GoPro
HERO13 Black
Flagship GoPro with 1/1.9-inch sensor, 5.3K60 video, 4K120, HyperSmooth 6.0, HB-Series lens auto-detect, and 10m waterproofing.
$399
Released Sep 2024
Sony
Alpha 9 III
Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.
$5,999
Released Jan 2024
HERO13 Black is 8 months newer.
Wins
HERO13 Black
Wins
Alpha 9 III
1 categories tied
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TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 9 III has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 0)
- AHERO13 Black has higher Burst (mechanical) (8 fps vs 0 fps)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 20 fps)
- AHERO13 Black has lower Weight (159 g vs 703 g)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher ISO max (native) (25,600 vs 6,400)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
HERO13 Black
72 × 51 × 34 mm
159 g (0.35 lb / 5.61 oz)
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
HERO13 Black is 64mm narrower, 46mm shorter, and 49mm thinner than Alpha 9 III.
HERO13 Black is 544 g lighter than Alpha 9 III.
Depth (front-to-back): 34mm HERO13 Black · 83mm Alpha 9 III
Sensor size, to scale
Alpha 9 III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
HERO13 Black: mount data unavailable
Alpha 9 III
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
HERO13 Black
Burst (mechanical)
8 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265 (HEVC)
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 71.8, 50.8, 33.6
Card types
Adds microSD
Weight
159 g vs 703 g — lower is better
ISO min (native)
100 vs 250 — lower is better
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 400 shots — higher is better
Resolution
27.6 MP vs 24.6 MP — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 9 III
AF points / zones
759 vs 0 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better
ISO max (native)
25,600 vs 6,400 — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 200 Mbps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
- ✓Bluetooth — Both support bluetooth
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
HERO13 Black
Pros
- ✓5.3K60 and 4K120 video
- ✓1/1.9-inch sensor
- ✓HyperSmooth 6.0 + Burst Slo-Mo
- ✓10m waterproof
Cons
- –Small sensor vs Action 5 Pro
- –Fixed lens
- –Enduro battery not backward compatible
Alpha 9 III
Pros
- ✓Global shutter 120fps
- ✓Zero rolling shutter
- ✓Pro sports AF
- ✓Pre-capture buffer
Cons
- –24.6MP only
- –Premium price
- –Battery drain at max speed
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the HERO13 Black and Alpha 9 III at major authorized retailers.
GoPro HERO13 Black
Sony Alpha 9 III
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, HERO13 Black or Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 III scores 7.5/10 versus 2.0/10 for HERO13 Black — 24.6MP — solid resolution.
What's the resolution difference between the HERO13 Black and Alpha 9 III?
HERO13 Black is 27.6 MP and Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP, so the HERO13 Black captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the HERO13 Black and Alpha 9 III have in-body image stabilization?
HERO13 Black does not have IBIS, while alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the HERO13 Black or the Alpha 9 III?
HERO13 Black reaches 20 fps electronic. Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the HERO13 Black and Alpha 9 III?
HERO13 Black weighs 159 g and Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g, so the HERO13 Black is 544 g lighter.
Do the HERO13 Black and Alpha 9 III record 4K video?
HERO13 Black: 4K up to 120p. Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the HERO13 Black and Alpha 9 III weather sealed?
HERO13 Black: Yes. Alpha 9 III: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the HERO13 Black and 400 shots for the Alpha 9 III, giving the HERO13 Black the edge.
How much does each cost?
HERO13 Black launched at $399 and Alpha 9 III at $5,999. The HERO13 Black is $5,600 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.