We found this to be a very handy addition and it works well, provided there isn’t too much ambient noise. The Hero5 Session also supports video stabilisation for resolutions up to 2.7K, and a new voice control feature which lets you trigger actions like starting a timelapse or burst. Waterproofing stays the same, with the unit capable of functioning immersed up to 33 feet or 10 meters deep without need for an additional housing. It also gets a much higher burst rate of 30 frames in one second.

For starters, the Hero5 Session gets a 10-megapixel sensor with a wide-angle lens, and the video recording resolution now maxes out at 4K. Physically, it’s hard to tell the new Session from the previous model but there are big changes once you get into the specifications. Overall, the camera is built superbly and we love its inconspicuous design. The base of the housing is compatible with older Hero 4 mounts, so you can use your existing accessories. You get two adhesive mounts (one flat and one curved) in the box, along with a Type-C cable. This is especially useful as GoPro doesn’t provide any pivoting arms with the Hero5 Session. The casing is also smartly designed, giving you cutouts on three sides so you can position the camera depending on which direction you want to mount it in. Instead, it ships with a plastic casing which you'll need if you want to mount the camera onto things. Sadly, this camera still doesn’t have a tripod mount. It’s nice to see GoPro adopt the current USB standard for connectivity. The Hero5 Session requires at least a Class 10 or UHS-1 rated SD card in order to function optimally. There’s a water-sealed flap on one side which covers the USB Type-C port and SD card slot.

You can disable the status lights altogether from the app if you wish to go full stealth. There’s a speaker and a microphone grille on the back, and two LED lights on the front which tell you what state the camera is in. It’s much easier to set everything up using the Capture app on a paired device. This combination of buttons is used to navigate the menu and change settings, although it does get a bit tedious after a point. There’s a small monochrome display next to the shutter button on the top, along with a secondary button at the back. There’s provision in the front to attach a lanyard, which is thoughtful given how easy it could be to misplace such a device. Its body is sturdy and has a nice rubberised coating. Physically, the Hero5 Session is extremely compact, with a cube shape that makes it easy to place it pretty much anywhere.

GoPro has streamlined its lineup into three models: there’s the flagship Hero5 Black, the Hero5 Session just below it, and a third one called the Hero Session, which is essentially a rebadged Hero4 Session.

Gopro app session