Action cameras and going modular. GoPro’s latest attempt to get one-up on the DJI Osmo Action and the Akaso Brave 7 LE means a front display for vloggers and taking selfies, high-resolution photos and video grabs, but most importantly a removable lens cover.

All-new front display; Larger rear display; Excellent image stabilization; 20MP photos and 14.7 MP grabs from video; Stable connection to a phone; Easy-to-use app

Larger physical size; Batteries are not backwards-compatible; Touchscreen is laggy; Max Lens Mod costs extra; Hit-and-miss horizon leveling

This year’s Hero 9 dwarfs every action camera produced by GoPro so far. You will find genuine improvements in the Hero 9 like the use of front-facing screen from framing self-shots, a removable lens cover, the ability to record videos at 5K, capturing stills at 20MP, and the much loved HyperSmooth...

With 5K recording, a front-facing screen and a bigger battery, GoPro’s Hero 9 Black is the best action camera yet

Fantastic video stabilisation; Practical front-facing screen; Improved battery life; Interchangeable lenses;

Touchscreen can be under-responsive; Won’t fit some older accessories;

With 5K recording, a front-facing screen and a bigger battery, GoPro’s Hero 9 Black is the best action camera yet

Fantastic video stabilisation; Practical front-facing screen; Improved battery life; Interchangeable lenses;

Touchscreen can be under-responsive; Won’t fit some older accessories;

With 5K recording, a front-facing screen and a bigger battery, GoPro’s Hero 9 Black is the best action camera yet

Fantastic video stabilisation; Practical front-facing screen; Improved battery life; Interchangeable lenses;

Touchscreen can be under-responsive; Won’t fit some older accessories;

With 5K recording, a front-facing screen and a bigger battery, GoPro’s Hero 9 Black is the best action camera yet

Fantastic video stabilisation; Practical front-facing screen; Improved battery life; Interchangeable lenses;

Touchscreen can be under-responsive; Won’t fit some older accessories;

Despite the fact the Hero9 Black is a bulkier camera than the Hero8 Black, gets hot when filming 5K video, and you need a Max Lens Mod to match (and better) its ultra-wide predecessor, GoPro’s latest is still going to be the best action camera for many. Its improved detail, jacked-up battery performance and richer feature-set all come together to make one of the most versatile bits of kit we’ve used. From a webcam to a vlogging tool, dirt track companion to a waterproof snorkel cam, it’s got you covered.

Better battery despite two screens; Sharp and stable 5K video ; In-device horizon levelling;

Overheats after 30 minutes of 5K capture; Slightly narrower field of view than Hero8 Black; Bulkier than the dinky Hero8 Black;

The GoPro Hero 9 Black’s most important changes are to do with ease of use rather than image quality, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Longer battery life; Image quality and stabilisation are excellent; Useful front display;

Similar 4K image quality to Hero 8 Black, but with greater contrast; The price jump is significant; Still pretty poor at night;

Love the product overall but poor battery life

Great product