So, the market leader for wearable action cameras is back with the latest version of its flagship model, the GoPro Hero 6 Black.

It’s ‘as you were’ on the outside - the Hero 6 Black looks exactly the same as the Hero 5 and thankfully will work with existing Hero mounts and accessories.

So what has changed? Quite a lot actually and it’s all under the hood. Here’s the lowdown on all the key features and improvements from the Hero 5.

GoPro Hero 6 Black: Recording Modes

Quicker at every resolution - that is the headline improvement of the GoPro Hero 6 Black. It can record 4K videos at up to 60fps, 2.7k videos at 120fps and 240fps slow motion at 1080p.

The Hero 5 is limited to 4k videos at 30fps. Those extra frames of the Hero 6 will create smoother looking videos - a sure-fire hit with those shooting fast-moving action sequences.

Frankly, we’d expect nothing less from GoPro, after all the Yi 4K+ action camera and new iPhones can shoot at those frame rates too.

These high-resolution, high-frame-rate HVEC codec videos are captured through GoPro’s own new GP1 processor chip. The new processor brings about other improvements too, which are highlighted below.

As for still images, users will be able to shoot in Raw format, which should make for more realistic images than before.

GoPro Hero 6 Black: QuikStories

Video footage can be analysed for automated edited QuikStories, cut to music. It’s a smart feature introduced in the Hero 5, that reduces those hours spent looking through footage to make edits.

GoPro says Quikstories has been improved in the Hero 6 Black. It is available through the GoPro App and has transfer speeds from camera to phone that are 3x faster than before.

GoPro Hero 6 Black: Other Features

GoPro claims the Hero 6 Black has the most advanced electronic image stabilisation of any GoPro camera. Gimbal quality stabilisation. That’s an exciting prospect and we’ll wait and see on that one.

A digital zoom has been introduced in order to get closer to the action, which is controlled by touch on the rear screen. Digital zoom will, of course, create videos with reduced image quality.

Connectivity is second to none. There is 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and support for voice command, all making for comprehensive hands-free operation. As before, GPS, accelerometer and a gyroscope all feature too.

Otherwise, the Hero 6 Black is fully waterproof down to 10m without housing.

GoPro Hero 6 Black: Pricing and Availability

The GoPro Hero 6 Black is available now for £499 from the GoPro store. That’s £100 more than the Hero 5.