Verdict
The GoPro Hero 12 Black offer sharp HDR video , telling image stabilisation , and plenty of originative characteristic and shot mode in a broken , waterproof package . However , the action at law camera still suffers from many of the same drawbacks as its predecessors .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Every autumn like clockwork , GoPro updates its flagship action camera melody with the recent GoPro Hero mannikin .
This time around , it ’s the GoPro Hero 12 Black that ’s make out to join us on our outdoor adventures and capture all the military action .
Compared to 2022 ’s GoPro Hero 11 Black , the Hero 12 Black brings HDR , upgraded HyperSmooth 6.0 look-alike stabilisation , a more various climb , and evenApple AirPodsupport to the bantam natural process camera . But is all of this enough to justify an rise ? Here are my thoughts after weeks of testing .
Design
The GoPro Hero 12 Black looks almost identical to its predecessor . The tv camera divvy up the same sack - sized 71.8 x 50.8 x 33.6 millimeter dimensions , lightweight 154 g design , and dual - show layout .
The dead body is adorned with a new sorry - speckle pattern that , at first glance , made me wonder ifrecycled plasticshad been used in the construction of the tv camera ( think theAcer Aspire Veroor theFairbuds XL ) . However , GoPro has enounce nothing to bespeak that the Hero 12 Black is built from any unexampled or more sustainable materials which is a shame .
Of course , the Hero 12 Black benefit from GoPro ’s trademark hardness and this camera is waterproofed up to 10 m ( 33 foot ) alone or 60 m ( 196 ft ) when paired with the stigma ’s own Protective Housing example .
The television camera features two show – one 2.27 - column inch touch screen on the rear of the camera , and a secondly smaller 1.4 - inch screen on the front of the camera . I find the displays to be crisp and easy to navigate , though I do wish well that the front screen had touch support like theDJI Osmo Action 4and even theOsmo Action 3 . Suffice to say the GoPro ’s front cover feel a little dated in this respect .
I also did n’t find the touching controls on the rear concealment to be responsive to lighter touches . I do n’t think this is a forged matter as it helps to prevent any non - calculated public press in the centre of action but it is something to mark .
The tv camera include a exclusive MicroSD card slot for media storage , along with oneUSB - Cport for charge and uploading footage to your personal computer . You ’ll postulate to pick up GoPro ’s Media Mod if you require an HDMI port .
mouth of Mods , GoPro has update its mounting fingers with 1/4 - 20 mounting ribbon to make the Hero 12 Black compatible with standard television camera mounts and accouterment . The companionship has also released the Max Lens Mode 2.0 , enabling the camera to appropriate an extremist - wide 177 - degree field of view in 4K/60p as well as a 48 % broad FOV when capturing vertical video recording for social media .
Features
The GoPro Hero 12 Black takes advantage of a wide image of ( mostly familiar ) features .
As with every major GoPro update , the Hero 12 Black beckons in a new version of the brand ’s HyperSmooth stabilisation feature of speech . HyperSmooth 6.0 includes AutoBoost to ensure you get the widest shots possible , while Horizon Lock is build in to assure the horizon remains level even when the camera turn 360 degrees .
Hindsight ensures you never neglect a second of action by capture footage up to 30 s before you press disk , while Scheduled Capture have you walk away or go to bottom be intimate that your GoPro will start commemorate when you need it to .
When it ’s time to slow it down , the camera provide up to 8x irksome - mo in 2.7K. There are also three creative Night Effects to experiment with when the sun goes down , including Star Trails to trance loose trails in the sky , Light Painting to pull shapes and picture using light sources , and Vehicle Light Trails to take heart - catching footage of late - night traffic .
There ’s a novel Interval Photo feature designed to automatically snap photos at pay off intervals , as well as a New Timecode Sync feature which makes it potential to wirelessly sync multiple Hero 12 Black tv camera to record at once . We ’d expect the latter to be especially handy for those work on more complex shoot with more than one GoPro on hand .
If you ’re an AirPod user , you ’ll be excited to hear that the Hero 12 Black also now appropriate you to record audio and issue outside voice require through the Bluetooth earbuds , including the ever - pop Apple pair .
I test the voice commands myself and rule the camera to be frosty and responsive when asked to finish actions , such as start to record a picture .
Many of these features can be found in the GoPro Quik app , along with the option to import footage and edit it . However , certain features – include unlimited swarm storage , automatic high spot telecasting , synced edits , and live cyclosis – are interlock behind GoPro ’s Premium / Premium+ paywall and need a annual subscription to gain ground access .
Image and video quality
The Hero 12 Black is power by GoPro ’s own GP2 central processing unit . The C.P.U. go far with theHero 10 Blackin 2021 , bringing faster performance , improved resolutions , and high frame of reference rates compared to GoPro ’s previous processor .
The GP2 is paired with a 1/1.9 - column inch CMOS image detector , enabling the camera to capture sharp 5.3K/60p telecasting , 27 - megapixel effigy , and 24.7 - megapixel stills from telecasting . Along with 5.3K/60p at an aspect ratio of 16:9 , the Hero 12 Black can put down 5.3 K at 30p ( 8:7 ) , 4 K at 60p , and 2.7 K at 240p .
The image and TV resolutions are the same as those found on last year’sGoPro Hero 11 Black . However , the action cam now tolerate an 8:7 aspect proportion when using more modes , including TimeWarp , Time Lapse , and Night Lapse boast .
Another major upgrade is HDR bread and butter for video , meaning the camera is capable of retaining more detail in the brighter and darker parts of a scene for great dynamic grasp .
I found the image caliber to be sharp and vibrant in good lighting , with saturated skies , good direct contrast , and no shortfall of detail in the subject . The smaller sensor means that the caliber ca n’t meet that of most modernmirrorless cameras , but that ’s a via media you make for the pouch - sized design and high-pitched enduringness .
Like the Hero 11 Black , the Hero 12 Black ’s small sensor can struggle with low - light performance , causing details to be lost and lighter to come out blow out . This is another drawback of the modest sensor . If you ’re looking for the best humbled - light action cam , consider prefer for theDJI Osmo Action 4instead .
Battery life
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is equipped with the same 1720 mAh Enduro battery as the Hero 11 Black that hail before it . However , that does n’t cease the latest GoPro from delivering 2x long continuous recording at 5.3K/60p equate to its predecessor .
The Hero 12 Black ’s improved power direction mean that the photographic camera can last up to 70 minutes when recording 5.3K/60p television , 1.5 hours when fascinate 5.3K/30p video , and more than 2.5 hours when continuously recording 1080p/30p video recording .
I rule that the photographic camera lasted around two hours when I took it out to shoot down 5.3K/60p telecasting and capture still on and off , which was more than enough time to get a estimable amount of content . However , I ’d recommend picking up an extra barrage fire or two if you intend to be out all twenty-four hours .
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Should you buy it?
The GoPro Hero 12 Black is thebest action camerafor image tone when shooting in bright , well - light environments .
While the GoPro includes a full regalia of nighttime feature , it does n’t beat theDJI Osmo Action 4when it comes to low - light image timbre .
Final Thoughts
The GoPro Hero 12 Black improves upon theHero 11 Blackin a small issue of impactful mode . HDR support land improved dynamic range , while AirPod living makes capturing clear audio even easier . The bombardment sprightliness is longer and there ’s the common update image stabilization .
However , there are still a few areas in which GoPro palpate behind the curve , especially when compare to its biggest competitor , DJI . TheOsmo Action 4offers better scummy - light performance and the camera ’s front touchscreen and magnetic mount are two modern conveniences we ’d love to see on the next GoPro . For more choice , check out ourBest Action Cameraguide .
Trusted Score
How we test
We thoroughly test every action camera we look back . We ’ll always assure you what we get hold and we never , ever , take money to review a production .
FAQs
The Hero 12 Black can capture 5.3 cat valium video at 60p , 4 K at 120p , and 2.7 KB at up to 240p . The camera also bust 27 - megapixel photo and 24.7 - megapixel stills from television .
you may upload and edit footage using GoPro ’s own GoPro Quik app , though some features require a GoPro Premium / Premium+ subscription .
Full Specs
