The company's newest action camera adds a full-color front screen, 5K, and software enhancements that make capturing the moment easier than ever.
The first standout feature in the Hero 9 is the 23.6-megapixel sensor. That's quite a jump from the predecessor's 12-megapixel sensor. More megapixels means the Hero 9 Black can shoot 5K video and snap 20-megapixel still images.
5K video on its own isn't that useful for most of us, since very few devices or streaming services support anything over 4K, but the extra pixels mean you can crop your video and still end up with 4K footage. With the huge field of view in a GoPro, the ability to crop and zoom in on your subject after the fact is a tremendous advantage.
The new sensor also brings the ability to grab a 14.7-MP still image from videos. That's a high enough resolution to be perfectly usable not just on the web, but in print. The great thing about this is that you can leave the camera in 5K video mode and then pull out high-quality still images later, so there's never a chance you'll miss the action.
It's worth noting that battery life has improved too, thanks to a larger battery. In a side-by-side 4K test with the Hero 8, the Hero 9 lasted 23 minutes longer, running for a full 2 hours and 11 minutes. In a more real-world test, the Hero 9 usually lasted me half a day, so you'll still want to pack an extra battery if you're planning a full day of shooting. Unfortunately, if you're upgrading from an older Hero model, your extra batteries won't work with the Hero 9.
The last physical change of note is the new removable lens cover. This was my biggest gripe about the last model, so it's nice to see GoPro address this shortcoming, but the company also added the ability to put a new mod on the existing lens. The Max lens mod adds a wider field view and potentially opens up some new filming possibilities.
Accessories you should buy along with GoPro Hero 9 Black
