GoPro Hero 5 release date: When is the GoPro Hero 5 and Session coming out?
Originally expected around a year ago, the Hero 5 has kept us waiting for two whole years. But it’s here now, and you’ll be able to buy one on 2 October. There’s a second new camera, the Hero 5 Session. That also goes on sale 2 October.
GoPro Hero 5 price: How much does the Hero 5 cost?
The Hero 5 costs £349.99 (that’s £60 cheaper than the outgoing Hero 4 Black), while the new Session will be £249.99 (that’s £90 more expensive than the original Hero Session). If you’re in the US. these are $399 and $299 respectively. See also: Which GoPro is best?
GoPro Hero 5: Specs and features
The Hero 5 gets the following new features over the Hero 4 Black:
Waterproof without a case to 10m (33ft)Voice control2in touch displayGPSElectronic stabilisationStereo recording with three mics
This is the flagship model, but whether we’ll see a Hero 5 Silver and a plain Hero 5 remains to be seen. The camera is shown above in The Frame, but you’ll also be able to buy it with a traditional waterproof housing for taking it to depths below 10m. With the touchscreen, the Hero 5 will be much easier to control than previous GoPros. You can change settings, review and even trim footage.
There’s also a new interface and the addition of voice control, so you can say “take a photo” and the camera will obey, even if it’s already recording video. Like the Session, one-button control means you need only push the button on top to turn the camera on and start recording. Other action cams already have GPS, so GoPro is playing catchup here. The data means you can see exactly where the footage was shot.
GoPro Hero 5 Session: Specs and features
The original Hero Session, reviewed, was a great action cam, but the new Hero 5 Session brings it bang up to date with better specs:
4K video recording at 30fpsVoice controlElectronic video stabilisationCompatible with Karma drone
As you can see, the new Session shares an identical design to the original – only the internals have been upgraded. This is no bad thing, as the Session was already small and lightweight.
With voice control, you can now say “Start recording”. This is much easier when the camera is mounted out of reach.
GoPro Plus: Cloud storage for video and photos
Along with the new cameras, GoPro also announced the new Plus subscription service which makes it more convenient to offload footage. When you plug in the camera to charge, video and photos will be automatically uploaded to the cloud. The service also includes access to a library of music for your video soundtrack. You also get 20 percent off any mounts or other accessories from GoPro’s website and ‘premium’ support. GoPro Plus supports all camera models and will be rolling out internationally in early 2017. Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
