GoPro Hero 11 Black Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
GoPro is a household name for anyone who loves capturing action and adventure. The company’s latest offering, the GoPro Hero 11 Black, promises a significant leap in performance and features compared to its predecessors. But with a price tag that makes it a serious investment, is the Hero 11 Black worth upgrading to, or even worth getting if you’re a first-time GoPro user?
This comprehensive review delves into the Hero 11 Black’s design, features, performance, and image quality, and provides a verdict on whether it lives up to the hype and if it’s a worthwhile purchase.
GoPro Hero 11 Black Price in India
The GoPro Hero 11 Black was officially launched in India for Rs. 51,500. You can purchase it online from popular platforms like Amazon, as the company does not have an official online store in India. GoPro also released a Creator Edition, priced at Rs. 71,500, which bundles the Hero 11 Black with the Volta battery grip, Media Mod, and the Light Mod.
GoPro Hero 11 Black Design: A Familiar Look with Minor Tweaks
The Hero 11 Black retains the compact rectangular body of its predecessor, the GoPro Hero 10 Black. The only visible change is a subtle update to the branding on the left side of the camera. The left side still houses the mode button, which allows you to switch between Photo, Video, and Time-Lapse modes, and turn the camera on.
The right side features a slot for the battery, microSD card, and the charging port, all protected by a sturdy lid. The updated side-door mechanism provides a secure lock, offering more assurance against water seeping into the chamber. To access the battery or microSD card, you push the flap down and lift the lid. There’s also a USB Type-C port inside the chamber for charging.
The top edge features the shutter button which doubles as the power button, allowing for one-touch recording and automatic shutdown. The back boasts the same 2.27-inch touch display, and it is complemented by a secondary 1.4-inch display on the front.
For mounting options, GoPro has introduced the GoPro Gumby, a new mount with flexible arms that can be attached almost anywhere. The Gumby is made of rubber twist ties that are flexible enough to wrap around irregular objects, yet sturdy enough to hold the camera secure.
GoPro Hero 11 Black Features: Pushing the Boundaries of Action Capture
While the exterior design has stayed consistent, the Hero 11 Black packs some major upgrades under the hood. The most notable change is the inclusion of a larger sensor, without compromising the compact form factor. The camera boasts a 27-megapixel 1/1.9-inch sensor, an upgrade from the 23-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor found in the Hero 10 Black. This upgrade promises to capture more detail and light, especially in low-light situations.
The new sensor also enables Full Frame mode with an 8:7 aspect ratio. This opens possibilities for creators who want to edit videos for vertical platforms like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, without compromising on quality.
The Hero 11 Black also delivers a refined Horizon Lock feature, now with 360-degree locking. This means users can literally tilt or rotate the camera in a full circle while keeping the horizon perfectly aligned. To further enhance stabilization, GoPro has upgraded its HyperSmooth system to HyperSmooth 5.0, which can be activated through the AutoBoost feature.
Further enhancing the wide-angle capture capabilities, the Hero 11 Black introduces HyperView within the Full Frame mode, exceeding the previous SuperView (16mm field of view) with an even wider 12mm field of view.
The Hero 11 Black remains waterproof up to 10 meters, and the camera’s responsiveness and ease of use are evident in its intuitive user interface (UI). The basic gestures remain familiar, with a swipe-down gesture for the dashboard, swipe-up for viewing recorded content, and swiping left or right to switch between Photo, Video, and Time Lapse modes.
On the software front, the Hero 11 Black introduces new Timelapse modes: Star Trails, Light Painting, and Vehicle Tail Light Trails, all captured in 5.3K resolution. These modes supplement existing time-lapse options like Time Lapse, TimeWarp, and Night Lapse, and they offer customizable settings for capturing a wide range of time-lapse sequences.
GoPro Hero 11 Black Performance: Amping up Video Quality and Versatility
The Hero 11 Black’s larger sensor, combined with the GP2 SoC, results in a noticeable improvement in video quality. The camera captures vibrant and vivid colors that pop without appearing oversaturated. Although a direct comparison with the Hero 10 Black was not possible, comparing the Hero 11 Black to an older Hero 5 model revealed a significant leap in performance.
While the camera supports up to 5.3K video recording at 60fps across various aspect ratios, I found that the 1080p, 2.7K, and 4K resolutions offered ample detail and quality for social media sharing, while still preserving a considerable amount of detail.
The camera’s low-light performance, while improved with the larger sensor, still displays noticeable noise in darker portions of the frame. However, the automatic exposure system effectively balances out highlights, ensuring that important details are not lost.
I had the opportunity to test the new Light Painting and Vehicle Tail Lights Time Lapse features. The results were impressive, showcasing the camera’s ability to capture captivating light trails. However, it’s crucial to remember that time lapses with the Hero 11 Black are captured in ultrawide perspective, which may not be suitable for everyone.
The battery life performed well, providing approximately half a day of use with various modes. Time-lapse videos were the most battery-intensive, so considering an additional battery pack ensures you can capture long adventures without interruption.
Beyond video, the Hero 11 Black also excels in capturing photos. The new sensor packs more pixels, resulting in detailed and wider images. The dynamic range performance is above average, although there were instances of blown-out skies, with details around the subject being retained. The dedicated night mode for photos takes a few seconds to process but captures decent ultrawide images. However, it’s important to maintain a steady hand throughout the processing, as any movement can result in a blurry photo.
GoPro Hero 11 Black Verdict: A Powerful Upgrade for Action Creators
The GoPro Hero 11 Black, while priced at Rs. 51,500, is currently available at a slightly lower price on e-commerce websites. Compared to the Hero 10 Black, the new camera offers several new features, powered by the improved sensor. While the image quality step-up might not be massive, the new modes, especially the Full Frame mode, provide greater flexibility for content creators.
The GoPro Hero 11 Black might not be ideal as a primary camera for photos, as many smartphones, especially those with optical image stabilization, offer better performance. However, for video, it’s an undeniable upgrade, capable of replacing older cameras.
For those upgrading from the GoPro Hero 10 Black, the value proposition might not be overwhelmingly compelling. Unless the new modes, particularly the Full Frame capabilities, are a crucial element for content creation, the upgrade may not be necessary.
However, for users with older GoPros than the Hero 7 Black, the Hero 11 Black presents a compelling case for an upgrade. The improved displays, faster processing, diverse shooting modes, and the new high-resolution sensor all contribute to a significant enhancement in overall performance.
Whether you’re an established action creator or a new GoPro user, the Hero 11 Black delivers excellent video quality, innovative features, and robust performance. If you’re looking for a reliable and versatile action camera that captures stunning footage, the Hero 11 Black deserves a place on your shortlist.
