resolutions, from 1080 to 4K through a 2.7K option in 4: 3 format. The images we capture have good this feature takes advantage of the GoPro’s electronic stabilization capabilities, which we’ll talk about shortly.
Video mode is for making classic recordings. This is undoubtedly the mode that gets the most out of the GoPro Hero 10 as it takes full advantage of the new GP2 processor. In addition to offering better performance, this processor has doubled the frame rate with which we could record with the GoPro Hero 9.
The recording quality settings in the new GoPro Hero 10 range from FullHD (that is, 1080p) and reach a maximum of 5.3K resolution, slightly exceeding the 5K resolution that we had in the previous generation. As I said, the frame rate has doubled compared to last year, allowing me to have some exciting recording settings, such as recording at 2.7K at 240 frames per second or the one that I liked the most: 4K at 120 frames per second.
If we choose the “Linear” lens, we have an option that helps maintain alignment with the content horizon. This function is handy, especially if we incline the camera without realizing it, and we want the GoPro itself to correct the inclination.
However, sometimes the corrections can indeed be a bit rough during the recordings.
Is there a better alternative?
No, there is no camera like the Hero 10 that surpasses it. However, if you need something to fit a smaller budget, the Hero 9 Black is available for $ 349 and the Hero 8 Black for just $ 279. Both are still great options, though I recommend the $ 200 DJI Osmo Action over the top. Hero 8. Alternatively, you can go for a 360 camera like the GoPro Max or Insta360 One X2.
How long will it last?
A new GoPro Hero is a fall season staple like pumpkin spice, but each new iteration remains a relevant and capable tool for many years to come. That, of course, depends on how roughly you treat these rugged tiny cameras. However, if you opt for the GoPro subscription, you will be able to get a replacement (two per year) for a fraction of the cost of a new camera. With cameras designed to be compromised, that’s a huge advantage.
Should you buy it?
If you are looking for a new action camera, this is a clear choice. For existing Hero camera owners, the big boost to slo-mo capabilities may be the only thing that makes the upgrade worthwhile.