GoPro HERO10 Extended Battery Mode

The GoPro HERO10 Black now has a new Extended Battery mode as part of the Video Performance Mode update. Here’s what it does and when to use it.

GoPro HERO10 Black Video Performance Modes - Extended Battery Mode
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Filed Under: GoPro Tips & Tricks

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The GoPro HERO10 Black gets hot and goes through the battery quickly. Plenty of users have been vocal in their disappointment in both aspects (including me).

And since the camera’s launch in the fall of 2021, GoPro has tried to address these issues in a two-track way: with hardware and software.

Firstly, they’ve just released a new high-performance battery that GoPro claims has much better performance in very cold conditions, slightly better performance in “normal” conditions, and faster charging. At the time of writing, the Enduro battery has only just become available, and I haven’t yet had a chance to try it out to see much of an improvement it is in real-world shooting.

For the software track, GoPro has released a new firmware update. 1 It includes some new Video Performance Modes. To reduce the risk of overheating when shooting in conditions with limited airflow around the camera, there’s a new Video/Stationary Video mode. And to tackle the short battery life, there’s a new Extended Battery mode.

In practice, both the Extended Battery and Tripod/Stationary Video modes offer a limited number of resolution/framerate combinations, lower bitrates, and the disabling of some features.

Lower bitrate video tends to consume less processing power and places less demands (and heat) on the transfer of data from camera to SD card. So by using these rather than the full high-bitrate modes of the Maximum Video Performance category, users should see fewer overheating issues and get longer battery life.

RELATED: I’ve put together a separate guide on how to maximize GoPro HERO10 Battery life.

What is Extended Battery Mode?

The main thing about the Extended Battery mode is that it reduces the video bitrate and offers a pared-down selection of resolution/framerate combinations. So it won’t give you the option of using the most power-hungry settings (you can switch to Maximum Video Performance mode for that).

GoPro HERO10 Black Extended Battery Mode Availability Chart

These are the resolution/framerate combinations that are available on the HERO10 Black when using Extended Battery mode. The numbers denote the video bitrate in Mbps (using HEVC).

ResolutionFramerateExtended Battery
5.3K3060
2560
4K6060
5060
3045
2545
2.7K6045
5045
2.7K4:36060
5060
1080p12045
10045
6045
5045
3034
2534

How to Turn on Extended Battery Mode

There are two ways to turn on Extended Battery Mode.

On the Camera:

  • On the HERO10’s back screen, swipe down to get the dashboard. The bottom-left icon represents the Video Performance Modes. A lightning bolt icon represents the Maximum Video Performance Mode. A battery icon represents the Extended Battery mode. And a camera on a tripod represents the Tripod/Stationary Video mode. If you click on that icon, you’ll get the Video Performance Modes menu.
  • Use the slider at right to choose which Video Performance Mode to use.
GoPro HERO10 Black Video Performance Modes - Extended Battery Mode

On the GoPro Quik Mobile App:

  • Put the app into video recording mode.
  • Click on the wrench icon at the top right of the screen to open Camera Preferences.
  • Scroll down to Video Performance Mode.

Things Worth Knowing

  • The Video Performance Modes were added with firmware v.1.16. If you’re not seeing them, make sure you’re updated your HERO10’s firmware to at least 1.16 (but definitely skip 1.15!).
  • When you’re using Extended Battery mode, you’ll see the video icon change to alert you.
  1. Technically, there have been two firmware updates. But v1.15 was botched, and caused a range of show-stopping problems. So it was quickly recalled and replaced with v.1.16, which is the one I’m referring to here.[]

New Model: GoPro HERO12 Black

Released in September 2023, the HERO12 Black is GoPro's newest model.

GoPro HERO12 Black
  • 5.3K60 / 4K120 / 2.7K240 Video
  • 27MP Photos
  • Waterproof to 33ft/10m
  • HyperSmooth 6.0 Stabilization
  • Shoot 5.3K60 & 4K120 video at up to 120Mbps bitrate
  • HDR video up to 5.3K30
  • Horizon Lock keeps level even during movement
  • Take 27MP photos (5568 x 4872 pixels)
  • 1/1.9" CMOS sensor
  • Waterproof to 33ft / 10m, so you can take it swimming, paddling, surfing, or snorkeling without a separate housing
  • Built-in mount point
  • HyperSmooth 6.0 In-camera Video Stabilization creates smooth video without a gimbal
  • Shoot up to 8x slow motion
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David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my travel photography here. I've been shooting with GoPros for years, starting with the HD HERO, and have owned and used every model since. More »

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