After weeks of leaks, the GoPro Hero 12 Black is formally right here – and it is one of many smallest updates we have seen to GoPro’s flagship motion digicam.
Nonetheless, whereas there’s nothing as radical as a brand new 1-inch sensor, the Hero 12 Black does ship a handful of recent upgrades on the Hero 11 Black which can be notably geared in the direction of extra superior video shooters.
These embody assist for dual-channel audio, HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization, a brand new built-in tripod thread and a much-improved battery life (on paper, at the least). You may also now use its full 8:7 sensor space in all taking pictures modes, which is helpful for TikTok and social media.
GoPro Hero 12 Black specs
Sensor: 1/1.9in (8:7 facet ratio)
Video (max decision): 5K/60p
Video (bit-rate): 10-bit or 8-bit
Video (slo-mo): 4K/120p
Pictures: 27MP
Stabilization: HyperSmooth 6.0
Battery: GoPro Enduro
Processor: GP2
This does additionally imply that quite a bit stays unchanged, together with the 1/1.7-inch sensor (which is smaller than the one within the DJI Osmo Motion 4), 5.3K video recording and the physique design, which is at the least suitable with all the standard Media Mods and equipment.
Speaking of which, GoPro has additionally introduced a brand new Media Mod 2.0 that gives an ultra-wide, 177-degree discipline of view and, most apparently, a brand new GoPro Quik desktop app (which will likely be out there in November 2023). So when is the Hero 12 Black out there and can it retain GoPro’s long-held reign on the prime of our information to the most effective motion cameras? Here is every little thing you want to know.
GoPro Hero 12 Black: Lower to the chase
- What’s it? GoPro’s newest flagship motion digicam.
- When is it out there? Proper now from GoPro’s retailer, on from September 13 at shops globally.
- How a lot does it value? The Hero 12 Black prices $399 / £399 / AU$649, and it additionally out there in a bundle with the Max Lens Mod 2.0 for $479 / £479 / AU$785.
GoPro Hero 12 Black value and launch date
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is on the market to pre-order proper now from GoPro’s retailer in three totally different bundles, and go on sale in shops globally from September 13.
In case you simply want the motion cam itself, it prices $399 / £399 / AU$649. That is the identical value that the Hero 11 Black launched for final yr when it was purchased with a GoPro Subscription. You do not want a Subscription this time to get that value, which is a bonus for individuals who do not wish to be tied down with month-to-month funds.
The opposite two bundles are an Equipment bundle (which provides you an additional Enduro battery, Handler tripod and Head Strap) for $449 / £449 / AU$729, and a bundle with the Max Lens Mod 2.0 for $479 / £479 / AU$785.
The brand new GoPro Quik desktop app will likely be part of the GoPro Subscription and will likely be out there from November 2023. We’re checking to see if there will be a model of the app for non-Subscribers and can replace this web page once we hear again.
GoPro Hero 12 Black options and battery life
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is a fairly minor improve on its predecessor, and one of many smallest updates we have seen for its flagship motion digicam. However there are 5 major upgrades that would encourage you select it over the cheaper Hero 11 Black or the brand new DJI Osmo Motion 4.
Arguably the largest one, notably for vloggers or taking pictures for social media, is assist for twin channel audio. Because the title suggests, this allows you to report two audio tracks on the identical time – for instance, one from the GoPro’s Media Mod and one other from an exterior mic.
Alongside that, the Hero 12 Black additionally now has assist for any wi-fi Bluetooth microphone, together with Apple AirPods, and allows you to hook it as much as 4 Bluetooth units concurrently. This could possibly be notably helpful for including voiceovers, or simply listening to recording alerts by way of your earphones.
One other vital quality-of-life improve is what GoPro claims is a much-improved battery life. It nonetheless makes use of the identical Enduro batteries because the Hero 11 Black, thoughts, however GoPro says that improved energy administration can ship as much as 70 minutes of steady video recording in 5K/60p, even with HyperSmooth 6.0 turned on. That is an honest leap over its predecessor in concept, however one we’ll want to check out within the discipline.
Whereas the Hero 12 Black makes use of the identical 1/1.9in sensor (with a flexible 8:7 facet ratio) as earlier than, alongside the GP2 processor we first noticed on the Hero 10 Black, it does have a number of new picture high quality methods. The video decision and frame-rates are the identical as earlier than, however now you can use that full 8:7 sensor space in all taking pictures modes. Which means it is attainable to shoot TimeWarps, Time Lapses, Evening Lapses and Evening Results in a TikTok-friendly vertical format.
A extra pro-friendly new characteristic is the addition of GP-Log encoding, which when paired with 10-bit recording ought to give colour graders some additional dynamic vary and colour variations to play with throughout video enhancing.
Lastly, on the underside of the Hero 12 Black there’s now an trade commonplace 1/4-inch tripod thread, in between its ordinary mounting fingers. Okay, it isn’t precisely a revolutionary addition, however it’s fairly helpful in the event you commonly use a regular tripod along with your motion cams or do not wish to shell out for additional equipment.
GoPro Hero 12 Black: early ideas
Given the early rumors and our authentic wishlist for the Hero 12 Black, it is exhausting to not be slightly underwhelmed – we might hoped for a 1-inch sensor and an edge-to-edge display screen, however what we have as an alternative is a mildly upgraded Hero 11 Black with the identical sensor, processor and design (except for that new tripod thread).
Clearly, GoPro is struggling to evolve its motion cam {hardware} and that will make its battle with the DJI Osmo Motion 4 the closest one we have seen to this point. Nonetheless, dig into the Hero 12 Black’s spec sheet and also you do discover little bonuses that would nonetheless make it probably the most interesting alternative for execs who wanted a super-rugged B-cam – together with dual-channel audio and GP-Log encoding for colour graders.
We’re trying ahead to placing these battery life claims to the take a look at and in addition seeing GoPro’s new Quik desktop app in motion, even when the latter is barely free for Subscribers. Till then, we might suggest a number of the greatest GoPros of the current previous in the event you want a extra reasonably priced motion digicam, as they are going to probably carry a lot of the identical polish and picture high quality of the Hero 12 Black for much less.
