GoPro Hero8 Black (2019)

Integrated mount ; Ridiculously good stabilization ; Automatic horizon leveling ; Side access to battery and card ; New "mod" support

Practical new design ; Improved stability ; Easy to use while maintaining pro features

New design renders some accessories obsolete ; No onboard HDMI port ; Battery life remains “acceptable” ; Front-facing display only available with aftermarket accessory

Built-in mounting fingers;Minor improvements to video and audio quality;UI now more customisable;HyperSmooth stabilisation works in all resolutions and frame rates

Expensive compared to Hero 7 Black and DJI Osmo Action;Lens cover no longer removable;Mods accessories not yet available

Stabilized 4K at up to 60fps. Rugged, waterproof design. Crisp touch LCD. Integrated mount. Improved user interface. USB-C charging. Companion app with automated editing. Promising Mod expansion system.

Wi-Fi video transfer can take some time. Cramped memory card slot.

Bottom Line: The GoPro Hero8 Black is the company's best action camera to date, offering class-leading stabilization and video quality in a rugged, waterproof body.

Convenient mounting ; Incredibly stable footage ; Timelapse videos look fantastic

Very good, not fantastic photos ; Still poor lowlight performance ; Small display

If you want the stablest action camera we’ve ever used, you want the Hero8 Black; it may not be cheap, but as with most GoPros, you get what you pay for.

Fold-out prongs mean you don't need a cage to mount it ; Better video stabilisation ; New timelapse features are great

Won't fit older GoPro cases ; A little pricey

The GoPro Hero 8 Black doesn’t represent a massive jump forward in image quality over the Hero 7 Black, then, but GoPro hasn’t rested on its laurels. The new built-in mounting prongs are a big improvement over the clunky clip-on frame of previous...

Much-improved audio quality ; Intuitive user interface ; Sleeker accessory mounting system ; Media “Mods” add functionality

Battery door is awkward to close ; Lens is no longer removable ; Camera gets hot when shooting 4K

Is it worth it to upgrade from the Hero7? Probably not, especially if you have housings for the previous three generations or have a tendency to break lenses. But if you have the cash and want best in class performance, it’s the best action camera around.