GoPro Hero 13 Black first-look: A bigger battery and DSLR-like lens system. Here's how to preorder.

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GoPro is refreshing its camera lineup with the new Hero 13 Black. Maintaining a $400 price point, the flagship model introduces a new interchangeable lens system, a longer-lasting battery, a magnetic mounting system, and improved battery life.

In addition, GoPro launched a second new model that's simply called the Hero. At $200, it does not have the bells and whistles of the Black cameras, but GoPro says the Hero produces high-quality videos and photos while being simple to operate.

If you've been holding off on upgrading an old Hero Black, the Hero Black 13 offers plenty of compelling reasons to make that move. Preorders are open now, and we plan to have a full review after further testing. The Hero 13 Black will begin shipping on September 10, and the Hero will be available on September 22. The Hero 13 Black is also available in a Creator Edition ($600) that includes the Media Mod with a built-in mic and cold shoes for accessories, an LED light, a Magnetic Latch mount, the Volta Battery Grip and Remote, a case, and more.  

We had an opportunity to try out the Hero 13 Black before launch; here's what's noteworthy from our initial hands-on.

An action camera that thinks it's a DSLR

GoPro uses the same processor and 4K sensor dating back to the Hero 10 Black. From afar, the Hero 13 Black shares the same design and features as its recent predecessors, from the folding-finger mounting system to the front camera. This isn't a bad thing — the GoPro Hero Black models are some of the best and most fun cameras we've used, it has amazing image stabilization, and GoPro continues to squeeze more power out of its tech with every iteration.

While we don't expect to see a radical change in performance and video quality compared to recent models from past years, the Hero 13 Black has some big changes. The biggest is the interchangeable lenses, which GoPro calls the Hero Black (HB) lenses. In fact, while previous models' incremental changes made it difficult to convince owners to upgrade, the HB lenses are a major selling point.

The HB lens system evolved from the Hero 12 Black's Max Lens Mod, an optional accessory that gives users a unique wide-lens view. With the Hero 13 Black, you now have additional lenses: the Ultra Wide Lens Mod ($100) to capture a wide 177-degree, the Macro Lens Mod ($130) to shoot up close while maintaining focus, the Anamorphic Lens Mod for a cinematic feel, and the ND (neutral density) Filter Four-Pack for shooting in various lighting conditions and creating cinematic motion blur. The Ultra Wide Lens Mod also enables a 1:1 aspect ratio, which lets you easily crop for 16:9 (YouTube) or 9:16 (TikTok and Instagram).

Like interchangeable lenses on large DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, you simply twist off the lens cover and attach the lens. However, it can be a pain to remove and must be properly attached to maintain waterproof sealing — not something you want to fuss with while on a bike ride or snowboard. But what's impressive is a sensor that lets the Hero 13 Black detect which lens is attached, which then automatically adjusts the settings to fit that lens. This makes it easy to set up and go quickly, but advanced users can tweak the settings further. (The older Max Lens Mod lacks this handshake feature, so it isn't entirely compatible with the Hero 13 Black without manual settings adjustment.)

The lenses give your shots a more natural look than a digital lens, and they let you add creative touches. The Anamorphic Lens Mod was unavailable during initial testing, but we love the Macro Lens Mod for close-up shots with great focus and for creating depth of field. If technically possible, we would love to see a telephoto option in the near future, as that's a lens we think many users would appreciate. As we test the lenses further for a full review, we will have a more in-depth analysis later.

All these Lens Mods are sold separately; we don't think they are a must-have for most people. However, these lenses are worth considering if you'd like to give your videos and photos a unique look or just give yourself some options when shooting.

Longer battery life, magnetic mount, and the return of GPS

The Hero 13 Black uses a new 1,900mAh battery, compared to the 1,720mAh battery of the Hero 12 Black. GoPro claims it can provide 1.5 hours of battery life when shooting in 4K or 5K at 30 frames per second (fps) and 2.5 hours in 1080p at 30 fps. The downside is that you can't use the battery from older cameras (the Hero 12 Black, Hero 11 Black, and Hero 10 Black used the same battery size), but on the upside, it improves battery life — a big issue with action cameras.

In our real-world observations, we noticed we could shoot longer. After an hour of on-and-off continuous shooting, we still had about 20% battery life left. We will have a better analysis after a run-down test, but GoPro's claim is valid.

GoPro announced a new magnetic charging option called the Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit ($80). We couldn't test this product at launch, but it allows for continuous power without removing the battery door. This maintains its waterproofing and dust resistance.

Borrowing a page from DJI's Action Camera book, GoPro is incorporating a magnetic mount in addition to its mounting fingers. The Magnetic Latch ($25) lets you easily switch between often-used accessories without the need to constantly remove the screw. The Magnetic Latch isn't cheap (there's also a Ball Joint Mount for $40), but it's a godsend for anybody who uses different mounts.

In response to user requests, GoPro is bringing back GPS tracking and geotagging, which were removed from the Hero 12 Black. You can record speed, path, terrain, altitude, and g-force and overlay this information over your video in the form of stickers.

Pro-level features

Out of the box, the Hero 13 Black is designed to be used by anyone, thanks to an easy-to-use menu. But switch to its pro mode, and you can fine-tune various settings to your liking. This, and its size, has made it popular among professional and amateur filmmakers. In addition to the HB lenses, the Hero 13 Black supports Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) HDR Video, finer audio tuning, and even slower motion at up to 400 fps at 720p. And, the Hero 13 Black supports faster wireless transfers using WiFi 6 protocol.

A new small Hero camera

Alongside the Hero 13 Black launch is the Hero camera. Tiny cameras aren't new for GoPro — there was the Hero Session in the past and the more recent Hero 11 Black Mini. But the Hero is touted as the "smallest, lightest, simplest to use, and lowest cost 4K camera with a screen."

Like the Session and Hero 11 Black Mini, the new Hero is designed for one-button recording. Its battery is non-removable, and there is no option to adjust many of the settings. It's ideal for new GoPro users who want a rugged, waterproof camera that's ready to go. However, there is now a color display on the back to actually see what you're recording, making it a great option for travel videography. Like all GoPro cameras, it's compatible with the many accessories available.

The Hero was not available for testing and it's lacking anything exciting — even GoPro hasn't made much noise about it. It's a basic camera with a low price point. However, at $200, you may be better off with the Hero 11 Black and get more use out of that.