GoPro Hero8 Black review

Our Verdict

GoPro remains the action camera to beat. The Hero8 Black features a new design, but more importantly, improved image stabilization.

For

Much-improved audio quality
Intuitive user interface
Sleeker accompaniment mounting organisation
Media "Mods" add functionality

Against

Battery door is bad-mannered to close
Lens is no longer removable
Photographic camera gets hot when shooting 4K

Tom's Guide Verdict

GoPro remains the action camera to beat. The Hero8 Black features a new blueprint, only more chiefly, improved prototype stabilization.

Pros

+
Much-improved audio quality
+
Intuitive user interface
+
Sleeker accompaniment mounting system
+
Media "Mods" add together functionality

Cons

-
Battery door is awkward to close
-
Lens is no longer removable
-
Photographic camera gets hot when shooting 4K

Many years ago, GoPro established itself every bit the leader in the action-camera marketplace with well-congenital, easy to employ cameras that tin can be mounted near anywhere using an assortment of branded and tertiary-party accessories.

With the introduction of the Hero8 Black, GoPro has once again upped the ante with its nearly characteristic-rich camera notwithstanding, adding even amend epitome stabilization, and redesigning the device to go far sleeker and allow for a new line of accessories. All of these improvements brand the GoPro one of the all-time activity cameras, and as well one of the best GoPro Cameras.

Editor's Note (Sept. 2021): GoPro has released the GoPro Hero10 Black, which has improved image stabilization, a larger 23MP image sensor, and can tape video at five.3K/60 fps. Yous can read our total GoPro Hero10 Black review hither.

GoPro Hero8 Blackness cost and availability

The GoPro Hero8 Blackness went on sale in October, 2019 at a cost of $399. GoPro is currently offering a deal: Customers can trade-in whatever GoPro or digital camera with an original retail value of at least $100, and receive $100 in trade-in value.

The model we were provided to examination is the GoPro Hero8 Bundle ($449), which includes the camera, an expandable grip / mini-tripod, a USB-C charging cable, 32-GB micro-SD card, a head strap and a battery.

Pattern

The Hero8 Blackness is GoPro'due south biggest redesign since the Hero5, which fabricated the photographic camera water-resistant and without the need for a case. Some of the updates are welcome, merely others miss the marking. Most notably, the company has rethought the design of the proprietary GoPro mount, giving it "frameless mounting with folding fingers" that collapse apartment into the bottom of the camera.

The Hero8 is noticeably narrower, making the lens protrude less than it did in previous versions. Nevertheless, this means that the lens is no longer replaceable; while this eliminates a potential failure betoken, it besides means that you can no longer adhere third-party lenses or replace a broken ane. GoPro likewise moved the Power / Mode push from the correct side to the left side. The GoPro Hero8 Black is slightly taller than the Hero 7, which allows for a slightly bigger screen on the new model.

Additionally, due to the new folding mounting fingers, the battery door (which now houses the battery, micro-SD card and USB-C port) has moved from the lesser to the right side of the photographic camera, eliminating the micro-HDMI port. Like previous models, the door is removable (then that you lot users can easily charge the camera while it is mounted or plug into the adapter and connect a third-party microphone.

I constitute the new battery-door design to be quite impuissant. The door pops off much as well easily, and once the door is removed, in that location is nothing blocking the battery from coming loose. There are third-party accessories that block the battery door just exit a cutting out that allows y'all to charge the device. However, having the door open means that the photographic camera is no longer h2o-resistant.

While we like the new look of the Hero8, its complete redesign means that it won't work with whatsoever existing cases like the SuperSuit or lens covers. Nonetheless, the cameraHero8 volition yet be compatible with any accessory that connects to the standard GoPro mount.

GoPro Hero8Black ease of utilise

The GoPro Hero8 brings a like feel and user feel, assuasive for video novices to utilise it almost immediately without besides much difficulty.

There are iii modes to cull from: Photo, Video and Fourth dimension-Lapse; there are numerous choices under each menu item, though a new customization tool makes it piece of cake to tweak the settings in each style. It's a large improvement over the older user interface from the Hero7 or half dozen.

Compared to the Insta360 ONE R, the Hero8 was much easier to use due to its significantly larger screen. Additionally, GoPro'due south menus were make clean and easy to read, compared to the Insta360 1 R, which uses pocket-sized icons whose function is much harder to discern.

GoPro Hero8 Blackness Audio and Video Quality

The newest generation GoPro Hero8 Black improves on the specs of the Hero7 Black while using the aforementioned GP1 chipset for image quality and image-stabilization performance. With the ability to capture footage in 4K resolution at 60 frames per 2d (fps), as well as 30 fps and 24fps in all just ane video mode, this upgraded model gives users the technical ability to lucifer their creative needs. GoPro has besides upped the bitrate of 4K footage from the 78 megabytes per 2nd (Mbs) of the Hero7 Black to 100 Mbs in both 4K and 2.7K for the Hero8 Black, improving the quality of the video.

The biggest characteristic of the Hero8 Blackness is its new Heave prototype-stabilization feature, which promises fifty-fifty smoother video than previous generations. To test this feature, I ran up and downwards the beach while belongings the GoPro (mounted to the included grip) at virtually arm'due south length.

When HyperSmooth Boost is turned off, the video is, not surprisingly, almost unwatchable. Even so, with Boost turned on, information technology was so smooth that the first time I watched my footage, I really exclaimed, "Wow."

I've tested numerous action cameras with prototype stabilization, and this is the get-go fourth dimension I was truly impressed with the feature. This is true for the Hero7 Black and the Insta360 One R. While the One R was decent and certainly usable, I plant the Hero8 Black to exist a little more stable and smooth, and the 1 R seems to have a noticeable bounce occasionally.

At that place are iv levels of stabilization: Off, HyperSmooth On, High and Boost, the last of which offers the most stable image tracking. All the same, every stabilization level does not work on all field-of-view settings. If you can work inside these constraints, you volition have a gimbal-like experience.

In footage recorded at the beach, colors were brilliant, vibrant and relatively accurate, with a scrap of punchiness that made them popular. Footage recorded at night was all the same quite usable – however, due to the higher ISO needed, at that place was definitely some pixelation in the darkest parts of the sky.

Particularly when shooting in 4K with epitome stabilization turned on, the camera runs quite warm to the touch. It's not enough to burn y'all, but it would exist uncomfortable if you put it in your pocket when you're finished shooting.

Best action cameras of 2020

The upgraded three-microphone configuration with a new forepart-facing mic under the lens in the Hero8 Black provides the best audio I've heard from the GoPro platform without an external microphone.

Holding the photographic camera well-nigh 18 inches from my oral fissure, the audio I recorded talking directly into the photographic camera was clear and understandable. When an external microphone is plugged in, GoPro even thought to add settings to customize the audio, based on the blazon of microphone (standard, powered and fifty-fifty line level, if taking a feed from a soundboard or other audio source), though that card only becomes available with an external mic.

GoPro App

GoPro'south app, bachelor on the Google Play Store as well as on the Apple iTunes store, allows you lot to command near aspects of the camera. As well being able to change modes and view footage, the current iteration of the app even allows users to edit content recorded and then share it direct to any of their favorite apps.

The app worked well both on an iPhone half-dozen Plus and a OnePlus 7 Pro running Android 10, apace connecting the the Hero8 Black. When connected to the camera through the app, the Hero8 creates a Wi-Fi access point for itself, meaning that you volition not be able to utilize your home Wi-Fi for your phone while connected to the camera. I was quite surprised how seamlessly it connected to two together.

New this year to the app is live back up for 1080p live streaming to Facebook and YouTube, or any app that tin use a RTMP URL using Wi-FI or hotspot (versus straight cell connection). Information technology took almost 3 minutes to set up, simply I was hands able to mail service a alive video to the app.

GoPro Hero8 accessories

One of the nearly promising additions to the Hero8 are the new Mods, accessories that add a lot of functionality, peculiarly for vloggers. While I have not been able to test out these media mods directly, I did become some easily-on time with them while at the Consumer Electronics Evidence in Las Vegas. <INSERT PHOTOS>

Image ane of 13

Image 2 of thirteen

Prototype 3 of 13

Paradigm iv of 13

Image 5 of 13

Image 6 of xiii

Image vii of xiii

Image 8 of 13

Image 9 of 13

Image 10 of 13

Paradigm 11 of 13

Image 12 of thirteen

Prototype 13 of 13

The backbone of this system is the Media Mod ($79.99), which is a relatively open plastic frame with a built-in directional shotgun microphone. The Media Mod as well has ii cold-shoe mounts and three external ports: USB-C (for charging/information), a iii.five-millimeter jack for a microphone, and adds back the missing micro-HDMI port.

The Brandish Mod ($79.99) connects to the GoPro through the micro HDMI on the back of the Media Mod. While it lacks a touchscreen, it can flip up 180 degrees, then that vloggers can better frame themselves. The Display Modern also has its own rechargeable i-60 minutes battery, so you won't bleed the Hero8's battery.

Best GoPro Accessories

The Light Mod ($49.99) is a 10-light-emitting diode assortment with a silicone diffuser covering, and is waterproof downwards to 10 meters. The Light Mod has four levels of effulgence – upward to 200 lumens – and it too has its ain battery, skillful for up to half-dozen hours.

Of the three, just the Low-cal Mod is currently for sale; the Media Mod is available for pre-order, while the Display Mod won't be open for pre-orders until afterwards in February.

Bottom line

Overall, I was very pleased with the Hero8's redesign. HyperSmooth Heave stabilization is a game-changer, and the video and audio quality are equally excellent equally ever. The camera'south user interface is clean and easy to utilise, with menus written out in one of 12 languages, making it an ideal solution for the activity-sport enthusiast, no matter the level of video-making expertise.

The GoPro Hero8 is one of the more than expensive action cameras, but it's worth the investment. It is currently $20 more than the DJI Osmo Action camera ($379) and $100 more than than the Insta360 Ane R - 4K version ($299) and $80 more than its sibling, the GoPro Hero seven ($329.99).

Is it worth it to upgrade from the Hero7? Probably not, particularly if you have housings for the previous iii generations or have a tendency to interruption lenses. But if you have the cash and want best in class operation, it'south the best action camera effectually.