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GoPro HERO 10 Teardown

Posted by Mark Kirschenbaum on

GoPro HERO 10 "Kongs"

If it wasn't for the milestone edition number, one may consider this camera a "HERO 9+" as the hardware under the hood hasn't changed much. The only major change is the GP2 processor. Hardware-wise, almost everything else, including the sensor, is the same in this iteration. Of course, the power comes from the software advancements and the new powerful imaging pipelines. 

GoPro HERO 10 teardown

With this latest processor, GoPro Inc. is able to step up the frame rates one notch for all the higher resolutions. This is a super nice feature for those capturing high speed content for slow motion processing in post. 

With this said, I'm very skeptical about the reliability of this camera being this is the first 64bit architecture camera GoPro Inc. has launched. Their entire 32bit code base was converted for this new processor, and I'm sure there are bugs they have not caught on the conversion. It's difficult converting a 32bit embedded code base that has maturing for 6 to 7 years to a 64bit architecture. With this said, I haven't heard any usability issues from early adopters, but only time will tell. 

GoPro HERO10 front view

GoPro Inc. has chosen not to recertify this product with the FCC and has kept the SPBL1 FCC ID. The WIFI/BLE radios reside on the master board so their internal testing must indicate this intentional radiator has not changed. This is a sign that little has changed on this revision. 

GoPro HERO9 Internals same as the HERO10 SPBL1 FCC
SPBL1 FCC Teardown Image. GoPro HERO10 Mainboard is just slightly different.

Pricing

The price tag went way up this year to $499.99 without Subscription and $399.98 with a cancellable 1year subscription. When ordering, I suggest, getting the subscription, upgrading the sdcard for $14.99, and adding an extra battery to your order

GoPro's GP2 Processor

  • GP2 is now an ARM ARMV8 running 64bit Linux and 64bit GoPro's application RTOS code on top of Socionext's middleware. 
  • RTOS provided by Socionext and is T-Kernel
  • The GP2 now has a dedicated GPU licensed from Takumi GV380
  • The GP2 is a Socionext Milbeaut M20V "Karine"
  • ARM Cortex-A53 with 4 cores 
  • ASLR is disabled. EL-3 bootloader, EL-1 RTOS
  • No news on how the CEVA-DSP based image processor cores have changed. 
  • Firmware updates are now signed but appears sideloading is possible.
  • Upstream has not been updated with this processor and we made a GPL request.  
HERO9/10 FCC Internal Photos Socionext M20V


GoPro HERO 9 FCC Internal Photos. The GoPro HERO 10 is very similar as seen below and as per the FCC license. Slimport device (bottom center) has been removed.

Disappointing Lack of Changes

  • Same Sony IMX677 1/2.3 sensor.
  • Same IMU, WIFI chipset, GPS, master PMIC, and LCDs
  • Removal of dspGroup DBMD4. Will not have voice wakeup feature. 
  • No built-in HDMI, seems removal of discrete Slimport transmitter Analogix anx7816. 
  • Recording for long durations appears to kill the battery quicker.
  • Max Lens Mod does not work at release.

Internal Photos courtesy of Kim Tang

GoPro HERO 10 vs GoPro HERO 9 Internals Photo by Kim Tang @aiyazen
GoPro HERO 10 (left) vs GoPro HERO 9
Internals Photo by Kim Tang @aiyazen

Notice the new PMIC under the GP2 as well as the SAM L22 (left bottom corner) moved to the frontside.

The Slimport has been removed on the GoPro HERO 10

GoPro HERO 10 vs GoPro HERO 9 Internals Photo by Kim Tang @aiyazen
Bottom comparison by Kim Tang

Notice the SAM L22 is no longer on the backside and they removed the dspGroup DBMD4.

Updated Features

  • Much more responsive user interface
  • 5.3K60 frames per second, 4K120 and 2.7K240
  • Local Tone Mapping (LTM) and 3D Noise Reduction (3DNR). Sharpness artifacts and color profiles have been cleaned up a bunch on this release. New "Natural" Color profile.
  • Using more of the sensor area for photos 23MP vs 20MP on the HERO9
  • Hypersmooth 4.0 / Timewarp 3.0 
  • Horizontal leveling from 27degrees to 45degrees
  • New lens coating, "hydrophobic water-shedding glass"
  • Optimized battery usage for shorter segments. In other words, bootup and standby doesn't run all the processors at the highest speed possible, thus conserving power. DDR is running at a lower voltage too.
  • Faster USB-C downloading, including directly to your phone.
  • 19.6MP still captures from 5.3K 4:3 video (15.8MP from 5.3K 16:9)

Mechanically

The GoPro HERO10 has shaved off a few ounces, but the rest remains the same. 

GOPRO HERO10 GOPRO HERO9
Weight (g) 153g 158g
Length (mm) 71 71
Height (mm) 55 55
 Width (mm) 33.6 33.6


    Code Names & IDS

    Codename: Kong(s)
    Model: 57
    Model: HD10.01
    User Manual
    Open Source Repository (Pending)

    GoPro HERO10 Black Logo

    More Information 

    As always, logs and such will be posted on our GitHub Repo as our research continues.

    The GoPro HERO 10 RTOS has a new "Flight Data Recorder" logging platform which should provide a plethora of debugging information. 

    Design Wins

    No Change

    Socionext
    M20V
    GoPro GP2

    Imaging Processor
    "GoPro GP2" processor (M20V)
    ARMV8 / CEVA DSP / Target ID 0x2751
    2GB SDRAM Flipchip

    Qualcomm
    QCA9377

    High performance, low power single-stream 11ac MU-MIMO and Bluetooth 5 in a single chip solution.

    Sony
    IMX677

    Diagonal 7.85 mm (Type 1/2.3) CMOS Image Sensor with Square Pixel for Color Cameras. 23.91 M effective Pixels. SLVS interface
    Bosch
    BMI260 IMU
    Accelerometer / Gyro pair 6-axis sensor. 
    UBlox
    UBX-M8030-CT

    GPS Receiver u-blox M8 GNSS chip, WL-CSP47, Standard grade. New gpio for LNA feedback. 
    [Hardware A]

    NEW

    UBlox
    MAX-M10S

    GPS Receiver u-blox M10. 1v8 device. Updated for part shortages. 

    [Hardware B]

    Qorvo
    ACT9150
    PMIC (Power Management IC) for Socionext.
    Power supply, charging, and LED control

    NEW

    Qorvo
    ACT88760

    PMIC #2 0v8 AVS regulator

    Sitronix
    st7701s

    Rear LCD, 16.7M-color  (368px by 552px)

    FocalTech
    ft3308

    Rear Touch sensor  368px by 552px
    Sitronix
    st7796h
    Front LCD 320RGB x 480 dot 262K Color
    Microchip
    SAM L22
    USB-C PD / Accessory Sentinel / Battery Authentication  / Reset Handler / RTC
    Always "on"
    64Kb Encrypted bootloader & app 
    Still authenticates Battery and SHA204 as HERO5+

    Removed DSP Group DBMD4 

    "Ultra Low Power Always-On Voice Activation for Any Device" Audio DSP pre-processor. Firmware is the same.

    Removed Analogix anx7816 

    Seems Slimport transmitter is now part of GP2

    Samsung 
    KLM8G1GETF-B041
    8GB eMMC 5.1 HS400 interface

    1720mAh Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery

    TI SN27Z562 Fuel Gauge and authentication chip

    Li Ion 1720mAh 
    2.8v Depleted voltage
    3.4v Hysteresis voltage
    3.5v Normal voltage
    4.340 End of Charge Voltage
    1.16 ounces

    Chem-ID 0x3936 TI Fuel Gauge
    TI SN
    27Z562
    GoPro type '3'

    Checks "Certified by GoPro" Device Name & "Genuine TI SN27Z562" Manufacturer Name which is new

     

    All we request is you link this article as a source! 
    Thank you! - Hypoxic Team

    LEGAL: This product and/or service is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or in any way associated with GoPro Inc. or its products and services. GoPro, HERO, and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of GoPro, Inc. HEROBUS and BACPAC are trademarks of GoPro Inc.


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