GoPro Hero9 Black: specs officially announced

UPDATE: GoPro Hero9 Black announced

GoPro has announced the GoPro Hero9 Black action camera, and it already looks impressive. You can read our full GoPro Hero9 Black review for sample videos and our opinions on its performance.

The new GoPro Hero9 Black specs were cultivated with vloggers in mind. The action camera boasts a new 23.6-megapixel sensor and a full colour front LCD. It marks one of the biggest redesigns of the popular action camera in recent years.

The 1.4-inch colour display on the front of the camera’s body is likely a response to DJI’s Osmo Action, which introduced that handy feature when it debuted last year.

Overall, the body is 10% bigger than the GoPro Hero8 Black, which is because it houses a new 1,720mAh battery. GoPro says this new battery provides 30% more battery life than its predecessor.

With its new sensor, the GoPro Hero9 Black specs sheet offers video capabilities of 5K footage at up to 30p, along with 20MP stills.

GoPro has also reintroduced the removable lens cover, and the Hero9 Black also supports a new Max Lens Mod, which provides a super-wide 155-degree field of view.

Also on board is GoPro’s Max Hypersmooth stabilisation and a TimeWarp 3.0 hyper lapse mode.

The Hero9 Black also comes pre-loaded with GoPro’s new 1080p webcam mode and some of the ‘Power Tools’ that were introduced in the GoPro Labs platform.

GoPro Hero9 Black Price & Release Date

The GoPro Hero9 Black price tag is set for £429.99 / $449.99, which is slightly more than the Hero8 Black launch price. However, the GoPro Hero9 Black price drops to £329.99 / $349.99 if you purchase a one-year GoPro subscription (previous called GoPro Plus).

The subscription costs £49.99 / $49.99, marking a savings of £50 / $50.

The GoPro Hero9 Black release date is set for October.

GoPro Hero9 Black Specs

• New Image Sensor
• Video: 5K30, 4K60, 2.7K120, 1440p120, 1080p240 and more
• Photo: 20MP
• New 1.4” front colour display with live preview and status modes
• Larger 2.27” rear touch display with touch zoom
• 30% more battery life than HERO8 Black with improved cold weather performance
• Removable, rechargeable battery
• HyperSmooth 3.0 with in-camera horizon leveling
• TimeWarp 3.0 featuring Real Speed and Half Speed
• 1080p Live Streaming
• 1080p Webcam mode
• Power Tools: HindSight, LiveBurst, Scheduled Capture and Duration Capture
• SuperPhoto + HDR Night lapse video
• RAW photos
• Digital lenses
• Voice control with 14 commands in 11 languages + 6 accents
• 3 microphones with advanced wind-noise reduction
• Stereo + RAW audio
• Larger speaker for improved audio playback
• Removable lens cover
• Built-in folding mounting fingers
• Rugged + waterproof to 33ft (10m)
• Compatible with Max Lens Mod, Light Mod, Display Mod and Media Mod for HERO9 Black

In the meantime why not take a look through some of the rumors that have been building since the release of the GoPro Hero8 Black. A quick spoiler alert: there’s still no fluro cases.  

UPDATE: GoPro Hero9 Black specs leak online

DroneDJ has obtained images of the new forthcoming GoPro Hero9 Black action camera in its packaging which reveals its specifications… and they appear to be quite impressive. 

Image via DroneDJ

From the picture alone we can see that the GoPro Hero9 Black will boast a front colour LCD screen. Inside will also reportedly be a new sensor that can capture 20-megapixel stills and 5K video at 30fps. Slow motion footage can also be captured at up to 240fps.

Other features will include a new TimeWarp 3.0 and pre-loaded webcam mode. You’ll also be able to live stream at 1080p.

Another big addition is a 1720mAh battery, more than 40% larger than the one in the Hero8 Black, which should provide a longer life per charge.

UPDATE 9 May 2020

Dronedj reports a new listing from GoPro with the FCC in the US that could be the GoPro Hero9 Black action camera.

Dubbed the SPBL1, the possible Hero9 Black appears as if it was tested back in March and the results were filed with the FCC this week.

GoPro tends to announce its new products at the end of summer, so as we move through June, July and August we will bring you the most up-to-date news.

Everyone wants better GoPro audio, don’t they?

Let’s take a look at the mic adapter. It’s a great accessory that enables you to record pro-level audio into your GoPro. The difference in quality is outstanding, but there’s a big issue. The adapter just dangles from the side of your GoPro like a spare part. Wouldn’t it be great if GoPro could look at the complete ecosystem and give us the GoPro Vlogger Grip, a grip that enables easy handling of the GoPro, with fill light and mic all attached without the need for tape?

Then there’s all the timelapse rigs or varying qualities, often home-built and often a risk to personal health, a GoPro TL rig, designed modularly so you can add rotary or linear motion to your time-lapses.

On Time-lapse rigs, the TL options are limited, why not extend them so you can take a shot an hour, day etc with better external power in that retains the weatherproofing. I only suggest this as a recent experiment proved that you do need to seal the Type-C cable into the GoPro if you want it to survive a rainstorm. Using a glue gun is an easy solution but it’s not ideal and damages the finish of the GoPro long term.