With all that holiday season cash burning a hole through your debit card, are you torn between the GoPro Hero 11 Black and the GoPro Hero 12 Black? Both action cameras are top-of-the-line, but which one is right for you? Let’s dive into a detailed feature comparison to help you make an informed decision.
GoPro Hero 11 Black and Hero 12 Black: At a Glance
From the two feature spec lists below, it’s hard to spot the difference. Both cameras share the same dimensions and there’s only a gram of difference in weight, with the Hero 11 Black at 153g and the Hero 12 Black slightly heavier at 154g.
The GoPro HERO 11 Black
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Weight | 153 g |
| Dimensions | 71.8 mm × 50.8 mm × 33.6 mm |
| Video Capture Resolution | 5.3 K @ 60 fps, 4 K @ 120 fps, 2.7 K @ 240 fps |
| Photo Capture | 27 MP |
| Battery | 1 720 mAh |
| Waterproof | Up to 10 m (33 ft) |
| Stabilization | HyperSmooth 5.0 |
| Other Features | 8× Slo-Mo, 1080 p Live Streaming, Webcam Mode |
The GoPro HERO 12 Black
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Weight | 154 g |
| Dimensions | 71.8 mm × 50.8 mm × 33.6 mm |
| Video Capture Resolution | 5.3 K @ 60 fps, 4 K @ 120 fps, 2.7 K @ 240 fps |
| Photo Capture | 27 MP |
| Battery | 1 720 mAh |
| Waterproof | Up to 10 m (33 ft) |
| Stabilization | HyperSmooth 6.0 |
| Other Features | 8× Slo-Mo, 1080 p Live Streaming, Webcam Mode |
Both action cameras offer impressive video capture resolutions (5.3K60, 4K120, 2.7K240) and 27MP photo capture. They’re waterproof up to 33ft (or 10m) and feature robust stabilization technologies. So, besides the speckled blue appearance of the GoPro Hero 12, what exactly is the difference in these two cameras?
The Hero 12 retains the nearly square 8:7 aspect ratio sensor and GP2 processor, the same processor that appears in the range since the Hero 10, but now boasts extended battery life, enhanced image stabilization, 10-bit Log encoding capability, bluetooth connectivity and more.
GPS Support
Unlike the 11, the GoPro Hero 12 Black no longer has an inbuilt GPS module. I have read on some online forums, that this was an essential feature for some cross-country motorcyclists, who like to match up their video footage with their geographic location. You may wonder why GoPro have dropped this feature.
Battery Life: A Key Consideration
Battery life is crucial for action cameras. Both models use the 1720mAh Enduro battery, but the Hero 12 Black stands out with improved battery life in certain recording modes, and also thanks to optimizations like dropping GPS support. GoPro themselves claim that the Enduro battery boosts performance in cold temperatures over previous GoPro camera batteries. I’m guessing that’ll appeal to the snowboarders!
Was Dropping GPS Support a Wise Choice?
GoPro have probably weighed the pros and cons of the GPS module. Taking up valuable battery life versus the number of users who use the feature; I know I’ve always opted to turn the GPS off on my GoPro 11. But what killer features have they delivered to make this omission worth the sacrifice?
It’s interesting that despite dropping the GPS module, the weight of the 12 has increased by one gram. It would be interesting to know where that extra weight came from. Perhaps it’s related to the 10-bit log encoding.
External Bluetooth Device Support
When I first read that the Hero 12 had support for external bluetooth devices, I ordered one immediately! Let me be clear about this – the GoPro has had bluetooth support for many generations, but they’ve done little to utilize that support until now. The same Bluetooth 5 chip exists in the 11 and 12, but the 12 is the first to support connectivity to external audio devices like microphones.
As a motorcyclist, I often mount the GoPro on my crash helmet for moto-vlogging. On earlier models, recording spoken audio on the GoPro was a complex affair of external cables and so forth taped externally to the helmet. With external microphone bluetooth support, I can connect my GoPro Hero 12 Black via Bluetooth directly to my helmet intercom system, no cables required.
Motorcyclists often use a bluetooth intercom for various functions, from taking phonecalls to listening to audiobooks from our phones, to taking audible directions from a GPS navigator. The PackTalk Edge from Cardo is a popular choice, which supports mesh intercom connection with groups of up to 15 riders for group hooliganism on the roads!
Bluetooth has been our friend for a number of years now, so external Bluetooth device support on my GoPro was a long awaited feature.. But with that being said, I’ve not found a way of adjusting the volume of the external microphone from the GoPro, and I would sorely like to be able to turn it down a bit! So if the same bluetooth chip exists in the 11 as the 12, then why can’t owners of the GoPro HERO 11 Black have the same feature?
To speculate, it may have come down to power consumption and heat disapation. With all features enabled (think GPS and external bluetooth device connectivity), battery life may have suffered or temperature rise may have rendered the camera unstable.
Video Resolution: Capturing Every Detail
Supported Video Resolutions
| Resolution & Aspect Ratio | Frame Rates (FPS) |
|---|---|
| 5.3K (8:7) | 30, 25, 24 |
| 5.3K (16:9) | 60, 50, 30, 25, 24 |
| 4K (8:7) | 60, 50, 30, 25, 24 |
| 4K (9:16) | 60, 50, 30, 25 |
| 4K (16:9) | 120, 100, 60, 50, 30, 25, 24 |
| 2.7K (4:3) | 120, 100, 60, 50 |
| 2.7K (16:9) | 240, 200 |
| 1080 (9:16) | 60, 50, 30, 25 |
| 1080P (16:9) | 240, 200, 120, 100, 60, 50, 30, 25, 24 |
Supported Photo Resolutions
| Photo Type | Resolution |
|---|---|
| Max Photo Resolution | 27.13 MP (5568 × 4872) |
| Photo Frame-Grabs from Video | 24.69 MP from (8:7) 5.3 K Video |
While both cameras (11 and 12) offer the same resolutions, the Hero 12 Black introduces HDR video at 4K/60 and 5.3K/30. This feature enhances video quality, especially in varied lighting conditions, giving the Hero 12 Black an edge. This is achieved through use of the HEVC codec.
High-Efficency Video Coding (HEVC)
To store video information, both GoPro’s use the HEVC (aka H.265) video codec; software for video compression. The GoPro Hero 12 Black enables optional 10-bit log encoding, which is a colour profile that enables more control over colour adjustment in post-production by retaining more dynamic range information throughout the video image. This is meant for situations where a subject is very bright or over exposed, where tweaking in post is called for.
Microphone and Audio Codec
The GoPro Hero 12 Black has enhanced its audio capabilities with dual-channel audio recording. This feature allows for more dynamic and rich sound capture, essential for high-quality vlogging and action videos. The camera also supports external audio recording via Bluetooth microphones, adding versatility to its audio recording capabilities. In addition, the 12 supports the option to record raw audio to .WAV format, (which is an uncompressed audio format). Regarding the audio codec, GoPro typically uses the AAC codec for audio compression. This codec is known for its efficiency and ability to maintain quality at a lower bitrate, which is crucial for action cameras where file size and storage can be limiting factors.
Genius Improvements
I think that improvements to the GoPro Hero 12 Black are often glossed over in many recent reviews. The 12 for example, features an additional connectivity option. In the picture below, the 12 now has a screw-port option for existing standard camera mounts – useful if you’ve already got pro camera tripod. For capturing timelapse footage on a slider, this kind of simple but extremely helpful innovation is great. Well done GoPro! Additionally, I believe you can also retro-fit this new connector to previous versions, so further applause GoPro, what a super idea!
GoPro Voice Commands
If you’re coming to the GoPro platform for the first time, you may not know that GoPro cameras have had voice control since the GoPro Hero 5 Black! This is a great hands free feature that is missed by so many online reviewers. There are fourteen different voice commands in recent cameras, with sensible commands like those below:
| Voice Command | HERO12/11/10/9 Black & HERO10 Black Bones | HERO11 Black Mini | HERO8 and Older |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoPro Capture | Yes | Yes | HERO7 Only |
| GoPro Stop Capture | Yes | Yes | HERO7 Only |
| GoPro Start Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GoPro Stop Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GoPro HiLight | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GoPro Take a Photo | Yes | – | Yes |
| GoPro Shoot Burst | Yes | – | Yes |
| GoPro Start Time Lapse | Yes | – | Yes |
| GoPro Stop Time Lapse | Yes | – | Yes |
| GoPro Turn On | Unavailable on HERO12/11/10 Black | – | HERO8/7/6/5 Black & Remo Only |
| GoPro Turn Off | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GoPro Video Mode | Yes | – | Yes |
| GoPro Photo Mode | Yes | – | Yes |
| GoPro Time Lapse Mode | Yes | – | Yes |
| GoPro Burst Mode | – | – | Yes |
| That Was Sick | – | – | Adds a HiLight tag while recording video |
Temperatures Rising
It’s worth prefixing this section with the caveat that overheating problems are common across all action cameras when used at high settings in a warm environment without airflow.
The GoPro Hero 11 Black camera had an overheating issue when dealing with high resolution, high framerate capture, like 5.3K/60FPS video, which would affect the camera in warmer environments. As you can imagine, if you’ve mounted your GoPro to a helmet and are tearing up the roads on your motorcycle, or capturing footage while swimming underwater or skiing in the Alps; the environment cools the camera sufficiently for this issue to be completely unnoticable.
With that said, GoPro have addressed overheating in the GoPro Hero 12 Black. Perhaps that extra gram of weight in the GoPro Hero 12 Black has been allocated to heat dissapation, since the same GP2 processor across both cameras is now significantly more resiliant to overheating. Some though, still report different experiences with both the 11 and 12.
The Overheating Issue
User Experiences: One user mentioned that the Hero 12 only overheated in nearly 100°F weather while recording at 60fps with the highest level of HyperSmooth enabled. By contrast, their Hero 11 would overheat after about 55 minutes in 80°F.
Another user reported that their Hero 12 overheated four times under identical conditions where their Hero 11 did not overheat at all.
A different perspective was shared by a user who didn’t experience significant overheating issues with the Hero 12, noting that such problems are common in action cameras when used at high settings in warm conditions without airflow.
Source: Reddit Discussion
Comparison
Hero 11 Black: Seems to have a more consistent issue with overheating, particularly in warmer conditions and when recording at high settings.
Hero 12 Black: Overheating issues are reported but seem to be less consistent among users. Some users experience it under extreme conditions, while others do not face problems.
Unique Features: What Sets them Apart?
Hero 11 Black : Known for its HyperSmooth 5.0 stabilization, it’s a solid choice for smooth footage and includes a GPS module, a feature which may tilt the decision for some users.
Hero 12 Black : Steps up with HyperSmooth 6.0, a new camera mount, extra HDR video resolutons. It’s tailored for both casual users and professionals with features like 10-bit log encoding and wireless timecode syncing. With new bluetooth support, this feature won my heart instantly!
Which Camera Wins in Each Category?
- Battery Life : Hero 12 Black, for its optimized battery usage.
- Video Resolutions : Hero 12 Black, thanks to HDR video capabilities.
- Unique Features : Hero 12 Black, offering superior stabilization and bluetooth support, at the cost of a little employed GPS module.
Reviews Roundup: What the Critics Say
I have to say I’m a little taken aback from what the critics have had to say with each new release of the GoPro. They bemoan the lack of feature delta between one revision and the next; it’s almost as though they expect a complete overhaul and groundbreaking technology improvements as GoPro inches ever closer to perfection!
I’ve found the addition of Bluetooth connectivity and improved battery performance to be very welcome additons to the lineup and well worth the purchase.
Innovations like the standard camera shoe mount are simple and ingenious. While the critics are right to point out that the competition is catching up to GoPro, in my view GoPro are still the best action cam on the market, delivering a superb camera platform that is second to none.
Critics View: GoPro Hero 11 Black
The critics praise the camera for its robust form factor and pro level features, but criticize the small delta in features between the 11 and the 12.
Critics View: GoPro Hero 12 Black
Critics highlight new features for creators and professionals, along with improvements for casual users. Again, the camera is praised for its feature set and they cannot find fault, but note that the competition is starting to catch up.
Final Thoughts
The Hero 12 Black emerges as the more advanced option, particularly for those seeking the latest in video technology and professional-grade features. However, the Hero 11 Black remains a strong contender, especially for those who prioritize a balance of performance and value.
I own both cameras and I cannot tell the difference in the quality of output; they really are both that good. So for me, it comes down to GPS or Bluetooth – which is your essential feature? Choose accordingly. If you really need GPS data, perhaps you could acquire it from your smartphone or similar?
Whichever you choose, both GoPro Hero 11 Black and Hero 12 Black are sure to elevate your action-packed adventures and capture your world in stunning detail.
With the advent of the GoPro Hero 13 being unleashed on the market, please look out for an in-depth review of the Hero 13 soon. We’ll bring you the latest specs, details and comparison with the existing GoPro Hero lineup, so you can make an informed choice when you buy!
Featured Product Links
GoPro Hero 12 Black
GoPro Hero 11 Black
GoPro Enduro Battery
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