Last Updated & Fact Checked: March 21, 2026
Are you trying to decide between the GoPro Hero9 Black and the GoPro Max?
Product Versus will provide you with all the product details so you can quickly compare the facts to find which product is right for you – the GoPro Hero9 Black or the GoPro Max – and find out exactly what the differences are.
Both the GoPro Hero9 Black and the GoPro Max are quality products, so read on to find out which one is best for your needs!
GoPro Hero9 Black quick facts
GoPro Max quick facts
GoPro Hero9 Black product details
Bestseller No. 1
GoPro HERO9 Black - E-Commerce Packaging - Waterproof Action Camera with Front LCD and Touch Rear Screens, 5K Ultra HD Video, 20MP Photos, 1080p Live Streaming, Webcam, Stabilization
- 5K VIDEO: Shoot stunning video with up to 5K resolution, perfect for maintaining serious detail even when zooming in. Packing a new 23.6MP sensor that’s an absolute powerhouse, HERO9 Black brings lifelike image sharpness, fluid motion and in-camera horizon leveling that always impresses.
- 20 MP PHOTO WITH SUPERPHOTO: Capture crisp, pro-quality photos with 20MP clarity. And with SuperPhoto, HERO9 Black can automatically pick all the best image processing for you, so it’s super easy to nail the shot.
- FRONT DISPLAY + REAR TOUCH SCREEN: A new, larger rear touch screen with touch zoom on HERO9 Black should feel instantly familiar and a dazzling new front display makes for easy framing and intuitive camera control.
- POWERFUL BATTERY: 30% longer battery life is here thanks to a larger 1720mAh battery. This lets you shoot more without having to swap out batteries and packs enough juice to power your camera through the cold.
- HYPERSMOOTH 3.0: Experience ultimate smoothness with our most advanced video stabilization ever. HyperSmooth 3.0 enables in-camera horizon leveling and boost in all settings.
Bestseller No. 2
GoPro HERO9 Black - Waterproof Action Camera with Front LCD and Touch Rear Screens, 5K Ultra HD Video, 20MP Photos, 1080p Live Streaming, Webcam, Stabilization
- 5K Video - Shoot stunning video with up to 5K resolution, perfect for maintaining detail even when zooming in
- 20MP Photo with SuperPhoto: Capture crisp, pro-quality photos with 20MP clarity. And with SuperPhoto, HERO9 Black can automatically pick all the best image processing for you
- Front Display plus Rear Touch Screen: A new, larger rear touch screen with touch zoom on HERO9 Black and a dazzling new front display makes for easy framing and intuitive camera control
- Live Streaming plus Webcam: Live stream in 1080p on social, get HyperSmooth stabilization as you broadcast
- HyperSmooth 3.0: Experience the ultimate smoothness with our most advanced video stabilization ever.TimeWarp 3.0: Record mesmerizes time lapse scenes as you move on the road, on foot or anywhere else.Rugged plus Waterproof: Shoot in the gnarliest conditions imaginable. HERO9 Black can take it. It's tough as nails, and waterproof down to 33 feet right out of the box
Bestseller No. 3
GoPro HERO12 Black - Waterproof Action Camera with 5.3K60 Ultra HD Video, 27MP Photos, HDR, 1/1.9" Image Sensor, Live Streaming, Webcam, Stabilization
- High Dynamic Range Video + Photo: HERO12 Black takes its best-in-class image quality to the next level with HDR for both videos (5.3K and 4K) and photos. Great in environments with both shadows and bright light, HDR captures the subtle details of the scene that might typically blend into the darkness of shadows or disappear in the bright spots of your shot. The result is dynamic footage with true-to-life color and precision.
- Unbelieveable Image Quality: With 5.3K video that gives you 91% more resolution than 4K and an incredible 665% more than 1080p, HERO12 Black captures the action with crisp detail and cinematic image quality with High Dynamic Range (HDR) while also taking 27MP photos. You can also grab stunning photos up to 24.7MP of your favorite shots from your videos using the GoPro Quik app.
- Emmy Award- Winning HyperSmooth 6.0 Stabilization: HyperSmooth continues to set the bar for insanely smooth footage and has the hardware to back it up—a 2021 Emmy for In-Camera Sensor and Software Stabilization. HERO12 Black makes it even better by maximizing HyperSmooth AutoBoost performance with more stabilization while still delivering less image cropping. Bike, skate, ski, chase your kids through the park or get awesome pet POV shots—even the shakiest footage comes out silky smooth.
- Rugged + Waterproof to 33ft (10m): Completely waterproof and as tough as ever, HERO12 Black is ready to capture the fun on any adventure. Its legendary durability can take a beating and keep going, whether you’re ripping through mud, snow or water (down to 33ft/10m). A water-repelling lens cover even helps eliminate lens flare and other artifacts to make your photos and videos even more stunning.
- What's Included: HERO12 Black, Enduro Rechargeable Battery, Curved Adhesive Mount, Mounting Buckle + Thumb Screw, USB-C Cable
GoPro Max product details
Bestseller No. 1
GoPro MAX — Waterproof 360 + Traditional Action Camera with Touch Screen Spherical 5.6K30 HD Video 16.6MP 360 Photos 1080p Live Streaming Stabilization
- Ultra Versatile 360 Video: By capturing 5.6K30 spherical video, MAX gives you the freedom to stay in the moment and still get amazing footage. There’s no need to frame the shot. Just hit the shutter button to start recording. MAX captures everything. Get immersive POV footage of a mountain bike run and shots of you riding from the same video. Slow things down with 3K60 video to capture 2x slo-mo footage of your kids jumping in the pool and everyone’s reaction at poolside as they get hit with the splash. The GoPro Quik app makes it easy to reframe your footage from any perspective so that you can tell your story any way you’d like.
- Easy 360 Editing With the GoPro Quik App: The GoPro Quik app is packed with features that transform your 360 footage into amazing shareable stories. Object Tracking locks onto your subject and automatically follows it no matter where it roams throughout your spherical footage. You can reframe your 360 footage into standard videos, grab photos and add dramatic transition effects to get exactly the shots you want before posting them right from the app.
- Stealth Mounting: Capture amazing pole-mounted footage where the pole completely vanishes. Attach MAX to a grip or extension pole using the 1/4-20 mounting threads on the bottom of the camera. The pole will be automatically stitched out of your videos and photos. You can easily create incredible self-capture shots that look as if you’re being recorded by another person and stunning drone-like videos that look like you’re being recorded from the air.
- Single Lens Video, Photo + Time Lapse: Single Lens (HERO) mode gives you the option to capture standard video, photos and time lapse footage just like our HERO cameras. Video can be captured in the 1080p video resolution for full widescreen playback on your phone or TV or the 1440p resolution for taller, more immersive POV footage.
- What's Included: GoPro MAX Camera, Enduro Battery, Curved Adhesive Mount, 2 Protective Lens Caps, Microfiber Bag, Mounting Buckle + Thumb Screw, USB C-C Cable
Bestseller No. 2
GoPro MAX2 - Waterproof 360 + Traditional Action Camera with Touch Screen, Spherical 8K Video, 29MP 360 Photos, Easy Replaceable Lenses, HyperSmooth Stabilization, 6 Microphones
- MAX Never Misses With True 8K 360 Video: Never aim, but capture everything around you in amazing True 8K 360 video, resulting in up to 21% more resolution than the competition.1 Just hit the shutter button to start recording. There’s no need to frame the shot or think about where your camera’s positioned. MAX2 will get it all in stunning detail. Then switch over to the GoPro Quik app to Reframe your 360 footage into traditional 4K videos in just a few taps. These Ultra HD videos can be easily saved, shared and posted just like you would with any standard video or played back on your phone, TV and other devices.
- Invisible Mounting: Capture amazing pole-mounted footage where the pole completely vanishes. Attach MAX2 to an extension pole using the 1/4-20 mounting threads on the bottom of the camera. The pole will disappear out of your videos and photos as if by magic. You can easily create incredible invisible selfies that look as if you’re being recorded by another person, stunning drone-like videos that look like you’re being recorded from the air and other iconic 360 shots.
- The Best POV: Max out your creativity and get the widest, tallest, most- immersive point-of-view footage possible including selfies, follow-cam footage and more from the same 360 video. The GoPro Quik app makes it easy to Reframe your footage and create new videos from different angles and perspectives to get exactly the shots you want. You can also adjust video stabilization and Horizon Lock4 after recording.
- Replaceable Glass Lenses: MAX2’s replaceable lenses are water-repelling and made from super strong optical glass—and if they’re ever scratched, you won’t have to replace the entire camera. Now you can record in extreme conditions knowing that you can simply swap out a damaged lens with a new replacement and get right back into the action without interfering with image quality.
- What’s Included: MAX2 Camera, 2 Protective Lens Caps, 1960mAh Enduro Battery, Curved Adhesive Mount, Mounting Buckle + Thumb Screw, USB-C Cable, Microfiber Lens Cloth
Bestseller No. 3
GoPro MAX2 + Accessory Bundle - Includes 4ft (1.2m) Extension Pole, 2 1960mAh Enduro Batteries, 64GB SanDisk microSD Card
- MAX Never Misses With 8K 360 Video: Never aim, but capture everything around you in amazing 8K 360 video. Just hit the shutter button to start recording. There’s no need to frame the shot or think about where your camera’s positioned. MAX2 will get it all in stunning detail. Then switch over to the GoPro Quik app to Reframe your 360 footage into traditional 4K videos in just a few taps. These Ultra HD videos can be easily saved, shared and posted just like you would with any standard video or played back on your phone, TV and other devices.
- Invisible Mounting: Capture amazing pole-mounted footage where the pole completely vanishes. Attach MAX2 to the included 4ft (1.2m) extension pole using the 1/4-20 mounting threads on the bottom of the camera. The pole will disappear out of your videos and photos as if by magic. You can easily create incredible invisible selfies that look as if you’re being recorded by another person, stunning drone-like videos that look like you’re being recorded from the air and other iconic 360 shots.
- The Best POV: Max out your creativity and get the widest, tallest, most- immersive point-of-view footage possible including selfies, follow-cam footage and more from the same 360 video. The GoPro Quik app makes it easy to Reframe your footage and create new videos from different angles and perspectives to get exactly the shots you want. You can also adjust video stabilization and Horizon Lock after recording.
- Replaceable Glass Lenses: MAX2’s replaceable lenses are water-repelling and made from super strong optical glass—and if they’re ever scratched, you won’t have to replace the entire camera. Now you can record in extreme conditions knowing that you can simply swap out a damaged lens with a new replacement and get right back into the action without interfering with image quality.
- What's Included: MAX2 Camera, 4ft (1.2m) Extension Pole, 2 1960mAh Enduro Batteries, 2 Curved Adhesive Mounts, 64GB SanDisk microSD Card, 2 Protective Lens Caps, Mounting Buckle + Thumb Screw, USB-C Cable, Microfiber Lens Cloth
New products & alternatives to the GoPro Hero9 Black and the GoPro Max
New
GoPro HERO13 Black Action Camera Bundle with 3 Enduro Batteries, Dual Charger, 64GB microSD, Accessory Kit – 5.3K Ultra HD Video, HyperSmooth 6.0, Waterproof Adventure Camera
- INCLUDES – GoPro HERO13 Black Camera | 3 x Enduro Batteries | Dual Battery Charger | Curved Adhesive Mount | 64GB SanDisk microSD Card | Mounting Buckle with Thumb Screw | USB-C Cable | Carrying Case | Head Strap Mount | USB 3.0 OTG Card Reader | GoPro 1-Year Limited Warranty
- PRO-GRADE VIDEO & SMART FEATURES – Capture stunning 5.3K60, 4K120, and 2.7K240 video with sharp 27MP photos for incredible detail. HERO13 Black auto-detects HB-Series lenses and adjusts settings for optimized results, while HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization keeps footage smooth. Extended battery life delivers up to 2.5 hours at 1080p30 or 1.5 hours at 5.3K30, with dual front/rear LCD screens and Bluetooth audio support for easy control and enhanced recording.
- RUGGED AND DURABLE: Built tough to withstand the demands of outdoor sports, water activities, and extreme environments.
- COMPACT AND PORTABLE: Lightweight, streamlined design makes the HERO13 easy to mount on helmets, gear, or accessories.
- WIDE COMPATIBILITY: Works with a broad range of GoPro mounts and accessories to capture every angle of your action.
New
GoPro HERO13 Black Accessory Bundle - Includes The Handler, 2 Enduro Batteries, 2 Curved Adhesive Mounts, 64GB SanDisk MicroSD Card, and Carrying Case
- HB-Series Lenses with Auto Detection: HERO13 Black is compatible with the HB-Series Lenses that let you instantly set up your camera for a variety of specialty shots. The Ultra Wide Lens Mod is the ultimate POV lens for action-packed scenes and epic landscapes. The Macro Lens Mod captures close-up shots in stunning detail. Neutral Density Filters add motion blur to your footage and let you adjust the lighting in your shots with professional results. Try the Anamorphic Lens Mod for pro-level cinematic shots. HERO13 Black even detects when a lens or filter is attached and automatically adjusts its settings accordingly.
- Best-in-Class 5.3K Video: 5.3K video delivers breathtaking image quality with 91% more resolution than 4K and an incredible 665% more than 1080p. HERO13 Black captures the action with crisp detail and exacting image quality so any shot with any lens will look amazing. 5.3K video also lets you grab stunning photos up to 24.7MP from your footage using the GoPro Quik app.
- Burst Slo-Mo: HERO13 Black features our slowest slo-mo ever with the ability to record video clips with the action slowed down to 13x normal speed. You’ll also be able to record short 4x slo-mo clips using our highest 5.3K resolution video to catch epic details that you’d never be able to see with the naked eye.
- Rugged + Waterproof to 33ft (10m): HERO13 Black was built to take a beating. It’s ready to capture the fun on any adventure whether you’re tearing through mud, snow or water (down to 33ft/10m). A water-repelling lens cover even helps eliminate lens flare and other artifacts to help keep your photos and videos crystal clear.
- What’s Included: HERO13 Black Camera, The Handler (Floating Hand Grip), 2 Enduro Batteries, 2 Curved Adhesive Mounts, 64GB SanDisk MicroSD Card, Mounting Buckle + Thumb Screw, USB-C Cable, Carrying Case ($500 Value)
New
GoPro LIT Hero, Lightweight, Compact, Waterproof Action Camera with Built-in Light, Bundle with Froggi Extreme Sport 47-pc Kit, and 64GB SD Card
- Ultra-compact design, weighs only 3.2 oz (93g)
- Rugged and waterproof up to 16' (5m)
- Built-in light with brightness settings
- Shoots 4K60 ultra-HD video and 12MP photos
- 2x slo-mo playback for smooth action
New
GoPro HERO12 Black Specialty Bundle
- Rugged + Waterproof to 33ft (10m): Completely waterproof and as tough as ever, HERO12 Black is ready to capture the fun on any adventure. Its legendary durability can take a beating and keep going, whether you’re ripping through mud, snow or water (down to 33ft/10m). A water-repelling lens cover even helps eliminate lens flare and other artifacts to make your photos and videos even more stunning.
- 2x Longer Runtime [1]: HERO12 Black’s dramatically improved battery efficiency combines with the included 1720mAh Enduro battery to deliver a huge 2x increase in 5.3K60 video runtime on each charge. You’ll get 70 minutes of continuous recording at 5.3K60 (our highest setting), plus over 1.5 hours at 5.3K30 and over 2.5 hours of continuous recording at 1080p30.[6] Using advanced technology, Enduro also boosts performance in cold temperatures over previous GoPro cameras and batteries.
- High Dynamic Range Video + Photo: HERO12 Black takes its best-in-class image quality to the next level with HDR for both videos (5.3K and 4K) and photos. Great in environments with both shadows and bright light, HDR captures the subtle details of the scene that might typically blend into the darkness of shadows or disappear in the bright spots of your shot. The result is dynamic footage with true-to-life color and precision.
- Unbelievable Image Quality: With 5.3K video that gives you 91% more resolution than 4K and an incredible 665% more than 1080p, HERO12 Black captures the action with crisp detail and cinematic image quality with High Dynamic Range (HDR) while also taking 27MP photos. You can also grab stunning photos up to 24.7MP of your favorite shots from your videos using the GoPro Quik app.
- Up to 8x Slo-Mo: Everything is more awesome in slow motion. HERO12 Black lets you record the action at up to 8x slo-mo at resolutions up to 2.7K for play back at normal speed or in super fluid slow motion to catch epic details that you’d never be able to see with the naked eye.
New
GoPro Limited Edition HERO13 Black in Forest Green - Waterproof Action Camera with 5.3K60 Video, 27MP Photo (Forest Green)
- HB-Series Lenses With Auto Detection: 5.3K video delivers breathtaking image quality with 91% more resolution than 4K and an incredible 665% more than 1080p. HERO13 Black captures the action with crisp detail and exacting image quality so any shot with any lens will look amazing. 5.3K video also lets you grab stunning photos up to 24.7MP from your footage using the GoPro Quik app.
- Burst Slo-Mo: HERO13 Black features our slowest slo-mo ever with the ability to record video clips with the action slowed down to 13x normal speed. You’ll also be able to record short 4x slo-mo clips using our highest 5.3K resolution video to catch epic details that you’d never be able to see with the naked eye.
- Rugged + Waterproof to 33ft (10m): HERO13 Black was built to take a beating. It’s ready to capture the fun on any adventure whether you’re tearing through mud, snow or water (down to 33ft/10m). A water-repelling lens cover even helps eliminate lens flare and other artifacts to help keep your photos and videos crystal clear.
- Award-Winning HyperSmooth 6.0 Stabilization: HyperSmooth 6.0 continues to set the bar for in-camera video stabilization—giving you impossibly smooth footage no matter how rough it gets. HyperSmooth AutoBoost ensures that you’re getting the widest stabilized footage possible by seamlessly adjusting the shot based on your speed and movement.
- What's Included: HERO13 Black Camera in Polar White, Enduro Battery, Curved Adhesive Mount, Mounting Buckle + Thumb Screw, USB-C Cable
Our conclusion on the GoPro Hero9 Black vs GoPro Max
Both the GoPro Hero9 Black and the GoPro Max are high quality products and we are sure you will be happy with either one. In the end it comes down to your budget and the value for money you are looking for.
Either way, the GoPro Hero9 Black and the GoPro Max are both excellent products that will more than do their job!