GoPro is back with the latest iteration of its popular action camera. The new GoPro Hero 12 Black is the kind of solid piece of kit we’ve come to expect from a company that’s been in the game for years. That’s actually created a bit of a problem for GoPro, with many customers happy to hang onto their current model rather than upgrade. So it’ll be hoping the latest version will be attractive enough to prompt a wave of purchases among current owners, while at the same time attracting a bunch of first-time buyers, too.
Notable with the new device is the battery life (using the supplied Enduro battery), which GoPro claims gets you up to double that of the Hero 11 Black, depending on the mode that’s used.
GoPro has also shown some love for creators on vertical video platforms such as TikTok and YouTube Shorts, adding a new 9:16 vertical capture mode, while support for Bluetooth headsets for playback and recording has also been added.
The ability to wirelessly synchronize multiple Hero 12 Black cameras via timecode on GoPro’s Quik app will be a welcome edition for pro users as it’ll allow footage of an activity that’s been captured from multiple angles to be edited more efficiently.
The new Hero 12 Black can capture videos in 5.3K (up to 30 frames per second (fps) in 16:9 aspect ratio), and 4K (up to 30fps in 8:7 and 60fps in 16:9), and also offers improved dynamic range. And, of course, the video continues to be stabilized by GoPro’s in-camera HyperSmooth technology.
Interestingly, GoPro has chosen to add blue speckles to the casing, making it look as if it was previously owned by a painter and decorator. Fortunately, the design isn’t too distracting, and no doubt it’ll appeal to some buyers.
And GoPro has even gotten around to adding a 1/4-20 mounting thread so now it can be easily attached to most camera tripods without the need for an adapter.
The GoPro Hero 12 Black costs $400, though another $50 will get you a bunch of extras such as an additional battery, a handheld monopod, a head strap, and a carrying case. The new camera can be preordered now and will land in stores globally on September 13.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.
Apple's next cheaper iPhone could get a brand-new processor while keeping its most stubborn display compromise. Digital Chat Station tips the iPhone 18e for a 2027 release with a 2nm A20 chip and a 6.12-inch OLED screen still limited to 60Hz.
The rumored camera setup includes a single 48MP rear camera and a possible 24MP selfie camera. There's new hardware to consider, but buyers hoping Apple would extend that upgrade generosity to smoother scrolling could be disappointed.