What are some differences and improvements between the GoPro Hero 8 VS Hero 9? What are some things GoPro got right with its new upgraded flagship camera of 2020? Should you buy a GoPro Hero 8 Black or wait for DJI Osmo Action 2? And what are 10 unadvertised improvements in the new GoPro Hero 9?
Well, I’m going to unveil 10 things you may or may not have already known or seen elsewhere on the internet. Some are advertised all over the web, some are shown in a side-by-side GoPro comparison on GoPro.com, and even heavily described in youtube videos. However, there are many people who have skimmed over and given little importance to even the smallest/biggest improvements and/or advancements in the new GoPro Hero 9 black model.
I do not want to bore you with what you’ve already seen. But I do want to mention the things hardly anyone is talking about. And because I couldn’t come up with many more, I had to include a few of the advancements in the technology, specifications, and accessories to round out this post. Which I felt were the most significant of all the improvements made from the GoPro HERO8 Black.
Stick with me as I divulge a few things I feel are significant improvements in the new Hero 9 vs Hero 8 and why you may want to upgrade to the Hero9 Black instead of sticking with the Hero8. However, if you are coming from a previous model (like a GoPro Hero 7 or earlier) or coming from a completely different action camera brand (like DJI Osmo Action or the Insta 360 one cameras). Then these 9 things you will really want to know before deciding on upgrading or switching to the Hero 9 Black.
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Here are the 10 Unadvertised Improvements in The New GoPro Hero 9 to help you decide which GoPro is right for you…GoPro Hero 8 vs Hero 9.
1. Battery Latch Side Door
On the GoPro Hero 8 Black action camera, there was a limited space in which a person would be able to access the battery and memory card. The side door just didn’t swing out that far.
Unless you have the hands of a child, you would run into the issue of not being able to fit your fingers in the space and remove its contents without the battery latch side door snapping off at least once. It is really annoying having to snap it back on after each camera battery change or SD card removal.
Now with the release of the new upgraded GoPro Hero 9. There is much more space with the opening. The side door swings out so much further now. Your medium/large sized fingers can now access the battery and memory card without the battery door popping off. Since owning the camera, I have yet to have the battery latch door snap off on me without me choosing to take it off.
This little improvement in the new GoPro Hero 9 Black has saved me so much annoyance and frustration that this one updated feature has made the upgrade to the Hero9 totally worth it.
One thing I didn’t know until doing some research, is that you can purchase replacement side doors for your GoPro Hero 9 if you need to from Amazon.
2. Folding Fingers Are Sturdier
When I was doing all my research before buying the GoPro Hero 8 last year, I kept on seeing people express a major problem with the new foldable finger mounts. The people kept on saying it was really shakey, didn’t seem sturdy enough to hold the camera during an activity with an excessive shake. A lot of people didn’t like this issue. I decided that I wasn’t going to be doing many intense sports that would cause me to not buy the camera due to this one reason.
Now that my activities have changed, I want a camera that can withstand such excessive shake. The new GoPro Hero 9 has improved on this flaw. You can really tell a difference between the GoPro Hero 8 VS Hero 9. It is not as wobbly, shaky, or insecure feeling. I don’t feel as though my action camera is going to fall off during an action sports event now. I can really trust that it is not going to go anywhere.
Even though there are insane improvements on Hypersmooth 3.0, I don’t want something to work harder to compensate for something that shouldn’t be moving in the first place. Now with the upgraded and updated folding fingers on the new Hero9. I can confidently say, this is one of the best new and improved features that you probably didn’t know about!
If for any reason your folding finger mount breaks, falls apart or just doesn’t function like it is supposed to. You can buy a replacement set here.
3. Protective Lens Replacement/lens MOD
GoPro is advertising a detachable lens mostly (or entirely) for the purpose of promoting its Max Lens MOD. They don’t go into detail or explanation of being able to replace your protective lens cover due to possible damage…
If you had the Go Pro Hero 7 and was wanting to upgrade to the HERO 8, you’ll remember how annoying it was to find out they got rid of the protective lens cover. If you scratched your Go Pro Hero 8, your entire camera would be essentially pointless. You would have to get a whole new camera.
But that is why there those self-adhering protective glass things you can put on your camera. But those things only go so far. What if you actually crack the screen display. Your camera is certainly toast at that point.
So when GoPro re-introduced the protective lens replacement, I was sold…immediately. This was another single-handed improvement that would want me to upgrade the the Hero 9.
Then they introduced and announced the option for lens MOD’s! Now I’m completely sold on this new advancement in the action camera lineup!
So, if you find yourself with a scratched or cracked screen, it will only cost you $19.99 from GoPro. And who knows how much cheaper a third party seller will be from somewhere like amazon. Because if you have or are looking to purchase the GoPro Hero 8 and need to replace it due to a damaged lens. You’ll need to buy a whole new camera at the price of $349.99 or buy the HERO8 with a GoPro Subscription, it will cost you a claim service fee on $79.00.
Therefore, getting the HERO9 Black will be your best bet if you are worried about a busted up lens and having to replace it.
Remeber…
If you do decide to buy the GoPro Hero 9 vs Hero 8, and get the GoPro Plus subscription plan. A replacement lens will actually only cost you $13.99 with your member benefit discount. But remember, it only applies to 10 items in a subscription year.
Do you have questions on the subscription plan or think you might need to know what is included in all their terms and conditions?
Then check out our other post on 9 Things to Know Before Buying The GoPro Hero 9 Black
Looking For GoPro Filters To Up Cinematography and Photography?
Then head on over to our post about the best GoPro filters for better videos and photos. And learn what the best way is to set up your camera with your new filters!
4. One Button Pause For Real-time Play During a Timewarp…But Audio is Included
In GoPro’s previous installment in the Hero family, they introduced the amazing timewarp 2.0 feature. You were capable of having the camera automatically adjust the recording speed based on motion, scene detection, and lighting. You could even slow down the effect to real-time (via toggle icon on the back screen) and then touch again to return back to the previous speed.
Now, however, in timewarp 3.0 on the Hero 9, you can slow things down to half time, and when it is slowed down to real-time, audio is enabled. So if you wanted to do a timewarp shot and interrupt it with some vlog-style talking or letting your audience get a sense of the nature sounds. You can now do that without having to stop the timewarp. This enables you to do your real-time audio recording, or whatever you want to do without having to switch between various settings. It is now all in one and allows the editing process to be much easier!
If you want to toggle between real-speed and half-speed, all you need to do is touch the button indicator on the back screen. And if you want to enable either of the half-speed or real-speed during a timewarp, all you need to do is push the mode button on the side of the camera.
5. Water Drainage For Improved Sound Quality
The Hero 9 now has a new water drainage feature to help improve mic and sound quality when using the camera in watery conditions. When you go from being underwater to above water or just getting splashed or even being out in the rain. The new feature that is located on outside bottom that looks like a cap insert is supposed to help quickly remove water that has built up on the mic and quickly drain it to allow for that unwanted muffled sound.
If you want an example of how the Hero 8 does a poor job of removing the water from this spot, check out one of my youtube videos when we went exploring a secret waterfall! Or just watch it below! You will quickly notice how bad the GoPro Hero 8 Black was with draining the water on the microphone. I guess it makes complete sense when looking at the picture above. There is only a single pinhole of a spot to let water out!
//Wanting to take your GoPro Hero Action Camera diving but don’t know what accessories you need or when to use them? Read our post on the 17 best accessories for GoPro’s when diving to learn more!
6. Size and Weight Makes it Not Feel Like a Kid’s Toy
With all the updated specs of the GoPro Hero 9 Black, they had to increase the size and weight. And no it doesn’t feel like a fat brick or something too bulky to take anywhere you like to adventure to. It feels right. It feels perfect in the hand and on a selfie stick or any mount for that matter.
The GoPro Hero 8 vs Hero 9 is 6.4mm short, 4.7mm less wide, and is 5.2mm thinner. And the Hero 8 is 32 grams lighter than the upgraded GoPro Hero9. Overall, the GoPro Hero 9 Black is roughly 10% bigger than its predecessor.
This small 10% increase really gives those Hero 9 a much more demanding feel and robustness that the Hero 8 does not achieve. Ultimately giving me more satisfaction when carrying it around. I guess that is entirely just my opinion, but I think its a good and appropriate improvement in GoPro’s camera release of 2020.
Recommended: Best Accessories and Gear For GoPro Hero 9 Black
7. Leading into Bigger Battery/longer Life
Well, since there is an increase in camera body size, there must be more room for more battery. And although the battery is being somewhat being advertised as 30% more battery life, it also means the battery is much bigger and the Hero8 battery can not be interchanged with the Hero9 battery. The specs aren’t really going too in-depth on the GoPro main page.
So, with all that extra space GoPro is providing you with a bigger battery with 30% more battery life. The battery also got a bump in its milliamps from a 1220mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery in the GoPro Hero 8 vs Hero 9 being a 1720mAh lithium-ion rechargeable battery.
So with a bigger space to put a bigger battery and yielding a higher milliamperage, you are able to get that impressive 30% increase in GoPro battery life.
I already have seen a significant increase in the battery in the new Hero 9 since purchasing and using the camera. When I would use 3 maybe even 4 batteries in a day of constant use the hero 8, I now am using only two batteries of constant use all day on the Hero 9. A noticeable and significant improvement!
Don’t Make The Same Mistake I Did When Purchasing Extra Spare Batteries For Your Hero 9!
Read this blog post and scroll down to number 9, “A Picture Is Not Worth a Thousand Amperes” to find out how to not make the same misjudgment I did.
Like this Post? Save it to Pinterest So You Can Access it Anytime!
8. Increasing The Megapixel Sensor Size
Although this one is advertised–kinda–what does 20MP on a GoPro action camera really mean? Now, GoPro describes and compares the Hero 8 vs Hero 9 on the website by stating there being, “a 12MP + SuperPhoto with HDR for the GoPro Hero 8 and a 20MP + SuperPhoto with HDR for the GoPro Hero 9”.
Again, you have a significant improvement in the images being produced on the Hero9, but how?
Often times lower megapixel size is equivalent to less noise in your image and better image quality in low light situations. But what happens when you introduce a larger sensor size with more megapixels? You get better image quality in low light with less noise in your photo.
This is what GoPro has done. They have added a new 23.6MP sensor which brings out the 5K/30p video and the 20MP stills. Not only does this improve your higher resolution video and still photography, it brings out the extra resolution needed to arrive at the next generation hyper smooth boost stabilization, timewarp 3.0, and horizon leveling.
So by saying they have increased the megapixels for a photo, is just another way of saying they have dramatically improved the entire GoPro action camera and making be the best thing on the market in its class!
9. The Mode Button Got BIGGER
Another thing that gets improved without being advertised is the mode button on the GoPro Hero 9 Black. Something that seems so inconspicuous and negligible is actually really a big deal. I don’t know how many times I missed a shot because I was searching for the mode button or didn’t press it precisely enough to turn on the camera.
It was actually a huge frustration I had with the Hero8 that I didn’t really know I had until switching up to the Hero9.
After using the new GoPro for a couple weeks, I can honestly say, “The new updated and bigger button is really that much better!” It is even ridged and lifted away from the body, making it that much easier to find, press, get the shot, and not be annoyed!
Just another improvement that isn’t boasted about, yet significantly improves the overall action camera experience when comparing the older GoPro Hero 8 vs Hero 9.
10. Grab Stills from Your Videos
Not only does the new sensor allow you to shoot 20MP still photos, but it also allows you to take screengrabs of up to 14.7MP frames from your videos. This is an amazing option for taking photos or posting it somewhere (even take it to print) but had it in video mode–not being able to take that photo. Well, now you have a high enough video resolution option, to choose if you ever need to take a photo from one of your video clips at 14.7MP!
You can still take grabs from your other videos shot in different resolutions. However, they won’t be at 14.7MP. For example, I did a timelapse at Crater Lake National Park in 4K30 and the screengrab was an 8MP photo. So if you need that higher resolution in your photos, you will need to be shooting at 5K30!
This can all be achieved in hindsight when in the GoPro App on your phone. Simply when viewing your clip, you are given the option to save it from that designated video clip as a 14.7MP still photo image. Alleviating the issue of ever needing to switch modes in the middle of filming something epic.
Honorable Mentions – The Things You Probably Already Saw Distinctively Advertised
- HindSight is the new feature by GoPro that provides you with the option to never miss a moment again. You are now able to record video for up to 30 seconds before you press the record button. Get this, you’re underwater snorkeling and a huge rare fish swims right in front of you but you didn’t press record in time…it had already swum away. Now with the HindSight feature turned on, you will be able to capture the 30 seconds of the video before you hit the record button—and everything after—until you stop recording.
- Scheduled Capture is an amazing new and powerful feature that lets you schedule a start time to get your shot. You do not need to be present for this feature to work. Example: If you are not a morning person, but want to capture the sunrise, all you need to do is figure out what time the sun will rise, how long you want to record for, and bam you have your sunrise timelapse. All without ever having to wake up early! But, we do recommend getting up early anyway because the sunrise will be epic!
- Duration Capture is a great new feature. It lets you choose how long your GoPro HERO9 Black will record for before automatically stopping. This will save you time on your end, battery life, and some frustration, too!
Final Thoughts
Overall there are many great features that should get you excited to upgrade to the new GoPro Hero 9! But what are the major differences that not very many people are talking about… That are actually significant improvements from the GoPro Hero 8 vs Hero 9 Black editions? I told you there are improvements to the Hero 9’s side door. A sturdier folding finger mount. You can purchase replacement lenses for the 9. Audio added to real-time TimeWarp. Improved water drainage for improved audio when in wet conditions. It feels like a tool and not a toy. A bigger, better battery which means you can’t interchange the Hero 9 with the Hero 8 battery. An increased megapixel sensor which dramatically improves all video and stills photography on the Hero 9. And getting up to 14.7MP photo grabs from your recorded footage.
All of these not so highlighted improvements along with the advertised improvements described just above. Significantly improve and change the game for what action cameras are capable of. The new GoPro Hero 9 Black wins by a landslide compared to any other camera on the market. It might be a little overkill for some. But when comparing some of the features of the older GoPro Hero 8 vs Hero 9. It just makes sense to go for the 9! Especially when GoPro is making it so stinking cheap and readily available with their subscription service!
Find out what the 9 Things you should Know Before Buying The GoPro Hero 9 Black are!