DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 13: Six Aspects
Naila Syifa
Updated September 2024
The 2024 flagship models from two top players in the action camera market are officially launched! DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 13 are poised to redefine the standards in the industry, but how they stack up against each other in terms of six key aspects: price, design, photo and video capabilities, audio, additional features, and battery life?
Key Takeaways
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro caters to adventure enthusiasts who prioritize ruggedness, low-light performance, and underwater features, while the GoPro Hero 13 appeals to content creators seeking higher resolution and flexibility with features like HB-Series Lenses and Bluetooth headset support.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
Rugged Action Camera
✓ 4K Video + 40 MP Photo
✓ 1/1.3” CMOS Sensor
✓ Dual OLED Touchscreen
✓ Air Pressure and Water Pressure Gauge
GoPro Hero 13 Black
Versatile Action Camera
✓ 5.3K Video + 27 MP Photo
✓ 8:7 Aspect Ratio
✓ GPS + Data Overlay
✓ Combine with HB-Series Lenses
#1 Price
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 13 aren't so far apart in price, but the Hero 13 is slightly more expensive at US$399 compared to the Osmo Action 5 Pro at US$349.
#2 Design & Display
GoPro Hero 13
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 13 are quite similar in terms of shape, design, and ruggedness. They both are compact and are compatible with a range of accessories and mounts, though they have slightly different mounting systems.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro primarily uses a magnetic mounting system. The included Quick-Release Adapter Mount attaches to the camera magnetically and connects it to various mounts and accessories. Magnetic attachment makes it easy to quickly attach and detach the camera.
GoPro Hero 13 has a similar magnetic adapter known as the Magnetic Latch Mount, but it is a separate accessory. The primary mounting system for the GoPro Hero 13 is the built-in mounting fingers and a 1/4-20 tripod thread, which aren't as convenient as the magnetic system on the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro but are reliably secure.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro stands out with a dual OLED touchscreen display, which is brighter and more vibrant than the standard LCD on the GoPro Hero 13. The display of the Osmo Action 5 Pro is also bigger – 1.46" front and 2.5" rear compared to 1.4" front and 2.27" rear.
On top of that, the front and rear display on the Osmo Action 5 Pro are both touchscreen while the Hero 13 only has a touchscreen display on the rear. The front display of the Hero 13 is only for framing and previewing.
They both are waterproof and can withstand cold temperatures, but the Osmo Action 5 Pro slightly does it better with a 20m waterproof depth without a housing and -20°C to 45°C operating temperature range compared to the GoPro Hero 13's 10m waterproof depth and -10°C to 35°C operating temperature range.
#3 Video & Photo
GoPro Hero 13
GoPro Hero 13 offers a higher maximum video resolution of 5.3K but a lower maximum photo resolution of 27 MP, compared to the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro with 4K video and 40 MP photo resolution.
GoPro Hero 13 stands out with a unique 8:7 aspect ratio, which captures in full frame and allows for more flexible cropping to different aspect ratios in post-processing, such as 16:9 for YouTube and 9:16 for TikTok. Meanwhile, the Osmo Action 5 Pro captures in the more common 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio.
The maximum field of view of both cameras is nearly comparable – 155° for DJI and 156° for GoPro. However, GoPro Hero 13 can be used with an Ultra Wide Lens Mod, which will expand the camera's field of view to 177°.
Other than the Ultra Wide Lens Mod, there are other lens mods under the HB Series Lenses that can expand the capability of the Hero 13, including an Anamorphic Lens Mod for 21:9 cinematic aspect ratio, Macro Lens Mod for 4x closer focus, and ND Filters for easy motion blur.
While the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro has no additional lens mod options, it comes with a large 1/1.3” CMOS sensor and a 4nm high-performance chip that delivers superior low-light performance compared to the 1/1.9" CMOS on the Hero 13.
In addition, the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also supports 32x slow motion for 960 fps video capture at 1080p, which is higher than the 13x slow motion at 400 fps for 720p resolution on the GoPro Hero 13. The caveat is that the Osmo Action 5 Pro doesn't directly record at 960 fps. It interpolates the footage from lower frame rates to achieve the 32x slow-motion effect.
#4 Audio
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro with DJI Mic 2
The overall audio features of both cameras are similar, featuring 3 microphones, stereo audio support, wind noise reduction, and external microphone connectivity.
One unique feature that the GoPro Hero 13 offers is Audio Tuning, which allows users to choose between 'Standard' for true-to-life audio and 'Voice' for enhanced voice clarity.
GoPro Hero 13 also offers Bluetooth connectivity to a range of wireless microphones and headsets, including Apple AirPods, Samsung Galaxy Buds, to motorcycle headsets like Sena.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro only connects to the DJI Mic 2 via Bluetooth, but it supports a dual microphone connection and high 48 kHz quality audio recording, thanks to the DJI OsmoAudio connectivity ecosystem. You can also enable the Audio Backup to allow the built-in mic to record the ambient sounds simultaneously.
#5 Features
GoPro Hero 13
Other than the primary video, photo, and audio capabilities, both the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 13 offer a range of additional features worth considering. Some common features they share include voice control, built-in timecode function, live streaming, and webcam support.
Both also support GPS data capture (like speed, elevation, GPS position, and more), but the Hero 13 records these data on its own while the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro requires external compatible devices like DJI GPS Bluetooth Remote Controller, Apple Watch, or Garmin devices. The data can then be integrated into the footage using both cameras' editing apps – the GoPro Quik app or the DJI Mimo app.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro can also record altitude and underwater depth, thanks to its built-in Air Pressure and Water Pressure Gauge. This is very attractive for underwater activities, where you may want to monitor the depth of your dives and then overlay the data onto your footage.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro also has 47 GB internal storage along with optional external storage via a microSD card, while the GoPro Hero 13 has only microSD card storage without any built-in storage.
Another unique feature that the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro exclusively offers is subject tracking, which creates a dynamic video that follows a moving subject. However, don't imagine this to be similar to subject tracking in a gimbal camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, as the camera only tracks the subject within the frame, without physically panning or tilting to follow it.
Read also: DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Osmo Pocket 3
#6 Battery Life
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
The gap in battery capacity for both action cameras is not large, with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro having a 1950mAh battery as compared to the GoPro Hero 13 with a 1900mAh battery.
However, the difference in runtime is quite significant, with the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro offering up to 240 minutes of video recording time at 1080p/24 fps, while the GoPro Hero 13 only provides up to 163 minutes at 1080p/30 fps.
That means, the Osmo Action 5 Pro is rated for around 47% longer battery life than the GoPro Hero 13.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 13
Final Thoughts
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
Both the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and GoPro Hero 13 offer impressive features and capabilities, making them strong contenders in the action camera market. However, when it comes to choosing between the two, the decision ultimately depends on the specific needs and preferences of the user.
The Osmo Action 5 Pro's superior waterproofing, low-light performance, higher slow-motion capabilities, brighter OLED displays, and built-in altitude and depth gauge may appeal to adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, the GoPro Hero 13's unique 8:7 aspect ratio, expandable lens options, and Bluetooth connectivity to wireless audio accessories could be more attractive to filmmakers and content creators.
If you would like to read more about Action Camera, check out our other relevant guides here:
DJI Osmo Action 4 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 3 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs DJI Osmo Pocket 3
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs GoPro Hero 12
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 Ace Pro
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 X4
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro vs Insta360 X3
Author
Naila Syifa
Content Manager at Synced. She crafts insightful content on the latest trends in technology, consumer electronics, and smart home gadgets.
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