GoPro unveils new 4K action cameras HERO5 Black and HERO5 Session

GoPro has announced two new camera models replacing their HERO4 Lineup.

The Hero5 Black and the Hero5 Session and a $5/month GoPro Plus subscription service, both cameras will be available October 2nd.

This new lineup means all three GoPro models (HERO5 Black, HERO5 Session  and the older HERO Session) will be waterproof up to 10m (33FT) without a housing, and feature WIFI+Bluetooth capabilities.

Both HERO5 Models feature voice control and digital video stabilization for  smoother footage, plus the ability to upload automatically to the new premium “GoPro Plus” cloud service.

GoPro Plus also gives you access to a music library for editing, a 20% discount on accessories at GoPro.com and premium support. It will costs you an extra $5 per month, although it’ll only be available in the US at launch.

The HERO5 Black

This is GoPro’s new flagship model and adds a touch display, GPS, and support for RAW photos. Allowing  for location-tagging and  much greater flexibility when it comes to post-processing. Like the previous model, it shoots 4K at up to 30 fps, as well as 1080p at 120 fps max.

All camera features and parameters can be controlled via the  2″ touch screen or a range of voice controls.

The new  Hero 5 Black is compatible with all existing GoPro mounts. But unfortunately your old Hero 4 battery will not work with the new Hero5 Black as the new battery is a different capacity, size and shape compared to older models.

The good news is the slightly bigger battery on the Hero 5 (1,220mAh compared to 1,160mAh) will give you a little more juice, allowing for roughly 2 hours of battery life depending on how much you play around with the touchscreen (touchscreens use lots of power).

The HERO5 Session

This smaller version comes in the same compact form factor (without a display screen) as the original Session but has been upgraded all around and offers many of the same features as the new HERO5 Black.

Many of you might miss the GPS and RAW photo capabilities of the bigger (and more expensive) though. The new session can also  record 4K video at 30 frames per second but photos max out at 10MP compared to the Black’s 12MP.

Differences Between the HERO5 Black, HERO5 Session and HERO Session

GoPro Cameras Comparison Table

The new hardware is not only a big step up in terms of features, but also a big win in terms of pricing.

Video Quality

Take a look at this comparison video to see how much GoPro has improved their video quality over the previous generation.

GoPro HERO5 BLACK vs HERO5 SESSION vs HERO4 Silver Comparison

It will be interesting to see how the competition reacts, as they will really need to step up their game to compete with these new GoPro Models.