GoPro's Mission 1 series wins 11 awards from reviewers

GoPro's MISSION 1 Series has won 11 awards from 10 publications, covering the MISSION 1, MISSION 1 PRO and MISSION 1 PRO ILS cameras.

The honours came from consumer technology, photography and outdoor titles including WIRED, SlashGear, PCMag, Tom's Guide, Gizmodo, TechRadar, Mashable, Digital Camera World, The Shortcut and SURFER.

The recognition supports GoPro's push beyond its traditional action camera base into the broader compact camera market for creators, hobbyists and some professional users. The MISSION line is positioned above the company's mainstream products, with the PRO ILS marking its first camera with an interchangeable lens mount.

Among the individual accolades, WIRED named the MISSION 1 PRO its Best Overall Action Camera. SlashGear awarded the MISSION 1 PRO ILS Best Camera and the MISSION 1 PRO Best Action Camera on its annual Hot List. PCMag, Tom's Guide, Gizmodo and The Shortcut each gave Editor's Choice awards to models in the range.

TechRadar and Digital Camera World also recommended cameras in the series, while Mashable gave the range a Choice Award. SURFER selected the MISSION 1 PRO as Best Waterproof Camera, reinforcing GoPro's longstanding position in outdoor and water sports imaging.

Broader Push

The MISSION 1 Series consists of three main cameras: the entry-level MISSION 1, the MISSION 1 PRO and the MISSION 1 PRO ILS. According to GoPro, the range is built around a 50MP one-inch sensor and its GP3 processor, with features including 8K60 video and slow-motion recording.

Those specifications matter because GoPro is competing not only with action camera specialists, but also with mirrorless camera makers and smartphone manufacturers that continue to improve video quality. In that context, awards from review titles can help shape buyer perception in a crowded market, especially for newer products positioned above the company's established line-up.

The MISSION 1 PRO ILS is the clearest sign of that strategy. By introducing an interchangeable lens system based on Micro Four Thirds compatibility, GoPro is testing whether users who want a smaller shooting setup will consider the brand for more deliberate filmmaking work, as well as travel, vlogging and outdoor capture.

At the same time, the standard MISSION 1 and MISSION 1 PRO retain the fixed-lens simplicity that has defined GoPro's products for years. That allows the company to cover a wider range of price points without stepping away from the action-focused market that made its name.

Awards Detail

Several reviews highlighted image quality, battery life, durability and audio features. WIRED cited the one-inch sensor, 8K video and a more cinematic look. PCMag pointed to image quality, battery life and value, while Tom's Guide highlighted Open Gate and 8K60 capture alongside thermal performance.

According to GoPro's summary of the reviews, Gizmodo said the MISSION 1 PRO delivered the best footage of any action camera it had tested. Digital Camera World focused on 8K60 recording, 10-bit log colour and a faster user experience than earlier GoPro models, while The Shortcut praised high-frame-rate capture and the camera's four-microphone array.

There were also two mentions outside the 11-award tally. Engadget gave the MISSION 1 PRO a score of 8.7 out of 10 and, according to GoPro, said it offered the best action camera video quality on the market. NBC Select included the model in a list of notable new products.

Pricing and Availability

All MISSION 1 Series cameras are available globally through GoPro's own channels and retail partners. In Australia, the MISSION 1 starts at a recommended retail price of AUD $949.95, while the MISSION 1 PRO and MISSION 1 PRO ILS are both listed at AUD $1,099.95.

Bundle versions of the PRO are priced higher. The Grip Edition costs AUD $1,229.95, the Creator Edition AUD $1,699.95, and the Ultimate Creator Edition AUD $1,849.95.

New accessories and software are also part of the broader offer. GoPro has released a MISSION Monitor app for iPhone and iPad that turns the devices into an external monitor, with tools such as focus peaking, zebra pattern, LUT preview, overlays and camera controls.

The app and accessory ecosystem suggest GoPro is trying to build a workflow that appeals to users who want more control without moving to larger dedicated cinema gear. That could prove important if the company wants to keep users within its product family as their needs become more complex.

Commenting on the response to the range, Pablo Lema, Senior Vice President of Product Management at GoPro, said: "We built the MISSION 1 Series because our customers kept asking us for more performance from their GoPros, and you don't have to be a pro to see the difference. It shows up in the early-morning waves, the sunset hikes, and the weekend bike rides."

Lema added: "Eleven awards from the reviewers who test everything in this category tell us we got it right."