Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs. GoPro Hero 13: Who's the Winner?

Naila Syifa

Updated October 2024

The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and the GoPro Hero 13 are two of the most popular action cameras on the market today. Both offer impressive features and capabilities, but which one comes out on top? In this comparison, we'll take a deep dive into the specifications, performance, and overall value of these two powerhouse cameras to help you determine which one is the better choice for your needs.

Key Takeaways

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is the overall winner, thanks to its superior resolution, low-light imaging, ruggedness, and longer runtime. However, GoPro Hero 13 takes the lead when it comes to professional-grade video features and versatility, thanks to its interchangeable lens options.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Powerful Action Camera

✓ 8K Video + 50 MP Photo
✓ 1/1.3” Sensor
✓ Dual AI Chip
✓ Wind Guard

Buy on Amazon

GoPro Hero 13 Black

Endless Creative Possibilities

✓ 5.3K Video + 27 MP Photo
✓ 1/1.9” Sensor
✓ 10-Bit Log HLG HDR
✓ Combine with HB-Series Lenses

Buy on Amazon

Design

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and GoPro Hero 13 have a similar boxy, compact, and rugged design with waterproof housings that can withstand harsh outdoor conditions. The Ace Pro 2 has a slight superiority with its 12-meter waterproof rating, which is slightly higher than the 10-meter waterproofing of the Hero 13.

Ace Pro 2 can also withstand more extreme temperatures from -20°C to 45°C as compared to GoPro Hero 13 which can operate in temperatures from -10°C to 35°C.

On top of that, the Ace Pro 2 offers a larger, more flexible 2.5" flip touchscreen, which can be adjusted to face any direction. There is also a small 0.7" status-only display on the front, which can give additional information at a glance, like battery life and recording status.

Meanwhile, the GoPro Hero 13 has a 2.27" touchscreen on the rear and a smaller 1.4" non-touch front-facing screen to frame and preview selfies. While this dual LCD setup is convenient, the flippable screen of the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 offers more flexibility in camera positioning and framing.

Winner: Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Video & Photo

GoPro Hero 13

If we just look at the specs of both action cameras, the Ace Pro 2 seems to defeat the GoPro Hero 13 in terms of video and photo capabilities. It supports a very high maximum resolution of 8K/30 fps for videos and 50 MP for photos, has a large 1/1.3" image sensor that delivers superior low-light performance, and offers a slightly larger field of view at 157°.

In comparison, the GoPro Hero 13's resolution tops out at 5.3K/60fps for video and 27MP for photos, with a smaller 1/9" image sensor that struggles more in low-light conditions compared to the Ace Pro 2. The field of view maxes out at 156°, which is achievable when using the 8:7 aspect ratio.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2's superior imaging capabilities are due to the many advanced technologies it incorporates, from the upgraded 1/1.3" image sensor, Leica Summarit lens, to the dual AI chip (Pro Imaging Chip + 5nm AI Chip) it utilizes.

However, the GoPro Hero 13 has its own unique advantages that the Ace Pro 2 does not offer, such as a 10-bit color depth, GP-Log encoding with LUT, and HLG HDR support. These advanced video features give the GoPro Hero 13 an advantage for professional video production workflows.

GoPro Hero 13 also offers a suite of interchangeable lenses, which can expand its capabilities beyond the fixed lens of the Insta360 Ace Pro 2. Known as the HB-Series Lenses, the suite includes a Macro Lens Mod, Ultra Wide Lens Mod, Smart Motion Blur ND Filter 4-Pack, and Anamorphic Lens Mod, which are all available for separate purchase.

Therefore, the video and photo capabilities of the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and GoPro Hero 13 are both impressive in their own ways, with each camera offering unique advantages that may appeal to different users and use cases.

Winner: Tie

Audio

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Both action cameras offer 3 built-in microphones that can capture stereo audio with advanced noise-reduction capabilities. They also have a specialized Voice mode (or Voice Enhancement mode on the Ace Pro 2), which is optimized for capturing clear speech for dialogue-heavy content like vlogging and interviews.

One advantage that the Ace Pro 2 has over the Hero 13 is the integrated wind guard, which physically blocks wind noise from affecting the audio recording, providing cleaner and more stable audio capture in windy outdoor conditions.

If you want a more professional audio capture using an external microphone, both the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and GoPro Hero 13 provide support for external microphones using a mic adapter. If you don't want to carry an extra adapter, both cameras also support wireless audio recording via Bluetooth microphones and headsets.

Winner: Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Features

GoPro Hero 13

Both the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and GoPro Hero 13 have a timecode feature for synchronizing multiple cameras during post-production and a companion app for camera control and editing.

The Insta360 app stands out with a range of AI features that make it easy to produce creative and compelling videos. For example, the AI Highlight Assistant automatically identifies and stitches together the best moments from your footage. GoPro has a similar Automatic Highlight Videos feature, but it requires a subscription.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 also offers both voice control and gesture control for hands-free operation, while the GoPro Hero 13 is limited to just voice control functionality.

However, GoPro Hero 13 offers a built-in GPS data capture, which then can be overlaid on your videos to showcase your adventures and activities, such as speed, elevation, and location. The Ace Pro 2 also supports data overlay, but it can't capture GPS data natively. It requires a compatible device like a smartphone, Garmin devices, or Apple watches.

Winner: Tie

Battery Life

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

GoPro Hero 13 has a larger 1900mAh battery capacity than the Ace Pro 2 with an 1800mAh battery, but it surprisingly has a shorter battery life, at least on paper.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 is rated for up to 180 minutes of runtime at 1080p/24 fps, while the GoPro Hero 13 can only manage up to 163 minutes of battery life at 1080p/30 fps. The actual runtime, however, may vary depending on the usage conditions and video settings.

The Ace Pro 2 also stands out with its reverse charging capability, which allows the camera to act as a backup power bank and charge other devices like smartphones when needed.

While the Hero 13 offers no reverse charging, it offers an optional power extension accessory known as Contacto Magnetic Door and Power Cable Kit, which allows for continuous power supply when shooting outdoors, such as for time-lapse or long recording sessions.

Winner: Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs. GoPro Hero 13

Final Thoughts

GoPro Hero 13

The Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and GoPro Hero 13 both offer impressive performance and features, making it a close competition between the two action cameras. While the Ace Pro 2 excels in areas like resolution, low-light imaging, waterproofing, and AI editing features, the Hero 13 counters with professional-level 10-bit color and log encoding support, interchangeable lens options, and built-in GPS data capture.

The winner ultimately depends on the specific needs and preferences of the user. If you prioritize video and photo quality, advanced imaging technologies, and creative AI-powered editing features, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 would be the better choice. However, if you require more professional video capabilities and flexibility with interchangeable lenses, then the GoPro Hero 13 may be the more suitable option.

If you would like to read more about Action Camera, check out our other relevant guides here:

Insta360 Ace Pro vs Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs Insta360 X4

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs Insta360 X3

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs GoPro Hero 12

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs DJI Osmo Action 4

Insta360 Ace Pro 2 vs DJI Osmo Pocket 3

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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