This isn’t abundantly clear in the photos (though GoPro do point it out in fairly small print in their literature on the camera) and could come as quite a surprise to someone familiar with the rest of the camera line up. In contrast to nearly all the other cameras GoPro has ever made (other than even newer Hero+ model, which has the same design), the Hero is fixed into the front part of its waterproof case – so you cannot separate the actual camera from the case. What is a major difference between the cameras is the case design though. The Hero is somewhat lighter at 3.9oz (111g) while the White weighs in at 4.8oz (136g) with its housing – though these differences are unlikely to trouble anyone. In common with all the GoPro cameras, the GoPro Hero and Hero 3 White are the same basic shape and size, and feature the same standard GoPro mounting point. (You might also be interested in our article on the Hero’s more expensive stablemate, the Hero+ LCD, and on our overview and buyers’ guide to the entire GoPro range, which you can find here!) Physical size But the question for any potential buyer is whether to go for the Hero, or stump up the extra cash and go for the Hero 3 White? Well, this article is here to help you decide! Interestingly, while there are some advantages to the White, there are also some technical areas in which the new entry level Hero can be considered superior (in addition to the obvious price advantage it has).

It’s also doubtless a response to the entry level actions cameras coming to the market, such as the Polaroid Cube.

So, the new GoPro Hero gives GoPro a foot into a new market. It might also appeal to those who already have a GoPro camera, but are looking to augment it with a second cheaper camera, so as to have (for example) one cam mounted on the user’s body to capture POV footage, and one mounted somewhere else to look back at the user in action. As such, it potentially provides a stepping stone into the GoPro range for whole new markets – for example, kids who would love a GoPro but might not be able to afford the more expensive models, or those who have no need for the higher resolution shooting modes and simply want a full HD, rugged action camera.

At a price point of around $130, it is tantalisingly close to the magic $100 mark. At this price point, the GoPro represented a significant bit of spending on technology – one that was justified by the camera’s performance, granted, but still something that had to be considered carefully. Previously, all GoPro cameras had cost $200 and upward, with the top models reaching $500. The introduction of the entry-level GoPro Hero model in October 2014 represented a new direction for GoPro.

Gopro hero 3 vs 3