GoPro HERO5 Session Review | 96 Data compared

The GoPro Hero5 Session is a 1.5-inch cube action camera offering 4K video at 30fps, 10-meter waterproofing without a case, and one-button operation. It features electronic stabilization, voice control, and USB-C connectivity, making it a capable mid-range choice. The camera lacks a built-in screen, relying on app pairing, and features a non-removable 1,000mAh battery, limiting long-term shooting. Compared to larger models, it lacks advanced, high-speed shooting modes and RAW photo support.

The GoPro HERO5 Session is a compact, rugged action camera that brings significant improvements over its predecessor, the HERO4 Session, by integrating 4K resolution at 30fps and useful smart features like responsive voice control, digital image stabilization, and automatic wind reduction. In real-world testing, it proved highly durable and portable, easily fitting into gear bags, and performing admirably during underwater use thanks to self-clearing microphones and a waterproof design that requires no external housing down to 30 feet. Furthermore, users will appreciate its auto-correcting feature when mounted upside down and a minimal rolling shutter effect that effectively reduces distortion during fast-moving sequences. Despite these strengths, the HERO5 Session comes with notable drawbacks, particularly its lackluster low-light capabilities which introduce substantial noise if not utilized in bright sunlight. Its internal 1000 mAh battery is non-removable and yields a short runtime of only 40–43 minutes when shooting in 4K, heavily relying on the Capture mobile app for framing shots and adjusting menu settings, which rapidly drains both the camera and the user's smartphone. Additionally, it lacks the advanced frame rate options of...

The GoPro Hero 5 Session offers a significant upgrade over its predecessor, delivering 4K video at 30fps with excellent color and sharpness in a 1.5-inch, waterproof, and voice-controlled design. Key features highlighted by Trusted Reviews include electronic image stabilization (EIS) and a USB Type-C port for fast charging. However, the camera's 1,000mAh battery is non-removable and lasts just over an hour when recording in 4K or using EIS, and it lacks an LCD screen for framing, requiring a smartphone app. Additionally, performance suffers in low-light conditions, producing significant noise in video and photos.

The GoPro Hero5 Session is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, offering high-end features like 4K-resolution video, voice control, and electronic image stabilization (available up to 1080p at 60fps) within its signature tiny, cube-shaped design. Priced at $300 (£300 / AU$460), this rugged action camera is waterproof up to 10 meters (33 feet) without a separate housing and includes a USB-C port for faster charging and data transfers. Its simple one-button control allows users to instantly power on and start recording, while a new linear-view setting successfully eliminates trademark wide-angle lens distortion. Additionally, video and photo quality are highly improved with sharper details and drastically reduced noise, especially in low-light environments. However, the compact body introduces several notable trade-offs. Because the device lacks a built-in viewfinder screen, users must connect a phone or tablet via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to frame shots or preview footage. The most prominent drawback is the built-in, non-swappable battery, which caps continuous recording at roughly 1.5 hours when shooting at 1080p/60fps and forces you to completely stop and recharge when drained. Furthermore, the voice controls can...

The GoPro Hero5 Session marks a substantial internal upgrade over its predecessor, keeping the ultra-compact, 73-gram square form factor that fits within the footprint of a 50-cent coin. Operating on a simple two-button control system, this waterproof-without-a-case shooter cedes some advanced high-resolution shooting modes to the Hero5 Black, positioning itself as a middle-tier option for non-professional action sports enthusiasts. While it requires an external mounting frame to utilize its highly versatile placement options, the device features notable internal performance enhancements, including crisper imaging capabilities and improved video stabilization. The standout strengths of the Hero5 Session include its "crazy simple" usability, driven by an incredibly accurate 12-command voice control feature and the highly responsive GoPro Capture companion mobile app. Cyclists can effortlessly start and stop video hands-free, while the app allows seamless camera control, real-time WiFi viewpoint streaming, and instant social media uploads. On the downside, the camera compromises on some top-tier shooting modes compared to the Hero5 Black, making it less ideal for serious pros. Additionally, its shift to a modern USB-C charging and transfer connection can cause minor frustration...

The GoPro Hero5 Session is a top-of-the-line, ultra-compact, and rugged action camera that delivers exceptional video and audio quality with crisp, sharp 1080p and 4K recording options. It is highly praised for its standard waterproofing, robust design that requires no protective case, and an automatic orientation-flipping feature if mounted upside down. It provides diverse recording configurations—ranging up to 90fps with various fields of view—and seamlessly connects to a smartphone app to preview live angles, adjust advanced settings, and remotely trigger video capture. Additionally, its USB Type-C port allows for convenient on-the-go charging using portable power banks. However, the review notes several practical limitations, particularly for road motorcyclists. The standard high-profile mounting cradle only features a single axis of adjustment, making it difficult to mount to a helmet without blocking the view of the bike's dashboard, handlebars, and mirrors. While utilizing the ultra-wide field of view can mitigate this, it introduces a noticeable fish-eye distortion. Helmet mounting also creates noticeable wind drag at highway speeds exceeding 100 km/h, and syncing the device with a smartphone rapidly drains the battery. Furthermore, a...

The WIRED review highlights the GoPro Hero5 Black and Session as a significant advancement, specifically for integrating built-in waterproofing up to 33 feet. The Hero5 Black boasts a 2-inch touchscreen, GPS, and 12-megapixel RAW images, though it suffers from a occasionally unresponsive screen and limited battery life. The smaller Hero5 Session is praised for its compact, cube design and 4K video capabilities, but lacks an LCD screen and features a non-replaceable battery. Overall, the review emphasizes improved usability via voice control and electronic stabilization across both models.

The GoPro Hero 5 Session delivers impressive 4K video quality at 30fps and features convenient voice control, electronic image stabilization, and a lightweight 72g design. It excels as a simple, "fit-and-forget" action camera ideal for short races when mounted to a helmet or chest harness. Major pros include its crisp image resolution, excellent exposure handling, small form factor, and simple usability via the GoPro app. However, the camera has notable limitations, specifically unrefined image stabilization that feels overly "wavy" and creates a floating sensation when handlebar-mounted. The biggest drawback is its battery system; it features a built-in 1,000mAh battery that cannot be swapped out for spares, raising anxiety for all-day recording. Furthermore, it suffers from poor cold-weather performance, with testing showing premature shutdowns in freezing temperatures despite having 70% battery capacity left.

The GoPro Hero 5 Session is a compact, ultra-portable action camera weighing just 74g with a 38 x 38mm cube footprint. It provides a significant upgrade over its predecessor by adding 4K video recording at 30fps with a higher 60Mbits/sec bit rate, yielding sharp, detailed footage. Standout pros include native waterproofing up to 10 metres without needing an external case, an impressive battery life of nearly two hours of solid recording time, and an improved dual-microphone setup with effective wind-noise reduction. Additionally, its simple one-touch controls make it very easy to power on and quickly start shooting. However, the miniature design introduces several noticeable cons. The camera lacks a built-in touchscreen, forcing users to rely entirely on a smartphone app to adjust deep settings. Its 10-megapixel still image quality is lackluster, often producing underexposed photos that lack detail and cannot be rescued due to the absence of RAW export. Low-light video performance is also weak, suffering from noticeable noise and muted colours. Finally, the 1,000mAh battery is completely non-removable, meaning you cannot swap in a spare while out on an...

Summary The GoPro Hero5 Black represents a significant step forward for the action camera line, introducing a fully waterproof body down to 10 metres without needing an external case, alongside a heavily redesigned and more intuitive rear touchscreen menu system. It maintains top-tier video capabilities like 4K recording at 30fps and introduces useful pro-level tools, including Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), a Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) photo mode, and the ability to capture RAW images. Additionally, it features multi-language voice control for hands-free operation and triple-microphone wind cancellation that can record individual native audio tracks for advanced editing. However, the camera falls short across its software ecosystem and specific hardware functionality. While it includes a built-in GPS, it is highly limited as it only tags photo locations rather than recording active speed or telemetry tracks natively. The new $5/month GoPro Plus cloud service is particularly frustrating, as it forces users to wait for a 100% battery charge before syncing, does not support open hotel Wi-Fi portals, down-resolves high-frame-rate videos to 60fps, and relies on a messy web of disconnected mobile apps....

The GoPro Hero5 Session review from Unsponsored details a highly capable, ultra-compact action camera that significantly improves upon its predecessor. Key pros include its native waterproofing up to 10 meters without needing an external housing, a robust cube form factor perfect for helmet mounting, and new high-end internal upgrades. The reviewer strongly praises the addition of effective electronic image stabilisation, crisp 4K video capabilities, 10MP still images, and responsive hands-free voice control that easily recognizes regional accents even in loud whitewater environments. Furthermore, the included frame system features a handy tether attachment for added security during extreme water sports. However, the review highlights several distinct cons and operational challenges. The most significant drawback is the integrated battery, which is completely sealed and cannot be replaced or swapped out on long trips. Additionally, navigating settings on the tiny, basic built-in LCD screen using the finicky rear button can be awkward, forcing users to rely heavily on the smartphone app or an external remote control for major changes. The reliance on a single top button for power, video recording, and photos also...

The GoPro Hero5 Session is a compact, cube-shaped action camera that balances high-end performance with extreme portability. Functioning as a scaled-down version of the Hero5 Black, it shoots crisp 4K video at 30fps and captures 10MP still images. Key strengths include its lightweight, robust design, which is waterproof up to 10 metres without an external case, alongside features like smartphone connectivity, voice control, and ProTune support for advanced editing. However, its miniature size presents distinct usability trade-offs. The lack of a rear touchscreen forces users to rely on a tiny, hard-to-read display and a challenging, two-button physical interface that makes navigating menus fiddly. Furthermore, the device suffers from poor battery life, and the internal battery is non-replaceable, meaning users cannot swap in a fresh pack during long shoots. Despite these handling quirks, its stellar image and video quality make it an excellent travel companion.

The GoPro Hero 5 Black ($399) and Hero 5 Session ($299) represent a strategic shift toward making visual content creation accessible to everyday consumers through an integrated hardware and software ecosystem. Both models are waterproof up to 33 feet without a separate housing, feature built-in electronic image stabilization for smoother footage, and introduce responsive voice controls that let users shoot hands-free using seven different languages. While the compact, cube-shaped Hero 5 Session offers simplified two-button operation and shoots up to 4K video at 30 fps, the flagship Hero 5 Black stands out with its built-in 2-inch touchscreen UI, 12-megapixel photos (compared to the Session's 10 megapixels), manual audio controls, and a new linear field of view that reduces fisheye distortion. The primary drawback highlighted in the review is the performance of GoPro's software ecosystem and subscription service, GoPro Plus. The $4.99 monthly backup service features significant caveats, including requiring a 50% camera battery charge to initiate Wi-Fi transfers, capping total storage at 35 hours of video, and automatically downsizing high-resolution 4K or 2.7K footage to 1080p. Furthermore, the automated Quik...