Living with the GoPro Hero 8 Black: All the Pros and Cons after 3 Years of Use

I used my GoPro Hero 8 Black for nearly three years, and the following is my real-world experience with it. This isn’t a deep dive into every technical detail or feature. Instead, I’ll break down what I love about it and what frustrates me after living with this little action camera for so long.

Spoiler alert: It’s a solid action camera. But like anything, it’s not perfect.

Why I Bought the GoPro Hero 8 Black

My GoPro Hero 7 Black gave me a lot of headaches. When the Hero 8 came out, they promised better durability and usability, so I (reluctantly) decided to give it a shot.

Fast forward three years, and this thing has survived everything I’ve thrown at it. It’s been a true workhorse, and still, to this day, it looks almost brand new.

Pros and Cons of the GoPro Hero 8 Black

Here’s my honest take after years of use. The pros list is definitely longer, which says a lot about how reliable this camera is.

Pros

1. Much Better Build Quality Than Hero 7
GoPro really fixed the durability issues that plagued my Hero 7. My Hero 8 still looks almost brand new despite three years of use without a case. The buttons are still clicky, and the shell hasn’t cracked or scuffed badly.

2. Foldable Mounting Fingers (Built-In Mount)
One of my favorite features: the built-in folding mount at the bottom of the camera. No more extra housing just to mount it. It keeps the setup minimal and clean. They’re durable as well!

3. Compact Size
This camera is tiny, and I love that. It slips into a pocket easily, making it perfect for travel.

4. Image Stabilization (HyperSmooth)
The stabilization on this camera is amazing. It’s not as advanced as what it was on my GoPro Hero 11 Black, but it’s more than good enough. I’ve mounted this on my bike handlebars and still gotten smooth, steady footage without needing a gimble.

5. Tough Lens and Screen
The lens cover is still scratch-free after years of throwing this things into bags and pockets. Same for the rear touchscreen. It’s been exposed to keys, coins, and dust with no major scratches.

6. Responsive Rear Touchscreen
Even after three years, the touchscreen still works perfectly. It’s smooth and doesn’t lag when I tap or swipe.

7. Stealthy, All-Black Design
I love the matte black finish. It looks clean and professional. Great for shooting discreetly.

8. Overall Reliability
Unlike the Hero 7, my Hero 8 doesn’t crash constantly. It’s stable, dependable, and has never let me down during a big shoot (except when it overheats – we’ll talk about that later).

Cons

1. Very Similar to Hero 7 in Design
Other than the built-in mount, the Hero 8 looks almost identical to the Hero 7. At first, it felt like I was paying for the same camera with a few tweaks.

2. Front Screen is Basic
The front LCD is tiny and low-res, only good for showing settings. Competitors had full-color front screens back then, so GoPro felt a little behind.

3. Rear Screen Brightness Outdoors
The back screen works well, but outdoors in bright sunlight, it’s hard to see. Even at max brightness, it’s not great for framing shots on a sunny day.

4. Audio Quality is Poor
GoPro has never been good with onboard audio, and the Hero 8 is no exception. Everything just sounds muffled.

5. It’s Heavier Than You’d Expect
It’s small, but it’s dense. You feel the weight in a pocket or lightweight bag. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting.

6. Battery Life is Short
GoPro’s Achilles’ heel: battery life. Shooting in 4K, I get about 30 minutes per charge with the Hero 8. That’s fine for short clips but terrible for long recording sessions.

7. Overheating Issues
Shooting in 4K, especially on a hot day or through a car windshield, this camera gets hot really fast. I’ve had it shut off after 20–30 minutes because of heat. Super annoying when you realize half your footage didn’t record.

8. It Still Occasionally Freezes
Not often, but it does happen. Maybe once every few months, my Hero 8 will freeze, and I’ll have to pull the battery.