GoPro Hero 5 and Hero 5 Black: What’s Actually Different

If you’ve spent any time shopping for an older GoPro, you’ve probably run into some naming confusion. People search for “hero 5 and hero 5 black” all the time, and the honest answer is that there’s no separate camera called just “Hero 5.” GoPro’s fifth-generation lineup only ever had two members: the Hero5 Black and the Hero5 Session. What trips people up is that folks often shorten “Hero5 Session” to just “Hero 5,” which makes it sound like a third, different product exists.

So let’s clear that up first, then get into what actually separates these two cameras, because the differences matter a lot more than the names suggest.

Where the Naming Confusion Comes From

GoPro announced both cameras together in September 2016, with retail availability following in October at $399.99 for the Hero5 Black and $299.99 for the Hero5 Session. Both share the “Hero5” name, both launched at the same event, and both got the same firmware philosophy. That’s probably why the shorthand “Hero 5” stuck around loosely, even though it technically refers to a family of two cameras, not one.

In my experience, this kind of naming overlap happens a lot with GoPro. There was also a plain “GoPro Hero” (no number) released later as a budget model, and that one gets mixed up with the Hero5 line too. If you’re specifically hunting for “Hero 5,” you’re almost certainly looking at either the Black or the Session, and picking the right one comes down to what you actually plan to shoot.

Quick Verdict

If you want the fullest feature set (GPS, RAW photos, a touchscreen, 4K at higher frame rate flexibility) go with the Hero5 Black. If you want something smaller and cheaper that still shoots solid 4K footage and you don’t care about a screen, the Hero5 Session gets the job done for $100 less. Neither is a bad camera even now, but the Black is the one most people should default to unless size is a dealbreaker.

Hero5 Black vs Hero5 Session: Side-by-Side

The table tells part of the story, but it doesn’t explain why those differences actually matter once you’re out shooting.

Photo and Video Quality

The Hero5 Black’s 12-megapixel sensor beats the Session’s 10-megapixel one, and that gap shows up mostly when you’re printing photos large or cropping in tight. For casual social posts, honestly, most people won’t notice. Where the Black pulls ahead more clearly is RAW photo support, which gives you real room to edit exposure and color afterward instead of being stuck with whatever the camera baked in.

On video, both cameras top out at 4K30, so headline resolution is identical. But the Black’s frame rate options go further at lower resolutions, hitting 1080p120 for slow motion, while the Session caps at 1080p90. If you’re into action sports and want that buttery slow-mo replay, the Black has more room to play with.

Build, Size, and Handling

This is really where the two cameras diverge in personality. The Session is a small cube with one button, meant to be mounted and forgotten about until you review footage later. There’s no screen, so framing shots is a bit of a guessing game unless you pair it with your phone. The Black keeps GoPro’s familiar candy-bar shape and adds a 2-inch touchscreen on the back, which makes composing shots and adjusting settings on the fly noticeably easier.

What tends to surprise people switching from an older GoPro is how much a screen actually changes daily use. Shooting blind with the Session works fine for helmet cams and drone mounts where you already know the angle, but for handheld or tripod use, having a live preview saves a lot of wasted footage.

Audio, GPS, and Extra Features

The Hero5 Black has three built-in microphones and does active wind noise reduction by picking the best two mics based on conditions, according to GoPro’s own product announcement. It also records stereo audio, which the Session doesn’t match. GPS is another Black-exclusive, useful if you like overlaying speed, elevation, or route data onto your footage using GoPro’s editing apps.

Neither of these are dealbreakers for casual use, but if you’re documenting rides, runs, or road trips and want that location data baked in, only the Black delivers it.

Battery Life and Storage

Both cameras support microSD cards up to 128GB, so storage headroom isn’t really a differentiator. Battery is where things split. The Black uses a removable 1,220mAh battery, which means you can carry spares and swap them mid-shoot, a genuinely useful feature for full-day outings. The Session’s smaller built-in battery can’t be swapped, so once it’s drained, you’re relying on a power bank and a cable until you get home.

In my experience, removable batteries matter more than people expect until they’re standing on a trail with a dead camera and no way to fix it quickly.

Waterproofing

Both cameras are rated for 10 meters (33 feet) without any separate housing, a genuine step up from older GoPro models that needed a case for anything beyond light splashes. For casual swimming, kayaking, or beach days, either camera handles it fine straight out of the box. Serious divers going deeper will still want an aftermarket housing rated for greater depth.

Software and Cloud Features

Both models work with GoPro’s Quik app and support auto-upload to GoPro Plus while charging, plus QuikStories, which auto-edits your clips into short highlight reels. This part of the experience is basically identical between the two cameras, so it shouldn’t factor much into your decision.

One thing worth flagging: GoPro Plus is a paid subscription, and pricing and availability of that service has changed multiple times over the years, so check GoPro’s current plan page if cloud backup matters to you before assuming it’s included free.

Should You Even Buy One in 2026?

Here’s the honest part. Both the Hero5 Black and Hero5 Session are long discontinued, and GoPro has released several generations since, including much newer models with better stabilization and higher resolution sensors. If you’re considering either camera today, you’re almost certainly looking at used or refurbished units, not anything sold new through official channels.

That’s not automatically a bad move. These cameras are rugged, well-supported by community firmware discussions, and cheap on the secondhand market. But you should go in knowing you’re trading modern stabilization tech (GoPro’s newer HyperSmooth system is a real leap over the Hero5’s basic electronic stabilization) for a lower price. If budget is tight and you mainly want reliable 4K footage for casual use, a used Hero5 Black is still a reasonable buy. If image quality and stabilization are priorities, it’s worth comparing against GoPro’s current lineup on their official product page before committing to older hardware.

Who Should Pick the Black, and Who Should Pick the Session

Go with the Hero5 Black if you want a screen, GPS tagging, RAW photos, or better slow-motion options, and you don’t mind the slightly bigger body. This covers most vloggers, cyclists who want route data, and anyone shooting handheld where framing matters.

Go with the Session if size and weight are your top priority, like mounting to a helmet, drone, or somewhere space is tight, and you’re comfortable shooting without a live preview. It’s also the cheaper entry point if budget is the deciding factor and you don’t need GPS or RAW.

FAQs

Is there actually a camera called just “GoPro Hero 5”? No standalone model carries that exact name. The Hero5 family consists of the Hero5 Black and Hero5 Session. There’s also a separate, later “GoPro Hero” budget camera with no number that sometimes gets confused with this lineup.

Can the Hero5 Black and Hero5 Session share batteries or accessories? Mounts are generally compatible across both since they use the same standard GoPro mounting system. Batteries are not interchangeable, since the Session’s battery is built-in and non-removable.

Do these cameras still get firmware updates? GoPro has moved on to newer generations, and official firmware support for the Hero5 line has been minimal for years. Check GoPro’s support site for the latest firmware status before assuming ongoing updates.

Is 4K on the Hero5 Black as good as newer GoPro models? Not really. The sensor and processing are dated compared to current models, and stabilization especially has improved a lot since 2016. It’s usable footage, just not competitive with what GoPro ships today.

Where can I learn more about GoPro’s camera history? Wikipedia’s GoPro entry has a solid rundown of the company’s product timeline if you want context on how the Hero5 line fits into the bigger picture.