GoPro Hero 9 vs Hero 10: How Do They Compare?

Key Points:

• The GoPro Hero 9 and 10 are similar in size with only five differences between the two and waterproof down to 33 feet.
• Accessories for the GoPro Hero 9 will work on the Hero 10.
• The new lens cover on the 10 has a hydrophobic coating and won’t scratch as easily. It’s also designed to reduce ghosting in conditions with high contrast.
• Both action cameras have features like Live Burst and RAW modes, but there’s a new processor inside the GoPro Hero 10, which has a significant impact on performance.
• The GP2 makes the GoPro Hero 10 more responsive. Both the front and rear displays are faster, along with boot time.

The GoPro line of action cams has entertained consumers for almost 20 years since the Digital HERO was released. If you’re looking for a new camera from this company, comparing the GoPro Hero 9 vs Hero 10 is where you’ll want to start. Both are the newest cameras and share more similarities than differences on paper. Let’s look at how these stack up against each other below.

GoPro Hero 9 vs Hero 10: Side-by-Side Comparison

GoPro Hero 9 vs Hero 10: 4 Must-Know Facts

• The GoPro Hero 10 was announced a year after the GoPro HERO 9 launch.
• HyperSmooth 3.0 was introduced with the GoPro HERO 9.
• The GoPro Hero 9 is the largest action camera from the company.
• 5K video became available on GoPro’s through the Hero 9.

GoPro Hero 9 vs Hero 10: Key Differences

When the GoPro Hero 9 was introduced in 2020, the company broke new ground in several areas. While consumers gained new features and a second screen, the GoPro 10 was released the following year. At first glance, the newer model can seem like an incremental release. That’s not true, although there are a few things that could make the GoPro 10 a better option despite the price difference.

The Design

If you were to unbox the GoPro Hero 9 and 10, you wouldn’t notice any difference aside from the Blue logo on the side of the newer model. Both action cameras have a revamped design from the GoPro Hero 8. They are also similar in size with only five differences between the two and waterproof down to 33 feet.

Accessories for the GoPro Hero 9 will work on the Hero 10, but the newer model has a better lens cap. The new lens cover has a hydrophobic coating and won’t scratch as easily. It’s also designed to reduce ghosting in conditions with high contrast. You won’t notice a difference in the weight, but you will with the lens cover if you use the camera near water or in harsh environments. 

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• REVOLUTIONARY PROCESSOR: Faster. Smoother. Better. The powerful new GP2 engine changes the game—snappy performance, responsive touch controls and double the frame rate for amazingly smooth footage....
• HIGH-RES PHOTOS + VIDEOS, HIGH FRAM RATE: Step up to the sharpest-shooting GoPro ever. Upgraded to incredible 23MP photos and 5.3K video resolution at 60fps, HERO10 offers double the frame rate for...
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• HYPERSMOOTH 4.0: HyperSmooth has never been smoother, and it’s easy to dial in the best stabilization at all times. Plus, get even better low-light performance and horizon leveling with a higher...
• FAST, RELIABLE CONNECTIVITY: Super easy, super fast. Transferring photos and videos from your cloud-connected GoPro to your phone is simple and versatile, with your choice of effortless wireless...

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06/03/2023 05:22 pm GMT

Video Capabilities

GoPro kept things simple with video between generations with the GoPro Hero 9 vs GoPro Hero 10. Both action cameras have features like Live Burst and RAW modes, but there’s a new processor inside the GoPro Hero 10, which has a significant impact on performance.

The GoPro Hero 9 is a capable action cam that snaps 20MP photos or can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second. You can do 5.3K video at 30fps and capture 4:3 screen grabs at a high resolution. Screen grabs are capped at 14.7MP, but they are sharp with plenty of detail.

With the newer model, GoPro upped the frame rates across the board. 5.3K videos can be shot at 60fps instead of 30, while 4K videos are listed at [email protected] frames per second. Videos shot at 2K are boosted from 120fps on the GoPro Hero 9 to 240fps on the Hero 10.

The 23MP frame grabs top out at 19.6MP on the GoPro Hero 10. While many users won’t use the 5.3K mode, the ability to shoot 4K video at up to 120 frames per second is a significant upgrade.

The Processor

Inside the GoPro Hero 9 is a processor called the GP1, the first SoC designed by the company. It was first introduced with the GoPro Hero 6, and quickly became a staple of the company’s cameras. GPI introduced features like Global Tone Mapping to the table along with H.264 encoding and improved video stabilization.

The company has improved on those features each year, but they introduced a new generation of the processor with the GP2 when they launched the Hero 10. We’ve already discussed how it improved frame rates and video stills, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The GP2 makes the GoPro Hero 10 more responsive. Both the front and rear displays are faster, along with boot time. That means the overall user experience has improved, and the interface won’t feel laggy compared to the older Hero 9. New algorithms have also improved photo and video quality in various conditions.

Low-light performance is better on the newer GoPro Hero 10 thanks to 3D noise reduction. Live preview is also smoother, so it’s not particularly close when you compare the SoCs between the GoPro Hero 9 vs Hero 10.

Features

GoPro didn’t change too many features from the Hero 9 to the Hero 10. The company kept the battery size the same on both models at 1,720mAh, and how much juice you’ll get depends on the mode and resolution.

GoPro says you can expect around 97 minutes of battery life from the Hero 9 with HyperSmooth on high. The Hero 10 is rated at 83 minutes at the same settings. The new processor makes a dent in the battery life with the GoPro Hero 10, but only a small one.

You can shoot time-lapse video on both cameras, although the newer model has a new version of the company’s HyperSmooth image stabilization system. HyperSmooth 4.0 kicks in when shooting under high-performance settings. Horizon leveling has been bumped up to  45 degrees on the Hero 10, compared to only 27 degrees on the Hero 9.

Pricing

Normally when a company releases a new product version, the old model becomes cheaper. That isn’t necessarily the case with the GoPro Hero 9 and GoPro Hero 10, as that boils down to where you purchase the action camera.

However, as of 2023, the price for the GoPro Hero 9 in most places is $249.99, while the GoPro Hero 10 is $349.99.

GoPro Hero 9 vs Hero 10: Which One is Better?

Whether you purchase a new GoPro or not, the GoPro Hero 10 is the superior choice, thanks to the company’s GP2 processor. This new processor enables higher frame rates and provides a more responsive and fluid experience overall. Low-light conditions have been improved, it has a better lens cover, and the price difference is minimal given the extra speed and higher rates.  

While the GoPro Hero 9 is still well worth a look if your budget is tight, we feel the new model simply brings more to the table.

Check out the GoPro Hero 10 on Amazon today.

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