GoPro HERO 11 vs. 10 – New sensations through images

The sensation of adrenaline that is experienced when we practice certain outdoor sports is indescribable. For this reason, being able to immortalize it as we are living it is a luxury that can be achieved with very few cameras, the ones we usually know as sports or action cameras. One of them, without a doubt, is the GoPro HERO. Now, how do you know which of all your models is better? This is the basis of our comparison.

We are passionate about snowboarding and always like to try new things, but we like the feeling of reliving them clearly again thanks to cameras like the GoPro. There is no doubt that this brand has positioned itself as the undisputed leader in the sports camera market, but you also have to know how to differentiate the model that best suits your needs and budget limitations.

GoPro’s HERO series is the most in demand by fans of the brand, and for that reason it is also the most prolific. Today we want to talk to you about the differences between the two most recent models: GoPro HERO 11 vs GoPro HERO 10. They have a year difference between them, but you already know that, in the world of technology, a year goes a long way. We already anticipate that one of these cameras has, in turn, different versions, while the other is reduced to one. Therefore, for the comparison to be equal, we are going to focus on the two standard versions of both, the Black version. 

Ready to discover all that GoPro HERO has to offer? Let’s go there!

GoPro HERO 11 vs. GoPro HERO 10 – Comparison Table

In this comparative table, it is easy to quickly identify the differences that can condition your decision the most, and it also helps to assess whether the brand has introduced real innovations or not:

Would we distinguish both sports cameras?

It would be complicated, we are not going to lie to you. At least, at first glance, because the two maintain practically the same design. In fact, they have the same dimensions, color and visual aspect. In addition, both have covers that are resistant to water and other types of bumps and scratches. Come on, the only way to distinguish them is by looking at the number printed on the side, which varies between 10 and 11. Otherwise, it would be the same camera.

But beware, don’t let the first impression fool you…

HyperView, the new lens with which to see the world

One of the biggest innovations that the GoPro HERO 11 brings with it is the HyperView digital lens, which responds to the fact that it has a larger sensor than its previous model. This sensor that version 11 has has an unusual aspect ratio of 8:7 due to its size going from 1/2.3-inch on the HERO 10 to 1/1.9-inch on the HERO 11. What it means this? That offers more versatility when recording and taking pictures, and that is why we can record in that relationship.

So the HyperView lens is actually a step up from the SuperView. It works the same way, only it records the environment more widely thanks to the possibility of doing it in 8:7 ratio and then compressing it. In other words, it has a larger recording field in height and width, so the sensation it gives us when playing the video is much more realistic because there are more details of the environment that, with SuperView, go unnoticed.

Improves video stabilization and color depth

Another of the consequences of changing the sensor also affects the stabilization of the video itself. If in the GoPro HERO 10 we had HyperSmooth 4.0, in the GoPro HERO 11 we evolved to HyperSmooth 5.0, in which the stabilization is done in a more automatic way. So HERO 11 adjusts the gimbal on its own when sudden movements occur, resulting in a more solid and natural image.

On the other hand, the GoPro HERO 11 improves the bit depth compared to the HERO 10, but only in recordings 4K and higher, which is where it reaches a color depth of 10 bits, surpassing the 8 bits of its predecessor. What does this translate into? Actually, nothing that the human eye can perceive. The difference is that at 10-bit depth, the camera can capture over a billion shades of red, blue, and green, while at 8-bit it “only” captures 16 million.

More additional features and night modes

The sensor that the GoPro HERO 11 has also allows it to include new features that the HERO 10 lacks. On the one hand, the horizon is completely blocked and the image stays straight even when the camera is rotated completely, whereas on the GoPro HERO 10 it only corrects footage that is skewed up to a 45 degree angle.

That said, in the GoPro HERO 11 we find three night modes that its predecessor does not have:

• Trail of stars: ideal for August 12 in the middle of the Perseids, since it captures shooting stars more clearly and the trails that some of these leave as they pass.
• Light Paintings: This effect creates a kind of moving light paintings in the night background.
• Vehicle light trails: if we want to make a time-lapse of what happens at night in the middle of the city, this night mode will allow us to capture the trails left by vehicles, giving a sensation that is not only more dynamic, but also more realistic.

Same processor, more megapixels

Both sports cameras maintain the same processor, GP2, so there are no major innovations regarding image performance. However, there is an evolution in the resolution at which the photographs are taken, going from the 23 megapixels of the GoPro HERO 10 to the 27 megapixels of the GoPro HERO 11. Let’s see, we must admit that the resolution of the version 10 is very advanced, if not the best on the market until the arrival of HERO 11, which offers even more sharpness.

Very immersive audio

We must not forget that video recordings are audiovisual experiences, and many times we make the mistake of focusing only on the image, forgetting about the audio. For this reason, we tell you that both have 6 microphones and have a 3.5 mm audio input. Therefore, there are no big differences when it comes to capturing or processing sound, and the truth is that they do it with quite good quality.

So is the GoPro HERO 11 worth going for?

That depends on several factors.

On the one hand, the budget limit that you can (or want to) spend. As you can imagine, the HERO 11 is priced higher than the HERO 10, although we must admit that we expected a higher difference. This may vary based on seasonal offers, but we find the price difference to be quite affordable.

Of course, we must also take into account that except for the improvements related to the new sensor in the HERO 11, we are facing the same camera, practically. With nuances, of course, because the sharpness with which you can capture the details is much higher thanks to the fact that it records at an almost square aspect ratio. But, to tell the truth, we expected more changes between both sports cameras.

So, if you already own the GoPro HERO 10, it may not be worth it to buy the new version, as there aren’t any innovations that are so groundbreaking that we would recommend a similar new investment. On the other hand, if you don’t have any, and since the price difference is not very high, it is interesting to opt for the GoPro HERO 11. That said, the decision is only yours!