Upcoming GoPro releases in 2024 - "ENTRY", Hero13 & MAX2

EspenB

GoPro presented their Q1, 2023 earnings call (nothing to write home about - GoPro does not expect to go positive until 2025), but some further product announcements was given:

Due to longer than expected developement times:

a new "entry level" camera has been pushed from Q2 to Q3 this year. "Different type of camera."
a new 360 camera MAX2 will push to late in Q4.

A new flagship Hero camera (NOTE: Hero 13?) remains on track for a release later this year (NOTE: Usually late sept/early october). "The new Hero will have amazing new features and capabilities."

The current MAX is rather old by todays standards (2019), and have not received a firmware update in 3,5 years (last was december 2020)! Claims was made about the Max2 being competitive in the market when it finally launches.

EspenB

"ENTRY"

Looks like heatsink to address the overheating issues.
Slightly smaller form-factor as evidenced by the protruding lens cover and mounting fingers.
Waterproof only down to 5m (10m on HERO12)
Looks like 4K firmware cap from the product description.
Retains non-replaceable battery maybe? ”Plug HERO in to charge” per the description. Picture of package contents doesn’t show a battery … Protective sleeve shows a small cutout only big enough for a USB-C door.
Smaller sensor than HERO12? The actual lens looks smaller than on the HERO12.
No tripod 3/4” mount between fingers. Not compatible with new magnetic latch mount.
Now ships with USB-C to USB-C cable for the first time

EspenB

Personally I find it unlikely that the "ENTRY" will have a smaller sensor than the current 1/1.3".

There is some rumour that the Hero13 will move up to a 1/1.7". (Found in DJI Action 4.)

EspenB

Apparently some leaked Hero13 photos.

New: Stolen the DJI Magnetic mounting system. Added a "macro lens" and protective frame as accessories.

EspenB

Hero 13 = new battery form factor with more capacity. New charger with 4 charge levels.

EspenB

Hero 13 with new MACRO diopter mounted. Form factor does not appear to have changed that much, some heat sink stuff under the lens. New bezel for front LCD wich incorporates logo.

Release date: September 16?

Usually DJI launched their Action series in august to beat GoPro by a few weeks. But not this time it seems.

EspenB

NB: Leaked images are for some reason stretched out horizontally.

EspenB

GopPro has confirmed the Hero13 release for September 4.

Which is quite early for GoPro.

Currently there is also a lot of leaks for the DJI Action 5 Pro.

EspenB

PotatoJet seems to be the first out with his preview:

EspenB

Gemini Connect:

EspenB

Last year the Hero 12 was a Hero 11 with firmware enhancements. And no GPS.

This year the Hero 13 is the same sensor and GP2 processor yet again with a new battery and a lot of expensive new add ons. Mostly fluff. And suprise the GPS is back with the new bigger battery. So they removed the GPS just to save power (it was always on in the hardware). Bad engineering. And the road to incremental updates yet again.

Hopefully the DJI Action 5 will deliver some actual image enhancements.

EspenB

EspenB

The fluff:

Vitaliy_Kiselev

Nice, thanks for organizing info.

EspenB

EspenB

Hero13 is basically a Hero11/12 yet again with some minor hardware changes and new firmware and accessories.

Makes me wonder if DJI really has managed to pull off a new and improved sensor and IQ.

Get Hypoxic teardown:

https://gethypoxic.com/blogs/technical/gopro-hero13-black-teardown

In my opinion, GoPro again made it clear that they do not care about the environment with this product launch. Providing firmware updates to their existing products while keeping this product in R&D until the new sensor was completed would have hit the market better. I feel most people who don't encounter thermal issues, are going to wait for the GoPro HERO14 and the new sensor.

Besides the battery, wifi, and hall effect sensors, this is the same as the GoPro HERO11! GoPro loves to sell the same camera year after year with only software changes. Check out our GoPro Camera Database if you like to see this for yourself.

EspenB

Wireless MIC update:

So last year it was clear that the Hero 12 only supported the BT Handset mode and thus refused to connect to i.e. the new DJI Mic 2 transmitter. This year however the Hero 13 supports the BT Audio mode and can actually connect to the DJI Mic 2.

These endless incremental updates is just insane IMO.

PauloTeixeira

Was able to borrow someone's Hero13 Black at an event.

5.3K HLG HDR. Wasn't able to shoot in HDR with 60p so I was stuck with 30p. Everything was fully auto.

Waiting to see how the new Insta360 Ace Pro will be. According to a leaked image, it seams like it'll have interchangeable lenses like the Goro Hero13. Hopefully it gets 10 bit as well.

EspenB

From the Q2 earnings call published on august 6:

Yet another delay for the new 360 degree camera, which is now pushed to 2025.

Total failure of GP.

Insta360 and DJI will eat GoPro for lunch.

EspenB

So with GoPros recent 360 failure with the Max2, DJI is about to announce their first 360 camera soon.

Alas, the more I think about it the recent Max2 delays is probably caused by the underperforming GP2 chip. I guess nothing new will surface until the GP3 SOC is ready for production.

EspenB

https://community.gopro.com/s/article/Quik-Mac-Info-Troubleshooting?language=en_US

GoPro is shifting gears to focus solely on mobile-focused editing solutions that serve the on-the-go GoPro lifestyle. As part of this plan, we’re discontinuing the Quik Desktop applications to prioritize our mobile apps, which provide powerful yet simple editing tools across iOS and Android mobile devices and tablets.

Quik Desktop for Mac will be removed from the App Store on Dec. 31, and a Windows version will not be released.

https://investor.gopro.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2024/GoPro-Announces-Third-Quarter-Results/default.aspx

Q3 2024 Financial Results Revenue was $259 million, down 12% year-over-year.

"While 2024 has been a challenging year for GoPro, the consumer digital imaging market is growing, and we believe our product roadmap will enable us to grow with it. And we believe our reduced operating expenses in 2025 to approximately $250 million will position us to pursue this growth opportunity as a profitable company," said Nicholas Woodman, GoPro's founder and CEO.

https://s21.q4cdn.com/291350743/files/doc_financials/2024/q3/Q3-2024-Management-Commentary.pdf

To better position ourselves to participate in this growth as a profitable company in 2025 and beyond, we’ve taken a more aggressive approach to reduce 2025 operating expenses significantly below what we shared on our last earnings call. We are now targeting 2025 operating expenses of $250 million +/- $5 million, a reduction of approximately $110 million from 2024 assuming the midpoint of our operating expense guidance range.

I want to be clear that we are not cutting our way to profitability. We are changing our approach to operate in a leaner, more focused manner that we believe will be sustainable and strategic for long-term success and improved financial performance. We are reducing our operating expenses to the lowest level since before going public, while pursuing a product roadmap we believe will drive innovation, differentiation and growth.

Our expectation is for unit sales in 2024 to be approximately 2.45 million and revenue of approximately $800 million, or down 20% from the prior year.

We expect our operating expenses to be between $245 million and $255 million as a result of the 26% reduction in headcount and other expense reductions taken in 2024. This represents an annual reduction of $110 million from the midpoint of projected 2024 spending and represents the lowest level of operating expense since before becoming a publicly listed company. In addition, our expectation for the first quarter of 2025 is an operating expense level of approximately $60 million, or down nearly 30% year-over-year. We believe this annual level of spending enables us to pursue a diversified and innovative roadmap that we believe will extend GoPro’s leadership in the markets we serve and restore unit and revenue growth in 2026.

EspenB

A lot was said about protection GoPros IP this year and in the earnings call there was a statement about GoPro suing one of their main competitors for patent infringement. The company was not named in the call, but it was previously known that the company sued by GoPro is "Insta360" (Shenzhen Arashi Vision).

https://technode.com/2024/04/03/gopro-files-complaint-against-insta360-for-alleged-patent-infringement-report/

"GoPro is seeking intervention from USITC to investigate and prevent the sale of the disputed products in the US."

By the end of 2021 Insta 360 held 41 per cent of the 360-camera market, while Ricoh at 22 per cent and GoPro with 19 per cent.

As the current GoPro Max is really dated by now (issued in 2019), these number is likely to have increased by a big amount by 2024 in favour of Insta360.

If you can't make your own 360 camera a success surely the way is to sue others...

https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-trade-panel-probe-gopros-claims-that-chinese-firm-violated-its-patents-2024-05-01/

GoPro's complaint said Insta360's products, which include action and 360-degree cameras and systems and associated mounting systems and frame, infringe GoPro patents for the "novel and proprietary SuperView, virtual lens, HyperSmooth, and Horizon Leveling technology" used in its HERO and MAX lines.

https://petapixel.com/2024/05/06/gopro-says-insta360-violated-its-patents-and-the-us-is-taking-notice/

“As the holder of numerous patents worldwide, we want you to know that Insta360 has great respect for IP laws and regulations,” the company tells PetaPixel.

“We’re confident that this matter will be resolved in our favor. There will be no impact on current business operations. We remain committed to creating innovative products for the world and helping people capture and share their lives.”

As well it's know that GoPro has their own patent issues regarding the so called Contour patents for Live View to phone during recording etc , which is still on going. https://ipwatchdog.com/2024/09/09/gopro-bid-invalidate-pov-camera-claims-abstract-shut-cafc/id=181036/

EspenB

So far the case GoPro vs Insta 360 patent case is still OPEN. So any possible ban on importing Insta360 products into the US is not in effect as of this writing.

REF Documents: https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/52908182/GoPro,_Inc_v_Arashi_Vision_Inc_et_al

The last update on documents of the case was Tuesday, November 05, 2024.

REF: https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/California%20Central%20District%20Court/case/8:24-cv-00681

Current status: OPEN

From the earnings call Woodman stated that conclusion in the IP case will not happen until 2025.

"The ideal outcome is that Insta360 products can not be sold in the US."

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