Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

GoPro Hero 11 Mini review: little action camera, big potential

The GoPro Hero 11 Mini getting hit by a wave.
GoPro Hero 11 Mini
MSRP $450.00
“The GoPro Hero 11 Mini is no less powerful than its big brother.”
Pros
  • Small size
  • Effective control system
  • Excellent waterproofing and durability
  • Two mounting brackets
  • Great image quality and stabilization
Cons
  • Non-replaceable battery
  • Lacks rear- and front-facing displays

It’s not often that we see a miniaturized version of a device that is nearly identical to the larger model with very few compromises — yet that’s what the GoPro Hero 11 Mini is aiming to accomplish.

This petite little camera goes toe-to-toe with the full-sized GoPro Hero 11 Black on paper, except that it has neither a front nor rear screen. This potentially means that the Hero 11 Mini might be ideal for applications where saving space outweighs convenience. But how does it all come together in practice?

GoPro Hero 11 Mini design

The GoPro Hero 11 Mini on a rock with moss.
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends

The most notable thing about the GoPro Hero 11 Mini (after its small size) is its lack of a large, rear display. The camera is controlled entirely using the power and record buttons, as well as voice control. Instead of a screen, the Hero 11 Mini features a large heat sink on its rear, as well as a second mounting bracket.

Radical RC Surfing with the GoPro Hero 11 Mini!

My only major complaint with the GoPro Hero 11 Mini is that it doesn’t feature a removable battery. I fully understand why this decision was made, as a replaceable battery would no doubt have meant increasing the size of the Hero 11 Mini. However, it does limit the life span of the camera, and if something goes wrong with the battery, then the entire device is toast.

GoPro Hero 11 Mini image quality

GoPro Hero 11 Mini - Autumn Adventure!

The GoPro Hero 11 Mini mirrors the excellent performance of the more mainstream Hero 11 Black; that is to say, it’s very competent indeed. The tall 8:7 sensor allows you to pull many different aspect ratios out of a single shot for sharing on multiple platforms. It can shoot up to 5.3K at 60 frames per second (fps), 4K at up to 120 fps, and 2.7K at up to 240 fps. Numerous field-of-view options are available, ranging from narrow to Hyperview, and the camera includes Hypersmooth 5.0 stabilization as well as Horizon Lock.

The Hero 11 Mini mirrors the excellent performance of the more mainstream Hero 11 Black.

Since the image quality and camera options are identical to the Mini’s big brother, I won’t go into more detail here. For a deeper dive into image quality, check out my recent review of the GoPro Hero 11 Black.

GoPro Hero 11 Mini performance

The GoPro Hero 11 Mini rear view.
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends

The Hero 11 Mini being so much smaller than the Hero 11 Black means it has a much trickier time dissipating heat, which is why the rear is one big heat sink. Fortunately, this heat sink seems to work very well, and I never experienced any issues with overheating. Take my experience with skepticism, however, since air temperatures were below freezing for much of the time I tested the camera.

The other key aspect of performance of the Hero 11 Mini is how not having a front or back screen affects user experience. I was happily surprised by how little of an inconvenience this ends up being. Yes, I do sometimes miss being able to directly preview my footage, or use a touchscreen to adjust various settings, but the truth is that I was able to adjust very quickly to the lack of these conveniences.

The Hero 11 Mini can be connected to the GoPro Quik app on an Android or iOS device, where settings can be adjusted in detail. On the device itself, the power and record buttons are used to navigate various menus, which are displayed on the tiny top LCD display. This display is really quite impressive in its quality and readability, and with a little practice, I was easily able to alter different modes and settings only using the two buttons.

In terms of waterproofing and durability, the Hero 11 Mini is drop-resistant and rated to be waterproof down to 33 feet. The Hero 11 Black was already impressively tough, and if anything, the Mini — with its lack of relatively vulnerable screens — should be able to take even more punishment than its big brother.

Hero 11 Mini vs Hero 11 Black Microphone Test

The audio quality of the microphone array is identical to that of the full-size Hero 11 Black. I was expecting some degree of compromise here, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well it performed in this regard. I frequently use Hero cameras to record quick vlog-style clips for my YouTube videos, and the Hero 11 Mini is great for this purpose. However, I would give the edge for vlogging to the full-size Hero 11 Black, as the front-facing screen of that camera makes composition much easier.

With the Mini, there’s some guesswork involved in composition, though with a wide-angle GoPro lens, whatever you point it at will be in the frame, so it’s not a big deal. When I wanted to more carefully frame a particular shot, I just quickly connected the camera to the Quik app on my phone to get a wireless preview of what the camera sees.

GoPro Hero 11 Mini battery life

The GoPro Hero 11 Mini top view with sand and water.
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends

In my experience, the battery life of the Hero 11 Mini is similar to that of Hero 11 Black. With the Hero 11 Black, you can always swap in a fresh battery, while the Hero 11 Mini must be recharged each time its battery is depleted. With this in mind, I would recommend carrying a portable battery bank with the Hero 11 Mini so it can be topped up if necessary. The good news is that the door to the USB port is easier to open than that on the bigger Hero 11 Black, so charging is less of a hassle.

GoPro Hero 11 Mini software and subscription

In recent years, the subscription service GoPro offers has grown to offer a ton of value. From discounts on cameras and accessories to automatic uploads to free and unlimited cloud storage, it’s really a must when buying a GoPro. Regardless of the subscription, the Quik app is an essential tool to pair with the Hero 11 Mini, as it allows for more granular control of the camera than what’s available through the integrated menu system. It’s available for both Android and iOS, and is well-designed and highly usable.

GoPro Hero 11 Mini price and availability

The GoPro Hero 11 Mini next to the GoPro Hero 11 Black.
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends / Digital Trends

As with other GoPro cameras, the price of the Hero 11 Mini is highly dependent on whether or not you opt to buy into the GoPro subscription service. It’s available now, with an MSRP of $450. However, with a subscription, that price comes down to a much more reasonable $300. The subscription costs $50 per year, bringing the total cost of the Hero 11 Mini down to $350.

That works out to $100 less than the Hero 11 Black, which, given its many similar capabilities, makes the Mini something of a bargain. The Mini is roughly the same price as the DJI Action 2, which is even smaller, though it lacks many of the capabilities of the Hero 11 Mini. The Insta360 Go 2 is another tiny action camera. It’s smaller, and it costs less than either the GoPro or the DJI, but it is severely limited compared to either.

A miniature camera with tons of promise

The GoPro Hero 11 Mini on a remote control surf board.
Andy Zahn / Digital Trends / .

It really is impressive how GoPro has managed to fit almost everything that makes the full-sized Hero 11 Black into the smaller chassis of the Mini. This creates a good range of choices for anyone in the market for a new action camera.

If you’re looking for a smaller camera for drones, RC vehicles, or any application where you want a more compact camera, the Mini is the camera to choose. It’s also an attractive way to get the power of the full-sized Black at a lower price point. The Hero 11 Black is a better choice if you need easier access to on-camera controls, front and back screens for composition, and replaceable batteries.

The bottom line is that the GoPro Hero 11 Mini may be small, but it’s no less mighty despite its diminutive dimensions.

Andy Zahn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andy Zahn is a freelance writer and photographer living on a small farm in the shadow of Mt. St. Helens. He currently writes…
GoPro keeps recording as parrot steals it from tourists and flies off
A kea parrot flies off with a GoPro camera.

A GoPro camera captured a bird’s-eye view of a New Zealand national park when a mischievous parrot nabbed the device and flew off.

Kea Flies away with GoPro

Read more
GoPro boosts Hero 10 performance with new firmware and Enduro battery
GoPro Hero 10 Front Screen.

One of my few complaints when reviewing the GoPro Hero 10 Black was its somewhat fleeting battery life, and though I haven’t personally encountered the issue, many users have reported problems limiting recording times due to overheating. GoPro seems to have heard that message loud and clear, as they have announced a major firmware update for the camera that aims to solve the problems as well as a brand new Enduro battery.

The firmware (which will be available by the end of October) introduces three new video performance modes designed to maximize the Hero 10’s performance in different scenarios. Maximum video performance mode prioritizes high resolution, frame rate, and image quality. Extended battery mode limits resolution and frame rate to maximize recording times and battery life, while tripod/stationary video mode provides high performance when the camera is stationary, and there isn’t any airflow to cool the camera.

Read more
GoPro drops teaser video for Hero10 camera ahead of Thursday’s reveal
watch gopros teaser video for the new hero10 action camera gopro hero 10

GoPro is set to reveal the latest iteration of its popular action camera on Thursday, September 16.

The California-based company has just dropped a slick teaser video (below) for the Hero10 Black. The 57-second production, titled A New Era of GoPro, shows a slew of beautifully cinematic and highly dramatic action shots (you wouldn’t really expect anything less) as GoPro attempts to create a buzz around its latest product release.

Read more