GoPro stock has fallen more than 50% from its all-time high of $96, largely due to concerns over rising competition, its sky-high valuation, and future expansion plans. GoPro Hero 4 has been a blockbuster device. Hero 4’s success has raised expectations from its successor. Will Hero 5 be able to crush the competition and put GoPro stock back on the investors’ radar?
GoPro Hero 5 to have 2,800mAh battery
At this point, little is known about Hero 5 which is expected to arrive later this year, in time for the holiday shopping season. Recent rumors suggest that Hero 5 will pack a huge 2,800 battery compared to 1,160 battery in Hero 4 Black edition. It will allow you to capture videos and images for a longer amount of time. The next-gen action camera will offer waterproofing up to the depth of 60 meters.
According to Fuse Joplin, GoPro’s next device will likely sport a dual-lens setup with an added support for 3D imaging. While some rumors point to a 4K video at 60 frames per second, Leo Sun of The Motley Fool says the Hero 5 will record 8K videos. Though 8K may be an impressive feature, it may be a potential cause of concern.
Competitors have failed to stall GoPro’s growth
You can ideally enjoy 8K videos on a 8K TV, and there are few 8K TVs in the market right now. 4K has become more valid and potentially mainstream. Content providers have only recently started offering 4K content. So, it makes more sense for GoPro to stick to 4K while improving other features, instead of going for 8K with Hero 5. Another reason is that 8K videos would require much more storage space than 4K.
If the rumors turn out to be true, Hero 5 will be a beast of an action camera. Of course, GoPro will face competition from HTC, Sony, Xiaomi, Polaroid and others. But they are all offering cameras with “good enough” specs to compete in the low-end market. Meanwhile, GoPro has become synonymous with action cameras, creating a premium brand image. So far, competitors have failed to affect GoPro’s growth. If the next-gen camera is as good as it is expected to be, it would take GoPro to newer heights.
GoPro shares rose 3.44% to $43.76 at 11:59 AM EDT on Thursday.
