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How to Charge a GoPro Fusion

While charging GoPro batteries isn't complicated, the specific options vary from camera to camera. Here's a rundown of the charging and battery options for the GoPro Fusion.

GoPro Fusion Charging Light

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 10 months ago // Categories: Batteries & Charging
Tags: GoPro Fusion

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Charging GoPro camera batteries isn’t particularly complicated, but they don’t all do things the same way. There are several different battery models, and you have to make sure to get the one that’s compatible with the specific camera you’re using. Some GoPros have removable batteries, so you have the option of taking the battery out and charging it while you swap it out with another and keep filming. Others have a hard-wired internal battery, so the only option is to charge the camera directly. Some cameras work with fast charging through USB-C, while others use slower USB charging with micro-USB or mini-USB connections. So it’s not quite as simple as saying “just plug it in.”

I’ve provided a general overview to charging GoPros before, but here I’m focusing specifically on GoPro’s new 360° camera, the Fusion. Whether you’ve just picked one up or are thinking about getting one, hopefully this might be useful in laying out what the options are (and aren’t) for charging and powering the Fusion.

Charging the Battery in the Camera

The simplest way to charge the battery in a GoPro Fusion is to leave the battery in the camera and connect a power source to the camera. You’ll see a red light on the front of the camera light up while the camera is charging. It turns off when the battery is fully charged.

GoPro Fusion Charging Light

The Fusion comes with a USB-C cable, but it doesn’t come with an AC wall charger. I have more details on power sources below, but the short version is that most standard AC wall chargers will work, as will standard USB powerbricks. Chances are, you have something like that already on hand, so you can go ahead and use the wall adapter that you use to charge your phone.

But not every USB power source outputs the same power, which means that they won’t all charge the Fusion at the same speed. I have more information on that below.

Removing the Fusion’s Battery

Charging the battery in the camera is simple, but it’s not always the best option. And because the Fusion uses a removable battery, it opens up much more flexibility. You can quickly swap out a depleted battery for a fully charged spare and get right on shooting. Or you can load up multiple batteries if you’re heading off the grid.

GoPro Fusion Charging Battery

External Battery Chargers for the GoPro Fusion

There’s no way to connect a power source directly to the battery, so to charge it out of the camera you’re going to need an external charger cradle.

While the battery looks quite similar to the batteries for the HERO5 Black, HERO6 Black, and HERO (2018), there’s one important exception–it’s much bigger. That means that it won’t fit in the same external chargers that you can use for those other batteries.

GoPro Fusion Charging Battery Compared to HERO6 Black Battery

GoPro hasn’t released their own branded external charger for the Fusion’s battery, but several third-party manufacturers have jumped in to provide them. I’ve been using the ones from Wasabi Power and Smatree and found them to work well with GoPro-branded battery as well as the batteries by those manufacturers. There are also a number of other after-market versions from brands I haven’t heard of. Some probably work well, but it’s a case of buyer beware.

GoPro Fusion Batteries - Wasabi Power and Smatree

Spare Batteries for the GoPro Fusion

The battery for the Fusion is a 2620mAh lithium-ion battery. GoPro’s original model number for it is ASBBA-001.

GoPro Battery (Fusion) - Official GoPro Accessory
GoPro Battery (Fusion) - Official GoPro Accessory
Check Price on Amazon
If you’re looking for a spare, the safest option is to go with GoPro’s own branded battery. They’re backed by GoPro, after all, which is important for two reasons. Firstly, GoPro vouches for their quality. Secondly, they’re always going to be compatible with the camera. What I mean by that is that GoPro has the capability to block third-party batteries from working in the camera. They’ve done it before, with the HERO5 Black batteries, before apparently working out some arrangement with the third-party manufacturers. For now, after-market batteries seem to be working just fine in the Fusion–I’ve been using the Wasabi Power and Smatree ones–but it’s at least worth knowing that the possibility exists for GoPro to disable them at some later point.

The catch with going with GoPro’s own branded battery is that the after-market versions are usually less expensive. A number of different manufacturers have come out with replacement batteries for the Fusion, some of which you may have heard of, and some you probably I haven’t (I haven’t, at least). I’ve been using the ones from Wasabi Power and Smatree and found them to work well. You can also find them bundled with external chargers.

Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Dual USB Charger for GoPro Fusion and...
Wasabi Power Battery (2-Pack) and Dual USB Charger for GoPro Fusion and...
  • Includes 2 batteries and 1 dual USB charger for the GoPro Fusion or GoPro ASBBA-001
  • Each battery features 3.8V, 2710mAh (battery life or run-time) with grade A cells (battery lifespan or...
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Power Sources for Charging the GoPro Fusion

The Fusion comes with a USB-C cable, but it doesn’t come with an AC wall charger. But you can charge it with pretty much any USB power source. That said, some will work better than others in terms of how quickly they charge the battery. For the quickest charging, use a power source that outputs 5V 2.1A. You can use one with a lower power output, but the charging will take longer.

AC Wall Adapter. It doesn’t come with one. If you want to stick to GoPro’s officially recommended charger, you’ll want the GoPro SuperCharger. (Not to be confused with the older GoPro Wall Charger, which you can still find at some retailers–it will work, but it’s slower.)

You can also find other high-output chargers from other manufacturers, although I’ll include GoPro’s warning on using them:

WARNING: Using a wall charger other than a GoPro charging device can damage the GoPro camera battery and could result in fire or leakage. With the exception of the GoPro Supercharger (sold separately), only use chargers marked: Output 5V 1-3A. If you do not know the voltage and current of your charger, use the included USB cable to charge the camera from your computer.

If speed isn’t an issue, just about any standard AC Wall Adapter that you connect a USB cable to will work. Some will work better than others. There are a handful of AC wall adapters, particularly for some of the high-end smartphones and tablets, that have a higher output up to 3A. But they have a smart switching technology in them that will dial down to the safe limit for the device you’re charging.

USB External Battery. For a more mobile approach, you can use an external USB battery, sometimes also known as power bricks or power banks. Any will do, although again there is some variation in their output that will affect how quickly the Fusion’s battery will charge. Many power bricks output around 1.5A, but you can find some with higher outputs–they’re often advertised with something like a “quickcharge” feature or similar wording. Some of the newest ones also output USB-C (like this one (again, you’ll need a cable with type-C connectors on both ends)).

USB Hub. You can connect a USB hub, which allows you to connect multiple devices at once. They come in various configurations in terms of both the number of outputs and the output power. Some now have USB-C outputs (but for those you’ll need to get another cable that has a USB-C connection on both ends, not just the one, as the cable that comes with the camera does).

DC Car Charger. You can also charge using a USB car charger. Most standard car chargers have a relatively low output, but you can find some that have a higher output (like this one.

How Long Does it Take to Charge the Fusion’s Battery?

The amount of time it takes to charge the Fusion’s battery will depend on the method you’re using and the power source (and, of course, whether there was still any charge in the battery when you started).

With a standard wall charger, you can expect it to take around 3 1/2 hours. If you’re using a high-output charger like the SuperCharger, it takes around 2 hours.

Using External Power with the GoPro Fusion

It is possible to run the camera from external power, but the big thing you’ll want to watch for is that the USB-C plug and cable are very flush to the camera so that they don’t end up in the super-wide lens’s field of view. Removing the cover door helps too–it comes off easily. But removing the door–or just having it open with the cable connected–obviously means that the camera isn’t waterproof.

GoPro Fusion Charging AC Power

You can record while an external power source is connected, but the battery doesn’t charge during recording.

The exception is that if the Fusion is connected to a computer’s USB port, you can’t record at the same time.

Popular Accessories for the GoPro Fusion

Neewer 50-In-1 Action Camera Accessory Kit Compatible with GoPro Hero 9 8...
Neewer 50-In-1 Action Camera Accessory Kit Compatible with GoPro Hero 9 8...
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  • WRIST STRAP + CAR SUCTION CUP MOUNT: Wrist strap features 360° rotation and helps keep your camera safe...
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GoPro Battery (Fusion) - Official GoPro Accessory
GoPro Battery (Fusion) - Official GoPro Accessory
  • Rechargeable 2620mAh lithium-ion battery
  • Use as a spare or replacement battery for your fusion
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SanDisk 128GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter - C10, U3,...
SanDisk 128GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter - C10, U3,...
  • Up to 160MB/s read speeds to save time transferring high res images and 4K UHD videos (2); Requires...
  • Up to 90MB/s write speeds for fast shooting; Requires compatible devices capable of reaching such speeds
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Housing Case for Gopro Fusion Action Cameras, Splash Protection Shell with...
Housing Case for Gopro Fusion Action Cameras, Splash Protection Shell with...
  • 【APPLICABLE】The housing case for Gopro Fusion is designed for extreme sports such as surfing, skiing,...
  • 【SPLASH PROTECTION】The latch has been reinforced with screws,The latch has securely closed the door...
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SmilePowo 48-in-1 Accessories Kit for GoPro Hero 9 8 Max 7 6 5 4 3 3+ 2 1...
SmilePowo 48-in-1 Accessories Kit for GoPro Hero 9 8 Max 7 6 5 4 3 3+ 2 1...
  • 【Perfect for Vlog, skiing, cycling, canoe and more other high speed sports activities】: Wrist strap...
  • 【Black 360°Rotating Wrist Strap + Car Suction Cup Mount】: wrist strap features 360°rotation helps...
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Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2020-11-13 at 20:08. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

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By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on April 8, 2020

Categories: Batteries & Charging
Tags: GoPro Fusion

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GoPro News & Deals

New Smart Remote GoPro will be announcing the new Smart Remote for the HERO9 Black on December 17, 2020. The HERO9 Black isn’t compatible with the previous version of the Smart Remote.

HERO8 Black firmware v2.0 now available. Enables webcam mode; enables Display Mod compatibility; expands HyperSmooth 2.0 High and Boost availability to more video settings; general bug fixes. Update through the mobile app or manually.

GoPro Launches New Live Streaming Service for GoPro PLUS. GoPro has launched their own live-streaming platform for PLUS subscribers. It’s a pretty bare-bones offering for now, with livestreams shared with a dedicated URL. This is alongside their efforts to make the HERO8 Black useful as a webcam when connected to a computer (via USB plug-in-play, not requiring the Media Mod accessory with HDMI out). New firmware adds that functionality for Mac users, and the Windows version is in Beta.

New GoPro Zeus Mini Video Light. GoPro has released released a new video LED light designed to complement their GoPro cameras. It’s tiny, waterproof, and has a built-in magnetic swiveling clip. It’s waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters), has four levels of brightness, and includes a diffuser to cool the color temperature to 5000K. GoPro claims that the built-in battery lasts up to 6 hours (presumably at the lowest brightness setting, although they don’t specify). It’s available now and priced at $69.99.

DJI Osmo Action firmware update adds live streaming. DJI has released a firmware update for the Osmo Action (v. 01.08.00.10) that adds live streaming support, so you can upload directly to platforms like Facebook and YouTube (it goes through the DJI Mimo mobile app). They’ve also improved the in-camera video stabilization. You can find the new firmware here.

New Underwater Housing for GoPro HERO8 Black from Isotta. Isotta, an Italian brand specializing in underwater housings, has announced a new high-quality underwater housing for the HERO8 Black. It’s an aluminum housing depth-rated to 650 feet (200 meters), has a one-handed open/close switch, double o-rings, and can be used with filters. There’s also a dual-handled tray to go along with it. And like all their housings, it’s in their distinctive red. Priced at $450, it’s only for those who need a highly specialized piece of underwater kit. It’s available for preorder from underwater specialists Backscatter.

Light Mod Now Shipping The Light Mod, one of the three new GoPro accessories, is now shipping. It’s a standalone light that is waterproof, rechargeable and compatible with all GoPro mounts. It was originally announced along with the HERO8 Black, but it hasn’t been available until now. It’s priced at $49.99, and you can find them at GoPro.com.

GoPro MAX Now Shipping. The new 360° camera, the MAX, is now shipping.

GoPro HERO8 Black and Max Unveiled. The new GoPro cameras and accessories have been unveiled. I have a rundown of the highlights of the HERO8 Black here.

DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro HERO7 Black. I’ve posted my detailed hands-on comparison of the Osmo Action and the HERO7 Black. There’s a lot similar between the models, but once you start digging down into the details there are differences that can help in choosing between them. And each has strengths the other doesn’t have. You can find my review here.

GoPro HyperSmooth vs DJI RockSteady. The new DJI Osmo Action also has built-in electronic stabilization to smooth out video. They’re calling it RockSteady (GoPro has HyperSmooth). I’ve been out testing them side-by-side. You can see the results here.

GoPro Deals page. I’ve put together a dedicated page on GoPro deals. So if you’re looking for cheap GoPro deals, check it out.

DJI Osmo action 4K Camera. Best known for their camera drones, DJI has released a new 4K action cam that’s taking direct aim at the GoPro HERO7 Black. It shoots up to 4K60 video and 12MP stills, includes electronic stabilization, has high-dynamic range video at 4K30, voice commands, a touchscreen on the back and another smaller live view screen on the front, and is waterproof down to 36 feet (11 meters). It’s priced at $349, and they’re now available at B&H Photo.

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About Me

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

I’ve owned and used every GoPro since the HD HERO and particularly like finding new and different ways to use them to capture photos, video, and time-lapse.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com.

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