GoPro 12 released 2 months ago! And it is obsolete.
A new GoPro gets released every year and each year it brings some must-have features that is worthy of upgrade. So it is no surprise that everyone awaits a new GoPro each year willing to shell out the $400+ cash it takes to purchase. I am one of them. I have each GoPro since the 7. Except this one. GoPro 12 was met with less fanfare than previous years for a good reason.
GoPro 12 has some upgrades. But this is probably the least incremental upgrade in a long time. It is more like a GoPro 11S. Or GoPro 11.5. The only real tangible difference is the ability to use the Lens Mod in 4K. At least that’s the only thing that makes me consider buying it. HDR video feature is neat for the environment shots but people look worse than GoPro 11. I thought maybe the portable cam market has peaked but boy was I wrong.
Here is the thing about this space. The competitors not only have caught up to GoPro, and have exceeded it. Let’s take a look.
DJI OSMO Action 4
Osmo Action cam looks like a GoPro and every year it has caught up to GoPro. This year is no exception. To me, the most appealing thing about Osmo Action 4 compared to the GoPro is the larger sensor. GoPro has long held the same size sensor but Osmo uses a larger one. Which is capable of better low light videos. I don’t know why GoPro insists we all use action cams only in bright daylight but that is simply not true.
Insta360 Ace Pro
Only a few months after the GoPro 12 release and Insta360 company has released a new action cam that, imo, innovated above it. It uses AI in ways you’d expect, and not expect. It uses AI to create weird effects which I think is more of a marketing gimmick. However, the part that gets me is the use of AI to run the hardware. It has a larger sensor and faster processing than the GoPro 12. And it takes maximum advantage of it by letting AI push its limits. Low light performance is greatly enhanced by the software and the hardware being controlled by AI to really process the image to be natural and bright.
DJI OSMO Pocket 3
This is not an action cam but I think it is still relevant to a large portion of GoPro’s market. It has the largest sensor of them all and has a builtin mechanical gimbal. It has the most natural fluid motion out of all of them. It also has wireless microphone capability and easy filter placements. The only deal-breaker level downfall is that it is not weather resistant or shock resistant like action cams are. It is not even a little bit weather resistant. For example, the micro sd card has no cover/lid/door so is completely exposed to the elements.
Conclusion
With these companies advancing the space so much, GoPro 12 just seems… boring. Especially when it is so much like GoPro 11. I will do a review on each of these products but for now, the competitors win.