The GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera is GoPro’s latest refinement of its famous action camera line. At first glance it looks very similar to the HERO11 Black, but inside it brings smarter power management, longer battery life, HDR video, upgraded HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilisation, new GP-Log colour profile, and Bluetooth audio support for wireless mics and earbuds.
It keeps the same 1/1.9-inch sensor with an 8:7 aspect ratio, making it incredibly flexible for creators who shoot once and then crop for YouTube, Instagram Reels, TikTok and more. If you do action sports, moto vlogging, travel content or POV videos, the HERO12 Black is built to be your go-anywhere, mount-anywhere camera.
Key Specifications at a Glance
GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera Sensor: 1/1.9-inch CMOS, native 8:7 aspect ratio
Maximum Photo Resolution: 27 megapixels
Video Resolutions & Frame Rates:
5.3K up to 60 fps
4K up to 120 fps
2.7K up to 240 fps
1080p up to 240 fps
GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera Video Enhancements: HDR video for 5.3K and 4K, 10-bit colour, GP-Log and standard profiles
Stabilisation: HyperSmooth 6.0 with AutoBoost and horizon features
Field of View: Very wide FOV using the full 8:7 sensor, plus digital lenses like HyperView and SuperView
Battery: 1720 mAh Enduro battery with improved runtime
Durability: Waterproof down to 10 metres (33 feet) without housing
Mounting: Folding mounting fingers plus built-in 1/4-20 tripod thread
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wireless audio support, live streaming and webcam mode
Design & Build: Classic GoPro With Practical Tweaks
The HERO12 Black sticks with GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera tried-and-tested compact brick design. It has:
A front status/preview screen for framing yourself when vlogging.
A rear touchscreen for menus, framing and playback.
The familiar rugged shell that feels solid in the hand.
The camera GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera remains waterproof to 10 metres without any additional housing, so you can use it in rain, snow, surf, pools and rivers straight out of the box.
A very useful update is the built-in 1/4-20 tripod thread on the bottom, next to GoPro’s signature folding mounting fingers. This means you can:
Mount it on standard tripods and light stands without adapters.
Use it with generic selfie sticks and clamps more easily.
Size and weight stay in the classic GoPro range—small and light enough to mount on helmets, handlebars, chest harnesses and more, without feeling heavy or bulky.
Video Quality: 5.3K HDR and Flexible 8:7 Footage
The GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera strength is high-resolution, high-frame-rate video. It offers:
5.3K up to 60 fps for very detailed, smooth footage.
4K up to 120 fps for sharp slow-motion.
2.7K and 1080p up to 240 fps for ultra slow-motion clips.
The camera GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera also adds HDR video in both 5.3K and 4K. This helps preserve detail in bright highlights and deep shadows, which is especially useful for outdoor scenes with strong sun, snow, water reflections or mixed lighting.
The 8:7 sensor is a big creative advantage. GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera You can record in this tall format and later crop:
To 16:9 for YouTube or horizontal viewing.
To 9:16 for Reels, Shorts and TikTok.
You capture more headroom and legroom in a single shot, then decide later how to frame it for different platforms, without having to reshoot.
Colour, GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera GP-Log and Bit Depth
For users who want quick, ready-to-share video, the GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera delivers punchy GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera colour in standard mode.
For advanced creators, it offers:
10-bit colour, which records more tonal information than 8-bit and helps when you colour grade.
GP-Log, a flatter profile designed for grading in post-production. It looks washed-out straight out of camera but gives you more flexibility to push highlights and shadows and match footage with other cameras.
This combination makes the GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera much more attractive for serious editors and professionals than older GoPros that only had standard 8-bit profiles.
HyperSmooth 6.0: Stabilisation That Feels Like a Gimbal
GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera HyperSmooth stabilisation has been one of its biggest selling points for years, and HyperSmooth 6.0 pushes it even further.
What you get in real-world use:
Extremely smooth footage even when running, riding MTB trails, skiing, skating or driving off-road.
AutoBoost, which automatically applies just enough cropping to stabilise the shot while keeping the widest possible field of view.
Horizon-levelling GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera options that keep your horizon straight, and with the optional lens mod, you can lock the horizon even if the camera rotates dramatically.
For most activities, you genuinely don’t need a gimbal—the camera handles stabilisation for you, which makes your setup lighter and quicker to deploy.
Photo Performance & Creative Modes
Even though the GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera is video-focused, it can still handle stills nicely:
27MP photos with options like SuperPhoto, HDR and RAW.
The ability to grab high-resolution still frames from 5.3K video, which is great for capturing fast action when you can’t time a still shot perfectly.
On top of that, GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera includes creative modes such as:
GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera TimeWarp for smooth hyperlapse-style footage.
Timelapse and Night effects for star trails, light painting and car light trails.
Burst and interval modes for capturing sequences.
For social media, blog posts, and quick thumbnails, the HERO12 Black can easily double as a durable stills camera in risky environments where you wouldn’t want to take your main camera.
Battery Life & Thermal Performance
GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera Battery life is one of the key improvements on the HERO12 Black.
With the Enduro 1720 mAh battery and updated power management:
You can get noticeably longer run times at 5.3K and 4K compared to previous generations.
In more moderate modes like 1080p/30, the camera can record for well over two hours in ideal conditions.
The Enduro technology also helps maintain performance in cold weather, which is especially helpful for skiing, snowboarding and winter hiking.
Thermal handling is improved, though as with all small high-resolution cameras, recording at maximum resolution and frame rate in hot conditions with no airflow can still eventually cause overheating. Compared to older models, however, the HERO12 is more efficient and generally runs longer at high settings.
Audio, Bluetooth & Connectivity
GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera Audio has also stepped up a level on the GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera:
It uses multiple built-in microphones to capture stereo sound and reduce wind noise.
A major new feature is Bluetooth audio support, which lets you pair wireless earbuds, headsets or compatible microphones directly to the camera. This is a big advantage for vloggers, moto riders and creators who want cleaner voice audio without complex cabling.
Connectivity features include:
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for pairing with the GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera app on your phone.
Live streaming support, so you can broadcast directly from the camera.
Webcam mode, letting you use the HERO12 as a high-quality camera for live streams or video calls on a computer.
Combined, these tools make the HERO12 Black a very flexible part of a modern creator workflow.
What’s New Compared to HERO11 Black
If you’re comparing it to the GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera, the HERO12’s main upgrades are:
HDR video in 5.3K and 4K.
Improved battery efficiency and longer runtimes with the Enduro battery.
HyperSmooth 6.0 with a more refined AutoBoost stabilisation.
GP-Log and 10-bit colour aimed at editors and professionals.
Bluetooth audio support for wireless earbuds and some external mics.
Built-in 1/4-20 tripod mount, making mounting to standard gear easier.
One notable change is that GPS tracking is removed in the HERO12 Black, so if you rely heavily on built-in GPS overlays, that’s something to keep in mind.
Who Should Buy the GoPro HERO12 Black?
The GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera is an excellent fit if you:
Do action sports like mountain biking, motocross, skiing, snowboarding, surfing or skating.
Are a travel creator or vlogger who needs a camera that can handle rough conditions, water, and tight spaces.
Want one small device that can mount on helmets, handlebars, cars, pets, drones and more.
Need high-quality slow motion, 5.3K detail and powerful stabilisation without carrying extra gimbal gear.
Create content for multiple platforms and like the flexibility of shooting 8:7 and reframing later.
It may not be ideal as your only camera if:
You mostly shoot low-light indoor footage where larger sensors shine.
You care deeply about interchangeable lenses and shallow depth of field for cinematic talking-head work.
You absolutely need built-in GPS data from the camera itself.
Verdict
The GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera is not a radical redesign, but a very strong refinement of GoPro’s flagship action camera. It brings together:
5.3K and 4K HDR video
A flexible 8:7 sensor for easy reframing
HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilisation that makes most gimbals unnecessary
Better battery life thanks to the Enduro pack and power tuning
10-bit colour, GP-Log and Bluetooth audio for serious creators
A rugged, waterproof body with more convenient mounting options
If you’re upgrading from an older GoPro like the HERO9 or HERO10, or entering the action camera world for the first time, the GoPro HERO12 Black Action Camera is one of the most capable, well-rounded choices you can buy.
For adventure lovers and content creators who live outdoors, on the bike, on the board or on the road, the GoPro HERO12 Black remains a top-tier action camera that delivers fantastic results in a tiny, ultra-tough package.
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