GoPro is finally moving beyond action cameras. After teasing a move into the high-end vlogging camera category last year, GoPro has been steadily dropping official hints that something major is coming.
While rumors have been floating around about an advanced GoPro, the company has released several official teasers that contain key details and even footage from the upcoming cameras. The latest? GoPro confirmed an April launch date and a larger sensor.
I’m a photographer and a GoPro user who’s been following the trail of breadcrumbs since CEO Nicholas Woodman first hinted at the brand’s entry into more camera categories last year. While I’m not 100 percent convinced that the next GoPro is a mirrorless camera, this is what I know so far about the upcoming cameras. (Yes, that's cameras, plural!)
GoPro is working on “vlogging" and "ultra-premium compact cinema-grade" cameras
Earlier this month, GoPro announced its new GP3 processor, which is said to deliver more than twice the pixel processing power, along with better low-light and AI-driven subject recognition. But even more interesting than the processor itself is that GoPro says that the tech will be used inside “vlogging cameras, and ultra-premium compact cinema-grade cameras.”
I’ve known that GoPro was working on something bigger than an action camera since Woodman first teased the idea to investors last year. But until this month, it wasn’t quite clear what category the low-light camera would be in – until that GP3 announcement.
GP3 GoPros will have larger sensors
GoPro's second teaser video comes with a clear statement indicating that the upcoming advanced GoPros will have larger sensors. "GoPro's new GP3-powered cameras are more professionally focused than ever before, with more than double the pixel processing, larger sensors, expanded features and market-leading low-light performance, resolution and frame rates—all in compact, durable form factors that deliver industry-leading runtimes and thermal capability across a wide range of environmental conditions," the company wrote.
That's an official confirmation of larger sensors, although, of course, GoPro hasn't said how much larger. The Hero13 has a 1/1.9-inch sensor, so even a one-inch sensor would be larger. Some of the teaser videos contain close-ups that have excellent background blur, which is typically associated with larger sensors.
It's worth noting that GoPro has said on multiple occasions that it is launching cameras plural. GoPro does talk about larger sensors plural, as well, so my hope is that all the cameras are coming with a bump up in sensor size. I think it's safe to say that the "vlogging" and "cinema-grade" cameras will have larger sensors.
The mystery GoPros seem capable of macro and telephoto shots
The first footage from “the next generation of GoPro” indicates that at least one of the upcoming GoPros will be able to take macro and telephoto shots that look quite different from the GoPro's usual ultra-wide lens, even with the lens Mods.
But what's not clear is how the upcoming camera will achieve that range. The teasers have many fans speculating if the upcoming camera is a mirrorless with an interchangeable lens. That speculation comes from the fact that the sample footage includes footage that looks like it was shot with a macro lens, along with video that appears to be a telephoto shot of the moon.
A mirrorless GoPro is certainly a good guess, but that’s not the only type of camera that can take both macro and telephoto shots. The Nikon P1100 superzoom bridge camera, for example, can zoom in on the craters of the moon and still take macro from 1cm away. While the upcoming GoPro could certainly be a mirrorless camera, it could also be a camera with a really versatile lens built in.
The mystery GoPros will probably focus much differently than its action cameras
GoPro’s action cameras don’t have autofocus. The focus is instead fixed, which is a great feature for action cameras because it means the autofocus doesn’t have to struggle to keep up with fast action.
But GoPro’s fixed focus works because the smaller sensor and wide-angle lens make it easier to get most of the image in focus. If the next GoPro is capable of close-up and telephoto footage and has a larger sensor, a fixed focus isn’t going to work.
GoPro also said that its new processor will be used for AI-driven subject recognition. While that could be referring to detecting the subject to set the exposure in a smarter auto mode, I suspect it’s also going to power some autofocus features.
GoPro isn't abandoning its waterproof roots, promising "bulletproof durability"
GoPros are known for waterproofing and durability and ever since Woodman first hinted that an advanced camera was coming, I've been hoping that it would still have GoPro-level durability. The sample footage and a statement from Woodman suggest that my hopes haven't been misplaced.
“Our customers have made it clear they want more of everything from GoPro—larger sensors, world class low-light performance, higher resolutions and frame rates, next level image quality, improved audio capabilities, longer runtimes and bulletproof reliability in high heat conditions…everything, and more. And that's exactly what we're giving them with our newest line of GP3-powered cameras, debuting at NAB this April," Woodman said.
The sample footage also clearly shows an underwater shot and shooting in extremely dusty conditions. Again, keep in mind that GoPro is launching multiple cameras, so there could be some variety in how durable each camera is.
Woodman's statement also mentions recording in high-heat conditions, a key challenge for video cameras, particularly at high resolutions and in smaller camera bodies that leave less room for the heat to dissipate.
GoPro has a lot riding on this launch
While there’s a lot of speculation around the next GoPro, one thing is clear: GoPro has a lot riding on this launch. The company has been struggling financially in recent years, as the action camera giant now has to contend with competition from DJI and Insta360, not to mention smartphone cameras.
For the 2025 fiscal year, the company reported US$93.5 million in losses. The year before, Woodman declined to take his own salary.
Entering a new camera category could bolster the company, particularly if the company is able to cater to the growing number of content creators or the longstanding video pros.
That said, things could swing the other way for GoPro, too, if the launch doesn’t hit just right. I’m sure GoPro would probably rather forget the Karma, the recalled GoPro drone that’s the result of the last time the company tried to move beyond action cameras and 360 cameras.
The new GoPros will be announced in April
GoPro has now confirmed that the next generation of GoPros will be unveiled during the April 19-22 NAB Show in Las Vegas. That means we know the announcement is coming in April.
What's not clear at this point is how quickly after the announcement those new GoPros will ship. It's fairly common for a new camera launch to have a few weeks between the announcement and shipping.
You may also like
Browse the best GoPro camera or the best mirrorless cameras.
