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- GoPro’s new Hero 11 Black gets a bigger sensor and the strongest camera stabilization yet.
- It also adds three time-lapse modes, a wider lens view, and an “easy” mode.
- The design remains the same, but a longer-life battery is now included.
GoPro’s Hero 10 Black camera from 2021 is one of my favorite cameras. I use it often — especially when I travel — because it’s compact and rugged, but most importantly, it shoots terrific 4K videos. It’s fun to use, there are plenty of settings and modes to choose from, and GoPro has the best smartphone companion app of any camera maker. It’s so good that it’s hard to imagine how the new Hero 11 Black could top it — but it does.
On the outside, the Hero 11 is a facsimile of its sibling, which makes you wonder if GoPro bothered at all. But it’s what’s underneath that you should care about. It has a larger sensor that not only shoots up to 5.3K resolution at 60 frames per second, but it lets you shoot in 8:7 aspect ratio, which allows for more flexibility when cropping.
The image stabilization is stellar — no more bumpy footage that’s common with early action cameras. The Hero 11 is not a radically new camera nor is it a must-have upgrade from the Hero 10, but it’s refined and there are lots to love.
The Hero 11 Black has the largest sensor yet in a GoPro. It can shoot up to 5.3K and 60 fps, and in a new 8:7 aspect ratio. It also has the strongest image stabilization we’ve seen in a GoPro camera.
The Hero 11 Black is bundled with the Media Mod, which lets you attach accessories like a mic and external display. It also comes with the Volta, a handgrip and tripod that doubles as a remote control and portable battery.
What works
- New sensor delivers videos that look great and smooth
- In-camera stabilization is the best from GoPro, yet
- 8:7 aspect ratio makes it easy to crop a video for YouTube or TikTok
What needs work
- Easy mode is too limited
- Connecting an external mic still requires a pricey accessory
There’s no physical design change, and that’s OK
The GoPro Hero 11 Black (right) shares the same exterior design as its predecessor, the Hero 10 Black (left).
Les Shu/Insider
The Hero 11 retains the same design and dimensions as the Hero 10 and Hero 9, which is fine because it works. It’s compact and lightweight, and rugged enough for quick underwater shots or surviving accidental drops — without the need for an external housing. But, from previous experience, the exterior will easily scratch and ding if there’s no protective covering.
The rear touchscreen is where you make all the adjustments.
Les Shu/Insider
The color front screen is useful if you shoot mainly self-portraits (live streaming, TikTok, etc.), while the rear touch-enabled display is responsive most of the time. Settings and modes are all done here; otherwise, just power it on and hit the shutter button to start recording. The ingenious built-in “folding fingers” mount will work with any GoPro accessory you already own.
The GoPro Hero 11 Black’s “folding fingers” mounting system is compatible with every GoPro accessory ever made.
Les Shu/Insider
While I appreciate this all-in-one design, I miss the ability to connect an external microphone or display. The HDMI port, located inside the battery chamber, doesn’t natively support video or audio — you’d need to purchase the optional Media Mod accessory or the Hero 11 as part of the Creator Edition.
I also wish there was a way to connect the camera to an external battery without exposing the battery. GoPro makes a battery door with a pass-through to the HDMI port, but this part seems to only come with the Volta tripod/battery accessory. I consider this a minor issue, as it won’t affect most users.
Bigger sensor means more flexibility in how you shoot
The big updates are inside. A 27-megapixel, 1/1.9-inch sensor replaces the 23-megapixel, 1/2.3-inch sensor in the Hero 10. You can shoot videos up to 5.3K at 60 frames per second, even when using the TimeWarp speed effect. Throw in support for 10-bit color and you get videos that look rich and smooth. In daylight, the Hero 11’s auto mode does a very good job at balancing the settings, although it does stumble with direct sunlight. The video resolution is high enough that you can grab decent-looking stills.
The GoPro Hero 11 Black’s new 1/1.9-inch sensor allows it to shoot videos in the 8:7 aspect ratio.
Les Shu/Insider
The new sensor also allows shooting in 8:7 aspect ratio. The benefit is when cropping into horizontal 16:9 (cinematic) or vertical 9:16 (Instagram or TikTok), you keep more of what’s in the frame. If you love that super-wide lens look, the sensor adds the 16:9 HyperView, which is ideal for self-portrait shots where you want your entire body in the frame. The video above shows how large a 8:7 video is.
Stabilization is so smooth that you’d think it was on a gimbal
The Hero 11 takes in-camera image stabilization to a new level. Since the Hero 6 Black, GoPro has perfected its HyperSmooth system with every new model. HyperSmooth 5.0 is the smoothest I’ve seen yet.
The sample clip above was shot on a fast-moving speed boat that bopped up and down the New York Harbor, yet the video isn’t bouncy and the Horizon Lock function kept things steady and even. You would have to shake the camera violently if a shaky picture is your intention. Gone are the nauseating footage shot with early GoPros.
New time-lapse for night shots
Despite the larger size, don’t expect nighttime shots to look as good. Unless you have proper lighting and a tripod, videos will look dark and noisy. This is the given for small sensors, although smartphones seem to be winning on this front.
With that said, the Hero 11 can create some decent time-lapse videos at night. GoPro added three new modes that automatically adjust the settings for shooting star trails, vehicle light trails, and light painting. You would need a tripod and a dark setting, and you may need to play around with the settings or reposition the camera if there’s a light source nearby, but they can be fun.
As you can see from my vehicle light trails clip, there was actually way too much street lighting that painted the scene an ugly orange, but the light trails add a nice effect. Light painting was more successful as the environment was quite dark, but the painting process itself takes getting used to.
I wasn’t in an area where I could properly shoot star trails, but from previous experience with the Hero 10, you can capture the starry night sky provided there’s no light pollution and you plug an external battery into the camera.
Updated battery for longer shoots
The GoPro Hero 11 Black includes the new Enduro battery, which allows for longer shooting times and can withstand cold and hot temperatures.
Les Shu/Insider
GoPro introduced a new, optional battery for the Hero 9 and Hero 10 last year. Called Enduro, it can handle cold and warm temperatures without affecting performance, and it can add 38% more battery life than the standard battery, according to GoPro.
Enduro now comes standard with the Hero 11, but if you have batteries from the Hero 9 or Hero 10, those will work, too. Despite the extra battery life, it’s still short if you plan to shoot often — carry spares or an external power bank.
An easy mode that is too easy
A new easy mode simplifies the setting options for photos, videos, and time-lapses, but it might be too limiting for some.
Les Shu/Insider
As GoPro cameras advanced, so has their user interface. There are now so many options for settings, modes, and views. Eventually, menu navigation becomes intuitive, but it can get overwhelming, especially if you need to make an adjustment on the fly.
The Hero 11 adds a new Easy mode that takes away all those settings. You can pick the field of view, but the camera handles everything else. Easy mode reminds me of using early Hero cameras like the Hero 3, but I found myself actually wanting some ability to adjust the settings. I don’t always need to do pro-level adjustments like ISO, but I do like to change up the resolution or frame rate. Easy mode is a good idea, but it’s too limiting.
GoPro Hero 11 Black specifications
How much does it cost?
The GoPro Hero 11 Black is available now. It retails for $500, but if you bundle it with a GoPro subscription, which includes perks like no-questions-asked damage replacement, discounts on accessories, and cloud storage with the new online Auto Highlight feature, it costs $400 (the GoPro subscription is a good value if you use a GoPro a lot).
There is also a Hero 11 Black Creator Edition for $700 or $580 when purchased with a GoPro subscription. Designed for content makers, this bundle includes the Media Mod accessory that lets you attach an optional microphone (there’s also one built into it) for better sound capture, as well as connect to an external display over HDMI. It also comes with a light accessory and the Volta, a handgrip that doubles as a tripod, external battery, and wireless controller.
Is the GoPro Hero 11 Black worth buying?
Les Shu/Insider
If you own the Hero 9 Black or the Hero 10 Black, I recommend waiting another year unless you need to replace a damaged unit. While the larger sensor and improved image stabilization are notable, there isn’t anything revolutionary to warrant an early upgrade.
Besides, both the Hero 9 and Hero 10 are still very capable. I have been using the Hero 10 and Hero 11 simultaneously and have not seen any huge difference in everyday use, performance, or video quality.
In fact, the Hero 10 is still for sale as a lower price option, but you should spend $50 more for the Hero 11 if you’re actually considering the Hero 10.
For owners of older GoPro who are ready to step up, the Hero 11 Black is worthwhile. I also recommend adding a GoPro subscription if you aren’t already a member, as the free replacement, cloud storage, and accessories discount are worth it if you are a power user.
The big question is, why buy a camera at all when smartphones are just as capable? As an owner of an iPhone 13 Pro, I’d agree, despite having reviewed cameras for over a decade. While my iPhone is fine for casual shoots, I prefer using a GoPro when I have the intention to shoot videos, especially when traveling.
I also don’t have to worry about notifications interrupting me, and I don’t have to fret about dropping my $1,500 phone. The GoPro is a nice companion to my phone.
There’s a GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini coming
GoPro also announced a smaller version called the Hero 11 Black Mini.
GoPro
GoPro also announced a smaller and lighter version of the Hero 11 Black, called the Hero 11 Black Mini. On sale on October 25 for $400 or $300 with a GoPro subscription, the Mini has the same performance specs as the standard Hero 11 Black.
Because it’s designed for quick, one-button shooting, there are no screens for previewing a shot or making adjustments to the settings — those would have to be made in advance via the GoPro app, but there is a small status display on the top.
The battery is also built-in, which means you can’t swap it out for a new one if it goes dead. There are two sets of folding fingers, which gives you flexibility in how to mount the camera.
A spiritual successor to the beloved GoPro Hero Session, the Mini is for users — say, bikers and surfers — who want the best quality videos from a small camera, but without the fuss.
From the pre-production sample I saw, the Hero 11 Black Mini has the same build quality as the Hero 11 Black. While it’s smaller, it’s nowhere as compact as the Hero Session. Review samples were not available at the time of the announcement, so I won’t comment on overall use and performance until I can get our hands on one.
A movie automatically made in the cloud
One of the features of the GoPro Quick smartphone app is called Auto Highlight. After offloading footage from the camera and to a phone, the app automatically pulls clips and combines them into a short movie, with graphics and music.
GoPro is bringing this feature to its subscription service, which offers cloud storage for photos and videos that are automatically uploaded from a supported GoPro camera.
Once the content is in the cloud, Auto Highlight will create a video and send it back to you, where you can do any fine-tuning. This removes the need to download files, which can eat into a phone’s storage.
The feature was not available to use during testing, but I did receive a “suggested” video on the app at time of posting. From experience, Auto Highlight doesn’t always pick the scenes I would choose, and I often would need to make adjustments.
That remains true with the video I received, although it’s quite usable. I was not able to download it to my phone, which suggests kinks still need to be worked out. I will update this as I get more hands-on time with this feature.
Some useful accessories to get with the GoPro Hero 11 Black
The Volta is an accessory that functions as a grip, stand, external battery, and wireless controller.
Les Shu/Insider
The Volta is a tripod that doubles as a handgrip, portable battery, and remote control. It’s ideal for content creators, but the great benefit is the battery for continuous shooting, such as time lapses.
You should pack spare batteries with any GoPro. This bundle gives you two extra Enduro batteries that have longer battery life than the standard GoPro battery, and a charger.
You should use a fast and dependable memory card with cameras. Importantly, get one with enough storage, as video and photo files can be large and will fill up a card quickly. The SanDisk Extreme Plus is a good choice for use in cameras and drones like GoPro, Insta360, and DJI.
GoPro cameras might be durable, but they still need proper protection. When not in use, this hard case can be configured for multiple GoPro cameras and accessories, and even a handgrip.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/gopro-hero11-black-review