WIRED has updated its best GoPro 2026 recommendations, putting GoPro’s new Mission 1 Pro at the top of the lineup and pushing the Hero 13 Black into the more practical slot for most buyers. The guide, written by Scott Gilbertson, reflects a GoPro catalog that has become less obvious than the old ritual of buying whatever Hero model just shipped.
Gilbertson says he has used GoPro cameras since the Hero 5 launched in 2016 and has tested every model since, often against the cameras that replaced them. WIRED also says its editors choose products independently, although the publication may receive compensation from retailers or purchases made through its links.
What is the best GoPro in 2026?
WIRED’s top pick is the GoPro Mission 1 Pro, listed at $699 on Amazon and $700 through GoPro and B&H Photo. Gilbertson calls it the strongest GoPro available and says it also beats other action cameras he has tested, largely because of its large sensor, GoPro’s new GP3 processor, and video capture up to 8K at 60 frames per second.
The mechanism is straightforward: more sensor area and more resolution give editors more usable image data. Even if a buyer has no plan to publish 8K video, WIRED notes that 8K footage leaves more room to crop during editing without immediately turning the image into mush.
The Mission 1 family has three models: the Mission 1, Mission 1 Pro, and a forthcoming Mission 1 Pro ILS that uses interchangeable lenses based on the Micro Four Thirds mount. According to WIRED, the Pro model mainly separates itself from the base Mission 1 with higher frame-rate options. Gilbertson says he has not tested the non-Pro version, but notes that buyers who do not need extreme slow motion can save $100 with it.
The Mission 1 Pro records in 8K, 4K, 1080p, and 1440p in 4:3 mode. It can shoot 4K at 240 fps and 1080p at up to 960 fps, although WIRED says the 960 fps mode is limited to 10-second bursts. The camera is slightly wider and heavier than the Hero 13 because of its larger lens housing, but it keeps the familiar GoPro shape. WIRED also cites larger raised buttons and a 20-meter, or 66-foot, waterproof rating without a case.
Which GoPro should most people buy?
WIRED’s more grounded recommendation is the GoPro Hero 13 Black, currently shown at about $379 to $380, down from roughly $430. Gilbertson says it costs about $200 less than the Mission 1 Pro and remains enough camera for most users, which is a polite way of saying the flagship tax is real.
The Hero 13 Black tops out at 5.3K 30 fps in 8:7 mode or 5.3K 60 fps in 16:9 mode. Its slow-motion modes include 2x at 5.3K, 4x at 4K, and 8x at 2.7K or 1080p. WIRED also points to improved battery life, a three-way mounting system, Log video support, and the return of GPS after its absence from the Hero 12.
The catch is silicon déjà vu. WIRED says the Hero 13 Black uses the same 27-megapixel sensor and processor as the Hero 12 and Hero 11, so buyers should not expect a dramatic jump in image quality from those older models. Its advantage is flexibility: GoPro sells Ultra Wide, Macro, and Anamorphic lenses for $120, $110, and $150, respectively, and the Hero 13 Black automatically detects them and adjusts settings.
What are the cheaper GoPro options?
For a lower-cost camera, WIRED picks the GoPro Hero 13, listed at $204 on Amazon and $220 from GoPro. It is smaller, lighter, and cheaper than the Hero 13 Black, with 4K30 video and 12-megapixel stills. Gilbertson says its size makes it a good helmet-mounted option.
The compromise is stabilization. WIRED says the Hero 13 applies stabilization in the phone app rather than in the camera, which means users who edit on a computer have to process clips on a phone first, save them, and then transfer them. That is a workflow tax, unless the whole edit already lives on the phone.
WIRED also names the GoPro Lit Hero as its pick for selfies and talking-to-camera use. The entry-level model, introduced in 2025, is shown at $190 on Amazon and $270 at Adorama and B&H Photo.
This story draws on original reporting from WIRED.
