The GoPro has always been the go-to choice for people who want a great action camera. However, recently, other brands like DJI and Insta360 have launched impressive products that challenge GoPro’s position.
With that, we had the opportunity to check out the latest product from GoPro—the Hero 13. We also got the chance to test the GoPro Hero, their smallest 4K action camera, but we will save its review for the next article.
Last time, we compared the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, which you can also read about. Now, let’s see what the GoPro Hero 13 has to offer.
Table of Contents
The Design
The GoPro Hero 13 has some slight aesthetic design change compared to the last model but there is nothing new added to its design and placements of the buttons and ports. It still remains the same size for its rear touchscreen that is 2.27-inch and 1.4-inch front color display.
One of the major design feature upgrades it received is the magnetic quick clip-in system, which makes attaching or detaching the Hero 13 to your monopod or mounts much easier. Even if there is now a magnetic quick clip-in compatibility they still included on the Hero 13 the mounting fingers.
Lens Mod compatibility got an upgrade on the Hero 13 having its auto detection feature built so you don’t need to tweak the device setting to change its lens setting. Aside from that they made more options that you can go for now like Max Lens Mod 2.0, Ultra wide lens mod, anamorphic lens mod, macro lens mod, and ND filters.
As for its waterproofness, it remains the same, capable of surviving up to 10 meters. It still has a rugged design for rough activities when you are recording.
The Display
The GoPro Hero 13 still uses the dual display setup, featuring a 2.27-inch touch LCD on the rear and a 1.4-inch color LCD on the front. No new additions have been made.
The Camera
There is nothing new on the camera aspect as it still remain the same 1/1.9” CMOS sensor that has 27.6 megapixels active pixels which you can record video up to 5.3K @ 30 fps with aspect ratio of (8:7) or up to 5.3K @ 60 fps with aspect ratio of (16:9).
However they added a feature for its slo-mo calling it burst slo-mo that can 13x or (400 fps) slo-mo on a 720p for 15s, 12x (360fps) on 900p for 15s and for 5.3K resolution you can do 4x for 5s. So it brings better slo-mo footage for your action or sports moments.
Another feature they introduce is that the GoPro Hero 13 can record Hybrid log-gamma (HLG) HDR videos which enhances dynamic range for more vibrant footage.
These are the new features introduced with the GoPro Hero 13, while other aspects like video and photo resolution, as well as video stabilization, remain unchanged. In terms of video quality, there isn’t much difference from previous models, except when recording with the new HLG HDR mode, which enhances dynamic range.
The Battery
After several GoPro Hero releases finally they decided to address the long overdue battery improvement as it now has 1900mAh Enduro Battery compared to the 1720mAh Enduro Battery from the previous generations since GoPro Hero 9. Usually from the previous GoPro Hero 12 you are typically able to record 5.3K videos under or over an hour which now with the GoPro Hero 13 you can record up to an hour and half. But it is still short compared to competition to other brands.
Besides the battery improvement, GoPro claims to have enhanced the thermal management system to improve performance in cold weather. However, in a warm climate like the Philippines, overheating remains a major issue. The Hero 13 tends to heat up quickly, and in some cases, it can overheat to the point where recording is interrupted. This can be frustrating, especially for those who need to capture long clips or are filming in high-resolution settings.
The Experience
Using the GoPro Hero 13 on my trip to Ilocos and Baguio didn’t make a significant difference in my overall video recording experience compared to the Hero 12. The camera feels pretty much the same in terms of usability and performance. However, the longer battery life is a noticeable improvement—you can shoot for a longer duration before needing to swap or recharge, which is definitely a plus for travel and adventure filming.
We were able to borrow the Macro Lens Mod, and I have to say, it’s really a niche accessory. The downsides limit its usability; for example, it’s not waterproof, meaning you can’t use your GoPro Hero 13 with this lens for scuba diving adventures. Another issue is that it’s manual focus only, so you constantly have to adjust the focus ring when moving around, which is a hassle—especially with the small body of this action camera plus the small screen you are looking at.
Despite these drawbacks, it’s still a good option if you want to capture small creatures, plants, or flowers during your adventures. It also opens up opportunities for better video quality in product shoots, sports, or activities that require sharp close-up shots, like tattooing or mountain climbing.
I also appreciate that they brought back the GPS function, which was randomly removed in the GoPro Hero 12. This makes it easier to track your location on a map, which is great for travel vlogs or content like biking and running videos.
When traveling, you sometimes want to post videos instantly on social media, but transferring footage from previous GoPro models was a hassle due to slow Wi-Fi speeds. Thankfully, the GoPro Hero 13 now supports Wi-Fi 6, making file transfers much faster and more convenient.
GoPro Hero 13 Verdict
Overall, the GoPro Hero 13 comes with some nice upgrades, like better battery life, faster file transfers with Wi-Fi 6, and new features like Burst Slo-Mo and HLG HDR for improved video quality. The magnetic quick clip-in system makes mounting easier, and the expanded lens mod compatibility gives you more creative flexibility.
However, the core camera hardware and overall performance feel very similar to the Hero 12. Overheating is still an issue, especially in warm environments, and some of the new lens mods have limitations that might not make them worth it for everyone. If you’re coming from an older GoPro, these changes could be a nice boost, but if you already have the Hero 12, there might not be enough here to justify an upgrade.
