GoPro Hero 11 Black launch recap: get the full picture on the new action camera

To get up to speed, here's what we know so far:

GoPro is releasing its latest action camera today, the GoPro Hero 11, and a tantalising teaser video recently posted on its YouTube channel reveals that the new model will come in two different sized iterations – making this the first time a twin release has happened since GoPro Session came out seven years ago.

The teaser vision is shot in the shadows and doesn’t give too much away, but early indications suggest that the mini camera won’t have a front screen. It’s thought that it will be a bit bigger than the ultra-compact cuboid Session, which some people found too fiddly to operate.

GoPro: 11 - YouTube

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Looking for more details about the new compact Hero model?

It's rumoured that the compact model could be called the GoPro 11 Black Mini. It's worth noting that this hasn't been confirmed yet, though.

German website winfuture.de has published leaked images of the Mini GoPro, which you can find below:

If accurate, these renders show the GoPro 11 Black Mini as a small cube-shaped camera which looks similar, in my eyes, to the GoPro Hero Max 3D camera. 

Of course, the 11 Mini is expected to be much smaller than the Hero Max, and more like the GoPro Session launched a few years ago. 

So, what sort of video recording specs can we expect from the leaked GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini?

That's a good question and something that we at least think we can answer ahead of the event.

That's because, as reported by notebookcheck.net, the GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini is thought to come with the same video recording spec sheet as the regular Hero 11 Black, which is tipped to be:

27MP camera sensor
5.3K video recording at 60fps
4K video recording at 120fps
2.7K recording at 240fps

This recording capability will be powered by a GP2 chip, which will boast HyperSmooth 5.0 technology.

So, basically, from what we can see, the GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini will be just as capable as the regular GoPro Hero 11 Black.

The difference between the two devices will be, therefore, the Mini's lack of a display screen. The Mini will instead be controlled through a smartphone app, which it will connect to via Bluetooth.

So, the regular Hero 11 Black will have a display and the Hero 11 Black Mini won't.

Now let's go eyes on with the new flagship product set to be announced in a few hours time, the GoPro Hero 11 Black.

Just like the Black Mini, this device has also leaked in full, so we now know exactly what it is going to look like and, almost certainly, what video recording specs it is going to deliver, too.

As can be seen in the image below, the Hero 11 Black looks identical to the outgoing GoPro flagship, the 5-star rated GoPro Hero 10 Black.

However, the GoPro Hero 11 Black is not identical in terms of specs, with the new camera coming with an upgrade 27MP camera sensor rather than the Hero 10 Black's 23MP one.

This said, though, leaks say that the Hero 11 Black will maintain the same peak resolution/frame rates as the Hero 10, meaning you get a max 5.3K video recording at 60 FPS and 4K at 120 FPS.

Where GoPro has upgraded the video recording in the Hero 11 Black is, reportedly, in terms of how it handles video stabilisation, with the new flagship coming equipped with HyperSmooth 5.0 technology. This is an upgrade from the Hero 10 Black's HyperSmooth 4.0 tech.

Battery size remains the same, so the leaks state, with a 2,700mAh stack on offer, while waterproofing also stays at up to 33 feet.

In terms of display specs, the Hero 11 Black is believed to come with two displays, as shown in leaked images, a 1.4-inch front display and a 2.27-inch rear display.

Are those modest improvements going to be enough for action camera enthusiasts to upgrade? I guess everything will depend on the price point.

Ok, let's rap about GoPro Hero 11 Black price points, which is another thing that appears to have leaked in full before today's big reveal.

According to WinFuture, the new GoPro Hero 11 Black price is €549 at launch, while the GoPro Hero 11 Black Mini will retail at €449.

Now, as we noted earlier on today in this live blog, the only difference that there seems to be between the two new Hero 11 devices is that the Mini does not come with any displays.

You can see the Hero 11 Black and Hero 11 Black Mini compared side by side directly below, clearly showing how the Mini eschews screens entirely.

And it appears that the benefit of not having any screens on your new GoPro Hero 11  Black is a price reduction of €100. That's a fair chunk of change to be sure, so if you're happy interacting with your action camera via connected smartphone, which is how the Hero 11 Black Mini operates, then it could be a smart buy.

I guess it really depends on how you intend to use your Hero 11. I'm an avid motorcyclist and have a helmet mount for a GoPro, but when I do recording then I just turn the camera on and then only look at the footage later on when its ported over to another device. I don't keep stopping and checking what I've recorded.

So I guess for me, the Hero 11 Black Mini - especially due to its smaller dimensions - would be a good choice.

However, if you're someone who records-checks-records-checks when using an action camera, then clearly I think you'd be better with the standard Hero 11 Black, as the physical screens will make watching back footage easier and quicker, and negate the need to have your phone with you at all times.

The GoPro Hero 11 Black isn't even announced yet but already we've had word on a new rival that looks to be going toe-to-toe with it at launch.

That's because the DJI Osmo Action 3 action camera has just been officially announced mere minutes ago (and, tellingly, just before the GoPro Hero 11 Black unveiling), and as can be seen in the image below, it looks like a fierce contender for the best action camera crown.

In terms of specs the DJI Osmo Action 3 delivers an action camera with two touchscreen displays (a world first!), a front 1.4-inch screen and rear 2.25-inch one, a 1,770mAh 'Extreme' battery that offers the ability to record for up to 160 minutes on one charge, and the ability to record up to 4K in resolution and 120fps.

The DJI Osmo Action 3 also comes with the firm's RockSteady 3.0 image stabilisation tech, which even works at 4K/120fps, as well as wide 155-degree field of view. A HorizonSteady feature has been specifically designed for surfers looking to record their surfing exploits.

Maybe the most attractive thing about the DJI Osmo Action 3 is its price, which is confirmed to be $329 at launch, and that price gets you the action camera, 'Extreme' battery, horizontal-vertical protective mounting frame and quick-release adapter mount.

Now, clearly, the DJI Osmo Action 3 doesn't quite deliver the same top-shelf raw tech spec as the GoPro Hero 11 Black, with it not capable of recording 5k video and also offering a noticeably smaller capacity battery. However, it is markedly cheaper and I'm guessing most people will be happy with image-stabilised 4K/120fps video, so it could end up being a real crowd pleaser.

Clearly, the GoPro Hero 11 Black will have a big fight on its hands.

Ok, we're T-minus 13 minutes now until the GoPro Hero 11 Black launch event kicks off and we're excited.

I mean, we already know about everything that is going to be unveiled, including pricing (see posts below), but still – new hardware from the action cam master is something to be enthused by,

What's the mood like in the live stream YouTube chat room? Well, it's a mixed bag. The biggest "miss" people appear to be talking about by GoPro is the firm not delivering 240fps recording at a 4K resolution.

Now, I'm no action camera fanatic, even though I do own a GoPro, but that seems way overkill for even most pro-grade users.

Would it be nice to have as a feature? Yes, sure, but I'd much prefer upgrades to battery life and image stabilisation rather than getting 240fps, which would burn through memory like a starving cat and a box of Meow Mix.

I guess the reason 240fps at 4K isn't likely to be introduced is due to keeping the cost of the unit down.

If only everyone could be as happy as Victor Alcantara, who aptly sums up his enthusiasm for both the new products being announced today below.

And we're off, and GoPro gets the GoPro Hero 11 Black launch party started by introducing another countdown screen. Urgh.

But after that counts down for two minutes we get the new hotness.

Hero 11 Black is here, with a taller sensor, 5.3k video, 4K,120fps, 10-bit colour, Hypersmooth 5.0 tech, 27MP photos, Star Trails and Light Trails functionality, and cloud-based video/image uploads.

And... that was it.

The live stream launch event lasted one minute.

Here's the video of the event:

GoPro: Introducing HERO11 Black — Ultra Versatility + Maximum Performance - YouTube

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Well, it was a pleasure being with you today for the all the build up to the GoPro Hero 11 Black launch, and then for the 60 seconds I spent with you during it.

I'll put together a small recap now at the top of this article summing up everything we learned today and what we didn't get.

またね!