GoPro has built a brand around adventure. It’s the go-to camera for athletes, travelers, and creators who want to capture the moment in all its high-octane glory. But for a product that lives at the bleeding edge of action, the iPhone app experience feels… stuck.
The GoPro hardware is incredible. The footage is crisp. The durability? Industry-leading. But the digital experience, specifically the iOS app, feels more like an afterthought than an extension of the brand. And in 2025, that’s a UX problem GoPro can’t afford to ignore.
The App Is the Second Lens
Today, the mobile app isn’t just a remote control, it’s the entire post-capture experience. It’s the editor, the organizer, the cloud, the community. GoPro’s app should make this seamless, even fun. Instead:
- Connection is clunky. Pairing the camera to the phone often requires multiple attempts, prompts, and waiting. That’s frustrating when you’re on top of a mountain or mid-race.
- Navigation feels dated. Nested menus, unclear icons, and too many tap targets make basic functions like previewing or trimming a video feel tedious.
- Editing is underpowered or overwhelming. It’s either too simple to be useful or so loaded with gimmicks it feels unintuitive.
- Cloud backup feels like a sales pitch. Instead of being frictionless and automatic, it’s an upsell wrapped in confusion.
This isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about friction. And for a brand that sells ease, mobility, and adrenaline, friction is the enemy.
What the App Should Be
- Instant Connection, Zero Guesswork
- The app should instantly recognize a nearby GoPro and prompt to connect with a single tap. No Wi-Fi passwords. No lag. Think AirPods-level simplicity.
- Live, Responsive Preview
- Users need to see what the camera sees right now. No delay. No grainy buffer. This is table stakes in 2025.
- Contextual Tools Based on Usage
- Is the footage from a surf session? A bike ride? The app should use metadata (location, vibration, even AI scene detection) to offer tailored edit tools, filters, and suggestions.
- Smart Editing That Respects the User
- Not everyone wants a hype reel. Give users options to quickly select highlights, trim by gesture, and overlay data (speed, altitude, G-force) with one tap, without fighting a bloated timeline.
- Cloud Backup That Just Works
- Auto-upload should be the default, not an upsell. The value of GoPro footage isn’t in device storage; it’s in long-term access and easy sharing.
- Social-First Sharing
- Exporting to Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube should be one tap away, with formats pre-optimized for each platform.
- Modular Simplicity
- The UI should adjust depending on whether a user is live-streaming, recording for later, or just reviewing old footage. Don’t overwhelm everyone with every feature all the time.
This Isn’t Just a UX Rant — It’s a Business Opportunity
GoPro doesn’t need to rethink the camera. It needs to rethink the ecosystem.
Apple’s ecosystem thrives because every device, every app, and every interaction feels connected. That’s what GoPro users crave, especially as smartphone cameras continue to close the performance gap. A flawless app experience is what will keep GoPro relevant, competitive, and shareable.
And here’s the reality: In the minds of most users, the app is the brand. If the app is clunky, GoPro feels clunky. If the app is seamless, GoPro feels like magic.
Final Thoughts
GoPro has done the hard part, building one of the most iconic cameras in the world. Now it’s time to honor that innovation with a mobile experience that matches. One that’s intuitive, responsive, and, most of all, worthy of the wild moments it captures.
Because when the jump is clean, the wave is perfect, or the finish line is in sight, users shouldn’t have to fight with an app. They should be reliving the moment.