The GoPro Hero5 shares many video and photo specs with its predecessor, but it introduces a handful of new features that set it apart. While none of these additions alone revolutionize the action camera market, together they create a meaningful improvement over the Hero4 Black. This section highlights the key new features, while the following sections will explore the camera\u2019s main functions in depth and provide a closer look at how these updates enhance the overall experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fully Waterproof: One of the biggest upgrades is that the GoPro Hero5 Black is now completely waterproof without requiring an extra case, similar to the GoPro Hero4 Session. The exterior even uses a similar rubberized material, giving it that rugged, water-ready feel right out of the box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A bigger concern, however, is the USB-C\/HDMI port cover. This little door detaches when you need to connect the camera to the Karma gimbal or drone, and also whenever you want to charge it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The USB-C\/HDMI port door stays securely in place thanks to a button-and-slide mechanism, so it won\u2019t pop off accidentally. The real challenge is making sure you don\u2019t misplace it after charging or while the cable is connected. GoPro does sell replacement doors, though they\u2019re a bit pricey. A smart move is to grab an extra and stash it safely in your bag or suitcase when traveling. Trust me\u2014you don\u2019t want to be on a tropical trip, ready to snap amazing underwater shots, only to realize your door is missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While we\u2019re on the topic of doors, there\u2019s also the battery compartment underneath. This little hatch houses both the battery and the micro-SD card, keeping your essential components safe and secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Touch Display:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Hero5 builds on the touch display introduced with the Hero4 Silver. If you recall, the Hero4 Black didn\u2019t have a display at all, which is part of why I personally preferred using the Hero4 Silver for everyday shooting over the Black model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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That said, the touch display on the Hero5 feels noticeably different from the one on the Hero4 Silver.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The menu system has been completely redesigned to make navigating settings much more intuitive. Along the bottom of the screen, it displays the key details for the current mode\u2014for instance, in video mode, you can quickly see the resolution and frame rate at a glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can tap the screen to adjust these settings, and only the frame rates available for the chosen resolution will appear. In theory, this system looks great, but in practice it can be a bit tricky. With so many resolutions packed closely together, it\u2019s easy to miss the one you want on the relatively small display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the right side of the display, you can access advanced settings for each mode, including options like ProTune, Image Stabilization, and Audio Control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
From the top of the display, you can access general camera settings like WiFi and voice control. On the left, you\u2019ll find the playback section to review the photos and videos you\u2019ve captured. I go over all of this in detail in the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\n\t\t\tOf course, all of this is waterproof, but the touchscreen itself won\u2019t work underwater. To change modes while submerged, you\u2019ll need to use the push-buttons on the top or side of the camera.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Speaking of a wet display, I found that it doesn\u2019t respond well when it gets wet. If your fingers are wet, the touchscreen can become unresponsive and frustrating to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I mentioned earlier, the new GoPro Hero5 Black touch display looks great in theory, but in practice it could use some fine-tuning. I often found that the small lag and tiny on-screen selectors led to multiple missed attempts when trying to change modes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Voice Control Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Similar to the VIRB Ultra 30, GoPro added Voice Control this year. You can simply say, \u201cGoPro, Start Recording,\u201d and it will start filming. The same works for taking photos or switching modes. There\u2019s even a fun trick\u2014if you say a certain expletive that rhymes with \u201chit,\u201d the camera will mark a highlight. It\u2019s a neat feature that makes hands-free operation surprisingly convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
You can toggle this feature on or off, and it supports seven different languages. Plus, if you have the Remo accessory remote, it can accept voice commands too\u2014handy when your camera is out of earshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, it\u2019s not flawless. I found voice control works well when you\u2019re standing still, but performance drops once you start moving. At around 10\u202fMPH (15\u202fKPH), commands often stop registering, regardless of which way the camera is facing. By comparison, Garmin\u2019s system keeps working at higher speeds as long as the camera is pointing at you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
GoPro offers more voice commands than Garmin, and leaked manuals from August even hinted that it might one day learn custom commands (which hasn\u2019t happened yet\u2014but that would be really cool). In practice, though, Garmin tends to perform better once you\u2019re moving, with fewer failed commands and more consistent responsiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Built-In GPS and Sensors<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Hero5 Black does include GPS, but don\u2019t expect it to track your adventures. Its GPS is mainly there to geotag your photos and videos\u2014basically like Instagram or Facebook, letting you know where a shot was taken. It won\u2019t record GPS tracks while biking, skiing, or surfing, and it won\u2019t show your speed on videos. In short, its use is pretty limited\u2014mostly just labeling your content with a location, like \u201cTaken in NYC.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a big letdown for sports enthusiasts who hoped to overlay metrics like speed or distance directly onto their videos. Despite GoPro acquiring Dashware\u2014the top app for adding these kinds of data overlays\u2014there\u2019s currently no native support for it. For now, the GPS is limited to simple geotagging, with the icon appearing at the top left of the display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Electronic Image Stabilization, RAW Photos, Advanced Audio Tracks:<\/strong> I\u2019m grouping these three features together\u2014not because they belong in the same category, but because they\u2019re worth highlighting before we dive deeper. These are some of the biggest differences between the Hero5 Black and the Hero5 Session. While the Session includes stabilization, it lacks the new RAW photo mode and the Advanced Audio Track feature, which set the Hero5 Black apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can also make it slightly more casual and conversational<\/strong>, like a reviewer speaking directly to the reader. Do you want me to do that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Video & Audio details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ah, video time! There\u2019s no better place to start exploring the Hero5\u2019s features than with its video modes. In many ways, it\u2019s similar to the Hero4 Black, offering 4K at 30FPS and 720P at 240FPS\u2014the two formats most people talk about. The 4K footage looks stunning, no question about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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