GoPro’s action cameras are known for their high-quality photo and video capabilities, and designed for use in situations you wouldn’t want to use your smartphone. GoPro’s latest camera, the Hero 12 Black, is no different. The Hero 12 Black can still capture stunning photos and videos while taking a beating. But there are some key improvements GoPro’s made to its flagship camera, such as adding support for Bluetooth microphones and a built-in tripod mount.
The $400 Hero 12 Black is available to preorder now, with deliveries and in-store availability starting Sept. 13.
We’ve been testing the Hero 12 Black, and are as impressed as we are puzzled about why it took GoPro so long to add some of these key features.
The GoPro Hero 12 Black gives the company's flagship action camera long-awaited features like Bluetooth headphone support and a built-in mount. It's a great starting point for first-time GoPro buyers, or folks ready to upgrade after a few years.
What we liked about it
The simplified controls are smart
Last year, when GoPro released the Hero 11 Black, the company introduced an Easy mode for users that’s enabled by default. Easy mode presents GoPro users with a simplified menu for things like changing shooting modes along with picture and video quality. The thinking is that a lot of users, especially those who haven’t used a GoPro before, don’t know or care about recording video in 5.3K or 4K, or even aspect ratios.
The moment I powered on the Hero 11 Black, I switched out of Easy mode to Pro mode, since that’s what I was used to, and never looked back.
With the Hero 12 Black, I decided to give Easy mode a try — and I don’t think I’m ever switching back to Pro mode. It’s much quicker and easier to move between modes and select from options like Highest Quality, Standard Quality or Basic Quality, than it is to pick a video option of “5.3K, 16:9, 30, W.” It’s my job to know what all of that means, and most of the time I do, but there have been occasions in the past where I’ve had to pause and really think about what each part of the different settings will mean for the end result.
I’ll put it another way: Easy controls on a GoPro make using the action cam as simple as using the camera app on your iPhone or Android device.
On one occasion, I had to turn on Pro controls while testing to use the schedule capture setting to take a star trail timelapse in the middle of the night. Maybe the controls are too simple and I just couldn’t find this setting in Easy mode. It should definitely be added if it isn’t there.
Even if you’re a seasoned GoPro user, I highly recommend giving Easy controls a chance.
You can pair your AirPods with it
Actually, you connect any Bluetooth earbuds or microphone to the Hero 12 Black and use them as a wireless microphone. That means you can record clear and crisp audio from across the room or across a field.
This is a big deal. Instead of having to purchase a dedicated or specialized microphone to improve your GoPro’s audio, you can use the wireless earbuds you already have in your pocket.
Even better? It’s two-way audio, meaning you can hear the iconic GoPro beeps whenever you start or stop recording, and even give voice commands to the GoPro through your earbuds.
It took me only a couple of seconds to connect my AirPods Pro 2 to the Hero 12 Black. I didn’t have to dig through the settings menu; instead, there’s a pairing shortcut when you swipe down the quick settings panel from the top of the screen.
Welcome battery life improvements
Battery life on GoPro cameras has never been something I worry about. Most of my GoPro use has always been in short bursts — capturing a clip, stopping the camera and repeating the process as I moved around. However, with the Hero 12 Black, GoPro is boasting that it’s improved battery life across all recording modes. The increases are fairly dramatic in some instances, with claims of recording up to 70 minutes of 5.3K video at 60 frames per second, doubling the time of the Hero 11 Black.
But one claim that really stood out to me was that the Hero 12 Black could record up to 155 minutes of video at 1080p/30fps. So, the very first thing I did after setting it up and charging the battery was adjust the settings to 1080p and press record.
After 2 hours, 31 minutes and 38 seconds of continuous recording, the Hero 12 Black powered off. I’m no math major, but I think that’s 156 minutes.
Your battery life experience is going to be different based on your settings, conditions and other factors. But my early experience with battery life on the Hero 12 Black has been promising.
It finally has a tripod mount built in
GoPro’s mounting system relies on two fingers that fold out from the bottom of the camera, and uses GoPro mounts and a thumbscrew to secure the camera to the various mounts. The only way to mount older GoPro cameras to a standard tripod has been to buy an accessory that attaches to the threaded tripod mount, which you could then use with the traditional GoPro mount to connect it all together.
Well, all of that has changed with the Hero 12 Black. On the bottom of the camera, there’s now a dedicated 1/4–20 threaded tripod mount, and it’s fantastic.
I get why GoPro resisted adding it for so long; I’m sure the accessory business was booming. But the threaded mount option on the Hero 12 Black opens up a whole new world of mounting options without having to worry about adapters and screws.
What we didn’t like about it
There isn’t a desktop app … yet
OK, this is admittedly a bit more of a quibble than a complaint. But we’ve been hearing about GoPro’s desktop version of the Quik app for at least the last year, and I had very much hoped that it would be ready to launch alongside the Hero 12 Black this year. It isn’t, but for the first time since GoPro announced it was working on a desktop experience, we actually have a launch date. GoPro announced that the Quik desktop app for Mac will be available on Nov. 1, while Windows users will have to wait until the summer of 2024.
I saw a quick (forgive the pun) demo of the app, and it looks fantastic. You can upload and manage your video library — which can consist of video captured on any device, not just a GoPro — directly within the app. The feature I look forward to the most is the ability to select multiple clips and have the app create an edit for me. The mobile version of the Quik app automatically does this after your camera uploads content, but having access to the same tools on a bigger screen is going to be huge.
I’m not sure if it’ll solve the issue that’s plagued GoPro cameras since day one of not knowing what to do with all of the footage you capture, but it’s yet another step in the direction of automating that process.
Bottom line
The GoPro Hero 12 Black has a ton to offer, including features I haven’t even touched on, such as dedicated modes for vertical filming and a new Max Lens Mod for a wider field of view. It’s by far my favorite GoPro I’ve had the chance to use, and it’s not even close. It’s a fantastic camera for first-time GoPro users and longtime GoPro fans, and the addition of a tripod mount along with Bluetooth audio is a huge boost for everyone, but especially content creators.
If the $400 price tag is too steep, GoPro is keeping the Hero 11 Black in the lineup at a reduced price of $350. It’s still a capable camera, even if it lacks the headlining features of the Hero 12 Black, and it saves you a bit of money.