I tested the new GoPro Hero 13 Black by land and sea

A couple of months ago, a camera company emailed me about testing their new action camera. I was halfway through my reply when a simple fact occurred to me: In a world with GoPro, why would I use literally any other action camera? A few weeks later, I was testing the new GoPro Hero 13 Black action camera while jet skiing on the Hudson River here in New York City.

For my GoPro Hero 13 Black review, I tested the camera by sea and land, though unfortunately not by air. My skydiving dreams will have to wait for the Hero 14, I guess. After spending a month with GoPro's new flagship action camera, I'm ready to render a verdict: This camera seems too good to be true.

And while I did discover both pros and cons in my testing, there's a reason GoPro is the king of the action camera mountain. And that's a pretty cool mountain.

Is the new GoPro Hero 13 Black worth it?

I love spoilers, so let's get right to it: The new GoPro absolutely justifies its $399.99 price tag. It shoots professional-quality video footage underwater, on the trail, and in the snow. For creators and pro videographers, the new lens mods, accessories, and ND filters give you even more powerful tools for capturing "I can't believe I just shot that" footage. GoPro has also answered users' GPS prayers and brought back geotagging.

That doesn't mean it's the right camera for everyone. If you're a casual user and already have the Hero 12 Black, I probably wouldn't upgrade. (However, you should definitely check out the just-released $199.99 Hero 4K, the company's smallest-ever 4K camera.) Lastly, if you shoot most of your footage indoors rather than outdoors — or if you primarily shoot for TikTok and social media — you have to consider the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera. I reviewed the Pocket 3 last year, and since then it's become ubiquitous at gatherings of influencers and tech events.

Just the facts: The new GoPro by the numbers

Before we get into my first-hand experience and videos, let's cover the basics.

• The Hero 13 features a 1/1.9-inch CMOS sensor

• Shoots in 5.3K (up to 30 frames per second), 4K (up to 120 fps), and 1080p (up to 240 fps)

• HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization

• 2.27-inch rear touchscreen display and 1.4-inch front display

• Weighs 154 grams and measures 71.8 x 50.8 x 33.6 millimeters

• Waterproof up to 33 feet

• Shoots HLG HDR video in 10-bit color

• Shoots slow-motion video in 5.3K at 120 fps

• Takes 27.13MP photographs (5568 x 4872 pixels)

The Hero 13 features the same sensor and processor as the 12. The new camera has a range of improved accessories, including new lens mods, ND filters, creator accessories, and a magnetic latch mount (don't worry — it's more secure than it sounds). By itself, the camera is priced at a very reasonable $399.99, but the price goes up if you want all the goodies.

How good is the video quality? See for yourself...

With last year's Hero 12, GoPro unveiled big improvements to its HyperSmooth motion stabilization, which gets incremental improvements this year. When I showed my raw footage to a professional video editor, he assumed I was using a gimbal. Even while bouncing up and down on a very choppy river, the footage is insanely smooth, and Horizon Lock adds even more magic to your videography.

In fact, the motion stabilization might be too good. According to a GoPro representative I spoke with, mountain bikers who tested the camera complained that their footage looked too smooth.

The color clarity on the new camera is also better compared to the Hero 12. The 12 offered HDR video, but the 13 introduces HLG HDR (that's "hybrid log gamma" and "high dynamic range," respectively.) A GoPro representative showed me side-by-side video on an HDR screen, and the Hero 13's footage clearly had brighter colors, clearer whites, and more detail in shadows. Shading in individual clouds was noticeably improved, for instance. Add in the ND filters (which help with overexposure), and you can capture even more lifelike video in any conditions.

Of course, you'll need an HDR monitor to fully appreciate the difference. Pro users will certainly appreciate improved color clarity, lens mods, and ND filters. However, these improvements may be wasted on others.

In this first test video, you can watch me struggling to control a jet ski during a GoPro event. (You might expect the jet ski company would give us a lesson before turning us loose on one of the busiest waterways in the country, but alas...) I used the standard lens and the ultra-wide lens for this video, and I chose to edit it down to a 16:9 video, though I could easily have edited a vertical video from the same raw footage.

In terms of audio, GoPro isolates whoops and yells over the sound of engines and wind. Indeed, you can hear all my dorky "Whoa!" noises.

I took these next videos using an ND filter on a particularly sunny day in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Notice the color clarity and depth, even in extremely bright sunlight.

What are the biggest downsides?

I do have some issues to report, including one big one.

Overheating has been a continual problem for GoPro, a necessary evil when cramming so much hardware into a 2.8-inch camera. When uploading my first clips to the GoPro Quik app over WiFi, the camera warned me that it was overheating, which didn't bode well. Early users also report overheating and battery problems when shooting in 4K. Pro users will definitely want to invest in extra batteries, which aren't backward compatible with older models.

When shooting HLG HDR 4K video at 30 frames per second in direct sunlight (with motion stabilization and GPS enabled), the camera overheated and powered off after only 20 minutes (20 minutes and four seconds, to be exact). I recorded the GoPro's temperature at 146.5 degrees Fahrenheit. To be fair, I was purposefully trying to max out the camera.

A GoPro representative provided this statement to Mashable about overheating: "If using the camera to record in a static use-case, it’s not unexpected to hit thermal limits if you’ve left HyperSmooth and GPS on. We recommend turning those off as they provide no value for static use-case captures. Additionally, the biggest factors that can trigger thermal limits for Hero 13 are shooting in HDR at specific framerates (60+ FPS when stationary), along with using 10-bit color and changing the bitrate to high. For a static recording at 4K30 with HyperSmooth and GPS off, we’d expect longer than 20 minutes of runtime."

If you're shooting in the water or at high speeds, lower temperatures and airflow will also help solve this problem. I had no problems when filming on a bike or jet ski. If you don't care about GPS at all, the Mashable-approved Hero 12 is only $299, although it can struggle with overheating, too.

The touch controls have a slight learning curve. Because the screen is so small, it's easy to accidentally swipe into the wrong setting. Honestly, the controls aren't that complicated, but if you're trying to master them while simultaneously driving a jet ski for the first time, they're a small pain point. (Learn from my mistake; practice the touch controls.)

The competition is also catching up to GoPro in some respects. The new DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is $50 cheaper but features a four-hour battery and a 40MP camera (GoPro maxes out at 27MP). The Insta360 Ace Pro has a Lecia lens (Lecia!), a flip-up screen, a 48MP camera, and an impressive HDR mode, though GoPro wins out on battery life with a superior 1900mAh Enduro battery.

Still, GoPro offers users benefits beyond the specs. Because it's the standard action camera, you can join a passionate community of GoPro users, and GoPro Reddit is very active. If GoPro itself can't troubleshoot problems for you, there's a good chance your fellow customers can and will.

The return of GPS and new telemetry 'stickers'

Last year, GoPro dropped GPS geotagging because it was a drain on battery life, but this feature is back in the Hero 13, and without sacrificing any battery life. (However, I can't say the same about overheating.) GoPro has also introduced video overlays called "stickers" that can visualize stats like altitude, speed, and G-forces on your footage. So, if you've enabled GPS, you can show off your GPS and telemetry data in creative ways using the Quik app.

These video overlays are pretty frickin' cool. If you want your viewers to truly appreciate your daredevil stunts, then you can easily add a gravity meter or speedometer to your video. (Stickers include a speedometer, terrain, path, speed chart, altitude, G-force, and a GoPro logo.)

How are the new lens mods and ND filters?

The good news is that if you don't know what the "ND" in ND filters stands for, then you can probably just skip this entire section. Neutral-density filters reduce the light passing through the lens. In bright conditions, this can be a godsend, and the only thing between you and overexposed images. The add-on pack comes with four ND filters of different strengths. When you attach them, the camera will automatically recommend whether you need a higher or lower filter, which is pretty nifty.

The ultra-wide lens mod is also very cool, giving you a 177-degree field of view that captures more of the horizon and action. If you like to attach your GoPro to your helmet or chest, it's perfect for POV shots (and I mean true POV shots, not TikTok POV shots). Then there's the macro lens mod, which lets you pull off tilt-shift effects and focus on details just inches away from the camera. Finally, the yet-to-be-released anamorphic lens makes it possible to capture lens flares and cinematic-style video.

Once again, these are really cool accessories, but not something the average user absolutely needs to have.

Don't be intimidated, the Hero 13 isn't just for professionals

The Hero 13 has two control settings: easy and pro. I spent most of my time in the easy settings. When I handed the camera to a director friend, he wasted no time in toggling over to pro so he could play with frames per second, ISO settings, and white balance. But you can do all the essentials in easy mode.

The Hero 12 introduced a new vertical video mode for apps like TikTok and Instagram Reels. While you can still shoot in a widescreen mode (and attach the ultra-eide for epic POV shots), I did most of my filming in the 1:1 full-frame setting. Then, you can easily edit this footage into your desired aspect ratio. So, if you want to make one version of your video for YouTube and another for TikTok, it's very easy to do so.

Once you've had a chance to practice, the small touchscreen gets easier to operate. You can switch from video, to timelapse, to photo mode with the flick of a finger (or use voice controls). There's also a quick-record mode if you need to start filming ASAP.

The bottom line: GoPro's still king of the action cameras

So, once more, if you need a new action cam, I think the Hero 13 is definitely worth it. Just be warned that overheating can be a problem in direct sunlight and low-airflow environments.

Earlier, I said what's the point of buying any other action camera. Perhaps I was being hasty, as the competition is catching up. However, on balance, there's a reason GoPro is synonymous with action cameras. You don't need to be a pro user to use and love the Hero 13, although I can't recommend instantly upgrading unless you need the latest features. If you can live without GPS, the Hero 12 is often on sale.

The GoPro Hero 13 Black action camera is priced at $399.99 at Amazon and GoPro. If you buy the camera at GoPro, you can sometimes score discounts or bonus offers, such as a free SD card and an extra Enduro battery.