GoPro HERO12 Black: Full Review

The GoPro HERO12 Black is GoPro's newest flagship action camera that was released in September 2022. As the latest iteration in the popular HERO line, it builds upon the success of previous models with updated features and capabilities.

The HERO12 Black continues GoPro's tradition of creating small, durable cameras suited for shooting immersive footage during adventures and action sports. It's designed to capture crisp, stabilized video at up to 5.3K resolution and 27MP photos. With its rugged, waterproof construction, it can keep up with all kinds of outdoor activities.

For adrenaline junkies, athletes, travelers, and content creators, the HERO12 Black aims to be the ultimate versatile camera for capturing life's most exciting moments. GoPro packed it with cutting-edge capabilities like next-generation HyperSmooth 5.0 image stabilization, fast charging, and a new large image sensor. It also simplified some aspects of use to help first-time users get started quickly.

As GoPro's flagship model, the HERO12 Black represents the company's most advanced action camera to date. With its combination of stunning video quality, durability, and improved usability, it's positioned as a versatile imaging powerhouse for any scenario.

Design

The GoPro HERO12 Black has a compact yet rugged design that's optimized for action cameras. It measures 71.8 x 55 x 33.6 mm and weighs just 153 grams, making it easy to mount virtually anywhere. Despite its small size, the HERO12 Black feels very solid and durable thanks to its durable plastic housing.

The camera has a large 2.27 inch touch screen on the back which makes changing settings and framing shots easy. There are only two buttons on the camera - the mode button on the side to switch between video, photo, and timelapse modes, and the shutter button on top. The side door houses the battery as well as a USB-C port for charging and wired connections. The bottom of the camera has a standard GoPro mount for attaching accessories.

Overall the HERO12 Black retains the iconic blocky GoPro look but refines it with a streamlined design. The minimal buttons keep things simple while the touchscreen provides an intuitive way to control the camera on the go. The compact size and light weight make it highly portable and mountable in a wide range of action scenarios.

The GoPro HERO10 Black, another excellent action camera from GoPro, shares many design elements with the HERO12 Black but with improvements in performance and user experience. It is known for its powerful GP2 processor, which enhances the overall speed and responsiveness. To learn more about the HERO10 Black, visit the GoPro HERO10 Black page.

Image Quality

The GoPro HERO12 Black captures excellent quality images with its new 27MP sensor. The increased resolution from 23MP on previous models allows for more detailed and sharper images.

The 1/1.9" sensor size is quite large for an action camera. This enables improved low light performance and greater dynamic range compared to smaller sensors. You'll get cleaner images with less noise in dim lighting conditions.

New HyperSmooth 5.0 image stabilization provides even better stabilization over the previous version. It smooths out hand shake and bumps extremely well when shooting. This allows you to capture crisp images even during fast-paced activities like cycling or skiing. The improved stabilization is a great upgrade for users who found jittery footage to be an issue with past GoPro models.

Overall, the HERO12 Black represents a nice step up in image quality over previous GoPros. The increased resolution, improved stabilization and low light performance allow it to capture sharp, detailed images in a wide variety of conditions. For those who want the best quality still photos from an action camera, the HERO12 delivers excellent results.

For comparison, the GoPro HERO11 Black also offers exceptional image quality but features a 23MP sensor. It introduced HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization and has a slightly smaller 1/2.3" sensor, which might not perform as well in low-light conditions as the HERO12 Black's sensor. However, the HERO11 is still a powerful action camera that delivers high-quality stills and video.

Video Quality

The GoPro HERO12 Black offers superb video quality and a wide range of capture options. It can shoot up to 5.3K video at 60fps with impressive detail and sharpness. The max video resolution is 5.3K at 60fps, 4K at 120fps and 2.7K at 240fps.

For slow motion, you can film in 1080p at up to 240fps. The high frame rates allow you to capture fast action smoothly and play it back in slow motion. HERO12 supports a variety of formats including H.264 and H.265 HEVC for excellent compression.

The HyperSmooth 5.0 stabilization provides gimbal-like stabilization to make your videos smooth and steady. It works in all resolutions and framerates. The stabilization algorithms are enhanced to deliver even better performance in bumpy situations. Overall, the video capabilities of the HERO12 Black are extremely versatile for both professionals and enthusiasts.

Features

The GoPro HERO12 Black has several excellent features that make it stand out. One of the most notable is TimeWarp 3.0, which allows you to capture stabilized time-lapse videos while moving. You can adjust the speed ramp to slow down for interesting moments automatically. HindSight is another neat feature that allows you to capture video 30 seconds before you hit the record button, so you don't miss unexpected moments. The HERO12 also has a smart remote that allows you to control the camera from a distance. You can start and stop recording, adjust modes, and more. For live streaming, the HERO12 makes it easy to share adventures in real-time at up to 4K on social media. Overall, the feature set allows for versatile shooting and streaming in a compact action camera.

Battery Life

The HERO12 Black comes with a 1720 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery. This is a slight upgrade from the 1625 mAh battery in the previous HERO11 Black model.

GoPro estimates the battery life to be up to 80 minutes when recording 5.3K60 video. Of course, usage times will vary depending on settings and environmental conditions. Using features like HyperSmooth stabilization, the front display, and higher frame rates will drain the battery faster. But overall, the battery should reliably deliver 60-80 minutes of recording time per charge.

This is a decent battery life for an action camera of this size. The battery is removable and rechargeable via USB-C, so carrying spares or using an external charger can extend shooting times. The camera is also compatible with GoPro's battery mods like the Volta grip and Media Mod to significantly boost battery life when needed.

Durability

The GoPro HERO12 Black is extremely durable and rugged, making it ideal for action cameras situations.

It has a waterproof rating of 33 feet (10 meters) without a housing, making it great for underwater videos and photos. The foldable fingers on the side allow you to mount the camera easily.

The HERO12 Black is shockproof as well. GoPro claims it can withstand drops from up to 2 meters. The lens is made of Gorilla Glass that resists scratches and impact.

Overall, the durability features allow you to use the HERO12 for high action situations without worrying about water, shocks or scratches. It's built to withstand the elements.

Audio Quality

The Hero12 Black has excellent audio quality thanks to its improved microphone system. It features three microphones - one front-facing and two on the sides. This allows the camera to capture stereo audio and reduces wind noise.

The front-facing mic records crisp, clear audio for vlogging or narration. The side mics help reduce wind distortion and noise when outdoors. They use algorithms to filter wind out while preserving vocal clarity.

Overall, the three-mic system provides professional-level audio that sounds great even in windy environments. The mics pick up subtle audio details and ambiance that truly immerse you in the moment.

The Hero12 Black also has improved algorithms to tune the audio automatically based on the situation. This helps optimize vocal clarity and reduce wind noise.

For the best audio experience, you can use an external mic plugged into the USB-C port. But the built-in mics work great for most situations. The Hero12 captures high-quality stereo audio that exceeds expectations for an action camera.

Connectivity

The GoPro HERO12 Black has excellent wireless connectivity options. It has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth for wireless control, transfer, and live streaming.

The WiFi performs very well, with a range of up to 33 feet depending on conditions. It allows you to connect the camera to the GoPro app on your smartphone or tablet. From the app you can change settings, start/stop recording, monitor and playback footage, and more. The WiFi connection is fast and reliable.

Bluetooth is also included, allowing you to maintain an always-on connection with the camera for voice commands and remote control without draining the battery as much. The Bluetooth pairing works smoothly.

In terms of ports, the camera has a USB-C port for charging and wired file transfer. The USB-C is convenient as it allows fast charging and data transfer speeds. There is also an HDMI port to connect the camera directly to a TV or monitor. Overall the wireless connectivity and ports cover everything you need for flexible control, transfer, and streaming.

Price and Conclusion

The GoPro HERO12 Black currently retails for around $399.99 USD. This puts it at the higher end of the action camera market, but the price is justified by the top-notch performance and features.

For the money, you get an action camera capable of up to 5.3K video resolution with smooth HyperSmooth 5.0 stabilization, rich 27MP photos, intuitive touch controls, and excellent durability. The HERO12 Black builds upon the strengths of previous GoPro models with welcome upgrades like the new sensor, 10-bit color, and 5.3K60 footage.

Compared to other action cameras in this price range, the HERO12 Black stands out thanks to its versatility, high-quality results across photos and videos, and refined design. You'd be hard-pressed to find another action camera that offers this level of performance and reliability.

In conclusion, the GoPro HERO12 Black delivers superb value for its price point. If you want the very best action camera available right now, look no further. The HERO12 Black offers cutting-edge features, stellar image quality, and GoPro's signature toughness to capture your adventures like never before. It earns our highest recommendation.