The GoPro Hero 9 was the action camera that put a color screen on the front — vlogging with a GoPro finally made sense. Gadgetping reviewed it back in 2022 — without ever printing the $399.99 price. Four years later it’s retired: GoPro’s own shop page is gone, EU Amazon shows it out of stock, and four newer generations plus a brand-new flagship line have shipped. Here’s what’s still on sale, what the 2022 review got wrong, and the six cameras that make sense in 2026, with real street prices.

GoPro Hero 9 (2026): What’s Still on Sale

The Hero 9 launched in September 2020 at $399.99 — first GoPro with 5K video (30fps), a front color display, removable lens cover, and HyperSmooth 3.0. For two years it went on every helmet, handlebar, and surfboard.

The new-stock picture:

So the honest answer: it’s a used-market camera now. New, you’re buying the HERO13 or above — and GoPro’s new top of line is one most people haven’t heard of.

The 2022 Review, Checked

A few corrections from re-reading:

One thing the 2022 post couldn’t have known: four generations shipped since (HERO10, 11, 12, 13) — and then no HERO 14. GoPro skipped the name and launched the MISSION 1 series in May 2026 as the new flagship line.

What to Actually Buy in 2026

Six options, all shipping in 2026:

GoPro HERO13 Black. The straightforward successor: 5.3K60 and 4K120, HyperSmooth 6.0, restored GPS, 27MP photos, HB-Series interchangeable lenses. Launched at $399.99 in 2024, now $379 at Amazon. If you like the GoPro formula, this is the one. Check the price on Amazon

GoPro MISSION 1. The May 2026 flagship that skipped the "HERO 14" name: 50MP 1-inch sensor, GoPro’s new GP3 processor, 8K30 and 4K120 OpenGate, 14-stop dynamic range, from $599 (MFT-mount ILS variant $699.99). For cinema-grade video that survives a duffel. Check the price on Amazon

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro. The value king: bigger 1/1.3-inch sensor, dramatically better low light, 4K120, 20m bare waterproofing, 47GB internal storage, roughly double the battery — for $319 ($349 list). PCMag’s Editors’ Choice and the 2026 value winner. Check the price on Amazon

Insta360 X5. The 360° pick: 8K30, 15m waterproof, 3-hour battery, replaceable lenses, shoot-first-frame-later. $549.99 list, $465 at Amazon. If your idea of an action camera is "be anywhere in the shot," this is it. Check the price on Amazon

Insta360 Ace Pro 2. The detail monster: 8K30 on a 1/1.3-inch sensor, AI editing, strong low light, ~$399. The pick for maximum resolution without 360°. Check the price on Amazon

GoPro LIT HERO. The 2025 entry model at $269.99: tiny, 4K60, built-in front torch, 10m bare. Reviews are fair — great pocket camera, but no in-camera stabilization and mediocre low light. Check the price on Amazon

Worth a one-liner: the GoPro MAX 2 (~$500) for 360° inside the GoPro ecosystem, the Akaso Brave 8 (~$150) for budget entry, and a used Hero 9 (~$200) as a durable crash camera.

How to Choose: Ecosystem, Low Light, and 360

• Ecosystem decides first. Already on GoPro mounts and Mods? The HERO13 keeps it all working — used Hero 9 owners move up without rebuying mounts.
• Low light decides between GoPro and DJI. The Action 5 Pro’s bigger sensor and ISO 51,000 night mode beat every GoPro from the Hero 8 through the Hero 13 in dim conditions. Daylight, they’re close.
• Battery and depth. DJI’s Action 5 Pro records ~2 hours at 4K60 and dives to 20m bare; the Hero 13 does ~1 hour and needs a case past 10m.
• 360 is a workflow, not a spec. X5 or MAX 2 footage needs reframing in the app — but you can never miss the shot.
• Subscription. GoPro’s subscription (cloud backup, replacement) is worth it if you lose cameras; DJI and Insta360 don’t need one.

What Owners Actually Say

The r/gopro 2026 thread: "My advice is always the same, buy the newest one you can afford… if it’s a Hero 9 or a Hero 13 you’re still going to end up with great video, just the Hero9 will age out quicker" — and the low-light gripe that pushed people to DJI: "no GoPro I’ve used has been good in low light. It’s my biggest gripe." The older Hero 9 thread: "Gopro 9 is really good still. That’s what I’ve been using for skiing up until Christmas." — though one long-time owner warns: "It was good when new, but I found out a common problem was the sound quality fell off with age."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you still buy the GoPro Hero 9 new in 2026?

Not from GoPro — its shop page is gone, EU Amazon shows it out of stock. US third-party offers run $204–242; used, $150–200.

Was the Hero 9 a good camera?

Yes — first 5K GoPro, first with a front display, and HyperSmooth 3.0 was class-leading. In 2026 it still shoots fine at 4K60, but its low light, battery life, and interface are a generation or two behind.

Why is there no HERO 14?

GoPro skipped the name — the May 2026 MISSION 1 series (50MP 1-inch sensor, 8K30 OpenGate, from $599) took the top of the lineup instead.

What’s the difference between a Hero 9 and the DJI Action 5 Pro?

The DJI: bigger sensor, better low light, double the depth, longer battery, 47GB inside — at a lower price. The GoPro wins on ecosystem, HB-Series lenses, and streaming maturity.

Do you need a GoPro subscription?

No — it’s optional cloud backup, app perks, and the no-questions replacement program. Every pick on this list shoots without one.

So the map: everyday action, the HERO13 Black at $379. Cinema-grade, the MISSION 1 at $599. Best value, the DJI Action 5 Pro at $319. 360°, the X5 at $465. First camera, the LIT HERO at $269. And the GoPro Hero 9 itself: the front-screen pioneer that defined action cameras for four years — now a ~$200 used camera that still out-hustles most of what people shoot with.

Over at Gadgetping we test gadgets from Amazon, AliExpress and Flipkart so you buy the right one — not the loudest one: real prices, real runtimes, owner consensus over the spec sheet. Back in 2022 this post pointed to our GoPro Hero 10 review — still a 2022 post, and next in line for the same upgrade. The rest of the lineup lives in our camera and video reviews.