GoPro cameras are infamous for their poor battery capacity. But how long do GoPro batteries last exactly? This article answers that question and more.
I do not know about you, but I always hear complaints about the GoPro camera’s battery life. While I think they are solid action cameras, I could not help but wonder how long does a GoPro battery last.
Fortunately, I did extensive research on this particular topic.
Below, I will walk you through the approximate battery life of all GoPro models.
I will also cover the factors that may affect a GoPro camera’s battery life.
Finally, I will share some tips on how to make your GoPro battery last longer. These include using some accessories to extend shooting time.
Without further ado, let us get started!
Why Does My GoPro Lose Battery So Fast? Factors That Shorten Battery Life
Before I discuss the average battery life of GoPro cameras, I will talk about the factors that affect their power performance.
GoPro Camera Features
One of the most common reasons that can shorten GoPro battery life is enabling too many features.
Having the WiFi on is often the main culprit behind the faster battery drainage. And when you also use the GPS, voice control, and stabilization features, your battery will drain quickly.
You might want to limit the features you use every shooting session to save battery life.
Age
Besides having too many features enabled, age is also a significant factor that affects GoPro battery life. The older the battery, the shorter its life.
Thus, it is best to replace your GoPro battery after a few years of usage.
Extreme Temperature
Both external and internal conditions can affect the performance of the GoPro battery. For instance, extremely hot or cold temperatures can quickly drain the battery. The lack of airflow into the camera can also cause overheating, which has a negative effect on the battery life.
Make sure to store it in a breathable bag or pocket when you are outside. Doing so can extend GoPro battery life.
How Long Does a GoPro Battery Last?
How long a GoPro battery will last depends on several factors.
These include the GoPro Hero model, as not all cameras comsume power at the same rate nor use identical batteries, although they are usually lithium-ion. For instance, the GoPro HERO10 Black comes with a 1720mAh battery, which for example compares to the HERO8 Black which features a 1220 mAh battery.
GoPro Hero cameras also have different modes of shooting video, such as continuous shooting, stabilization, and high-resolution quality. Each one affects how long the battery will last.
Below, I will discuss each specific GoPro Hero camera model and reveal how long their batteries last in each video mode.
How Long Does a GoPro HERO10 Battery Last?
The GoPro HERO10 offers two official batteries—a standard one and the Enduro model.
The standard battery for the GoPro HERO10 has a 1720mAh capacity. This lithium-ion rechargeable battery is the same one used in the HERO9.
Meanwhile, the Enduro battery is a new high-performance power unit released in late 2021. It has the same mAh rating—1720mAh—as the standard battery. However, it offers faster charging, longer shooting time, and better resistance to cold weather. Overall, the Enduro battery has a better performance compared to standard GoPro batteries.
Here is the average battery life of GoPro HERO10 Black when using either Enduro or standard batteries.
- 5.3K/60fps (Enduro): 56 minutes
- 5.3K/60fps (Standard): 47 minutes
- 4K/120fps (Enduro): 50 minutes
- 4K/120fps (Standard): 36 minutes
- 4K/60fps (Enduro): 76 minutes
- 4K/60fps (Standard): 72 minutes
- 1080p/240fps (Standard): 48 minutes
- 1080p/120fps (Standard): 64 minutes
- 1080p/60fps (Standard): 90 minutes
- 1080p/30fps (Enduro): 125 minutes
- 1080p/30fps (Standard): 120 minutes
How Long Does a GoPro HERO9 Battery Last?
The GoPro HERO9 uses the same battery as the HERO10—a 1720mAh lithium-ion battery. Hence, it can work on both types of cameras without a problem.
Below is the average battery life of the GoPro HERO9 Black when using each video mode.
- 5K/30fps: 90 minutes
- 5K/24fps: 95 minutes
- 4K/60fps: 72 minutes
- 4K/30fps: 95 minutes
- 4K/24fps: 105 minutes
- 2.7K/120fps: 84 minutes
- 2.7K/60fps: 90 minutes
- 2.7K(4:3)/60fps: 85 minutes
- 1080p/240fps: 77 minutes
- 1080p/120fps: 92 minutes
- 1080p/60fps: 97 minutes
- 1080p/30fps: 140 minutes
- 1080p/24fps: 145 minutes
How Long Does a GoPro HERO8 Battery Last?
The GoPro HERO8 Black camera has a removable lithium-ion battery. This special feature allows you to bring extra batteries and exchange them throughout the day.
Meanwhile, the battery itself has a 1220mAh capacity that can last you around 70 minutes when recording at 4K resolution.
See below for the estimated GoPro HERO8 battery run time in different video modes.
- 4K/60fps: 47 minutes
- 4K/30fps: 74 minutes
- 2.7K/120fps: 45 minutes
- 2.7K/60fps: 70 minutes
- 1080p/240fps: 50 minutes
- 1080p/120fps: 50 minutes
- 1080p/60fps: 81 minutes
How Long Does a GoPro HERO7 Battery Last?
The GoPro HERO7 is available in three variations—Black, Silver, and White.
The HERO7 Black has a removable and rechargeable 1220mAh lithium-ion battery. Meanwhile, both the Silver and White editions come with built-in batteries. Thus, these models can limit your freedom when shooting videos compared to the Black version.
Below are estimated times on how long their batteries last.
- GoPro HERO7 Black: 45 to 90 minutes
- GoPro HERO7 Silver: 106 to 146 minutes
- GoPro HERO7 White: 107 to 146 minutes
The GoPro HERO7 Black might seem like the worst model based on this comparison. However, it shoots at high resolution and high frame rates, which consume battery life faster. Here is a brief overview of how each video mode affects the HERO7 Black’s battery.
- 4K/60fps: 45 minutes
- 4K/30fps: 85 minutes
- 2.7K/120fps: 30 minutes
- 1440p/120fps: 50 minutes
- 1440p/60fps: 70 minutes
- 1080p/240fps: 35 minutes
- 1080p/120fps: 40 minutes
- 1080p/60fps: 85 minutes
- 720p/240fps: 90 minutes
How Long Does a GoPro HERO6 Battery Last?
The GoPro HERO6 Black uses a rechargeable 1220mAh lithium-ion battery. Its shooting time depends on the video mode or resolution you use.
- 4K/60fps: 70 minutes
- 4K/30fps: 95 minutes
- 2.7K/120fps: 60 minutes
- 1440p/60fps: 75 minutes
- 1080p/240fps: 60 minutes
- 1080p/120fps: 65 minutes
- 1080p/60fps: 100 minutes
- 720p/60fps: 110 minutes
How Long Does a GoPro Fusion Battery Last?
The GoPro Fusion has an impressive battery life, considering the high-resolution videos that it captures. Its exact shooting time varies on the video mode you choose.
- 5.2K/30fps: 75 minutes
- 3K/60fps: 80 minutes
How Long Does a GoPro HERO5 Battery Last?
The GoPro HERO5 is available in two models—Black and Session.
The HERO5 Black uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is rated at 1220 mAh, 4.40V. It is the same battery that comes standard with the GoPro HERO6, HERO7, and HERO8.
In contrast, the GoPro HERO5 Session has a built-in battery that could not be swapped out. It limits your shooting time as you have to plug the whole camera once the battery dies.
Below is an overview of how long the GoPro HERO5 battery can last you.
- GoPro HERO5 Black: 90 to 140 minutes
- GoPro HERO5 Session: 80 to 120 minutes
Meanwhile, the following info is the estimated shooting times of the HERO5 Black on different video modes.
- 4K/30fps: 90 minutes
- 2.7K/30fps: 110 minutes
- 1080p/60fps: 120 minutes
- 1080p/30fps: 150 minutes
- 720p/120fps: 140 minutes
How Long Does a GoPro HERO4 Battery Last?
The GoPro HERO4 is available in three models. Here is what to expect for the battery life of each HERO4 edition.
- GoPro HERO4 Black: 65 to 110 minutes
- GoPro HERO4 Silver: 100 to 150 minutes
- GoPro HERO4 Session: 105 to 115 minutes
The HERO4 Black uses a 1160mAh Lithium-ion rechargeable battery. It offers different shooting times, depending on the video resolution you use. Below are some examples.
- 4K/30fps: 65 minutes
- 2.7K/48fps: 65 minutes
- 2.7K(4:3)/30fps: 70 minutes
- 1080p/120fps: 70 minutes
- 1080p/60fps: 80 minutes
- 1080p/30fps: 90 minutes
- 720p/120fps: 110 minutes
How to Make Your GoPro Battery Last Longer?
By now, you already know how long a GoPro battery can last you. Most camera models have a runtime of around an hour to two hours.
While it allows you to capture decent footage, you might still be thinking, “how to make a GoPro battery last longer?” to enable you to shoot for extended periods.
Below are some tips on how to extend the battery life of your GoPro camera.
- Avoid using the extra features (WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, voice control) if you do not need them. As previously mentioned, enabling these settings can quickly drain your GoPro battery life.
- Turn off the screen when not in use. The LCD screen uses power, which drains the GoPro camera’s battery.
- Store your batteries in a warm place, such as your pocket, when shooting outside in cold weather.
- Avoid using a remote or smartphone app. Instead, consider getting a selfie stick for shooting videos out of your normal reach.
- Turn off beeping lights and red indicator.
- Download the latest GoPro firmware for your camera.
- Use a wall charger to charge your GoPro batteries. Doing so lets you achieve full charge faster compared to connecting to a PC via a USB cable.
- Keep GoPro Protune off. This particular feature allows you to set recording parameters, such as the white balance, exposure, ISO limit, and color. It delivers higher quality videos at the cost of draining your battery life faster.
5 GoPro Accessories to Buy for Extended Shooting
Do you want to shoot extended time-lapses or underwater? Then, the aforementioned tips on how to make your GoPro battery last longer might not work.
Instead, you might want to invest in some accessories to extend the battery capacity of your GoPro.
With the following GoPro accessories, you can shoot all day long. And since there is no need to worry about the GoPro battery dying, you will be able to focus more on the action around you.
Continue reading on for my top picks!
1. Extra GoPro Batteries
Having extra GoPro batteries allows you to shoot for extended periods.
It is best to go with GoPro original batteries for full compatibility. However, you can still use third-party extra batteries if you use the GoPro HERO5 and other GoPro models released earlier. Just do not expect them to offer the same amount of shoot time as the original ones.
As for the number of batteries to buy, it will depend on your needs. Investing in three batteries is more than enough if you will be shooting in ultra HD resolution. Take four batteries if you plan to use 4K resolution and 60fps often.
2. Charger
After investing in multiple batteries, the next thing to buy is an extra charger to prevent battery drain.
Without an extra charger, you have to wait for around two hours to achieve a full charge. That is if you use a wall outlet. But if you are connecting to the PC via a USB cable, you will have to wait long periods.
If you want to avoid this, choose a charger that can handle three to four batteries at once. This model will be a lifesaver, especially if you are traveling and filming every day.
Just be careful to buy a suitable model for your battery type. For instance, the GoPro HERO4 batteries and chargers will not work with the HERO5 and other newer models.
3. Mobile Power Bank
A mobile power bank is another GoPro accessory that can extend your camera’s battery life. It is useful when you are shooting a time-lapse video or any kind of static scene.
However, a power bank is not recommended for shooting on the go. It might be light and portable, but it can still get in the way when filming while traveling. It is also not as sturdy as the GoPro. So if you are hiking or diving underwater, this device might not be able to survive.
With that said, the power bank is still a great investment. It is also compatible when charging your phone or any portable gadget.
4. Battery Bacpac
If you own a GoPro HERO4, you can use a battery backpack to extend shooting time.
Also known as Bacpac, this removable battery pack attaches to the back of a camera. It gives you around three to four hours of shooting time, which is equivalent to an extra battery. It is also sturdy enough to withstand rough outdoor use, unlike most power banks.
However, the Battery Bacpac requires the side door of the HERO4 to be open. Thus, your GoPro camera will no longer be waterproof.
Furthermore, this GoPro accessory is only compatible with HERO4. GoPro HERO5 and other newer models do not have the same 30-pin connector on the back.
5. Grip Charger
The last GoPro accessory to extend your camera’s battery life is a grip charger.
It works like a regular power bank. However, it is more practical and compatible with action cameras, such as the GoPro.
As its name suggests, it can also act as a grip. It enables you to move your GoPro camera quickly without worrying about dropping it on the ground or damaging it.
Which GoPro Has the Longest Battery Life?
The GoPro HERO9 Black and the HERO10 Black both contain a 1720 mAh battery. It offers significantly more capacity than the 1220 mAH battery used on other ‘black’ models like the HERO8, HERO7, and HERO6.
The HERO10 Black is also compatible with the new Enduro battery. It offers faster charging, stronger resistance to cold weather, and a longer shooting time.
With all these factors considered, the GoPro HERO10 Black is currently the model with the longest battery life.
Should I Remove GoPro Battery When Not in Use?
Some GoPro cameras allow you to remove the batteries and switch them with a new one. However, avoid removing your batteries and letting them sit for hours. Doing so will reset the date and time, which requires you to set it again. It can also discharge the battery, ultimately affecting its future performance.
Can I Charge GoPro While Recording Video?
Typically you can charge a GoPro camera while in use with an external power source, such as a power bank. However, you cannot charge some models while you are actually recording video. Charging will only resume once you stop recording.
Conclusion
GoPro batteries can last you for an hour or two, depending on a lot of factors. These include the features and the video mode you are using. So if you want to extend the battery life of your GoPro action camera, avoid enabling all features and using high resolutions. You might also want to invest in GoPro accessories like memory cards for continuous shooting that can last you throughout the day.