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GoPro HERO review

7/10 AVG.
RATING
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GoPro HERO
GoPro HERO
GoPro HERO
GoPro HERO
GoPro HERO
...

This low-cost Hero is an affordable action cam that won't easily break—or break the bank.

- Kyle Looney , Reviewed 


Though the GoPro Hero is nearly devoid of features, this entry point for GoPro's lineup is just enough to get you started in the world of little, mountable cameras.

- Joshua Goldman , Cnet 

Specs / Features


Warranty (Months) -
Size 10 x 10 cm (3.9 x 3.9 in)
Weight N/A
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Reviews summary section

What's good

  • Accurate color and low noise
  • 3 hour battery life
  • Waterproof and shock-resistant
  • Inexpensive

What's bad

  • No Wi-Fi capability
  • No LCD makes framing shots difficult
  • Non-removable battery

GoPro might be known as the action camera to have, but most of their products are priced more to higher end market. With the GoPro Hero, the company hopes to capture the more budget-minded consumers as well. While it doesn't offer the same amount of features as the more premium models like the Hero4 Black and Silver, it is still a welcome addition to the entry-level action camera market.

At first glance, the Hero looks like every other GoPro. It has the same boxy design, light weight of 111 grams and rugged housing. The catch here is it cannot be removed from said housing like other options. While this means it is permanently waterproof and shock-resistant, it also means if the case is damaged it cannot be easily replaced. With that said, experts note that it can take a good amount of abuse.

Although the case makes the Hero tough, it comes with several drawbacks like non-removable battery and no micro-HDMI port or GoPro accessory port. While critics didn't miss the micro-HDMI they did feel the absence of the accessory port. Without this, there was no way for them to add Wi-Fi or and LCD to preview their shots and framing. Since the camera does not come with a built-in LCD without it, they found it hard to know what exactly their camera was focused on. As for the battery, while they would have liked the option to switch it out, on its own it lasted them three hours even when taking HD footage.

Although the Hero's highest video resolution is only 1080p, reviewers were surprised to find it actually had slightly higher color accuracy and less noise than its more expensive siblings and decent details. With that said, they warn that it still has its limitations. They noticed that fine details were softened and videos shot in 1080p were a bit choppy due to the low frame rate of 30 frames per second. While the 720p/60FPS option was smoother, they found the details were lost even further. Still CNET notes, "Overall, the results, while not amazing, are very good for its price with better detail and color than other inexpensive action cams."

While it might not provide the same video quality as the Hero4 Black or Silver, reviewers still recommend the Hero for those who want a good action camera at an affordable price. Reviewed.com states, "…if you want a camera to take with you to Disneyland or to pop on your board when you're learning to surf, this camera will get it done for cheap."


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