Just in time for the winter sports season, GoPro just released an updated remote designed to help you control the company’s action cameras even when they’re far away or mounted somewhere hard to reach.
From $ 80, the new Remote costs the same as its predecessor, the smart remote control, while offering an updated design with an even larger front recording button, a larger screen and most importantly, compatibility with GoPro’s most recent line of Hero 9, Hero 8, and Max cameras (connectivity for the old Smart Remote stops at the Hero 8 / Max lines).
In combination with a GoPro camera, the remote can control all standard camera settings, including presets, shutter speed, ISO and more. In addition, the remote can be paired with up to five different GoPros at the same time, while the included wrist strap should make it easy to follow the remote even in the center of the action.
However, another notable change is that because the new remote relies on Bluetooth Low Energy for connectivity and to deliver optimal battery life, it actually has a shorter range than the old smart remote, up to a maximum of 60 meters (just under 200 feet) compared to a range of 180 meters (600 feet) for the older Smart Remote.
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Additionally, while the new remote comes with a water resistance rating of up to five meters (16 feet), that’s again significantly less than the Smart Remote’s 10 meters (33 feet) water resistance. T.The new remote can be paired with up to five devices at once, but the old Smart Remote can be paired with up to 50 cameras at the same time.
For owners with a GoPro Hero 8 camera or older, this makes the upgrade path a little less clear, as you can either choose the new remote with its updated design and larger display, or use the older Smart Remote to greater range, better water resistance, and more support for simultaneous connections (although you’ll have to trade off when it comes to battery life). IIf you have a new Hero 9, in addition to using the GoPro app on a mobile device, your only other off-camera control option is the new remote.
GoPro also brings one firmware update (version 1.5) for the Hero 9 Black, Hero 8 Black and Max cameras. On the Hero 9 Black, that update 30% faster wireless data transfers to phones with the GoPro app (or 20% for the Max and 15% for the Hero 8 Black), improved GPS accuracy, a new slow-mo recording shortcut, better HyperSmooth 3.0 performance at cold weather, support for the Pro 3.5mm microphone adapter, and, of course, compatibility with the new remote control.
The new firmware updates are now available on the GoPro website, with the new Remote is also launching today in North America before being available in other markets sometime in February.