Quick Take
The GoPro Mission 1 Pro finally fixes the one thing GoPro has always struggled with — low light — thanks to a new 1-inch sensor. But the Hero 13 still looks sharper straight out of camera in daylight, so for most action shooters this isn’t the obvious upgrade it seems.
GoPro didn’t release a Hero 14 this year. Instead it launched three brand-new cameras — the Mission 1, the Mission 1 Pro, and the Mission 1 Pro ILS — and buried in the spec sheet is the fix for the one problem GoPro Mission 1 Pro vs Hero 13 videos keep circling back to: low light. So is it finally time to retire your Hero 13, or is the cheaper camera still the smarter buy? I put both side by side to find out, and one part of the answer genuinely surprised me.
What GoPro Actually Released
The first thing worth knowing is that GoPro didn’t launch one new camera — it launched three. Most reviews only cover one of them. There’s the Mission 1, the Mission 1 Pro, and the Mission 1 Pro ILS, which takes interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lenses and isn’t fully waterproof, so it’s really a different conversation for filmmakers.
For most people, the real choice is Mission 1 versus Mission 1 Pro. Both share the same 1-inch 50-megapixel sensor and the new GP3 processor — the difference is frame rate. The base Mission 1 tops out at 4K 120fps and 8K 30fps, while the Pro unlocks 4K at 240fps and a 1080p 960fps superburst slow-motion mode. The Mission 1 runs $499 for GoPro subscribers; the Pro is $599 with a subscription and $699 without.
Is the Mission 1 Pro Even an Action Camera?
GoPro is calling this a compact cinema camera, and once I went through the footage, that framing made sense. The Hero 13 actually looks punchier and sharper straight out of camera in daylight than the Mission 1 Pro — not because the Mission is worse, but because the 1-inch sensor is tuned for a flatter, more cinematic image meant to be color graded. I’ve had a Hero on my helmet skiing, diving, and traveling for over a decade, and it’s always been tuned to look good immediately because it was built for action first.
Where the Mission 1 Pro Wins
The biggest one is low light. I’ve hit the Hero line’s low-light ceiling diving and on evening walks more times than I can count — it’s been the number one weakness of these cameras. The larger 1-inch sensor pulls in more light, and there’s a dedicated low-light video mode on top of it; footage people are getting at night looks like a different camera entirely. It’s also waterproof to 20 meters without a housing, versus the Hero 13’s 10.
Slow motion is the other standout — 1080p at 960fps, and unlike older GoPro burst modes, it actually holds up in good light. Battery life gets a real fix too: the new Enduro 2 charges to 80% in 20 minutes, and it’s cross-compatible with the Hero 13, so even skipping the camera upgrade, the battery alone is worth a look. Audio steps up to four mics with 32-bit float, and for the first time you can plug a mic straight into USB-C without an adapter and without losing waterproofing. Add 8K open gate for pulling both landscape and vertical from one shot, and overheating should finally be a non-issue since the GP3 processor runs cooler under load.
Where the Hero 13 Still Wins
Daylight sharpness is the one that surprised everyone, myself included — side by side, the Hero 13 looks more contrasty and ready to post immediately, while the Mission 1 Pro’s image is flatter by design. If you’re not grading, the Hero 13 wins most of the time. Close focus is the other real constraint: the 1-inch sensor can’t focus closer than about 20 to 24 inches, which matters when you’re mounting a camera close to your face or shooting tight gear shots. GoPro is working with PolarPro on a close-up lens, but it isn’t out yet, and the Hero 13 already has one.
The Hero 13 also has a full lens ecosystem built over years, versus ND filters only right now for the Mission 1. And at around $430, often cheaper on sale, it’s a meaningful gap against the Mission 1 Pro’s $599.
Who Should Actually Upgrade
If you shoot mainly action — skiing, surfing, biking, gear mounted close — the case for upgrading isn’t obvious unless you specifically need better low light. The Hero 13 still does exactly what an action camera needs to do, and the Enduro 2 battery alone might be the upgrade worth buying. If you shoot a lot in low light, or you grade footage and want cinematic output without carrying a mirrorless everywhere, the Mission 1 Pro is a genuine upgrade. And if you’re somewhere in between — which is most Hero 13 owners — give the base Mission 1 a serious look before defaulting to the Pro. Same sensor, same processor, you just lose the extreme slow motion, and for most people that’s worth the $200 difference.
My own plan: I’m ordering both the Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro to test them properly and report back once I’ve actually shot with them side by side.
Is the GoPro Mission 1 Pro worth upgrading from the Hero 13?
Only if you shoot a lot in low light or plan to color grade your footage. For daylight action use, the Hero 13 still looks sharper straight out of camera, so most Hero 13 owners don’t need to upgrade yet.
What’s the difference between the GoPro Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro?
They share the same 1-inch 50MP sensor and GP3 processor. The Mission 1 caps at 4K 120fps and 8K 30fps, while the Pro adds 4K at 240fps and a 1080p 960fps super slow-motion mode.
Is there a GoPro Hero 14?
No. GoPro launched the Mission 1 series instead of a Hero 14, and there’s currently no sign a Hero 14 is coming.
Does the Enduro 2 battery work with the Hero 13?
Yes. The Enduro 2 battery released with the Mission 1 series is cross-compatible with the Hero 13, so you can get the faster-charging battery without upgrading the camera.
Can the GoPro Mission 1 Pro focus up close?
Not as close as the Hero 13. The Mission 1 Pro’s 1-inch sensor has a minimum focus distance of about 20 to 24 inches, roughly arm’s length, which matters for close-mounted or macro-style shots.
GoPro Mission 1 Pro vs Hero 13: Gear Mentioned
- 1” Sensor + Advanced Low-Light Performance: MISSION 1 PRO utilizes a 1” sensor...
- Best-in-Class Video With 8K Open Gate: 8K video delivers breathtaking image quality...
- Over 3 Hours of 4K Runtime + Faster Charging: The all-new 2150mAh Enduro 2 battery...
- HB-Series Lenses With Auto Detection: HERO13 Black is compatible with the HB-Series...
- Best-in-Class 5.3K Video: 5.3K video delivers breathtaking image quality with 91%...
- Burst Slo-Mo: HERO13 Black features our slowest slo-mo ever with the ability to...
