Update: This article has been modified to include the newly launched HTC Re, and the Ion Camera.

GoPro Hero4 Is Here

GoPro Inc., maker of action-mountable cameras, introduced its new line of cameras that will cater to all ends of the spectrum, from those just starting out to the more serious videographers recording extreme activities.

GoPro’s new GoPro Hero, Hero4 Black, and Hero4 Silver are now available for purchase, but the question is, how do these new products compare to others already available in the market? Will GoPro maintain its hold over the ultimate P.O.V. video market?

GoPro Heros vs other action-mountable cameras

New GoPro Hero

Priced at only $129, the new Hero could be the ideal entry-level action camera. It’s not terribly expensive, but the lower price didn’t keep GoPro from packing in the features. It supports high quality 1080p30 and 720p60 video and captures the same immersive footage that’s been the trademark of this action camera.

The Hero comes with user-friendly modes for beginners including QuikCapture, which powers on the camera and starts recording with the press of a single button, and Burst Photo, which captures fast-action sequences at up to 5 frames per second. Users can wear, hold or mount the Hero worry-free, as it comes with waterproof housing that protects up to 40 meters below water.

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GoPro Hero4 Silver

Priced at $399.99, the Hero4 Silver features a built-in touch display, captures 1080p60 and 720p120 video with lifelike clarity, and shoots 12MP photos at a staggering 30 frames per second. It also introduces new experience-enhancing features such as HiLight Tag, which lets users mark key moments for easy playback, editing and sharing. Another perk is QuikCapture, which allows users to power on the camera and start recording with the press of a single button.

Other additions to the Hero4 Silver include Night Photo and Night Lapse, SuperView, auto low light mode, Protune, and a dedicated button that allows for quick access to the settings menu. It comes with a waterproof case that allows the Hero4 to be used to up to 40 meters under water, has WiFi and Bluetooth so you can connect to GoPro apps on your mobile device and even control multiple GoPro cameras from a distance of 180 meters.

Hero4 Silver has two additional variants: Hero4 Silver Music and Hero4 Silver Surf. Music allows the device to be easily mounted to musical instruments, while Surf has mounts for paddle or surf boards. They both feature a single huge button that powers up the device and also starts recording. If you want to capture stills, just press and hold the button.

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GoPro Hero4 Black

Priced at $499.99, Hero4 Black is quite expensive but for good reason. It is the most advanced GoPro camera featuring improved image quality with two times more powerful processor, faster video frame rate, and features incredibly high resolution of 4K30 and 2.7K50 video and high frame rate 1080p120 video. It Also features Protune, comes with a waterproof case that allows it to be submerged under 40 meters of water, a 12MP camera that shoots photos at 30 frames per second, and improved audio capture.

The Hero4 Black also has two other variants, the Surf and Music, much like the Hero4 Silver. It supports WiFi and Bluetooth for device-pairing and remote control, along with options to share content directly with social media platforms. Like all the other new releases in the Hero lineup, the Black edition features a single button that powers up the device and also starts recording, with the option to press and hold for capturing stills.

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Polaroid CUBE

This little action camera from Polaroid Corp. only costs $99.99, and it is able to record high def 1080p/720. videos, capture 6MP still photos, has a 124º wide angle lens, is waterproof and splashproof, supports microSD to up to 32GB. The CUBE comes with a Li-ion battery that lasts up to 90 minutes, a microphone, and connects to a Mac or PC via USB 2.0.

Polaroid CUBE It comes in red, black and blue and you can purchase accessories that would allow you to mount it on almost any surface such as a surfboard, helmet, bike, or tripod.

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Drift Ghost-S

This action camera from Drift Innovation Ltd. costs $399.99 and is able to capture 1080p at 60fps, 12MP stills and features unprecedented low-light performance. Drift Ghost-S features a  2″ LCD display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, and comes with a 2-way remote that allows you to stop and record as well as control multiple Ghost-S with its “One-to-all” mode.

The Drift Ghost-S is waterproof to up to 3 meters on its own, but users can purchase a waterproof case to explore deep waters. It also has a 300° continuously rotatable lens, and a battery that lasts up to 3.5 hours.

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Garmin Virb Elite

Priced at $399.99, the Virb Elite is capable of 1080p HD video recording with a 16MP CMOS image processor, has a 1.4″ Chroma display, high-sensitivity GPS, accelerometer and barometric altimeter, uses a 2000 mAh Li-ion battery that lasts up to 3 hours, and is water resistant up to one meter in depth for about 30 minutes.

The Virb Elite lets users shoot a video and capture stills at the same time, uses ANT+ technology to pair the Virb Elite with other Garmin Ltd. products for use as a remote. It features a huge slider button on the side that makes the device easy to operate even when wearing gloves.

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Liquid Image Ego

Liquid Image Co.’s Ego action camera come in an array of colors and is priced at $199.99. It records 1080p HD video at 30fps, 720p HD videos at 60fps, shoots 12MP stills and has a continuous photo mode for capturing stills. The Ego camera supports WiFi, comes with a 135º wide angle camera lens, and expandable storage via microSD card to up to 32GB.

It uses a rechargeable Li-ion battery that lasts up to 2 hours in HD video mode. It is water resistant on its own for accidental spillage or getting dropped accidentally on shallow water, which means it needs a waterproof housing if you want to take it into deeper waters.

HTC Re

The HTC Re, it looks like a periscope that fits perfectly in your hand and is more of an action camera than your typical hand-held digital camera. Taking on the GoPro market, the Re doesn’t have a power button, as it uses a grip sensor. When you pick it up and grip it, the device automatically turns on. The button at the top of the device is the shutter button. Press it once to take a photo, press and hold to take a video. If you want to activate the slow-mo mode, press on the button at the front of the device. It’s a 16MP camera with a 146° ultrawide lens, features an HD mic, speakers, an 820 mAh rechargeable battery, IP57, IPx7 and IPx8 certified, has a slot for microSD for up to 128GB and connects with a device running Android 4.3 and iOS 7 or higher via Bluetooth 4.0.

iON Air Pro 3 WiFi

iON Worldwide LLC offers various types of actions cameras, but the Air Pro 3 WiFi stands out. It features a custom anti-fog lens, is waterproof to up to 49 feet (which means no need to purchase a waterproof case in most instances), and comes with an iON WiFi PODZ for instant shoot and share to social media sites.

The Air Pro 3 also has a one-touch function that allows simultaneous camera start and record, a 2.5 hour battery life, comes with a free 8GB iON cloud storage,  built-in mic, sensors and more. You can purchase additional accessories to mount the iON Air Pro 3 onto your favorite sporting equipment or almost any other surface you can think of. Priced at $349.99.

The verdict

This is quite tricky to judge, as not all of the action cameras are in the same category. Some are entry level, while others belong in the high-end market. If you’re just learning to use an action camera or just getting started with capturing your activities, the Polaroid CUBE is an affordable and convenient place to start, as it has the features needed and is compact in size.

However, for the most serious of extreme filmmakers, the GoPro Hero 4 Black is the one to consider. GoPro has set the gold standard for mountable, rugged cameras, and its newest high-end offering doesn’t disappoint.