While the batteries for these models are mostly compatible with the HERO8 Black, there are some considerations to factor in. I’ve put together a more detailed post on GoPro HERO8 Black batteries.
GoPro Deals
- âž™ HERO11 Black: $399 @ GoPro.com
- âž™ HERO11 Black + Accessories Bundle: $449 @ GoPro.com
- âž™ HERO11 Black Creator Edition: $579 @ GoPro.com
GoPros have never had particularly good battery life. I’ve found the HERO6 Black and HERO5 Black to have marginally improved battery life over the HERO4 Black, but you’re still lucky if you get two hours of shooting. Depending on what settings you’re using, it might end up being a lot less.
It is possible to attach a long-life battery. It’s also possible to connect an external battery pack or battery hand grip via USB and use that as external power. But those setups can become pretty unwieldy, and they aren’t waterproof because it means having one of the access doors open to reach the USB-C port.
It’s much easier to manage the GoPro’s battery life with spare batteries and external chargers. It means you can be charging one or more batteries while still using the camera rather than sitting around twiddling your thumbs waiting for it to charge.
Here’s a rundown of the options for picking up some spare batteries or external chargers for the HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO (2018).
The HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO (2018) all use removable batteries, so the information here applies to all of those models. The HERO7 Silver and HERO7 White both have hardwired internal batteries that aren’t removable, so it doesn’t apply to those two models (or to the various Session cameras; they also have non-removable batteries).
Official GoPro Chargers and Batteries
Individual Batteries
- 1220mAh lithium ion rechargeable battery
- Use as a spare or replacement battery for your for HERO7 black, HERO6 black, HERO5 black or HERO (2018)
GoPro has their own branded batteries and chargers. They work well, and they’re also higher priced than other options. But if you’re after the officially supported option, this is it.
The latest version of this, brought out at the same time as the HERO8 Black, has a pale blue baseplate. Older versions are all black. But this newer version can still be used in the previous models (NB: with the HERO5 Black and HERO (2018), make sure that the camera’s firmware is up-to-date first).
You can pick up batteries, and if you’re just looking to replace a battery that might be the way to go. But without an external charger you’ll have to charge it in the camera, which reduces somewhat the advantage of having a spare battery.
The batteries are made in several countries, including China and Vietnam.
You can find them at Amazon, directly from GoPro.com, or B&H Photo.
Tip: GoPro offers 50% off many of their accessories through their online store with the PLUS subscription. The discount applies to batteries and the dual battery charger. There’s a 30-day free trial and then the subscription renews at $4.99 each month (a bit cheaper if you pay the year in advance). You also get some other neat perks with PLUS; you can more details here. But for me, I’ve found that just the discount on accessories has paid for the membership fee many times over.
Dual Charger with Battery
- Conveniently charges 2 HERO6 Black or HERO5 Black camera batteries simultaneously
- Charges via any USB port; For faster charging, use with GoPro supercharger (international dual port...
This is GoPro’s cradle for charging one or two batteries at a time. You can find it bundled with a battery or as just the charger alone. It has an input for a USB-C cable. It’s also fully compatible with GoPro’s new rapid charger.
You can find them at Amazon, B&H Photo, and GoPro.com.
SuperCharger
- The compact design of Supercharger lets you take it everywhere
- The 27.5W Supercharger USB C port charges fast charge compatible GoPro devices up to 20 to 70 percent...
This is GoPro’s fast charger, and GoPro claims that it will charge the compatible cameras up to 20% faster than using a conventional charger. If you plug it into the GoPro Dual Battery Charger, you’ll reportedly get up to 45% faster. And it will also charge the Karma Grip stabilizer.
The current list of GoPro cameras and accessories compatible with its fast charging is: Fusion, HERO8 Black, HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black,HERO (2018),HERO5 Session, Dual Battery Charger (HERO8 Black, HERO7 Black/HERO6 Black/HERO5 Black/HERO 2018), and Karma Grip.
It makes use of the USB-C connection to beef up the charge. Note that it’s not a cradle–it’s just a charger—so it can’t charge a battery by itself. You can either plug it into the camera or into GoPro’s cradle charger. It comes with interchangeable AC plugs for US, Europe, and Australia as well as a 1.5ft (0.45m) 3A USB-C to USB-C Cable.
You can find them at GoPro.com, Amazon, and B&H Photo.
Third-Party After-Market Batteries and Chargers
There are many third-party after-market batteries available for GoPros. Some are better than others. I’ve consistently had good results with batteries from Wasabi and Smatree but have also found others to work well.
But there is an important consideration when using after-market batteries. That is that it’s technically possible for GoPro to make the camera reject batteries from other manufacturers. They do it through a firmware tweak, and they’ve done it before. For now, though, GoPro seems to be playing nice with many of the after-market manufacturers, but that’s not guaranteed.
- Get extra power for your GoPro HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, HERO (2018 model)
- Rated at 3.85V, 1220mAh; Compatible with ALL FIRMWARE updates
On November 26, 2016, GoPro released firmware update v.01.55 for the HERO5 Black. The release notes were extremely vague: “Includes bug fixes and usability improvements.” What they don’t say is that one of the unannounced changes was that the camera now did a check on the battery, and if it’s not a GoPro-branded one the camera wouldn’t power up. That instantly made all of the non-GoPro branded batteries that were then available paperweights–the camera simply wouldn’t accept those batteries and power up.
In February 2017, Wasabi Power came out with a new version of their batteries (model number BTR-HERO5-JWP-03) that includes a new chip. They claim—even “guarantee”–that they will continue to work “with all future firmware updates” that GoPro puts out for the HERO5 Black.
While I have found no problems using these batteries in HERO5 Black cameras with firmware versions v.01.57 and v.01.55, I can’t independently corroborate the basis for Wasabi’s assurance of future compatibility. GoPro has a program that is specifically designed to assure compatibility–it’s called “Works with GoPro.” These batteries are not currently listed as part of that program. So it’s not clear to me what kind of arrangement they might have (or not have, as the case may be) with GoPro and on what basis they can promise future compatibility. A saving grace is that they’re relatively inexpensive.
In my experience, these Wasabi batteries work well with the current firmware, provide essentially identical battery life, and are priced (MSRP) competitively. But do make sure that you’re getting the specific model BTR-HERO5-JWP-03 batteries. Older versions still won’t work with the newer camera firmware.
Other brands, like this one, are also starting to pop up with their own branded batteries that also promise ongoing compatibility with future updates. At the time of writing, Smatree, another third-party battery brand I’ve had very good experiences with in the past, hasn’t yet released a new version of their batteries for the HERO5 Black. So for now, I’ve only tried the Wasabi ones. They’re available in various bundles:
Batteries for the HERO4 Black and Silver vs HERO7/6/5 Black
If you’re upgrading from the HERO4 Black and wondering whether you can use batteries from the HERO4 Black or Silver in the HERO7 Black, HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO (2018), the answer is no. The HERO4 batteries are different and can’t be used interchangeably.
The new GoPro HERO5 Black uses a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that’s rated at 1220 mAh (3.85V / 4.70Wh), which is a slightly higher rated capacity than the previous model (1160 mAh). It looks very similar to the ones for the HERO4, but the contacts are more towards the center of one side rather than near a corner. Like this:
I have a separate post on batteries and chargers for the HERO4 Black and Silver.
Related Posts
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The Latest Model: GoPro HERO11 Black
Released in the fall of 2022, the HERO11 is GoPro's current model. Well, actually two models.
First, there's the flagship Black that has all the bells and whistles and sets the standard for action cameras.
- Shoot 5.3K60 & 4K120 video at up to 120Mbps bitrate
- Take 27MP photos
- Waterproof to 33ft / 10m without a separate housing
- Built-in mount point
- HyperSmooth 5.0 In-camera Video Stabilization creates smooth video without a gimbal
- Shoot up to 8x slow motion
A couple of months later, they released Black Mini. It's smaller and shares many of the flagship models capabilities, but it's also stripped-down in important ways. For instance, it doesn't have a touchscreen, its battery isn't removable, and it shoots video only (so no photo mode).
- Shoot 5.3K60 & 4K120 video at up to 120Mbps bitrate
- Compact form factor
- Waterproof to 33ft / 10m without a separate housing
- 2x built-in mount point
- HyperSmooth 5.0 in-camera video stabilization
- Shoot up to 8x slow motion @ 2.7K
- Built-in battery
Thank You for this insight.
I use Go Pro type cameras from Qumox for several years for professional use on bridge structure inspections. We regarded them as a consumable item, use two or three times and then recycle them, as they are too battered to be reliable, after being out in all weathers in dirty environments and being roughly handled. We do not actually bin them, we canabalize them for other applications, always saving the batteries which were interchangable until last month when using a new V50 Pro from AKASO the battery for which is less than 1mm smaller, so the old batteries will not fit in the new kit….
We are in process of considering moving over to the real thing and battery issues are always an issue as we often record for 5-6 hours with either battery changes or powerbank supplies.
I need to buy my son a Hero 7 battery, but can’t find one. Is the Hero 5 and Hero 6 compatible the Hero 7 batteries?
Yes. Batteries for the HERO5 Black and HERO6 Black are compatible with the HERO7 Black. The battery for the HERO8 is slightly different, but it’s still backward compatible, so you can also use those in a HERO7. But you cannot use the new HERO9 battery in a HERO7.
I have the Hero 5 Black, Is there any benefit of purchasing the more expensive blue based battery over the original black battery.
No, not unless you plan to upgrade to the HERO8 Black sometime soon and want to use the batteries in that.
But if you do decide to get the new batteries for your HERO5 Black, make sure to update the firmware to v.2.70. That version added compatibility with the new batteries. And you’ll need to use the old battery to run the firmware update.
Hey, I just read your post. Thanks for putting it out there. I have a different experience/ response than some. My new Smartree batteries fit into my new Hero 8 black but… the camera will not power up. I just got them Jan 21 2020. I got them off Amazon. No- they do not have a blue bottom but the ad stated they would work. I hope this helps others with this frustration. RR
Thanks for letting us know. I’m in the process of testing out a bunch of third-party batteries with the HERO8 Black and will post the results shortly.
I recently purchased the dual charger that came with an extra batter (on brand) and my Hero8 displays message when I turn it to use a Hero8 battery to enable all the features. What the heck is that about?
Do the new batteries have a bright blue base? The newer versions have a bright blue base on them, whereas the older versions are all black. If they’re all black, you might have gotten old stock that hadn’t sold through yet.
Do you have any recommended third party batteries and charger for the Hero8? I have not found much information yet or a good recommendation for the Hero8. Most of what I have found is for older models and even though I’ve read older model batteries work in the 8, I’m curious if there is anything new out there. Thanks in advance!
Hello.
I’m new to this blog. I came here looking for information on external power blocks that could be plugged into the GoPro Hero 8 for extended recordings on my bike rides. I thought I’d chime in here to let y’all know there are such battery doors for the Hero 8. I just got one myself. It closes but has an opening at the bottom for the USB-C plug. I haven’t had a chance to verify if this will work well, but so far it’s promising.
link
Thanks for the tip! I’ve ordered one and will try it out and post results.
Hi Just got hero 8 black and am looking for some clear advise can I use fast charger 3.0 on camera to charge batterys internally that I use on my Samsung phone.
Many thanks
I haven’t tried this particular combination. I suspect it would be fine, but that’s not based on any first-hand experience.
Can you please tell me whether the HERO5 charger uses the same charger as the HERO8?
It’s the same charger (the official GoPro dual charger), but the batteries have been revised for the HERO8 Black. You can put in the older batteries and it will work, but you’ll get a warning on screen suggesting that you use the newer version of the battery and you might see a performance hit when using some of the high-end shooting and processing modes.
Hi, thanks for the great site. Lots of useful info. I’m wondering if you’re aware of a 3rd party battery door for the hero8 that has an opening for the charging port, so that the camera can be plugged in for extended shooting without the whole side being exposed. I can’t believe GoPro didn’t see the problems with this design. In the meantime, it seems like it shouldn’t be hard for a company to come out with a 3rd party solution as I described? What do you think? Would love to hear your opinion
Yes, I’m not a fan of the new door design either. The number of times I’ve almost lost the door as it gets flinged off when you undo it…. But no, I haven’t seen any third-party solutions yet. GoPro doesn’t seem to give much or any advance access to other accessory makers, so the aftermarket accessories often take a while to trickle out. But this seems like the kind of solution that they could be all over.
Hi!
Not about GoPro specifically but I feel worth mentioning that I live in the US and purchased two Wasabi batteries for my Fuji DSLR. Here they worked out great. However, when traveling overseas the only battery that survived being re-charged at 220-V was the on-brand, OG FujiFilm battery. I’m hesitant now to use a knock-off battery when traveling. For what it’s worth :-)
In relevant news, traded in my Hero 3+ for the new 8! The agency I work for has the 7 and it’s been amazing, so I’m looking forward to having my own rockin’ lil’ adventure cam :-D
Kris
THat’s useful feedback, thanks. I haven’t run into that issue myself, although I usually use switching chargers or USB sources. Enjoy the H8! I took delivery of mine yesterday and have been out shooting with them today.
I think I might know why they wouldn’t recharge. The included chargers for knockoff batteries almost always overcharge the batteries to about 4.3 volts per cell instead of 4.1, and that coupled with slightly lower battery quality may have broken them on the first charge. Maybe, maybe not, it’s just a thought. I and my brother bought some Artman batteries and took them scuba diving for a week with no failures (other than the warm Florida water causing the GoPro to overheat).
I have a Hero 2018. Looking at the released updates, there are none (yet). If I have a third party battery and a future new update renders it useless (I guess the risk isn’t that great, but just in case) could I manually revert the firmware to the previous update or even just reset the camera without losing or damaging anything? Thanks for your help!
Good question, but I don’t really have an answer because I’ve never tried going backwards with GoPro firmware updates (using customized firmware is different–I’ve done that). On some other camera brands/models it works, but on others the firmware process first checks that the “update” is in fact newer and will not allow going backwards. I’ve seen some reports of people successfully rolling back on earlier GoPro models, but I’m not sure how well that works with the newer firmware update process. One complication is that GoPro removes the old firmware versions online when they release a new firmware update, so you’d have to go digging to find the file and then do it manually. So I can’t say for sure whether or not it’s technically possible, but I wouldn’t necessarily be counting on being able to do it.
Is the Gopro Hero 6&5 battery usable in the Hero 7?
Yes. Same battery. I’ve been using them interchangeably without issues–original GoPro branded ones as well as aftermarket brands.
What can I use as an extended battery pack for my GP 7 white?
You can use a standard USB powerbrick, which is a cumbersome approach but works. You could also use something like the Wasabi Clutch, which is a combined handle and battery. The other side-by-side versions, like the first two I’ve written about here, won’t work with the HERO7 White or Silver because the USB-C socket is in a slightly different position on those models.
I have shortlisted the following for my hero 6 black. Pls suggest if they would work fine with it –
1. Sandisc 128 GB class 10 microSDXC memory card
2. RAVPower Camera battery charger set
It depends which model of memory card you mean. SanDisk has several cards that have the Class 10 marking on them, but I’d recommend going with one that also has V30, U3, or U1 on it as well and not one that only has Class 10. I have some specific recommendations here.
I’ve had good experiences with RAVPower products. I’m not sure what specific model you’re looking at, but so long as it’s marked as compatible with the HERO6 Black, I would expect it to work well (although I haven’t tried that specific combination).
This question is for a Hero 6 Black. You say that you have used the Wasabi batteries and they last as long as the OEM ones, but i see that the Wasabi are rated at 3.8V and the OEM at 4.4, am i missing something?.
Great post BTW, very informative
That was a typo–now fixed. They’re both 3.85V. Sorry for the confusion.
Any update on the subject?
I just bought a Hero 6 and I’m looking for extra batteries… As I travel on a motorcycle, a power pack wouldn’t be a good option to me.
Thanks!!
If you’re after an extended battery, I’ve recently posted [reviews of some new options}(https://havecamerawilltravel.com/gopro/extended-battery-gopro-hero6-black-hero5-black/) I’ve been trying out.
Hello,
I received the GOPRO black camera and dual battery charger while living in Canada. I have since moved to Europe.
Can I simply plug in the USB cord to the same usb plug I use for my iPad or do I need to adjust to the voltage in Europe. I’ve googled my question but I’m still not 100% if a voltage converter is necessary or not.
Cheers
Yes–no voltage converter needed.
Hi David,
I am away on vacation and have lost my hero 5 charger. The only USB cable I seem to be able to locate is a fast charge USB c by the company renal international. Would this be ok to charge my GoPro?
I don’t know that specific brand, but I’ve not run into any real compatibility issues with any of the USB-C cables I’ve tried with a GoPro. I haven’t found them to be as picky as some smartphones.
Here goes – going to be doing a marathon in a couple months. It will be a 5 guy relay and we’ll be pushing a wheelchair race cart. We want to capture this journey and have a hero 5 black we can use. What’s the best and lightest battery solution to cover us for apx 4 hours or so? That would be race and finish. May need more time as well – just don’t know yet.
If you plan to mount it on the cart itself, you have many more options. With that, you could add an external USB powerbank that will easily cover 4 or 5 hours at least. If it rains it won’t be weatherproof without some well-placed tape or jerry rigging, but it’s the cheapest and most flexible. Pretty much any powerbrick will work–it doesn’t need to be fancy–but if you’re looking for ideas, I recently posted some of my current favorites of various types.
If you plan to hand-hold or mount on the runners somehow, two good options come to mind to keep things highly portable. The first is a battery grip like this one. It’s not waterproof because you need to have the ports accessible on both the battery and the camera, but it is highly portable and from my own experience should easily cover the duration of the race. The second is a product that isn’t released yet but is expected to start shipping in early August–a Wasabi extended battery that attaches onto the back and side of the camera. You can find them here. I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks promising. An advantage of this one is that it can be waterproof if you add the optional waterproof case.
Hope this helps, and good luck in the race!
Thank you! Really appreciate the response.
Thank you for all of this info!
I just wanted to confirm what I’ve been reading.
Can I charge my hero 5 black battery in the camera by using my iPhone small plug , plugged into an outlet ??
J
Yes, so long as you use the USB-C cable.
Just got Hero 5 Black. Hoping to shoot extended (several weeks) 4K – 60 second time lapse of construction site. Wondering about power as batteries just won’t do. Is it possible to plug in the USB-C cable to some sort of an adapter that can go straight in to a wall plug? If so should the battery stay in the camera, will the camera over-heat, what sort of adapter? Any tips would be most appreciated.
I understand I’ll have to jerry-rig something to protect the open side door. Blu-tack maybe…
Also wondering about changing the cards. Do I shut everything down and start again or is there a ‘pause’ mode? I’ve got a bunch of 32 GB cards. One calculator I used said I should get about 3 days out of that – does that sound right?
Thanks muchly…
Yes, you can power it externally with any standard power source that outputs the 1A standard. That includes USB powerbricks and AC using a standard 1A adapter. A challenge with that is that to access the USB port you’ll need to open the door of the camera and expose it to the elements. So you’ll need to come up with some DIY solution to keep it waterproof (or away from water).
There’s no pause mode, but you can swap the card quickly between shots. How long the cards fill depends on what interval you’re using. There are also ways to extend both the duration and only shoot during daylight hours, both using an external scheduling intervalometer. I use and like the ones from Cam-Do but their models don’t work with the HERO5, unfortunately.
I also have a post on using GoPros for long-term timelapse, although some of the options it discusses won’t work on the HERO5 (such as the Cam-Do intervalometers).
An extended battery is coming from Wasabi Power.
https://www.bluenook.com/products/extended-battery-for-gopro-hero5-black
Thanks for the heads up. Looking forward to trying it out.
David, I read your aftermarket battery review for the GP 5 Black. It’s now 2017 and since the last writing is there any changes that prevent the camera working properly with the batteries you recommended?
I’ve just now tested the Wasabi ones with firmware version 02.00 and they’re working fine for me.
I’m looking at options for GoPro batteries for my upcoming vacation where I won’t have access to a power outlet for up to 12 hours at a time– would it be wise to charge 3 GoPro batteries before leaving my hotel in the mornings to swap out throughout the day, or will the battery drain even while not being used?
They won’t drain in that time, so that’s a good option. You could also take an external battery pack with you and change on the go, but it’s not really going to give you any advantage unless you need to charge overnight. The external battery adds weight and the it takes quite a while to charge the GoPro batteries in camera. You might also find this post useful–it has some tips for using a GoPro as an everyday travel camera.
I see in your post that the gopro dual charger has both usb-c and micro usb ports for charging.
But just about every place on the internet shopping I looked, they don’t say anything about the micro usb port and don’t have a photo showing that port.
Does it really have two ports or is that a mistake?
thanks
You’re right–that’s an error. It has one USB-C only. Thanks for letting me know–I’ve updated above.
Can you recommend several non GoPro chargers that will charge the battery of the GoPro 5 Black?
I’ve used a Wasabi and Smatree ones without running into issues, but given the combination of things that can go wrong with lithium batteries and GoPro’s efforts to lock down the HERO5 batteries and chargers, I’m reluctant to recommend them for now.
Hello, David! I’m distributing GoPro accessories in Ukraine for a while. Including batteries under TELESIN brand (that’s not and ad). So, this company has informed us today, that solution have been found. And their new batch manufactured in December supports new HERO5 firmware 01.55.
Of course, no guarantee of compatibility with any new updates in future (01.56 or whatever), it’s a potential risk for any 3rd party batteries.
Interesting. Thanks for the heads up–will be keeping an eye out.
Does anyone know if other chargers will charge official batteries?
I’ve been using Wasabi and Smatree ones without any issues, but GoPro naturally recommends you stick to their own chargers.
Ok this is good to know seeing as how I just ordered a HERO 5 BLACK. So just to confirm what you all are saying is that aftermarket batteries will not work with the camera?
Correct.
that sucks from gopro, it happen to me also, i was updating my gopro with the non original battery and it get stuck, i was thinking that the update broke the camera, because it get stuck in a bad way, but after that i try with the original battery and it work.
Non original batteries were an afordable option and the charger also was good.
now we need to just buy the gopro original batteries.
i have purchase 2 power extra batteries and i was not able to use it at all i just turn on my camera it ask me for update and that all haha.
now im returning the batteries.
Hi
I ran the update with a non original battery and it is now stuck on 1/2 arrow (camera logo) and a camera logo with a circle round it with and a bar across it.
So are you saying if I put an original gopro battery in it will complete the update and work?
thanks
Yes, I found out about the 1.55 Firmware on 11.26.16 I had a Wasabi in my Hero 5 Black and did the firmware update from IOS Capture. I thought I had “bricked” the Hero 5, I think the battery stopped working somewhere near the end of the FW update, I called GoPro and got in touch with tech support really fast, and she was helpful, but for some reason did not ask me about the battery I had installed, she put me on hold and then I put the original battery back into the Hero 5, it came back to life, I also checked the version and it displayed 1.55, but actually later after more charging the camera acted strange and when I looked at the little LCD on the front of the camera it was doing a 2 of 2 update still and then it went to a checkmark and it was finally finished. All seems ok now, but maybe GoPro should just warn people “DO NOT UPDATE YOUR CAMERA WITH AN AFTERMARKET BATTERY INSTALLED”. Luckily I purchased the Wasabi recently from Amazon and they are going back. I bet GoPro battery sales are doing very well now.
it happen the same to me man!! its really bad from gopro
The aftermarket batteries will no longer work with the new HERO5 firmware 01.55
Thanks for the heads up. I’ve just tested and confirmed and update above accordingly.