The GoPro Hero 1 brings fresh perspectives to the compact form factor. On paper, the lack of processor or sensor upgrades might seem underwhelming, but I've enjoyed my time with this new action camera.
Over the past few weeks, I've tested it in various environments -- from beaches to bustling cityscapes -- to figure out if it's worth your $400 ($350 right now on sale). Here's what you need to know about GoPro's newest action camera, the Hero 13 Black.
Like its predecessors, the GoPro Hero 13 Black is small and light enough to carry anywhere. At 5.6 ounces, it's easy to mount on a helmet, your body, or a vehicle. For tighter spaces, you can opt for the more compact GoPro Hero, but I haven't gotten my hands on it yet.
The Hero 13 keeps the durable build that's capable of withstanding hits and drops, but with a visible change. On the outside, GoPro ditched the blue paint splash texture from the Hero 12 Black in favor of a more mainstream finish.
Mounting the Hero 13 is easier than ever thanks to a new magnetic mechanism. You can opt for the Magnetic Latch Mount ($25) and Magnetic Latch Ball Joint Mount ($40) for more easily moving the camera between mounts.
I wouldn't recommend the magnetic mounting system for high-vibration or high-speed environments. I relied on a shorty for most of my use. You can use the traditional GoPro mount and ¼-20 mounting threads for more action-packed adventures.
It's not included in the package, but you can also get a Contacto, which is a USB-C pass-through door with a magnetic charger on the outside. This will let you use the camera with an external battery. I couldn't test it, but GoPro claims that the cable retention clip prevents accidental yanking and keeps the camera weather-resistant for outdoor adventures.
The GoPro Hero 13 comes with mountable lenses called "lens mods" and four neutral-density filters. The clasping mechanism is similar to the Max mod from previous years, but the lenses now communicate with the camera software. For this reason, they aren't backward compatible with the Hero 12 or Hero 11. All mods are waterproof, scratch-resistant, and feature a hydrophobic coating.
My favorite mod is the Macro lens ($130) that can focus as close as 4.3 inches on small subjects like flowers. While traditional phone cameras can go closer to the subject, the Macro mod brings adjustable focus to the GoPro for the first time. So, you don't need to switch out the lens if you want to vlog or record another far-away subject.
The Macro lens' ring sports Flower (close) and Person (distant) icons to indicate focus, but there's no marker to indicate which one is in use. The tiny GoPro screen also makes it hard to focus outdoors. Don't get me wrong, it's plenty bright -- but it's not responsive enough for a frictionless experience.
Just make sure you attach these lenses properly, so they form a tight seal. I used the Macro mode on the beach and didn't mount it correctly on the camera, which led to the lens being sand-affected permanently from the inside. Always slightly pull the mod to make sure there's no gap.
The Ultra Wide Mod ($100) lets you capture 36% more width and 48% more height than the built-in lens, but the supported resolution drops to 4K60. Still, I like it for vlogging shots that have scenery behind me -- like when hiking or even kayaking.
There's another mod called the Anamorphic Lens ($130), which I couldn't try because it's coming next year. It's supposed to offer a 1.33x squeeze factor for either 21:9 (2.35:1 widescreen) or 16:9 aspect ratios.
The ND filter set ($70) includes ND4, 8, 16, and 32 strength filters. When using these, the Hero 13 automatically adjusts the settings to create motion blur in bright lighting.
The GoPro Hero 13 Black uses the same 27-megapixel sensor as the Hero 12 and Hero 11. This is disappointing because a bigger sensor would've allowed for better low-light capabilities, like the Insta360 Ace Pro has. It's a capable sensor for bright lighting but doesn't compete with the Ace Pro for low light. In daylight, the footage is sharp, vibrant, and full of life.
The Hero 13 maxes out at 5.3K resolution. One of the advantages of having a GoPro is Log video support. It allows you to handle color grading in post-production software. GoPro has also updated its HDR support to HLG HDR, which offers better compatibility with non-wide-color-gamut displays. Both of these features might appeal to professionals.
I've enjoyed using the slow-motion burst mode, which records 5.3K footage at 120 frames per second. It's a bit softer than other clips, but it is fun to play around with, especially in colorful environments. You can also shoot super slow motion at 400fps, but that footage is limited to 720p. HyperSmooth remains as amazing as before, giving handheld footage a gimbal-like feel, while the swap between Wide, Linear, Linear+Horizon Leveling, and Narrow angles offers great quality in good light.
While the Hero 13 Black remains as compact as before, GoPro has increased the battery compartment size to house a bigger battery. The benefit is that you get a slightly better battery life -- 10% better than with the Hero 12, the company claims. It lasts about 10 to 15 minutes more, in my experience -- with GPS enabled, which was absent on the Hero 13. The change in capacity, however, means all your previous GoPro batteries aren't supported.
If you are looking for your first action camera, and you have $350, the GoPro Hero 13 Black is a good choice. Add the mods and filters, however, and the cost spikes up to $800, which doesn't sound like a value-for-money pick. Remember: you don't need to buy all the mods. Get the camera and go from there. I recommend getting the Macro mod for its multifunctional design.
I'd say the GoPro Hero 13 Black is a good upgrade over the Hero 11 too, but if you plan on shooting a lot of indoor footage, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is better. That said, if you want more professional capabilities like Log video support and a better HDR profile, get the GoPro Hero 13.