GEAR AND GADGETS

GOPRO HERO 10 BLACK

- Rohit Paradkar

GoPro is a term synonymous with action cameras - a go-to brand in that sense. Every year there is a new camera, and since it usually conforms to the form factor made popular by the original, it isn't easy to pack more firepower into the same little package year-on-year. Yet, GoPro seems to have mastered this art too, and the Hero 10 is another proof in that direction.

The test unit has come to us rather late, but it came when we were headed to the mountains for the 2022 OD Winter Drive - the one where we put three EVs through treacherous winter conditions. Unlike the EVs which have advanced thermal management systems, gadgets like the Hero face a faster battery depletion in the cold weather. However, we noticed that the Hero 10's (relatively new) battery lasted far longer than the Hero 9 despite being identical in spec. The reason for this then could be the new GP2 processor, which is not only quicker at all operations than the Hero 9's GP1 processor, but also seems to use the battery more efficiently.

It has also made the touchscreen more responsive now and we found it to work better with touchscreen-compatible motorcycle gloves when compared to the Hero 9. Another feature that we like on the Hero 10 is the new wired data transfer mode for phones which makes it easier to transfer and share video clips. While the 23MP 1/2.3-inch sensor remains unchanged over the Hero 9, the new GP2 processor brings with it new shooting options - 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p and 2.7K/240p - and our camera team particularly appreciated the 4K/120p and 2.7K/240p slow-motion modes which produce footage that is far more usable than the older GoPros.