The GoPro HERO 9 Black rocks a front-facing colour screen and boosted specs across the board, yet GoPro has kept complexity to a minimum, meaning pretty much anyone can pick up a HERO 9 Black and shoot genuinely impressive 5k video.

Massive specs on every front; Potent but easy for beginners to use; Extremely robust build quality

On the heavier side for some mounts/applications; Voice controls improved but still slightly buggy

The GoPro Hero 9 Black is the most powerful and versatile action camera you can buy, but for most people its predecessor offers better value. While the new sensor and front display are useful additions, the changes don't collectively represent a big leap over the Hero 8 Black.

5K video delivers more detail; Front display is handy for vlogging; Improved battery life; New software tricks

Unresponsive touchscreen; Little improvement to 4K shooting; Still no 4K/120p mode; HEVC files need recent editing hardware

Boosts in all the right places make the Hero9 Black the pinnacle of action cam excellence, but if you don’t need 5K, you may well be better off with last year’s model.

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

GoPro's Hero9 Black action cam delivers excellent, stabilized 5K video and ups still quality, but not everyone should spend more when the Hero8 Black is still available for less.

Up to 5K quality at 30fps; Front-facing color LCD; Exceptional video stabilization; Up to 240fps HD slow motion; Time-lapse; buffering; and HDR imaging; USB-C charging; Strong app support; Compact and waterproof

You'll likely want to carry extra batteries; Subscription service adds recurring costs; Discounted pricing not available from all retailers

GoPro’s slogan for the Hero 9 launch is “More everything,” and there really are enough new things here for that to feel fair. GoPro regulars will appreciate the higher resolution, while the new front screen fends off competition from DJI.

Great bundle price; Full color front display; 5K video and 20-megapixel photos; Improved battery life; Useful new shooting modes/features

Larger than before making some accessories redundant; Heavier than the (bigger) Max; No new slo-mo speeds

GoPro has been the industry standard for action cameras for over 15 years. It wasn’t until a few years ago that brands such as DJI and Insta360 began making action cameras with more features that challenged GoPro’s lead.

Crisp 5K footage; A useful front-facing screen; Still rugged build quality

More expensive than before; Slow HDR processing; Still needs a second battery for heavy use

This is the most substantial update of the GoPro Hero Black range in several years. With 5K video, 20MP stills, 30% more battery life, improved stabilization and much more, the GoPro Hero9 Black is a formidable camera with a wide range of uses.

No need for waterproof housing; Dual Screen; 8X Slow-motion

Mods are expensive; Not great in low light

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

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;

It wasn’t long ago that action cameras were in an arms race to make the smallest possible device. In fact,...

Front-facing screen and a larger rear screen. Gorgeous 5K footage with in-camera horizon-levelling. 20MP stills and 14MP screen grabs. Vastly improved performance in cold temps. Longer battery life

A bit heavier than the Hero8 Black, Your old GoPro batteries won’t work with it, Video images lack a bit of sharpness and the colours are slightly off (hopefully fixable via firmware)