GoPro
HERO12 Black
1/1.9-inch action camera with HDR 5.3K60, 4K120, 2.7K240 slow-mo, HyperSmooth 6.0, and 10m waterproof body.
$349
Launch priceReleased Sep 2023
GoPro
MISSION 1
Compact cinema camera with the same 50MP 1-inch sensor and GP3 processor as MISSION 1 PRO, capped at 8K30 / 4K120 with Open Gate 4:3 and GP-Log2 10-bit.
$600
Launch priceReleased May 2026
MISSION 1 is 2.8 years newer.
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Wins
HERO12 Black
Wins
MISSION 1
4 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BMISSION 1 has higher ISO max (native) (25,600 vs 6,400)
- AHERO12 Black has lower Weight (154 g vs 580 g)
- BMISSION 1 has higher RAW buffer depth (120 frames vs 60 frames)
- AHERO12 Black has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
- BMISSION 1 has higher Card slots (2 vs 1)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
HERO12 Black
72 × 34 × 51 mm
154 g (0.34 lb / 5.43 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
MISSION 1
134 × 91 × 72 mm
580 g (1.28 lb / 20.46 oz)
HERO12 Black is 62mm narrower, 57mm shorter, and 21mm thinner than MISSION 1.
HERO12 Black is 426 g lighter than MISSION 1.
Depth (front-to-back): 51mm HERO12 Black · 72mm MISSION 1
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
HERO12 Black
72 × 34 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
MISSION 1
134 × 91 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
HERO12 Black
72 × 51 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
MISSION 1
134 × 72 mm
Sensor size, to scale
MISSION 1
17.3 × 13 mm · Micro Four Thirds
225 mm² area
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
HERO12 Black
Codecs
Adds H.265/HEVC
Stabilization modes
Adds HyperSmooth 6.0, 360° Horizon Lock, AutoBoost
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 71.8, 33.6, 50.8
Card types
Adds microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC
Weight
154 g vs 580 g — lower is better
4K max frame rate
120 fps vs 60 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
MISSION 1
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264, ProRes
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 134, 91, 72
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
25,600 vs 6,400 — higher is better
AA filter
Only MISSION 1 supports it
Eye AF
Only MISSION 1 supports it
Animal / bird AF
Only MISSION 1 supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓Max video bit rate — Both 200 Mbps
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Battery life (CIPA) — Both 640 shots
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
HERO12 Black
Pros
- ✓HDR 5.3K and 4K120
- ✓HyperSmooth 6.0
- ✓10m waterproof
- ✓Strong used value
Cons
- –Superseded by HERO13
- –Fixed lens
- –Smaller battery than HERO13
MISSION 1
Pros
- ✓Same 50MP 1-inch sensor as PRO
- ✓8K30 + 4K120 + Open Gate 4:3
- ✓GP-Log2 10-bit + rugged 20m waterproof
- ✓Ultra-compact cinema form factor
- ✓Full GoPro mount ecosystem
Cons
- –No 8K60 or 4K240 high frame rates
- –No 1080p960 burst slo-mo
- –Fixed lens only
- –Still premium vs traditional action cams
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the HERO12 Black and MISSION 1 at major authorized retailers.
GoPro HERO12 Black
GoPro MISSION 1
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, HERO12 Black or MISSION 1?
MISSION 1 scores 7.5/10 versus 3.0/10 for HERO12 Black — 4K recording.
What's the resolution difference between the HERO12 Black and MISSION 1?
HERO12 Black is 27.6 MP and MISSION 1 is 50 MP, so the MISSION 1 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the HERO12 Black and MISSION 1 have in-body image stabilization?
HERO12 Black does not have IBIS, while MISSION 1 has 7-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the HERO12 Black or the MISSION 1?
HERO12 Black reaches 15 fps electronic. MISSION 1 reaches 20 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the HERO12 Black and MISSION 1?
HERO12 Black weighs 154 g and MISSION 1 weighs 580 g, so the HERO12 Black is 426 g lighter.
Do the HERO12 Black and MISSION 1 record 4K video?
HERO12 Black: 4K up to 120p. MISSION 1: 4K up to 60p.
Are the HERO12 Black and MISSION 1 weather sealed?
HERO12 Black: Yes. MISSION 1: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the HERO12 Black and 640 shots for the MISSION 1, giving the MISSION 1 the edge.
How much does each cost?
HERO12 Black launched at $349 and MISSION 1 at $600. The HERO12 Black is $251 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way HERO12 Black vs MISSION 1 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of GoPro press materials.