GoPro Rechargeable Battery (AJBAT-001) Review

Overview

The AJBAT-001 is GoPro’s stock 1220mAh lithium-ion battery, the one that shipped with the HERO8 Black and fits four generations of the company’s flagship action cam. For backpackers still shooting with a HERO5 through HERO8, it is the simplest way to double a camera’s runtime for the weight of a few coins’ worth of metal. The trade-off is that the cell is old technology: modest capacity, mediocre cold tolerance, and a spot on the discontinued list at a growing number of retailers.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Model number	AJBAT-001
Chemistry	Lithium-ion
Capacity	1220 mAh, 3.85 V, 4.7 Wh
Weight	26.8 g
Dimensions	3.6 x 3.2 x 1.1 cm (1.4 x 1.3 x 0.4 in)
Compatible cameras	HERO8, HERO7, HERO6, HERO5 Black; HERO (2018)
Not compatible	HERO9 Black and later
Charging	In-camera over USB, or a separate GoPro charger
Typical price	$19.99 at launch-era retail

Performance

Runtime. The battery’s job is to keep a HERO8 or HERO7 recording, and the numbers are modest. At 4.7 Wh, it works out to roughly 5.7 g per watt-hour, which is a respectable ratio for a camera battery, but the absolute capacity is small. Owners describe the battery as good for about an hour of continuous recording, and that matches the way the camera is typically carried on trail: a spare per day of heavy shooting, or one spare for a weekend of occasional clips. Time-lapse and photo-only use stretch it considerably further, though that depends heavily on the mode and screen use.

Cold. This is where the AJBAT-001 shows its age. A skier testing a HERO8 at about -15 °C (5 °F) reported that one battery lasted about 40 minutes, mostly on standby after sitting unused on a helmet. A second, run continuously from the start, lasted just over an hour. The same tester found that a bare HERO8 battery left in a freezer for 30 to 40 minutes would not restart the camera until it had been charged a bit. HERO7 batteries, by contrast, would revive after warming. Later GoPro Enduro cells were developed specifically to fix this and are rated for cold-weather use down to -10 °C (14 °F), but they do not fit these older bodies in the other direction: the AJBAT-001 is not compatible with the HERO9 Black or later, per GoPro Support. On shoulder-season trips, the practical answer is to keep spares in an inside pocket and swap them while still warm.

Fit and compatibility. Because this is the first-party cell, there are no third-party firmware warnings or fit quirks. Older cameras need updating first: GoPro Support says the HERO6 Black must be running current firmware, and the HERO5 Black and HERO (2018) require a software update to recognize the battery. The battery charges in the camera or in a separate charger, and a dual charger that accepts two cells at once is the usual companion for multi-day trips with access to a USB power bank.

Travel. At 4.7 Wh, the cell is far below airline carry-on limits. One owner reports carrying four in a carry-on across domestic and international flights with no problems at airport security.

Availability. GoPro’s own listing has been joined by “discontinued” or “no longer available” notices at several large retailers, so stock is increasingly a matter of leftover inventory. B&H’s listing includes a limited lifetime manufacturer warranty. Buyers should favor reputable sellers over marketplace listings, where counterfeits and off-brand cells of unknown capacity are common.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 26.8 g and 3.6 x 3.2 x 1.1 cm, small enough to disappear in a hip-belt pocket
• First-party cell that fits HERO5 through HERO8 Black and the 2018 HERO
• Charges in-camera over USB, so a power bank handles resupply
• 4.7 Wh is well within carry-on limits
• Typically around $20

Cons

• Roughly an hour of continuous recording per cell
• Poor cold performance; a frozen cell may need charging before the camera starts
• Will not work in HERO9 Black or newer cameras
• Increasingly discontinued at major retailers
• Older cameras need firmware updates before the battery works

Who Should Buy This

Owners of a HERO5 through HERO8 Black who want a genuine spare for a weekend or a section hike will be well served: it is cheap, light, and fits without fuss. Carry two spares if filming video daily, and keep them warm below freezing. Anyone shooting in winter conditions, or planning to upgrade soon to a HERO9 or later, should look elsewhere: the battery is incompatible with newer bodies, and the cold-tolerant Enduro line is the better match for them.

Verdict

The AJBAT-001 is a competent, unglamorous spare that does exactly what the camera needs in three-season conditions and no more. Buy it if a HERO8 or older is already in the pack and the camera is the one you plan to keep; skip it if an upgrade is on the horizon or cold weather is the main use.