GoPro Hero 11 Mini Review: Smaller, Lighter, But Harder to Use

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When GoPro introduced the brand new Hero 11 Black earlier this yr, it additionally introduced a model new digital camera as effectively: the GoPro Hero 11 Mini. Its launch was barely delayed however it’s now lastly transport. Unfortunately, its existence makes shopping for a GoPro extra difficult than it used to be.

The GoPro Hero 11 Mini is basically a set of compromises to save measurement and weight over the full-size GoPro. For the proper of consumer, these compromises will probably be effectively definitely worth the financial savings in weight, measurement, and worth. For most of us although, the Hero 11 Black stays the GoPro to get.

GoPro Shrinkage

The Hero 11 Mini is 13 p.c smaller than the Hero 11 Black. That doesn’t sound like a complete lot, and in some methods, it isn’t, however for conditions the place wind resistance and drag are elements—in your bike helmet, for instance—it’s a large enough deal that any measurement discount helps.

The Mini is technically about 4 mm thicker however the identical peak because the full-size Hero 11. Where it is smaller is the width, which is 20 mm lower than the full-size digital camera. To save that house, GoPro removed all of the screens on the Mini. This has the distinct benefit of creating the Mini extra rugged. The massive screens on the Hero 11 Black are essentially the most susceptible factors, and a lot of the destroyed GoPros I’ve seen normally have cracked screens or lenses. The Mini eliminates no less than the potential of this taking place. There is technically a tiny LCD on prime of the digital camera to present you issues like the present taking pictures mode, however to body your pictures and delve into settings, the Mini requires the GoPro Quik app.

Photograph: GoPro

Until the Mini arrived, I’ll confess I had by no means actually used the Quik app to arrange my GoPro. Even the pictures the place I’m not going to be monitoring them continually—like after I’ve strapped the Hero 11 to the entrance of my paddleboard or surfboard—I nonetheless arrange the whole lot utilizing the rear display screen.

The app works fantastic, and the transition from display screen to app is straightforward—the app is usually the identical menus as you get with the display screen interface, with one notable exception. At first, I believed the Mini didn’t assist Timelapse mode as a result of it’s not a menu merchandise within the Quik app. In the interface for the Black, there are three taking pictures modes: Video, Timelapse, and Photo. But within the Quik interface for the Mini, there is just one button: Video. It’s once you click on to change your video settings that you simply’ll additionally discover Timelapse, together with all different particular modes like Star Trails, Light Painting, and so forth.

Moving Timelapse mode didn’t trouble me that a lot as soon as I figured it out, however what it means is that you would be able to’t save presets right here in the primary menu like you may within the Black. That makes switching video modes troublesome. You both have to do it on the digital camera, which is a tedious course of with the single-line LCD display screen, or you’ve got to pull out the app, which actually, can also be tedious. The message right here is that if regularly altering taking pictures modes is part of your workflow, the Mini isn’t for you. That mentioned, this looks as if a flaw that would simply be solved by a software program or firmware replace.

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