For the first time in years, GoPro has changed the design of its flagship action camera. The Hero9 Black ($349.98 with one-year GoPro subscription) is a little bit bigger all around than last year's still-on-sale Hero8 Black. It utilizes the extra space well—pumping a bit of extra life into the battery, swapping the dated monochrome information panel for a full-color front display, and including support for add-on lenses. If those upgrades are compelling to you, it's another worthy offering from GoPro, but it has to compete with last year's fantastic Hero8 Black, priced $50 lower.A Bigger Hero The Hero9 sports a new chassis that's a bit larger than the previous generation, but it's still one of the smallest 4K cameras out there, and certainly the tiniest we've seen with support for 5K recording, at just 2.8 by 2.2 by 1.3 inches (HWD) and 5.6 ounces. The larger frame holds a bigger battery, a bigger rear touch LCD (2.3 inches), and, just like the rival DJI Osmo Action, a color di...

GoPro's Hero9 Black action cam delivers excellent, stabilized 5K video and ups still quality, but not everyone should spend more when the Hero8 Black is still available for less.

Up to 5K quality at 30fps; Front-facing color LCD; Exceptional video stabilization; Up to 240fps HD slow motion; Time-lapse, buffering, and HDR imaging; USB-C charging; Strong app support; Compact and waterproof

You'll likely want to carry extra batteries; Subscription service adds recurring costs; Discounted pricing not available from all retailers

The GoPro Hero 9 Black is the most powerful and versatile action camera you can buy, but for most people its predecessor offers better value. While the new sensor and front display are useful additions, the changes don't collectively represent a big leap over the Hero 8 Black. Its slightly unresponsive touchscreen is also a little frustrating, even if a firmware fix is en route. No other action can match the Hero 9 Black's skillset, but others do currently edge it for value.

5K video delivers more detail; Front display is handy for vlogging; Improved battery life; New software tricks;

Unresponsive touchscreen; Little improvement to 4K shooting; Still no 4K/120p mode; HEVC files need recent editing hardware

With 5K video and a front-facing display, the GoPro Hero9 Black is the new action camera to beat. There are many imitators, but no one has yet come close to knocking GoPro off its perch as the best action camera, and that continues with the GoPro Hero9.

Smooth video, Front-facing screen, Intuitive interface

Heavy

The Apple iPhone 14 is no match for the just-released iPhone 14 Pro, but if you ignore that, it’s one of the most effective phones around.

Great cameras, front and back, Fast performance, Good battery life, Innovative safety features

Design too familiar, Some average features

The iPhone 14 isn’t much of an upgrade over the iPhone 13, but it’s still a great device and an upgrade for anyone coming from the iPhone 11 or older.

Great camera, Good battery, Emergency features are cool, Still excellent performance

Display could use some upgrades

Apple has given select media outlets and YouTubers access to the new iPhone 14 ahead of when it begins arriving in customers' hands on Friday, September 16. There are two models of the ‌iPhone‌ 14, the standard 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 14 and the larger 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus.

It's easy to get carried away and lose sight of just how far we've come in the smartphone world. Apple's iPhone 14 is 7.8 millimeters thick but can communicate directly with satellites, boasts photographic talents that eclipse dedicated cameras and action cams, and does so starting at just $799.

Improved low-light camera performance, Clever safety features (you hope you won't need)

Improvements feel evolutionary, eSIM may prove a headache, iPhone 13 offers much the same for $100 less

The iPhone 14 is better than its predecessor, but it's also more expensive and doesn't have many significant upgrades.

Even faster, with a better camera and more features.

Charger is optional. Lacks telephoto lens. Price has been increased.

More like an iPhone 13S. The generational upgrades for the iPhone 14 are limited to a few subtle changes. At the same time, however, the base price climbs to 800 USD, while the only true innovation happens inside the iPhone 14 Pro series.

excellent OLED display, dust- and waterproof, fast Wi-Fi, wide range of supported frequencies, great camera, very fast performance, good battery life

display limited to 60 Hz, charging rate limited to 20 watts, no macro lens, wide notch

GoPro has been the industry standard for action cameras for over 15 years. It wasn’t until a few years ago that brands such as DJI and Insta360 began making action cameras with more features that challenged GoPro’s lead.

Crisp 5K footage; A useful front-facing screen; Still rugged build quality

More expensive than before; Slow HDR processing; Still needs a second battery for heavy use