Difference Between GoPro Hero 5 and Hero 6

It’s not even two years since GoPro officially launched its first flagship action camera, the GoPro Hero 5 Black, with great success, the company has upped the ante yet again with the GoPro Hero 6 Black. The Hero 5 was launched in 2016 with surprising upgrades over its predecessor Hero 4 and just one year later,  the company announced the more improved and versatile Hero 6 Black with significant upgrades and best-in-class features such as 4K video recording, improved processor, better image stabilization, and more. Although both the GoPro cameras are lightweight and ultra-small plus they look almost similar from the outside, each offers slightly different features and functions that directly impact the quality of the photos and videos you can capture. Let’s take a good look at our in-depth comparison between the two.

What is GoPro Hero 5? 

GoPro unveiled the Hero 5 Black at the launch event for the GoPro Karma drone at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe in Northern California. The Hero 5 Black was a game changer that changed how you take pictures and shoot videos. It is featured as one of the most user-friendly action cameras with powerful features of that of a professional camera. The company called the Hero 5 Black “Simply the best GoPro, ever”. And they’re not wrong. It is the company’s first flagship action camera that is waterproof out of the box. It has all the shooting options from its predecessor plus electronic image stabilization, auto cloud uploading, stereo audio, 4K video recording, voice control, and much more.

What is GoPro Hero 6?

The GoPro Hero 6 Black is the newest addition to the GoPro’s family of action cameras and photo-capturing tools. It is the ultimate tool for capturing your best moments at the highest quality ever from a GoPro action camera. From the outside, it looks identical to its predecessor, Hero 5 Black, but the true innovation lies inside the Hero 6’s waterproof body. The biggest upgrade to the Hero 6 Black is the addition of the first custom-designed chipset, the GP1 processor which allows it to capture 4k videos at a smooth 60fps (frames per second). The chip is specifically designed for your camera which results in smoother operation, amazing video quality, and much more. And that’s not all. The camera features 5 GHz Wi-Fi for more convenient mobile-editing and Touch Zoom for easier composition.

Difference between GoPro Hero 5 and Hero 6

1. Designs of  GoPro Hero 5 and Hero 6

The GoPro Hero 6 Black doesn’t have any significant changes over its predecessor the Hero 5 Black, in terms of design because both the devices look almost identical from the outside – the same blocky design with slightly rugged grey rubberized coating for a comfortable grip. Both the devices are go-anywhere design that comes with waterproof out of the box up to 33 feet without the need for a separate casing. So you cannot actually tell the difference between the two from the outside.

2. Processor of GoPro Hero 5 and Hero 6

This is where things take sideways. The major upgrade to the Hero 6 Black which makes it stand apart is the addition of the GP1 processor, the company’s first custom-designed and very own chipset. The processor is significantly powerful than the Ambarella chips found in the early models including the Hero 5 Black. The chip is specifically designed for your camera resulting in smoother operation, exceptional video quality, and more improvements through firmware updates in the future. The improved processor in the Hero 6 allows for more enhanced features such as improved stabilization.

3. Video Quality 

The GoPro Hero 6 Black’s GP1 chip offers you 2x faster video frame rates for capturing 4k and 1080p videos plus vastly improved image and video quality. The Hero 5 Black can only shoot videos in 4k at only 30 frames per second, whereas the Hero 6 pushes the limits with its custom GP1 chip to shoot 4k videos at a silky-smooth 60 frames per second, and dial the slow motion to 120 frames per second at 2.7k resolution and 240 fps at 1080p. Additionally, the faster processor allows for higher data capture rates.

4. Image Stabilization

Thanks to the GP1 chip, the GoPro Hero 6 Black promises better and improved results from its built-in electronic image stabilization which results in better low-light performance. The stabilization is available for 4k videos resulting in smoother, high-quality videos than ever before. It has much improved image stabilization than the Hero 5 Black which makes it ideal for capturing slow-motion videos. The EIS does not work at all in 4k in Hero 5 or over 60 frames per second. The photos look more real-like and natural in Hero 6 with almost no visual distortion.

GoPro Hero 5 vs. Hero 6: Comparison Chart

Summary of GoPro Hero 5 Vs. Hero 6

Although there are no visual differences between the two flagship action cameras in terms of design and form factor, the GoPro Hero 6 is undoubtedly the better-performing camera with more advances features such as increased framerates, better low-light performance, improved EIS, Touch Zoom features, and much more. The major selling point of the Hero 6 is the addition of the GoPro’s first custom-designed GP1 processor which offers faster framerates for 4k and 1080p videos, as well as vastly improved image quality and low-light performance. Additionally, the GoPro’s best image stabilization feature is now available for 4k videos resulting in smoother high-resolution videos than ever before. So if you’ve got a Hero 5, it’s time to make the switch.

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