Hero 12 Blackvs RX100 VI
GoPro
Hero 12 Black (2023)
Starting from £300 new
Best for Adventure, sports & travel video
View Hero 12 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.
Travel & Vlogging — RX100 VI (2018): The RX100 VI trades fast apertures for a remarkable 24-200mm zoom range — giving it more versatility than any previous model. 4K/30p, 24fps burst, a pop-up EVF, and an articulating screen round out an exceptional compact package. Variable aperture limits low-light performance at the long end, but for travel and events where reach matters, there is no practical alternative at this size.
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
RX100 VI (2018)
- Travel photographers who need versatile reach in a pocketable body
- Vloggers and content creators who need 4K and an articulating screen
- Event photographers who want discreet, capable wide-to-tele coverage
- Wildlife and sports enthusiasts who want a compact travel option
Quick take: The hero 12 black has the highest resolution at 27mp; the hero 12 black 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) | RX100 VI (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £700 |
| Sensor | 1/1.9-inch CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch BSI Stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 27.0MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 5.3K/60p, 4K/120p, 2.7K/240p slow-mo | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p, 960fps HFR |
| Autofocus | Fixed focus (wide) | Fast Hybrid AF, 315 phase-detect points, Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | HyperSmooth 6.0 (in-camera EIS) | Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 27MP RAW burst | 24fps |
| Battery Life | ~70 min at 5.3K/30p (Enduro battery) | ~240 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 154g | 301g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 71.8 × 50.8 × 33.6mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 2.27" rear touchscreen + 1.4" front display | Pop-up EVF, 2.35M dots |
| Screen | 2.27" rear touchscreen; 1.4" front colour display | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | GoPro mounting ecosystem (fingers, adhesive, magnetic) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | microSD up to 1TB (V30 minimum) | Single SD / Memory Stick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Hero 12 Black | RX100 VI |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure & Sports | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Underwater | — | |
| Cycling & Hiking | — | |
| Everyday | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history