ROG Xbox Ally X20 review: Style over substance

7.7

Handheld gaming PCs are in a weird spot right now. Once a semi-affordable way to play PC games on the go, the AI-driven memory shortage has seen most devices skyrocket to prices you’d expect from gaming laptops. ROG’s latest handheld gaming PC, the limited-edition Xbox Ally X20, symbolises this recent trend.

On the surface, it’s a beautiful, flashy device. One that is far pricier than ROG’s previous entries. Complicating matters, however, is the fact that the X20 relies on legacy hardware. Despite the elevated price, it isn’t quite as powerful as more recent handheld gaming PCs.

There are some welcome improvements to the design, which add to the overall usability and comfort. Debuting OLED on an Ally is a nice touch, too. The X20 also includes some rather nice design flourishes, combining ROG’s industrial gamer aesthetic with some of Xbox’s signature branding.

Image: Chris Button.

So, what’s the value-add here? Is a fancy new screen and improved build quality worth $700 more than the previous model? Should you save money by going for the non-limited-edition version? Or should you spend an extra few hundred dollars on a device that delivers tangibly better gaming performance? These aren’t easy questions to answer because they wholly depend on where your priorities lie.

Among the uncertainties and ambiguities, the Xbox Ally X20 is an extremely eye-catching and streamlined handheld gaming PC, even if its output doesn’t quite match that of its newest rivals.

Comparing Allies (and enemies)

When the ROG Xbox Ally X first launched in October last year, it cost $1,599 in Australia. Only a few months later, ROG increased the price to $1,799. So, based on today’s pricing, the new Xbox Ally X20 is a hefty $700 more expensive (or nearly $1,000 dearer than the non-limited edition’s launch price).

Yet, as nice as all the new flourishes are, the X20 still rocks the same AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme chipset and 24GB of memory. In a direct head-to-head comparison with Intel’s new Arc G3 system-on-a-chip (SoC), AMD’s hardware shows its age.

Last year’s Xbox Ally X. Image: Chris Button.

Without tangible performance gains, what does an extra $700 get you? The most obvious is a larger screen with a new technology. ROG’s Xbox Ally X20 sports a 7.4-inch (up from 7.0 inches) OLED display, making it the first Ally to feature an OLED panel.

Other changes are more incremental, yet meaningful to the right person. TMR joysticks — which use a newer, more precise, magnetic sensing technology to reduce the likelihood of stick drift over time — replace the Ally’s older analogue sticks.

Next to the left joystick is a modular D-pad that you can rotate to suit either four-directional or eight-directional inputs (fighting game aficionados tend to favour the latter).

Image: Chris Button.

There’s now also a faster microSD Express card reader, replacing the previous model’s UHS-II slot. Beyond these additions, various aesthetic and nice-to-have updates are found throughout, like more comfortable controller grips.

Independently, each update doesn’t necessarily warrant a $700 price gap between ROG’s flagship handheld gaming PCs. Together, though, they improve nicely on what was one of the better devices in the category.

Does it provide better value than the $1,429 OLED Steam Deck or the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, which now sells at some retailers for $2,849? That’s the $2,499 question.

ROG Xbox Ally X20 specifications and price

Processor	AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme
Memory	24GB LPDDR5X
Display	7.4-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz Touch-enabled OLED display 1,400 nits peak HDR brightness
Size	30.0 x 12.1 x 2.75 cm 756 g
Storage	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Battery	80WHrs Type-C 68W AC adapter
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.4 One 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack One USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C DisplayPort / power delivery One USB 4 Type-C (Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0) One microSD Express card reader
Price (RRP)	$2,499
Warranty	One year
Official website	Asus Australia

Design

Kudos to the design team, who has elevated the Ally’s utilitarian style into something worth putting on display. Compared to the Xbox Ally X, which looks like a gaming device wearing a corporate skin, the X20 is confidently stylish.

Adorned with gold accents, the dark frosted translucent chassis gives you a glimpse at the internals. Made to celebrate ROG’s 20th anniversary, it’s apt that the hardware harkens back to the 2000s aesthetic of see-through materials. In a nice touch, the Xbox button now lights up in the brand’s signature green.

Image: Chris Button.

Not as obvious to the eye but immediately noticeable to the touch are the quieter bumpers and triggers. Like my favoured Cherry MX Brown keyboard switches, the X20’s left and right bumpers don’t make much noise, but they produce a satisfyingly tactile bump when pressed. Similarly, the hall effect triggers provide enough resistance to enable multiple levels of input, without requiring too much effort to press.

I’m no joystick snob, but I like the extra tension the new TMR sticks bring to the Ally. Only time will tell if they live up to the stick drift-beating claims, but they feel snappy and responsive out of the box.

Images: Chris Button.

What I enjoyed most, though, was the Xbox Ally X20’s extra grippiness. Along the bumpers, triggers, and around the back of the controller handles was a more rubbery, thicker grip texture. They make the sizable device easier to hold for longer periods, especially for sweaty-handed gamers like me.

ROG’s newly added OLED display is a great-looking screen. I had no issues with the existing IPS technology, but the extra contrast, colour depth, and viewing angles you get from an OLED are hard to turn down.

Image: Chris Button.

Rounding out the package is the customisable D-pad on the left-hand side. Lifting and rotating the pad, which requires a small pinching motion, swaps it between two configurations.

One sees the up, down, left, and right inputs stick out more prominently, suited to games requiring four-directional inputs. The other configuration sits the directional buttons more flush with the rest of the console, ensuring there’s little in the way of your thumb quickly moving to diagonal inputs. Even if you primarily stick with one setting (like I did), it’s a fun little fidget to play with that feels robust under your digits.

You win some, you lose some

This is where the ROG Xbox Ally X20 struggles to stand out among recent hardware advancements. While ROG’s software integrations have steadily improved over a span of months, its internals remain stuck in place. If you looked purely at the components inside, this device is basically a functionally identical device to the Xbox Ally X.

To start with the positives, though, the X20 supports the best user experience I’ve encountered in a non-Steam OS gaming handheld. Like the non-limited-edition version of the device, this iteration combines Windows 11 with ROG’s Armoury Crate SE software. The latter platform streamlines access to settings like screen brightness, performance modes, and various other handy shortcuts.

By default, the device launches in ‘Xbox mode’, a full-screen version of the Xbox app optimised for handheld gaming PCs. It’s come a long way in 12 months, with almost none of the friction I encountered last year. There’s no escaping that this is still a PC, though; constant updates and checking for software patches remains a hallmark of the experience. It’s not as streamlined or stress-free as a dedicated gaming console, but it’s damn close.

Valve’s Steam Deck (top), compared to the Xbox Ally X20 (bottom). Image: Chris Button.

Even if you want to use other PC launchers, like Steam, the X20 has no issues. Steam runs without hassle, even automatically opening in the handheld-optimised ‘Big Picture mode’ if you boot up the app via Armoury Crate. It’s one of the major drawcards of Windows-based handheld gaming PCs, playing games on other storefronts without putting in any extra effort.

Downloading said games doesn’t take long, either. Equipped with a Wi-Fi 6E chip, the Xbox Ally X20 benefits from speedy (by Australian standards) internet plans, swiftly installing 100GB+ games. Paired with my 500Mbps plan, I didn’t have to wait much before playing Forza Horizon 6.

Game benchmarks

With games up and running, the Xbox Ally X20 is capable, but it’s no longer at the top of the pack it once was. You won’t have much trouble getting graphically demanding blockbusters running at 30fps, or upwards of 60fps with a bit of upscaling help. But having seen what the Intel Arc G3 Extreme can do, the older AMD Z2 Extreme chipset left me wanting more.

MSI’s intel-equipped handheld produced upwards of 50 per cent more frames across several in-game benchmarks. Without any DLSS, FSR or XeSS (acronyms aplenty) applied, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ hit 42fps on Forza Horizon 6’s benchmark, while the Xbox Ally X20 struggled to hit 30fps. These results came from both devices on their respective highest power settings while plugged in.

As long as you don’t mind tinkering with graphical settings or experimenting with upscaling technology, the X20 runs the overwhelming majority of available modern games. I had a grand time playing The Witcher 3’s remaster with most settings on ‘medium’. On battery, with the device’s performance set to 17W, I got close to three hours, which is a pretty reasonable battery life.

Still, it all comes back to the X20’s value proposition: it costs a lot more for near-identical in-game performance compared to the previous model.

Who is the ROG Xbox Ally X20 for?

Hardcore gamers love a limited-edition release, and it’s clear that the ROG Xbox Ally X20 is aimed squarely at a niche market. External upgrades, like the OLED screen, more comfortable grips, and an eye-catching transparent design are lovely. But sticking with the same processor means the X20 doesn’t compete as closely on performance with its rivals.

As such, the X20 occupies an awkward position: it costs $700 more than the Xbox Ally X, while a few hundred dollars separate it from more powerful alternatives. Ultimately, this is an elegant gaming device in both function and form, but its lofty price tag places it purely in the realm of collectors and cashed-up enthusiasts.

ROG Xbox Ally X20

Making some nice external upgrades, the ROG Xbox Ally X20 is a stylish handheld gaming PC that isn't quite as powerful as recent rivals.

Features

8

Value for money

6

Performance

7

Ease of use

8.5

Design

9

Positives

Stylish 2000s-inspired design with added comfort

Great-looking OLED screen that makes games pop

Best software integration of a Windows gaming handheld to date

Negatives

Relies on superseded internal hardware

Costs $700 more for similar in-game performance to its predecessor

7.7

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Know more, check less: Getting more with Ring Protect

Got a Ring video doorbell or security camera, but haven’t looked into Ring Protect yet? Then you probably know ‘the buzz’. Your phone goes off, you open the app to check, and… it’s just you, pulling into the driveway. The standard Ring app is built so you never miss movement at your door, but Ring Protect adds the smarts to tell you which movement matters.

In case you’re a non-Ring owner but still security-curious: Ring is the smart home security brand (owned by Amazon since 2018) best known for its video doorbells and security cameras. Put a few around the exterior of the house and you can keep an eye on your property via the app. Even from the get-go, a camera someone can see at the front door is a deterrent as well as a device that takes a record. So a properly set up Ring system can give you real peace of mind.

That attentiveness is a good thing, and every camera you add puts more eyes on your property. Out of the box, the Ring app gives you Motion Zones and a sensitivity slider, so you can fine-tune what each camera pays attention to. The next step is knowing what’s moving, and that’s where Ring Protect comes in.

Ring Protect is a subscription plan that builds on everything the free app already does. Ring says that without Ring Protect, you can watch live video and respond to alerts as they happen, so your doorbell is doing its job from day one. Ring Protect takes it further. It keeps the recordings so you can go back and review them, and can tell the difference between a person, a parcel, and a car in the driveway. The alerts you get are about the things you care about, so you spend less time checking and still know what’s going on.

Let’s take a look at how it works.

Alerts when you need them

Ring Protect changes two main things about your alerts: it tells you what moved, and it lets you choose which kinds of movement are worth ‘the buzz’… that is to say, a full notification on your phone’s screen.

Ring says Smart Alerts can differentiate between people, packages, and vehicles (on compatible devices). Anything else that moves goes into a fourth category Ring calls Other Motion.

Images: Ring

Person alerts are the obvious one: someone at the front door, or coming up the path.

Package alerts tell you the moment a parcel lands on the spot you’ve marked out for deliveries, which Ring calls a Package Zone. This lets you tell the difference between a regular motion detection and an actual delivery, and if you’re out, you can make your way home to secure your package.

Vehicle alerts cover the car pulling into the driveway, the Uber Eats or grocery drop-off, or the postie van.

Here’s the clever bit. Ring says that with Smart Alerts on, your camera still records all the motion it picks up, but only notifies you about the kinds you’ve chosen. So you can record every car that comes up the driveway, yours included, without your phone buzzing for any of them. It’s all under Smart Alerts in the app’s Motion Settings.

The best time-saver, though, is Video Preview Alerts. Ring says the notification itself shows an animated preview of the motion recording, so you can see what set it off right there on the lock screen. Is it the courier, or just the hedge in the wind? You’ll know without even needing to open the app.

Tell Ring where to look

Motion Zones come with the Ring app, with or without Ring Protect, so you get quite a bit of functionality out of the box. You draw the zone over the parts of the picture that matter, like the path from the gate to your front door, and leave out the footpath on the street, the road, and the neighbour’s tree. Ring says this means fewer unwanted motion alerts.

Privacy matters too, for you and for the neighbours. Privacy Zones black out part of the picture completely, in live video and in recordings, so your camera can watch your driveway without also watching the house next door. Ring allows up to two Privacy Zones per device, and they’re part of the app too, no plan needed. We’ve covered them in our look at the privacy features your smart home security system must have.

When you upgrade to Ring Protect, Motion Zones get beefed up by those Smart Alerts. The zones you set determine where Ring looks, and the Smart Alert decides what’s worth telling you about. A car going past on the street stays out of your phone altogether, and the unexpected relative pulling into your driveway gets recorded without a buzz, if that’s how you’ve set it up.

Protecting your footage

Keeping your footage on a camera’s SD card or internal storage alone can expose it to theft, damage, and storage limits. Instead, Ring offers cloud storage to help keep your video history safe even if something happens to the device. When stored in the cloud, Ring says every video is encrypted by default.

Image: Ring

With Ring Protect, Ring says videos are kept in the cloud for up to 180 days from the day they were recorded. So when your friend asks if you know exactly what time his handbrake failed and his car rolled backwards down your drive into a parked Subaru, ‘for the insurance’, you can actually go back and look.

Then there’s Snapshot Capture, which fills in the gaps. Snapshot Capture takes a still photo at regular intervals in between motion events, and you set how often in the device’s settings. Ring says snapshots are kept for up to 14 days, and you flick through them on the Event History timeline in the app. Handy for checking on stuff that doesn’t move, like if the bins are still sitting out on the kerb.

Find the moment without the scrolling

Months of footage is only useful if you can find the bit you want. Event History is a list of what’s happened on your Ring devices, and you can filter it by device, event type, and more. So if you only want to see the package alerts from the front door, that’s a couple of taps rather than a long scroll.

The Daily Event Summary comes with Ring Protect. Ring says it’s a summary of what’s happened at your location, or for each device, so you don’t have to open every camera one by one to find out what was going on out the back, down the side, out the front, and so forth.

Ring Protect Pro goes a step further with Video Search, on compatible devices. Ring says it helps you find a specific thing in all your camera’s recorded motion events. You describe what you’re after, a delivery van, say, or someone in a red jacket, rather than scrubbing through a week of clips yourself.

Image: Ring

Ring Protect Pro: fewer alerts that say more

Ring Protect Pro, the top plan, adds what Ring calls intelligent features, and they go straight at the notification problem. Video Descriptions puts a line of text on the alert describing what happened. Ring says this helps you tell the urgent from the everyday without opening the Ring app.

There are two interesting features still in beta. Ring says Single Event Alert combines similar alerts from the same camera, so you get one notification for the last few events, which is the thing that will cut ‘the buzz’. And Unusual Event Alert, Ring says, filters your alerts so the unexpected stands out from the everyday comings and goings. Like you getting home from work at the usual time.

Sure, the Ring app is easy to use. But the whole point of all this is that you use it less and get that time back for the rest of your day.

Know more, check less

Put it all together and Ring Protect turns your smart doorbell and cameras into a security system, with your footage kept safe in the cloud round the clock, for up to 180 days. All powered by an app that alerts you to what you’ve told it matters, not to every random movement outside your house.

Remember that tree branch swaying in the breeze, setting off your phone every time the wind picks up? Leave it out of your Motion Zone, set your Smart Alerts to ‘people’, and the tree can wave all it likes.

Ring Protect comes in three plans. Ring Protect Solo covers one device and Ring Protect Multi covers every Ring device at your address, with the same features on both. Ring Protect Pro covers every device as well, and adds the intelligent features we looked at above.

Ring says a 30-day free trial of Ring Protect starts when you first set up a Ring doorbell or camera, and plans start from $4.95 a month for Ring Protect Solo. You can compare all three plans on Ring’s website.

That’s the whole idea: know more about what’s happening at home, and spend less time checking your phone to find out.

Read more Ring articles on GadgetGuy

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Cricut StickerPix turns your camera roll into custom stickers

Cricut has moved into photo printing with its new StickerPix range, on sale in Australia from today. The Cricut StickerPix Print + Cut ($469) prints, laminates and cuts your phone photos into custom-shaped stickers in one pass. The cheaper StickerPix Print ($289) has no blade and uses pre-cut sticker sheets instead. Both can also make photo prints, labels and photo cards.

Both use thermal dye-sublimation printing, which Cricut says gives water, scratch and fade-resistant results. They’re compact, connect over Bluetooth and work with Cricut’s Design Space app on mobile and desktop. You can start with your own photos, edit templates, use the AI tools or choose from more than 1.8 million sticker images. The full image library and Cricut AI need a paid Cricut Access subscription, though.

You can buy StickerPix from Spotlight, Harvey Norman and the Cricut Shop, and refill packs start at $44.95. The full range of bundles and accessories is on the Cricut Blog.

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XBOX’s new Nano controller is for smaller hands and budgets

For those who want a more compact or less expensive XBOX controller, or who have little hands, Microsoft has you covered. Check out the new XBOX Nano. It’s portable, pocketable, and about the size and weight of a smartphone, measuring 12cm long and 99 grams.

The XBOX Nano controller has the same familiar layout and 18 standard gameplay buttons, so you can get up and playing quickly, and there’s a programmable action button for things like screenshots and gameplay capture. And it’s a wireless controller, with Bluetooth support, and has a rechargeable battery, so no cord is needed.

Pre-orders start today with prices set at $AU79.99 ($US49.99). For comparison, a standard XBOX Wireless Controller is $AU99.95, and the Elite Wireless Controller is $AU229.95. The XBOX Nano will be available in Australia at the beginning of November, according to Microsoft.

For more details, check out Microsoft’s Wire Post

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Apple HomeView puts a screen at the centre of the Apple home

Apple has announced HomeView, a 7-inch smart display that brings music, FaceTime and smart home control together, and uses face recognition to switch between a shared household screen and each person’s own content. It runs Siri AI and goes on sale in Australia next month.

HomeView costs A$449 in tabletop or wall-mounted form. Pre-orders open today, with availability from Friday 13 November.

Apple also announced HomePod mini 2, a new Apple TV 4K and new smart home accessories, which you can read about here.

Tabletop or on the wall

The tabletop model pairs an aluminium 7-inch Liquid Retina display with a domed speaker base, joined by a stainless steel hinge that tilts for comfortable viewing. It comes in silver, starlight, rose pink and space grey, each with a matching cable.

The tabletop HomeView comes in silver, starlight, rose pink and space grey. Credit: Apple

Brightness adjusts automatically from 500 nits down to 0.3 nits, so it should suit a sunny kitchen bench as well as a bedside table. The interface also changes with distance, showing simpler information from across the room and more detail as you get closer.

The wall-mounted model, in space grey or silver, has the same screen and features with audio tuned for on-wall placement. It attaches with one of three Schneider Home mounts: the Power Mount USB-C Wall Connector (A$94.95) and Power Mount AC Wired (A$124.95), both available to order now, and the Power Mount PoE Wired (A$199.95), due in early 2027.

The wall-mounted HomeView, available in space grey and silver. Credit: Apple

It knows who’s in front of it

HomeView recognises up to six people by face, and each gets their own Home Screen with apps and widgets. Personal content from Messages, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders and Find My appears only for the person it belongs to, while shared albums and music are available to everyone, including guests.

Apple says personal content is shown only when the enrolled user is recognised and their paired iPhone or iPad is present and recently unlocked. Camera and microphone data is processed in Secure Exclaves on the A18 chip, isolated from the rest of the system and inaccessible to apps or Apple.

Siri AI on a screen

HomeView ships with Siri AI in beta, in English, with Australia among the launch countries. Anyone in the home can ask general questions and have back-and-forth conversations, and with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, Siri can draw on your personal context across apps such as Messages, Calendar and Apple Music.

Conversations started on HomeView continue in the Siri app on your other Apple devices, synced privately through iCloud. Requests are processed on-device or through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute.

Sound and entertainment

The tabletop model uses two full-range drivers in the display for Spatial Audio, plus a down-firing woofer and two force-cancelling passive radiators in the base. The wall model uses two drivers.

It plays Apple Music with animated album art and lyrics, along with Apple Podcasts, Apple News, Apple TV and compatible third-party apps. You can hand off music from your iPhone by holding it near the display, and HomeView works in multiroom setups with HomePod and AirPlay speakers.

HomeView plays Apple Music with animated album art and lyrics, plus Apple Podcasts. Credit: Apple

Watch faces include a Photos face that can show a shared album as a live photo frame, a Flow face that reacts to movement, and a Snoopy face that changes with the time, weather and sport.

A selection of HomeView faces, including Photos and Snoopy. Credit: Apple

We haven’t been able to determine if there will be dedicated apps for the HomeView as of yet.

Calls, kitchen and family

FaceTime uses Centre Stage to keep people framed as they move. Intercom broadcasts messages to one room or the whole house, and a cooking mode turns web recipes into step-by-step instructions with hands-free timers. Find My lets you check on family members who share their location or locate a missing device.

HomeView handles FaceTime calls with Centre Stage, step-by-step recipes and smart home controls. Credit: Apple

A smart home dashboard

HomeView is also a home hub, controlling Matter and ‘Works with Apple Home’ accessories by touch or voice. The Home Camera face can show up to nine live camera feeds at once, and with an eligible iCloud+ plan, compatible cameras gain recognition of people, pets, packages and vehicles, plus Apple Intelligence descriptions of recorded clips. Like HomePod mini, it listens for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

It also works with Apple’s new Home Collection accessories, although those aren’t yet announced for Australia.

Pricing and availability

• Apple HomeView (tabletop): A$449, silver, starlight, rose pink and space grey
• Apple HomeView (Wall Mounted): A$449, space grey and silver
• Schneider Home Power Mount USB-C Wall Connector: A$94.95
• Schneider Home Power Mount AC Wired: A$124.95
• Schneider Home Power Mount PoE Wired: A$199.95, early 2027
• Pre-order now, available Friday 13 November

GadgetGuy’s take

Apple’s HomeView is a long time coming, and it looks like a pretty decent family friendly way of accessing information, entertainment and your personal details. We love the way it resembles an old school iMac mini, remember the one with the big silver hinge? The tabletop version looks like the one to choose given it has a more dynamic speaker system, with down-firing woofer and passive radiators, and you can decide to move it about your house rather than having it permanently stuck in one place. It would be nice to see a fully finished version of Siri AI, but given it is still in beta on iPhones, there is still some work that needs to be done.

We’ll be reviewing HomeView for GadgetGuy, so stay tuned for our full verdict.

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GoPro Mission 1 Pro review: Is GoPro’s 1-inch 8K camera worth it?

8.8

GoPro Australia

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro is a big deal. Not only is it a drastically improved camera in terms of its sensor and image quality, it retains the rugged and compact body that people know GoPro for, but now it has a lot of cinematic capabilities as well.

I’ve had a chance to use the Mission 1 Pro here at GadgetGuy for a variety of filming jobs, including videos for the YouTube channel, as well as taking it out to see what it’s capable of.

And in a world where 360-degree cameras, gimbal cameras and our smartphones are offering incredible quality in a compact package, the question remains whether this type of camera is still relevant in a creator-driven market. Let’s find out.

GoPro Mission 1 Pro specifications and price

Sensor and processor	1-inch sensor, GP3 processor
Lens	f/2.8, 159° field of view; SuperView, Wide, Linear and Linear + Horizon Lock digital lenses
Video	8K 60fps, 8K Open Gate 30fps, 4K 240fps, 1080p 480fps, 960fps Burst Slo-Mo
Colour and codec	10-bit, GP-Log2, HLG HDR; H.265 up to 240Mbps
Photo	50MP or 12MP, RAW (.GPR), Night photo
Stabilisation	HyperSmooth (Off, AutoBoost, On), 360° Horizon Lock
Waterproof	20m without a housing
Screens	2.59-inch rear touch OLED, 1.4-inch front display
Battery	2150mAh Enduro 2
Audio	4 microphones, 32-bit float recording
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, USB-C
Storage	microSD
Weight	207g
Buy	Buy the GoPro Mission 1 Pro from GoPro Australia
Price (AUD)	A$1,099.95 (Point-and-Shoot Grip A$154.95)

What is the GoPro Mission 1 Pro?

The Mission 1 series now sits at the top of GoPro’s range, above the HERO13 Black. GoPro describes it as a compact cinematic camera system and pitches it on four points: the image quality of modern pro cameras, the portability of a compact point-and-shoot, the durability of an action camera and cinematic capabilities for professionals.

There are three models. The Mission 1 (A$949.95) and Mission 1 Pro (A$1,099.95) share a fixed f/2.8 lens with a 159-degree field of view, while the Mission 1 Pro ILS (A$1,099.95) swaps the fixed lens for a Micro Four Thirds mount and is weatherproof rather than waterproof. All three use a 1-inch sensor and GoPro’s new GP3 processor.

The Pro adds 8K at 60fps, 8K Open Gate, 4K at 240fps and 1080p at 480fps, plus a 960fps Burst Slo-Mo mode. Compared with the HERO13 Black, that’s a much larger sensor (1-inch versus 1/1.9-inch), 50MP photos instead of 27MP, double the maximum bit rate at 240Mbps, and waterproofing to 20m instead of 10m without a housing.

New kits

[Update] GoPro has since launched three Mission 1 Pro kits. The Ultimate Creator Edition (A$1,849.95) adds the Fluid Pro AI gimbal, Wireless Mic Complete Kit, Light Mod 2 and Mission 1 Series Media Mod. The Creator Edition (A$1,699.95) includes the Media Mod, Volta 2 Battery Grip and Wireless Mic Complete Kit. The Mountain Bike Bundle (A$1,219.95) adds a Handlebar/Seatpost/Pole Mount and Chesty chest mount.

How we tested it

For testing, we updated to the latest firmware and tried out the Mission 1 Pro in a variety of scenarios. Compared with DJI’s Osmo Action cameras, earlier GoPros were known for superior resolution but suffered when it came to low light. So I took the Mission 1 Pro out on a walk at dusk and took photos and videos until the sun set and it became dark, lit only by the moon and streetlights.

The Mission 1 Pro was very handy on our car shoot, and produced stable, usable footage. Credit: Valens Quinn

We also took the Mission 1 Pro on a recent EV shoot, where we mounted it both inside and outside our test vehicle to capture footage, and we used it on a robot pool cleaner video for some underwater filming. There are so many uses for the Mission 1 Pro, including as an action cam, a vlogging camera or a stills camera on holidays, so unfortunately we couldn’t test every scenario.

In terms of settings, we tried a range, including high and low frame rates, GoPro’s GP-Log2 log profile, 8K60, 8K Open Gate and 4K240 slow motion.

Low light: dusk and night

In general, the 1-inch sensor is a big factor in low-light performance, and the Mission 1 Pro is definitely improved over its predecessors. For photos, you can shoot in 12MP mode rather than 50MP, making use of pixel binning to allow for better low-light sensitivity. I found that photos captured much more detail than the last GoPro I tested, and there was considerably less noise.

Examples of low-light photography – there’s minimal noise and good detail in darker areas. Credit: Valens Quinn

While there was noise visible in the darkest shots and videos, you can scale the noise reduction (the Denoise setting) up or down. For video there is a Low Light mode; however, I didn’t see a huge difference in the final footage when using it, other than the preview being brighter. That’s not to say this camera can see in the dark, because it can’t, but it is certainly a much more usable unit if you need to shoot in low light. Also, when taking stills, you need to be mindful of holding the camera still for a few seconds to allow for its longer exposure.

This photo demonstrated how well the Mission 1 Pro captured fine detail in dusk light. Credit: Valens Quinn

When I was walking around, I tried out the different HyperSmooth stabilisation modes. There are a few, including On, which really crops in on the sensor for maximum stabilisation, and AutoBoost, which only crops in when it needs to. I found that AutoBoost was the most practical. It does a good job of smoothing out the jitters from walking, but it doesn’t completely eliminate the motion, which makes it more realistic. I didn’t notice any dramatic wobbling caused by the stabilisation algorithm either.

This is a still from a video captured at dusk showing minimal noise in the sky and there’s still detail visible in the darker areas. Credit: Valens Quinn

Another still from a 4K video shot at dusk, showing the big improvements in low-light performance thanks to the 1-inch sensor. Credit: Valens Quinn

[Update] Since our testing, GoPro has released a free firmware update that rebuilds the Mission 1 series photo experience. It adds Rapid Photo for zero-lag shutter response, Continuous Shutter (hold the shutter for more than 100 photos at 12MP or more than 20 RAW photos at 50MP), a buffer indicator and an updated shutter sound.

Underwater: robot pool cleaner shoot

For our underwater shots, this was just in a swimming pool, and we mounted the Mission 1 Pro on an extension pole. We didn’t use an underwater housing as the pool wasn’t that deep, although the camera does go down to 20 metres without needing one. We followed the robot pool cleaner around while it vacuumed the bottom and sides. The footage was vibrant, colourful, clear and sharp. We also enjoyed listening to the audio captured, which was a surprise, as the underwater noise really complemented the footage.

Various underwater and above water shots captured by the GoPro Mission 1 Pro. Credit: Valens Quinn

The only challenge we found was that you can’t use Wi-Fi underwater, so we couldn’t monitor the footage from the app or reframe the crop. Instead, we relied on the 2.59-inch rear display, as the 1.4-inch front display was a little too small to see from a distance. It also seemed like the screens always turned off a little too soon. Thankfully, you can tap them to turn them back on, or extend the timeout in the Screen Saver setting.

On the road: electric car shoot

Moving to the car shoot, most of this was done in 4K using the Natural colour profile. We mounted the Mission 1 Pro on a suction cup mount, and the stabilisation did a good job of smoothing out the road bumps. We used the preview on our iPhone with the GoPro Quik app and were able to zoom in to adjust our framing before hitting record; however, once recording, you can’t change the zoom level. The footage was bright and crisp, with nice colours, and we used the Wide digital lens here, which sits between the wider SuperView and the narrower Linear, to take in more of the action.

The Mission 1 Pro managed our bumpy and dusty roads, producing smooth footage and dynamic range. Credit: Valens Quinn

I was quite surprised at the range we were able to get between the phone and the camera. There were times when we were two car lengths away and the preview on the iPhone was still connected.

[Update] GoPro has also updated its Mission Monitor app for iPhone and iPad, adding a histogram, waveform, RGB parade, false colour and wireless connectivity.

Inside the car, we used a combination of artificial and natural lighting on the driver, and the dynamic range of the Mission 1 Pro seemed quite good, retaining detail in the darker areas without blowing out the highlights, which was a common challenge when we were driving around on a sunny day. Stabilisation was also useful here, and the footage was nice and smooth.

Inside the car you can see the Mission 1 Pro mounted on the windscreen.

Actual footage captured by the GoPro Mission 1 Pro.

We also used the Horizon Lock feature here (the Linear + Horizon Lock digital lens) to keep everything nice and square. And while we didn’t end up using any footage with it, Subject Tracking is another way to ensure the camera stays locked on the talent, even if they move left or right in the frame, as it digitally moves with them.

The front-facing screen was useful here to help us set up the framing, and we started and stopped recording using GoPro’s voice control, which meant we didn’t have to reach for the camera for each cut.

Image quality and lens

Overall, I was quite impressed with the footage from the Mission 1 Pro. It looks great, and low light is certainly better than any GoPro I’ve used before. The 1-inch sensor plays a big part in this, and the f/2.8 lens is versatile, with a 159-degree field of view to work with. And for really maxing out the resolution, you can shoot in 8K or 8K Open Gate, both of which can produce some stunning footage. The ability to shoot 4K at 240 frames per second is also fantastic for creative effects or slowing down high-energy action shots. If you want to, you can even crank it up to 480 frames per second in Full HD, or a 960 frames per second burst, although I didn’t try these.

The fish-eye lens look helps fit more of the scene in, or you can go for a linear mode to straighten up the lines. Credit: Valens Quinn

Cutting the GoPro footage into our timelines and matching it with our Canon C80 and DJI Osmo Pocket 4P didn’t create any problems. We tried to shoot in log as much as possible, and DaVinci Resolve is such a powerful grading tool that we could match things up quite easily.

Yes, an action cam does have a signature look with its fisheye-type lens; however, you can choose to shoot with the Linear digital lens, which straightens the lines for a more cinematic look. And the stabilisation tools, including HyperSmooth and 360-degree Horizon Lock, are very handy when you need them.

There are so many modes to choose from, including Open Gate 8K! Credit: Valens Quinn

Audio and mounting

For audio, we used a separate mic and lav system, although you can also use GoPro’s own wireless microphone with the Mission 1 Pro. We only used the audio captured by the camera’s internal mics to sync with our main microphone track. I was, however, impressed to see that the Mission 1 Pro can record 32-bit float audio, which is a lifesaver when it comes to very dynamic audio, as it doesn’t clip.

There are plenty of great accessories, and the Mission 1 Pro uses the same GoPro mounting fingers as its predecessors, so there are lots of options for attaching the camera, including helmets, handlebars, suction cups, sticks, gimbals and much more.

Point-and-Shoot Grip

When walking around, I also used the Point-and-Shoot Grip (A$154.95), so the GoPro felt more like a conventional compact camera. The grip is comfortable to hold, and the shutter button is in a more natural place, although it’s a bit strange when you press it because it isn’t really a button but rather a lever.

The camera grip is nice to hold and adds some extra protection and mounting points for accessories. Credit: Valens Quinn

The grip also provides a couple of cold shoe mounts, which can be handy if you want to attach an external mic. You can remove part of the handle to expose a mount for positioning the camera in portrait mode, and there’s also a 1/4-20 thread at the base for attaching to a tripod. The grip can be removed quickly, and you still have access to the USB-C port and memory card without removing it entirely. It also adds a bit of extra protection, just in case.

You can detach the camera handle and shutter lever while keeping the protective side plate, which can also be used for vertical mounting. Credit: Valens Quinn

Battery life, design and everyday use

I was impressed with the Mission 1 Pro’s battery life. We would often get three or four hours of shooting in direct sunlight on 25-degree-plus days. And as our kit came with two batteries, we could easily swap one for the other and charge it up so we could keep shooting.

I think it has a solid design as well, and the screens are quite bright when you are up close to them and easy to operate. The Mission 1 Pro is also quite sturdy, and the metal rig that comes in the box is really strong, so it should be able to be knocked around a fair amount.

Getting the MicroSD out requires fingernails. (Left). The menu adjusts for vertical shooting automatically. (right) Credit: Valens Quinn

The only frustrations I found were that the microSD card is very difficult to remove, and when I plugged the camera into my Mac with a USB-C cable, it would never enter a media transfer mode. That meant I had to remove the microSD card, put it into an SD card adapter and then into my Mac Studio. Perhaps there’s a setting I didn’t find, but otherwise I should be able to transfer my footage by plugging it into a computer.

Otherwise, the menus can be a little counterintuitive at times, but with a little practice they become easier and quicker to use.

How it compares

Here’s how the Mission 1 Pro stacks up against GoPro’s previous flagship, the HERO13 Black, and DJI’s Osmo Action 6.

Specification	GoPro Mission 1 Pro	GoPro HERO13 Black	DJI Osmo Action 6
Sensor	1-inch	1/1.9-inch	1/1.1-inch
Aperture	f/2.8	f/2.5	f/2.0 to f/4.0 variable
Maximum field of view	159°	156°	155°
Top video resolution	8K 60fps, 8K Open Gate 30fps	5.3K 60fps	8K 30fps
4K maximum frame rate	240fps	120fps	120fps
1080p slow motion	480fps (960fps burst)	240fps	240fps
Log profile	10-bit GP-Log2	10-bit GP-Log	10-bit D-Log M
Maximum bit rate	240Mbps	120Mbps	120Mbps
Photo resolution	50MP	27MP	38MP
Stabilisation	HyperSmooth, 360° Horizon Lock	HyperSmooth 6.0, Horizon Lock	RockSteady 3.0, HorizonSteady
Waterproof (no housing)	20m	10m	20m
Rear screen	2.59-inch touch OLED	2.27-inch touch	2.5-inch OLED
Front screen	1.4-inch	1.4-inch	1.46-inch
Battery	2150mAh	1900mAh	1950mAh
Built-in mics	4, 32-bit float	3	3
Internal storage	None (microSD)	None (microSD)	64GB plus microSD
Weight	207g	159g	149g
Price (AUD)	A$1,099.95	A$649.95	A$669 (Standard Combo)

Who is it for?

Overall, I have access to a number of different compact cameras, including an Insta360, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P and my iPhone 18 Pro Max. For social media videos, I could reach for any of them, and I didn’t think the Mission 1 Pro would add much to the equation. However, after using it, I value its versatility and not having to worry about breaking it (or drowning it), unlike the Pocket 4P’s delicate gimbal, or having to use proprietary software to frame up my shots, as with the Insta360. This means I can get my footage onto the timeline faster, with less work or worry. And the Mission 1 Pro’s 1-inch sensor means I get a great-looking image, with so many modes and very impressive capabilities like 8K, 4K slow motion, Open Gate and 50MP photos.

The GoPro Mission 1 Pro is a big step up on previous models, and it’s earned a place in my kit bag. Credit: Valens Quinn

I am also intrigued by the Mission 1 Pro ILS, with its interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lens mount. Having different lens options could really take this camera to the next level, and I see that it’s currently sold out on GoPro’s Australian site.

So will this replace the other cameras in my kit bag? Probably not, as each is specialised for a certain purpose, but the Mission 1 Pro is definitely an all-rounder that can stand by itself, and will of course be perfect for action outings, holidays and even professional shoots.

Frequently asked questions

Is the GoPro Mission 1 Pro waterproof?

Yes. The Mission 1 Pro is waterproof to 20m without a housing. The Mission 1 Pro ILS, which takes interchangeable Micro Four Thirds lenses, is weatherproof only and needs a housing underwater.

How much does the GoPro Mission 1 Pro cost in Australia?

The Mission 1 Pro is A$1,099.95 from GoPro’s Australian online store. The standard Mission 1 is A$949.95 and the Point-and-Shoot Grip is A$154.95.

What is the difference between the GoPro Mission 1 and Mission 1 Pro?

Both use a 1-inch sensor and an f/2.8 lens with a 159-degree field of view. The Pro adds 8K at 60fps, 8K Open Gate, 4K at 240fps, 1080p at 480fps and a 960fps Burst Slo-Mo mode.

Is the GoPro Mission 1 Pro good in low light?

In our testing it was clearly better than previous GoPros, with more detail and less noise thanks to its 1-inch sensor. Some noise remains in the darkest scenes, and you need to hold the camera steady for night stills.

Does the GoPro Mission 1 Pro shoot log video?

Yes. It records 10-bit GP-Log2 footage, which we found easy to grade and match with cinema cameras in DaVinci Resolve.

How long does the GoPro Mission 1 Pro battery last?

GoPro quotes up to 1.5 hours of 8K30 recording and more than three hours at 4K30. In our testing we often got three to four hours of shooting on hot, sunny days.

GoPro Mission 1 Pro

A true all-rounder

The Mission 1 Pro keeps GoPro's toughness and adds a 1-inch sensor, 8K and 4K at 240fps, making it far more capable in low light and for cinematic work than earlier GoPros. Fiddly card access and menus aside, it suits action, travel and professional shoots.

Performance

9

Features

9.5

Design

8.5

Ease of use

8.5

Value for money

8.3

Positives

1-inch sensor is a clear step up in low light

8K60, 8K Open Gate and 4K240 slow motion

Waterproof to 20m without a housing

Strong battery life, even on hot days

32-bit float audio recording

Footage grades easily alongside cinema cameras

Negatives

microSD card is difficult to remove

Could not get USB media transfer working on a Mac

Menus can be counterintuitive

8.8

GoPro Australia

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