Best GoPro Camera (2026): Compact, Budget, Accessories
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- WIRED's GoPro guide was updated in July 2026 to cover GoPro's new Mission 1 cameras, with refreshed prices and links across the full lineup.
- GoPro released the Mission 1 line earlier this summer, prompting the author to advise avoiding the still-sold Hero 12 and discounted Hero 11/10 models since they run nearly the price of a Hero 13.
- The Hero 13 Black ships with a default bitrate of 100 that the author says causes mushy footage; users can raise it to 200 via the GoPro Labs firmware, at the cost of battery life and heat.
- Recommended accessories include the Samsung Pro Plus microSD card ($50), the Media Mod ($100, or $150 for Mission 1 with HDMI), the Handlebar Mount ($40), the Floaty ($35), and the 48-inch Selfie Stick ($80), with DaVinci Resolve Studio ($300) flagged as the author's editing pick.
- The Mission 1 Pro supports USB microphones out of the box without needing a Media Mod, though the author could not fit a test unit into GoPro's Floaty and the compatibility listing was later pulled from GoPro's site.
- A Hero 14 appears unlikely this autumn — the author notes GoPro typically launches new Hero cameras in late September or early October, but the Mission 1's recent debut makes a 2026 Hero refresh doubtful.
Why it matters: Buyers shopping for an action camera now face a more confusing GoPro lineup than in past years, with the new Mission 1 series sitting alongside the Hero 13 and discontinued-feeling Hero 12. The purchasing window is unusually open: no Hero 14 is expected in the usual fall slot, which means current models are unlikely to be undercut by a successor in the next few months.
