For the last several months, GoPro fanatics and speculators have scoured the internet to find news about GoPro Inc.’s highly anticipated HERO 5 camera and Karma Drone. In order to sort the facts from the fiction, we dug a little deeper to find out what is really up with the GoPro 5 release date, news and rumors - it got us super stoked with what’s happening with GoPro in 2016.

GoPro HERO 5: What We Know

The latest GoPro 5 news came on Feb. 3rd during GoPro Inc.'s Q4 2015 earnings conference call with CEO Nick Woodman, who said, "Later this year, we will introduce the most connected and convenient GoPro we have ever made: HERO 5." It has been delayed again because GoPro needs more time to make sure the GoPro HERO 5 camera is a success, which is a smart move considering the recent decline in GoPro stock. “Later this year” is pretty vague, but most tech insiders are now expecting the GoPro HERO 5 to be released around October 2016, just in time for the 2016 Holiday shopping season. 

"Later this year, we will introduce the most connected and convenient GoPro we have ever made: HERO 5."
-Nick Woodman, CEO GoPro Inc. (TechCrunch/Thomson Reuters)

Woodman’s “most connected and convenient” description likely refers to cloud-connectivity being built directly into the GoPro 5. A GoPro with cloud connectivity could automatically upload and share content, allow quick editing and let you create highlight reels without ever plugging in your camera. That would greatly increase customer convenience because, as of now, GoPro users still have to plug their camera directly into their computer before uploading content (or work through the GoPro App). Uploading wirelessly would let users backup photo and video in the middle of adventures and quick editing would let users “cut the fat” out of their videos to make room for more action footage, improving the overall capturing experience. The quick highlight reels would also streamline the editing process so that people share more GoPro footage, instead of letting it sit unedited and unused on their computers, an issue GoPro is hoping to address with its new desktop software.

Last year Woodman told TechCrunch, “GoPro has to build an iTunes type management system that just works with people.” That is the purpose behind GoPro’s new desktop software; we just hope it works better than iTunes! GoPro says it will be released in March 2016 and will likely work in tandem with any cloud-based platform that comes down the pipeline.

You can bet that this new desktop software and cloud connectivity will come standard on the GoPro HERO 5 camera. The details of the software are forthcoming, but Woodman said, “GoPro for desktop represents a breakthrough in convenient offload, access and editing of GoPro content. It provides tools to easily sort large amounts of footage as well as trim and share directly to Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms.”

The more quality, properly edited GoPro footage that gets shared, the bigger the bottom line will be for GoPro Inc. This will be the year GoPro finally settles that issue.

The current GoPro HERO4 Session and HERO4 Black. | Image Source © GoPro, Inc.

GoPro HERO 5: What We Think We Know

At least right now, GoPro HERO 5 photos, features and specs are mere rumors. The only way to really know anything is to wait for its release, but for now we can all geek out on what could be possible.

Several tech news sources have said to expect GoPro HERO 5 specs to include 8K resolution at 30fps, which is the next logical step for GoPro's HERO camera line. Also projected are 4K at 60fps and 1080p at 240fps, which would be simply incredible and enable the smoothest full HD slow motion ever seen outside big-budget movie productions.

Powering the GoPro HERO 5 video capabilities could be an A10 processor, a big upgrade from the already powerful HERO 4, which uses an A9 processor. Further upgrades could include a 2,800mAh battery to extend battery life (a 150% increase from 1,160mAh batteries in HERO 4 Silver) and Bluetooth 4.0 technology to boost upload speed. Some have even said that it could include dual lenses for 3D photography, but we doubt that will come to fruition.

The jury is split on the GoPro HERO 5 design. Many insiders expect it to take the “ice cube” form of the Session while others expect it to follow in the form of its predecessors. Either way, it will likely pair perfectly with the upcoming GoPro Karma drone, which could be released as early as this spring and will work with past HERO models as well. Some even think that the Karma and newest HERO camera will be sold together as a package. Regardless, tech gurus are estimating the GoPro HERO 5 price at somewhere in the $450-550 range.

GoPro: Bobby Brown and the Karma Drone

GoPro HERO 5: What We Think Will Happen in 2016 

It’s clear that GoPro hit a rough patch in 2015. To counteract the dip, GoPro decided to cut out its entry level HERO cameras and trim its line down to the HERO 4 Session, Silver and Black. The decision to delay the release of the GoPro 5 and Karma Drone will most likely prove to be a smart move. Instead of pushing out more products into an already crowded market, the company is doing its homework and waiting to release products that will lead the industry. That’s no easy feat with the DJI Phantom 4 camera drone already on the shelves and a host of competitive action camera makers ready to jump on new customers.

Despite its challenges, we know GoPro will knock it out of the park this year with these two game-changing releases. Investors riding this dip in the market should just hang on to the roller coaster, and new GoPro investors should hop on before things take off once the GoPro Drone (Karma) and GoPro 5 hit the market. These products coupled with the new desktop software and content sharing capabilities will transform GoPro from an action sports camera maker into an action-adventure media company that sources all of its content from its fans. Its recent collaboration with Periscope is proof that the company is headed in that direction, and with the new software and sharing capabilities coming this year, GoPro is poised to reinvent itself in our increasingly connected world.

We asked our CEO & Design Director, Ryan Klinger, about the GoPro HERO 5 camera, the Karma Drone and what both mean for the future of GoWorx. Here’s what he had to say: 

"GoPro has been the leading source of inspiration for the GoWorx brand and team over the last 3 years. We look up to them as a role model for media and product innovation, as do many of the companies we support. We're anxiously awaiting the release of the GoPro HERO 5 and Karma Drone! I hope GoPro designed the camera and drone as one integrated but separable product system, and I have a hunch that the new HERO 5 design will share a similar form factor to the HERO4 Session. That would create the ultimate aerial, land and underwater camera device, and give GoPro back the competitive edge it once had. Aside from that, we're most excited about the HERO 5 and Karma Drone empowering content creators to effortlessly share their stories with new software and cloud-connectivity options from GoPro."

                                        - Ryan Klinger, CEO, Design Director of GoWorx

 

For more GoPro HERO 5  news and information on the GoPro Karma Drone, stay tuned to GoWorx, your source for the industry's leading GoPro, Drone and Mobile Gear. Learn more by checking out our selection of GoPro Accessories and Gear.