One of the many joys of having a GoPro is the ability to attach one to a board, helmet handlebar (or anywhere else you choose) and enjoy hands-free recording. It gives us the freedom to let the camera roll as we find a good wave, land a great trick or freefall while offering a great view.
It is possible to set the best cameras up and let them do their thing. But, it can also help to have some controls at hand in case of problems. Remotes offer this control, especially when they come with easy to use buttons, a strong wrist strap, and a good signal. The best will sync up to cameras with ease and help us get the best footage possible. But, some are better than others. That is why I have reviewed the products below.
I want to start this list with some of the official accessories that GoPro provide for their camera. This seems like the obvious direction to take when choosing a remote. You would assume that the company has the best understanding of the controls and connectivity needed.
However, as you will see from my reviews, I have also found that some of these products are a little flawed. That is why I have also included some alternative products from other brands. These options aren’t perfect either, but they show that we can have functional remotes at a better price and don’t have to stick with GoPro the entire time.
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These include the combination of the 600ft range from the camera and the waterproofing up to depths of 33ft. Now, I need to stress this point straight away. These two elements do not go together. That strong WiFi signal will cut out the moment you go underneath the waves.
Why is GoPro so sure that this # is the model that we all need for our action cameras?
Pros:
Cons:
There are lots of ways to enjoy this product. It is mountable, there is a key ring attachment and there is also a wrist strap. That long range of 600ft from the camera can provide access to up to 50 cameras at a time (which may be a bit excessive) and allows for full control of all functions from one small device. There is also a built-in LCD screen that mirrors the status of the camera for ease of use.
I have to talk about the cost of this remote because this is a clear downside in choosing an official GoPro device over something from another brand. Not only is this remote control significantly more costly than some of the others in this guide, it is about twice the price of a cheap action camera.
Some might argue that this is justified because of the features. But, there are still flaws, such as that focus on the waterproofing and the clarity of the screen. I found that you really do need to be in the right light to see the information on the screen. This isn’t always possible.
There is no doubt that this product has the functions and the quality to help users in lots of different situations. But, we have to question the price and worth of the device compared to other models here.
Is this model any better than the GoPro system above?
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Let’s begin with all the ways that this remote mirrors that well-designed model above. It seems that GoPro have a standard when it comes to their tech and their design and this doesn’t deviate too far from the blueprint. There is a slightly different design in the placement of the buttons, but the same approach to the screen. I also liked that there is the same remote accessory kit, with the keychain attachment and wrist strap, and also the same full camera control. The keychain attachment is a nice touch that other brands don’t consider. It is easier to remember to bring it with you if it’s attached to your car keys.
A big difference here is that this one is only waterproof to 10 feet. Although, as we saw above, this makes no difference to many users because of the lack of a connection underwater. I have also noticed that some users question what this remote can offer that the app can’t. Some users clearly expect a little more for the price paid – and I can’t really blame them. Personally, I was disappointed to see that the connection was not as flawless as expected.
This is a tricky one. There isn’t that much wrong with this remote, and it is cheaper than the Smart version. This alone makes it more appealing. Still, I, and many others, were left wanting a little more. It isn’t bad, but it still isn’t perfect.
Is there that much appeal to this little voice activated GoPro remote.
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Cons:
There are two things that I liked about this option. First of all, this is about as small as simple as they come. You can carry this around with ease, press the big button in the middle of the device and talk to the camera. I also liked that there is the intelligence on board to remember voice commands and create some “favourites”. This should help to save a little time if you perform a lot of the same functions over and over again.
The biggest problem that I found with this model is with the 10 metre range. For the most part, this is strong and reliable. But, the camera has to be in the line has to be in the line of sight of the remote or else it gets a little confused. This could be an issue depending on the reason for buying this system. It should also be noted that this remote is only compatible with the hero 5 or hero 6 back at the moment. This means that those with flashy, up-to-date cameras that want voice controls will have to wait.
This is a little bit of an expensive one trick pony right now. The appeal here all depends on how important voice controls are to you. Is it better this use this than a normal remote? If so, you could still enjoy the different features.
What makes this system a good alternative to the official GoPro remote?
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This is a remote where the designers have attempted to capture the look and function of an official product. The high praise for this system from its users shows that it does a pretty good job. However, I couldn’t help but notice that they tried to copy it a little too closely. Not all users like the LCD display on the official remote, and it may not have been wise to use it here. Still, the range and ease of use all mean that this is a worthy competitor. I also liked that there is a built in battery with a 7-8 hour run time. This appears to be true to its word and charges within an hour too.
Unfortunately, there are some potential problems with this product that some users have experiences. I have seen some reports about occasional syncing issues that seem to be more about user errors than a problem with the product itself. This is where it always helps to read the manual. Personally, I wasn’t too sure about the waterproofing. A range of 2m is fine when you fall off a board wearing the remote, but it seems a bit low to me.
I would say that it is pretty easy to recommend this product because of the quality of the remote, the features on offer and its general sense of reliability. Results and experiences do seem to vary greatly between users. But, that doesn’t mean that you will struggle with this cheaper option.
Why have I included this option in this guide?
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The are some nice touches to this remote that will help users in different settings. The first is the use of two LED indicators to tell users when the camera is recording. This is much nicer, in my opinion, than the LCD display. The system also has a control distance of 100m, comes with a charging cable and wrist strap and can be mounted with ease. I also like the use of the star button for a favourite setting. This is a nice little time saver that many users will take advantage of.
This system is pretty easy to use once you get used to the buttons and indicators. It is isn’t automatically clear what some of these do, so it helps to study the guide and play around a bit. There have been some programming issues at the start, and I had some myself. Still, I soon got the hang of it. There are also some concerns about the strength of the velcro strap. I have heard reports of it coming loose. There are products out there that have stronger accessories.
I would definitely recommend this to those that want an alternative options with a more interesting design. This one is much more affordable than a “real” GoPRO remote. There may have been a few hiccups from some users on the programming at the start, but this sound proves to be a helpful tool in different situations.
Is this remote good enough to compete with the original GoPro?
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The first benefit that I want to mention here is the sense of value for money. It comes with the wrist strap, charging cable and a travel bag. This travel bag a nice touch not seen with the official products. Granted, it is not the nicest, strongest case in the world. Still, it shows a level of thought and consideration for the user. This all helps to make this GoPro substitute a little easier to use. For the most part, I found that it held its own against the competition. Still, there were a couple of flaws.
The downsides to this system aren’t too bad if you are used to the GoPro remote, or have low expectations on the range. There is just a 50m range here. This should be more than enough for many basic needs, but is significantly smaller than that of the official products. There is also the use of the LCD screen, which always has readability problems. This one seemed to be a little smaller than the average screen too.
There is a lot about the function and design of this system that makes it a recommendable alternative to the official GoPro remote. It may not have the same range, but it does have the same design and sense of reliability.
How does this Suptig model compare to others in this guide to alternative GoPro remotes?
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One of the factors that I loved the most about this remote is the battery life. Battery lives can vary greatly between models, and this one seemed to last the longest. There is the promise that this can last for 5 hours, with no more than 30 minutes to charge back up. This is a lot of time out on the water and barely any time waiting around. I also want to point out that the accessories with this product are arguably better here than with the model above. Here there is the same wrist strap, but also a helpful neck lanyard.
My first warning for new users of this device it to make sure to read the set up instructions carefully. It is easy enough to sync if you follow the sequence to the letter. Those that don’t can get a little annoyed when the devices don’t talk to each other. Otherwise, there is little to complain about. Some of the features are a little basic, such as the waterproofing, but not so bad that they ruin the experience in any way.
I saw a comment from another user who said that this does everything a GoPro remote does, but at a better price. It is hard to argue with that when the system works. The design and functionality mean that there is a lot to love about this system. The addition of the accessories adds to the appeal. Overall, this has a lot of potential with the right user.
Why have I included this alternative GoPro model for consideration?
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Let’s start with all those positive that I noticed when testing out this product for myself. First of all, I like that this model shares that ability to program the remote with favourite settings. As I mentioned before, this can be a great timer saver for those that use action cameras a lot. There are two indicators on the top of the remote and a good range of 320ft. Some may be disappointed to learn that this only supports 6 cameras instead of 50, but I can’t see this being a big problem. I was also pleased with the 3 hour battery life.
As for the negative factors, there isn’t too much that I want to add on a personal level. I did find that it helped to read the manual before starting out because of the different settings. I prefer to learn on the go, so this got a little frustrating. I have also read reports from users that struggled with the magnetic connection for the charger at the back. This is a nice idea, but not always that secure.
I would recommend this model to anyone that has the time and patience to figure everything out. If you like this sort of design with the simple button and basic accessories, this version holds up pretty well. It ticks a lot of boxes for many GoPro users, and also comes at a decent price.
Does this product compare to the fancier GoPro remotes on the market?
Pros:
1) the different accessories to make this wearable
2) the use of full camera control
3) the familiarity of the design for those that have used GoPro remotes in the past
Cons:
1) potential issues with the display
2) some compatibility issues
The standout benefit with this model is that there are different ways to wear it. This doesn’t simply mean that there are the loops and connections for straps. The straps are included, which may explain the slightly higher price tag. There is a nice, thick wrist strap that runs through the back of the remote and lets users wear it like a watch. There is also a strong, nylon lanyard so you can wear it around the neck. I was also pleased with the connection on that 328ft range and the full camera control.
The downside to copying the original Smart GoPro remote so closely is that there is the risk of mimicking some of the downsides. For example, this device has a display that is very similar to that of the GoPro remotes. In the right conditions, this means that you can see important information about the status of the camera – such as battery life and settings. The problem is that this LCD screen can be difficult to read in bright sunlight. The other issue here is that this remote isn’t compatible with the most recent models of cameras. The most recent version that syncs up with this remote is the GoPro Hero 6. Once again, this means that anyone with a next gen model may need to pay a little more to get the remote they need.
As long as your camera is compatible with this remote, there aren’t too many reasons why you shouldn’t trust this system. The screen could be a problem – as per usual – but there are plenty of other benefits. This remote has the range and accessories to allow many users to get the footage they are after.
Does this remote do everything that we need it to do?
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There are some aspects of this remote that are very similar to those seen in other models. The ease of use continues here with the configuration of the buttons and the ability to program different settings. Users can also carry out different function with ease on the go thanks to that strong wrist strap. Even though the signal cuts out in the water, there is still enough water resistance to this model to ensure that I can use it while out on the waves. There are lots of aspects that I could tick off of my must-have list – such as the battery life and the LED indicators – which shows that Tesha did their homework when creating this model. However, there is one thing that is different. This one s compatible with the GoPro Hero 7 Black. This isn’t the case for many other options in this guide.
This doesn’t mean that there aren’t some problems with this device. There is one similarity between this and other remotes that can be frustrating to a number of users – that magnetic charging. This is meant to make things easier, but I do prefer a more straightforward USB connection. There is also an important difference in the shorter range. This promises to connect from a distance of 100m in optimal conditions. This does mean a much short range than with official GoPro remotes.
There are some flaws here that I would hope would improve with next-gen models of this remote. That all depends on the brand’s dedication to that magnetic charging. Overall, there is a lot here that is positive and helpful. The ease of use and great settings are definitely helpful.