We have tested the GoPro Hero 9 Black, the camera that has it all | CNN

GoPro is back with another camera, this time it's the GoPro Hero9 Black.

It's a bit bigger than last year's Hero8 Black, has a longer battery life, and will soon have a new accessory - the Max Lens Mod, which improves stabilization and offers an ultra-wide field of view.

You won't have to wait long to get your hands on the new GoPro either.

It is available starting today for $ 449.99.

Or, if you pay $ 49.99 for a year of GoPro online service, you can get the camera for $ 349.98.

This GoPro subscription service will back up your photos and videos to the cloud with unlimited storage space.

It also offers replacements for a broken GoPro and gives you a discount of up to 50% on GoPro accessories.

The Max Lens Mod will cost $ 99.99, and it starts shipping in October.

So unfortunately we couldn't test it, but we've been using the Hero9 Black for the last week.

Two screens are better than one, right?

The GoPro Hero9 Black is the first GoPro to feature a 1.4-inch front color LCD screen that acts as a viewfinder.

The main screen on the back of the Hero9 Black also has improvements.

The GoPro has grown in size by 16%, now measuring 2.27 inches, compared to 1.95 inches on previous models.

The front display is incredibly useful as a viewfinder for lining up a shot, or simply as a means of seeing what settings you're using.

It is a very welcome addition to the GoPro line.

On the right side of the case is a cover that opens to reveal a USB-C port, the battery compartment, and the microSD card slot.

The back of the camera is mostly screen.

An indicator light in the upper left corner that helps you control it when it is on, charging or being used.

The left side of the case is where you will find the power / mode button.

Long press to turn the camera on or off.

Also use it to switch between shooting modes or go backwards when navigating the camera menus.

On the top of the GoPro is a capture button that you press to start or stop recording, or to capture a quick photo.

Pretty simple.

You can control the camera, its shooting modes, and adjust settings with the GoPro mobile app on your phone.

It is available for Android and iOS.

Alternatively, you can navigate the camera menu using the rear screen that functions as a touch screen.

There is a slight learning curve to navigate the interface.

It's not as sensitive as the screen on your smartphone or tablet, but not having to take out your phone every time you want to make an adjustment is convenient.

Like the Hero8 Black, the Hero9 Black also has mounts that fold down from the bottom of the case to quickly connect the camera to any GoPro-compatible mount.

The brackets eliminate the need for an additional housing, as in older models.

This is the first GoPro model we've tested with folding mounts, or "fingers," as GoPro refers to them, and it's brilliant.

Not having to worry about an additional accessory just so you can mount the camera on a tripod is a small, but useful feature.

With a larger screen and battery, the overall size of the Hero9 Black also increases.

It measures 71 x 55 x 33.6 millimeters and weighs 158 grams.

Compare those dimensions to the Hero8 Black, which measures 66.3 x 48.6 x 28.4 millimeters and weighs 126 grams, and you can see that the increase in size isn't drastic, but it is remarkable.

The important thing about this GoPro is the software

Where the GoPro Hero9 Black really shines is in its overall performance.

It features a 23.6-megapixel sensor, can record 5K video, can capture 20-megapixel still photos, and has a 1,720 mAh battery to extend the recording session.

However, there is much more to the Hero9 Black than its specifications.

Most of what makes the Hero9 Black attractive is a number of software features, each aimed at helping you capture the best possible shot or video.

For example, HyperSmooth 3.0 ensures that your videos are captured as if you were using a stand to provide a stable shot.

If you strap a Hero9 Black to your chest and wear it while riding your bike down a rocky trail, HyperSmooth 3.0 will eliminate most of the movement.

Although we didn't get a chance to ride a mountain bike, we did try HyperSmooth by running around the yard.

It does what it promises.

You lose about 10% of the shot due to clipping when using smoothing, but that's a small price to pay for usable footage.

Another feature keeps the horizon of your shots level.

There are, of course, more software features, like TimeWarp 3.0, that make it easy to get creative with

shots

, adjusting speeds, and adding audio.

Or HindSight, which helps keep the amount of recorded material to a minimum.

When you use HindSight mode, the camera will stay on and capture video, but it won't save the last 30 seconds unless you press the record button.

This is useful for when you are trying to catch yourself doing a trick, but don't want to record 45 minutes of attempts.

Instead, activate HindSight, then after successfully doing the trick, hit the record button on the camera to tell it to save the clip.

There is also a scheduling feature that allows you to schedule a time for the camera to turn on and take a photo, video, or start a

.

We tested it several times and it worked without a hitch until we scheduled a

night

to start in the middle of the night.

For whatever reason, whenever we scheduled it to start recording around midnight it just didn't turn on.

We woke up the next morning and nothing was captured.

We have been working with GoPro to find out why we are seeing such a strange problem and will update this review with what we learn.

However, whether it's a still photo we captured or a 5K video of kids playing in a car on a long road trip, the photo and video quality of the GoPro Hero9 Black looks great.

We don't have a Hero8 Black to compare the battery life between the two cameras, but we were able to record more than an hour of video on a full battery.

You can also use it as a webcam

Perhaps our favorite feature is the fact that you can use the Hero9 Black as a webcam.

The software to make this happen currently only works on a Mac. GoPro is working on a Windows application that enables the capability.

We used the Hero9 Black as a webcam for a long list of Zoom and Google Meet calls over the last week.

We found it to be a great upgrade over the webcam built into an older 27-inch Apple iMac.

Not only was the shot clearer and not as grainy, but the wide-angle lens allows more of your surroundings to come into the shot, and it just looks great.

The software allows you to switch from wide angle, narrow or linear views.

To be clear, the GoPro Hero9 Black is not worth buying solely to use as a webcam.

For those who buy one and are looking for more ways to get use of it, however, there is the added bonus of being able to use it for a Zoom call, which is one we can't praise highly enough.

conclusion

The GoPro Hero9 Black is so much more camera than we'll ever need, and that's what makes it so fun and exciting.

Sure, it's marketed towards cliff jumping people and out or airplanes.

Those folks will be more than happy with the wide range of features the Hero9 Black has to offer.

But for someone who doesn't do all of that, and instead wants a camera that helps capture unique moments, or use it as a webcam, it's worth it.

You can order the Hero9 Black today for $ 449.98, or subscribe to GoPro's subscription service and save $ 50 in the process by getting the Hero9 Black for $ 349.98.

Other CNN Underscored tests: 

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Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.