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GoPro HERO4 Session review

7.6/10 AVG.
RATING
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GoPro HERO4 Session
GoPro HERO4 Session
GoPro HERO4 Session
GoPro HERO4 Session
GoPro HERO4 Session
GoPro HERO4 Session
GoPro HERO4 Session
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The small Hero4 Session is GoPro’s easiest-to-use action cam, and does a pretty good job. If only it wasn’t so expensive.

- Les Shu, Digital Trends 


The GoPro Hero 4 Session is a fantastic feat of engineering – it manages to do so much yet remain so small.

- Evan Kypreos , TrustedReviews 

Specs / Features


Warranty (Months) -
Size 3 x 3 cm (1.2 x 1.2 in)
Weight N/A
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Reviews summary section

What's good

  • Compact size and easy-to-use controls
  • Native waterproofing
  • Excellent audio quality
  • Compatible with other GoPro accessories

What's bad

  • Lack of fine detail in video
  • Difficult to know if videos framed properly
  • Non-removable battery

It can be hard to innovate a product, especially when the previous iterations were so popular it allowed a company to dominate segment of the market. Faced with this exact problem, GoPro has decided to take what was good about the camera and revamp it with the Hero4 Session. The Session maintains its boxy look and measures a mere 1.5 inches all around, which is 50 percent smaller than the other Hero4 cameras. Experts could easily slip this into their bag or even pockets should they choose. Because of its small size, they also were able to mount it in more locations like on the spokes of a bicycle. Best of all, it is waterproof right out of the box without the need for a protective case.

GoPro designed the camera to be the point-and-shoot of the action camera world. It touts only two buttons for ease of use. Besides being waterproof critics discovered it was actually quite rugged. Despite dropping it several times and banging it up, it worked flawlessly. This is thanks to the textured rubber around the body of the Session and the glass covering for the wide angle lens. While it sports a different shape, it is still compatible with previous accessories and some new ones made specifically for the Session.

One of the biggest drawbacks of its simplicity and size is when reviewers attempted to use it by hand. There was no way for them to know if their shots were framed properly or if the lens was pointing at what they wanted to record. Since everything is controlled with only two buttons, they also realized it was difficult to know when they were shooting video or time lapse photos.

Unsurprisingly, the Session does not record 4K video, though it still offers plenty of options. The default is set to 1080p at 30 frames per second (FPS), but it can record up to 100 FPS for lower resolutions. Although it has a lower bitrate than the larger Hero4 options, critics still consider video quality fairly impressive especially in outdoor light. They were able to capture video with vibrant and accurate colors. Upon closer inspection, they noticed videos lacked fine detail and suffered from compression artifacts. These became more pronounced when they shot in indoor or low-light situations.

A highlight of the Session is its audio quality. It features two microphones – one in the front and one in the back. The camera switches dynamically between the two in order to reduce wind noise. While experts warn it doesn't remove all wind noise, CNET states, "It works much better than you might think…Considering the mics are completely exposed, it's pretty impressive."

As for battery life, reviewers were able to get around two hours with Wi-Fi off and recording at 1080p at 30 FPS. Once they turned on Wi-Fi and changed to higher resolution or faster FPS, the battery life drained much faster. As well, they warn that it performs worse in colder temperatures. Unfortunately, the battery itself is non-removable so they needed to be careful to ration out their usage to make it last until they were able to charge it.

Reviewers generally recommend the GoPro Hero4 Session for those that want an action camera without breaking the bank. PC Mag states, "…for the casual shooters, the no-fuss operation, native waterproofing, and compact design make the Session a very appealing entrant into the crowded action cam space."


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