Hero 12 Blackvs Hero 13 Black
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
GoPro
Hero 13 Black (2024)
Starting from £380 new
Best for Professional content creators & adventure filmmakers
View Hero 13 Black
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Adventure, Sports & Travel Video — Hero 12 Black (2023): GoPro's best all-round action camera — better battery, 10-bit colour, and HyperSmooth 6.0 make it a genuine step forward.
Professional Content Creators & Adventure Filmmakers — Hero 13 Black (2024): The most capable GoPro ever — interchangeable lenses and GP-Log open up professional possibilities that no previous action camera could touch.
Who should buy what
Hero 12 Black (2023)
- Action and sports photographers who want the best stabilisation available
- Travellers who need a rugged waterproof camera for any conditions
- Cyclists, surfers, and skiers wanting helmet or handlebar footage
- Hero 11 owners considering an upgrade — notably better battery life
Hero 13 Black (2024)
- Professional filmmakers who want cinematic action footage with lens choice
- Hero 12 owners who want GP-Log and interchangeable lenses
- Content creators who need the absolute best GoPro available
- Those who want anamorphic or macro lens mods for creative video work
Quick take: The hero 12 black is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Hero 12 Black (2023) | Hero 13 Black (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £380 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 1/1.9-inch CMOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 27.0MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p, 1080p/400p slow-mo |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Fixed focus (ultra-wide); varies with lens mod |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | HyperSmooth 6.0 |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 27MP RAW burst |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~80 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) |
| Weight | 154g | 154g |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | GoPro mounting ecosystem + magnetic latch system |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Hero 13 Black |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | ||
| Cycling & Hiking | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Professional | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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