Hero 12 Blackvs Now Gen 3
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 Black
VS
Polaroid
Now Gen 3 (2024)
Starting from £120 new
Best for Classic Polaroid fans & square-print lovers
View Now Gen 3
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.
Classic Polaroid Fans & Square-Print Lovers — Now Gen 3 (2024): The definitive modern Polaroid. Autofocus, USB-C, and full-sized square prints — classic Polaroid experience, updated for today.
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
Now Gen 3 (2024)
- Anyone who wants the classic full-sized square Polaroid print experience
- Instax users who prefer Polaroid's dreamy colour palette and white border
- Party hosts and event photographers who want iconic-looking keepsakes
- Previous Polaroid Now owners upgrading to the Gen 3's improved autofocus
Quick take: The now gen 3 is the most affordable; only the hero 12 black is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Hero 12 Black (2023) | Now Gen 3 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £120 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | i-Type / 600 Polaroid film (79 × 79mm / image area 62 × 62mm) |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | — |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | N/A — instant film camera |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Autofocus (0.4m–2m close; 2m–∞ landscape) |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | N/A |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | N/A |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | Rechargeable internal battery (USB-C, ~15 packs) |
| Weight | 154g | ~445g |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 138.2 × 112.6 × 62.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | Real-image optical viewfinder |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | N/A |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | i-Type or 600 film (8 shots per pack) |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | N/A — instant film only |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | USB-C (charging) |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | Now Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Parties & Events | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Creative | — |
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