BLACK MAGIC - GoPro HERO9 Black

All hail the world’s most advanced action camera

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SPECIFICATIONS

Video resolution 5K 30fps, 4K 60fps, 2.7K 120fps, 1080P 240fps

Photo resolution 20MP

Battery removable 1720mAh

Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Touchscreen 2.27-inch LCD rear; colour LCD front

Microphones 3

Dimensions 71.0x55x33.6mm

Weight 158g

The GoPro HERO9 Black will be instantly recognisable to pretty much everyone, as will its basic functions, but GoPro has ingeniously cranked up specs almost everywhere as well as adding Apple-esque design tweaks to what was already a potent platform.

That’s not to say it is complex to use; in fact, GoPro has kept complexity to a minimum, enabling pretty much anyone to pick up the GoPro HERO9 Black, clip it into a mount, and go shoot genuinely impressive 5K video. That impressiveness isn’t mainly to do with the resolution – although it’s near-Hollywood quality – but the astonishingly good stabilisation and capture options. These endure the rockiest, judder-iest activities, but spit out perfectly watchable, smooth video that’s worlds away from some of the bargain-bin competition.

In terms of design, the GoPro HERO9 Black manages to follow the design cues of the last handful of GoPros, but with some vital tweaks, most noticeably the full-colour, forward-facing ‘selfie’ screen. This little screen not only immediately differentiates the HERO9 from the HERO8 but also flags just how seriously the DJI Osmo Action competition has been taken by GoPro.