GoPro has a ton of competition, with other brands lobbing much of their software in free with purchase. The Hero 13 Black's insistence on a subscription for its best editing features may rankle, but the hardware is still the high-water mark in reliability and ease of use in the action cam field. There's a reason every camera of this type is referred to as a 'GoPro', after all.
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Design
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Features
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Performance
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Battery
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Value
I had the GoPro Hero 13 Black for two weeks, taking it cycling on a head mount, and on a weekend to Leopard Creek, where I shot footage from the golf course and from the balcony of the lodge overlooking the Kruger and the Crocodile River.
The clip below is from the course, with editing done via the paid version of GoPro’s app.
I also did a time-lapse of the river. That video is below.
Design and build
GoPro hasn’t reinvented the wheel with the Hero 13, and that’s not a bad thing. The familiar form factor is still the industry standard: a compact, rugged block that looks like it could survive being dropped down a flight of stairs, dunked in the pool, and still be ready for your next adventure. Waterproof out of the box (10m without a case), it remains the go-anywhere camera.
The build quality strikes the right balance—reassuringly solid without being too heavy. Buttons are tactile, the lens cover is replaceable, and the new coatings do a better job of handling smudges and glare. For creators moving between golf courses, cycling routes, or casual travel vlogging, it’s still one of the easiest “throw-in-the-bag” tools you can own.
Video and photo quality
Video remains GoPro’s calling card, and the Hero 13 Black delivers. It shoots crisp 5.3K video with excellent dynamic range. HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilisation is still the standout feature: whether you’re bombing downhill on a bike or filming handheld at Leopard Creek, the footage looks eerily smooth. Slow-motion at 4K/120fps effortlessly turns sunsets or water splashes into cinematic B-roll.
Photos are serviceable but not the star. You’ll get decent 27MP stills, and the new HDR processing helps in tricky lighting, but this is very much a video-first machine. If you want serious stills, you’ll probably pair it with a smartphone or DSLR.
Usability and interface
GoPro has refined its interface so it’s simple enough for beginners and efficient enough for pros. The touchscreen is bright and responsive—even outdoors—while the menus are logical. You can swipe quickly into preset modes, which makes it easy to jump from “cycling POV” to “golf vlog” to “slow-mo sunset” without digging through settings.
Voice commands remain surprisingly handy when your hands are busy. And for those who like tinkering, Pro controls let you dial in bit rates, white balance, and shutter speed.
Ecosystem and cloud workflow
This is where the GoPro Hero 13 earns both applause and groans. GoPro’s Quik app pairs easily, and the automatic cloud upload is slick—your footage is waiting on your phone or computer before you’ve unpacked. But the editing tools, the real meat of the experience, are tied behind a subscription.
It’s convenient if you’re all-in on the ecosystem, but it feels like a cash grab if you only use the camera occasionally. By contrast, smaller competitors like Insta360 bundle free editors, which makes GoPro’s “pay to unlock the workflow” model harder to swallow.
Performance in the field
In practice, the GoPro Hero 13 does what it says on the tin. Out cycling, you can mount it and forget it—the footage will look polished without babysitting. On the golf course, handheld vlogs and swing shots come out steady and clear. The sunsets at Leopard Creek showed off the improved HDR, balancing sky detail with shadows nicely.
Battery life is good but not groundbreaking. You’ll get about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on resolution and features, which is fine for day-to-day shooting but might push you to carry a spare for longer trips. The Enduro batteries from the Hero 12 are compatible, which is a win for anyone upgrading.
Value and rivals
At its core, the Hero 13 is a refinement, not a revolution. It costs more than many of the newer compact rivals, and the subscription upsell makes the ecosystem pricier still. But the competition still lags in stabilization, ruggedness, and all-around dependability.
Insta360, DJI, and even some budget brands are nipping at GoPro’s heels with creative features and more affordable workflows. But if you want a camera you can trust in any environment—from surf to snow to safari—the Hero 13 is the safer bet.
GoPro Hero 13 verdict
The GoPro Hero 13 won’t shock anyone, but it doesn’t need to. It doubles down on what GoPro has always done best: rock-solid design, silky-smooth video, and a workflow that delivers pro-quality results with minimal fuss.
Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, the subscription-heavy ecosystem will annoy some. But when you actually take it into the field, those frustrations fade—the footage speaks for itself. For creators who value reliability and quality over gimmicks, the Hero 13 remains the benchmark action camera.
Craig Leppan conducted the GoPro Hero 13 Black review for Stuff.
