Hands-on review: GoPro HERO13 Black

The GoPro HERO13 Black is the latest offering from GoPro, promising to push the boundaries of action cameras once again. It's clear that the HERO13 Black is designed not just to meet the needs of extreme sports enthusiasts but to elevate the creative toolkit of any content creator looking to produce stunning, professional-grade footage. With several new features, including 5.3K video resolution, a redesigned Enduro battery, and innovative lens mods, the HERO13 Black firmly positions itself as GoPro's flagship model.

Design and Build Quality

From the moment you unbox the HERO13 Black, you notice the familiar rugged, waterproof design GoPro is known for. The camera remains compact and sturdy, with its waterproof capabilities extending to depths of 33 feet (10 metres), ensuring it can handle the rigours of water sports and harsh environments. The signature front and rear LCD screens return, making it easy to frame shots or view playback, even in selfie mode.

What's new in the HERO13 Black is the magnetic latch mounting system, a game-changer for swapping mounts quickly and easily without needing a thumb screw. The fold-down mounting fingers remain for a more traditional attachment to GoPro mounts, while the 1/4-20 mounting thread offers professional flexibility for use with standard tripods.

Video and Photo Capabilities

GoPro has long been a leader in action camera video quality, and the HERO13 Black doesn't disappoint. It offers an impressive 5.3K video resolution at 60 frames per second (fps), along with 4K at 120fps for ultra-smooth slow-motion footage. This high resolution allows you to capture crisp details, whether you're recording high-speed action or scenic landscapes. Paired with the new HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilisation and 360° Horizon Lock, the footage is silky smooth even when conditions are less than ideal.

For those looking to experiment with slow motion, the HERO13 Black supports Burst Slo-Mo at 720p, capturing up to 400 frames per second. This feature allows you to create stunning slow-motion sequences, perfect for highlighting rapid movements, like a skateboard trick or a wave breaking on the shore. And for the content creators who require the best colour fidelity, the addition of Professional-Level Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) HDR video means you can record in a wider colour space, providing more flexibility in post-production.

The still photography options also impress, with 27MP stills and features like SuperPhoto, HDR, and RAW photo capture. You can grab 24.7MP frame grabs from your 5.3K video recordings, ensuring you never miss the perfect moment.

Lens Mods: Elevating Creativity

The real star of the HERO13 Black is its compatibility with GoPro's new HB-Series Lens Mods. These lenses expand the camera's versatility, allowing for unique perspectives and creative shots that are hard to achieve with a standard lens.

Ultra Wide Lens Mod: This mod offers a 177° field of view, giving users the ability to capture immersive POV shots with a 1:1 aspect ratio. Whether you're mountain biking down a trail or skiing through fresh powder, this lens brings viewers right into the action.

Macro Lens Mod: Ideal for capturing intricate details, the Macro Lens Mod allows for up-close shots with a variable focus distance. You can capture subjects as close as 4.33 inches (11cm), making it perfect for nature photography or detailed product shots.

Anamorphic Lens Mod: Expected in 2025, this mod will offer a cinematic ultra-wide field of view with minimal distortion. It's designed to help creators achieve Hollywood-style footage, complete with lens flares and a 21:9 aspect ratio.

ND Filter 4-Pack: For those interested in creating cinematic motion blur, the ND Filter pack automatically adjusts the camera's settings based on the lighting conditions, making it easy to capture dynamic shots without manual adjustments.

These mods, combined with GoPro's auto-detection technology, ensure the camera adjusts its settings optimally for each lens, making the HERO13 Black a powerhouse for versatile shooting.

Power and Battery Life

One of the standout improvements in the HERO13 Black is the upgraded Enduro battery, which now has a 10% larger capacity at 1900mAh. According to GoPro, this results in up to 1.5 hours of continuous 5.3K30 recording and over 2.5 hours of 1080p30 recording. In my tests, the camera consistently performed well, with the battery lasting long enough for extended shooting sessions without overheating, even in warmer conditions.

For those needing even more power, GoPro offers the Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit, which allows for continuous power through an external USB-C power source while maintaining the camera's waterproof rating.

User Experience and Software

The HERO13 Black's interface remains intuitive, with a responsive rear touch display and simple navigation. However, there are notable upgrades in the user experience. The Wi-Fi 6 technology delivers faster transfer speeds, up to 40% quicker than the previous model, making it easier to upload your content to the cloud or your smartphone. Additionally, the GPS is back, allowing you to overlay performance metrics like speed, altitude, and g-force onto your footage, which is perfect for extreme sports enthusiasts.

GoPro's Quik app continues to offer a seamless experience for editing and sharing content. With automatic highlight videos, unlimited cloud storage, and easy-to-use editing tools, it's never been easier to create professional-grade content right from your phone. Subscribing to GoPro's Premium or Premium+ plans unlocks advanced features like HyperSmooth Pro and up to 500GB of cloud storage, further enhancing the creative possibilities.

Final Thoughts

The GoPro HERO13 Black is a powerful upgrade that builds upon the strengths of its predecessors while introducing innovative features like the HB-Series Lens Mods, improved battery life, and faster transfer speeds. Whether you're a seasoned content creator or a weekend adventurer, the HERO13 Black offers the tools and flexibility needed to capture stunning, professional-quality footage in any environment. While the price point may be steep for some, the sheer performance and creative potential of the HERO13 Black make it worth the investment for those serious about content creation.

In short, the HERO13 Black is a top-tier action camera that continues GoPro's legacy of innovation, making it the ultimate choice for creators looking to capture epic moments with ease.