By site editor Dan Chung:
It seems like GoPro are releasing new cameras every few months now. Not content with their entry level Hero and Hero+ LCD models, the new Hero+ is essentially a Hero with the addition of Wi-fi and Bluetooth control, taken from the higher up models. Looked at another way it is the Hero+ LCD, but without the LCD.
This allows the camera to maintain a relatively low sub $200 price point and still offer remote control via smartphone. It weighs in at a mere 123g and is waterproof to 40m. It also has a timelapse mode and 8 megapixel stills.
The Hero+ framerates include 1080P 60, 50, 30, 25 which make it a good low budget option for multimedia shooters who can’t step up to a Hero4 model. Obviously there is no 4K, super slow motion, or flat picture options, but that is to be expected at the price.
At the same time the recently released tiny Hero4 Session has had a price drop to $299 US, a move that likely reflects the fact that the camera perhaps isn’t as popular as the company expected.
GoPro has faced greater competition in the lower end of the action camera market this year. The biggest single threat coming from China’s Xiaomi Yi which has similar image quality and specs to the Hero+, but comes in at just over $80 online (without a waterproof case).
The Yi has its quirks and isn’t officially supported outside of Asia right now, but the Chinese company has strong ambitions so GoPro could have a real fight on its hands in the near future.
The Hero+ ships in October. For more details go to the GoPro website.
